Page 16 of Carnival
Only God knows.
???
Aria’s sitting on the floor in front of the big mirror, a strand of her hair wrapped around the curling iron. She holds it for a few seconds, then releases it and repeats the process with the next strand.
I’m nearly ready to go, with only an outfit left to pick. Aria chose something very comfortable but still presentable. My eyes skim through the selected few options on the bed, and I mentally cuss myself for not bringing more clothes.
I end up choosing a pair of black dress pants, a black turtleneck tucked in, and a leather belt to tie it all together. The shoes are a different story entirely — mainly because I only brought two pairs. A pair of basic Converse and a pair of cute boots. I’d pick Converse, but as pretty as they are, they’re the most uncomfortable shoes I’ve ever had the displeasure of wearing, and if tonight ends up involving any sort of running, it would be a hassle.
I opt for the black boots and put them on, then stand behind Aria as she finishes up doing her hair. I run my fingers through my blonde hair, loosening up the tight curls and letting them fall messily down my mid-back.
“What do you think will happen tonight?” I ask, stepping back and giving her space to stand up. She unplugs the curling iron and sets it by the window, away from anything flammable.
“I’m not sure,’’ she admits. “If it’s anything like the first time we were here, we can expect to be scared shitless. Do you plan on going to the same terror house tonight? Or are you going to wait a night or two?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. We have seven days to find out anything. We’ll definitely find something, right?”
“I get that this entire trip started off as you wanting to satisfy your curiosity, and although I still think it’s fucking stupid, I feel like there’s more to it, isn’t there?”
Yet again, Aria reads me like an open book. I take a deep breath and nod, then grab my leather jacket and put it on, glancing at the way I look in the mirror before turning my attention back to Aria.
“It really did start as some sick curiosity,’’ I confirm. “But it’s more than that now. These murders, and the fact that you believe my parents might’ve been the victims of it… it makes it impossible not to think about it or want to know more.’’
Aria nods understandingly, then brushes out the curls and grabs her coat.
“I get it. I’m here for you, and I’m on your side. We’ll find something. But…’’ She pauses, almost unsure of how to formulate her question.
“But what?”
“What are you going to do when you see him again?”
Try not to fuck him again, for one.
Instead of saying it out loud, I take a deep breath. “I don’t know. Even back then… there was something so familiar about him, but I just can’t pinpoint what exactly.’’
Aria lifts a brow. “You mean you’ve met him prior to that night?”
A small groan slips from my lips, and I slump down on the bed, lying down and staring up at the ceiling. Aria follows suit, settling next to me and following my line of vision.
“I don’t know.’’ My eyes close for a moment. “It could be possible that we’ve met at some point in our lives, or it could all be just in my head and I’m overthinking it.’’
She chuckles. “Yeah, you do have the tendency to overthink shit.’’
“Fuck you.’’
Aria laughs, then stands up. She grabs me by the wrists and yanks me to my feet, smiling. There’s a certain glint in her eyes that I’m not sure I want to decipher. She doesn’t voice it out and only flicks my forehead.
“Now, are you ready to tackle this entire thing?”
“I’m ready,’’ I breathe out, giving her a firm nod.
Aria doesn’t waste any time and grabs her gun, tucking it in the waistband of her pants, hidden beneath the trench coat. It’s making me slightly uneasy that she’s carrying a weapon, but then again, she always does, and I know she won’t use it unless absolutely necessary.
Thankfully, the carnival is an adult-only event, and no children can sneak in. There’s a ton of alcohol, too, and overall, I’m still confused how it’s allowed, especially after the murders that had taken place there.
I shake off the thoughts, grab my phone, and head out of the door. Aria rented a car; hence, she’s the one driving. I’m inthe passenger's seat, looking out of the window as the darkness settles around us.
My heart is thumping against my ribcage furiously, and at this rate, I’m scared of what might happen later in the evening. My mind drifts back to last night, and although I’m no longer sore, I can practically feel him between my legs.
