2. Entering the Park

A siren blaredthroughout the park and rattled around Tallulah's skull. She groaned and blinked at her pitch-black surroundings. Her head banged against a short ceiling as she attempted to sit up.

Tallulah reached her hands up and touched a solid wood plank. She felt around, and it didn't take long for cold realization to envelop her in dread. She quickly sobered as she realized she was completely naked and encased in a box.

"Help!" she screamed, beating her fists against the rough, wooden lid. "Can anyone hear me?"

Quickly, her breathing became shallow as she fought panic. Her vision went white as she kicked and pushed—anything to break free. She clawed at the lid as claustrophobia threatened to overtake her.

She wept and thought for the first time this was all a mistake. Tallulah had clearly been wrong in thinking she could handle all this. Being buried alive wasn"t outlined in the contract.

But then, she remembered the form she'd hastily filled out.

Hobbies?I love watching horror movies. I also enjoy playing puzzle games.

She was a horror movie buff any time of the year. But there was just something special about watching them during the spooky season. She preferred the paranormal ones with demons and hauntings over slasher flicks or groups caught in some weird cult.

She always rolled her eyes because no one ever listened to the practical voice that wanted to get the fuck out of there. She"d fallen into that trap all on her own.

Fears? Zombies, heights, serial killers, small spaces, being buried alive, and drowning.

Fantasy? I've always wondered how erotic being bitten by a vampire would be. I fantasize about spreading blood on my skin and fucking in lusty euphoria. I love the gothic aesthetic and dream about being debuted into The Society as a newborn vampiress.

What a fucking idiot. She had given them the blueprint to her own terror. Bravo, she thought. This realization, however, failed to bring her comfort.

"HELP!" she screamed.

She forced herself to breathe. She needed to be rational in the face of fear. Surely they wouldn't actually kill her, right?

"Hello, Tallulah," a deep sultry voice greeted her from a speaker in the coffin she hadn"t noticed before. "Your time has started. Don"t forget your safe word. Otherwise, find the trigger and rise from the grave to play with us if you're brave enough."

It took a minute for his words to register. He'd said trigger. She felt around the padded lining along the sides until her fingers caught on a small seam. There was a handle beneath it she could pull with her finger. She'd been too panicked to notice it before.

Hinges creaked and groaned as they moved. Black soil that had been sitting on top shifted and began falling into the coffin. Tallulah barely had time to take a breath before she became engulfed.

Thankfully, it wasn"t packed dirt; it was soft and fluffy like potting soil. She didn't have to drag herself more than a foot out of the shallow grave. She pushed up and attempted to spit the dirt from her lips. It tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze. Tallulah's hands were full of dirt, and she was unable to wipe her eyes, leaving her at a disadvantage without sight.

The same sultry voice she'd heard before spoke again. "Two feet to your right is a fountain where you can rinse off. I suggest you move quickly, as you aren"t alone."

The hairs on the back of Tallulah's neck rose. She practically jumped the two feet and felt around. Her hands came in contact with cool stone, and the bubbling fountain was unmistakable. The water was ice cold, but she had no choice.

She rinsed her hands first, doing her best to ensure they were washed clean. Then she cupped her hands, letting the water pool before splashing her face. Tallulah wiped her lips and repeated the process several times before opening her eyes.

A groan caught Tallulah's attention. She stiffened and quickly looked over her shoulder and wished she hadn"t. She bit back a scream as she watched a group of zombies eating flesh.

The grotesque creatures appeared in varying states of decay. Their skin was pallid and hung loose as though pounds of adipose tissue were lost. What remained of the naked female's hair was dirty to the point that its original color was indistinguishable.

It can"t be real! Zombies aren"t real! They"re clearly actors who are eating something made to look like a human torso.

One of the zombies made a low guttural sound as it dug into a bloody chest cavity. Bones that were likely ribs cracked with a loud snap. The undead creature pulled out the bone and cleaned the muscle off with its teeth.

"You'd better move while they're busy feasting."

Tallulah was nauseated at the sight of entrails being removed. Blood splattered from an organ as a creature bit into it. Was it a liver or a kidney? She didn't know. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp.

"This can't be real," she said to the disembodied voice.

"Isn't it, though? I certainly wouldn"t want to sit around and find out. Exit the cemetery and turn left. Run to the house of mirrors."

"Who are you?" she asked the disembodied voice.

"Move!" he shouted.

Their conversation had caught the attention of the undead. Dull, lifeless eyes fixated on her. Slowly and disjointedly, they moved like a herd in her direction—one step, then another. Tallulah glanced around, trying to find something with which to defend herself.

"Run, Tallulah!" the voice commanded. She wasn"t going to stick around and be told again.

A shot rang out. She glanced over her shoulder and saw one of the zombies fall. Black ooze ran down the face of another undead before it fell to the ground. Several more deafening shots rang out disturbing the silence. Tallulah couldn't see the mysterious shooter but didn't wait to see what became of the remaining zombies.

As Tallulah ran, she came across a billboard that read Stay and Play. The image of a smiling little girl with pigtails had been altered to a demonic child with a sinister sneer. A tattered corner fluttered, being blown by a breeze that didn"t exist in the still night.

Terror and excitement made Tallulah shiver with anticipation. She had already faced two of her biggest fears before the first hour ended as the collar around her neck buzzed. She wondered what lay in store for the other eleven.