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The screams start again a few seconds later. He sends me a wolfish grin and shrugs, dragging a hand through his hair. Ahead of us, a group of teenagers shrieks as one of the actors jumps out from behind a crate. Jett laughs under his breath, clearly entertained.

‘Amateurs,’ he says.

I smirk. My attention drifts, though. It does that a lot lately. To Bryn. I haven’t called or followed her. Every instinct I have screams to check on her, to make sure she’s safe, to watch from a distance the way I always have when I know she’s here, but I won’t. She deserves the space. If she walks away from me after everything then that’s her choice to make. Even if it kills me.

‘She still hasn’t come back?’ he asks casually, like he can read the direction my thoughts just went. I shoot him a look. ‘You’re thinking about her again, right? I can always tell. You go silent and get this broody look.’

Rolling my eyes, I shrug. ‘I’m always thinking about her.’

That part has never changed, but this time, I’m doing the hardest thing I’ve ever done. No cameras. No watching. No following her movements. Just waiting. Because loving Bryn means giving her the freedom to decide if she still wants me after learning the truth.

And if she doesn’t … My stomach tightens uncomfortably at the thought.

Jett studies me for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.

‘Man,’ he says, shaking his head. ‘You’re down bad.’

‘You have no idea.’

A scream cuts through the air as we approach the entrance to the maze. Fog pours out from the doorway in thick waves, swallowing the path ahead. Orange lights flash inside the structure, and shadows jump across the walls while guests hesitate at the entrance. Jett’s joining me in my section tonight. We thought teaming up would be fun.

He stops beside me, rolling his shoulders like he’s warming up for a fight. ‘You taking left side tonight?’ he asks.

‘Yup.’

I slide the mask over my face. The world shifts instantly. Out here, I’m not just another guy walking through a theme park; I’m the nightmare waiting for them around the corner. Jett pulls down his mask next. It’s a sleek, angular, almost predatory, and darker than mine. It fits him too well, like it was made specifically for his face and the way it moves. Some girls walking past slow down immediately, whispering to each other. One of them nudges her friend.

‘Those two are hot,’ she whispers loudly.

Jett tilts his head slightly, showing he’s heard her. The first group of guests enters the maze. He cracks his neck.

‘It’s showtime.’

We step into the maze together. Inside, the air is thick with smoke and red light. The music pulses through the speakers, bass-heavy and unsettling. Guests creep through the narrow hallways, clutching each other and jumping at every movement. I lean against the wall, waiting and watching. A couple rounds the corner first. They’re already nervous, whispering to each other as they move forward. Jett disappears into the shadows beside me.

Three.

Two.

One.

He launches forward and scrapes his prop blade against the wall, causing a sharp metallic screech. The girl screams instantly, grabbing her boyfriend’s arm as they bolt down the hallway. I step out to block their path. They never see it coming. I slam my hand against the wall beside them and tilt my head slowly, my mask inches from their faces. The girl shrieks, taking off, and even her boyfriend curses under his breath before sprinting after her. Jett strolls out of the fog behind me, completely relaxed.

‘Ten seconds,’ he says. ‘New record.’

‘You’re getting lazy.’

He laughs in amusement, adjusting the skeleton-printed gloves on his hands.

Another group approaches the entrance. Jett leans back against the wall, his mask angled toward me.

‘You hear from her yet?’ he asks. ‘A text, anything?’

‘No.’

‘Think she’ll come back?’

I glance toward the maze entrance, watching people disappear into the darkness.