Page 11

Olivia

WONDERLAND by Neoni

T he air is heavy with cold moisture. It’s the type of cold that chills you to the bone and makes you feel as though the marrow deep within is frigid. Gray clouds block out the sun, leaving the world drenched in depths of stormy darkness. It could be early morning or evening. It’s impossible to tell here in the winter sometimes when the seemingly endless stretches of clouded days roll through the Pacific Coast.

Checking my phone, I see it’s five-thirty. The exact time my masked stranger told me to meet him here. Yesterday, he sent me coordinates and told me to meet him at this location at this specific time. I have no idea where he is or why he wants me here. But if it means getting more information about what happened to Celeste then I’m willing to play along with this game, whatever it is. Which is why I find myself standing in the middle of an abandoned Halloween carnival. It shuts down every year after Halloween and sits dead and decaying in an empty field until the next year. It’s creepy as fuck right now. I’m not sure this will lead to any actual information, but it is for sure causing me to freeze my fucking ass off.

The rides are all off, silent, and unmoving. Dew dipped spider webs hang between the railings, leaving everything covered in a dark and shimmering glow. Once filled with loud music and bright lights is now devoid of life as if everyone here instantly vanished, leaving their ghosts to haunt the space. It’s cold and creepy; why the fuck did he want me come here?

“Hello?” I shout into the empty nothingness surrounding me.

As I expected, no call returns my greeting. I pull my chunky black sweater around me tighter. My black combat boots sink into the muddy ground as I walk slowly and carefully though this graveyard of haunted joy. I dressed in a cute little black dress, black fishnets, and my boots with a sweater over the top to go into work for a few hours this afternoon, and I came straight here afterwards. I wasn’t exactly sure what I would find out, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to be caught running from a serial killer in heels. I would’ve dressed in something warmer if I’d known he’d leave me wandering through an abandoned carnival alone in the rain.

I chew on my bottom lip as I move cautiously around the ferris wheel. The unmoving eyes of the creepy carousel animals seem to watch me as I slowly wander through the desolate space. That’s one of the main attractions they promote here—a creepy carousel with decaying animals that you ride on. It’s grotesque and glorious in its own unique way. The other main attractions are the corn maze and pumpkin patch. But after this last Halloween when a man was found mutilated and murdered out there, I doubt they’ll be promoting that section of the carnival next year. It’s even more eerie to know I’m out here alone, meeting a stranger who claims to have information about my missing friend, at the sight of a brutal and mysterious murder. This is probably a really fucking bad idea.

As I continue to wander, I suddenly hear music off in the distance. It’s faint but it’s there. Maybe it’s one of the rides? I know that seems silly; everything is closed down, but this whole thing is off already. This place is freaky as fuck and it’s messing with my mind.

“Hello?” I yell out again into the darkness as I attempt to navigate toward the haunting sound of carnival music. I’m entranced, drawn toward the sound like a lamb willingly walking to their own slaughter. For Celeste though, I’d gladly walk toward Hell.

As I round the boundary of the looming ferris wheel, I find the source of the music—the fun house. The lights are on and the music is blaring. The sinister clown face on the front beckons you inside, willing you to enter its mouth and be consumed by whatever lies within. Unease coils tightly in my core. My instincts tell me to run.

A buzzing in my pocket causes me to jump and a startled sigh leaves my parted lips. My eyes dart around in fear, making sure I’m truly alone before I reach in my pocket to retrieve my phone. A message notification glows on my screen.

UNKNOWN: Turn around.

As soon as I read the words I spin. Standing amongst the gray fog is a man. Tall and imposing, he looms in the shadowed darkness cast by the ferris wheel behind me. He’s dressed in all black and I can’t see his face because it’s hidden behind a mask. It’s the mask that makes me gasp and stumble backwards. His demonic appearance is horrifying, the sight sending tingles throughout my entire body. The mask is hideous; a black and gold demon with a long curving tongue protruding between sharp fangs. I know that demonic disguise—it’s the same face that’s been haunting me for months. My masked stalker has found me again. He cocks his head to the side as he appraises me. Goosebumps prickle across my skin as the hellish creature fixes his sights on me. Every cell in my system is on fire underneath his gaze.

He takes a slow step toward me. I can feel his presence like flames licking across my skin, even across the expanse of frigid evening air that separates us.

