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The car came to a stop, finally reaching the parking lot after hours of sitting in a barely moving line. Po looked up at the neon sign flashing ‘Mars’ Haunted Houses & Maze of Tricks!’ and scoffed.
“What a deceptively festive sign. This better be worth the two hour wait Baifern.” He shot her a pointed look.
Baifern met his gaze in the rearview mirror and raised a brow. “Pick an emotion Po. You're either mad, scared or excited.”
Gam giggled and slapped Baifern's arm playfully. “You know how he is. Don't be too mean to him.”
Po rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks so much for the help.”
“You're welcome, Princess!”
Po sighed so hard he felt a piece of his soul leave his body. The two of them would be the death of him long before any scare this place could drum up. He pushed the door open and made his way to the back of the car where Baifern was double checking their tickets and grabbing bug spray.
“Are you going to use that as ghost repellent?” Po mused.
“Oh haha, very funny. Do you want the mosquitos to give you welts again?”
Po grumbled but spread his arms and did a 360 degree turn to ensure she got every spot. After spraying themselves down they made the walk to the entrance where a booth stood lined up with people still waiting to get in. Po felt like he was being watched and surveyed the surrounding area finding nothing and no one looking in his direction. The feeling didn't go away as they moved forward, in fact, it felt like it got even heavier.
An attendant waved them over while holding a scanner. “Check in here if you bought tickets online then make your way to the line and wait for your turn to enjoy the thin veil between life and death!”
Po muttered under his breath. “I wonder how much they pay them to say that for 8 hours a night.”
“Seems the bugs aren't the only ones biting tonight.” Gam smirked and crossed her arms knowing all too well that once they were inside the gates Po’s feigned indifference would dissipate.
And she was proven correct only 45 minutes later once they managed to get into the actual grounds of the haunted attractions. The minute they stepped through the gate a clown dressed in blood spattered overalls carrying a sledgehammer came bustling over laughing like a madman. The noise carried through Po’s body like a shiver from a sickness ailing you.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” Po screamed. His normally well composed nature slipped into that of someone genuinely terrified. This of course only made the clown more inclined to target him. The clown watched as Po stepped behind a smiling Baifern. She enjoyed his suffering entirely too much for someone who called herself his best friend.
The clown's eyes bored into him as his head tilted before he launched himself into a full speed run headed directly for Po. Po spun around and booked it for the nearest thing he could hide behind – a small food stall. The clown's laugh echoed around him as he sank down with eyes looking at him from every direction- some amused, others looking in disdain. He didn't care. All he could think about was how fast his heart was beating. It pounded in his ears making it hard to tell which direction the crunching was coming from.
He turned to his right and saw nothing, he peeked under the food truck and didn't see the big black boots anywhere. He thought himself safe. He stood up halfway now in a crouched position and was about to stand up when he felt a hand on his shoulder and his body stiffened. Then a voice laced with amusement laughed wickedly. “Caught you!” The sing-song voice paired with the creepy laugh had him paralyzed with fear. He couldn't even manage a scream.
Before he could brace himself he felt his body go limp and his vision blur. The world swayed and his eyes rolled back as his body fell forward. He heard gasps and the shuffle of feet. In all the commotion he could hear his name being called but it was muffled and distant as his vision went black.
He woke up to someone holding him in their lap, gently brushing his hair and holding the side of his face. He felt a damp cloth trace across his forehead and made a small noise at the contact. “Po? PO! Oh my god, open your eyes please!”
“Fern, if you keep yelling like that I'm gonna get a migraine.”
Po adjusted his eyes to the bright lights that surrounded him and the sound of children squealing, the muted but still terrifying laughs that seemed to echo in his brain. “How long was I out?”
“2 hours.” Gam, who had been getting Po food, stated dryly, like it was no big deal he'd been out that long.
“Please tell me you're joking.” He said, reaching out to grab the meal being shoved toward him.
“I’m not.”
“She is.” Baifern countered.
“Thank goodness. Okay so how long was I really out?”
“Maximum – maybe a minute. But closer to 30 seconds.” Baifern said with a hand to his back helping him to sit up.
