Page 35 of The King of Halloween
Right. The B-movie fest was on Saturday. Which meant the King of Halloween would be here, lording over the presentation. Probably in a suit coat with tails and a long, skinny tie perfect for rolling around his hand…
Raj slammed the door closed. “I’ll help!” he called out, chasing after Logan.
?CHAPTER ELEVEN
?
RAJ SLAPPED HIS palms, then the back of his hands across his thighs three times. The ballroom was a mess, but a contained one. They were able to use the old crates to form a maze, herding people towards the section they’d managed to clean up. A bed sheet stretched across two gargoyles protruding off of the mezzanine. And they’d set the projector on an old cart from the high school.
People laid out their blankets on the hardwood floors then took to milling about in place. There was already a long line for the kettle corn and drinks. The happy din was only growing louder in anticipation of showtime.
“Nervous?” Logan leaned closer from his position on the other side of the main door.
“No,” Raj squeaked. He coughed and shook his head. “Of course not.” His jittery fingers latched onto the hem of his shirt and tried to tug it down. Regret flooded him. A costume made sense for the night, getting into the spirit and all. But he’d have been better off dressing like a farmer, or even a generic zombie. Why he thought to put on his only good shirt and suit was beyond him. Even Logan only bothered with an “I’m here for the boos” t-shirt. Raj stood out like a sore thumb.
“Ah, I think he’s here,” Logan said with a laugh.
Raj stood up straight. He adjusted his blood-stained tie and fumbled for the vampire teeth in his pocket. He shouldn’t be nervous. He shouldn’t even care. But he couldn’t stop smiling.
This setup was going to blow his socks off. He’d be so jealous, his face would turn red and smoke oughta shoot out of his ears. Maybe he’ll even scowl, and those silvery eyes will…
“Hey!” Across the room, a fifty-six-year-old man waved his hand. As people looked toward him, he suddenly jerked. His eyes went wide, and he clamped onto his wrist. The fingers started to curl, then claw at thin air, before they went right for his throat. “Just kidding!” Burt called out with another wave before he solemnly slapped his errant hand away. “Raj, man. It’s good to see you.”
Raj kept his smile on as he reached to take Burt’s hand. He should have known Logan meant their guest of honor. Who else would he refer to? Certainly not…
“Mr. Soup!”
Burt turned as Raj peered past his shoulder. There stood Adam, his jaw dropped. He’d painted his cheeks gaunt and eyes hollow, but even half dead, he was still striking. His soft lip quivered as he took in the friendly actor.
“Are you the MC for the night?” Burt asked.
“Yes.” Adam nodded. “That’s me. I’m…wow. I. I’m sorry, just meeting the Nose is—”
“I’ll do you one better and let you shake the hand of the Nose.” Burt stuck out his palm.
Adam shivered as if he’d walked on his own grave. Then he stuck out his hand. As he did, Raj noticed the makeup job done all around his wrist and forearm, giving the illusion that his hand was no longer attached. Burt spotted it too and gave an, “Ahh!” in response.
Once they touched hands, Adam began to babble, “I watched all your movies. Love them. All. The bathtub scene with the blood moose. Was it real?”
Burt chuckled in his usual easy-going way. “The moose, yes, but I was a puppet made out of salami and old ham.”
A flush burned under that pale makeup, and a twinge of jealousy struck Raj’s heart. Silly. What did he care if Adam would drop to his knees in a second for Burt Soup?
“Well.” Burt turned to Raj. “Where do you want me?”
Away from Adam. The prickle of jealousy turned into a full-on fire. Raj couldn’t stop glaring at him like he was about to throw down with horror’s royalty.
Logan stepped in. “There’s a special seat for you, best spot in the house. And padded.”
“Thank god. You can only fall down so many stairs before your coccyx is never the same again. Raj, man.” Burt slugged him in the shoulder. “We’ll catch up after. You still owe me a saki.”
What the hell is wrong with me?Raj pinched his thumb and smiled. “Way I remember it, the last one was your round.”
“Was it? Well, let’s call this even, then.”
As Logan appeased the star, guiding him toward the fancy armchair, he shot a warning at Raj. He mouthed, “What is wrong with you?” before walking away while describing the first movie of the night.
Raj pinched his eyes tight and tried to count back from ten. Nine. Eight. Seven.
