Sharp
• Halloween Festival •

The week dragged since the Huntington sisters weren’t at school and neither way Tony. Just like it used to be. A school full of students that didn’t talk to me and I didn’t talk to them. Since Misty’s death, no one looked at me ill or had messaged me on Facebook horrible things. Every part of her being gone was beneficial to my life. I was being left alone and it was great.

It’s now Saturday and I had plans to hangout with Alexis today. Better yet, at the Halloween festival. Which I was truly excited to go to this year. I’m a little weirded out by it being a ‘date’ but I can’t imagine it being a horrible one. I just never imagined my first actual date being with a girl. A vampire girl.

Since Halloween was actually on Tuesday, the weekend before it was when the parties and festival took place. Alexis said she would be pick me up from my house later in the afternoon. She mentioned seven o’clock but said she would let me know the exact time today. It was only twelve in the afternoon so it wasn’t so urgent to get ready yet.

I secretly hoped she didn’t cancel our plans and didn’t make the date later. I was looking forward to enjoying the Halloween festival. Even if it was with Alexis. I really wanted to go with Tony, but unfortunately that wasn’t going to happen. I don’t even know the next time I was going to be able to see him. At this point, I felt like I was never going to be able to see him again.

My mom told my older brothers and I that we could go and enjoy the festival. As long as we’re home before midnight. Kevin went early to get his costume ready with Nathan. He said in the car ride to school on Thursday that they were planning to be dressed up like Batman and Robin. Kevin was going to be Robin while Nathan was Batman.

Andrew admitted he wasn’t going to dress up as anything. Saying that he was too old to dress up like a little kid. Since I woke up a bit sassy that day. I told him, that’s probably why he can’t catch a girl. He scoffed back at me and said I dressed too much for Halloween that I couldn’t catch a guy. Little would he know that I had a guy interested in me. The situation was just way out of his footbal field to even understand.

Melissa was invited to a Halloween party with kids her age. For once, our mom was able to show up with her and enjoy the holiday. Since she decided to take the weekend off as well. She’s appreciated staying home for a while to reconnect to her mother role and try better to be there for us.

I was just laying in my comfortable bed waiting for time to pass. I finally grabbed the Victoria Sharp’s journal from my locker yesterday and brought it home with me. I just haven’t been in a reading mood lately. I already know about them being vampires. Will the book change anything else? Will it even tell me more than I don’t already know?

I finally heard a chime from my phone, letting me know I got a text message.

Tiffany. Not the person I expected.

Tiffany: Have you seen Tony lately?

Me: No. why?

Tiffany: For some reason he isn’t home, that or I can’t seem to find him. He isn’t in his room, basement, anywhere. If you see him, you need to let me know. Okay?

Me: Of course! I will let you know if I see him.

What? He wasn’t suppose to leave the mansion. Is it possible he went looking for Anxillion? Did Tiffany tell Tony about what happened?

Tiffany: Thanks. Also best luck on your date today! Make sure to find out information. We need some clues as to where they are living. Let me know once you find any information, please.

Me: Most certainly. Will make sure to get some information today. Might be easier since I’ll be alone with Alexis.

Tiffany: Whatever works at this point. Talk to you later.

Me: Bye!

If for whatever reason I did see Tony today, I don’t know if I could bring myself to tell Tiffany. I needed to tell Tony what I saw that day, and what I didn’t see. For some reason, I had this gut feeling that Tiffany wasn’t being honest. Also that she wasn’t telling him the truth. Why else would Tony leave the mansion?

Possibly revenge, if he did know. Conclusively, that should have happened a few days ago if he was told. Not today. Unless. He was going out to see me. What better day than today to do so. He could easily disguise himself as whatever he needed to not be recognized.

I’m sure Tiffany had no problem telling Tony that I had a date with one of the girls seeking his matrimony. If it were the roles reversed, I’m sure I would be jealous and would want to see what’s going on. I just hope he doesn’t think I’m a lesbian now. My feelings for him haven’t changed. Even with all that’s happened so far.

Maybe I was going to be able to see him at the Halloween festival. Since I’m sure Tiffany would have told him where exactly the date would have taken place. Giving him guilt of not being able to take him myself. She seemed like a person who would antagonize where ever she couldn’t, especially to her younger brother.