He sat up slowly turning to look into the worried faces of his friends. “I'm fine.”
“Fine doesn't even come close to describing what that was Po. You've never fainted like that even when you were 13 and actively being chased by a masked cannibal!” Baifern argued.
“Okay but to be fair I really couldn't pass out while running for my life now could I?” His tried joking to ease the tension.
Gam plopped herself down beside him turning to face him with a serious look. “Be honest Po, did you eat anything at all today?”
Po thought about it for a second. “Well I had–no that was yesterday–”
“PO PAWAT NUENGANAN!” Baifern shouted, smacking his arm.
“Ow! Why are you hitting the patient?”
“Don't try to be funny with me, mister. We both know how you get when you have deadlines at work. Eat this and then we'll decide whether or not we continue this tonight.”
Po was about to argue when both of them gave him the look, which meant he'd better shut up and eat his food. While he ate slowly and sipped his drink he heard them talking excitedly about the corn maze. His brows furrowed and he chewed slower trying to hear them over the buzz of the crowd and his own munching.
She couldn't stop talking about the maze being the main attraction when she had originally invited them. Po didn't understand because what could be so special about a run of the mill corn maze?
He was getting more and more confused the longer she talked about coming the next night if they couldn't make it tonight. He knew the tickets had sold out already for the next two weekends because she’d called him ranting about people without jobs and NASA level wifi grabbing them all up within the first two minutes the queue had opened. He was positive Baifern hadn't gotten the maze tickets so why was she so excitedly talking as if she had?
“How'd you manage to get tickets for something sold out?” He took a long sip of his lemonade and almost choked when she spoke.
“Well after seeing you almost die after being scared half to death–”
“I did not ‘almost die’.” He said flatly, wiping at the corners of his mouth with his napkin.
“Besides the point. Someone from management came down and the poor scare actor looked like he’d seen a ghost. It wasn't his fault you fell out but they offered us maze tickets and tickets for next weekend with the maze added into those too! The poor guy's amusement at your terror almost ended up with him crying too after the guy from management stared him down.”
Po shot her a look. “I did not cry. It's already embarrassing enough that it looks like I passed out from being scared but you adding in lies isn't helping at all.”
“I mean you kind of did.”
“Fern. Not helpful.”
“You mean it isn't helping your ego.” Gam interjected.
Po didn't dignify that with a response. He finished up his nachos and lemonade before standing up and stretching like a cat. “I'm good to continue now that I've got some protein in me.”
Gam gagged. “Never say that again. You sound like a frat boy before he starts talking about how many gains he has.”
Baifern giggled. “Okay, okay. Let's just go.” She cut her eyes to Po and pointed a finger at him. “While I'm thankful your incident scored us tickets, don't think I'll be letting you out of my sight tonight.”
Po didn't tell her that he didn't mind her watchful eyes tonight. He wanted to maintain at least some of his already fleeting dignity. The three of them walked arm in arm towards the first haunted house. It was a big building resembling that of an early farm house with a wrap-around porch, painted white but made to look dirty and old.
When they stepped through the threshold they could hear soft music playing with bone chilling laughter cutting through it. The sound of someone stomping above them and an eerie laugh from a child– a little girl could be heard before the sound of a drill and a horrified scream filled the air. Fern and Gam laughed entirely too excited for Po’s liking as he felt his knees buckle.
“Come on big guy. Let's head upstairs.” Fern chuckled, dragging him along by his elbow.
“Chastising me while I'm scared isn't the great idea you think it is Fern. Who knows who I'll hit in my shock.”
Baifern only laughed at him. “Ooh I'm so scared of someone who fainted within the first two minutes we entered.”
Gam cackled behind them. “Can we make it through the first house without you two trying to strangle each other.”
Po rolled his eyes and mumbled. “She started it.”
Baifern closed her eyes and smiled. “And I'll finish it too. Keep it up, Po. When we get to that maze I'll leave your ass high and dry.”
“You wouldn't.” He halted his movements at the top of the first set of stairs.
“Try me.” Her smile was a promise Po would rather she not keep. They ascended the stairs as a unit with Gam following behind the two of them. Po felt a sense of safety but little did he know it was a false sense of security.
