But I didn’t. They aren’t here to help me. I am on my own. Inside a creepy house with nowhere to run as a dark outline steps out of the bedroom and blocks the way forward.
My pulse pounds in my ears as hot and cold waves surge through my body. The dark shape approaches me, scraping the wall with its nails. My panicked breathing turns into wheezing. I’m too scared to even move. This is too much.
So I do the only thing any sane person would do in such a life-or-death situation.
I ball my hands into fists, brace my feet firmly on the ground and yell, “Shoo you evil asshole ghost or I’m going to beat the shit out of you! I’m ex special forces and I have a black belt in judo!”
If I can’t run, then I sure as hell am going to fight. Or try to. I don’t actually have a black belt in judo.
“Really?” a deep voice whispers in my ear from behind, the sound so tangible I feel it caress my goosebumps-covered neck with its ghostly fingers.
My blood turns to ice, my every nerve-ending shorting. There is someone behind me.
I scream with all my might as my heart tries to hammer its way out of my chest.
Oh my god, there is someone behind me!
I don’t think from that point on, I just act on impulse, spinning on my heel and sending my fist at whoever is trying to kill me. They grunt. I keep hitting. I’m not going to die here. Fuck that.
Shouting at the top of my lungs, I shove with my elbow. My attacker chants some curse in a gibberish language, but my legs are finally working now that adrenaline is in control of my body. This is my chance. I just need to slip the ghost currently trying to haunt me and get past the creepy outline.
No biggie, I’ve already lost it. I got this.
Until I don’t as strong arms encircle my willowy frame and pull me inside the dark wall.
Chapter 3
Ben
The guy screams andthrashes as I carry him over my shoulder through the tunnel in the wall. I can catch the occasional nonsense about exorcisms and holy water and garlic baguettes, but trying to speak to him only aggravates him further, so I give up on that.
I’ve encountered all kinds of reactions today. I agreed to do my friend a favor by covering for him at the fair since I didn’t really have any plans for Halloween.It’s an easy job, he said.You just scare a few kids and go home, he said.
Oh yeah, Terrance? Tell that to the hysterical guy I’m carrying like a bag of potatoes. He’s currently cursing my entire bloodline, threatening he’ll return as a ghost and haunt the shit out of even my horses.
I snort despite the ridiculousness of the situation. But it’s kind of funny. I just wish he’d shut up for a moment so I can talk to him and apologize. He’s convinced I’m a real ghost or a serial killer posing as staff, never mind the fact that there are cameras everywhere and he knew he was walking into a silly haunted house attraction.
And seriously, if he’s so phobic, why even enter? Surely, he’d know how bad of an idea something like that is.
Finally, I emerge into the control room. We chill here when we have downtime. The camera feed is playing on the four screens, and by the looks of things, the two friends of my screaming damsel-in-distress are having the time of their life.
Of course I had to get roped with the crazy one. But then again, it’s also amusing. I mean, who in their right mind threatens to beat up a ghost?
“I’m gonna put you down now, okay? And I’ll turn on the lights,” I try, but get only more screaming and clawing and snarling in response.
I stifle a chuckle. Fuck, I’m so glad he’s tiny. I don’t think I’d have been able to manhandle someone my size.
Shutting the door, I let go of the guy. He crumples to the floor, aiming a nasty scowl at me as he skitters away until his back hits the side of the desk. He looks spooked and like he’s about to pass out from shock.
I bite on my lip. At least he stopped screaming. Shit. My ‘ghost whispering in your ear’ act was too much.
“You okay?” I ask and turn on the lights.
He squeezes his eyes, but then snaps them open almost immediately after. They are like laser sights; trained on me and following me as I plop in the squeaky office chair across from him.
I get no reply and so I simply stare him down as he does the same. He’s breathing hard. His black hair curtains his lean face, where a delicate nose, big blue eyes and exquisitely sculpted brow ridge and lips grace him with doll-like elegance. He’s wearing what looks to be a very well-made DIY cosplay of the tactical armor from the third Ravaged Stars novel, just like I thought. It complements his pretty features with its masculineand minimalistic design, giving him an edge that I find rather intriguing.
It’s also why I approached him. I swung by the fortune teller before my shift started, and out of curiosity let the old woman read my future. She said I’d cross paths with a black ghost from the past, but I didn’t believe her. Picture me surprised when I saw this guy enter the haunted house. I just had to have a better look at him, though I’m yet to figure out the ‘from the past’ part.
