All Hallows' Haunt

by Kenna Bellrae

“Personally, I think you’d look better combining these two.” His finger moved between the bottom photos. “The girls would get a thrill from the scare, but also the enjoyment of you not looking too gory.” “Is that a thing for y’all?” I asked, shoveling another forkful into my mouth. “Oh, absolutely. Big events like Hallows’, there’s always going to be a portion of the crowd that’s going to harass you for that shit. It’s all about how you let it affect you and how you feed into it.” He picked up a set of makeup sponges and started on his face. “Just be careful with how far you allow them to push.” “Yeah, no touching. I’m not looking to bring the park a ‘suit.’”

We used to come in full costumes and makeup, but it was traded in for comfortable hoodies, sweats, and sensible shoes. While fitting most of that, I decided to hold on to the smallest pieces and tried my hand at face paint.

With my back still to my friends, I pointed in its direction. “We could go—” I cut myself off with a scream as a loud scraping noise moved around me. Sparks skittered across the ground as the guy responsible stood up. He should’ve been intimidating with his presence and costume, but the gentle features under the makeup made that hard to believe. We were locked in a stare down and the energy that came off him made me question everything. Is this scary or sexy?

“Sienna, we’re gonna go to the Rocker.” Vera tugged my sleeve as she walked past. I looked this guy over once more, and when we locked eyes again, there was a playful dare dancing in his gaze.

“So, did you know him?” Vera asked, bringing my attention to her. Her curly pink hair was bundled on top of her head, and her cheeks were already chapped by the wind. “Know who? That guy?” She nodded in response, and I took a deep breath. “Nope, but that was a bit weird, right? I don’t recall the haunt guys last year being so…” “Hot?” “I mean.” I laughed at her insinuation. “I’m not discounting that he might be attractive. He was just very intense.” Vera silently agreed,

loudspeaker echoed more directions. “We just got here, but yeah, I guess. Rocker isn’t a bad ride to start with.” The cart jerked forward after the all-clear calls. “Are you having fun?” I didn’t care for this conversation, but he forced its hand by moving Vera away from me. “Oh, I’ll be having all the fun tonight if you’re staying by my side.” He draped his arm over my shoulders as we chugged up the hill. Shawn wasn’t a bad guy, but he wasn’t someone I was interested in. Was I aware of his intentions? Painfully so, for at least the past three months. He was cocky at times, and it led him to believe everyone would say yes. But I said no.

“Do you want to hold my hand?” he shouted over the wind as the coaster stalled. I gripped the bar in front of us harder as I closed my eyes. The cart pushed over the edge. My stomach dropped and a scream tore loose, but I wore a giant smile as the world rushed around us. No, Shawn. I still don’t.

I stood near the exit of Rocker and leaned into the gate to hide myself behind large bushes. Screams bounced around the avenue as I waited for her. My phone went off in my pocket. No doubt it was Matt telling me to hurry up.

Shortly after he passed by two girls walked into view as they chatted about nonsense. I waited a beat, and Sienna walked out, but the guy she was walking beside draped his arm around her. Her expression was bored; there was no smile or crinkle in the corners of her eyes. Hmm. It was a split-second decision, and I didn’t even have a legitimate reason for proving it. With the gloves on, I skidded behind them and raked my hands across the asphalt. Sienna screamed and jumped at the noise. The douchebag she was with let his fear out on her and pushed Sienna away from him. The force of his blow sent her careening to the ground, and I broke the most important rule. I stepped forward, sliding my arms under her. She fell into my body and went into a fit of rage. “Shawn! What the fuck was that?” she yelled

“What’s killed your mood?” he asked. “I don’t know what you mean,” I said, feigning ignorance. If I confessed the last twenty minutes, he’d rightfully throw my ass into a dumpster. “Your face, it’s all mopey and shit.” He stuck a finger in my face and waved it around. “I know clowns here aren’t all smiles and kittens, but that energetic start you had earlier has fizzled. Why?” “Are you gonna get mad if I tell you?” “Depends.” “Fine. That girl from earlier,” I started. “I saw her again. When I jump-scared their group, the guy she was with pushed her to the ground.” I scratched my head, not wanting to go further. “Ev, you didn’t,” he sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “What was I supposed to do, Matt? Should I have let someone twice her size knock her onto the asphalt?” I kicked at the gravel as I folded my arms. “I suppose it’s not toeing the lines of fraternization.” He turned and pushed the door open for me. I walked though, and he followed behind. “That’s kind of shitty on him. What a dick.”

