Page 18 of Welcome to Carnage

“Ferris Wheel next,” Luna says, dragging me toward it.

Our friends follow, everyone laughing. I wish I could get out of my head for five fucking minutes since Lizzy’s comment just threw me right back into it. I’m so angry at Nyx for ruining this night.

I find myself sitting on the Ferris Wheel, searching for him.

Where the hell is he?

It moves steadily, taking us higher. The view from up here is breathtaking. The carnival in all its glory, the people below turn to specks moving about in their festive costumes. I focus on that, on the beauty of it all. But my heart pounds in my chest like a drum, an insistent beat that keeps me on edge.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Luna asks.

I glance at her, her Harley Quinn makeup flawless under the bright wheel lights. “Just thinking about how high we are,” I lie smoothly.

I’m not about to dump my neurosis on her and ruin her night. Not that I could tell her about it. That Nyx is a murderous psychopath, and I haven’t turned him in because I’m into it.

“You’ve never been scared of heights before,” she points out, raising an eyebrow.

Her skepticism is evident. Luna knows me better than anyone, and she knows I’m not being honest with her. I shrug, turning my gaze back to the carnival below.

My eyes catch a familiar figure amongst the crowd and a mask that has haunted my fantasies and dreams for two years.

Nyx.

My heart pounds louder. Everything is going to change tonight. I can feel it. And my gut tells me that Nyx will be the center of it all.

“Seriously, Avina.” Luna nudges me. “You’re so pale you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her lips press together. “I’m worried about you.”

I swallow hard. “What happened to James is getting to me, and the fact it’s Halloween makes me feel it more, you know?”

Her brow furrows. “I guess.”

“If some guy is targeting me, he could be behind any mask, hiding in plain sight.”

He is hiding in plain sight.

I don’t add that. No one can know that Nyx killed those two men. A fundamental part of me won’t allow him to get caught. I even believe it’s my fault because I didn’t take his warning seriously in the House of Mirrors, but after two years of waiting, I was fed up.

It doesn’t make sense why he waited until I started dating. I didn’t even kiss these guys, let alone go home with them, and he murdered them. It’s fucking crazy.

The Ferris Wheel touches down, but I can’t see Nyx anymore. I lost sight of him in the crowd.

“Come on, let’s get some cotton candy,” Luna says.

Olivia and Lizzy nod in agreement. “I’m down for some sugar,” Lizzy agrees.

Pierce grunts. “What are you guys, five?”

Luna glares at him. “Don’t be a spoilsport, Pierce. Lighten up.”

We move through the crowd, every shadowy figure making me jump. Luna shoots me worried glances but doesn’t say anything. She knows I’m on edge, knows something’s not right, but she doesn’t push me. We get our cotton candy, which tastes delicious and will give me a sugar rush, which I probably need.

“Look!” Luna points with her cotton candy stick to a game booth. “Let’s go win a creepy Halloween doll.”

We all move to the booths, and I focus on the game, on anything other than the fear gnawing at my insides. As I throw the ball, trying to knock down a stack of cans, I scan the crowd, looking for Nyx. I know he’s here, watching, waiting. But for what?

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me. A shiver runs down my spine. I turn around, and my breath catches in my throat. Standing right behind me, wearing the same mask I’ve seen in my fantasies, is Nyx. Despite not seeing his eyes, I feel his intense, predatory gaze.

“There you are,” he says.

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