4. Max

" W ill you please , hurry the fuck up!" I call to Deck through the wooden door of the small shower room. We got here just after five and I've barely eaten, this little cock jockey has about ten seconds to get out of the shower, before I kick the door down and Norman Bates his ass while he's still cleaning his dick.

"I'm fucking hungry!" I bang both my hands this time, hard enough to create a sting against my skin, but not to punch through the actual door. This is an Air B I yelp. Jumping back from the onslaught of freezing cold water I scream.

"Deck! Tu puta Madre, you took all the hot water!" I groan.

No answer.

Dick.

Taking a deep breath, I suck it up start washing myself.

The water hitting my skin is like tiny little razor blades, and I shiver. Lifting the Lynx bodywash from the corner of the shower, I pour it onto my palms and lather it over my skin.

It might seem like I'm being a bitch, but there's a reason I'm rushing us—beyond just being hungry. We decided to drive straight here without stopping because we didn't want to be late for the first phase of the carnival .

It opens at eight, and we want to be among the first guests to arrive, avoiding long ass lines so we can get in and start having fun. I've been waiting to get tickets to the Midnight Menagerie for the past three years, but never had the funds. Usually they go for, at a minimum, ten grand a pop.

However, there is a small option called Free Rein. It's where you can apply to go for free. The catch though, there's only a one percent chance that those people who apply will ever get selected. Ben's little rich ass paid the ten grand; Sasha too, seeing as her mother is a top litigator in Southern California. Their parents will basically give them anything they want.

Deck and I, unfortunately, don't have that luxury. My brother isn't stupid enough to waste that much money on a two-night Halloween event for me. I mean, he's paying for my entire school tuition for Christ's sake. Which is why, when I received the email that Decker and I were accepted, I couldn't believe our luck.

Dipping my head under the shower I wash my hair as quickly as possible. I need food and I need it now. The four of us have two hours to get ready and with the time it takes the boys to make themselves pretty, there's no doubt I'll be resorting to cannibalism before we get there.

It's pitch black in the Redwood Forest, and I'm shivering from the anticipation of it all. My nipples could literally cut glass. I didn't bring a jacket; it'll get hot the moment we are mixed in with all the bodies of people anyway. Jeans, sneakers, and a black fitted t-shirt are all I need for the night ahead, I left my cell at the house and have cash in my pocket .

There's no signal out here anyway so what's the point. Walking through the iron wrought archway of Midnight Menagerie, I can't contain my excitement. Gripping onto Sasha's arm, I let out a shriek and begin stomping my feet swiftly like an excited child on Christmas morning. Except, there's torture, five different fear mazes and a final choice at the end.

When I applied for my hunter; I opted to be randomly chosen instead. I was going to choose golden mask guy but decided to throw caution to the wind and let Jesus take the wheel as such.

I'm obsessed with fear and any aspect of it that can give me that adrenaline rush. Fear, pain and the chase excite me. It's why I'm so intrigued by the secrecy of the mazes.

That won't be happening until tomorrow though. Tonight, its horror attractions, food, and games.

The first thing you notice after walking through the dimly lit entryway, are the ten-foot floodlights propped up by the entrance to the actual carnival. Brightly colored bulbs sewn within the tree line, lighting the pathway, and leading us to our doom, if you will. Sasha looks just as excited as I do, her eyes popping out of her head as she wraps her hand round mine.

"Let's go!" Her laughter fills the space between us as we run ahead, leaving Ben and Deck rambling between each other, like always.

We skid to a stop as we reach the entrance.

Hellmouth .

That's what the sign says. A huge Satanic head sits below the oversized hanging sign. The lower jaw all but buried into the ground with the rest of the mouth wide open for participants to walk through.

On either side, stand two huge cylindrical containers blowing fire into the air as the laughter of the fallen angel himself blares from the speakers, hidden away in the trees.

Butterflies ignite in my stomach as we take a step into the mouth.

"Welcome—"

The high-pitch scream that comes from Sasha as she practically jumps into my arms, is nothing short of hilarious. She clasps at her chest as the extremely tall, creepy looking clown steps out from behind the red and white striped desk. She might love horror and all things gore, but she's a major chicken shit.

"—to the Midnight Menagerie, all participants must be sure to remember their safe word." Pointing between both Sasha and I, he moves his hands swiftly behind his back, rummaging around. We try to peek, leaning to either side, when he immediately stops.

"No. Cheating." The tone of his voice a little more menacing than before. His costume is torn in places, some dirt rubbed over his lower half as if he has been crawling. It also looks like he has dried blood coating the sleeves and cuffs of his pants.

The face paint isn't your typical style either, the white of the paint bleeds into the wrinkles on his face, and where there would be a red mouth and nose, there's black instead. The makeup has smeared as though he has been crying.

Sasha jumps back in fright, covering her face the moment he pulls his arms back in front of us. I can't help the growing smile on my face as I nudge her, two little knife necklaces dropping from inside his hands. Reaching up, I take one and pass it to Sasha, the other I secure round my neck.

"I love shiny things." I wink, smiling up at him. "Gemini's are Magpies after all." I look up at him, twisting the little knife in my fingertips. "What's it for? "

"Lucky for you," he giggles manically, "you came at the right time." Stepping toward us, he bends at the waist, tilting his head from side to side as he eyes us skeptically. "Keep these safe, you can barter them for your life, but know it comes with a price."

"What's the price?" I'm intrigued.

"Disqualification from the Menagerie."

"Like, the entire thing?!" That seems like a bullshit price.

