Page 3 of In The Dark
“Definitely can’t be all the motorcycle riding you do without hearing protection.” Leo Reynolds, my roommate and best friend of over twenty years, tosses a grin my way. “I can’t believe this is your last year putting on a costume and scaring the piss out of drunk idiots.”
“I can. My entire body aches. Retiring from entertainment sounds like a dream.”
“Come on, man. Admit it. You’re going to miss being the signature face of Fright Nights, aren’t you? The guy everyone tries to find while they’re in the house and the one in all the promo commercials. My little celebrity.”
“Stop kissing my ass, Leo.” I laugh. “I still don’t understand how people can tell it’s me. A dozen of us dress the same way. The lighting is shitty. You can’t even see my face.”
“The tattoos are pretty obvious, dude. You have a fuckingdragonon your hand.”
“Might need to start covering it up.” I step into the jumpsuit and pull it over my undershirt. “If I hear one more high-pitched scream, I’m going to lose it.”
“Wow. You’re a grouchy fuck tonight. That’s unusual.”
“Sorry. I’m exhausted.”
“You need to get laid.”
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to do that.”
“Don’t tell me you need a lesson on the birds and the bees.” Leo clears his throat. “Hunter Wilder. When a man loves a woman–”
“Shut up.” I throw a pair of socks at him. “I know how biology works, and I’ve never had any complaints in the past about my knowledge on female anatomy.”
“Now you’re just showing off.”
“What I meant was I work until three in the morning. I sleep until two in the afternoon. My nights are spent sweating my ass off in ninety-degree weather with one hundred percent humidity. Doesn’t leave a lot of free time for fucking.”
“In a few weeks, you can fuck whoever you want, whenever you want,” he says. “And who knows? Maybe tonight will be the best night of your life. You’ll meet someone, bring them home, and live happily ever after.”
“You’re not allowed to watch any more romcoms. I’m banning Hallmark from our television.” I sort through the prop box against the wall, finding my mask and favorite fake knife. I spin the rubber weapon in my hand and tuck it in my pocket. “This isn’t nearly as good as the real thing.”
“Pretty sure giving us actual weapons is a lawsuit waiting to happen.” Leo levels me with a look. “You haven’t hacked up anyone in a while, have you? Do you miss the rush of death?”
“It’s only been a few months since I’ve engaged in my extracurricular hobbies, but I have a job scheduled in two weeks.” I roll my shoulders and stretch my neck. Popping aTylenol before my shift tonight was a necessity, and I’m wishing I brought the bottle. I should start doing something atrocious like Pilates to make myself more limber. “And don’t sayhacked up. That makes it sound like I run around chopping off heads for fun. It’s more sophisticated than that. I get rid of people who have no place in society. People who hurt others and take advantage of those weaker than them. There’s a difference.”
“Right.” Leo nods like he understands, and maybe he does. He’s seen all the messy shit I’ve been involved in and hasn’t said a word about any of it. He’s never judged me either, which makes him a goddamn saint. “Youdohave fun when you do it, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” I smirk. “Best adrenaline rush in the world.”
“Guess Elle Woods was wrong about happy people killing other people.”
“She wasn’t wrong about the endorphins, though.”
“Fuck. I’m a sucker for a smart woman. And all that pink? Sign me up.” Leo pulls on his own jumpsuit and fixes the sleeves. “What position do you want to start with in the house tonight?”
“I’ll take the third room. You got the back?”
“Yup. Switch after the third break?”
“Sounds good to me.”
He bumps my fist with his and waves. “See you out there, cutie pie.”
I file out of the air-conditioned breakroom trailer and step into the sticky early evening air. I make my way over to the house supervisor on duty, laughing when I see another friend waiting for me.
“Janey. Is it too late to call in sick?” I ask.
“Not a chance. We’re already short-staffed for a Thursday. I’m not letting you out of my sight until you’re in position,” she says.“Even then I might attach you to the wall so you don’t go anywhere.”
