Chapter 10

TEN

MONROE

"I love what you've done with the place."

Dunn Farm was the resident Christmas tree farm on Megelle Island. But now that it was Halloween, the Dunn family participated in other ways.Each season of the year, the farm sold something. Right now, it was pumpkins and other fall foods. But for spooky season, they hosted the pine tree maze.

Holden put his hands on his hips and leaned back, gazing into the dark forest behind his property. "Yeah, it's not too bad. The younger ones, Jason and Travis, really had a hand in planning out the haunted tree maze. They loved it."

The moon was bright overhead, and it shined down on the whole farm with bright blue lighting. S everal pairs of eyes reflected in the trees and the sound of howling filled the air. "It'll be perfect."

Holden's brows furrowed. "Perfect for what?"

Dawson shook his head. "Don't even ask."

"I kind of feel the need to now." Holden leaned in closer to us. "Are you still obsessing over the siren?"

"I am not obsessed." The very thought that I would even be close to obsessed with her made me want to laugh. Yet I didn't.

"He might be a tad obsessed," Dawson agreed with Holden.

"You two need to shut the hell up." I turned away from them for a moment, looking out over the farm. "I'm here to enjoy the maze and have fun, like I do every year."

The truth was I loved everything about Dunn Farm. It was the kind of place a person could set up a life and never leave. There was a small storefront by the edge of the road where Holden's brother, Trevor, sold goods from the farm like apple cider, freshly baked pies, pumpkins, and apples. It was small with a front porch that ran its length and a long roof that covered it from one end to the other. Even now people came and went with all kinds of fall festive goods. Fake spiderwebs adorned every window on the front of the small building. Hay bales were set up around the outside of it to hold all the pumpkins they had for sale.

Wooden fencing lined both sides of the dirt road leading up to the house. Shadows of wolves running moved over the property, giving it more of a Halloween feel. To my right, rows of Christmas trees filled the open field, but they wouldn't be ready for a few more months still. Just beyond all the Christmas trees was the big red barn with all their animals. Young children walked in and out of the barn, petting all the animals. Across from the barn was Holden and Reese's home. It was a classic-looking log cabin, with a sloping roof and an oversized front porch filled with rocking chairs. Smoke billowed from the rock chimney on the side of the house.

Holden motioned toward the opening of the maze. "Then go right ahead. I think I saw Kristie go in there a few minutes ago. She might've been looking for you"

The longer I let this false engagement carry on, the deeper the hole was going to get. I didn't want to hurt Kristie, but at the same time I couldn't just stay with someone out of fear of hurting them. "I'll catch up to her in a little while. Come on, Dawson, let's go."

"Have fun." Holden gave a dark chuckle and turned away from us.

I headed right for the opening in the trees with Dawson by my side. Immediately we were thrown into shadows. Fog crept over the ground and the sound of screams, humming chainsaws, and wild, creepy laughter filled the night air.

Dawson twisted around at every stray sound. "This is super creepy."

I chuckled under my breath. "Yeah, wolves haunting the forest is perfect."

The forest teemed with wildlife, the sounds of bats, hissing cats, and creeping branches surrounded us. They blasted those creepy noises through the forest, making the maze even more terrifying. We walked around a twist in the path, and I ducked behind a thick bush with sharp branches sticking out from it in all directions.

Dawson stood over me. "Really? This is what we're doing?"

I grabbed his arm and yanked him down behind the bush with me. "It's not like I'm making them break out in song and dance in front of a room full of people."

"Yeah, that was a good one." Dawson chuckled and shook his head. "We actually harmonized."

"Never mind that." He wasn't wrong. We did sound good. "It's just a little jump-scare, that's all."

"Right, because this is getting even."

"Will you lower your voice," I hissed. "We don't want them to hear us."

"How do you even know they'll be here?" He barely lowered his voice.

"Gut feeling." Chip would be here. I just knew it. She was making it a habit of joining in all the festivities of the Island. "We just have to wait here. She's bound to walk by."

"That's your plan? Sit here all night to jump-scare the siren?" Dawson hung his head. "I'm really starting to worry about you."