I finally received a text message from Alexis. It just now turned one o’clock on the dot.

Alexis: Hey beautiful! I was wondering if we could go get a bite to eat before we go to the festival. I’ll pick you up at 3. Is that okay?

Me: Sure! Sounds perfect.

Alexis: Awesome! See you then!

Me: See you then. ;)

At this point, I need to progress this motive to get closer to the answers. The wonky face emoji was only to liven up whatever heart she might have inside of her chest. I knew she’s very interested in me and I need to expand that further for my own benefit. It seemed incredibly selfish but it was for Tony and I’s safety.

I decided that for the Festival that I was going to dress up like a witch. I had an old costume from last year that I hadn’t worn since it was too short for me. Not realizing it almost looked like lingerie. It was probably going to be difficult walking about of the house with it in. Especially with my mom, but luckily she was going to be gone by two to the party with Melissa. I would just have to make sure that I put the costume on after they leave.

Grabbing my makeup bag from my nightstand and started to begin my makeup. The witch’s dress consisted of purples and black, so I decided those were the colors I was going to use for my makeup.

I put a royal purple color for the base of my eye. Making sure I took time to blend out everything seamlessly. Then building up the black shadow on the outer corner of my eye, blending it into a gradient. The purple was looking too bright so I blended in a bit of the black into the purple shadow to deepen it up and it ended up working perfectly. All I needed now was eyeliner and mascara.

I did a winged liner. Getting it right at the first try as well. I curled my lashes and put a small amount of mascara on just to coat the lashes. Then, I placed on large lashes that were very extravagant. Making every blink feel very noticeable.

I finished off with a bit of foundation, setting powder and a touch of bronzer to create an illusion that I had a more sunken face. At the end, I put on my matte liquid lipstick in charcoal black. It had gray sparkles in it that created the illusion of gray charcoal, but only did so in the reflection of light. With minimal light, it looked jet black in appearance.

Once I was done with my makeup, I staredat my face in awe. I did such an amazing job and couldn’t have been more prouder of myself. The shadows really made my wintery blue eyes pop.

Now it was time to do my hair. As I grabbed my curling iron from my nightstand as well. I heard my mom’s loud voice.

“We’re leaving!” Just letting us know that she was off with Melissa. Andrew hadn’t left yet and his friends haven’t come over yet. Leaving him and I alone in the house now. I’m sure he was just playing video games as he waited.

As the curling iron was heating up, I sectioned my hair into three parts with large hair clips. The crown of my head, the left side, and the right side. I proceeded to make it curly once the iron heated. After all of the curls were done, I then sprayed it with some hair spray so make sure the curls were here to stay. After doing that, I brushed my hairs with my fingers to try and loosen the curls up to make them appear more soft and natural. Since I put hair spray in, the curls didn’t flatten immediately and would make sure the hair with keep the texture much longer.

Makeup, done. Hair, done. It was now thirty minutes away from when Alexis was expected to arrive. I put on the witch costume. It’s long sleeves with a dark purple and black. All the lace that was in the dress were all black. The shirt part of the dress had a black petticoat underneath. Creating my body to looks more of an hourglass shape. The shirt was entirely to short. The petticoat helped hide my underwear but any bending over would expose every bit of under garments.

It felt wrong, but I decided to wear my most sheer laced panties I could find. Which were of course black. They made me feel most sexiest when wearing them. With this costume, I felt so slutty and it for some reason was giving me so much confidence. I also paired the costumed with black sheet thigh high pantyhose. They had lace on the top, making the whole outfit look like it was meant to be worse behind closed doors.

Instead of wearing heels, I wore my completely black doc Martins. They gave the outfit a more settled down look. If I had put on heels, it would have made walking around more difficult. Not only that, it would have made it the cherry on top. Also, I didn’t own and heels. I preferred shoes that were comfortable instead so those were the only shoes I ever got.

I looked at myself with the mirror hung on my closet door. All I needed now was the witch’s hat and I was going to be the most sexiest witch there ever was.

Every year I always tried to be scary looking. It suited better than what I have on now. Times have changed now.

I got another text from Alexis letting me know that she was here to pick me up. It wasn’t three o’clock just yet, but better being early than late.

I grabbed a small crossbody bag that fit my phone and a few other things perfectly. Then I was off. I had to make sure to let Andrew know since it seemed like the right thing to do.

