K. R. Alexander - The fear zone 2

Contents

We thought the nightmare was over.

Andres and Deshaun and Kyle and Caroline and metwo years ago, we faced our fears. We vanquished them. No more nightmares of snakes or sharks or being buried alive. No more ghosts haunting the hallways.

No more vengeful clowns.

For two years, we started to believe we could move on and leave all the scary stuff behind us. We let ourselves believe we were victorious.

We were wrong.

Now were starting to learn the truth:

You can face your fears. You can overcome them. But then you grow older. You change.

And your fears grow and change too.

We should never have let ourselves believe we were safe.

Were we ever that tiny? Andres asks as we pass by the elementary school.

I look over to the kids playing on the playground. Swinging and playing tag and laughing in the cool autumn afternoon. I watch as one of the girls jumps into an enormous pile of leaves, giggling as they cascade around her.

I suppress a shudderthe sound of rustling leaves sounds way too much like hissing for my liking.

No, I say. Im pretty certain we skipped that age and became, like, old people overnight.

Andress grin slips.

Neither of us mentions what happened two years ago. Neither of us says why we had to grow up so fast. We dont have to. The memory is burned into both of us like scars.

Why are we meeting them here, anyway? I ask. Isnt it a little strange that were hanging out at the middle school?

Andres shrugs and sits down on a bench, watching the kids play. April said she wanted us to meet here, he says.

I sit down next to him, our shoulders almost brushing. I feel like I should say something.

Id been joking about growing up overnight, but as we sit there, staring at the kids who dont seem to have a care in the world, its clear the words couldnt have been more accurate, or more cutting. Its like were a different species. Not just older, but more I dont know, aware . We know that there are true evils out there. We know there are monsters that go bump in the night. To these kids, its all just make-believe. To us, its deadly real.

A wind rustles through the trees, scattering leaves across our feet. Hissing.

Lately, all I hear is hissing.

Dont you two look cheerful, someone calls out.

I jolt and look behind me to see Deshaun, April, and Caroline walking our way. Deshaun and April are holding hands, and Caroline is leaping through the small piles of leaves lining the sidewalk.

April waves when we make eye contact, and Andres jumps off the bench to go give her a hug. I slide off and walk over, bumping fists with Deshaun and embracing the girls.

Good to see you guys, April says. Even though were all in the same high school now, we dont get to see each other very much during the school day. April and Caroline and Andres are sophomores, while Deshaun and I are juniors. With everyone in different school activities, well, its hard to actually find time to meet as a group. I always see Andres because were dating and Deshaun because were still best friends and I live with his family now. But I dont see the girls as much.

Yeah, I say. Another breeze blows past.

Hisses past.

I burrow deeper into my coat and try not to look bothered. Its just the wind, Kyle. Just the stupid wind.

What did you want to meet us here for? I ask. Couldnt we have met somewhere a little warmer? I dont know about you, but I could use some hot chocolate.

April rolls her eyes, but her expression goes serious immediately. She steps a little closer and lowers her voice.

I just thought She takes a deep breath and looks around, as if trying to catch someone listening in. But the kids are all playing and completely ignoring the group of high schoolers huddled at the edge of the playground. I thought it made sense for us to meet here. Because tomorrow is Halloween, and tomorrow marks the day we all got the notes.

Chills slither down my spine at the thought. Shes talking about the notes that dragged us to the graveyard. The notes that led us to unleash the clown and all its terrible nightmares.

I swear the air between us drops twenty degrees.

Cmon, April, Andres says. Whyd you have to bring that up?

Because its important for us to remember. She glances around the group, but its clear from everyones expressions that we do remember. And we wish we could forget.

April goes on. Weve all been so busyI havent seen all of you guys for weeks. And, I dont know, I thought we should get together. To sort of prove to ourselves what we did.

We dont need to prove anything, Andres says. Its over. Behind us. We need to move on. You need to move on.

I dont say anything. Because even though I agree, I also know that as Aprils best friend, Andres is able to say what the rest of us probably shouldnt. I can tell from her expression that she isnt letting this go. Deshaun squeezes her hand.

I dont want to remember the bad stuff either, she continues. Thats not the point. I wanted us to celebrate coming together. I wanted to celebrate our friendship, because thats what defeated the evil in the first place.

Another breeze rustles around us, tumbling leaves over my sneakers. The noise almost drowns out Aprils words.

I was thinking we could go to the carnival tomorrow, April says. Its their opening night, and theyre doing free entry for kids in costume. It would be a lot of fun.

I look over to a group of kids huddled on the other side of the playground, just like us. It looks like theyre passing homework or something around between them. One of the kids looks overhe has bright red hair and freckles, and when he sees me looking at him, he quickly looks away.

That sounds great, Deshaun says. Saves Kyle and me from candy duty.

Then its settled, April says. Cancel your Thursday plans: Tomorrow night we go to the carnival.

And I was talking to my dad, Caroline chips in. I was thinking we could do a sleepover Friday night. Maybe watch some scary movies and eat leftover candy?

We all voice our agreement. I dont think weve ever been to Carolines house. Normally when we do sleepovers or game nights, its at my place or Aprils. Not that those have happened much lately; weve all gotten so busy.

I guess I should ask, Deshaun says timidly. No one got any notes today, right?

To our collective relief, everyone shakes their head.

Good, he says. Its still over.

Another gust. Another hiss. Another leaf sliding across my ankles.

I look down as my friends discuss the details

and see a snake slithering over my shoes.

I yelp and jump back.

But the snake isnt there. It was never there.

Are you okay? Andres asks. He takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. I cant return the gesture. My heart hammers too loudly in my ears. My hands feel numb.