Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“Well, I’m here for you. No matter what you decide to do.”
“She asked about you.” Lilly quickly shakes her head. “I didn’t give her many details. I mentioned Grace to Alex and—”
“Lilly, it’s fine. Really.”
“Thanks.”
I loop my arm through hers. “Come on, let’s go check out the maze. It’s pretty cool.”
Instead of going inside the gym to go out the back door, we walk around the building to where the outdoor maze is set up.
Tall skeletons guard the entrance and loud shrieks pierce the air.
“Yeah, I’m going to pass,” Lilly says. “The only kids I want to be around are ours.”
Laughing, I nod in agreement and we continue toward the back of the maze.
“What’s with the creepy-ass scarecrows?” she whispers.
I frown, staring at the two staked scarecrows. “Weird, there was only one before.”
“Part of the decor, I guess.”
One of them looks weird, though. Torn, dirty jeans with pieces of hay poking out. A ripped, filthy flannel covers a hay-filled chest. It has a much more human shape than the lifeless, store-bought one next to it.
“Please tell me they didn’t hang a prospect from a stick,” I whisper to Lilly.
“Prospect or club enemy?” she whispers back. A trail of nervous laughter follows.
“They wouldn’t do something so risky with so many people here,” I say.
But what if a club enemy dumped a body here?
A cool breeze picks up, stirring the leaves in a circle around us. Soft, crunchy autumn whispers that I usually find comforting.
I search the area and spot Rock by the gym with Z, Grace, and Chance. He nods at me. I lift my hand in a half-hearted wave.
“Hope!” Lilly grabs my arm. “It moved.”
“What?” I whirl around and find her tiptoeing closer to the scarecrow.
“Lilly, what are you doing?” I hiss, hurrying to catch up.
We can’t be in danger, we’re surrounded by people.
“Come closer, little girls,” the scarecrow rasps in an eerie voice.
Lilly and I scream and grab each other.
My granny costume should’ve included a pair of Depends.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jigsaw
I’m definitely going to hell for teasing not one but two presidents’ ol’ ladies. But I’m committed. The show must continue.
I’ve been hanging here for at least fifteen minutes waiting to scare the shit out of Rooster.
But it’s Hope and Lilly who find me first. This could be fun.
Or get me killed.
“What the hell?” Hope gasps.
I slowly lift my arms over my head and recite a version of the creepy Halloween poem I’ve used for years.
“Halloween time the dead arise,
Demons will play tricks with your eyes,
Goblins of every shape give chase,
Scream all you want, there's no escape!”
I jump down, landing in front of the girls with a thud.
They let out short, shrill screams.
I point a finger at them and shuffle closer.
The hay in my costume scratches some intimate places but I continue zombie-walking toward them.
“Jigsaw!” Lilly yelps. “Dammit, is that you?”
I cackle with glee and run after them, bowlegged and spilling hay everywhere. Satan help me, I’m trying hard not to covet my president’s wife, but Lilly’s curves are insane.
A thought I’ll take with me to the grave.
I’m close enough to tap their shoulders when Hope stops dead, spins around, and charges me.
Shit, wasn’t expecting that.
She yanks the hat off my head and squints up at me. “You nut! Why would you do that to us?”
“Are you looking for a better answer than, it’s Halloween?” I hold my hands up to the sky and shrug. “Tricks or treats.”
“You didn’t offer us any treats.” Hope’s laughter betrays the scolding tone I think she wanted.
Lilly’s clutching her chest and laughing. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
Guilt stabs between my ribs. Truly scaring them wasn’t the goal.
“I was waiting for Rooster, but you two delicious little morsels were too tempting to pass up.” I glance around at the crowded parking lot. “Plus, you came the closest to me. And why should the kids have all the fun?”
“How long were you planning to hang up there?” Hope asks.
“As long as it took.” The rig actually has a small platform, so it’s not like I was really hanging. I’ve endured worse for far less noble reasons.
“Jiggy, what the hell?” Z shouts, jogging over the blacktop.
Oh shit.
Punishment due.
“Gotta run, ladies!” I rip off my costume pants, brush off the hay and sprint toward the next parking lot. My bike’s parked in front of Wrath’s gym. Maybe I can circle around the building and make my escape.
Z’s boots thunder behind me.
“Z, don’t!” Lilly shouts.
I risk glancing over my shoulder. Z’s fast but my president has like ten years on me. I’m younger and faster. I can outrun him.
At least I think I can.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lilly
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.
“Oh my God, I needed this so bad today,” I say, wiping tears from my eyes.
Hope and I are still clinging to each other, laughing hysterically.