His room was the one right next to mine on the next wall. I knocked.

“Hey, Andrew! I’m leaving!”

“Bye!” He yelled back at me.

I went for the stairs and Alexis was there at the door waiting for me. She had full view of all the belongings inside the house. I could tell she was looking around with curious eyes.

Halfway down the steps she looks to me with the largest grin. She looked mesmerized by what I looked like. I could almost feel her undressing me with her eyes. The very stairs that I think Tony saw me, undressed.

I continues to the door and opened it. Giving a pleasant smile.

“Wow. You look incredible.” I could almost see the glimmer in her eyes. Almost starstruck.

“Thanks. You don’t like bad yourself.”

She showed her teeth and saw that her canine teeth for long and ready for biting. It caught me a bit of guard, only because I didn’t know if they were really her own or fake ones. The way they look with the gums of her mouth. I suspected they looked real.

“Woah, where did you get those? They look amazing.” Referring to her teeth.

“Thanks. One of the expensive costume artists did them for me. I wanted them to look extremely life-like.”

The dress she was wearing also looked very similar to tells one I wore the day we met. Except there was spiders all over the dress. She also had fishnet stockings on and the same pumps she had on the other day. I wasn’t sure how she would do walking in the grass all day. Since the festival was always on the big lot of land. Should have mentioned it to her. To late now

“Are you ready to go?” She asked me.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

We were off the patio and there sat her sister’s car pulled in the driveway backwards.

Alexis led me to the door closest to us and opened it for me. I’m still not used to such a simple gesture, especially from a girl. I could have easily done it myself.

I went inside the car. This time, the air inside didn’t smell like iron blood. It smelled like a manly midnight car scent. One that my dad used to have in his car.

The smell alone was making me more at peace in the car and less worried. Her two sisters were in the front seat in the same spots that they were in last time I was in the car.

“Are you two going to the festival too?” I asked them.

They pretended I didn’t say a word. Alexis heard me since she had opened the door right when I asked.

“No, they aren’t. They have other matters to attend to.”

“Oh, okay.” I said sympathetically.

“Besides that. What restaurant should we go to?” She easily changed the subject.

“Well the place where the festival is going to be held is close to a few restaurants. I’m sure we could visit one of those and then walk to the festival. Just so your sisters don’t wait around for us.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The festival was on the other side of town. Which wasn’t practical. If we I didn’t get a ride back home, I would be forced to walk for two hours straight. If that happened I’m sure my mom would be willing to pick me up to make sure I’m safe. Just as long as it isn’t too late.

On the way there, everyone was super quiet. Not even Alexis was talking to me. It made it feel awkward. I’m sure I could talk to Alexis why at the restaurant. It seemed like something happened before me entering the car.

I also wondered what the two sisters were up to. I’m sure they probably had Anxillion still. Maybe they heard word that Tony is missing. In order for that to happen, they would have needed to talk to Tiffany. I can’t imagine her talking to any of the sisters.

Being in the car reminded me of the intense slap I saw him take from Amelia. I felt heart broken reseeing that imagine. Anxillion was so old and could easily break a bone by such a blow. Knowing the sisters so far. I can’t imagine he’s still alive. Thinking that made it hard to keep my eyes open. I had to force them shut to make sure I didn’t tear away any makeup.

When we arrived to the festival, there were a lot of people that attended this year. The hoot and holler about there being three haunted houses always brings more people. Not only that, but if you bought tickets to two of them, you got a third one free. The tickets were a bit on the more expensive side, 25 dollars a house, but it instantly was a steal if it meant going to three.

I had just enough money for the tickets and that was it. At the restaurant we, or just me, could get a glass of water I’m sure. Just so we can talk.

We stepped out of the car and stood in front of the closest restaurant next to the festival. Surprisingly it wasn’t busy. Probably since all of the festival food stand that were present on the large lot of open land.

“Shall we?” She swung her arm to the door and caught the handle

“We shall!” I smiled as she held the door open for me. When we entered the host asked how many and we said just us two. They slightly decorated the inside of the diner. A few large fake pumpkins at the enterance and some window decal of skeletons and jack-o-lanterns. Other than that, there wasn’t much else for the festive spirit. None of the staff were dressed, except the host that obviously painted eyeliner on her face to make whiskers and a triangle on the top of her nose. Assuming to resemeble a black cat.

