Falling for The Fallen

Chapter 11

STEPHI

Laura and I were sharing bright pink candy floss as we walked through the carnival with Crowley and Sam.

It was a horror-themed carnival which I loved, aside from the clowns which scared me.

I had a terrible phobia of them.

"I want to go into the house next!" Laura said.

I had to admit, I was beginning to enjoy the night, it was a nice change.

Crowley tapped his chin with his index finger, "Perhaps a ride after? The Ferris wheel is breathtaking, imagine the view."

Laura nodded, "Oh, yes I agree. Stephi loves those things."

I did love them, but what I wasn't looking forward to was the supposed haunted house we were walking towards.

Everyone raved about how terrifying it was.

As Crowley and Laura walked into the haunted house area, Sam pulled me back slightly.

"This time, do not let go."

I nodded as we walked in.

Laura smiled, "This is going to be fun!"

"I doubt that," I said, not happy that we were the only four there.

Passing through the strange hall, we paused every so often to look at the paintings hanging on the wall, fake blood splattering along with them.

If I had been paying attention I would have seen Crowley's sinister smile.

"They've done a great job with the blood, it looks real!" Laura exclaimed.

She was right, it did look real.

The rooms had begun and Laura opened one, walking in to examine it.

She let out a squeal as a dummy fell from the ceiling atop her.

"Jesus, that was terrifying! It feels real!" She poked at it with her foot as she stared at it.

We walked further into the house before one of the actors jumped out at us, causing Laura and me to scream.

Sam simply pulled me closer.

I was beginning to get a feeling of dread building up in my stomach as we walked down a dimly lit hallway, when suddenly the door behind us slammed shut, trapping us and forcing us forward.

"I don't like this," I said.

Laura frowned, "Yeah, I don't remember this the last time I was here."

I tried to let go of Sam's hand and move past them, but he pulled me back, "Do not let go."

Laura opened another door which seemed to lead into yet another hallway, and before I realized what was happening she pulled me in after her, my hand slipping from Sam's.

I spun around and the last thing I saw before the door slammed shut was Sam's panicked eyes.

"Laura! Goddamn! Why did you do that?! Now we've separated from them!"

"Relax, it's all just fun."

"No! I want to leave!"

I turned back to the door, frantically pulling at the handle.

"Laura, I don't like this."

At her silence, I turned only to find the hallway empty.

"You've got to be fvcking kidding me."

Frowning, anger taking over the fear that I had begun to feel I went into the first room, expecting her to jump out at me, but instead, the door closed behind me, causing me to jump a little with fright.

"I'm going to kill Laura," I muttered to myself, turning to the door.

I caught sight of a large mirror along the one wall, it reminded me of a ballet studio.

I watched my reflection as I frowned, the entire room turns into a giant mirror.

I watched as suddenly blood seeped down the mirrors.

And then the strangest thing happened, my reflection began to move on its own.

Smiling cruelly at me.

I realized that this must have been some sort of trick and turned away, not wanting to waste any more time on her.

But as I turned, I turned straight into Laura.

Yet her eyes were white and her skin was pale.

"Laura?"

She smiled, blood running out of her mouth and down her chin.

Screaming I jumped away as she came towards me, somewhat mechanically, and I realized that this must have been another trick.

I rolled my eyes and shouted, "This isn't funny! You're going to have to do better."

The Laura look-alike in front of me walked towards me still, not that I was fazed by this doll.

Turning back to the door I tried to open it, but it wouldn't open.

"Of course, it's locked."

Completely ignoring the fake Laura I searched the room for something to open the door with when suddenly she grabbed me and slammed me violently into the wall, "Why are you not scared?!"

"I know you're not Laura."

She looked angry, and then she smirked, producing a knife from behind her back.

This was going a bit far and I wondered if these people had hurt anyone before.

She slid the knife slowly over my neck, and my flight or fight kicked in.

Lifting my knee, I kneed her in the stomach before kicking her away from me.

One thing I was thankful for was that I knew how to fight, I was scared of very little when it came to my life.

But at the same time, I was thankful that this was not a clown.

Lifting the lamp I slammed it over the actor's head and she collapsed.

I made sure she wasn't dead before leaving the room, the door suddenly opening easily.

My heart was pounding, I knew that I needed to get out of there, they were taking things too far and I now had no doubt that they would hurt their visitors.

Shaking my head I took two steps before hearing a strange laugh that made me pause.

Suddenly the door behind me opened and I was face to face with a clown.

"Jesus." I took a few steps backward, telling myself that this clown wouldn't hurt me, it was all part of the show.

But something about the way he looked at me told me otherwise.

He stepped forward, a manic laugh coming from him.

"God. No, no, no."

I turned and ran, anything else and I probably would have stood my ground, but not a clown.

