The anticipation built up as the group waited for their ticket number to be called by taking turns standing close to the bonfire. The night had chilled quickly up in the hills. Paul, fortunately, had the foresight to make sure at least two people at a time took up a place at the fire's border. A large crowd of Trail participants had gathered around the five fires built between other Halloween themed activities. Music played over loud speakers across the communal field.
The DJ interupted "Thriller" to make his progessing announcements, "Group number 214 come to your doom. I mean, the Trail."
Emily giggled as she popped up and down in her boots to keep warm, "Hey, guys. We're next."
"Good thing, too. I'm freezing," Shanna replied. Jack and Emily had their arms around one another while she and Anna stood opposite to them. Shanna had maintained a reasonable distance away from Anna, who had thankfully been distracted by Jack enough for them to only exchange a few personal glances. Shanna had no idea what came over her earlier, but she did know she could still smell Anna's unique scent even over the aroma of the bonfire.
Paul and Katie relinquished their spot at the fire, strolling over to join the others.
"So. We're the next victims." Paul spoke slowly with big eyes, first to Katie then to the rest.
"Stop it." Katie responded nervously and buried her face in Paul's arm.
"Yeah, stop being such a cheese ball, you douche," Jack quiped. "There is nothing but some good laughs in this thing, and you know it."
"I don't know. I'm scared. I've heard people have been escorted crying out of this thing," Katie replied, completely huddled up to her new interest. "I bet you're just acting like a boy, Jack."
Emily looked up from pressing on the front of her boot. They had slowly become more uncomfortable as they all stood their. Her boots had started to feel like her nails were pressing into the leather, and she could definitely feel the big toe than had worn through her sock. "I'm a little scared, Katie. We'll stay together and let Jackie lead the way."
Anna smirked, exposing prominent canines, "That sounds like a good idea. You think you can handle it, Indiana Jones?"
It was Paul's turn to crack a rare innuendo, "I agree. What do you say, Jack? Boy in the front, boy in the back, girls in the middle?"
"I'm fine with leading all the chickens through the farm, if you want to herd them up, Paul."
Anna had opened her mouth to respond when Emily punched Jack in the shoulder with a surprising amount of force.
"Ow!" Jack rubbed his wound gingerly.
"Oh!" Emily quickly threw her arms around him. "I guess that came out harder than I meant it to."
Anna's eyes gave off a golden glimmer as she looked at the couple, "I guess that's what you get for calling us girls chicken." Anna looked over to Shanna. Unsure of herself in the firelight, she could have sworn she saw the tip of a pointed ear briefly poke through Shanna's blond hair as Shanna's head turned to meet her gaze.
"Group number 215..."