Fright Night

by Maren Stoffels

  Sandy closes the wooden door behind us and puts down the flashlight on some kind of oil barrel in the corner of the room.

  “We’ve come to the best bit of Fright Night now. You might think the worst is behind you, but you’re about to find out that nothing could be further from the truth.”

  The boy sniffs. “One of us ate a cockroach.”

  “And which one of you was that?” asks Sandy.

  “He’s not with us now.” The girl looks at her sneakers. “We lost someone.”

  So, there was a fifth team member? Of course, every team has to have five people.

  “What I mean is, we’ve seen some stuff.” The boy crosses his arms defiantly.

  The girl nudges him. “Quin…”

  Quin? My gaze shoots to the boy with the bloody nose. I knew I recognized him from somewhere! He’s older, of course. I haven’t seen him for years.

  My hands are tingling. I look around, as if his other half might be hiding here somewhere.

  Because wherever Quin went, Dylan went too. My little brother. I press my fingertips to my temples again, but it doesn’t help. Questions are shooting through my mind.

  What is Dylan’s best friend doing here?

  And where’s Dylan?

  That girl was talking about them having lost someone. Was that Dylan? I have to tell Sandy, but how can I do that with everyone here?

  “Okay,” Sandy continues. “Are we having fun yet?”

  Martin glares at him. “It stinks in here.”

  “That’s my home you just insulted.” Sandy goes and stands in front of Martin. “You don’t want to do that, my friend.”

  “I’m not your friend.” Martin stands up straight. He is way taller than Sandy, but that doesn’t seem to bother Sandy.

  “No, you’re not.” Sandy looks him in the eye. His yellow lenses flicker. “You’re…the opposite of that.”

  I see Martin hesitate. His shoulders slump a little as he asks, “What are we actually doing here? Which zone is this?”

  Sandy gives him a shove. “Why do you keep going on about zones? This isn’t any kind of zone.”

  Martin’s eyes shoot to the exit. It’s like he only just realized the door is shut.

  “You are going to take us back to that arrow right now.” Martin’s voice is trembling—and that makes me feel so good. Finally, he’s scared.

  “What arrow? You mean the arrow that we”—Sandy makes a gesture with his hand—“turned around?”

  SOFIA

  Martin gapes at Sandy. “Turned around?”

  The clown laughs. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

  An anxious feeling creeps over me. It’s not the typical Fright Night feeling. This is something else. It has to do with that clown’s grin and his silent friend. This doesn’t feel right at all.

  “We quit,” I say firmly. “Ketchup.”

  There’s silence for a moment. They have to stop now. Those are the rules. I can’t wait to get back to our bikes. This is the first and last Fright Night of my life. I’m never going to do anything like this again.

  But then the clown starts chuckling. “Ketchup? Did you say ‘ketchup’?”

  “It’s the safe word,” I say, but my voice sounds small. Why won’t they listen?

  Martin makes a run for the door, but the clown blocks his way.

  “Let us out.”

  “No.”

  “Give me your walkie-talkie.”

  “Why should I?”

  Martin clenches his fist. “I’ll knock you down if I have to.”

  The clown just grins. “You can try.”

  Martin swipes at him. It all happens in a split second, but then I hear someone groan. Did he hit the clown?

  Then I see that Martin’s the one who’s collapsing. He’s clasped his hand around his forearm, and his face is twisted. There’s a trickle of blood seeping between his fingers. It’s like watching a scene from a horror movie. What’s happening?!

  Then I see the knife. The clown’s wiping the blood off the blade with the sleeve of his jacket. He just stabbed Martin!

  Nell runs to her friend. “What did you do?!”

  “It’s just a bit of blood.” The clown looks down at them. “And he started it.”

  He sounds emotionless, like he stabs people every day. I rush forward to help Nell. Together, we help Martin down to the ground. The blood is still pouring through his fingers.

  “You have to apply pressure to the wound,” I hear myself say. “Here.”

  I take off my jacket and wrap it around Martin’s arm. When I tie a firm knot in it, he groans. The fabric slowly turns red.

  “Good, now we can continue.” The clown looks at us. “We’re here because of Nell.”

  I see a shock go through her body.

  “You aren’t going anywhere, Nell,” hisses Martin.

  I look at the clown and the boy with the scars. Who are they? Are they from Fright Night? Or from somewhere else? They must have deliberately lured us here. They must have turned the arrow around while I was waiting for Quin. I was thinking so much about Dylan and their fight that I wasn’t paying attention. We followed them like little sheep because we thought it was part of Fright Night—and now there’s no way out.

  Frantically, I calculate our odds. There are four of us, and only two of them. But Martin’s injured, Quin’s a bit puny, and Nell seems terrified. Besides, they’re armed and we’re not.

  “Fine. If Nell doesn’t want to cooperate”—the clown points his knife at me—“then you’re next.”

  DYLAN

  I’m startled by a shrill sound. The doorbell echoes around the house, all the way up into the attic.

  I sit up on the dusty floor and feel my heart pounding as the bell rings again. Someone’s at the door, but who could it be?