I could hear the clown laughing as he followed behind me and I briefly wondered if he would actually harm me; not that my fear would allow me to find out.

In a frantic panic, I ran into a room, slamming the door shut and spinning, only to find the same clown in the room.

I backed up against the door and he laughed yet again.

Turning to the door I found the handle was gone.

"What the fvck?"

"Boo."

I screamed as he shoved his face next to mine, jumping away from him and falling to the red-carpeted floor.

He smiled a sadistic smile as he came towards me, his head twitching from side to side in a manic way.

I crawled backward until I hit a wall, the clown still coming towards me.

"Dear God."

"Not quite."

I shuddered in fear as he crouched before me, only inches from my face.

He smiled slowly, his smile much wider than it should be, "Tell me, do you want to dance with the devil?" His mouth continued to stretch and I screamed.

No human could have opened their mouth this wide, or have breathed so hotly.

I shut my eyes tightly and held my hands over my ears hoping that this was some sort of dream.

When I opened them, the clown was gone and I rushed to my feet, heading straight for the door.

"Hi."

I screamed again as he was suddenly in front of me.

"Do you fear me, little one?"

I backed up into another wall and he came forward, hands on either side of my face as he leaned in, "Do you like me better now?" He asked, his face changing before my eyes into that of a normal-looking human.

I shrieked and poked at his eyes hoping that he would allow me a gap to get away.

It didn't work as he laughed and pulled his own eyes out.

I was sure I would have broken my throat with my screams had it been possible.

"Oh come on, I'm only playing."

I was now shrieking uncontrollably as he changed back into a clown.

I was sure I would have a heart attack from the amount of fear that I felt.

He dropped his head down to my neck, just under my ear, and whispered, "You know I would never hurt you."

I closed my eyes, my throat aching from my screams as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Tell me that you fear me."

"Get off of me!" I shouted with fake confidence.

I had always hated feeling weak, and at that moment with him asking if I feared him, I refused to give him the satisfaction.

I shoved him and he grabbed me by the throat, slamming me into the wall, "Tell me how much you fear me!"

Kicking his leg, he dropped me and I ran towards the door again, but he was there within seconds, his mouth opening to reveal sharp, jagged teeth.

I screamed again, sure that this horrid creature would kill me.

He stuck his hand right into his chest and pulled out his heart, dripping with blood.

"Oh, God. Stop. Please just stop."

"Are you scared yet?"

I sunk the door, tears still streaming down my face, shaking in fear and defeat, "Yes, you sick freak!"

He crouched yet again, "Do you fear me?" His voice was so soft, almost caring, which caused even more confusion.

"Yes! Yes, I fear you! I have never been so scared in my entire life! Are you fvcking happy now?!"

"Yes." He sounded almost remorseful.

I closed my eyes, sure that he was about to hurt me, and the door fell open, with me leaning against it I fell against something, another person.

Opening my eyes, ready to scream again, I was met with Sam's worried face.

He had crouched because I was against his chest as his arms came up around me.

"I'm sorry, Lili, I'm so sorry, but I had to do it."

I had no idea what he was talking about as I passed out hearing those words.

SAM

*earlier that night*

"Crowley, what the fvck are you doing?"

I couldn't believe it, the head of the Board was here, dating Laura.

"Oh, so you can do it and it's fine."

"I'm not doing anything!"

"I see how you look at her, Samael, I see it. But don't you worry, I'm in a very generous mood tonight," he looked over to where the girls were buying candy floss, "I like her, she seems as though she would make a cute pet."

I could feel my blood boiling. He was supposed to be one of the good guys, but I sometimes thought he was eviler than I was.

"Look, I have a little waver for you, we haven't had a good game in so long. If you lose, I get to take her soul. If you win, I will leave you alone and as long as you continue with your job, I will allow this. If you refuse, I will kill her right now and banish you, strip you of any power, and leave you to a life of eternal agony where you watch her die day after day and cannot do anything to stop it. Your choice."

I knew this sadistic son of a b***h was psychotic enough to do it, "What's the game?"

"Fear. One room each. Whoever scares her the most wins. And I don't mean a little old scare, I mean true gut-wrenching fear."

I hated this, normally I would jump at the chance for something like this, but not when it concerned her.

He would hurt her and he would make it slow and painful.

"Deal."

I hated myself like never before as the words left my mouth, it was strange, I had never experienced this, but my entire soul ached at what I had agreed to do, yet I knew that I stood no chance against Crowley, there was no other way to keep her safe.

I was sure that this feeling I felt must have been what humans refer to as heartbreak. It felt as if I was shattering along with my heart and soul.

I didn't want to do this to her, but I had witnessed Crowley's cruelty with my own eyes, and this was the much lesser evil compared to that.