Page 2 of Neon Pestilence
“Any drugs, other than marijuana?”
“Nope,” I repeat, smiling at him sweetly.
“Alright, doll, looks like you’re all set,” he says as he begins closing the doors. “Welcome to Hallow Lands.”
I hop back into the driver’s seat. The man closes the door behind me softly, smiling at me and waving me on.
Damn, they really are nice here.
I start the ignition and turn up the volume again, ready for round three of the line-from-hell.
Chapter 2
Indy
Ispend another thirty minutes making my way into the festival. The campsite looks like a crooked graveyard, rows of cars look like headstones, nylon flapping in the breeze, and the air is full of mischief and woodsmoke.
Music hums as people get ready for the night, waiting for the midnight air to bring them to life. I watch in amazement as people cover themselves in glitter, dance, and cook—everyone of them with the biggest smile on their face.
This feels like home.
But it also feels…off, like the joy is just a cover-up for something deeper, more fucked up. It just feelsweird.
I pull into my campsite and park before opening my trunk again. It’s ten in the morning, and I have until the concert grounds open at three to get set up and ready. I can do that.
I work quickly. Pulling out my black tent and matching canopy, a chair, and my worn suitcase. Luckily, I’m alone this time, so I don’t have too much to put together. Throwing my hair up, I take a puff of my vape before getting started.
At some point during fighting with the canopy legs and their stakes, my neighbors make their way over.
“Hey there!” A blonde girl pops into my eyesight, skin covered in glitter, her hair flowing in bubble braids that are mixed with iridescent extensions. She’s wearing the cutest outfit, it’s a bloody clown, but all the blood is glitter, and I’m obsessed.
“Hi! Oh my gods, I absolutely love your outfit!” I finish pounding in the last tent stake and stand up.
“I’m Alexa, but everyone calls me Tini.” She reaches her hand out toward me, holding a small glow-in-the-dark pumpkin. “Welcome to Hollow Lands.”
I smile and accept the small token. “Wait, I have something for you.” I run over to my suitcase and grab my baggie of mushrooms, pulling out one that matches her outfit. “I make these out of resin. I hope you like it.”
I drop the mushie in her open palm. She squeals, noticing its little face. “Ahhhhh, I love him! Thank you so much!”
“Of course! I’m Indigo, but my friends call me Indy.”
“Well, Indy, I actually came over because I noticed you were here alone,” she says, glancing over to my small one-person tent.“We wanted to invite you over to our camp to pre-game and get ready.”
“I would love that, actually, thank you.”
I swear I can feel my heart growing ten times bigger.This. This is why I love music festivals.
“Perfect! Just head on over whenever you’re done over here, and we can get the party started!” She all but squeals, jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
“Sounds like a plan,” I confirm, giggling along with her.
I move quickly, setting up the rest of my site, before grabbing my outfit for the day. I’m starting strong with a red and white mushroom fit.
I pull on some white tights, which are glow-in-the-dark and covered in tiny crystals. Then come my white booty shorts, followed by a matching wrap-around skirt. The top is a simple red corset with a red and white pashmina wrapped around my shoulders.
The star of the show is the hat I made, which looks like a mushroom cap. It’s covered in red fabric on top with small, cream-colored spots. I pleated the bottom to mimic the gills underneath, plus I added sparkles. I can be crafty when I have a reason.
Kandi lines my wrist, a collection of all the years I’ve been raving and going to festivals. So many memories, laughs, and drug-fueled chaotic nights. I run my fingers over them, the familiartingof the beads hitting each other grounding me.