  I slip the photo of Mom and Kelly back into my pocket, and, my heart thumping away, I creep back downstairs. Through the glass in the front door, I see a small, stocky silhouette. It bends down, and the mail slot opens.

  “Hello?”

  I recognize that voice.

  “Gerda?”

  “Who’s there?”

  I slide the bolt and open the door. Gerda’s standing in our front yard in striped pajamas and white slippers. She looks at me like I’m a ghost.

  “Dylan?”

  Before I can even nod, she’s wrapped her arms around me. She hugs me tight and I smell her familiar scent. She smells just like her house: of caramel and old people.

  Gerda lets go and looks at me. “I got up for a glass of water and saw the lights on. I’m so glad to see you again, young man.”

  * * *

  ■ ■ ■

  “There’s only water,” I say, taking a fresh glass from the cabinet.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Gerda sits down at the kitchen table, in the place that was once Kelly’s. “You look good.”

  Even after Fright Night, it seems I look healthier than I did back then.

  * * *

  —

  Dr. Luiting says it’s a miracle I survived the fall. I don’t want to think about that, but it feels like he’s written the words on my plaster cast in permanent marker.

  * * *

  —

  “Thanks.”

  “I met your girlfriend the other day. Sofia, isn’t it?”

  I place the glass of water in front of her. “She’s just a friend.”

  Gerda ignores my comment. “She’s such a nice girl.”

  I intertwine my fingers. So they talked—I knew it. I bet Sofia asked her all kinds of questions about me. That thought makes me mad again.

  “She was so positive about you.”

  “Yeah, sure,” I say abruptly.

  “She told me she felt really lonely at the s
tart of this school year and that you put her at ease. She cares about you—that’s pretty clear.” Gerda smiles. “No need to look so surprised!”

  “You must have misunderstood,” I mumble. “Sofia doesn’t care about me.”

  “You sure?” Gerda leans forward. “Then why is she going to so much trouble for a gift?”

  “A gift?”

  Gerda puts her hand over her mouth. “Oh, shoot. Did I spoil a surprise? I’m so dumb. I just meant the photo album she’s making for you.”

  A photo album? What is this about?

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I told her to take that photo of your mom and Kelly.”

  I feel the blood rush to my head. So Sofia didn’t just decide to take the photo herself. It was Gerda’s suggestion. She was trying to do something nice for me and I exploded at her. I yelled at her like she was my enemy. And I did exactly the same with Quin. He followed me and tried to make up, but I pushed him away.

  I hate your house!

  I’m just like Mom. I shut my curtains and keep everyone out. Do I think that makes me safer? But I’ve never felt as lonely as I do now. Running away from Fright Night was the biggest mistake I could have made.

  “Where are you going?” Gerda asks when I stand up.

  I take a deep breath. “I have to go back.”

  * * *

  ■ ■ ■

  Out of breath, I run the last few yards. My right leg hurts so much, but I don’t care. Just as long as I get there in time. I’m relieved to see Sofia’s and Quin’s bikes still standing next to mine. So they haven’t left yet.

  It’s busy around the exit, with people shouting enthusiastically and announcements being made. A bunch of girls come running in hysterically. They’re all crying and laughing at the same time, and their mascara’s running.

  “That was awesome!”

  “That was horrible!”

  I stand on tiptoe and scan the crowd, looking for Martin, who’s so tall that he must stick up above everyone. I don’t see him, so I squeeze my way through to the exit. There are still groups coming out.

  “Hey, excuse me?” I stop a boy. “Which group were you in?”

  “Group seventeen. Why?”

  So how can they have finished before our group? I must have missed my friends. It’s the only explanation.

  “Nothing, doesn’t matter. Thanks.”

  I walk around again and check the bikes a second time. Where could Sofia and Quin be? There’s no sign of anyone at the restrooms either. Are they waiting for me in the woods?

  I pace back and forth near the exit. Now even the actors are coming out. I recognize one of the girls as the actress with the chainsaw. She’s deep in conversation with a zombie.

  “Great first night,” I hear the zombie say.

  “Sure was. Someone even asked me on a date.”

  “Seriously? A Fright Nighter?”

  She laughs. “Duh. No. Another actor. That guy with the girl’s name…Sandy.”

  “Oh yeah, the creepy one from the training course. I think he was over-identifying with his role.”

  “I kind of liked him. His friend’s looking for a date too.”

  “You mean the other one with a girl’s name?”

  The actress with the chainsaw nods. “Kelly.”

  A strange sound escapes from my throat. I stare after them until they go into the backstage area. Why is my heart thumping so fast? There are other Kellys out there. It doesn’t mean it’s my brother.

  I think about the postcard. What if it really was Kelly who wrote it? Maybe the words weren’t meant for Mom at all, but for me. It’s no secret that Kelly and I don’t get along. There’s a reason why he never got in touch after social services took him away. From one day to the next, he disappeared.

  Did Kelly know I’d be here tonight? Is that why he signed up as an actor, so that he could be near me anonymously?

