Page 29 of Whiteout

"Keep your eye on the target," I say in her ear. "Follow through, then let go."

My hands move in unison with hers, guiding the axe as she pulls her arm back, then propels it forward. The blade slices through the air and sticks into the wood with a satisfying thunk.

Her body jerks back slightly, a mix of surprise and excitement. "I did it!" She turns in my arms, full of pride.

It wasn't her that did it, but I don't tell her that. "You did great, Cherry. But now it's my turn."

I throw my first axe with confidence, the blade embedding itself in the wood just off-center. My second throw hits the bullseye, dead center.

"Looks like I win." I flash her a smile, one that shows I know exactly what I want. "Now I get to pick what we do."

She raises an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips. "Okay, what would you like to do?"

I step closer, my hands finding her hips. "My favoritething to do at this carnival since I was a kid. The funhouse."

Her eyes light up. "Really?"

With my hand grasped tightly around hers, I'm already leading her away towards the flashing lights of the fun house. "It's this way."

"Why was the funhouse your favorite thing to do here?" I take a minute to decide if I want to reveal this much of myself to her.

"Going in there was like walking into my own mind. Things look ordinary on the outside, but once you're inside, you enter this space where everything's twisted and strange. It gets hard to separate what's real from what's not. And when you hit those mirrors, they show you versions of yourself you didn't even know existed."

Ivy remains silent the rest of the way. We make our way through the crowded street toward the large red and white striped funhouse at the end. It stands tall, the entrance gaping like a hungry mouth, a string of colorful lights twined around the poles. We can hear muffled screams and laughter from within.

I pay for our tickets, and we climb the few stairs to go inside. The first obstacle we come to is the spinning tunnel, a feature I've always enjoyed. I place my hands on Ivy's waist, guidingher as the ground rotates beneath us.

The tunnel twists, a vortex of flashing lights and dizzying effects. Her body is pressed tightly against mine as we lose our balance. I use the opportunity to savor the feel of her curves against me. Laughter escapes us both as we topple out, grateful for the solid ground under our feet.

Then we're moving again as we stumble our way through the tilted room, clinging to each other for balance. Then we're at the barrel vault, and I grab Ivy's hand, sprinting through the moving barrels. I laugh as she stumbles, righting herself and pressing on.

Once we are both through, there is only one thing left to do, and it's the part I've been waiting for. The Hall of Mirrors.

I step inside the dimly lit area, the endless reflections making the space feel infinite. Ivy spins around, taking in the different versions of herself.

My favorite part, the reason I've always loved this funhouse: the endless reflections make it the perfect place to trap someone, to make them mine. I step closer to Ivy, my hands sliding around her waist, drawing her back against my chest.

"Kris?" Her voice is filled with questions, but not fear.

"This is what I really wanted to do with you."

I pull Ivy behind me, weaving our way deeper into the maze of mirrors. I spot the exact mirror I'm looking for. It's a trick I discovered as a kid: moving a certain panel changes the layout of the maze. What was once a dead end becoming a small, enclosed space.

I step closer and give the mirror a gentle nudge. It slides easily across the floor. "Ladies first."

She steps inside and I follow, pulling the mirror shut behind us. Ivy spins around, her eyes wide as she takes in our new, confined surroundings.

I take a step towards her, "It's just you and me now."

Then my mouth is on hers. My hands slide up her body, one tangling in her hair, the other gripping her hip. She moans into my mouth, her hands clutching at my shirt.

I lift her up, pressing her against the mirror behind her. Her legs wrap around my waist as I grind my growing erection into her. My hands explore her body, palming her full breasts, then sliding down to squeeze her ass.

Loosening my grip, I let her feet fall back to the ground. My fingers find the hem of her shirt and slide underneath, my hands gliding up her soft skin. "I need to feel your skin against mine."

"Kris, we can't do this here. Someone will hear us."

I've already made my decision, and it's non-negotiable. "Idon't give a fuck if they hear us, see us. I'm taking what's mine. You said you'd be a good girl for me and not fight me when I wanted to take your ass, didn't you?"

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