Lia yelled, causing me to turn to the directon of the sound.

She ran to me and gave me a hug. It still felt weird, but I'm getting there.

"Is it alright to introduce you to my other friends?"

I felt uncomfortable, but hey, why not right?

"Yeah, sure."

"Great! Guys, come here!"

A group of five came, I felt like running, I haven't been this close to a group of people. Even if I did, I'd have really horrible memories.

Still, I should try and try until it's no longer haunting me. 

Face your fears remember?

" Mei, this is Katherine."

"Hello Mei."

She smiled, offering a hand.

Her ombre hair that complimented her face, her leather jacket and black jeans that gave off fierce vibes.

Her veiny hands that look so oddly beautiful.

I was stunned, she looks exquisite!

I shaked her hand not wanting to be rude. I gave her the same polite smile as Lia introduced her other friends.

"This is Lily."

This girl, had dyed her hair black and red at the bottom, her eyes as brown as lia's hair, her black mini dress that made her look like a doll, and her bonnet that fits her head ever so nicely.

She lightly bowed her head as she gave me a smile.

I did the same and answered with

"Nice to meet you, Lily."

"Max! Will you come here for a second?"

A young man came running. His jawline as sharp as glass, his eyes as blue as the sky, and his messy black hair that covered most of his face.

He had some freckles as well.

All that combined and I must say, he's got the visuals.

" Heyy...? "

He let out a hand, his hey that slightly went at a higher tone, a sign that he hasn't catched my name yet.

"it's Mei.. Max, I suppose?"

"Hello Mei, really great to know ya."

He gave me a smile just like the others.

"Oohh, Mei, this is Ayanna."

A girl in glasses showed up with a layered bob cut hairstyle. She wore a plain white shirt with ripped jeans, a small backpack as well. 

"Hey" 

"Hey" 

It was a little awkward, then someone called out Lia's name. 

"Oi Lia! I bought us tickets to the horro-" 

He stopped once he saw me. He was frozen at his spot, our eyes interlocking. 

I felt like I've met him before, but don't know when. 

"Great!, Mei, this is Cameron, Cam for short. He-" 

"I apologize for my behavior the last time we've met." 

Last time we've me- oooh... Him. 

I suddenly remembered, this bastard who acted so foolishly. 

"Wait, you guys met?" 

"Yeah, but in a not so pleasant way." 

I stared at him, piercing my gaze as I still wanted  to beat the life out of him. 

"Cam?" 

Lia called in a serious tone. Her hands by her hip as she glared at him. 

"It was... Uhmmm..... I-" 

"It's just a stupid way to mess with someone that he did. Not like I've held a grudge or anything, but I sure do hope you've learned your lesson." 

I smirked, giving him the chills, but he bowed and apologized, never wanting to do that again. 

"Jeez Cam, you really are a dummy." 

Katherine spoke, giving him the eye. 

"I'm sorry for whatever he did to you Mei." 

Lia kept bowing and apologizing. I begged her to stop as it wasn't a big deal to me now. 

"It's alright." 

"I hope we'll get along Mei. Truce?" 

He offered his hand, I took it but I gave him the "I still don't trust you" look. 

Minutes went by, and they announced that the horror house is now open. 

People quickly lined up by the entrance, their tickets held up high, eager to feel the thrill. 

***

"Ughhhh when is it our turn~~" 

Lia whined. 

It had been half an hour now. The line was too long. 

"Just be patient bimbo. It's almost our turn anyway." 

Katherine said, slightly annoyed with the way Lia acted. 

I just stood there, looking at the line that seemed like a train. A very long one. 

The sun was shining bright and it was really hot. 

Luckily, they provided shade for students and guests to stay in while waiting. 

You could hear the screams of people, making those who waited even more excited to enter. 

"Yo, I bought us Ice cream." 

Max came, holding seven cups of ice cream. 

He ran all the way to the stalls across the horror house to get them. 

"Yey! Thank you Max!"

Lia said, pouting and smiling. 

***

"Finally!" 

Lia said with enthusiasm. It was finally our turn to enter. 

"Mei, hold me tight okay?" 

She gave me her puppy eyes. 

"Pfft, I bet you'll squish her. 

Mei, if you're in that situation, it's alright to leave her alone" 

"Hey! I'm not that scared!" 

"Oh please, you passed out last year just because a clown popped up! 

Cam's soul almost left him!" 

"That's because he came out of nowhere, naturally, I'd hug someone out of fear!" 

Katherine and Lily teased poor little Lia. 

Both trying to prove how much of a coward Lia is, and one defending herself, denying the fact that she's fragile. 

"Guys shut up!" 

Max said, eager to get in. 

We were asked to stand in one line before entering. 

Cam was at the front followed by Katherine, then Lily. Max stayed at the back, and Lia in front of him while she clung to me. Ayanna in front of me, relaxed. 

"3...2....1... You are now entering the danger zone." 

The monitor spoke and the tv shot open. 

The lights flickering as we followed the direction of the arrows. 

It was pitch black and you could hear the ominous eerie sounds grow louder. 