There were thousands of people at this park. I scared plenty of them already, and yet this one girl had me absolutely captivated. I wanted to abandon the entire night and walk by her side. I wanted to know her laugh. I wanted to hear her story. I wanted to know why she looked so sad.

“Sienna,” Aimee started as she played with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “Yeah?” “Are you okay? You’re staring and hunting the crowds.” Aimee looked over her shoulder and around the courtyard we stood in. “I’m fine, but I keep feeling like that guy is going to pop out every time we stop somewhere or start to leave.” Like clockwork, I looked through the shadows for any glimpse of that teal-blue hair and stature. “Do you want him to be there?” Vera asked this time. I pondered that for a moment before answering. Do I? “I don’t think I’d mind, but I’m curious about his reason. The first time was rational enough—we just stood there and were distracted. But the second time, when we got off Rocket? It was like he was waiting.” Vera and Aimee exchanged a look, and I kept going. “It didn’t feel a little too coincidental for you two?” “I see your point,” Vera conceded. “I think it’s kind of hot,” Aimee said.

I likely wouldn’t see the girl, Sienna, again tonight—or ever. Despite that fact, my mood shifted back to normal while rotating scares. I glanced at the crowd one last time, and I cocked my head in disbelief. “What’s wrong?” James asked. “I’m not entirely certain, but I think I just saw her,” I muttered more to myself. It was brief and just a flash among the faces. I was almost positive I saw Sienna’s pulled-back auburn hair and the red makeup with writing across her nose. “Saw who, dude?” “I don’t know,” I lied. I knew. Sienna. “Well, if she’s out there, ruffle her feathers a bit. Get her in the mood for the haunted house.” He counted more people inside; the clicking noise sounded more intense as I lost all focus to thoughts of her. I just want Sienna.

The black-haired girl mostly blocking her moved back and without any more forethought, I started moving. I ran across the asphalt and dropped to my knees several feet from where Sienna stood. The sound caused her to look my way and step back. “Oh, fuck!” she yelled, and her hands shot up in front of her chest. I slid as close to her as I felt comfortable and popped back up onto my feet. My intention was a smooth landing right in front of her. Then my toe caught against the ground, and I sailed forward. I couldn’t stop my trajectory; I moved too fast and with no room. It unfolded in slow motion. Sienna’s eyes widened as my hands grabbed her by the hoodie. Her fingers twisted into my dress shirt; nails scratched my skin. I slammed into her hard, and where her body pressed against mine scorched my mortal soul. She wasn’t enough to stop the momentum. We were going down. I unbalanced her, and she fell back toward the grassy hillside. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her waist and twisted my upper half. I picked Sienna up off the asphalt and pulled her into my chest so that I took the brunt of my fuckup. We hit the ground with the force I anticipated.

A very, very different sensation spread from my face and deep into my chest. I gripped her soft hips and pressed back into her. Sienna’s kissing me. I’m kissing Sienna. Fuck, fuck, fuck. It was an awkward pass, an innocent brush as we fell, but she stayed. I quickly discarded my gloves and moved my hand, holding the side of her face before she pulled away for good.

My tongue slid between her lips, and she let me in. Fuck. I groaned as her thighs squeezed around my sides and her cold hand slid around my throat. I started to move past her waist but remembered where we were. Don’t touch the fucking patrons. And definitely don’t make out with them, fucking idiot. It killed me to even think about it, let alone will it, but I pushed our kiss apart. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“That was supposed to be a way cooler landing. I wanted to show off and be a cheesy dork.” “I’m not,” she started, shaking her head. “It’s okay. You’re the clown from earlier.”

“I am.” “I was hoping to see you again,” she said before pushing on my chest and settling on my lap. I sat up on my elbows, letting my thighs brace her back. “You were looking for me?” I asked, shocked with what I heard and completely convinced the fall knocked me unconscious and this was all a dream. “I wouldn’t say that.” She blushed, ducking her gaze and moving her hand to cover her mouth. The crowd quieted as they moved on and went back to their business. “What would you say then?”

“I just wanted to see you, but mostly to prove something to myself.” “What’s that?” “That you wanted to see me, too.” She picked at the already chipped black nail polish on her nails and averted her gaze. “I wanted to see you.” I paused. “Sienna.”

“Do we know each other?” “If I knew you before tonight, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to let you go,” I confessed.

