Roman rubs at the edge of his jaw, watching me before his head dips. “Sure thing. I’ll take care of shit over here while you’re gone.”
The bastard’s too perceptive for his own good, but I don’t question him. If there’s anything I know about Roman, it’s that he has my back, no matter what. Even when I’m about to do something supremely stupid. Keeping my pace casual, I shift around the side of the haunted house where a few bathrooms are located. Once I'm out of sight, I jog toward a side entrance, unlock it, slip into the building, and close the door behind me. Props are everywhere. I search through them and find a dark mask, sliding it on. The haunted house is set up to have walkways within the walls with secret entrances hiddenthroughout. Most don’t know about them. Only my brothers, me, Roman, and the old man who used to own the entire park until he closed it down. There’s also an underground tunnel system beneath the entire park. The previous owner had a thing for hidden passageways. Everyone we hired to help run tonight’s event walked through the main door like the participants. It helps keep the illusion alive and makes things fair for when we decide to shift the roles and let the men take their turn surviving the place because you better believe they’re gonna take their turn surviving this hellscape.
Which reminds me, I gotta pick up my pace.
Honestly, I’m surprised Violet’s lasted as long as she has. Only three girls are left out of the thirty, and Violet’s furthest. If she would’ve only listened and gone left like I told her, she’d already be out and collecting her winnings.
Stubborn brat.
When I reach the hidden door, I look through the peephole, confirming what I already know. It’s started. Pigs blood pours from the ceiling, tainting the already dyed water in the pool below. Next time, I have to reel Ford and his theatrics in because this is too much. Through the crimson sheet raining down from the sprinkler system, I find my Little Thief with her ass on the ground and her knees to her chest. The ledge is about two feet deep, then it plummets into a six foot pool.
She should’ve fucking listened.
Pushing open the trap door, I step into view and call out, “Thought I told you to go left.”
Her head snaps up, her blonde hair streaked in red. Scrambling back, she reaches for her sticker.
“Wait.”
She hesitates.
“It’s me, okay?” I call over the metallic rain. “The cameras don’t have sound.”
Pushing to her feet, Violet stands, keeping her back pressed to the opposite wall. Crimson soaks her clothes, causing the wet fabric to cling to her skin while leaving little to the imagination, and fuck if it doesn’t mess with my head.
“What do you want?” she asks.
“To help you out.”
“I can’t swim.”
“I pieced that together. It’s why I told you to go left,” I remind her.
“Yeah, well, call me an idiot, but I didn't think any of the rooms had pools of blood I’d have to wade through.”
My mouth lifts behind my mask. “You can blame Ford for this one. The man’s a sucker for horror movies.”
“Of course, he is,” she mutters.
“It’s not all blood,” I add. “Most of it’s dyed water.”
She tucks her blood soaked-hair behind her ear. “Most of it?”
Feeling too guilty to lie, I clarify, “Okay, the stuff coming from the ceiling is pig’s blood, but?—”
“I knew I recognized the smell!”
She’s not wrong. The air is tainted with iron. Suddenly, I’m grateful for the mask and the barrier it’s creating. If I didn’t have it, I’m pretty sure I’d be able to taste the tang raining down. “Like I said, blame Ford,” I grumble.
Her bottom lip wobbles, and she drops her chin to her chest. “I think I’m gonna…I think I’m gonna tap out.”
I shake my head. “No, you’re not.”
“Jagger…” She squeezes her eyes shut. “Jagger, this is messed up, okay?”
“I know it is.”
“I can’t do this.”
