To Blake’s extreme displeasure, the clown’s mouth was bloody like his knife. At first glance it looked like poorly done makeup, but when he grinned his teeth were filthy with red liquid. It reminded Blake of haunted houses put on for entertainment during October. There was always the killer clown room that everyone hated.
Now it was real?
As terrified as he was the only question Blake had was “why?”
Why a killer clown? It had to be a joke, Blake thought, a really bad joke. Something else was off-putting. What was with the horror tropes? If they’d been kidnapped and left in that room to await a serial killer, that would’ve made more sense. But a classic Halloween clown?
“He’s not moving,” Taylor whispered so softly it sounded more like heavy breathing than actual words.
The only thing the clown did in the last unbearable ten seconds was a sinister smile. Blake was surprised the girls hadn't taken off running, but he wondered if they felt the same way he did; that if they ran, the clown would too. It was a stand-off.
“What do we do?” Alaire asked Cole.
“Do what we should’ve and get the hell out of here.”
“I’m scared to move…” Jessica said.
Taylor and Jessica’s grabbed each other's hand; their knuckles turning white. Blake noticed their panic and took Taylor’s other hand. She didn't protest. Cole kept his eyes on the clown, as he walked forward, taking the group along. Blake couldn't look away either. He knew he was right. As soon as Cole started walking, the clown did also, at the same tempo.
“He’s moving!” Jessica’s stride picked up speed, dragging Taylor and Blake along.
The group sped up, and so did the clown. There was no point in lingering like prey any longer. Everyone ran. Real killer clown or not, he was scary as hell.
Cole and Alaire were ahead. The zoo was close to the park entrance, so it couldn't be much farther now. Everyone was running at their full-adrenaline pace. Blake was glad he was born with long legs. Unfortunately, Taylor probably had the shortest legs of the whole group and was bringing up the rear.
Dammit. He slowed a little so he could grab her arm and pull her along. That’s better.
Up ahead they could see the grand entrance.
“We’re here! We…” Cole swallowed the last of his sentence.
Another clown was waiting for them. This one was decorated in green and purple stripes. Oh, and two gnarly hooks for hands.
This clown didn't hesitate. Once he spotted them running he was already marching in their direction, giggling and breathing like a maniac with a bad cold. Blake checked on the clown following them with the knife, and he had gotten uncomfortably closer. They could try maneuvering around Captain Hooks, but no one had anything to defend themselves with.
Just as Blake was plotting an escape plan, ANOTHER clown appeared. This one was half a man’s size, decked out in all orange, with appropriate orange cotton ball buttons down his billowy shirt. He didn't have a weapon like the rest, but his teeth looked just as lethal. Each tooth was sharp and jagged just like a shark. It looked like he’d already torn apart a baby seal…
The three clowns were only going to trap them in a circle if they kept standing here. Jessica, who had been in hysterics, bolted. She took off in the only direction that wasn't guarded by a clown.
“Wa-?” Blake hesitated.
Taylor ran after her, half pulling Blake along who was still holding onto her arm. He wasn't committed to the idea of getting farther from the entrance, but he also knew these girls were screwed without him.
Chivalry is going to die…
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