Chapter 2
The wagon came to a stop in front of the saloon after a surprisingly good haunted trail ride. They hadn’t been expecting much since it was still daylight, but there were more than a few jump-scare moments that produced screams from Tessa, her friends, and others on the ride.
“This hayride was kind of scary. I figured since it was still light outside, it would be pretty low-key,” Tessa told her friends as one of the staff helped her out of the wagon.
“I thought so too. Whoever designed it did a good job.” Steve was a fan of horror movies and had been impressed at just how realistic and creepy some of the scenes were.
“I know right?” Ren had liked it as well.
“How about we go to the saloon and have a drink?” He was pretty sure the ladies would like one after all the screaming they’d done.
They were walking over to the saloon when Elise, shocked by what she just saw, came to an abrupt stop, causing the others to bump into her.
“What the fuck is he doing here?!” Ren asked angrily as he watched Jonathan, Tessa’s ex and that bitch Fallon (as he now referred to her), enter the saloon.
Tessa was like a sister to him and the only reason he hadn’t beat Jonathan’s ass was because she’d asked him not to.
She felt he was not worth the energy it would take to do it.
Tessa asked herself the very same question. She’d been having a good time with her friends, despite what she’d expected and then he showed up. After everything that’s happened, he has the nerve to show up here!
“Why don’t you guys go ahead. I want to check out the maze. I’ll join you when I’m done.” Tessa told her friends.
“Come on, Tessa. It’s starting to get dark and it looks like it might rain. Why don’t you wait and go tomorrow like we planned?” Elise didn’t want her friend to be alone.
“This maze isn’t very big. I’m sure it won’t take long to go through it.”
“At least let one of us go with you.” Ren urged her.
“Seriously, I’ll be okay. From what the brochure says, they have lights, and staff are stationed at various places throughout.”
After that haunted hayride, Tessa really didn’t want to go into the maze by herself, but her desire to not be around Jonathan and Fallon was even stronger. Not able to get her to change her mind, her friends made her promise to meet them in the saloon when she was done.
Tessa started through the maze and was making good progress, when she heard a rumble of thunder in the distance.
One of the event staff in the maze had told her she was three-quarters of the way through.
Oh great. Hopefully the rain will hold off just a little bit longer since I’m almost through this.
After a few dead ends and a few more turns, she saw the maze’s exit and headed toward it.
A bolt of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder.
The heavens opened up and rain began to come down in sheets.
She lifted the hem of her skirt so she could move faster.
At the exit, she paused to look for the saloon so she could go meet her friends.
The rain severely hampered visibility. She didn’t see the saloon, but she did see the building where the ballroom was.
Needing to get out of the rain, she ran towards it.
Taking the path then up the steps to the porch, she tried the door and found it was locked.
She flopped down on the porch floor near the door and settled in to wait until the rain stopped.
Rather than stopping, it continued, with the sound lulling her to sleep.