by Liv Rider
“Yes, especially the fake smoke.” Mitchell pulled a face. “As fun as that was, I am glad to be out of there. C’mon, let’s get something to drink.”
His friends wandered over to the smaller barn, and Parker followed even though his dragon was insisting they enter the maze again.
We wouldn’t be able to talk to him anyway.
Talking is overrated.
And sure, there were a couple of nooks in that maze that might be suitable for wrapping his mate in his arms and kissing him, but Parker was sure his mate wouldn’t appreciate him marching back into the maze to do just that. No, he’d have to wait for the maze to be done for the night, and see if he could find his mate again.
As he realized he’d have to spend the rest of the evening here, he thought of all the emails he still needed to answer and everything he needed to do in order to set up a shifting schedule. He didn’t have time to hang around here for no good reason.
Our mate is all the reason we need!
He couldn’t argue with that. No, council business would have to wait, and maybe he could get some things done on his phone.
It was pleasantly crowded in the smaller barn, with tables along the walls where people were selling homemade baked goods, drinks, and all kinds of sweets. The barn was decorated too, with more jack-o-lanterns along the sides and fairy lights wrapped around the roof beams. There were wooden chairs and tables around, along with some bales of hay to sit on.
Parker barely took any of it in, still thinking about his mate. He had no idea what he even looked like under the makeup. Were his eyes blue? Brown? Gray? Would he be able to recognize his mate again?
Of course! His dragon insisted, furious at the suggestion they couldn’t. We would recognize our mate anywhere!
His dragon would know, and he’d never heard of anyone meeting their fated mate and not recognizing them again.
Then again, he doubted a lot of shifters had met their mates under these circumstances….
“Parker? What do you want?”
“Hmm?” He turned to Mitchell. “Oh, um, a soda’s fine.” Thomas and Joel opted for cotton candy, and Mitchell got a slice of pumpkin pie.
“Not in a rush to go home, then?” Mitchell asked, watching Parker pay for his drink.
“No.” When that earned him a suspicious glance from Thomas and Mitchell, he shrugged in what he hoped was a casual way. “It’s a nice evening, and we haven’t really seen the rest of the Fest, have we?” How long would it be before that maze closed? Before his mate would be out here?
“It is,” Thomas agreed. “And you were right, Joel. The Maze was fun, especially when that clown scared you.”
“Oh, like it didn’t scare you!”
“What did you think of the Maze, Parker?” Mitchell asked.
“Way better than expected.” He took a sip from his drink. “They’ve put in a lot of effort.” He didn’t want to tell his friends he’d met his mate. Not yet. Not until he’d actually met his mate again and managed to talk to him. “Joel? What time does the Maze close?”
“Um, I think around eleven. Why? Do you want to go again?”
Yes! His dragon hissed. Yes, we should go back to our mate!
He was very tempted to say ‘yes’, but then what? He’d have to wait in line, go through all those rooms again just to spend a few seconds with his mate. They’d be in a room where they couldn’t have a decent conversation, and other people would be right behind them.
He could wait to see his mate again. He looked at his phone to check the time, and groaned.
Two and a half hours was an eternity.
3
Cameron
It was eleven before they knew it, and simply a matter of time before the last few visitors passed through the Maze. Cameron had been in the maze since seven thirty, and had one quick break around nine o’clock before going back in so Stacy could have her break too.
Tonight had been fun, despite the thought of this being the last Halloween Fest looming over him. He’d focused on doing his zombie makeup, making sure his hair looked like he’d been dragged through a hedge and using a little more fake blood than was really necessary on his face and neck. The torn old clothes he wore completed the zombie look.
He and Stacy had worked as a team to scare visitors in the maze. Some people barely reacted, others screamed or laughed. Cameron had acted in the Maze long enough to get a general idea of how someone would react. Teenagers were often the most dramatic, either loudly insisting they weren’t scared at all, or whimpering in terror after setting one foot in the room.
Groups of adults could go either way. Some of them came in with a dismissive attitude, while others came in with big grins, enjoying themselves even when Cameron or Stacy lunged at them unexpectedly.
They’d had a lot of visitors that night, and usually there were several memorable ones he’d tell the others about or laugh over with Stacy.
Tonight, though, he could only really remember one.
The hot, tall guy who’d come in with three friends, and it was a good thing Cameron had surprised him when he’d been saying something to his friends, because as soon as those brown eyes met his, Cameron had been lost for words. He managed to shake himself out of it long enough to remember to scare the group, and he lunged for one of the hot guy’s friends instead. He wasn’t even sure what he’d said anymore. It was probably one of the standard threats he and Stacy had come up with earlier.
It was a good thing she was there to scare them as well, because Cameron hadn’t really been thinking.
Well, he had been thinking, but nothing useful or appropriate about people who came into their Maze of Terror. He’d just stared at the hot guy like an idiot, and then Stacy clapped him on the shoulder, reminding him to hide behind one of the tombstones again.
