There’s the thud of a boot as the person steps closer. I step back, whirling to face the noise. A finger of light illuminates the hall – it’s only a flash, but a flash is all I need. Dry ice ghosts across the floor as a man in a black hoodie and black jeans looms in the smoke.
His face is covered by a silver skull face mask.
A shot of fear injects straight into my heart.It’s just a mask.Butthisone, I can’t handle the sight of. I made it, after all. The fear tightens into a sharp point, piercing any bravado I have left.
‘I chicken out,’ I declare to the darkness, taking another step back.
Another flash of light. The figure cocks his head to the side before the darkness swallows him again.
With each flash, I see him. Then I don’t. The light surges like lightning and with each strike, he gets closer, towering over me, only to disappear until the next pulse. I’m panicking. My chest constricts. I can’t … the mask is taking me back to the worst night of my life.
‘I said,I chicken out!’ I scream louder.
I trip and fall to the ground with a thud. I start kicking. Crawling backward along the sticky floor as this masked man stands over me. My nails dig into the floor, clawing at the dirty stage carpet as I shuffle away.
I want out …
I can’t …
‘Stop! Please. Don’t. I … I chicken out,’ I choke on my words while furious tears roll down my face.
The light flickers off once more. When it comes back, the figure doesn’t return. My eyes dart around the space, but no one’s there. My lungs burn as pure hysteria clouds my head. It feels like the walls are closing in and I’m stuck in a box. I wait in the darkness. But nothing comes.
Did I imagine that whole fucking thing?
‘Are you ready?’ A voice startles me from behind.
I look up to see a clown who’s not trying to be intimidating or scary at all.
‘Huh?’ I use the back of my hand to wipe away the stray tears.
‘You chicken out, right?’ He offers a hand. ‘No one will touch you now. It’s okay,’ he soothes. ‘You can exit this way.’
He lights the floor with a torch and leads me down a long hallway before opening a door at the end with a green exitsign. I’m grateful to be out in the open among the sounds of the carnival and bright lights.
‘You know where you are, chicken?’ the clown asks.
I take in my bearings. I’m not far from the carousel, which means I’m near the entrance. I nod and he closes the door. I pull out my phone with shaking fingers to call Monique, but all I get is voicemail. She must still be inside the house.
I take a deep breath, feeling sick.
Who was that? Could it have been a coincidence?
I rub my temples, my head beginning to thump. I walk around the tents and games to where it’s a little quieter and text Monique.
Me:Answer the phone! Are you still in the house?
The message sends and relief hits me when she replies instantly.
Monz:Girl …
Monz:I got out five minutes ago, thank god. But I need to charge my phone asap.
Me:X might have one?
I wait a beat, hoping I caught her before her battery is totally drained, but when she doesn’t respond I keep moving.
I walk around in circles for the next twenty minutes. At this point, I’d even settle for running into Ryker or Renny.
