I grab Smokes by the throat.
Jupiter does the same to his date.
They don’t fight us off because they think it’s part of the performance, and we were warned before entering not to touch the performers.
This really is too easy.
We shove them into the room they emerged from moments ago.Jupiter scans the room for surveillance and finds a small camera in the corner.She jumps onto the table and throws a sweater over it.
Hopefully, we will be long gone by the time the attendants notice.
“What’s going on?”Smokes’s date asks, a panic in her voice.
The dark room is lit only by the glow-in-the-dark paint on the walls.The letters, which mimic being written in blood, spell:REDRUM.
Seems appropriate.
“Here’s Johnny!”mocks Jupiter.
“Who’s Johnny?Arthur, I’m scared and want to go.”
“It’s okay, babe.It’s just part of the show.It’s from the movieThe Shining.”
His voice feels like a thousand knives scoring my flesh, peeling it away from my body until I am nothing left but bones.
“Get on your knees.”I use the same words he said to me when I was helpless and scared.
The strobe lighting speeds up, shaping us into a hundred demonic shards.
Smokes chuckles and plays along, dropping to his knees.The sight is one I’ll never forget.
Jupiter stands guard over Smokes’s date, who simply watches on, oblivious to what she’s about to witness.
“Any sins you wish to repent?”I ask Smokes as I retrieve the backpack from Jupiter.
It’s heavy with freedom.
“Oh, honey, how long have you got?”he quips, as if proud.
“Tell me the worst thing you’ve ever done then.”
I stand in front of him, grabbing what I need from the backpack.
He peers up at me, and although it’s dark with merely flickers of light, I can see him narrow his eyes.He soon realizes this isn’t part of the show.
He goes to stand, but I lunge for the knife and withdraw it, pressing the tip to his throat.
He raises his hands in surrender.“Very funny.I’m totally scared.Now let me go.”
“Not a nice feeling, is it?”I question, ignoring his request.“Being held against your will.”
“Arthur—”
“Not a nice feeling being forced to your knees and held down, is it,Arthur?”
“What the fuck?”
Smokes tries to stand once again, but I nick his skin with the blade to ensure he knows I’m the one in control this time.
