Epilogue #2
The lights are on as we step into the soundstage, and being able to see everything helps me relax.
I find all the places the scare actors would hide if they were in their spots for the night.
Hunter mentions the least desirable zone in the house, a small corridor that requires constant crouching and bumping your head while you wait to jump out and scare someone.
“How do you know when it’s your turn?” I ask. “Is there a motion sensor that triggers the lights and sounds?”
“Nope. We do it with pedals.” He points at a small pedal behind a corner, out of the guest’s view. “It’s called an AAD: actor activated device. We’ll press that, then the sound associated with that spot begins to play.”
“Really? Wow. Is it delayed? How long does it take before you have the timing memorized?”
“Only a few days, to be honest. You’re doing it so many times an hour, eventually, you turn on autopilot and don’t think about it.”
“Fascinating. Hey.” I point at a fork in the path and smirk. “The infamous spot where I messed up. And, now that I’m seeing it with the lights on, I’m confused. Which means in the dark, it’s even more difficult.”
“They adjusted it this year. See the pillar they put in place? It stops anyone from making a wrong turn.”
“Darn. Guess there won’t be any other haunted house meet cutes. That’s a shame, because it was so—am I allowed back here?” I ask when Hunter pulls me around the pillar he just mentioned.
“Given I’m kind of in charge of all of this, yeah. I’m saying you’re allowed.” He smiles and puts his hands over my eyes. “I have a surprise for you.”
“You’re going to make Halloween my favorite holiday if you keep all these surprises up.” We come to a stop, and I take a deep breath. “Can I look now?”
“Close your eyes, then count to twenty,” he says, his hands falling away from my face.
“Okay.” I shift on my feet, following his directions. When I get to twenty, I slowly open my eyes and find Hunter…
Kneel on the ground in front of me with a velvet box in his hands.
There are candles all around him. Dozens and dozens of flowers and white sheets to cover up the dark walls I’m familiar with. I gasp and cover my mouth, my eyes welling with tears.
“Max,” he says.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, looking down at him.
“When I clocked into work last year, I expected the usual night of drunk idiots and people getting in my face, trying to be funny. What I didn’t account for was the beautiful girl who found her way backstage and grabbed my attention.
I thought about you every minute after you left, and when you showed back up here, I thought I was dreaming. ”
“I thought about you too.” I step toward him, close enough to touch his cheek. “I was willing to push past my fear if it meant seeing you again.”
“The second time I saw you, I was obsessed. I craved your body and hearing your voice. I craved your laugh and beautiful smile. I craved your mouth and your pussy, and I would do just about anything to see you again. And I did. You became a part of my life. My most favorite person in the world, which is why I’m finally asking you this. ”
Hunter opens the box and I gasp at the ring that sits inside. The diamond sparkles and shimmers, exquisite in the candlelight. He reaches to his right, lifting a knife off the ground. Spinning it in his hold, he catches it and places the ring on the tip of the blade, extending it my way.
“Maxine Walters, I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. You’re the most caring, loving, wonderful person I’ve ever met, and it would be an honor to be by your side for the rest of my life.
In sickness. In health. On the good days and on the bad ones too.
You are the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, and I promise to continue loving you until the end of time.
” He smiles up at me, and a sob leaves my body. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Yes of course I’ll marry you.” I reach for him, careful to avoid the knife. I throw my arms around his neck, my tears staining his shirt. “I love you so much, Hunter.”
“Let me see your hand, angel.” He carefully takes the ring off the blade and slides it on my finger, kissing my knuckles. “Perfect,” he whispers.
“It’s beautiful. I love it so much. I didn’t—this was not on my bingo card for today.” I laugh and wipe under my eyes. “You’re sneaky.”
“Everyone is at Janey’s waiting to celebrate; Skyler, Leo. They’ll all be there.”
“You included everyone? They all know?”
“Of course they do. They’re you’re favorite people in the world. I had to make sure I got their approval.”
I hug him again, my shoulders shaking with a fresh wave of tears. “I really do love you so much, Hunter. This is—”
The lights in the haunted house shut off.
I gasp and look around, my heart nearly falling out of my chest when Hunter pulls away from me, a Ghostface mask suddenly over his face.
I scramble backward over the floor, trying to stand.
He tips his head to the side, arms crossing over his chest, and I squeeze my thighs together.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I like it.
“Angel,” he says, his voice low. “What are you doing on the floor?”
“I-I don’t know.” I stand on shaky legs and side step one of the candles. “What are you—why are you wearing a mask?”
“Reminiscing.” He holds up the very real, very dangerous knife. “Do you feel like playing a game, wife?”
Hell.
I hold back a moan and bite my lip. I don’t trust myself to speak so I nod, my heart pounding in my chest.
“How about hide and seek? You hide, I seek. If you make it out of the house without me catching you, you win. If I find you, well…” Hunter trails off with a laugh.
“My first time fucking you with that ring on your finger will be in a spot anyone could see us. Do you want the world to know you’re the love of my life? Or my needy slut?”
Both, I almost yell, and I inch toward the path through the house.
“I’ll play,” I whisper, and I can tell he’s smiling without even seeing his face.
“I’ll count to five.” He touches my cheek, his thumb grazing along my jaw. “Good luck, angel. You’re going to need it.”
With a kiss to the top of my head, Hunter leans against the wall and holds up his hand.
The first finger folds down and I take off, sprinting away from him as fast as my legs will go.
I hear his footsteps somewhere behind me, the easy, casual way he walks, and I take off into the dark, knowing no matter how this game turns out, I’ve already won.