It is mid October, my favourite time of year. The leaves have all fallen off the trees leaving that wonderful spookiness look in the fog that alway descends over our city as the air cools. Most people by now have decorated their houses for Halloween and nobody judges my gothic makeup and outfits. I was on my way to meet my boyfriend and his friends at the biggest haunted house in the city. It was famous for being one of the scariest events, even making the top five scariest things to do in the whole country three years running.
I pulled into the parking lot, scanning for Tim's truck. I couldn't see it but figured I simply beat him here. I pulled my phone out and saw a text from him, "Sry Babe, got called out on job. Owen and Craig are still going if U still want to go? Luv U!"
"Damn it!" I muttered under my breath as I text back, "OK, love U 2 & miss U!"
Typical Tim, I knew he couldn't help being on call but he could at least phone me. I considered going back home, yet I really wanted to check out the haunted house. I love being scared, so in the end the haunted house won and I hopped out of my car and made my way to the ticket stand. Owen and Craig were standing off to the side of the line up and waved me over, Owen gave me a quick one armed hug as he jokingly said, "Sorry your dipshit boyfriend couldn't come, you can hold my hand if you get scared!"
I rolled my eyes and nudged him with my elbow, "Most likely you and Craig will be holding hands comforting each other."
I turned my attention to Craig who was looking at Owen with a strange glint in his eye. I shivered from the slight breeze and rubbed my hands together before asking, "So do we have the tickets already or should we get in line?"
Craig slowly tore his eyes away from Owen and almost seemed shocked to see me staring at him, he grinned though and his demeanour went back to normal as he shook his head and answered, "I helped set it up this year, so I get free admission."
I raised an eyebrow, "I didn't realize you were part of this, won't you get bored if you know whats coming?"
Craig licked his lips and laughed, "Nah, it looks different with the lights off. Plus I enjoy watching the reactions as people scream. You wouldn't happen to be a screamer, would you Tara?"
I caught the double innuendo in there and decided it was best to not keep this track of conversation going with my boyfriends two best friends and swiftly changed the subject, "It's freezing out here, lets head in shall we?"
I followed a step behind the pair as we bypassed the line of people and headed for the door, a zombie shuffled up to us and nodded to Craig, he held open the curtain and turned towards me, in a gravely voice he said, "Ladies first!"
As I walked through the curtain I heard him add, "Looks good enough to eat!"
I entered a pitch black hallway covered in smokey fog, suddenly a light flashed fast enough to show a big figure in front of me, I stepped back right into Owen who laughed, "Don't tell me you're scared already!"
We followed the hallway as people jumped out and either grabbed our arms or made menacing gestures with far too realistic weapons, I ended up between Craig and Owen as a defence. The guys would startle when things popped out but rather than scream they would laugh. I turned around at one point when I heard a loud bang and realized Craig wasn't with us anymore and I grabbed Owens arm. He turned and looked at me laughing as he said, "Relax Tara!"
His eyes narrowed when he realized we were alone, and his voice dropped "Where did Craig go?"
I shook my head and tried to keep my voice steady, "I don't know... he was here one moment and gone the next."
Owen glanced around quickly and grabbed my hand, "Come on, he's probably just going to sneak ahead and try to scare us, he designed the place so he has to know the short cuts."
I followed close behind as we turned the corner and came to a forked path, "Which way do we..."
I screamed as something grabbed me, I felt hot breath on my neck as I heard Craig chuckled into my ear, "I knew you were a screamer."
He pulled me through a hidden door in the wall and Owen slowly followed us in, Craig tightened his grip on me as he nodded in Owen's direction, "Close that door, we don't need someone walking in on us."
I swallowed deeply and tried to calm myself, part of me was telling me that something was wrong but I rationalized that it was the haunted house that had my nerves shot, these were Tim's two best friends they wouldn't do anything to me. Owen looked uncomfortable which only made the hairs on my neck stand up, I glanced around the room and it didn't have any props in it, it looked like it was simply a room for someone to wait in before jumping out and scaring the patrons.
I laughed nervously, "Very funny Craig, you almost scared me for a minute there."
Craig pulled me close to him, my back to his front so I was facing Owen. His hands gripped both my arms behind my back, he shifted so that he had both my wrists in one hand and the other one snaked around to grip my throat lightly. He spoke quietly but firmly, "You know I've waited a while for this, I had a friend who works with Tim request him specifically for that job tonight. You have teased us way too many times to get away with it. All those times you teased us and wore those tight black mini skirts and knee high boots. Wouldn't you agree Owen?"
Owen cleared his throat, he still looked uncomfortable but there was something else in his eyes now, "You have always come off as a bit too flirty."
True fear was flooding through me now, I was wearing a black corset and mini skirt with the exact boots he happened to mention. I didn't dress this way to flirt though, I simply liked the way I look in these outfits, plus it's not like I was dressed to show off for Craig and Owen I planned on being with my boyfriend tonight. I tried to say as much but Craig tightened his grip on my throat when I tried to speak. He let go of me quickly and roughly shoved me down to my knees. I looked pleadingly up at Owen but his erection pressing against his pants showed he wasn't going to help me.
"I'll scream." I blurted out breathlessly.