Page 32 of Rubbing One Out

Ben scowled. “Yes, but there’s a difference between scared by a stupid fair show, where you know more or less what’s coming, and being terrified by slavering monsters that get up close and personal.”

Dae would never understand the way the human mind worked. Suddenly, the cart jerked and moved forward.

“At last,” Ben muttered. “We can get out of here and I can have words.”

Dae wasn’t sure how he was going to protect the unfortunate ride manager from Ben’s wrath without admitting his part in the unfortunate affair. That was something he wasn’t looking forward to explaining.

“Are you all right?” Ben asked. “That was some experience for your first haunted house ride.”

Dae nodded. “I’m fine, I’ve got a bit of a headache.” He looked over at the man slumped in the chair. “I’m sorry he collapsed. Is it serious, do you think?”

Ben shook his head. “No, his pulse is good. I think he fainted. He’ll be fine once we get out into the fresh air.”

The cart with its burden of three grown men rattled along the train line, and finally Dae saw flashing lights at the exit to the tunnel he’d caused chaos in. His stomach churned when he realised he would have to face the music outside. That was something he wasn’t looking forward to. At all.

As the cart wobbled out into the light-spangled night, he noticed with some discomfort a group of people gathering. They were all gesticulating wildly and pointing towards the tunnel.

“I tell you, it’s proper haunted,” one excited teenager in a hoodie proclaimed. “Mate, you wouldn’t believe what we saw in there.”

An older woman clinging to the arm of a man, probably her husband, nodded her head fervently. “I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. My brother,” she waved to a man on the ground sitting with an asthma inhaler pressed to his mouth, “he should sue you for causing him an asthma attack. We all should. It was absolutely terrifying.”

Oh frinx and double frinx, Dae groaned silently. This was worse than he thought. A sudden perk of optimism took hold of him. Perhaps he could make everyone forget about the event? It was magic he hadn’t tried before, and it would no doubt leave him feeling even more nauseous and tired, but it might be worth the effort. Especially if he didn’t have to tell Ben about his part in the situation.

A fiercer headache may be worth it.

Before he could carry through with his plan, he became aware of Ben impatiently tugging his arm.

“Come on, Dae. Give me a hand to get this poor bloke over to the medical tent. It’s over there, not far.” Dae found himself lifting the now half-conscious man over to a waiting employee, who rushed forward to take the man off their hands.

“He fainted inside,” Ben offered as he looked around, eyes wide at the commotion. “Something went wrong in there and everyone got a bit more fright than they bargained for.”

Dae cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should go, leave them to sort it out. We don’t want to get in the way.” Instead of performing magic, perhaps they could simply leave, and forget this had ever happened.

Before Ben could reply, a tall, bull-headed man stormed forward and bellowed at the top of his voice. He was about six foot ten, as wide as a sumo wrestler, and covered in tattoos. “I don’t know what the ‘ell you all are talkin’ about. I’m never put anything like what you saw in my ride. It’s the same way it’s always been. If anyone fucked with my ride, it wasn’t me.” He glared around at the crowd, who’d all gone strangely silent. “Now have any of you people got any evidence to prove that something caused all this bloody fuss? ‘Cause if you do, I’d like to see it.”

The crowd muttered and one of the young people who’d been on the ride shrugged. “It all happened too fast and the damn things didn’t stay around long enough for me to get a picture. It all disappeared. Like a puff of smoke, it was.”

Dae began to feel hopeful that he may not have to invoke his talents after all. “Come on, Ben, let’s go get some of that delicious mulled wine over there. I fancy a quick something to eat too, don’t you? Those German sausage thingies look tasty.”

Ben swivelled, turning to face him. His eyes narrowed. “You seem a bit too eager to leave,” he muttered. “Is there something I should know?”

Faced with what appeared to be Ben’s increasing suspicion, Dae’s nerves were shot.

“What?” he asked, wide-eyed himself. “No, never. I’m an open book, nothing to see here.” He giggled nervously. “Did you hear that? My stomach is growling. I need to eat.”

Ben passed a hand over his eyes, then looked at Dae in consternation. “Dae, what the fuck did you do?”

Dae deflated under Ben’s withering gaze. “Fine,” he muttered. “I tried to make the ride more interesting for you because you seemed so taken with it. How was I supposed to know everyone would get so damned scared at a few apparitions? I thought the whole idea of the thing was to be scared, so honestly, you can’t blame me for giving them what they wanted.”

“You what?” Ben’s strangled groan sounded painful. “Oh my God. I don’t believe this.” He took a quick, panicked look around. “Come on. We need to get away from here. I need a drink.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been saying,” Dae grumbled as he was dragged away towards a brightly lit tent offering beer and wine. “How come when you say it, it’s okay?”

Ben said nothing as he headed straight for the makeshift bar and raised two fingers at the barmaid. “Two beers please.” He drummed his fingers impatiently on the bar top while glancing around nervously.

“I don’t think anyone followed us in here,” Dae said snappily. “Can we please order something to eat? I’m starving.”

The barmaid handed over their beers and Ben paid her, then shepherded Dae over to a small, empty corner table. “I’ll go get us some burgers next door,” he said. “Wait here. Don’t bloody move. You’ve done enough damage for one night.” He flounced out of the tent entrance—or was it an exit when the opening did both—and Dae huffed a discontented sigh.