Page 102 of The Way We Win

“Whatever, let’s go!” Logan pulls his wife’s hand, and the two peppers march ahead of us into the darkness.

My skin prickles as we pass a television with the scene of Jack Nicholson frozen at the end ofThe Shiningon it.

“I hate hay mazes,” I mutter, wishing I could snuggle with Jack again.

The music grows louder, and ghostly howls float through the air. We pass a sheet strung over an entrance that readsYou’ll never get out alivein brownish-red paint.

“They really went all out,” Zane chuckles.

I’m just calming down when Rachel lets out a scream so loud it makes Liv scream, and I grab Jack’s arm and jump behind him.

Then Rachel explodes with laughter. “I thought that corn stalk was a person!”

“RACHEL!” Dylan yells. “I almost peed my pants!”

“You’re notthatpregnant, Dee.” Liv groans, and we continue walking.

The path is wide, but the way the overhead lights are arranged creates shadowy patches and pitch-black corners.

We walk until the path opens to another straight line. Looking left to right, we’re trying to decide which way to go when a low-pitched growl comes running up behind us.

All the girls scream and everyone moves fast. I reach for Jack, but warmth swirls at my side.

The growling and hissing of an animal is close by my ear,and my heart jumps to my throat. I scream, running as hard as I can from the monster, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

I’m breathless, pumping my legs, but I can’t get away from him. The growls are right on my heels, gaining on me fast. I take another quick turn to try and lose him.

My heart thunders in my chest, and a high-pitched witch cackle erupts from the corner where I’ve just stopped to catch my breath.

Another scream, and I try to run back the way I came, but I’m confused when I reach what I thought was our starting point.

Two possible routes come together from the left and the right, and I can’t remember which way I came.

Turning my head and my body quickly, I look all around, but I don’t see Jack or Dylan or any of our group. I decide to stand still and listen for their voices.

Creeping closer to the hay wall, I pinch my nose to quiet my breathing. Voices are all around, and I’m certain I hear Rachel’s laughter from what sounds like a hay wall over.

Jumping back, I put both hands on the wall, looking up at the purple twinkle lights hanging from the top of the maze.

“Rachel?” I yell as loud as I can. “Where are you?”

The music is too loud, but I keep my hand on the prickly bale as I walk in the direction I came, looking up and straining my ears for more voices.

My breath is tight in my chest, and I don’t like this at all. I don’t like being alone, and I hate hay mazes.

“Allie?” Jack’s deep voice echoes from what seems like just ahead, and my heart jumps.

“Jack?” My yell is a panicked cry, and I pull up my skirt to run in the direction of his voice. “I’m here! Jack?”

I’m shouting when a gorilla jumps out with a loud roar from a dark corner, and I scream.

I know it’s only a guy dressed up in a costume, but it’s so sudden and unexpected, I turn and run away in the opposite direction.

His breath huffs loudly from inside the mask, and I run harder, turning and turning to get away from him. It’s my worst nightmare happening. It’s that part inThe Shiningwhere evil Jack is chasing the little boy.

I run as hard as I can, but I can’t breathe. And even though I’m running so fast, I can’t seem to get away from the sound of this gorilla-man chasing me.

Every time I stop, I hear the swish of feet in the hay, the Darth-Vadar scraping of his breath in the mask as he chases me. Grabbing my skirt higher, I force myself to keep going.

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