Page 3 of All Hallows' Haunt
CHAPTER2
Sienna
Cool wind blewacross my face from the open car window as we drove around the parking lot, looking for an open spot. The after-dark haunt was the biggest thrill to look forward to where our small town on the outskirts was concerned. For my friends, this was an unspoken tradition. No questions were asked as to if we would go, only when.
Normally, we’d attend later in the season, closer to shutdown. This was the first year we’d managed a trip for opening night. Shawn jerked the car as he found a parking spot and elicited shouts of excitement from the others. As time went on, they dressed up less and less. We used to come in full costumes and makeup, but it was traded in for comfortable hoodies, sweats, and sensible shoes. While fitting most of that, I decided to hold on to the smallest pieces and tried my hand at face paint.
“You know, Sienna,” Shawn started. I looked to the front as the interior lights came on and my friends started exiting the car. “I like your hair like that.” His eyebrow ticked up, and he looked me over in his rearview mirror.
“Thanks,” I muttered and stepped out. I’d recently chopped my hair to shoulder length. It didn’t allow me to do a lot of creative styles, so for the sake of riding the attractions and getting sweaty in the houses, I parted it into simple pigtails. With it out of my face, the paint I did for a subtle jester was in focus.
I pulled at my hoodie strings that sat lopsided as I rounded Shawn’s SUV and followed behind the group through the parking lot. Bright lights illuminated the decorations around the entrance. Hallow’s Park was altered to readHallow’s Haunt, complete with frightening font and gore hanging from the new letters. Families and others corralled into lines as we crossed the reddish brickwork.
“Sienna,” Shawn called again from the front. He handed his drawstring bag to security and passed through the metal detector. “You know, if you get scared, I’m right here.” He patted his chest as he walked backward and gave his ticket to the short, curly-haired woman at the counter. Not deigning to respond, I rolled my eyes at his back and followed the girls through security.
They chatted as the boys collected their belongings. Plans for rides and food were in the works. As I followed them, my gaze wandered over the scenes built in the avenues: makeshift hideouts, large boxes for the actors to stand on, and fencing to shake.
“Where do you want to go first, Sienna?” Vera asked as the group gathered in front of an artificial stone pillar.
“Oh, um,” I stalled, looking around for what rides were in the immediate area. There was a wooden roller coaster that looked shoddy, but the line wasn’t long. With my back still to my friends, I pointed in its direction. “We could go—” I cut myself off with a scream as a loud scraping noise moved around me. Sparks skittered across the ground as the guy responsible stood up.
He should’ve been intimidating with his presence and costume, but the gentle features under the makeup made that hard to believe. We were locked in a stare down and the energy that came off him made me question everything.
Is this scary or sexy?
It was difficult to read what he actually looked like beneath the creamy paint, bloody drips, and exaggerated shadows. Dark pants were accompanied by a button-up, but it was only buttoned halfway, and his exposed chest dripped with the same bloody liquid. There was something inked underneath the red.
“Sienna, we’re gonna go to the Rocker.” Vera tugged my sleeve as she walked past. I looked this guy over once more, and when we locked eyes again, there was a playful dare dancing in his gaze.
“Coming!” I called back, turning to jog after them. Without chancing a glance back to him, I fell into their conversation and filed into line. We walked up to the turnstile, and the boys droned on about the football games they bet on and how their players were doing.
“So, did you know him?” Vera asked, bringing my attention to her. Her curly pink hair was bundled on top of her head, and her cheeks were already chapped by the wind.
“Know who? That guy?” She nodded in response, and I took a deep breath. “Nope, but that was a bit weird, right? I don’t recall the haunt guys last year being so…”
“Hot?”
“I mean.” I laughed at her insinuation. “I’m not discounting that he might be attractive. He was just very intense.” Vera silently agreed, and the ride attendants started their briefing as we walked onto the platform holding the ancient carts. “Is this safe?” I whispered to her. She stifled her laugh, and we took our seats. Shawn shooed Vera to the row with Cody and Aimee, taking her place beside me.
We buckled the lap belts and lowered the safety bar. A different employee came by to pull on the belt and shake the metal bar against its lock.
“Are you having fun?” Shawn asked as the loudspeaker echoed more directions.
“We just got here, but yeah, I guess. Rocker isn’t a bad ride to start with.” The cart jerked forward after the all-clear calls. “Are you having fun?” I didn’t care for this conversation, but he forced its hand by moving Vera away from me.
“Oh, I’ll be having all the fun tonight if you’re staying by my side.” He draped his arm over my shoulders as we chugged up the hill. Shawn wasn’t a bad guy, but he wasn’t someone I was interested in. Was I aware of his intentions? Painfully so, for at least the past three months. He was cocky at times, and it led him to believe everyone would say yes.
But I said no.
He had let the hurt and shock wear on his face for just a moment that day before pasting on a look of determination. Wearing someone down wasn’t the best way to forge long-lasting relationships. Did that stop Shawn? Never.
I let the silence fill the space between us as the wind whipped harder the higher we climbed. Rocker wasn’t the tallest ride, but you were still able to view a sizable portion of the park. The stars were brighter as we sat above the lights. The impending drop had my stomach twisted in anticipation, and my heart beat faster as the track disappeared before the drop.
“Do you want to hold my hand?” he shouted over the wind as the coaster stalled. I gripped the bar in front of us harder as I closed my eyes. The cart pushed over the edge. My stomach dropped and a scream tore loose, but I wore a giant smile as the world rushed around us.
No, Shawn. I still don’t.
CHAPTER3
