Page 124 of One Killer Night

As I’m marveling and quite possibly projecting onto a random tree in the middle of the forest, my eyes catch a burst of light off in the distance. Like when the sun reflects off some shiny metal.

I squint, unmoving, my gaze turned in the direction the flash came from as I lock on a man about thirty yards away.

Who the hell?

He’s standing and facing me like a statue.

I can’t make out his face because his hat’s pulled down too low, but he’s wearing the standard-issue work clothes for a scary-movie villain: navy blue jacket and dark work pants with black boots.

Neither of us makes a move; then a new emotion hits.

Okay ... this is honestly disappointing.

I smile because for the first time, I’m recognizing the perk of being stuck for days at Horror U. I’ve finally become imperviable to Evie’s shit. The television set the bar too high, and this guy isn’t doing a damn thing.

“Ha,” I yell, cupping my hands around my mouth to megaphone my message. “You’re going to have to go back and tell them to try again. You aren’t scaring me. And you can quote me as someone who fully backs the bear in the woods theory.”

I roll my eyes and turn around, keeping on my path, not even looking behind me as I make my way back down to the camp, truly unfazed and ready to rub my win in my sister’s face.

Even if the current score is set at something more like her 100 and me 1.

The moment I’m back in camp, I don’t even know what to focus on first because there are people everywhere.

A girl pretends to slash her friend’s throat as she makes a fake gurgling sound, and someone yells from their cabin for everyone to check out the shower.

Been there, done that.

Someone screams, making me almost break my neck as I look at them, but it’s just a guy wearing a plastic baby mask running by me while holding a fake knife as his girlfriend laughs as she runs from him.

What the fuck.

I could’ve sworn my sister said the bus left at 3:00 p.m. But if that’s true, then why am I suddenly in an eighties horror film with people dressed the part? As I think it, a guy walks by with hairy legs and very short shorts. He’s going to catch pneumonia or a chainsaw to the forehead.

I have to get out of here.

I hustle to our cabin, weaving in and out of people dressed as various psycho killers who recite infamous lines that I’ve never heard before but hate all the same.

Jesus, the camp is pandemonium. Horror enthusiasts are everywhere, and I’m supposed to be heading home, away from scary things, even if it is Halloween.

“Kill, kill, kill,” comes from my left, making my shoulders jump, and any cool I’d thought I’d banked from my time here completely vanishes. I snap my head to the side to see ...Wait, is that ...?

Jesus, there’s a grown man dressed as that killer doll in overalls.

Who are these people? Community is overrated. More people should isolate.Bring back shame, bring back shamechants in my head as I keep my eyes on the ground, moving quickly.

My feet literally can’t move fast enough to get to my cabin, but I’m not going to actually run because who knows what would happen around this bunch. I could be chased down and hog-tied in the name of a cult classic.

Absolutely not.

The moment I get to the cabin, I barrel through our cabin door before closing it behind me, my back falling against it as I lock eyes with Evie.

“Why are there people here? I thought we were leaving before the people got here.”

I’m breathless and my nerves are already on edge, but she’s just staring at me.

“Evie. What is wrong with you?”

She frowns before she points to her ears and then removes her AirPods.Oh my god.