CALL LOGS

I wasn’t supposed to be at Eden. But a last minute promotion had landed me in the team headed for the camp. I didn’t really know the other five people who’d come with me to this godforsaken place. And now? I never would.

Because they're all dead.

Earlier, the power had gone out. Nothing worked. The back-up generators were toast, too. So we’d gathered in the main building at the behest of the rangers. Lit candles flickered among the cheesy Halloween decorations giving the large meeting room a spooky vibe. I felt trapped in some awful 1980s horror movie. We were the survivors. The ones left after all the tragedies that had played out over the last few weeks.

“I know it’s been a rough time,” said Head Ranger Troy Harte to the group, “but tonight, we’re gonna forget about our woes and have some fun.” Troy’s voice exhibited a level of enthusiasm that shouldn’t exist--not after everything that had happened.

“What about getting out of here?” I yelled.

“Don’t worry, Patty. Help is coming. Until then, we’ll make the best of it. We have games,” continued Troy. “Bobbing for apples, pin the tail on the werewolf, pumpkin bowling, mummy wrapping, and the spider toss.” Troy grinned and the way his face split to reveal his teeth seemed animalistic. “We have plenty of food, too. And everyone, be sure and grab a glass of apple cider. Now, let’s party!”

Yeah, right. The people stuck in this building weren’t celebrating Halloween, no matter how Troy and his four Amazonian goons wanted to convince us otherwise. I eyed Summer, Hope, Daphne, and Cosmia, all wearing white gowns cinched at the waist and fake halos perched above their heads. I guess they were playing at angels--like their idiot boss who’d gone so far as to don wings with his costume.

I didn’t trust anyone, especially not Troy. Something about the guy bugged me. Even though I was hungry and thirsty, I stayed away from the food and drink tables. Instead, I took refuge in a darkened corner, near the back exit door. I’d learned to trust my instincts. I supposed I owed Eden a weird kind of a thank-you for that. Before I came here, I questioned my own judgment constantly. After everything I’d survived, I trusted only myself and my gut checks. Paying attention to my internal alarms had saved my life more than once.

The attempts to lighten the mood seemed to be working. Laughter punctuated the rise of voices as people played games and filled plates. They were trying to forget that we were stuck in the middle of nowhere, waiting for some kind of rescue. They might be getting into the spirit of the evening, but I couldn’t dispel the fear swirling in my stomach like cold poison.

I edged closer to the exit. Above it was a sign: Alarms in Use! Only Open in Case of Emergency. I kept my back to the wall as I watched the partygoers. As the evening stretched on, people seemed to relax more and more. The laughter became more raucous, the conversations louder, the games more rambunctious.

Had someone spiked the apple cider? Sheesh.

“Attention, everyone!” Troy clapped his hands. Summer, Hope, Daphne, and Cosmia encircled him, each holding a red Solo cup. “Get some cider. We’re going to make a toast!”

It seemed like everyone had a drink, except me. I straightened and moved next to the door, my hand on the metal bar. I didn’t like Troy’s creepy smile or the way his minions stared at everyone. The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up as Troy lifted his glass and started reciting, “We honor God this blessed night. And we pledge our souls to Him and Him alone.”

More than half the room burst into applause. A few people, like me, were confused, and looked around.

Light began to glow beneath the feet of Troy and the four female rangers. “Everyone give us a loud yes, Lord!”

“Yes, Lord!”

The light spread across the floor, creeping up people’s legs like strangling kudzu. I watched as people began sway, their eyes glazing over, as Troy yelled, “Give yourself to God. Say it with me. We belong to God.”

“We belong to God!”

Those who weren’t as hammered began to realize how fucked up the situation was getting. A few people stumbled away, heading toward the front doors. The smarter ones hurried to the back door.

I watched Troy’s fake angels round up the poor souls who tried to escape, ushering them back toward the center of the room where Troy kept up his crazy tirade. People dropped to the floor, writhing and screaming. Blood seeped from their eyes and mouths as Troy’s insane chanting got louder and louder.

I’d had enough. I pushed open the door.

Alarms sounded immediately.

Shit.

“Go!” yelled a man’s voice behind me. “Run.”

“Stop them!” cried Troy.

I didn’t wait around to see what happened next. I took off, headed toward the treeline. Others ran with me, a few passing me as we hit the forest. We weaved in and out of the trees, getting further and further from Eden.

But I had this terrible feeling that no matter how far away I ran, I would never be safe.

I would never escape.

JOIN US