  I sigh. It feels like I’m losing it. This whole theory makes no sense. I look around again, but there’s still no sign of my friends. It’s so busy at the exit. There must be at least thirty groups milling around.

  Something’s not right. I have to go back into the woods.

  “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” One of the organizers stops me.

  “I want to go back in.”

  The man laughs. “Then you’re the only one. Everyone else is glad it’s over!”

  I shake my head. “You don’t get it. My friends are still in there. I—”

  “Out is out. You can wait here for them.” The man stands in my way and holds out his elbows so I can’t get past.

  I curse. I’m about to turn around when I hear a shout.

  “We’ve got a fainter!”

  The guard hurries over there. “Go get some water! Give the girl some space.”

  Because of the sudden commotion, no one is paying any attention to me. I grab a flashlight from the returns box and for the second time tonight, I enter Fright Night.

  KELLY

  Sandy stabbed Martin. It happened so fast that I couldn’t stop him.

  But would I have stopped him if I could have?

  I look at Martin’s arm. It’s bleeding much less now, thanks to the jacket. Nell is glued to his side. She’s stroking his hair. The other girl, who’s apparently called Sofia, is standing with her back to the wall and looking at the knife with big eyes.

  “What do you want from us?” Quin’s hardly said anything, but now he’s decided to open his mouth. “Money?”

  I saw his mom and dad once at a school play. We shook hands and I could tell right away that they were in a different class. I think Mom noticed, too, because she avoided them all night. I think she was really annoyed that Dylan liked them so much. Whenever he’d been at Quin’s place, she’d get all weird and grumpy.

  “Not everything is about money,” says Sandy.

  “Martin has to get out of here.” Nell looks at me. “Please, you seem to be the more reasonable one. You can see he needs help, can’t you?”

  I feel a shiver run down my spine. Nell really has no idea that it’s me standing here in front of her. This whole thing was my idea, and I’d do it all over again. She shouldn’t have lied to me. If she’d been honest, it would never have come to this. But she broke my heart. She gave me hope, but really she was afraid of me. She’s the best actress I know.

  “I’ve seen a thing or two. I work with problem kids. I know it can feel like there’s no way out, but there’s always a way. You don’t have to do this. Just let us go.”

  Is that how she sees me? As work? I’ll never get closer to her than this. After tonight, Martin will be the one sitting beside her on the bench. Then I’ll be able to see them kissing from my bedroom window.

  I walk over to Nell. She shrinks away as I stand in front of her. I study her face. Those little freckles around her nose, her bright-blue eyes, the curve of her lips…This is my only chance. With my makeup on, she’ll never recognize me. I can do whatever I want.

  I lean forward.

  SOFIA

  He’s kissing her. The boy with the scars is putting his disgusting lips on Nell’s. Martin tries to get up, but Nell has already given the boy a hard kick on the shin, which makes him let go. He curses and clutches his leg.

  The clown grabs Nell by the hair and yanks her back. She screams and nearly loses her balance.

  “You dumb bitch! Who do you think you are? You think you can beat us?” The clown smashes Nell into the concrete wall and turns to his friend. “You okay?”

  The boy with the scars grins, but there are tears in his eyes.

  “That was foolish, very foolish.” The clown looks at us all, one by one. “Now you are all going to have to pay.”

  Martin hugs Nell, who’s crying silently. He’s supporting his wounded arm, and I c
an see from his face that he’s wishing he could attack them.

  Quin wraps his clammy hand around mine. When I look up, I see panic in his eyes. For the first time tonight, Quin is really scared, and there’s nothing I can say to reassure him.

  We’re like rats in a trap.

  DYLAN

  This is the place where I left the others. The arrow’s pointing right, for the final part of Fright Night. I feel a wave of disappointment rush through me. They’re not here.

  “Quin!” His name echoes around the woods, but I don’t hear an answer. “Sofia! Nell! Martin!”

  Nothing.

  I spin and shine my flashlight around, as if they might be hiding behind a tree somewhere. But I’m all alone.

  I’m about to walk on, when something catches my eye. What’s that on the branch over there? Right next to the arrow, at eye level, I see Sofia’s bracelet. I take it off the branch and run the beads through my fingers. Did she hang it up there for me? Was she trying to tell me something?

  I look all around again but see nothing out of the ordinary. So maybe they did just go on walking and they’ve reached the finish by now. But then I see the footprints in the earth. They’re not going right, but left, off the path. I shine my flashlight and see that the footprints go deeper into the woods. Did they turn off here?

  I look at the arrow. It makes the most sense to follow it and head right, but something’s telling me to go the other way.

  Clasping the bracelet, I turn left.

  KELLY

  “I am going to kill you,” I hear Martin muttering. “I am so going to kill you.”

  It feels like there’s a hole in my chest. The pain in my leg is nothing compared to Nell’s tears.

  I don’t understand. This is what I wanted, isn’t it? He’s bleeding, she’s crying—I’ve had my revenge. So why does it feel like I just lost for the second time tonight?

  “If I ever see you outside of this bunker, then—”

  “Then what?” Sandy points his knife at Martin. “What’s your big plan?”