We entered the first room. It had the prison theme, one stabbed at its cell, and one sitting on the rocking chair as the sound of a child laugh comes by. 

We walked straight, our legs shaking and Lia prepared to scream. 

Suddenly, someone grabbed Katherine's foot. 

"Holy shit Lily! That ain't funny!" 

"I didn't do anything!" 

"AHHH!" 

"Lia, don't scream so loud!" 

"How can you scream quietly smart ass!?" 

Katherine, Lily, Lia and Ayanna started bickering. 

It was slowly becoming chaotic and the line was starting to break. 

Our walk grew faster as the jumpscares came more often. 

I kept my eyes open and sharp, not saying a word as I walked. 

The jumpscares didn't amuse me at all, maybe it was because of experience. But I am sure entertained with how Lia and the others react. 

It was fun to see them playfully scream at each other and blame one another for something they haven't done. 

***

I was now at the front 

Cam behind me along with Max. 

Lia started crying so Katherine and Lily stayed beside her. 

Ayanna clung to me as we walked to the next room. 

We were at what seemed like a laboratory. 

There was a headless body in the middle of the room where the light pointed at, some mannequins and a staff acting as the psychotic scientist. 

We walked around the body and hands started popping. 

A woman in white started following us. She came right behind the door we entered. 

Lia screamed and so did Max and Cam. 

Someone crawled across the room which caused them to push me to go faster. 

I giggled to myself. Amused with the different reactions they've given me so far. 

"Max what the hell!? Don't push me! "

" Im friken right infront of you nuthead! "

" Then who the fuck touched me!!?? "

" Shut up and move damn it! "

Everyone kept panicking and walking faster.

It annoyed me since they pushed me to go forward at a faster pace.

A staff dressed in a mythical creature, the tikbalang,

Pointed up.

We looked up only to see a doll playfully drop as it gave eerie laughing sounds.

Lia started running, pushing all of us, causing a huge hit on the ground.

"Lia!

We exclaimed. 

"What the fu-"

"Guys where are you!???"

We heard Lia scream from the other side of the hallway. 

We followed her voice and ended up in a garden set up. 

The flowers tainted in blood, and a head hanging from the side. 

The music of Alice in wonderland, but in a more creepy melody. 

I saw Lia standing in the middle, terrified. 

It was too bad cellphones weren't allowed inside, it would've been a great time to take a picture! 

Lia ran and hugged me as tight as possible. 

Suprisingly, no one dared for a jumpscare. 

It was awfully quiet, which gave them chills down their spine. 

"How the heck is Mei not terrified!? I haven't heard her scream." 

"Maybe she watches too much horror movies." 

"Or she's experienced the paranormal." 

"Haha, funny." 

We walked ever so slowly, we could see the exit from a distance. The relief in their sighs as we continued to walk, feeling proud that they've survived the horror house. 

Suddenly.. Hands popped out of the walls. 

Grabbing us and letting out laughs. We turned only to see a horrifying face of a woman in white. 

No eyes and her hair all messy, her dress torn and she whimpered "Where's my son" while holding a knife. 

When she spoke, blood poured down. Disgusting. 

We all ran to the exit, slapping the curtain out of the way, and tripping as we saw light again. 

Sir Jaime waited there, holding a camera as he sat down. 

When he saw us fall to the ground, he snapped pictures of us. 

"okay kiddos, time for a proper picture!" 

"that was cruel of you to snap photos of us, sir." 

Max whined, slightly embarrassed. 

"What? Its for your yearbook!" 

"Yeah, atleast tell us you've captured decent ones!" 

Lily exclaimed. 

"Oh, shut up, gather round and I'll take your picture." 

We stood at the platform beside us, smiling at the count of three.

***

"Jeez Lia, look! You've scarred me!" 

Katherine yelled, showing her arm, slightly bleeding. 

"Damn Lia, I'm glad you didn't cling to me." 

Cam said, holding his arms as if scared to have the same scars as Katherine. 

"Yeah she didnt injure us, but she friken abandoned us for five minutes AND, left us fall to the ground! 

My ass still hurts!" 

Max exclaimed. Rubbing his ass as he made a painful expression.

"Mei's the first person I've met who hasn't screamed at the horror house. I'm kind of amazed. 

Ayanna said, bringing me in their conversation. 

" Yeah, she even had that stunt prepared if ever someone touched her. "

Cam demonstrated what a karate fighter's fighting stance looked like. 

"She looked like a total spy to be honest." 

"How do you know what spies looked like!?" 

"I've seen it in movies!" 

I laughed. It was fun to watch them be this chaotic and noisy. 

"Mei, you're laughing! You should do that more often." 

Lia said, smiling at me. 

"Yeah, you look prettier when you smile too." 

Katherine added. 

I was flustered at the statement. 

"Come on! Let's go to the mini arcade across from here." 

Max and Cam offered, everyone agreed and waited for my response. 

"Yea.. Let's go." 

With that, we've spent the rest of the day fooling around. Enjoying the festival. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I saw Mei and her friends from a distance. 

She's laughing. 

I smiled, Mei's changing, she's loosening up now. 

Im glad. 

I went back to taking pictures.