Alexis and I were seated at a booth far away from any other customer. A booth that was right against the window. We were able to see some of the festival which was nice.

From the view, we had clear sight of one of the haunted house. It was a cowboy zombie themed house. You would walk through the whole house and exit through the back. We had sight of the sight so we were able to see how long it took people to get through that haunted house if we paid attention. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time for me to spend so that.

“I think I’m just going to get a water. I only brought enough money for the haunted houses.”

Alexis shook her hand and pushed the menu towards me.

“I’ll pay for the meal. I don’t want to hear your stomach growl today.” She said in a demanding way.

“Are you sure? What wrong with my stomach growling?”

“Well. If I hear it it’ll make me hungry too. I can’t have that happen.” She shortly paused and realized she needed to finish why. Assuming I would ask why. “I’m on a diet and I just ate before hand. Don’t want to eat garbage. I need to make sure I stay in tip top shape.” She showed off her teeth as she forcefully smiled.

“Make sense.” I knew not to make a deal out of it.

“You know. I like you. You don’t ask many questions. You just, are you.” She complimented me as I looked through the menu. I looked up to return a compliment.

“You’re your genuine self too. I like how you don’t care what other people think.”

“Ehh, sometime I do. Sometimes I don’t. I usually care about what my parents think. Other than that, I don’t care about other people’s opinion.”

“I’m sure your parents love you like crazy.” I assured her.

“Trust me, they don’t find me the best. And certainly not their most adored daughter.”

“Why would you say something like that?” Her eyes fell to the table. I didn’t understand.

“They don’t understand that I like the same sex. They said they would forbid it if I would fall in love with another female.” Alexis was confessing to me. “I love another girl. Not you. I’ve known her for so long and we’ve kept our relationship a secret. I mentioned to my parents once about the possibility of my sister or I falling for someone who wasn’t a man. They immediate ruptured in hate.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” If I meant anything, it was now. An all powerful vampire had one weakness. Her parents.

“It’s okay. I lived away from them for so long that I could be with her. She wanted to get married and I did as well. I had to lie to her and say that I couldn’t do it. My parents would, hate me.” When she said the last words, I think she meant to really say something else.

“I can’t even imagine having that happen. My mom hated me for a little bit and I felt lost. But to be hated for being yourself. Loving someone you love. To just have them dislike you for just loving. I could never understand that. I’m sure it makes you a stronger person on the inside. Doesn’t mean it hurts any less.”

Alexis smiled. Until today, I finally understand her just a little more. Which made me think she was some what human. That she carried a genuine soul inside of her.

“My sisters don’t even understand. They know of the woman I love. They just don’t get it and don’t care about it. They’re all about themselves. They want this one guy, just to have his babies. To be considered mommy’s and daddy’s precious angels. To do their biding when they ask. I hate it honestly.”

This was my time to now ask about her sisters.

“That must be weird. Watching your sisters go after the same guy. Who’s the lucky guy to have the lurking eyes of two beautiful blondies?” She chuckled quite loud. Probably to the part about ‘lurking eyes’. I could imagine it was true.

The waitress finally attended our table. Ready with pen and her small memo pad in hand.

“Sorry about the wait, ladies. What can I get for y’all tonight?” Her rich southern accent seemed smooth. Yet her smokers voice made her sound ten years older than she really was.

“Can I just get the original cheeseburger with fries.”

“Anything to drink?”

“Just a coke.” I answered.

“Alright.” She jotted down in her pad. “Anything for you.”

Without even looking up, “No thanks. Just the bill once the food is done is more than enough.”

“Alright. Food should be done in an easy 15 mintues. I’ll also get that coke right away.” Then her auburn colored hair ran off to fetch my drink.

“Her voice was too much.” She sounded irritated.

“We’re not going to be here long. Also smart to ask for the bill right away.”

“As long as you don’t plan on eating more food.” She responded back.

“That will definitely be more than enough food.” I smiled. “So. Who is the guy that they’re after? Does he live here?” I tried asking again.

“Oh yeah. His name is Anthony. He goes by Tony though. He went to the school for literally only a few days. Have you heard of him?”

