Chapter 25 The Chase
the chase
DAPHNE
“I can’t believe this thing is still standing,” I chuckle, marveling at the dilapidated looking old building.
“Yeah, me neither. It’s been a while since I’ve been back here.”
The haunted house used to be one of the central figures of the carnival.
It felt like this massive castle looming over the rest of the park, daring people to venture inside.
I remember when we were kids, the fair used to have actors dressed in blood-stained Victorian outfits wandering around scaring patrons, taunting them to face their fears.
Now, the actors are long gone, and overgrown grass looks like it’s one step away from devouring the dark building.
“Is it even operational?” I laugh. “This place used to be a lot more… you know, alive?”
Frankie tries the door, wiggling the handle.
“Locked.”
I sigh.
So much for a sexy distraction. My nerves are still buzzing from the paparazzi incident, and I feel like an idiot for making a scene like that, but sometimes my rage just boils over.
“Damn, I was looking forward to you jumping into my arms when that big grim reaper bursts out of the wall at the end.”
Frankie and I both screamed like little girls, but he definitely had the bigger reaction, punching the animatronic right in its stupid face. He broke his hand, and we had to pay a visit to the hospital. I covered for him though.
Said he fell off his bike.
“I’m remembering things a little differently. Images of a certain redhead using me as a human shield, and shouting ‘Frankie, get me out of here’ over and over come to mind.”
I put a hand on his chest, a little shiver of anticipation running through me as I feel the toned muscle underneath his shirt.
“I think you’re exaggerating.”
“Yeah?” He smiles. “How about we put my memory to the test?”
“You said it’s locked, right? I don’t know about you, but I don’t carry spare keys for old haunted castles.”
“We’ve only checked the front.” He grasps my wrist. “Come on.”
Frankie takes the lead, the music and laughter from the rest of the carnival beginning to fade as we head around the building.
Sitting among a pile of discarded old props and boxes is a small door, almost disappearing into the fake brick-work.
The only thing that really gives it away is the big red EMPLOYEES ONLY sign plastered above it.
“Looks locked,” I sigh, pointing out the little metal loop hanging around the doorhandle.
Frankie heads straight for it, rattling the small gold lock.
“Somebody was careless.”
His face is all lit up, and I grin.
“Bad security measures?”
“Wasn’t even clicked shut, just hanging off the handle.”
He glances over his shoulder.
“You still want that distraction?”
“I don’t know,” I purr, biting my lip. “We could get in trouble.”
His bright eyes sparkle with mischief as he turns around, his lips brushing against my ear as he leans in real close.
“That’s what makes it fun.” Goosebumps cascade down my spine as his hand glides around my waist. “Unless you’re scared…”
“I’m never scared.”
“Good. Then follow me.”
Frankie ushers me inside, shutting the door carefully behind us to make sure some random park security doesn’t come looking. At first I think it’s pitch-black, but the faint buzz of old electric wiring catches my ear even before my eyes adjust to the dimmest flickering above us.
“Oh, that’s not terrifying at all,” I mutter.
Frankie chuckles, grasping my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze before pulling his phone out and turning on the flashlight. Seems like the same person in charge of the locks was probably in charge of the lights.
“I thought you said you weren’t scared.”
“I’m not.”
We take a couple turns before we hit a long hall with peeling wallpaper and bloodied handprints that feels like it could stretch on for miles.
“God, I forgot how creepy this place is,” I whisper.
“Yeah, I’m starting to get that vibe, too.”
“Do you think there’s anyone in here?”
“No way.” He laughs. “Now come on, down this way. I think I know where we are.”
My heart starts beating faster as we turn down another hall. Mirrors surround us on all sides, some of them warping our reflections and making our limbs look distorted and thin, contorting the room around us even further.
I snap a quick photo of the two of us, passing him my phone so he can take a look.
“We’re kinda cute, huh?”
He frowns.
“Why do I look like a bobble head?”
“Frankie, it’s a hall of mirrors, we both do.”
“At least you’re a cute bobble head.”
I give him a playful little shove and he passes back the phone, taking the lead again while I dig around in my bag.
There’s a sharp left turn and I hear him make a little sound of surprise, making me look up just in time to crash right into something protruding from the wall. I let out a terrified yelp, stumbling right into Frankie’s arms.
“I didn’t even see that!” I cackle, my heart thundering my chest. “Holy shit!”
