Page 71 of Horror and Chill

Corwin leans back against the arm of the couch, still grinning like a devil. “Tomorrow night. Midnight shoot, Little Horror. We’ll make it bloody for you.”

The way he says it makes my skin prickle.

Evander doesn’t look away. “Tell us what you need. Props. Costumes. Whatever it takes. You’ll have it.”

I swallow hard, my voice low. “Fine. Then tomorrow, we film. But this is my set, my rules.”

None of them laugh. None of them argue. And somehow that’s worse.

Because for the first time tonight, I realize they might actually mean it.

I lean back against the couch, rubbing my wrists where the leather bit into them. “If we’re actually doing this, I’ll need props. Fake blood, plastic pickaxes, maybe a heart mold. Something that looks real on camera.”

Corwin whistles. “Oh, I’ve got plenty of practice making messes look real.” He winks. “Bet I could get you a heart that still beats.”

“Not funny,” I snap. “I had all the things I needed at my house. But devil knows how far from there we are.”

“Didn’t say I was joking.” He grins.

I roll my eyes so hard my skull aches. “I’ll also need candles. Tall, black ones if you can find them. Lanterns too. A crypt set means shadows, not flat light. Otherwise it looks like shit.”

Garron finally speaks, voice low and steady. “We can get those. There’s a hardware store in town.”

I blink. “You’re seriously going to waltz into Ace Hardware for horror props?”

“We’ve done worse,” he mutters, and I believe him.

Evander hasn’t moved from where he’s standing, watching me like he’s cataloguing every word. “What about you?” he asks. “What will you wear?”

I freeze. My chest tightens. “Why does it matter?”

“Because it’s part of the story,” he says. “Tell us what the costume is supposed to say.”

I swallow, heat crawling up my neck. “Black dress. Torn tights. Boots. I was going for gothic horror slut. You know, scream queen but make it fuckable.”

Corwin leans forward so far he nearly falls off the couch. “You don’t have to try for fuckable, Little Horror. You already are.”

Garron grabs his shoulder, shoving him back with a grunt. “Don’t crowd her.”

“I wasn’t crowding,” Corwin shoots back, but the smirk never leaves his face.

I ignore them both, keeping my eyes on Evander. “And no, you’re not co-starring. This isn’t amateur hour porn with the babysitter’s uncles.”

Corwin raises his hand again, grinning. “I volunteer anyway. Could hold the camera with one hand and?—”

“Try finishing that sentence and I’ll break your nose,” I cut in.

His grin only widens. “God, I like you.”

Evander tilts his head, lips barely moving. “You said no masks this time. Does that mean you want us in the frame?”

The air punches out of me. My throat goes dry. “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t say no either.”

I cross my arms tighter, nails biting into my skin. “I’m not letting you three hijack my shoot. This is my calendar, my job. If my boss sees anything off, I’m done.”

Garron’s voice rumbles steadily. “Then tell us exactly what you need and we’ll give you that. Nothing more.”