“What’s his last name?” I asked. You know, just to make sure.

“Sharp. Tony Sharp. Does it ring a bell.”

“Oh yeah! He was actually in our first class together but then disappear after no more than a week.”

“Any idea where he went?”

“Nope. Not a clue. He kept to himself.” I shrugged my shoulders. She exhaled and stared out the window.

“Here ya are.” The waistress settled the cup in front of me then a wrapped plastic straw.

“Thanks.” I looked at her name badge, “Penny.”

“Of course. Let me know if y’all need anything else. Okay.” She smiled and showed he tinged yellow teeth.

“Just the bill.” Alexis said as she continued to stare out the window.

The waistress pulled the bill envelope out of her front pocket, the one she had wrapped around her slender frame.

“Almost forgot. Here ya go. Enjoy your food when it arrives.” She smiled at me and was off again.

“Her name is very fitting for her. The red hair, the cheap clothes, not too smart.”

“Hey. You don’t need to be mean. She’s only been a thing but nice.” I became defensive. Since it wasn’t necessary.

“Sorry. She just keeps interrupting our conversation.” She looks at me in my eyes. Her eyes begin to fluctuate. As it does she asks, “Do you know where Tony Sharp is?”

I act like a deer in headlight. Trying to fake being controlled by her question.

“No ,I don’t.” I firmly answered with intense eyes. Which successfully made her adjust her eyes back to normal.

“Just had to make sure.” She relaxed her body.

~

The food arrived and clearly was mediocre and I could tell Alexis wanted to leave. Especially when another couple was sitting next to us. They both dressed as zombies and seemed unable to keep their hands off of eachother.

She mentioned the honeymoon phase of their relationship, she said aloud that their relationship couldn’t possible last. Which obviously upset the couple and the guy was ready to throw hands. The incident forced me to eat my cheeseburger as fast as possible, leaving my soggy fries behind.

She rushes out the diner, faster than I could ever expect with the high heels she was wearing.

“Was the necessary to say that to them? You couldn’t just leave them alone?”

She turned around to me and stood right in front of me. Tall and strong.

“All I want to do is figure out where this guy is and be on my way. Go back to England, with my girlfriend and be over with this place. I was brought here by my parents and sisters since he ran away. I was looking forward to today just to let loose. Yet everytime I see anyone happy.” Her shoulder slumped and as well as her face. “I’m just frustrated. You’re right, I should have just left them alone. It’s just hard.”

“I get it, it sure must be difficult.” I grabbed her hand and firmly held it in between both of my hands. “Let’s just enjoy today. Enjoy the festival. That’s why we’re here, right?”

Alexis lifted her frown.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.”

I let go of her hand and we were off to one of the many ticket booths scattered around the lot. Luckily no one was in line and we didn’t have to wait to get our tickets.

“Can I get two of the 2 for 3 tickets?” Alexis stood in front of me with her wallet ready.

“Wait, you don’t have to do that.” I tried to stop her by pulling her arm backwards but she already handed over a hundred dollar bill.

“I want us to have fun and I don’t want you to have to worry about the money. I’ve got plenty.”

I was taken back. It seemed so simple but I still thought it was extremely kind for her to pay for my tickets. As the young lady over gave her the tickets Alexis asked for as we began walking toward the haunted house that was closest to us. The cowboy zombie haunted house.

There was already a line of just a few people and they were letting people in as groups. Alexis stayed close to me as we try to distance ourselves from the other people in line. Most of them weren’t dressed up in any Halloween costume so I felt a little out of place. Especially considering, when I looked back at the several older guys behind us. One of them winked at me and sent uncomfortable vibes done my spine. I then got closer to Alexis.

I turned to her and whispered, “The guys behind us seem a little creepy.”

She turned her head fully around and squinted her eyes. Being extremely obvious that she was looking back at them.

“Hey there, sexy” One of them said to her. Which made her look a little angry. Turning her full body around and stand for a moment before she said anything.

“Leave us alone or your dead, got it?” I suspected she was compelling all of them at the same time. Since they all spoke back to her in sync.

“Got it.”

Alexis turned her whole body back forward to the haunted house and didn’t say anything. Her message was across and she solved the problem of the creepy guys. I could have thanked her but I couldn’t make myself to do it.

