In The Dark

Chapter 1 Max

ONE

MAX

“I can’t believe I agreed to be dragged through a haunted house.

” I groan and pull my blonde hair into a high ponytail.

“I hate being scared. I hate being in confined spaces. I hate the dark. This is a thing of nightmares. How did agreeing to watch your show turn into sacrificing myself to men in masks? That wasn’t part of the plan. ”

“Plans change, and men in masks are fun.” Skyler looks at me in the bathroom mirror, her mascara brush poised halfway to her eye. “I saw you watching those videos the other night.”

“Internet thirst traps are not the same as people purposely trying to scare the shit out of you. Did you have to work at the scary event? You could’ve picked the holiday show and been a festive little candy cane,” I say, bringing up Fright Nights, the two-month long Halloween event at Orlando’s premiere theme park, Adventure Oasis.

The whole place transforms from late August until the end of October, the family-friendly roller coasters and character meet and greets you’d find during the day turning into ten haunted houses and scare zones full of horror movie characters brought to life as soon as nighttime creeps around.

Fright Nights has won international awards for its scare value and entertainment production.

People flock from all over the world to experience the jaw-dropping fear the event boasts about, and come October, every night is sold out.

Wait times for haunted houses can be as long as three hours, and I don’t understand the appeal.

It has a cult following with merchandise, message boards where speculation starts in late March about what the haunted houses might be, and souvenir cups people pay twenty dollars for.

I’ve lived in Florida my entire life and have successfully avoided ever going, but with my best friend performing in the event’s stunt show with acrobatics, aerialists, and enough pyrotechnics to burn down a city, I can’t evade it much longer.

“I’m not one to pull the guilty conscience card, but I do remember going to your first grader’s holiday concert last December.

My ears almost bled from their lovely rendition of Jingle Bells performed on recorders.

A haunted house can’t be much worse.” Skyler caps her tube of makeup and faces me.

“It’ll be easy. Four minutes of being scared, then you’ll be in the VIP section for my show.

There won’t be any surprises. I’ll point out every actor so you know what’s coming.

That’s all they are, you know. Performers just like me. ”

“Except the knife they’re holding looks real and they’re yelling in your ear.”

“Children go. There was a literal ten-year-old sitting in the front row at the show last night. He had the biggest grin on his face.”

“Probably because your costume is gorgeous lingerie that shows off your hot body. I bet he was in heaven. Oh my god.” I cover my mouth. “Do you think any of my students will be there? Forget the haunted house. Running into one of my kids outside of school is my biggest fear.”

“Chances one of your first grade students are out past ten on a school night?” She laughs. “Pretty slim.”

“What about their parents? I’ve had conferences with those people where I talk about academic performance and social behavior.

They think I’m a professional who has my shit together.

Would they judge me if they saw me double fisting alcoholic beverages so I can make it through the park without crying? ”

“If they did, they suck. Teachers are humans too, Max, and you’re allowed to do adult human things.”

I sigh. There’s no way I’m going to win this argument, and a promise is a promise.

With twenty-two years of friendship between us, she’s stood by my side more times than I can count.

Through breakups, hard days of teaching when I wanted to quit, and the general exhaustion required to simply fucking exist these days, Skyler has been there.

It might take some liquid courage to get through the night, but I know I can be there for her too.

“The holiday concert was terrible, wasn’t it?” I grin. “One house, one show, then I’m leaving.”

She squeals. “This is going to be so much fun. The show is so good this year, Max. I twirl around on silks hanging in the air!”

“My little daredevil.” I pinch her cheeks and head for my closet. “What should I wear? Jeans? A skirt?”

“Definitely not jeans given it’s still a thousand degrees outside, and there are tens of thousands of people walking around.

Goddamn Florida and it’s no fall weather.

Oh! What about your black leather one and the orange crop top that makes your boobs look good?

Very on brand with the Halloween vibes and super cute. ”

“Am I looking for a boyfriend in a haunted house?” I laugh and find the outfit she suggested. “Speaking of, which house are we going to do? I’m vetoing anything with clowns. I hate clowns.”

“The holiday house has an eight-foot clown that pops out at the exit when you think you’re in the clear. That would probably traumatize you for life.”

“I can barely watch the previews for a scary movie and you want me to walk by a murderous clown? Absolutely not.”

“Okay, so not that one.” Skyler taps her cheek. “What about a house dedicated to the monsters from classic horror films? Vampires are hot.”

“That sounds like there are going to be werewolves running around.” I switch my T-shirt out with the crop top and pull it over my head. “What other houses are there?”

“The Halloween one is popular.”

“Haven’t they made eighteen versions of that movie? Are there any original stories left?”

“There have only been thirteen and a half remakes. What do you think about this color?” Skyler puckers her lips, showing off the fire engine red painted on her mouth. “Too much?”

