Page 19 of Within Shadows

Maeve

Garrett is quiet and nervous from the moment I climb into his car, and it’s making me antsy. Finally he reaches across the console and takes my hand in his, gently rubbing his thumb over mine.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Yes, I just want tonight to be perfect.” He steers the car into a parking spot.

The entire field is decorated for Halloween as the sun sets; smoke machines and speakers playing haunting music add to the creepy atmosphere.

We both climb out of the car, and I smooth my dress down nervously, glancing around at the growing crowd until Garrett blocks my view.

“Don’t worry, you can hold my hand and I’ll scream louder than you, so you can be the brave one.

” He gives me that playful grin, and some of my unease melts away.

His simple black sweatshirt and black joggers as a costume match the color of my witch costume.

The hem is jagged, with long flowing sleeves to match and a cut neckline.

I pop a plain black witch’s hat onto my head as I look around at the busy area.

Garrett has a black skeleton mask that covers the lower half of his face as he pulls it on.

“We look hot,” I say, looping my arm through his as we approach the sign with arrows to guide everyone. “Hayride or the haunted house first?” I ask him.

He taps a finger on his mask as he contemplates.

“Hayride. Without a doubt.” Garrett confidently leads us to the line.

Something has me on edge, but I convince myself it’s because of my past experience with this holiday.

I remind myself that I’m taking back my love for this season—Oliver doesn’t get to keep hurting me.

“If it’s too much, say the word and we can go.

Okay?” Garrett leans close, his voice low and serious.

I smile up at him and nod, my excitement growing as we get closer to the hayride.

He keeps checking his phone, and I nearly ask him what’s so important but just brush it off.

The group of people in line behind us is getting more rowdy as time passes, and the smell of liquor makes it obvious why.

A playful shoving match breaks out, and I’m pushed forward, but Garrett catches me before I can fall on my face.

“Are you alright?” Garrett asks, concern in his voice.

“I’m fine, bunch of idiots,” I mutter as the one who fell into me awkwardly mutters a laughing sorry .

“You owe her a real apology.” Garrett’s voice is cold as he towers over the guy, his arm still wrapped around me.

“It’s fine.” I try to pull on his shirt, but he might as well be made of stone.

“What’s your problem? I said I was sorry.” The guy is defensive as he holds his hands up.

“Garrett?” I tug on him again. “The ride is back, just let it go.” Garrett finally looks down at me, and his eyes soften.

He cuts a glare back at the group before turning and pulling my back to his chest, putting himself between me and them.

There it was again, that flash of another side that I rarely get a glimpse of.

Yet it feels familiar somehow and, in a horrible way, still turns me on.

Maybe my mother was right, therapy isn’t a bad idea.

As the trailer full of riders empties, more emerge from the woods with a guide leading them. Their nervous laughter and bits of conversation I catch have my eyes widening.

“Did that girl just say an actor pulled her off the carriage?” I whisper to Garrett as he helps me climb on. He chuckles as he wraps his arm around me. “You didn’t read the waiver I sent you, did you?”

“Nobody reads those!” I hiss, eyes wide as the tractor lurches forward, heading towards the trail cut through the trees.

I grab his leg to stabilize myself, feeling bad for the way my nails dig into him, but Garrett only pulls me tighter to his side.

The moonlight barely pierces through the trees, and every sound has my head whipping around to find the source.

A group of girls screeches across from us as a chainsaw rips to life nearby.

A masked man drenched in blood runs alongside the women, smacking his weapon against the rails behind them.

They all tumble forward, screaming and in a panic to get away.

Garrett snorts a laugh as he leans over to look at my face.

I’m barely biting back a grin until the sound of rattling chains comes from the tree above us. I look up in time to see a man hanging from the branches, swinging on the chain as he lets out a sharp cackle that makes my flesh crawl.

“This was a terrible idea,” I groan as the cart lurches along the path.

Before Garrett can respond, a woman leaps onto the carriage, her mouth dripping as she shrieks at all of us, her head thrown back and her white dress bloodstained, blowing in the wind.

I jerk back as she waves a knife at me, swiping it just in front of my nose.

With us distracted, a man jumps onto the rail and grabs one of the rowdy boys from earlier, dragging him out of the cart before vanishing into the trees.

His screech of terror was almost as amusing as it was terrifying.

A pair of hands shoves beneath my arms and rips me from the carriage as I scream and thrash, fear making my blood cold.

“Maeve?” Garrett calls, and I can see him trying to leap off, but the woman grabs his arm, wrenching him back as the tractor drives away. The man pulling me through the woods doesn’t slow down, even when I start trying to claw at the hood of his cloak that hides his face.

