Page 70 of Possessed By the Mountain Man
Filming starts at sunset.
Our old Halloween livestream was such a weird viral hit that people asked for a follow-up special. So now, once a year, we go live to promote Haunted Hearts—and apparently my face looking annoyed on camera is good for business.
Aspen sits us at a carved wooden table under our new sign. Ghost candles. Velvet runner. Cauldrons. She’s glowing. The camera guy counts down.
Three. Two?—
I mutter, “Remind me why we do this again?”
Aspen beams into the lens. “Because we’re delightful.”
I grunt. “Debatable.”
“And we own a business. Smile, you sexy cryptid.”
The livestream begins. Thousands tune in.
“Welcome to Haunted Hearts,” Aspen purrs. “Where love is eternal, the fog machines never sleep, and we specialize in happily-ever-afters that include at least six ravens.”
I stare straight at the camera. “And no one touches the fog density controls except me. This is a warning.”
Aspen elbows me. “Today, we’re carving pumpkins and answering your questions.”
A comment flashes across the screen:
@SpookySpice:Thorne, what’s your favorite new decoration this year?
Aspen grins. “Ooh, great question. Go ahead, babe.”
I lean in. “My favorite ornament is the one she didn’t hang.”
She winks at the camera. “He means the mistletoe over our bed.”
The comments explode.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter.
After filming, we walk down to the cabins, hand in hand. Kids run everywhere in costumes—tiny witches and miniature mummies and vampire pirates who keep stealing candy twice. The entire lodge village glows under amber lights and harvest moon.
Fox and Ruby are running the apple bobbing table.
Perry hosts a séance at the bonfire.
Cal is brooding near the hay bales for no reason, terrifying children into behaving.
It’s our people.
Our home.
Aspen stops in the center of it all, breath visible in the chill. Her eyes shine like she’s caught between worlds—the living and everything beyond.
“Do you ever miss your old life?” she asks quietly.
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” I pull her closer. “Only thing I ever missed was you.”
