Page 14

The line into the Scream Factory is already about a hundred people deep despite us being here only a few minutes after opening. Miles and I make our way to the line and join the throng of people waiting to be let inside.

“I think this year they have more clowns than normal.” I have to yell for him to hear me, but when he does, he turns to me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

“Sonnet, you hate clowns.” His mouth turns down in a frown as he immediately begins looking around the crowd. Rough fingers grab at my own before lacing through them, his hand clasping mine tightly as he pulls me a little closer. “Why do you insist on torturing yourself like this?”

I squeeze his hand once to bring his gaze back down to mine. “That’s kind of the point of a haunted house, isn’t it?”

He sighs and nods, leaning up against the wooden fence that separates the crowd into a single, winding line. Neither of us says another word as we slowly move closer and closer to the haunted house with every passing minute. Despite there being so many people, the line moves pretty fast. Before I know it, a man on stilts dressed as a bloody demon is directing us through the front door.

I slip in front of Miles, still holding his hand behind my back, as I make my way up the steps. The first part of the haunted house is an old bus. Cobwebs hang from all over, and there’s fake blood splattered around the interior. A few feet away from the back entrance of the bus, a man pops up from the seat, yelling and covered in bloody scratches.

His cries for help are drowned out by my own screams as I jump back into Miles. His arm bands around me as he pushes me forward and out the back, ignoring the still wailing man that grabs at us as we pass.

“They can’t touch you, Sonnet. Remember that. Just keep moving and you’ll be fine.”

I nod at Miles’ words and keep walking forward. The next room we enter is filled with hanging bodies. A faint dripping sound echoes throughout the crowded room, and there’s a man with a chainsaw making his way through the hanging corpses.

Anticipation of getting caught by the illusion of a serial killer has my heart pounding as we make our way through and into a small hallway. There’s just enough room to walk without getting touched by the dozens of hands reaching through the holes in the walls. The screams echo louder here, almost enough to cover my ears, but it all adds to the small thread of fear working its way in my heart.

I know it’s all a giant ruse, but each room has my heart beating just a little faster until there’s sweat making its way down my back in the leather costume. Miles holds my hand the entire time, giving me small nudges forward until we’ve made our way to the last room. I can see the exit sign on the other side, but it’s not a straight shot. Half walls and small, broken carnival rides lay scattered around the floor, making it so you have to slowly make your way across the room.

“I think I know what this room is…” I don’t know if Miles hears my whisper, but he doesn’t have to. A clown with a painted face and a bloody outfit jumps from a broken cart and rushes toward us. The scream that rips from my lips is far scarier than any other I’ve heard here tonight, filled with genuine fear.

My hand is freed as arms grip my legs and pick me up. The room rushes around me in a myriad of colors and clown faces as Miles rushes through the room. Half a dozen more bloody clowns jump up in various places, with some even pretending to give chase, but I watch it all while being safe in Miles’ arms.

Deep breaths pull the fresh night air into my lungs as Miles makes his way out of the haunted house. Laughter spills into the night as people wait to enter the Scream Factory or play one of the dozen mini attractions set up around the field. I turn, finding Miles already staring at me as we stand in the shadows of the haunted house.

“Well…that was scarier than last year.” My voice still has a shake to it, despite the smile lining my lips. It doesn’t trick Miles, though.

“Are you ready to leave, or did that not scare you enough?” His voice, however gruff, has a semblance of lightheartedness to it as well. He may not have enjoyed the haunted house, but he definitely didn’t hate it. Or maybe it’s just because he’s still carrying me. I definitely feel his hand rubbing against the bare skin on my hip.

“Not a chance. We still have a lot to do tonight.” I turn my head and look around the field, taking note of the smaller rides and games set up. “Let’s hit the bull first. See if you have this good of a grip when something is trying to buck you off.”

Miles laughs and heads to the bull riding set up a few yards away. He squeezes me in his arms as he walks. “Would you try to buck me off, Sonnet?”

I shrug and shoot him a smile. “Only time will tell.”

CHAPTER 9

Sonnet has somehow managed to hit all the minor attractions in just a few hours, winning most of them. She beat my record on the bull her first time, proving to me that she’s going to have no trouble riding me into oblivion. That little costume she’s wearing is just adding fuel to the fire. The leather hugs every curve, highlighting her breasts and hips so much that she reminds me of the devil she’s dressed up as - ready to steal my soul.

Except, I’d willingly give it to her. No deal needed.

Sonnet blows me a kiss as she leaves me at the wooden picnic table to go find a bathroom. The sight of her ass walking away from me has me watching her until she disappears around the corner of the block building.

I look down at my burger and toss the last remaining bite into the paper tray. We’ve been walking around all night and finally decided to take a break for some food. Sonnet got some cheese fries while I opted for my normal burger. Some things never change. Just like how I know that as soon as she gets back, she’s going to want to keep going. We still have the corn maze and the balloon target game to play. Then come tomorrow, she’s going to want to play everything again at the Fall Fest.

I love the childlike wonder that still lives on in Sonnet. It’s something I’ve never had, even as a child, and I have always found myself in awe when I watch her. Every year, she does the same games and sees the same vendors, but every year, she’s just as excited as the last. It makes me love her just a little more.

“Miles!”

I turn to see Mr. Jackson walking toward me in a cape and fake fangs, complete with the painted white skin. Shaking my head, I turn and offer him a hand as I stand. “Mr. Jackson, I’m surprised to see you here.”

Jackson shakes my hand before looking down at himself and huffing out a laugh. “Yes, well, the kids love it here and still insist on us coming along, despite them being grown. My wife insists on the costumes. It’s sort of a family tradition.” He picks his head up and shrugs, “I’m sure you and Sonny will be the same way in just a few years.”

He says it so casually that I don’t question him. I’m sure it will be Sonnet and me in a few years, even if she doesn’t realize it yet. I’d wear the matching costumes and bring her here every year if she asked. And kids…God, I never realized how bad I wanted kids until now. Kids with her.

Jackson waves his hand, effectively breaking me out of my fantasy and bringing me back to reality. “Anyway, I wanted to talk to you and figured I’d go ahead and plant the seed now before school on Monday. You can give me an answer then.”