“Get your fucking hands off me!” I demand, and he sighs, dropping me onto my ass on the leaves. He pulls his hood back and frowns down at me while I blink rapidly in confusion.

“Wait, Al? What the hell!” I snap, leaping to my feet in irritation.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I tried to be gentle, but you’re squirmy.” He shrugs, peering through the trees while I brush myself off.

“Is the band not doing so well?” I ask. He turns to me and tilts his head.

“You’re working as a scare actor, so either you just enjoy terrifying people or they pay well.

” I cross my arms, listening to the sound of distant screams. A tree branch breaking close makes me jump, and Al yawns, stretching his hands over his head.

“That’s my cue. You kids have fun. Kinky bastards,” Al mutters, shaking his head as he walks away.

“Hey, you’re supposed to guide me out of here. You can’t just leave me here!” I shout. Al just waves a hand over his head as he disappears, the clouds obscuring what little bit of light I had from the moon's glow.

“Well, shit,” I huff. My skin crawls, and I keep turning, glancing over my shoulder as unease trickles down my spine.

The sensation of being watched, stalked like prey, is getting stronger.

I blame the ridiculous jumpscares from overenthusiastic scare actors until a familiar voice starts humming. That music—I know this song .

“Did you miss me, muse?” His familiar voice is different, less rough than I’m used to, but it still has me spinning around.

My feet catch on a stick and I fall onto my ass just as the clouds part.

Leaning against the tree, no more than two feet away, is him.

Knox is there, his face hidden beneath the mask.

“What are you doing here?” My voice wavers, giving away my unease. Knox pushes away from the tree and steps forward, the toe of his boot gently bumping the bottom of mine.

“I’m just here to answer the call of my muse.

Your scream is haunting, and I had to force myself not to snap Al’s neck for it.

I want to be the only reason you ever make those pretty sounds, Thalia.

” He leans down, offering me his hand, but I slap it away and scramble to my feet, backing away from him.

“I’m not yours, Knox. You need to stay away from me.” I grab a broken branch from the ground, holding it out in front of me in warning. Knox takes a step closer, his head tilted as he looks me up and down.

“You are mine, as I am yours. Don’t just take my word, I’ll prove it to you in action.

The way your body responds to me, begs my hands to cover your flesh, and your soul calls to mine.

I know you feel it, Thalia.” His voice nearly draws me in like a moth to a flame that will only burn me alive when I surrender to it.

“I’m going to get a damn restraining order on you. I’ll tell everyone what you’re doing; your band, your image will be ruined.” My threats make no difference. Knox sighs and shrugs.

“The sick, twisted world we live in wouldn’t believe you.

Or worse, fans would destroy your life, throwing out crude allegations, blaming you, or even envying you.

Our society is fucked, my darling. I’m sorry.

” His voice is sad, tinged with anger as he speaks, and every word is true.

My shoulders sag as I back away, but Knox keeps closing the distance with his long strides.

I swing the branch, and he easily catches it, wrenching it from my hands and tossing it aside.

I turn and run, forcing my feet across the uneven ground as fast as I can.

My lungs burn within seconds, and I curse myself for my aversion to exercise.

Deep laughter seems to come from every direction, bouncing off the trees as they taunt me.

Sweat begins to drip down my back, and my steps slow when I look over my shoulder.

Everything is dark, shadows sway with the breeze that ruffles the trees, and I know in my gut that I’m screwed.

Ducking a crop of low limbs, I force myself through tangled bushes and swallow back the sounds of pain from each new stinging cut.

A massive fallen tree blocks my way with a one-foot gap beneath it and the ground.

Making a quick decision, I manage to scramble over the tree and fall to the other side into a pile of leaves.

While grateful for the soft landing, I curse the loud rustling as I flatten myself to the ground and try to hold my breath.

The pounding in my chest and burning of my lungs demand that I gasp for air.

The clouds finally break just enough for me to look under the fallen log, and I watch a pair of boots slowly break away from the shadows, heading right towards me.

I am so fucked; he’s going to catch me and kill me in these damn woods and nobody will ever find my body.

My mind rambles as I watch him come closer, at a pace so leisurely it’s almost an insult.

He suddenly stops, slightly turning as he starts humming again before walking off to my right.

My breathing finally slows as I drop my forehead to my hands and nearly sob in relief.

But another part of me, something deep and twisted, felt a thrill being chased.

I make a mental note to finally take my mom up on finding a decent therapist if I make it home alive.

I slowly push myself up onto my hands and knees, shaking as I take every movement slow.

Something clamps onto my ankle and yanks, dragging me away from my pathetic hiding spot as I kick and scream.

“I found you, muse,” Knox says with pride as he grabs my wrist to pull me up to his chest. “You are more enchanting than any prize I could have scoured this earth for.”