“It’s never too much.” I smile her way. “You look so hot, Sky. How do you not sweat all your makeup off?”

“There is a lot of sweat.” She checks her teeth in the mirror, happy with her reflection.

“We have thirty minutes between shows to put on fresh deodorant, fix our hair, and get back out there. It’s hectic and busy and so physically draining, but I love it so much, Max. You know how happy dancing makes me.”

“I’m so proud of you, Sky. And I’m so sorry I haven’t been to any of your shows this Halloween season.” Guilt presses heavy on my chest, and I sigh again. “If I can handle tonight, I’ll come back for round two.”

“Really?” She wraps me in a tight hug. Some of the glitter she’s wearing gets on my arm, but I don’t mind. “You’re the best friend ever.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I might break your hand when we walk through the house. The second someone pops out from behind a wall, I’m going to lose my mind. Will I get arrested if I punch them in the face?”

“And banned from the park.”

“So, I’d be escorted out? That might be worth it. I could handle a night in jail if it means not having to deal with mummies and zombies.”

“Come on.” She drags me out of my room and toward the kitchen. “Let’s take a shot. That will help you relax.”

“Like I’m going to turn that down.” I lean my elbows on the counter and blush. “I might’ve browsed some Fright Nights pictures so I could know what I’m working with, and it got me wondering.”

“Oh? About what?”

“You have to tell me the truth. What do the guys in masks look like underneath their costumes? Do you see them backstage?”

“A lot of them are pretty cute.” Skyler grins and pulls a handle of vodka down from our liquor cabinet, pouring us two shots. We knock the glasses together, throw them back, and I grimace at the burn. “Wait. Is that what you’re into?”

“I guess? Maybe? But it’s not only scary masks. It’s motorcycle helmets. Goalie masks. Bandanas pulled up over someone’s mouth. I think it’s the unknown that I like. It’s a mystery who you’re talking to, and there’s something so hot about that.”

“That whole ‘if I find you, I get to have you’ game with someone you don’t know would be so fun.”

“Yeah. It would be.” My cheeks heat. I grab the vodka and pour myself another drink, grateful I’m not driving tonight.

“Confession time: I’ve always wanted to try something like that, but I’ve never asked for it.

I’ve never known how to ask for it. Brian was…

he was so boring in bed. I faked almost all of my orgasms with him. ”

“Of course he was boring. His name is Brian,” Skyler says, mentioning the ex I broke up with two months ago after he cheated on me. We dissolve into a fit of giggles. “He probably liked to leave the lights on when you had sex, didn’t he?”

“I plead the fifth.” I smile and toss back the second drink.

It goes down smoother this time, and I dab the corner of my mouth with a paper towel.

“Since we broke up, I’ve been reading a ton of romance books.

I’m exploring things I might like in the bedroom so I can share those desires with the next guy that comes along, and I’m learning a lot about myself.

Like, there’s something so sexy about surrendering your power to a partner you trust. They’d be rough with you and play out your fantasies, but after, they’d take care of you. A devil and an angel, you know?”

“Oh my god. My little Maxine isn’t so innocent, is she?”

“Hush.” I swat at her arm, smiling again. “I have no clue how I’d meet someone like that. Is there an app?”

“What about after a PTA meeting at school?”

“Please. I doubt Tommy Dallworth’s dad would be interested in something other than the stock market.

When is the right time to tell someone your bedroom preferences?

After the third date? The fifth? A year down the road when you say, ‘hey, honey? Could you tie me up and gag me while you fuck me? And after, could you chase me? Don’t forget to start the dishwasher.

’ Is that something I should put in my Tinder bio?

Learning my kinks. I’m also attracted to men who don’t show their face? ”

“You’re not going anywhere near Tinder. Those finance bros talk a big talk, but none of them deliver.

It’s like they read the books that are popular right now so they can pretend to know what they’re doing.

They don’t. Trust me.” Skyler huffs, a frustrating story behind the exhale.

“They say they’ll give you what you want, but when you ask them to smack your ass, suddenly they don’t want to do it anymore. ”

“Weren’t you seeing some guy pretty regularly?” I pour another round of shots for us and slide the glass her way. “It was a friends with benefits arrangement, right?”

“He went and got a girlfriend.”

“Damn him for being someone who likes commitment. Monogamy is making you sexually frustrated, isn’t it?”

“You have no idea.” She downs the drink and fans her face. “No more. I need to have a clear head for the show. I’m working with that asshole, Dominic, tonight. With our history, he’ll trip me in front of thousands of people and make it look like an accident.”

“Sounds like a love story waiting to happen.”

“More like a homicide. If I can get through the next month leading up to Halloween without murdering him, I’ll be proud of myself.”

“Let’s try to keep the violence to a minimum.” I put the cap on the handle of vodka and take a deep breath. “I’m ready. Take me to hell, Skyler Buchanan.”