They left the maze together, Stacy laughing as she high-fived Michael, who’d been one of the lumberjacks outside scaring visitors away from the exit to make sure they weren’t holding anyone up. Michael was Andrew’s boyfriend and a big, tall guy who was really a cuddly teddy bear, but since he looked so imposing, he was always playing intimidating characters. “You guys had a good night?” She nodded at the other two lumberjacks, who were already walking over the farmhouse so they could remove their makeup.
“Pretty good night, yeah. No big incidents.” Since Michael was on the outside of the maze, he had a much better idea of whether or not anything had gone wrong that night. “We had three people who wanted to leave the maze halfway through. One guy tripped over the coffee table in The Ring room, but apart from a few scrapes he’s fine, and one girl got so scared in the clown room that she shoved our clown back into one of the other mannequins.”
Stacy winced. “Yeah, that always happens at least once a night. People really don’t like clowns. Everything all right?”
“Oh, once the guy’s wig fell off the girl immediately started apologizing.”
“That’s good,” Cameron added. People who got scared often reacted on instinct and pushing someone away was perfectly understandable from their point of view. It was one of the reasons he always tried to keep some distance between himself and the visitors, but he’d still been pushed around on occasion. “But that’s it?”
“Pretty much. Two guys got turned away when they wanted to buy tickets since they were drunk, and got a little angry over that, but that’s it.”
“They should’ve read the rules before turning up here, then,” Stacy said.
Cameron nodded along. Having some beer at the Fest was one thing, but they definitely didn’t want drunk people going through the Maze. “Speaking of drinks, I need one.” He waved goodbye to Stacy and Michael, and walked around the barn. He smiled when he saw there were still plenty of people wandering around and sitting at the bonfire, even this late. Maybe he could even scare one or two…No, that’d be mean. Besides, he really did want a drink before going to the farmhouse to remove the white contact lenses and the fake wounds.
His tho
ughts returned to the moment where the hot guy’s dark eyes had met his. It had been like a punch in the gut, and he hadn’t had such a strong reaction to seeing a hot guy since he’d been a hormonal teenager. He hadn’t known your breath could actually catch at the sight of someone.
The even weirder thing was, the guy wasn’t Cameron’s usual type. Sure, he liked guys who were taller than him, and at 6’3” taller guys were hard to find, but that didn’t mean he was attracted to any hot guy who happened to have a couple of inches on him. The guy had been dressed too nicely for the Fest. He’d been wearing a button-down shirt under his jacket, and khakis rather than jeans, as if he’d been about to go to a meeting. Cameron rarely liked serious-looking guys, which was convenient, because serious-looking guys rarely liked him and his geeky passion for horror movies and Halloween Fest. And when was the last time he’d liked a guy with dark eyes rather than bright blue ones? Or with hair that short? He always preferred guys with hair long enough to run his fingers through.
This guy wasn’t his type. He was pretty much the opposite of his type. But Cameron still wanted to know if the cheeks and jaw that looked so clean-shaven really were smooth to the touch. And if the guy’s shoulders were as promisingly broad as his jacket made them look. Maybe all those people who went on about sharp-dressed men had a point. Maybe there was something about ripping buttons off and disheveling someone who looked so neat and tidy.
Okay, he really needed to get himself under control. He’d only seen the guy for a couple of seconds. He really shouldn’t be fantasizing about having his way with someone he didn’t even know.
But if the guy had stuck around, Cameron could get to know him. Or maybe, in the light of the moon and the fairy lights around them, he’d realize the guy wasn’t as hot as his memories made him out to be. Maybe it had been the adrenaline of scaring people, or maybe it had been too long since he’d dated.
He wandered over to the smaller barn, smiling at any guest he came across to let them know he wasn’t going to do anything, but most people still gave him a wide berth. A couple of teenage girls wanted a selfie with him, and he obligingly made a scary face as he stood in between them. They grinned, thanking him before darting off again.
He went into the barn and headed over to the corner where Andrew was in charge of refreshments for the crew and actors of the Fest. “Had a good night?” Andrew handed him a plastic glass of red wine.
“Pretty good. Me and Stacy were in the graveyard tonight. We scared plenty of people.”
“That’s good to know.” Andrew fell silent for a moment. “Look, about the announcemen….”
He shook his head. “Yeah, don’t tell me, I was out of line.”
“Yeah, you were. I get it,” he immediately added. “But they have been thinking about this for a long time, and it is for the best for them.”
“I bet,” he muttered, feeling bitter and angry all over again. “I just—it’s unfair. Halloween Fest is great, and now some rich jackass gets to destroy something so many people enjoy every year.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh please, you think what’s his face, Everett, is going to let us do Halloween Fest here again? You know what those business guys are like. They don’t care about any of this. They only care about making more money.”
He wondered if the hot guy in the maze was like that. He certainly looked like he should be in a meeting rather than in a haunted maze.
Andrew sighed. “I haven’t met him, but yes, I don’t think we’ll be able to do it here again. But this isn’t the only farm in the area, Cameron, and there might be something suitable in the city. It won’t be the same, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end.”
He wished he could share Andrew’s optimism. “I’m gonna go see if there’re any marshmallows left at the bonfire.”
“You’re here again tomorrow, right?”