“I overheard your friends say it. That’s your name, right?” “Yeah, Sienna Rhodes.” She straightened herself more and looked back at her friends. I didn’t move to follow her gaze; I waited for her attention to settle on me again. “What’s your name?” she asked as her eyes moved from my painted face and across my messy, unbuttoned shirt. “Everett,” I forced out. “St. Claire.” Reality pressed in as I realized the gravity of our little incident. “I like that; it’s unique.” “I could say the same for Sienna.”

“I don’t want to walk away—” “Don’t,” she countered. “But I have to go back to work.” I dropped my voice and leaned in before adding, “I’m definitely not allowed to make out with guests, and if I don’t get inside to work, then I’m gonna be fucked six ways to Sunday.” “Oh.” “Are you going in?” I asked, nodding toward the line that was dwindling. Her teeth chewed the corner of her bottom lip again. I brushed my thumb along the rosy pout and tugged it free. White and red smeared across her mouth and chin from our kiss. “Yeah, that was the plan at least.” Her eyes shifted behind my shoulder, and her brow furrowed. I don’t like that look. Concern? Doubt? Worry? I kept a gentle hold on her jaw as I leaned in and pressed a sweet kiss against her lips. “I’ll see you inside then.” “Inside?” “Absolutely,” I said, leaning in close. “I’ll be waiting for you,” I whispered. “Will you make me a loser or a lover tonight?” I asked, tapping her nose where the words were scrawled across in black and red eyeliner.

Let the haunt begin, Little Fox.

I looked back and saw Sienna push against Shawn. “I’m not the one who’s scared. You don’t need to paw at me, please.” She sounded frustrated, the complete opposite of how light she’d been in the grass. “It’s a haunted house, babe. You’re supposed to hold each other.” Shawn tried to reason with her as they passed my door, but she pulled them to a stop. “I’m serious, Shawn. I didn’t come here on a date, we didn’t turn it into a date, and no matter how many times you ask me out, there will never be a fucking date!”

“You’re a fucking piece of work, Si. You know that? I swear, all you’ve managed to do is turn into a massive bi—” I slammed my gloved hand against the wall, and the noise caused Shawn to jump in the air before yelling a string of curses and taking off. I didn’t care to fight unknown battles for an unknown girl who was very capable of handling her own, but I wasn’t in the mood to have her whittled down like that in front of me.

I closed the door to the empty hallway and engaged the locking bolts. When I faced her again, the previous upset she felt dissipated: her eyes softened, her shoulders relaxed, and her breathing calmed. “Hi,” I said, stripping the gloves from my hands and throwing them in some odd corner of this small room. “Hi,” she whispered back. The empty space between us felt immense, and I couldn’t stand it any longer. In two large strides, I crossed the room and scooped her into my arms.

Her tongue slid along my lips this time, and I let her in easily. She tasted so sweet—a berry-like flavor that washed into my mouth. My hands slid over her shoulders and into her hair. I tugged at the hair ties until they gave away from the tension and let her silky hair fall against her shoulders. My fingers twisted in the strands and firmly held her to me as I backed us against the desk. “Everett,” she gasped, breaking our kiss. My lips were numb, and her face paint looked hilarious. “Sienna,” I assured her, bringing her back to me. I said her name like it was a promise—that she was meant to be here with me. “Are we going to actually…” “I’m trying very hard to get us there,” I teased, running my nose along hers. “Loser or lover, sly Little Fox?” My tongue traced over her parted lips. “Who am I to you tonight?”

Say it. Say it. “Lover,” she hesitated. A scream cut through the drywall as more people ran through. My focus didn’t move from her. “I could let you love me for one night,” she murmured, looking up at me through her thick lashes. The icy blue thawed to gentle steel, and with that, I was hers—even beyond tonight. I drew her face in, claiming her kisses as mine. And only mine. A throaty groan escaped at the thought of anyone else touching her, kissing her, loving her.

I lifted her off the floor and planted her ass on top of the desk. She parted her legs, and I stepped closer. My cock pressed firmly against her, and she locked her ankles at my back. I squeezed my fingers into her waist as she held me closer. Inside. Inside. Inside. It dawned on me that I didn’t have my wallet with me. “Sienna,” I started. “Yes?” “I won’t do anything you don’t want to. But I have to tell you,” I confessed before stealing another kiss. “I don’t have my wallet.” “Are you wanting to show me your ID?” The sass was thick, and I snorted a laugh. “No, I don’t have my wallet. Which means I left behind a condom.” My fingers slipped under her shirt and grazed her soft skin. “Guys still carry condoms in their wallets?”

