The car went quiet as Paul pulled the keys out of the ignition. They had pulled up on the dry autumn grass that served as an ersatz parking lot for the yearly attraction.
Shanna was the first out of the vehicle, her wavy honey-blond hair trailing haphazardly from the hood of her sweatshirt as she circled around to the trunk and opened it, pulling out the dome tent.
"Damn," Katie said as she stepped out onto the grass. She pulled a stocking cap out of her coat pocket and pulled it over her straight dark brown locks. "How do you even get scared if there are this many people around?"
"They keep people pretty spread out," Shanna replied as she handed the sleeping bags to Paul and Jack. "There's a lot of property out here."
It was a bit of a walk to the campsite they'd been assigned on their tickets. Katie had to admit, the further they walked the less she heard anyone but her friends. In the dark as they found their way by flashlight she was a bit unnerved by the quiet.
They found the campsite easily enough. It was clearly marked, and in the center of it there was a neat bundle of wood and tinder already arranged for a bonfire. Katie grinned as she walked up to it and pulled a lighter from her pocket. Kneeling down, she sparked it up and lit the bottom of the bonfire.
Flames raced up the wood in a fragrant puff that smelled vaguely herbal. The tongues of flame were oddly green at the start, and Katie guessed that the event organizers had put some chemicals on the wood for ambiance. Before long it burned a healthy orange, and lit up the campsite.
Shanna looked to Katie as her friend came over to help her set up the tent. "Cool, no?" she quipped.
"Definitely," Katie replied as they both started to make camp.