Page 1 of Neon Pestilence
Chapter 1
Indy
“Istill think you’re absolutely crazy,” my best friend’s soft voice fills the small area of my car, making it feel like she’s right there in the passenger seat.
“I know, but it’s going to be so worth it. You don’t know how bad I’ve been needing to escape, get drunk, and bang a fairy in the woods.” I let out a sigh, tilting my head slightly to the side.
I can see the entrance to the festival, a river of cars stretches into the distance, their brake lights bleeding faint red through the misty light. A sea of metal and glass, humming with anticipation, all waiting for Hallow Lands to swallow them whole.
“You’re telling me the twenty-six-hour drive there and back will be worth it?” Liseth questions me like a small child, but I know it’s out of love.
I don’t even hesitate.
“Yes! Abso-fucking-lutely! Plus, I didn’t spend all this money to just not go. It’s about the experience, you know that.” I glance at the orange and black wristband on my left arm and feel the energy surge through my veins.
“You better have the best fucking experience of your life, then. And be careful with the random fairies, I don’t want you being one of those rave girls who end up going missing at this damn thing.” Her voice cracks the smallest bit, her worry for my safety apparent.
I know she’s not wrong. Men and women have been disappearing from the Hollow Lands festival for almost as long as it’s been around. Every year, some lucky town is chosen to hold the festival. And every year, there’s some report by the locals about their friends and family never coming back.
Or worse, they do come back, but not like when they left. Broken shells of what once was, the life inside of thempoof, gone. Like it never even existed. Nobody has been able to figure out why, or what, but there have been talks of a mysterious do-
“Are you still there?” Liseth’s voice breaks me away from my thoughts, dropping me right back into reality. I shake my head, pushing away my curiosity.
“Uh, ye-yeah, sorry. I’m just pulling into the security checkpoint, babes. Let me call you back once I get through and all settled.”
“Of course, hun! Keep me updated, and rememberno fairies,” she giggles, and I can practically hear her rolling her eyes at me.
“You got it! Only fairies! Bye babeeeee,” I laugh and hang up the line, cutting off her protests. She’s only a little mad, but she’s mybest friend, and I know she still loves me, even if I fuck the fae this weekend.
My wheels resist as I pull off onto the dirt road, following the signs to the festival.
Hollow Lands This Way.
Come for the Blood, Stay for the Bass.
Enter Here.
I turn onto another dirt road and am met with another line from hell. Seriously? I sigh, shrugging to myself, and switch my Spotify back on after rolling down my window to get some fresh forest air.
Wubs instantly fill the small space.Rail Breaker by Riot Ten and Rico Actblasts through my speakers, and I can’t help but nod my head along. Cranking up the volume, I start to tap my fingers along the steering wheel, each beat fueling something primal in me.
I’m ready to fucking dance.
After what feels like hours, I’m finally at the security check. They motion me to pull forward, then stop. They begin to walk over to my window, and I roll it down.
“Hey there! Welcome to Hollow Lands, I’m going to have you pop all the doors open and step out.” An older-looking woman smiles at me.
I smile back and press the trunk button to the right of the steering wheel before turning the ignition off. I step out andmove to the other side to open the passenger door for them, leaving it propped as they dig through my shit.
I stand there awkwardly, arms crossed, and my foot tapping. I overhear a car owner next to me having a fit about the cocaine and beer bottles that security is gathering from his truck.
“No, seriously, you have to believe me! I didn’t know it was there! It’s not mine!” He practically squeals as he tries to grab the powdery substance out of the security guard’s hands like a child.
My palms begin to sweat, and my heart races. I know I don’t have anything in there, at least not anything they can easily find, but my anxious personality won’t let me just be.
“Any glass bottles or weapons in the vehicle?” The woman’s partner asks me, tearing my attention away as he shuffles through my belongings.
“Nope,” I answer truthfully.
