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I laugh because Clay would pick something like this to mess with her, but not me. “I picked it because I knew how hot you would look in it. And with the right makeup, you will look the part.”

“If I do this . . .” she says.

“You’re doing it,” I push.

“You do not ditch me. I will not walk around like this alone.”

“I would never.”

Well, not unless one of the other guys was with her. We already know what happened when I thought someone was looking at her while she was working. Sure, I wasn’t myself at that moment, but if someone were to come into my territory and touch her, it would be very easy to make them have a run-in with the Scarecrow. Surely he gets bored in there at night all by himself.

“Vero . . .”

“I would never intentionally ditch you.”

My words seem to ease her mind, and she looks at the costume one more time. “Go wait outside.”

I stand outside the room, but have zero patience, so I press my ear to the door. I’m not sure what I think I will hear, but waiting sucks.

“I can hear you breathing,” she calls out.

“That is literally impossible.”

“Get away from the door.”

I move away from the door and lean against the opposite wall. When she comes out, she looks incredible, and my brain short-circuits. I almost tell her to get back in the room and change into my orange jumpsuit instead.

“Well?” she says.

“I’m a fucking genius,” I reply with a grin.

“Let’s go before I change my mind. I haven’t worn a skirt since I was a teenager.”

Having a partner for this is going to be the best. Normally I’m always in the Asylum, but tonight I’m out on the grounds. I know every hiding spot on the island, and we start near the alleyway between the circus tent and the Asylum, the one people use as a shortcut. I send Kayla to wait, and she tucks herself in so she can’t be seen.

A cluster of visitors walks down the passageway together; they must have come as a group. Their green wristbands light up the night, meaning they are here to be scared, not screwed.

She waits until the last person almost walks past her before jumping out. The man’s scream is impressive. Then, as I run out, they all disappear within seconds. Kayla laughs as they run away.

“You’re supposed to stay in character,” I tell her, but can’t help smiling at her.

“It’s your fault. You looked freaky running down there and you laughed as they ran away.”

“There’s a hierarchy.”

She scoffs. “There is not.”

“There is so—I will tell you about it later. But right now we are going to the cemetery.”

I grab her hand and drag her along. The cemetery is the best place at night for jump scares, and we make it there just before the same group walks inside the gates. I position her between the headstones, then climb a tree and watch her waiting. She stands motionless and silent as a statue. As the group walks by, they almost bump into her, but she still stands there completely still, her head tilted. Three of the five back up, and I drop right behind them and cackle.

Their screams as they run are music to my ears.

“You are good at this,” I say.

“Yeah, well, I grew up knowing how to make myself invisible and quiet.”

“That makes me sad, but it is useful here.”