“Are you the one who messaged me?” I ask the demon in front of me. My words leave my lips as a soft, white whisper.

He doesn’t answer me. He just takes another calculated step towards me. I take one back. It has to be him. Right?

“Run.” His voice slithers across the cold fog like a snake coiling its way around my skin and constricting.

“What?” I ask in shock as I assess the man in front of me, trying to determine if he’s even real or if this is all a nightmare projecting pieces of my unconscious fears into reality.

“Run, little one,” his voice drips with ill intent as he stalks even closer, attempting to narrow the space between us while I scramble away in an effort to maintain my distance. “Because if I catch you, you’re mine.” He takes another step closer and laughs. “Mine to fuck. Mine to use. Mine to hurt. Mine to own.” With each word he steps closer, driving me closer and closer towards the fucking creepy ass fun house at my back. “All. Fucking. Mine.”

My heart pounds uncomfortably in my chest. Panic races through my veins as anxiety bubbles through my core and restricts my lungs. I need to know the truth about where my friend is, but at what price? Am I willing to play this fucked up game with the monster in order to save her?

Before I can think too much, my feet are moving on their own accord. My fight or flight instinct has clearly chosen flight. My boots sink into the soft mud of the ground as I run with everything in me. The cold rain whips my cheeks as I sprint toward the only shelter around—the funhouse. It’s probably a really bad fucking idea to hide in a house of horrors but what other choice do I have? If I don’t hide, he’ll catch me, and then I’m his.

The music and lights grow brighter and louder as I race toward the entrance. I can feel the demon behind me as his thunderous steps chase me down, getting closer and closer. Panic and desperation propel me up the ancient wooden steps and into the darkness beyond.

Inside, the haunting carnival music persists to blast through crackling speakers. The gears and rusted machinery running the attraction groan to life. He must have turned on whatever fucked up shit is in here. Great . I just need to find the exit, make it out of here, and get the hell away from the madness this masked man has thrown into my life. It was a terrible mistake coming here. I played right into my stalkers plan, allowing myself to be the lamb up for slaughter.

I move further into the darkened hallway; smoke and shadows dance up the wooden walls that seem to be closing in on me. I know it’s a perception trick but it’s still creepy as fuck. Good thing I’m not claustrophobic. A sudden noise behind me makes me jump, propelling me forward. The hallway takes a sudden and sharp turn before opening into a large room bathed in eerie red light.

I stare back as hundreds of eyes scan my figure. The distorted forms and the scarlet lighting send a shiver running down my spine. I blink and the hundred reflections blink back at me. It’s a hall of mirrors. He’s run me straight into a creepy as fuck hall of mirrors.

Footsteps behind me catch my attention and send my heart rate reeling. My chest tightens as panic courses through my entire nervous system.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are, sweetheart.” His distorted voice sing-songs from behind me, bouncing off the walls around me.

My feet seem to move before my mind can process what I’m doing. I stick my hands out in front of me and enter the reflective maze beyond. I turn to the left and see my panic stricken face staring back at me from all angles. It’s so disarming to come face to face with my own fear. Suddenly, a flash of black appears in the reflection. I move as quickly as I can, spinning to turn in the other direction as I wander further and further into the maze.

“I know you’re in here, siren.” His voice sounds as if he’s closing in. “Your fear calls to me—it’s the sweetest song I’ve ever heard.”

His footsteps echo off the reflective walls, leaving me lost as to what direction the sound is coming from. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as I turn again, desperately trying to flee from the monster who’s trap I’ve fallen straight into. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as it pushes me to keep fleeing. But as I round another corner I’m met with hundreds of horrific faces. The black pits of hellish fury stare back at me from each reflection of his mask.

“Caught you.” His deep, distorted growl curls around me and sends goosebumps skittering across skin.

I start to move to the right but so do the reflections. He’s everywhere and nowhere. The mirrors are playing tricks on my eyes and he’s playing tricks on my mind. I spin on my heels and run to the left. His reflections disappear but the sound of his sinister laughter echoes behind me as I frantically flee. With my hands braced out in front of me I slam against wall after wall, crashing through the twisting and turning walls of mirrors.

I turn a final corner and freeze. I’m in an open room with mirrors on all sides. My wild and winded face reflects back at me as my eyes flick from mirror to mirror. I move toward the center of the room, spinning slowly as I take in my situation. I’m trapped—trapped in a room full of mirrors at the heart of a deserted fun house.

