Part 19 (1/2)

”Miss Hart needs help with something...” He winces and scratches at the stubble on his chin. ”It's female and I'm not dealing with that.”

I blink as my mouth falls open. ”And because I'm female I'm the best person for the job? Ask Mrs Carey or something!”

”I think she's taken her earpiece out.”

”Oh b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l...” I blow out a breath and mentally put on my big girl knickers. ”Okay, okay, I'm going, but tell them it's me because if anyone jumps out at me I swear to G.o.d I will kill you all...”

”Duly noted.” Mr Price chuckles and graciously opens the door for me.

I'm facing a long hall, decorated in black with creepy b.l.o.o.d.y stains along the ground and cobwebs on the ceiling. Luckily the lights are on, so I'm not too freaked out.

”Mr Price?” I call down the empty hall. ”It's just me. I'm helping Miss...” The lights go out and I hear the door slam behind me.

That f.u.c.king a.r.s.ehole!

I can't see a thing and my heart hammers in my chest. I know it's all fake, but it's still scary. I hate the dark and I genuinely can't even make out my hand in front of my face.

”Oh my G.o.d, don't do this,” I moan, letting out a fake sob. ”I swear it; I'll never forgive you.”

The lights flicker but reveal nothing along the hallway. I turn around and tug on the door but it's locked, as expected.

”I'm never talking to you again, Mr Price Senior... never!” I rattle the door again, but n.o.body responds. ”And if you don't escort me out of here safely, Price Junior, that goes for you too.”

No sounds can be heard, nothing but my own heavy inhales and exhales.

This is so creepy and I haven't even taken my first step yet.

I don't want to go through the scare school by myself!

”Okay, I can do this.” It's the antic.i.p.ation that is killing me, the not knowing when something is going to happen.

I take my first step, regretting the fact I wore three inch stilettos, because I can't run in stilettos.

”Please, please don't jump out at me.” I beg in a whisper, my hands feeling the air in front of me just in case I go in the wrong direction and b.u.mp into the wall instead.

The lights flicker on and off again and I scream just at the suddenness of it.

My palms begin to sweat when I hear the sound of metal sc.r.a.ping across the metal lockers. I don't want to turn. I know he's there, but instead I stand still, waiting for the lights to flicker again so I can at least try to make a break for the exit.

”Stop it,” I whine when the scratching noise gets louder and draws nearer.

Unfortunately it does stop and now I don't have a clue where he is.

”I hate you for this, just so you know.”

The lights flicker, but I already know he's close. You don't need your sight to determine when somebody is standing directly beside you, their face only inches from yours.

I scream louder than I've ever screamed before when the lights flicker again and my worst thoughts are confirmed. I'm staring directly at a mask from one of the scariest slasher movies of all time.

The second I'm plunged back into darkness, I start running forward, expecting to collide into a solid chest, but instead find nothing but air. My ankles threaten to give way but I don't care. I have to get out of here.

I should have known it would be a trap.

The lights flicker on and off and I hear heavy boots gaining on me. I scream and laugh at the same time as I race for the exit that leads to the next part of the tour. I hate this. I really, really hate this.

”You can all stop it now. I'm thoroughly scared, no more scaring necessary!” I plead to no avail when the hall goes pitch black once more. ”Stop doing... Holy f.u.c.k, s.h.i.+t, don't!” I stomp my foot when I feel the prop knife sc.r.a.pe across the back of my bare shoulders.

I spin and grab at the air, a clear attempt to grab Mr Price, but I fail. He can move way faster than I thought.

I huff and walk backwards, waiting for my wings to collide with the door that will lead me to the next room of horrors. The second it does, I spin and twist the handle, squealing again when that stupid knife drags across my back.

”Screw this, I'm out of here!” I kick off my shoes and throw one in the direction of where I imagine Isaac is, not stopping to see if it hits him or not.

I pull open the door and race through, letting out shouts of terror and curse words when Miss Hart lunges for me in the red lit room, her face covered in blood and masked by a thin transparent black veil. She shrieks and chases me with a hammer above her head.

It's fake, it's fake, it's fake!

I keep chanting this in my mind as my feet carry me forward. By the time I make it to the next door I'm out of breath, but I keep going, dodging the hands that grab at me and yelling for everybody to b.u.g.g.e.r off.

I get through the final room and lunge for the exit.

”Freedom!” I push it open and almost collapse on the pavement in the cold air, only to be a.s.saulted by the sound of laughter and cheers from a group of people.

”I so got that on camera,” Hayley giggles, doing a small victory dance.

”I hate you,” I tell her, scowling deeply. ”I hate you and I'll never forgive you.”

”You threw your shoe at me!” Mr Price Junior snaps, rubbing his shoulder with one hand and holding my pretty heels in the other. Well at least I know it hit him.

”You stalked me!” I argue, pinning him with a glare. ”Okay, I'm going home and I'm hiding under my bed for a month. If you need me... call someone else.”

This only makes them laugh harder.

I s.n.a.t.c.h my heels back and slip them onto my aching feet.

”Oh come on, that was brilliant and you know it. I can't wait to see the footage tomorrow.” She claps her hands, giggling like a child. ”I can't believe you told our teachers to f.u.c.k off, among other things.”

I only growl in response, still upset at having been tricked and still recovering.

”You'll forgive me eventually.” She seems way too sure about that.

”So, where are the bin bags?” I ask curtly, looking at all of the litter that rests on the ground outside of the school. ”If we get this done now, we can just lock up and do the inside tomorrow.”

”If it's okay with the rest of you, I really need to be getting home to my wife,” Mr Price Senior says, looking ashamed of himself. ”I don't want to ask too much of Crystal.”

”It's fine,” Isaac responds immediately and slaps his dad on the shoulder. ”We've got this, right?”

Mr Diplock, Miss Hart and Mrs Carey, along with a few of the other actors, all groan in protest.

”But I'm exhausted...” Mrs Carey sighs. ”I don't think I can handle anymore and these kids need to be getting home; it's late.”