Epilogue
LUCI
One Year Later
There was something about opening night. The air felt different in Butcher’s Bay in October.
I’d spent the last eleven months chasing horror all over the country. Five movie premieres, three horror conventions, enough panels and interviews that I’d finally stopped getting butterflies before walking onto a stage. I even ended up in a slasher movie.
Granted, I wasn’t the Final Girl. I was Victim One, Girl Who Opens the Basement Door.
My total screen time clocked in at four minutes and forty-three seconds before a masked killer enthusiastically introduced me to an axe. Personally, it was a dream come true.
Damien disagreed.
“You were robbed,” he’d declared afterward.
“You had Final Girl energy.” Jack had immediately nodded.
“A cinematic masterpiece,” my dad said, in the midst of a standing ovation.
Amber, my friend who claims she has no heart, cried. Actual tears. Not because my character died, of course, but because she was “so proud.”
Damien rented out an entire movie theater for opening night. He flew my parents in from Florida. Everyone dressed up. There was a red carpet, specialty snacks and drinks, and they all cheered for my death scene.
Then Boo Crew threw an after-party. Sam even made cookies shaped like little gravestones with my character’s name written in icing. I’d never felt more loved.
The last year had been impossible, beautiful, and completely wild.
Somewhere between all the premieres, haunted attractions, late-night editing sessions, and countless drives back and forth between Butcher’s Bay and Thirteen Hemlock Circle life had quietly become mine and Damien’s together.
Two weeks ago, Damien moved in. His records now shared a space with my horror movies.
His boots permanently occupied one side of the front hallway.
His coffee mugs had somehow multiplied in the cabinets.
And every morning, without fail, he kissed my forehead before leaving for the park.
He was my biggest fan and loudest supporter.
Tonight wasn’t about me though. Tonight belonged to him.
It was opening night of Graves Park. Season Six.
The Ringmaster was about to make his triumphant return. Only this year, I would be joining him.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in our bedroom, turning slowly beneath the soft glow of antique lamps.
Cassie had insisted on designing my costume herself.
“You’re not a guest anymore,” she’d said. “You’re family.”
The outfit felt like stepping into one of my own daydreams.
A fitted black velvet tailcoat skimmed my waist before flaring dramatically behind me, the inside lined with deep crimson satin that flashed every time I moved.
Instead of traditional lapels, embroidered black feathers climbed one side of the jacket, catching hints of midnight blue beneath the light.
A high-necked lace blouse disappeared beneath a leather harness detailed with antique silver buckles.
High-waisted black shorts replaced the expected trousers, paired with sheer tights patterned with tiny flying crows that became visible only when the light caught them.
My knee-high leather boots laced all the way to the top, each heel engraved with tiny crescent moons.
Around my shoulders rested a feathered half-cape that shifted like wings every time I turned.
My hair had been braided into a thick crown around the back of my head, leaving the now green streaks to peek through like ivy.
Cassie had somehow managed to make me look equal parts Victorian Ringmaster and the woman of the crows. I looked like I belonged at Graves Park.
The bedroom door opened.
“I forgot my…”
Damien stopped, frozen in place. One hand still rested on the doorknob, while his eyes traveled from my boots to the feathered cape to the jacket and finally settled on my face.
“Holy shit.”
“Surprise?” I offered.
He knew I was getting ready, but he didn’t know what I had prepared in secret for him.
It had taken months of secret calls and fittings with Cassie and her costume designer to pull this off.
Every time I left the house, I felt a little guilty for telling him we were just grabbing a bite to eat or going thrifting.
This made all the little white lies worth it.
“You did this for me?” he asked, finally regaining his bearings.
He looked unfairly handsome himself. The Ringmaster’s crimson coat fit him as though it had been tailored that morning.
The combination of the polished boots, the cane, and the top hat tucked beneath one arm was almost enough to try to keep him locked away in this bedroom for the night.
It had been almost a year since I’d first seen him wearing that coat and I still couldn’t believe he was mine.
He crossed the room slowly… like he wasn’t entirely convinced I was real.
When he reached me, he didn’t speak right away. He simply looked. Really looked.
His thumb brushed softly over my cheek before sliding beneath my chin.
“I’ve spent all afternoon trying to remember my opening speech.”
I laughed. “And? How’s that going?”
“I just forgot every word.” His eyes never left mine. “I can’t think with you looking like this.”
“I’ve seen you in pajamas,” he continued. “I’ve seen you covered in paint, I’ve seen you asleep with a book on your face...”
I groaned.
His voice softened. “But this? Little bird, this is beyond my wildest dreams. You are beyond my wildest dreams.”
My heart gave that ridiculous little flutter it still insisted on doing every time he looked at me like this. He rested both hands around my waist.
“I love you.”
No hesitation, no grand gesture, no fireworks... though we have talked on more than one occasion how smooth he was that first night taking me to the watchtower right before the Friday night fireworks show.
It was just me and him and three words spoken with the certainty of the moon rising in the sky each night. Tears stung unexpectedly behind my eyes.
“I love you too.”
He offered me his arm. Just like he had on opening night. Only this time, I knew exactly where he was taking me.
I slipped my hand through his arm and together we stepped out into the crisp October evening, where the lights of Graves Park glowed and Halloween felt like a promise.
The End…
…Until We Return to Graves Park next Halloween season.
Carnival of Fools - Luca’s story is coming next Fall.
Preorder is available now!