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alone.

Chapter Four
     
    Saturday night found Emma in a rather unexpected, but not
entirely unwelcome, place. As with everything fall-related, Halloween was her
favorite holiday and when Chloe had called her that afternoon to ask if she
would like to go to a haunted factory, Emma had jumped at the chance. They hadn’t
been to something like this since college.
    The lazy orange October sun was just starting to set as she
and Chloe waited in line outside the dilapidated-looking building housed in a
random part of town. A brisk wind picked up, causing little wisps of her black
hair to dance around her face and she zipped her hooded sweatshirt up a little
farther.
    The line was wrapped around the building and as she waited
she contemplated why people liked to frighten themselves so much. Maybe it was
the blood pumping adrenaline or the exciting sense of the unknown. She had to
admit that it had a way of making a person feel alive in an otherwise
predictable existence. In a controlled environment, such as this one, a person
got a thrill without an actual threat. No heart palpitations or loss of bladder
control because deep down she knew that none of it was real.
    And even though the people working the factory looked
creeptastic as hell, she knew they weren’t actually allowed to touch her.
    Chloe’s apprehension, however, radiated off her in waves as
she danced from one foot to the other.
    “What?” Chloe asked ceasing her hopping-in-place routine
when she noticed Emma’s narrowed eyes.
    “What do you mean what? For as long as I’ve known you,
you’ve hated haunted houses. Why are you putting yourself through this if it
scares you so much?”
    Hands on her hips, Chloe lifted her nose up in the air. “Since
when have I ever been scared of anything?”
    That would have been a point well made had they been talking
about anything else. But as it was… “Remember the last time we went to a
haunted house? Remember the gross seven-foot clown that followed you around the
whole time?” Chloe visibly paled and Emma knew she had her. “You were so scared
we had to sleep with a nightlight on in the dorm for two weeks. After that you
swore up and down that you would never go to one of these things again. So why
the sudden change of heart?”
    “Well, my boys are helping out and I’m showing my moral
support.” She bit her lip.
    Emma cocked an eyebrow. “Your boys?”
    “Yeah, you know,” she waved her hand in the air absently. “My
brother, Matt, Brian and the Seranos.” She mumbled that last bit so fast Emma
almost didn’t catch it. But she did and she felt a thrill run through her that
had nothing to do with fear.
    “No ulterior motive, then?” Emma eyed her doubtfully.
    Chloe rolled her eyes. “Absolutely none. They do this every
year to raise money for the high school and I support their efforts.”
    Valid explanation but Emma wasn’t buying it. Crossing her
arms to block out some of the wind, she said, “I don’t care who’s working here,
if you don’t want to do something no one can talk you into it. You’re that
stubborn, Chloe. What’s the real reason?”
    By this time they had made their way to the front of the
line and were about to go in. Letting out an exasperated breath, Chloe
whispered so that the ghoulish woman taking their money wouldn’t overhear. “I’ll
tell you later.”
    With a sigh of resignation, Emma handed over her money and
decided to let it drop. Whatever Chloe’s plan was—and she was certain her
friend did have a plan—she would find out soon enough. She wouldn’t have
been able to get out of it anyway so she made the choice to go with the flow
and see what would happen.
    Before their group was allowed to enter into the maze of the
haunted factory, Ghost Lady gave them a spiel that served as the ground rules
and a warning.
    “Be forewarned, gentle travelers. To enter beyond these
walls you must be on your guard at all times. The ghouls and spirits herein
find their joy in