“Nowhere left to run love,” he croons as he steps into the doorway, blocking my exit and sealing my fate.

For every step he takes toward me, I counter with my own step backwards. The monster before me is reflected in every mirror, giving the illusion that he’s closing in on me from all sides. He’s right—I’m trapped.

My back bumps into something hard and knocks the breath out of me. I take my eyes off him for just a moment, and a moment is all he needs. His hand shoots out and large fingers curl around my neck, cutting off my air supply like a python constricting its prey.

“Where were you yesterday?” he growls against my face.

“Wh—what?” I choke out.

“Where the fuck were you yesterday?”

I rack my brain, desperately trying to figure out what he’s talking about.

“Nowhere.” I gasp as his hand tightens further around my airway. “I went to visit my dad, that’s all.”

His grip releases just enough to let me suck in a desperate breath. We stare into each other’s eyes for a moment.

“I can feel your pulse racing, love. Are you frightened?” he finally asks as he cocks his head to the side. The black empty eyes of the mask seem to stare straight into my soul, and I can’t look away no matter how hard I try.

“Yes,” I manage to whisper against the right hand holding my throat.

“Good.” His free hand reaches into his coat, pulling out the same bloodied blade as before and holds it up in front of my eyes. It’s coated in the dried blood of the man I stabbed. “You should be.”

He brings the knife down the hem of my dress. I’m terrified he’s going to cut me, or fuck me with it, or something, but the sharp sound of fabric tearing pulls my attention down to where he’s cutting my dress. I begin to flail and fight him. I need to fight him. I need to get out of here.

He pushes me harder against the mirror behind me, clamping down on my air way further. I claw at his hand but it’s no use. “I don’t want to cut you, beautiful. So be a good girl and behave for me.”

My fear of his blade is greater than the fear of being naked, so I stop flailing and let him cut the onyx fabric all the way up to my neckline. When my dress is finally sliced in two, he presses his body into mine. “Such a good fucking girl for me, aren’t you?”

His large hand moves up to the base of my chin. He tilts my head to the side, bringing my eyes and attention to our reflection. I’m a mess; mascara and tears stain my cheeks, my hair is a wild mane of curls, and my dress is shredded to bits. And yet I can’t deny there’s something intoxicating about the vulnerability he’s pulling from me. As a switch, I’ve been submissive before, but I’ve never been this truly out of control. Involuntarily, I roll my hips, seeking friction.

“That’s it my love,” the monster croons as he rubs his muscular thigh between my legs. “Your soul has called to me, asking me to create the chaos you crave. Show me how much you need this. Submit to me.”

He’s not wrong. I want this. Pleasure begins to curl low in my stomach as I shamelessly grind against this monstrous stalker, silently begging him. I’m willingly letting the flames of desire consume me. I know I should stop, but as I stare at our reflection, the truth is—I don’t want to.

As suddenly as he pushed me against the wall, he pulls me away. My eyes snap back to the monstrous mask as he drags me by my throat to the center of the room. His muscular body is hard as steel against my exposed flesh. The smell of him is familiar. He smells like some type of expensive cologne, a mixture of smoke and spice. It pulls on a thread of memory lost deep in the depths of my mind.

“When you come for me, it won’t be on my thigh, beautiful girl. I want to feel that pretty pussy of yours,” he growls before releasing my throat and using his hands to slide my sweater and ruined dress off my shoulders, leaving me in just my stockings.

He brings the knife back up, pointing the tip of the blade straight at my quaking chest. I tremble in fear and anticipation as my monster circles me. His blackened gaze rakes over my entire body. Heat licks my every nerve as my monster takes me all in. Once back behind me, he surprises me. A small gasp leaves my lips as he bends and falls to his knees.

I’m helpless as he pulls me down to the ground. I fall to my own knees with my back pressed to the firm wall of muscle of his chest as he positions me so my legs are spread across his thighs. Naked except for my fishnets, spread open for a demonic monster, with his arms snaked around me, and a knife held to my throat—I’m completely at his mercy. The stiff plastic of his mask rubs against me as he runs the nose up and down the length of my neck.

“Your desire smells so fucking delicious.” He uses two thick fingers to pull my stockings to the side, exposing my dripping core to him. “And it’s mine now. You are mine now, sweet siren.”