Chapter 19
Archer
“I heard we’re going to a haunted house.” Cameron Hawkins, our first-round draft pick and defensive end says as he shoulders his backpack. “Ty invited me, says I need to get out and meet new people.” He uses air quotes as he relays the last bit.
“I also invited Steph, our social media manager.” Ty says for Cameron’s benefit. “I figured it would be a good chance for her to get some photos for team bonding as well as maybe some faceless photos for your Instagram of you and Elle.”
“Faceless photos?” I ask.
“Team bonding?” Cameron asks.
“Yeah, I heard a couple of the guys are going to Scream City tonight as well. Deej is going with his boyfriend, Jacob is going with his brothers, so it made sense to invite Steph for a team bonding photo there. As for the faceless photos, Elle doesn’t want her face plastered everywhere which I get, but also the press have been hounding you for photos.
I figured it’s a win for everyone, we get to hang out, Steph gets some quality posts for our social media, you get some cutesy faceless photos that either you, Steph or Jason can do shit with.
Now tell me I’m a genius so we can get going.
The girls are going to meet us there.” Ty says.
“Elle’s friend Vi and her fiancé are meeting us there too. ”
“I feel like you talk more to Ellie than I do.”
“We have a book chat.” Ty corrals us into his SUV.
I’m in the second row with Cameron while Ty and Stephanie are up front.
Ty types in the address for Scream City and we make our way.
Stephanie controls the radio and has us listening to a campy playlist of Halloween songs.
Cameron tells us about how he’s settling in and he tells us how this is the first time he’s ever lived alone.
He’s always had roommates or his family with him.
“You know, if you ever are lonely, my cousin runs the animal shelter on North and Broadway. They’re always looking for volunteers.
It’s the perfect way to get your pupper fix without having to worry about an animal while you’re away for your games.
Plus having their pictures taken with famous football players helps them get adopted faster.
” Stephanie winks at us from the front seat.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Cameron smiles at her. The ride goes by quickly and we find ourselves in a very crowded parking lot.
Apparently, everyone is in the mood for some Halloween haunts.
I try to call Ellie but the screams from inside the festival make it hard to hear.
Instead, I see a message from her telling where to meet.
Our group finally ends up finding Ellie’s group and I can’t help but smile when I see her.
She’s in her regular leggings and a ghost sweatshirt that matches Sadie’s.
They both have Halloween earrings in, and I can’t help but grin.
Elle often says she and Sadie share one brain cell and I have never been more convinced of it as I am today.
After a quick round of introductions, we head over to the ticket booth to buy our tickets for the night.
Ellie’s friends Vi and Phoenix joined us for the night, and I discovered that Vi is the Violet who is the owner of the art studio where Sadie made my titty pumpkin picture.
Which hangs in the main guestroom aka Ty’s bedroom when he needs to stay for an early morning flight.
The sun has set by the time we get into the festival.
The air has turned crisp and cool and the smell of popcorn and sugar hangs in the air from the various food vendors.
Screams echo all around us from the seven different haunted attractions.
Deej, or DJ Matthews as the sporting world knows him, meets us in front of the haunted hayride with his boyfriend and Stephanie takes a picture of us guys for the social media accounts.
After the photo we wait in line for the hayride. Ellie is squeezing my hand and bouncing on her toes. “We don’t have to go on the hayride. We can just walk around and get fair food.” I bend down so she can hear me over the screams.
“No, no, we paid for this, I need to make it through one of the haunted houses. Or trails slash rides. Whatever you want to call them.” She laughs nervously.
We make our way to the front of the line and before we get on the ride a killer clown jumps out of the bushes next to Ellie making her scream and bury her face in my chest. I bite my lip to keep from laughing and wrap my arms around her.
We move like this Ellie’s face buried in my chest and me awkwardly walking while guiding her until we are seated on the hayride.
The hay is lumpy and uncomfortable and the tin awning above us makes me feel closed in.
I’m not normally claustrophobic but this might be an exception.