“Go without it.” “What?” I asked in shock, pulling back and looking at her. “Do you get tested regularly?” she asked, and I nodded. “I do too. So, what’s the issue with a one-off?” A one-off. Part of me wanted to agree immediately, but the other part locked in on the fact that if we did this, I wouldn’t want it to be a one-off. I’d want her all the time, every day. She weaved herself into my very being with a simple kiss. If I had all of her, I would need all of her. “Everett?” Her sweet voice cut through my musings, and I refocused on her messy face. My fingers ran between her skin and waistband. I tugged the fabric over her hips.

“It’s bolted,” I assured her. More screams pressed through the drywall. “No one’s going to pay attention to more screaming.” My grin was full of mischief as she sat half-naked in front of me. I ran my hand from her ankle and up her calf—stopping behind her knee. I stood fully and took the bottom of her sweatshirt in my hands. She raised her arms above her head and let me strip her nearly bare. The bra remaining was lacy and bloodred—the

“What’s your birth control situation?” She laughed like it was unexpected. “Yeah. I mean, I’m on it, that is.” “Preferred safeword?” “Uh.” She started to blush, and her fingers twitched to hide her face. “I don’t really have a preferred word.” “For us,” I said, nipping at the inside of her wrist. “Loser.” “Loser?” she asked, and I nodded. “Okay, loser it is.”

“Sienna.” I braced my hands against the desk, frantic to maintain some form of restraint and composure. I leaned in close enough to catch faint traces of what perfume remained on her skin. “You look too delicious.” She kept my gaze—didn’t dare to break it. “Do something about it then.”

The tattoos probably added a bonus. Sienna’s stare fixated on the piece covering most of my chest. It was a butterfly done in black and white, but instead of a patterned wing, there was a skull looking back at her. “That’s beautiful,” she admired. “Nothing in this room is more beautiful than you.” I popped the belt buckle and unzipped my pants. My self-restraint wore thin, and the chill that danced goosebumps across her skin and peaked her nipples stirred a war of emotions. I wanted her, desperately—she was what I’d craved for so long.

“Can you do me a favor?” His silky voice cut through my trance, and I looked up from where the pants now hung off the sharp cut of his hips. I nodded, unable to find my voice with the gravity of this moment pushing down on me. “Throw me those, please.” He pointed to a small, plastic pouch that crinkled when I picked it up. I looked down at the printed text. “Makeup wipes?” I asked, tossing them. “Unless you want this,” he teased, waving a finger in his face, “to be transferred everywhere down there, I’m gonna need them.”

He dropped his pants the rest of the way and stepped out of them. My attention caught on his erection when he moved to kiss me. His fingers skimmed my thighs as his waist pushed my legs apart. My mouth parted on a sigh, and he slid a finger into my wet pussy. “Fuck,” I moaned into his mouth and gripped his shoulders tight. He rested his forehead against mine, and his free hand dug into my hip. Everett chuckled as he slid his finger against my clit and my nails dug into flesh. I couldn’t remember the last time a guy thought of me before himself. His seductive sighs kissed my skin and spun my head faster.

Three of his fingers edged me to insanity. My fingers trailed his neck as he dropped to one knee. The shaved part of his hair was rough as my hand ran up into his dyed mess of waves. “Please,” I begged, feeling the tip of his nose skim against me. Closer, move closer. “Need something?” he asked between kisses by my knee. He wound me tight, and the ache from craving that release spread. Everett bit at the soft flesh of my thigh, and I cried out again. “I need to come, please.” My voice wobbled and my chest pounded as I drew in deeper breaths. His tongue traced over me, giving the throbbing a fraction of relief. I gripped the side of his neck in a desperate attempt to pull him forward. He didn’t budge, roving his tongue up and down slowly. His fingers slid over the top of mine and locked my hand against him. Without warning, his tongue moved deep inside me. He moaned something unintelligible against my pussy, and the vibrations ripped a choked sob from my chest.

My back arched off the wooden top when he latched onto my clit and pulled everything from my body. He pushed my knees back toward the tabletop and lapped rhythmically. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I groaned into the empty room. My legs quivered under his palms. The tight knot that he spent the better part of ten minutes knitting finally unraveled. Tears streamed down the side of my face. “Everett!” I screamed his name and made a mess of the desk that belonged to some poor fuck. Inhibitions gone, I dissolved into a state of bliss. He kissed up my body before putting himself back in my sight. “Hi, baby,” he whispered.