Another group was sent into the house and we were then the next in line. The guy who was ushering the line seemed pretty buff and his large beard made him look in his thirties. He held a walkie talkie in hand, ready to hear the okay on whether to let more people in.

We waited patiently for what seemed like three mintues.

“Alright. You ladies and you guy behind them. Head on in.” He open the gate up to the door, letting us all in.

There were only three guys and two of us. Alexis seemed unfazed from them being allowed through. Not like she really had any fear against them. Since they were mere mortals.

As we walked in through the eatery way, gust of wind shot upward through the air. Sending our skirt flying up. The chill wind felt extremely cold being forced through my legs and through my lace underwear. In the mid-second, all the guys behind us were looking down and so was Alexis. Alexis had caught her skirt from flying all the way up like mine. I felt the most exposed then I had ever felt.

An artificial whistle was spoken through the loud intercom, as if they expected ladies to be wearing dresses and having their skirts fly up.

I pushed my skirt down, but it was too late since the forced air stopped.

I could tell the guys wanted to say something from their facial expression but it seemed like they couldn’t. As if their tongues were cut off.

Proceeding through the haunted house, the guys seemed disappointed from the lack of scare that the haunted house had. There were fake cowboy zombies posted in multiple corners, but they had no movement to them and seemed completely random. There were no actors inside the house. The only thing that the house could have been was humiliating. There were plenty of more times where random gusts of wind flew from the floorboards, setting my skirt flying. At the near end, I didn’t even care. It was clear everyone knew what my underwear looked like and there was no stopping my short skirt front flying up. Even widen I tried keeping it down.

I saw the outside light and hustled to the door. There were a few people looking to see who was coming out. Again, for the last time. The floor board gusted wind upward and flashed all the teenagers waiting outside, staring. As if they knew as well, exactly about the wind. Just a bunch of perves.

After going through the whole house, I didn’t care anymore who saw. A few guys giggled and we walked off as if nothing happened. I wore a no expression face and when I pasted by the guys, they settled their laughter and didn’t think it was funny anymore. Since I didn’t let them control my emotions.

The people trying to sell cowboy zombie shirts and accessories tried to bombard us with their attention. Especially considering they wanted us to buy their products, we kept walking. As if we didn’t hear them.

Alexis followed my lead and we went left. The next haunted house better be scary. Or else I might not consider going to the third one at this point. That house was incredibly disappointing and seemed so cheaply made. It seemed like a house made for perves who just wanted access to under the skirts and dresses of ladies.

That didn’t settle in me too well. Making me continue walking to the next haunted house at a pretty constant speed.

From the front of the haunted house, the line stretched much longer but people were let in much faster. Every mintue or so, a new group seemed to be running inside. There was even a group of people from the back of the house trying to get back in line.

That gave me excitement and I could tell Alexis saw the same thing I just did.

“Looks like this might make me forget the humiliation house.” I pointed out to her. She quietly laughed, since she knew exactly what I was talking about.

“I really hope this is good.” We got in the long line that was organized with posts and metal chansons linking them together.

This haunted house was called the Prison Cell Run. This on had a two story floor and was over twice the size of the last one. Also located in the middle of the whole lot. Also in the center of the three haunted houses present.

From the windows of the house, there were actors dressed as monsterous prisoners. The windows looked broken and were covered by jail like bars. They grasped the bars and were making screeching noises and screaming noises at the people waiting in line. Yet, the louder screams came from the people inside. From all that I could tell, I was thrilled and could tell this was really going to make up for the last one.

“I have to be honest, I haven’t really been to haunted houses before. This is actually my first time and I’m some how excited.” Alexis admitted.

“Really? Well I’m honored to break your haunted house hymen.” We both laughed at my joke.

I didn’t even think she hasn’t been to a haunted house. Since she probably was triple, if not quadruple the age I was. Yet, she had all that time to be alive and didn’t experience something so simple as a haunted house. It made me a little sad for her. Her life must really have sucked or she wasn’t able to really fully enjoy things like she wanted to. It seriously was a pleasure to give a vampire an excitement that seemed incredibly simple.

We were finally at the beginning of the line and it only took five mintues for the line ahead us to filter through the haunted house. Yet the line refreshed with new faces. The people in this line were most costume goers of all different kinds.

