“For?”I question, confused.
“To help around the orphanage.For free, of course,” he adds when I stare at him dumbfounded.
“Do you live here—” I have to stop myself from saying “now” because that would give away the fact that I know he isn’t a local.
“No, I live in Hollow Banks.A small town, hours away from here.But I’m here to help my boss.His shop here isn’t doing well, and he asked me to take over and hopefully stop it from going under.And besides, I needed to get away.”
Needed to get away?
Why?
Thiscannotbe happening.
“Well, that’s really kind of you.I’ll pass your offer on to the?—”
“Oh, you got her started!”says Father Justin, interrupting a moment which has set me on fire.
Kit spins to face Father Justin, while I sneak out behind him and shrink into my habit, wishing to conceal myself from the world.
Thankfully, I escape Father Justin’s detection, because if he caught me wearing a habit, I’m certain questions would be asked.
But escaping Kit?
I’m snared in his trap, and this time, I don’t think there’s an escape.
We’re sitting at a table, with a tray of untouched nachos between us.It’s all for show because the bright orange “cheese” looks radioactive.
Carnivals are creepy.
With the flashing and disorienting lights and music, scary clowns, and screaming kids jacked up on way too much sugar, it feels as if the macabre come here to thrive.
So it’s rather fitting that Jupiter and I are here, hunting.
Everyone is here, including Smokes.
As tacky as this carnival is, in a small town such as Flat Planes, it’s the most exciting thing to do.
I’ve envisioned this day for years.The day I get my revenge.
Smokes seems to be on a date.He’s standing behind her, guiding her to throw rings over empty milk jugs.It’s as lame as it sounds.But she’s young and unsuspecting of the rapist asshole who smiles and pretends to laugh at her jokes.
That’s what predators do.They blend in, waiting for the perfect moment to strike their unwary prey.
“I think we do it in the house of horrors,” Jupiter says, slurping her cherry cola.
This is why she’s my best friend.“I was thinking the same thing.No one will think otherwise of seeing a bloody decapitated body in a place where gore is the running theme.”
“Exactly.We just need to be careful of surveillance cameras.This isn’t like our usual shitty motel rooms.”
Turning to look at her, she pats her backpack.“I’ve come prepared.”
Adrenaline animates me just as it always does, but this time is different.It’s different because this time, I want to be the one who takes the life, not merely watch.
I need to do this to take back what he stole.
Jupiter has agreed.
We watch as Smokes and his date walk away with a big stuffed teddy.She stands on her tippy-toes and kisses his cheek, elated with her prize.