Frankie’s aiming his flashlight up and at an angle, illuminating the same giant fucking grim reaper that used to scared the shit out of me as a kid.
“Careful, Firecracker,” he purrs, brushing some hair away from my neck. “Can’t have you passing out before the game’s started.”
I shiver, my terror slowly shifting into arousal, and when I turn to meet his gaze he’s got that same look in his eyes that he had the other night.
Complete and total control.
“What kind of game?”
“Hide and seek…” His hands glide up my waist. “With a twist.”
I love this side of him. Dominant, yet tender. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and I’m just following his lead.
“So what’s the twist?”
“You’ll find out when the game starts,” His hands wander a little further up, ghosting over my stiff nipples before giving them a little pinch that makes my breath hitch. “You take one direction, I take the other, and when I find you— because I will find you… I’m gonna make you scream.”
“Scream?”
I asked to be chased, but this is kind of a new level.
“That’s right.” Frankie leans in, eyes gleaming. “So, I’m going to ask you only once… do you want to play?”
I only have one thought running through my mind right now: what if someone comes in? What if it’s that photographer, or even Hux. That’s a humiliation I’d never be able to live down, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars I’d have to spend on therapy.
But despite all of that, or maybe even because of it, I find myself whispering…
“Yes.”
“Yes, sir,” he growls.
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s my girl.” He releases me, taking a step back. “I’ll give you a twenty second head start— and remember, sometimes our bodies can’t differentiate between reality and play, so if you start to panic, you need to let me know. You say wheelbarrow if you want things to stop, are we clear?”
Oh shit, we’re really doing this. Like right now.
“We’re clear.”
“Alright,” he grins, tilting his head just the tiniest bit. “Now run.”
I take off, practically sprinting down a long, narrow hallway surrounded by holographic portraits of Victorian-era figures, each one morphing into a monstrous version of itself when you look at just the right angle.
My heart leaps into my throat as I hear Frankie’s voice echoing through the halls, counting down.
“19… 18…”
It feels like it’s getting even darker as I continue on, and the faint glow from the fluorescent tape on the floor isn’t doing much to counteract that. There are dozens of little arrows pointing in different directions that feel like they’re here just to confuse me.
“15… 14…”
I put my hands out in front of me trying to figure out where the hell I am. It feels like I’m barely moving, taking turn after turn.
“11… 10…”
My heart rate spikes, my head spinning as I reach a small hallway with only two rooms: a creepy nursery with pentagrams drawn in fake blood all over the walls, and a master bedroom with a zombie mannequin in a Victorian gown.
“That’s a no from me,” I whisper, gently shutting the door.
“3… 2…”
I feel like I’m flying, totally disoriented, but loving every single second of it. I’m picturing him right on my heels, his breath down my neck, his hand in my hair as he wraps it around his knuckles like a ribbon. I want to know what he’s like when he’s pushed to his limits.
“And… one.”
Suddenly, I hear his footsteps, quick and purposeful, reverberating through the house.
At this point I have no idea where the hell I am anymore, I just keep turning in random directions, bumping into walls, and trying my best to keep my breathing under control.
He could pop out of anywhere… at any time.
What’s he going to do when catches me?
I try to walk as soundlessly as possible, listening for Frankie’s sneakers squeaking on the floor, my body coiled like a spring as I keep moving.
I turn left at the end of yet another hall and reach a little space dressed up like a living room, with a ‘window’ that looks out into another hallway. I remember these very well. Actors would pop out through the window and feign grabbing you, or simply spew shrieks and threats in your direction.
That’s where I see him, turned away but haloed in the soft red light of the emergency exit sign behind him.
Waiting?
No, hunting.
Frankie was right when he said our bodies don’t realize this is play. My heart’s pounding, and my skin is scorched. I can feel sweat trickling down my back.
I move off to the side, pressing myself tightly against the wall so that I’m just out of view from the window. I want to keep watching him, but that would give me away; he knows what he’s doing standing in plain sight, and I don’t want to make this too easy for him.
That’s when my phone starts to buzz.
Clever bastard.
I answer the call, but stay completely quiet.
“Are you wet?”
I’m pretty sure he hasn’t seen me, but I lean out the tiniest bit toward the window just to be certain. Sure enough, he’s still lingering in the same spot, pacing back and forth, but never quite turning to face me.
“I bet you are, you filthy girl. Do you have any idea what I’m going to do when I catch you?”