There was a group of five girls behind us, they all were dressed up in generic slutty Halloween customers. One was a bumble bee, a lady bug, a gray cat, a cheerleader, and last but not least one of them took the time to do fake wounds on her face and neck with ripped up clothes. She obviously stood out from her friends and she seemed like the outcast of the bunch.

The two guys ushering this haunted house looked like straight up bodyguards. They wore black aviator sunglasses and were also wearing suits that had a slim fit on their muscular frames. Cleanly shaven faces and stood strong with their arms folded into one another.

The man on the right of us tilted his sunglasses which casually grabbed our attention, as well as the girls behind us.

“Rules; don’t touch any of the actors or you will be escorted out immediately. Don’t run through the house. No photography or video cameras. Especially no flash photography. Don’t die.” He tilted his sunglasses back and the next man tilted his.

“You seven girls are next.” The man on the left gestured us to go inside.

Alexis started walking willingly through the plastic swinging doors. I quickly followed closely behind to not get lost behind.

Upon entry, there was a hallway leading to the right. The hallway was dark with one hanging light fixture that kept flickering on and off as it abruptly swung back and forth.

The five girls behind us tried their best to stand as close to us as possibly, which seemed to be for their own protection.

Around the corner, there was bars attached from the ceiling to the floor through out the whole large room. Creating jail like sections that many of the actors were captivated in. I couldn’t make out how it was organized and where the walk way was for us to go. Except for the solid yellow line that followed through. The first actor banging the metal bars loudly with a large dirty shovel, almost making the bumble bee girl behind me fall down right next to me.

We walked slowly, watching out for the movement of the decayed looking prisoners in their cells. To see what they would do once we got closer. The room was incredible dim except for the dangling lights over where we were designated to walk. Making the actors look like mysterious shadows in their jail cells.

The next actor was dressed up as a human created into a slaughterous pig. Fake blood was spewing out the neck as he was squealing loudly into our left ear drums. I could faintly hear Alexis giggle, which almost made me laugh. Her reaction to the pig man was almost comical. It also didn’t help that the cat girl and cheerleader had facial expression of complete and udder disgust.

Alexis and I were walking slow as the girls behind us were practically falling over themselves, from every actor coming into the light to scare us. The more actors we passed, the more scared they appeared to become. Leaving the both of us smiling which probably made us seem demonic to them.

The girls ended up falling behind on purpose to keep their distance from us. I assume since we probably started to look scary to them too as we would deeply chuckle.

Through the maze of all jail cells, there was a flight of stairs going up on the opposite side of where we entered. We came to the stairs and saw and actor waiting at mid stair. The light turned off leaving no shadows or visibility. Then a few seconds later the light appeared back on. The actor was no longer there. Looking to disappear in mid air. To me, It was obvious that the board of the stairs was able to open and shut to help him with his quick escape.

To any normal scared person, I’m sure it could have looked a bit scary. Especially since the walks were seamless and no signs of escaping that way.

“Oh, that was a good one!” Alexis yelled loud enough for me to hear against the screaming through out the building. We followed the stairs upward and the light turned off when we reach to the very top. Almost making me miss the top step.

Luckily, Alexis caught me and pulled me upward with incredible strength. Making sure I settled my feet firmly on the floor that I couldn’t see myself. All I could see was the light coming from underneath the wooden swinging door.

Alexis opened the door and held it open so I could see and get out of the stair well. I started to panic since I really couldn’t see and thought I could fall backwards down the stairs.

“Don’t worry, they have something automatically putting up a bungee net at the head of the stairs. Pretty smart so people don’t fall tumbling down.” She said as I tried to look backwards. Only seeing a slight visibility of the net.

I could tell from that simple detail that this haunted house knew that people probably were scared of falling and could possibly fall as well.

This far, the girls were no long behind us and were probably too scared going up the stairs from it being a unseeable dark abyss. Giving the actor time to reappear on the stairwell to do the same trick for them.

Up stairs was a large room and actors were running after one another and some of them were falling over one another, creating complete chaos. Almost explains the hanging light bulbs swaying from the ceiling below.

Around the perimeter of all the actors was jail cell bars dividing us the from chaotic space that the actors were running around in. Looking like they were in a huge jail cell all together.