He only nods, and continues; "If there is a point within the weekend that you decide to... you know, give up… throw in the amulet, as we like to say." Leaning in even closer to me, he cups one side of his mouth. "Remember the one rule: You can't kill outside of the Hunters. We had a prowler die last month y'know, a lil' messy it got."

"What's a prowler?" Sasha asks nervously.

"One of me." Standing back up straight he marches back and forth in front of us. "Now remember, don't waste the request." His laughter yet again fills the air. "You only get one!" Disappearing behind the counter and curtain, I look at Sasha and we burst into another fit of laughter.

Ben steps between us, wrapping both his arms over our shoulders. "What's with Crusty the Clown?" Nodding toward the booth. "What did he give you?"

"Our little get out of jail free cards." Sasha taps her necklace against mine. Deck passes us, concentrating on his phone as per usual. "Apparently it acts as a barter or some shit." Shrugging, she smiles. "I won't be using it, because I'm making it to the end."

"You sure you're up for this, Sash?" I ask, mainly because this isn't just a typical kind of Halloween weekender. There was a list of things in the waiver that can happen during the stay here. Things that most people would be too petrified to watch in a movie, let alone put themselves through.

"Yeah, I'm good. This was for you anyway... I'll stick with you." Winking at me, she pokes out her tongue and I shake my head because of course she will stick with me.

"There's no fucking reception here!" Deck moans from in front of us, raising his phone in the air and circling around like he's in the sound of music. A sulking Decker makes for a severely boring and annoying male. Skipping over to him, I yank his phone from his hands.

"Hey!" he shouts.

Turning to face me, I move it from his reach, and he sighs petulantly.

"We are here to have fun. Fun , Deck, please, no phones." My bottom lip juts out, and I force it to quiver, fully embracing the sad girl persona. Rolling his eyes so hard, I'm sure he can see his skull, he gives in.

"Fine, but I'm gonna need some alcohol."

"Maybe there's some cock you can suck to turn that frown upside down," Ben sings beside him.

"The cock I want is back in Louisiana for the summer with his family." Dropping his head to my shoulder, I pat his cheek comfortingly and the four of us make our way through Satan's throat.

"Poor baby," I pout, kissing him on the forehead as we walk. I've never really desired someone before. Sure, sex is incredible when done right, but that's very few and far between for me. The only orgasm's I've had are the ones I've given myself.

The further we walk, the tighter the tunnel gets, so much so we break out into a single file line. The walls next to us go from red to black padding. The same kind you find on a child's bouncy castle .

Sasha stops directly in front of us. "I'm not going first." She turns around, pushing through the three of us to the back.

"What, why?" I laugh, "You scaaared ?" I chide, poking her in random places on her stomach.

"No, I just saw a hand and…" she pauses, fear etched in her eyes. She's just too easy. "You go first." Pushing me forward, my palms hit the vinyl padding that's slightly sticky. Reaching through the gap, I look back and scream. The three of them scream back, scrambling over themselves and fall backward in a panic. Cackling, I hold my stomach with my free hand. "You guys... should've seen the looks on your—"

A hand wraps around my wrist, yanking me through the narrow gap. The grip is firm, pulling me swiftly as the tight, padded space squeezes in. Hands press against the padding, shoving me back and forth as screams and cries echo around me. Suddenly, I tumble forward onto the ground below.

Within a split second, the others join me, pushing through of their own accord. Leaning back on my knees I look up at the slender man in front of me. He holds out his hand with a smile, and I indulge him with one in return while placing my palm against his.

"Welcome to Midnight Menagerie. You have five hours here, and at any time you choose, you're free to change your mind and sign off on the mazes tomorrow," he says, helping me up.

"Why?" Sasha shrugs. "Can't be that bad, right?"

"Idiot, you signed a waiver getting in here." Ben pushes her forward, the tall man catching her as she trips.

"Fuck you, asshole!" She laughs and pounces for Ben, jumping on his back playfully.

"It can get a little," he thinks for a second, searching for the right words to say within his explanation, " bloodthirsty. Anything goes. Each maze has a theme, and each one becomes trickier as you go. The final maze is a chase if you choose… by who, or what, you just don't know."

Sasha screws up her face. "Meaning?"

"Meaning you fight for your survival from what's in the mazes and those who make it there with you. Anything and everything is allowed. However, they—"

"Does that mean sexually too?" Ben asks, and that surprises me.

"Rape and sexual assault are prohibited. However, if you so wish to engage in," he clears his throat, smirking behind his fist, "sexual activities during your time here, it won't be held against you. Our Hunters are… insatiable."

I'm surprised at the excitement bubbling within my chest at the thought of something like that being allowed. It's sick, and I know I shouldn't feel that way about some random person just fucking me in the Redwood's, but I mean… I'm not against it.

Ben screws up his face. "Who the fuck would even—"

"It won't be that bad, don't worry so—" I say at the same time, backing into a wall of solid mass. I turn around, slowly raising my gaze up, and up and fucking up. "Jesus, Big Guy, walk much!?"

Tilting his head, his unbelievable eyes bore into mine, narrowing with a curl of his lip in what looks like annoyance. His eyes are the first thing I notice. The color of fog in the early hours of the morning as it settles just above the ground. Grey, an odd color but completely fascinating none the less. My gaze drops to the pinkish scar that runs down the center of his Adam's apple and I unintentionally wet my lower lip.

What the fuck am I doing ?

Coming back to reality, I stare into his eyes again, "Are you deaf?" I ask, waiting on bated breath for an answer.