"Ew, ugh. I hate this," a familiar voice muttered so low I could barely make it out.

"Shh." I pressed my finger over my lips. "It's her."

Dawson's brow furrowed. "Are you sure?"

Light footsteps moved toward us. They sounded like they were tripping through the forest like a fish out of water would. I leapt from my spot and roared a deep, menacing growl. I threw my arms up, making myself look bigger. A loud screech broke through the night and her arms flew up in the air. A huge purse soared over our heads and fell to the ground. My eyes widened, and instantly I knew this was not Chip. Bright-blonde hair whipped around and Kristie stood before me with her hand pressed to her chest. She placed her other hand on the tree and hunched over, sucking in deep breaths.

"What the hell, Monroe!" She glared up at me like she wanted to kill me.

"Kristie." I hesitated as I glanced around. "I-I didn't realize it was you."

Dawson knelt on the ground as fits of laughter wracked his body. I shoved him with my knee, and he fell to the side still laughing. "What good are you?"

"Who the hell did you think it was?" Kristie snapped at me.

"I-I thought you were Chip." I knew the second I said it that it was a mistake.

She curled her hands in fists at her sides and her cheeks turned bright-red. Her eyes widened and her body quaked. "What is it with you and this siren?"

My mouth opened and closed like I was the fish. I didn't know what to say or how to respond. "I'm so sorry."

"Nothing about this is funny, Monroe." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I don't think it is." Guilt ran through my chest. I felt bad for scaring her, unintentional as it may have been.

She jabbed a finger in my face. "I don't even know what to say to you right now!"

Before I could answer, she spun away from me and grabbed her bag off the ground. She growled and stormed away, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder.

Dawson tried to wipe at his eyes as he rose to his feet. "That was so bad."

I groaned. "Yeah, tell me about it."

Dawson motioned in the direction she ran off. "Wanna go after her?"

I shook my head. "I came here for a reason, Dawson."

"She's kind of right about the siren, you know?"

I pushed him back down behind the bush. "Shut up. We have people to scare."

Dawson sighed and crouched down next to me. "How do I let you get me into these things?"

"Because we're family, and deep down you know she deserves it a little." My knees were starting to ache from squatting.

"I actually don't think she does," he muttered.

I held my tongue, and we sat in silence listening for them to come along. Silence hung between us. I knew I should give up and go home, but just as I was about to leave, I heard the two of them laughing. There was no stumbling through the forest or frustrated grunts. They were genuinely having a good time. Chip giggled and stumbled into Pickles. They were hand in hand, trying to steady each other as they laughed.

"This isn't a good idea," Dawson hissed under his breath.

I didn't listen to him. This time I sucked in a deep breath. I jumped in the air and yelled at the top of my lungs with a growl. The two of them screamed and stumbled back. Suddenly Pickles was on the ground with her long gray tail flipping under her flower skirt.

Chip stood over her with her arms out, her voice rising with her panicked words. "What is happening!?"

Pickles rolled over the ground and onto her back. Her face was bright-red as she laughed.

Chip's face snapped up toward mine. "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything," I yelled back.

Reese and Holden ran through the woods toward us. Reese skidded to a stop right next to her sister. "What happened!? There's no water here?"

Pickles giggled so hard it took her three tries to get out, "I peed a little!"

Chip's eyes widened, and she turned toward Reese. "Oh my god. New fear unlocked."

Reese's hand snaked up to her necklace and she shuddered. "I did that once."

Dawson hurried toward Pickles, reaching to try to pick her up. "Let me just?—"

My jaw dropped. "I didn't intend for that to happen?—"

"Of course not, Monroe," Chip snapped in my direction. "You're a lying liar who lies. You fully meant to scare us."

"Yes, but not this?—"

"Well, good on you." She turned toward Holden. "Can you help us get to your house so she can change."

Holden was laughing so hard he had to wipe his eyes. "I thought you had those necklaces now?"

"We ordered them, they weren't ready yet." I pushed my hair back. "And there isn't water in a forest."

"Well, there's a little puddle now."Pickles laughed so hard she snorted.