All of the actors looked to have spent hours on the creepy makeup making them look perfectly dead and alive at the same time. Or even like they were humans that had been worked on by scientists to be made into different creature. Monsterous creature. Some of them even looked zombified and a few of them were missing limbs. Either they did in real life and found a beautiful purpose for their disability or they really knew how to fool us. Either way, I was completely amazed. They really out did themselves and seriously made up for the house prior to the one we’re in now.

We travelled to the right side of the jail cell and a few of the actors noticed our presence and rushed to us. They started screaming and yelling at us, smelling their disgusting breaths. Another actor came with a tankard smacking the metal as he came over to as, making loud metal to metal clings.

Our unfazed expressions made them try harder to get our attention and scare us. Suddenly a girl actor who looked bloody and scared fell off of a chair inside the center of large jail cell and started screaming bloody murder, leaving the other actors to stop and stare at her. No one did anything and it was quiet enough to hear a cricket. it caught me off guard. Thinking that the girl was probably really hurt.

“She might be hurt.” I walked closer to the jail cell and grabbed the bars to try and get a better look. An actor quickly turned around and grabbed the same bars as me but a little higher and screeched into my face. Making me scream right back. Which ended up making him laugh in a extremely terrorizing way.

Out of no where the actors began running around and one of them grabbed the girl that fell and lifted her with a piggy back ride as she laughed while he was screaming and running around with her on his back.

It amazed me that they worked as a team to get someone, me, to get scared when I genuinely thought she got hurt. That made me scream but after I realized she was okay, Alexis and I were really laughing.

We were almost on our way out and could hear the girls who were right behind us screaming from the other side of the room. Leaving us chocking on our own laughter just a bit longer.

We reached to the other side of the room and it led to a stair well going downward and you could see the outside light at the bottom since there was no door located at the bottom.

When we walked down the stairs, the hinging lights turned off but it wasn’t scary since you could see outside and knew that it was going to be the end of the haunted house.

“Wow, they really did a good job.” Alexis was impressed and I was greatful that she was.

If this haunted house turned out to be a waste of money like the first one, I would have felt horrible for her wasting so much money on the tickets.

“I agree. They usually do a great job every year but they certainly did better than any other year I’ve gone here. The way they worked as a team. The makeup was insane. The design itself and how it was all put together. I’m flabbergasted. I’m usually one that doesn’t get scared easily and that moment they worked together and the girl that got ‘hurt’. I got scared at the moment since I let my guard down.” She giggled with her eyes slightly shut.

“I’m glad I went here with you. The way you tried so hard not to get scared impressed me, until that moment. Still, you’re the most badass human I’ve ever met. Literally! Their makeup was certainly outstanding and if I wasn’t already with my lover I would certainly be more than interested in you.”

“I appreciate such a compliment! This was the first time I went to a haunted house with someone. Actually, the festival in general. You’re the first person I’ve ever been accompanied with or have brought. I’m glad we went together.” I gave a compliment back to her, since she did make it fun with us laughing at the other girls and at the gruesome actors. “Also, thanks for catching my lousy step at the stairs.”

“No problem, girl. You would have flew backwards if I hadn’t. I’m pretty sure they turned the lights off too soon. Since you were walking so slow up the steps.”

We continued to the left of the haunted house, we say the people trying to sell their products. This time, they didn’t try and bombard us to make a purchase. They already had plenty of people trying to buy their merchandise.

“Are you sure you don’t want to buy anything? For a souvenir?” Alexis asked as we passed by.

“Trust me, the memory will last long enough. I have pretty good memory as it is.”

“Really?” She seemed interested.

“Yeah, I can literally remember a lot of stuff. Even things of me being in infancy.”

“Wow.” She pouted her lips with high impression. “If you ever turn into a vampire, that’ll intensify greatful. I can only imagine how valuable you’ll become from it.”

She turned to me and grabbed my shoulders.

“Even though I don’t want to do this, since you’ve been so cool and open. You can’t remember anything I said.” She opened her eyes large and her pupils dilated and expanded quickly. “You will not remember anything about what I said. Nothing after the souvenir shop.”

“Okay.”

She let go and I blinked as I shook my head slightly. Trying to pretending I was shaking the thought right out of my head. Even though I wasn’t. And I couldn’t.

“Alright, to the next haunted house?” Alexis asked.

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