“The ocean. You know I’ve seen it a few times over the years, hell our first vacation was at one, but this one is different. Energy aside, it’s kind of calming.” I listened to the crash of waves for a moment before going on. “Four. The scent of coffee. From here you can smell it coming in from the shop and we all know I love coffee.” Already I felt better and I’ve never been more grateful for my guys.
“I brought snacks,” Ethan announced as he walked outside and dangled a red licorice rope in front of me.
“Five. Snacks,” I laughed, taking it and biting a chunk off, chewing happily. “Alright. A festival sounds fun. Maybe it will get my mind off of this shit.”
“I did a preliminary scope of it. Rides. Food. Apparently at nightfall there’s a huge bonfire, since they’ve got driftwood out there and I’ve heard it makes for a really cool colored fire,” Ethan urged before pulling me up. “Go get dressed.” When I turned he smacked me on the ass, sending me back inside with a laugh.
An hour later we were walking down the street, my hand in Ben’s and Lincoln’s arm around my shoulders. The world felt a bit less shaky now and the moment I was hit with the amazing aroma of fried food I walked a bit faster.
“The ferris wheel is already lit up, each spoke of the wheel is lit up a different color. There are food stands to the left, but I’m sure you can smell those. The middle is a stage and it looks like a band is setting up now, and there are some tables in front. Then to the right they’re adding more driftwood to a fire ring. It’s crazy how tall it is, maybe seven feet,” Troy said. It took me a second to realize he was explaining the festival in detail so Sully could get the big picture. My heart warmed as Gavin took a picture and showed it to Sully who held it close before handing it back. His grin was huge. A far cry different than the man we’d brought along with us at the beginning of this trip.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Lincoln hissed, glancing pointedly over at the men I was already watching.
“I am,” I smiled. “They’ve really taken to Sully. I’m glad. He deserves good friends. He’s made a whole support group this month.”
“He’s a good guy,” Ben agreed.
We split ways when we got inside, the Polterguys dragging Sully to the ferris wheel and Ethan dragging us toward the food. We did our usual thing of buying one of practically everything and finding a table to settle down.
“Okay, this was a solid choice,” Ryker said around a bite of a huge corn dog. I bit back a smile as everyone dug in and chatted. It felt so easy and natural.
The band started to play, a folk rock song filling the air before Lincoln, of all people, pulled me from my seat and out to the front of the stage where people were already dancing around.
“You don’t dance like this,” I teased.
He gave me a cocky smirk. “But you do, and I get to hold you close enough to feel every curve of your body.” My cheeks flushed at his husky tone, and true to his word he crushed our bodies together and spun us around the dance floor. The entire time his intense blue eyes locked onto mine, full of heat and promise.
But we didn’t get a chance to do anything about it as the lights went out at the entire fair, trapping people on rides and plunging the festival into a tense silence.
“It’s time!” someone called out from the crowd. The way they were not the least bit surprised had us separating and glancing at my other guys, all of whom were already walking our way.
“Is it strange to anyone else that they’re excited about this?” Ben hissed as the entire town talked excitedly now, heading for the bonfire. The logical side of myself wanted to say the fire would give light to the dark festival since the lights weren’t on still. But, there was too much excitement about lights out to make sense.
“Then let’s go find out, shall we?” Ryker said, pulling me with him toward the huge stack of wood ready to be lit. A woman was now standing on a makeshift stage. She was in her fifties, wearing a red pantsuit. Her white hair was pulled into a ballerina bun on her head and she had on her best political smile as she waited for the crowd to amass.
“Welcome everyone to this year’s Festival of the Fallen!” she called out. It was then I noticed she was holding up a small golden statuette. Turning to the pyre behind her she tossed it on the top. “To the souls who have been lost on our shores!”
We watched on in horror as everyone threw things into the wood tower. They yelled out names of the fallen, some we actually recognized. And just like that the energy in the air amplified.
“Stop!” I screamed, rushing up to the stage. “You’re causing all of this!”
The mayor, or whoever this lady was, looked down at me with amusement.
“Oh no, honey, that’s where you’re wrong,” she said like she was talking down a tantruming child. It had my blood boiling and not just my men behind me, but the Polterguys and Sully as well. I was relieved they weren’t stuck on the ferris wheel at least. “These offerings are tributes to the dead. This is what keeps our little hamlet safe.” The fucked up part was that she, and everyone around her, seemed to buy that notion, hook, line, and sinker.
“No, you’re giving them energy. You’re amping up this place! Every tribute gives them power, a connection to this world they shouldn’t have,” Lincoln thundered. “This is why people are dying here. Why ghosts are staying and manipulating people. Every one of you is responsible. How long before they start killing?”
She laughed at his speech and I never wanted to punch someone more. “No, that’s where you’re confused. This is how we keep ourselves safe. It’s been tradition in this town since the first death. What started as a memorial was turned into tradition the entire town took part in. And notice that most of us are still standing.” She swept her hands out wide at the town who now started moving forward, throwing item after item on despite our warnings. The lady from the pharmacy was clutching hers in hand and backing away. At least we got through to someone.
“Guys, they’re coming,” Sully said. I turned around to see him facing beyond the crowd, head swiveling around as he watched a new ghostly figure walk up.
“They’re mad at us for interfering,” Troy said nervously. “Those who are left… he’s convincing them that we’re the problem. That we’re trying to take all the power away and they’ll disappear.”
“We aren’t just trying to interfere,” I said, loud enough that maybe the ghosts would hear. “Eventually this power will eat these ghosts alive, corrupt them, until there’s nothing left.”
“We’ll take our chances,” the woman called back, answering for the town and the ghosts alike before grabbing a large lighter and putting it against the gasoline soaked logs. Her people pulled her away as the flames practically exploded. As the effigies and offerings were burned, the energy in the air amplified to the point I could barely breathe.
“We have to go,” Gavin said. His voice was shaking and from the look on Sully and Troy’s faces this was almost painful for them.