Page 89 of Merciless Obsession

Inaya’s eyes cut into slits. The trail was dark outside of the strobe lights and smoke, but I could see the questions all over her face.

“I’m good, I swear. Go ahead,” I encouraged and pulled away from her.

I turned to go to the mirrors. A rush of excitement ran through my veins the closer I got the building. My stomach fluttered wildly. The hairs on the back of my neck rose and my eyes darted around each time I heard something. The Kents had speakers overhead that played creepy music and every so often the same laugh from the clown’s boombox cut in.

When I got to the entrance of the mirrors, I bounced my eyes around. The area seemed empty. In the distance I heard the rest of the party enjoying themselves.

Stepping into the building, I looked around. My reflection stared back at me. Slowly, I walked ahead, looking around.

I jumped hearing a laugh. “Hello?” I called out, looking around.

The laugh grew louder. Making a turn, I jumped again and my eyes widened seeing someone dressed in a Joker costume. I spun around but there was no one there.

Licking my lips, I swallowed hard. When I turned back, I only saw myself.

For the next five minutes I walked through the maze of mirrors, trying to find who was texting me or the exit. Every so often I would see the person dressed in the Joker costume or hear that ear bleeding, obnoxious laugh.

“I’m coming for you, Bumblebee!” a loud voice boomed.

My pulse picked up. My eyes darted from side to side.

“Where are you?”

I walked faster as my stomach did a cartwheel.

“You have to find me before I find you.” The laugh sounded again.

The lights inside flickered. It seemed like everywhere I turned was a dead end, surrounded by images of myself.

“You can run but you can’t hide, Bumblebee. I’m gonna get you.”

Fight or flight kicked in and I took off in a run. Ezra got a thrill out of this; I could hear it in his voice. He was haunting me. How he set this up I wasn’t sure but I refused to be caught. His intentions were unclear but I was excited. I felt like I did when he watched me through my window times ten. Each time the Joker appeared, the adrenaline inside me heightened. It made me wonder if this was what drug addicts felt when they shot up, an intense high. The more I was haunted, it felt like an overbearing flood of endorphins were shooting through me.

I saw a light and what looked like outside when I turned again. The lights went out again and this time when they came in, I was surrounded by Joker. He was behind me in my reflection.

Spinning around, I saw the silhouette of someone.

“Caught ya.”

My eyes bucked and I turned, taking off in a sprint. I rushed to the light ahead and ended up outside. I bounced my eyes back side to side. The Kents’ property was huge. They had utilized a good amount with the attractions set up. It was fenced in for privacy. In the distance were basketball and tennis courts. There was a sign that read haunted maze to the right.

When the sound of laughing grew closer to me, I took off in the direction of the maze. Ezra thought because of what happened this morning he was in control but he was wrong. I refused to get caught by him. A rush shot through me as I ran. My legs burned and my blood pumped. The wig on my head stuck to my face as my scalp tingled.

The maze seemed to have different entrances. I bypassed the haunted house to get to it.

“Bumblebee,” Ezra called out. He was quick, his movements silent.

I glanced behind me, smirked. “Fuck you!” I called out and hurried into the entrance of the maze.

There were people inside but my only focus was getting away from Ezra. The maze was perfectly set up to confuse people. People popped out. Mechanical hands reached out to grab folks. Yells and shrieks could be heard all around. The maze wasn’t small either, it had to be at least a mile each way.

I knew Inaya was probably wondering where I was, and when I thought it was safe, I pulled my phone out to text her. Just like I thought, I saw a text from her wondering where I was.

I was in the middle of texting her back when my body jerked and I fell to the ground. My phone went flying. A heavy body was on me as I struggled to break loose.

“Caught you,” Ezra growled. He lowered his white painted face and ran his nose along my cheek. My heart slammed into my ribcage painfully hard.

“Get off me!” I shouted.