I always thought I was made of something tougher than most. The way I took on challenges – whether it was learning a complicated dance routine at The Velvet or navigating a particularly…enthusiastic customer at my pole – was unwavering. But now, as I watch my pulse race beneath the canopy of falling leaves, I realize that some things still scare me silly. And those things usually involve Haiden and Christian Montes.
And they love to scare me. It's practically a sport for them.
This Halloween, I thought I was ready. I love Halloween! I was dressed as a bloody nurse, plastic scalpel and all, ready to haunt the streets alongside them. But their usual jump scares and spooky sound effects weren't working. I just laughed.
"Where are all the ghosts?" I grinned, dodging Christian's attempt to jump out from behind a gravestone decoration.
Frustrated, but clearly enjoying themselves, Haiden and Christian upped the ante. "We've got a surprise for you," Haiden said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He wouldn't tell me where we were going, just that it was "guaranteed to make me scream."
That's how I ended up standing in front of the Blackwood Manor, advertised as the "Scariest Haunted House in America." The decrepit Victorian looked like something straight out of a horror movie: twisted spires reaching for the sky, scraggly vines clinging to the porch like skeletal fingers.
"You guys are evil," I said, but I was grinning. I loved a good scare.
As we stepped into the darkened entrance, a blast of cold air hit me, carrying with it the faint scent of dust and something vaguely…rotten. Fake spiderwebs clung to everything. I strode forward, trying to act brave, but my heart was already starting to pound a little faster.
The first few rooms were standard haunted house fare: cobwebs, flickering lights, and actors dressed as zombies popping out from behind curtains. I jumped, I shrieked a little, but mostly I laughed. Haiden and Christian were right behind me, watching my reactions with barely concealed amusement.
Then we entered the Butcher's Lair. The air grew thick with the smell of fake blood and something metallic. Suddenly, actors wielding chainsaws—obviously without the chains—erupted from the shadows. This wasn't just jump scares; this was full-on sensory overload.
My bravado shattered. I let out a scream that echoed through the hallway.
"Run!" I yelled, my voice cracking with a mixture of fear and adrenaline.
And I did. I ran like my life depended on it. The chainsaw-wielding maniacs were right behind me, revving their engines and screaming. Then I went down the Zombie Slide and it got even more intense.
I could hear Haiden and Christian laughing behind me, which only spurred me on. "You guys are enjoying this way too much!" I yelled over my shoulder.
I sprinted through a maze of mirrors, dodged a horde of zombie children, and narrowly avoided getting "eaten" by a giant animatronic spider. The whole time, I could hear the chainsaws closing in, the actors chanting, and Haiden and Christian's laughter ringing in my ears.
Finally, I burst out of the exit, gasping for breath and shaking like a leaf. I stumbled onto the crisp autumn grass, the cool night air a welcome contrast to the stifling atmosphere inside.
Haiden and Christian emerged a moment later, doubled over with laughter.
"That," Haiden said, wiping tears from his eyes, "was the best scream I've ever heard."
"You guys are insane!" I said, but I couldn't help but smile. My heart was still pounding, but now it was mixed with exhilaration.
"Admit it," Christian said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "We got you good this time."
"Okay, fine!" I conceded, throwing my hands up in the air. "You win. That was officially terrifying."
We stood there for a moment, the three of us, catching our breath and laughing in the cool night air. The shared fear, the adrenaline, the laughter…it was intoxicating. I realized something: being scared with Haiden and Christian wasn't just terrifying, it was…fun. It brought us closer.
As we walked back to the car, hand in hand, I knew this Halloween would be one I'd never forget. Not just because of the haunted house, but because of the two men who made even my worst fears feel like an adventure. And Ace? I haven't thought of him since that day at all.