The group made their way to the start of the trail with Jack leading the way. He held Emily by the hand, and she glanced back at the rest of the party as he pulled her along.
"Come on, guys," she admonished as they worked their way through the crowd and down the pathway to the official entrance to the trail.
They paired off once again when they reached the pseudo-desk that sat next to the woods. Katie snuggled up to Paul and whispered, "Protect me," into his ear. Shanna felt an unusual sense of calm wash over her as Anna moved closer and smiled.
A narrow path ran to the left of the desk. It was guarded by a man in grim reaper costume. He held his scythe across the opening to prevent anyone from going through.
A woman in a witch's costume sat at the desk. She wore a tall, pointed black hat, black gown and had a large, obviously fake wart on the side of her nose. Jack walked to the desk and proudly slammed the tickets down in front of her.
"Six more souls who'll test my trail this night, I see," the witch cackled.
Jack laughed at her. "We've survived it before."
"Then this is nothing new to the likes of you," she said as she tore six forms off a pad and produced a fist full of pens. "Even a powerful witch such as me needs to ward of the cursed lawyers."
Jack grabbed the forms and passed them out.
"What are these?" Katie asked.
"Waivers," Paul said knowingly. "They make everybody sign one. Just another way to try and scare you."
Jack and Paul signed their papers without reading them. Shanna, Emily and Anna gave the a cursory glance before doing the same, but Katie studied hers carefully.
"Did you guys ever read these things?" she asked.
"Standard stuff," Jack said.
Katie mumbled aloud as she read the document, "...hereby acknowledges that participation in the attraction commonly known as the "Witches Woods Trail" (hereinafter, "the attraction") presents and contains inherent risk of serious bodily and/or mental/psychological injury including, but not limited to the risk of death or dismemberment and/or other certain disclosed or undisclosed physical and/or mental impairment to participant ...
"...willfully and voluntarily participates in said attraction and holds the promoter, its agents, servants, employees, heirs and assigns harmless from any and all claims, actions, suits, or other legal process arising out of or in any manner related to injury, impairment or death resulting from said participation..."
"Legal mumbo-jumbo," Jack interrupted, "You can't go on the trail if you don't sign it. Now come'on. If we don't go soon, they'll give up our spot."
Katie looked at Paul for reassurance.
Meanwhile, Shanna noticed a figure emerge from the woods next to the trail entrance. It was the cloaked woman from the night before. She whispered into the ear of the grim reaper, and he nodded. Then, before Shanna could say a word, the woman was gone.
Turning her attention back to the group, Shanna noticed Katie placing her form on the desk.
"Proceed," the witch told the group.
As they walked toward the grim reaper, Anna tapped Shanna on the shoulder and pointed to him. "The walkie-talkie kind of ruins the effect, doesn't it?" Seeming to notice the comment, the reaper dropped the handset into a pocket on his robe and resumed his solemn pose. After holding the group for a moment, he raised the scythe and said, "Proceed."