Once everyone is seated, the wagon creaks and groans before it begins lumbering down the path.
The moonlight cuts through the fog in slivers of light illuminating the cornfield up ahead.
Ellie has my hand in a death grip as the rusty tractor lurches to a stop.
The engine sputters and hisses and I hear Sadie whisper something to Ty.
Then a scream pierces the air. We all jerk around looking for the direction in which the scream came from.
Then another scream closer this time. From the corn, a figure emerges, dragging something behind it.
Its eerie mask is illuminated by the moonlight.
It stands at the edge of the field, head tilted, watching us.
Ellie stills next to me, her breathing shallow.
I try to calm my nerves and remind myself that it’s not real.
It almost works until the figure lunges toward us.
Several of us gasp and Ellie and Stephanie scream as it vanishes under the wagon and reappears on the other side, tapping long, metal claws along the wooden slats. I’m breathing heavily, every muscle taut. Turns out, I don’t like haunted houses anymore.
The tractor roars back to life, and we jerk forward, leaving the cornfield.
The trail twists through the woods now, deeper into the dark.
Lanterns flickered dimly along the path, casting long shadows that move when nothing else does.
An old house appears in the trees, its windows shattered, door hanging off its hinges.
As we pass, lights flare in the windows and a figure throws itself against the glass, shrieking.
Ellie has herself buried in my chest and I’m holding on just as tight.
My heart is pounding. Another figure bursts through the door, screaming.
The wagon doesn’t stop. It just keeps creaking, dragging us deeper through this nightmare fuel.
After what seems like an eternity we circle to the drop off point, which is out of sight from the loading point. Ellie looks at me, her big hazel eyes wide. “Can-can we sit the next one out?” I nod, relieved I don’t have to go through another one of those.
“We’re going to the asylum next!” Sadie exclaims; Ty has his arm around her. That’s interesting. I’ll grill him about that later after I’ve had time to recover from that hellscape.
“You go ahead. Ellie and I are going to sit this one out.” I rub her shoulder trying to get her to relax.
“Alright! Suit yourselves!” The rest of the group splits off to go to the asylum.
With my arm around her I feel her muscles slowly begin to relax as we find the retail area. Vendors and concessions line the cobbled paths, offering warm apple cider, kettle corn, fresh donuts, and Halloween trinkets.
“Do you want something to eat? Or some hot apple cider?” I ask. Ellie nods. “Bring on the snacks. That’s why I’m here if we’re honest.” She’s not as pale as she was when we got off the hayride.
We go through and sample something from each of the vendors.
About a half hour and six donuts later Stephanie and Cameron join us, they get some snacks as well.
Stephanie takes pictures of the food and the atmosphere; Cameron is taking in all the sights and Ellie seems to be enjoying herself a lot more in this part of the festival.
There are still actors over here, but they’re more easy going and more for ambiance than scaring the pants off the guests.
Eventually the rest of the group joins us. Deej and his boyfriend, Mack, settle in next to us. “Ty and I are going to go into the circus next. Does anyone want to join us?” Sadie’s eyes are bright as she asks.
“I think we’re going to head out here soon actually.” Deej says as Mack lays his head on the shoulder. “I’m done screaming my head off. These things are not for the faint of heart.”
“I don’t remember these things being as scary when I was a teen.” Mack comments. “I mean seriously, that asylum will ensure I don’t sleep for the next several weeks.”
Ellie nods her head. “I was done after that haunted hayride.”
“Boo you’re no fun!” Sadie teases before she leaves with Ty, Vi and Phoenix.
“Speaking of the hayride, that house we passed was the asylum, I appreciate them pulling double duty for those things.” Mack explains.
“I’m glad you were done. I would have acted brave and gone with you through the other ones, but I don’t know if I would be sleeping tonight if we did.
” I whisper as I kiss the side of her head.
She leans into it. Taking a steadying breath I get a whiff of her signature scent through the smells of the festival; instantly transporting me to a memory I had long forgotten about— Halloween night our freshman year.
Halloween- Freshman Year