“Where else would I be?” He gave Andrew a wan grin, then left the barn, sipping his wine. Considering the amount of work that went into Halloween Fest every year, Andrew would have to find another location fast. He remembered what Andrew had said earlier, that maybe they’d have to take a break from Halloween Fest for a year. And then that would become a break of two years, or three years, until one day no one would bother asking about it anymore.
He wandered over to the bonfire where most of the other remaining visitors had gathered. The Fest was definitely winding down for the night, but Cameron watched as the people who were still here chatted and laughed with their friends.
Where would they go next year? Some other Halloween party?
“Hey! Hey, it’s you!”
It took him a second to realize the stranger was addressing him, and he turned away from the fire. “I’m sorry, I was—”
“Good evening!” It was the hot guy from the maze.
“Evening,” Cameron managed, because damn, he hadn’t imagined how attractive the guy was. “I, um, take it you enjoyed the maze?” He was feeling a flush of heat that had nothing to do with the bonfire.
“Oh, definitely.” The guy smiled down at him, and Cameron’s stomach gave a little jolt. “Best part of the night.”
“Really? What did you like?” He moved a little closer. He didn’t know why a hot guy was talking to him while he was dressed a zombie, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Your room. The graveyard was great. You were great. Very scary.”
“I barely startled you.” He remembered the guy. He’d barely even flinched. He’d just stared into Cameron’s eyes like he never wanted to stop. Cameron hadn’t wanted it to stop either.
“No! No, you were—you were definitely a surprise. I was wondering if—”
“Parker, there you are! We got you another soda.” A young man Cameron vaguely recognized handed the hot guy a drink, and Cameron tried not to feel annoyed at being disturbed. Obviously the young man had been with Parker in the maze, but now that Cameron was looking at him and not Parker’s distracting face, he realized he’d lunged for this young man, but that wasn’t why he recognized him. The young man smiled at Cameron. “Oh, hey! Nice job in the Maze. That room with the clown is new, isn’t it?”
“You’ve been an actor in the Maze, haven’t you?” Cameron tried to place him. There were so many people involved, and some only volunteered for a couple of nights.
“Yeah, two years ago. I’m surprised you remember!”
Cameron shrugged. “So, how did you like it?” He eyed Parker, who looked annoyed too at having been interrupted.
“It was great. That clown room’s amazing. Didn’t you think so?”
“I preferred the graveyard at the end,” Parker muttered, looking at Cameron with a smile that was making him melt a little.
“Is this your first time at the Fest?” He’d definitely remember having seen him before.
Parker nodded. “Yes, Joel’s idea.”
“It took some convincing. This isn’t really his thing.” Joel sounded proud.
“Oh? Which part?” Cameron asked, when Parker briefly glared down at Joel. “Festivals? Halloween? Spending time with friends?”
“I enjoyed it!” Parker insisted. “A lot. I stayed all night, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” Joel replied pointedly, “you did.”
There was clearly some history here, but Cameron was glad Parker had decided to stay. “Well, we’re always happy to have new visitors at the Fest. And yes, that room with the clown is new. We always try to do at least one new room every year. Got to keep it interesting for long-time visitors too.”
“You definitely do that! I remembered some of it from last year,” Joel told him, “and it was fun watching them get spooked in the first room already.”
A flush of pride went through him. “That Evil Dead room is still very effective.”
“The what?” Parker frowned at the two of them.
“Evil Dead,” Cameron told him. “It’s a horror movie. Well, technically the room in the Maze is based
on the cabin in Evil Dead 2. It’s the one most people know.” And the best one of the three, in his opinion.
Parker’s face was a blank.
“More of a Ring fan?" Cameron asked, although he doubted it. Guys like Parker were never horror movie fans. He knew that. He shouldn’t be feeling disappointed.
Parker still look confused, but Joel smiled. “That was pretty creepy.” He turned to Parker. “The one with the crawling girl.”
“Ah! Yes, um, that was definitely creepy.”
Cameron didn’t understand why Parker said that when he clearly didn’t think so at all. Guys like that usually rolled their eyes at the Maze and said it was silly. They didn’t give Cameron hopeful smiles as if they were trying to impress him. “Really? Did you see the movie?”
“Yes, Parker, did you?”
Parker didn’t need to reply. His glare at Joel and Joel’s smile in return was answer enough.
“So, which horror movie is your favorite?” Cameron was starting to feel bad for him. Parker was just trying to be nice.
“Um.” Parker looked panicked for a moment. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one….”
“But if you don’t like horror movies or Halloween, why are you here?” Cameron wasn’t complaining, but it was a little weird. And why was Parker so reluctant to admit it?
“We pretty much outvoted him.” Joel shrugged.
“I really did enjoy it,” Parker insisted. “I’ll definitely come again next year.”
Cameron’s smile faded. “There won’t be one next year.”
“What? Why not?” Joel asked.
Cameron was silent. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to tell anyone about the announcement from that afternoon. Then again, Andrew hadn’t said it was a secret or confidential, and he was usually careful to stress that if things weren’t supposed to be shared. “The owners are selling the place to some land developer. So, we won’t be able to do it here, and good luck trying to find some other place.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