They reached the top of the spiral stairs and had just rounded a corner when a shrill laughter that sounded more like a scream pierced their ears. Po reached for Fern’s hand and squeezed it, hard. She squeezed it back just as hard. The three of them heard scratching and the sound of soft feet padding towards them. The echo in the room made it hard to pinpoint exactly where it was coming from.
A person in a nurse uniform with ripped stockings and blood oozing from her side came crawling up to them snarling and shaking her head. Her face was grey and looked like it had been cut up with a razor blade. Her eyes were purple and red rimmed. When she spoke it wasn't in full sentences. The words came out like they were painful to speak at all.
“Follow.” She nodded toward the way they were supposed to go. She paused at a door and knocked. She laughed when a voice boomed. She ushered them inside and screamed. “NEW FRIENDS!” Cackling like a witch she slammed the door shut and the sound of a lock could be heard.
It took Po everything he had left in him not to curse at a small child even if he was terrified out of his wits. A little girl who looked like half her face was missing and one eye had been replaced with a button came bouncing over holding a decapitated half-bunny-half-bear. “Follow me, sir. The doctor has been expecting you. He likes pretty faces like yours.”
Po groans and steps closer to Baifern. He wrapped his hand around hers pressing his body into her side. He whispered into her ear. “They can smell my fear, that's why they keep messing with me.”
Gam giggled, having overheard his terrible attempt at whispering. “Or – they can see your legs shaking and the look on your face that screams ‘please don't chase me I'm scared’.”
Po eyed her. “You're not funny.”
“Not trying to be.” She shrugged clearly unbothered but amused by him.
When they rounded the corner they were greeted by peeled walls, a shredded curtain that did nothing to hide the various jars of body parts and what looked to be numerous animal specimens.
“Oh what the fuck you’ve got to be kidding me. Fern, Gam, this is –” He was cut off by a man in scrubs and a white coat who'd appeared at his side with no sound.
“Such a pretty face with such a dirty mouth. You'd make a great addition to my collection!” The man's hand caressed Po’s face. Po shivered in disgust. The man didn't move his hand, instead he moved his thumb across Po’s cheek. “Mmm, soft skin. A fine specimen indeed.” A greedy unhinged laughter followed.
The doctor paused his hysterics and stood up straight. “But you're too pretty to be carved up. I think we'll keep you in the big freezer as one big beautiful work of art.” The eerie laughter picked back up but the group had begun to move on to the next portion of the house, which luckily for them was the end.
It was a narrow hallway that forced them into a straight line. A long haired, pale faced ghost followed them by popping into the picture frames and either screamed, turned its head to creep them out or attempted to grab at them.
Once they were out of the house Po turned to his friends. “That was awful.”
Gam burst out laughing and Baifern followed. Gam walked up to Po placing her hand on his face mimicking the doctor. “What soft skin you have. Pretty too!”
While the two of them howled with laughter Po felt a chill run down his spine. He had the same feeling from earlier where it felt like he was being watched. His eyes darted around from their surroundings outside to the windows and doorways of the house until they landed on a shadow standing in a window on the third floor. When his eyes landed on them the shadow tilted their head to the side and waved. It was creepy.
They hadn't gone up to the third floor. There were no stairs up leading to it or any trap doors that he could recall seeing. It seemed like they had effectively closed it off. So how then, was someone up there?
“Hello? Earth to Po!” Baifern called.
Gam bumped his shoulder with her own with a slight smirk. “Come on Po, don't tell me that you’re already tapped out.”
“No I just – never mind. Let's go to the next house.”
The second house was a mind meld of illusions. The three of them crossed a draw bridge that moved with a screen that spun with all kinds of colors that made you feel like you were moving in all directions. The sides were lined with foam blocks in case you fell. Leave it to Fern to be the one to fall backwards, laughing and bringing Po with her. Po reached out for something to keep himself up and narrowly missed the railing half grabbing at Gam who had almost ended up as collateral.
They all laughed, even Po as he monetarily forgot where they were. The second house had almost no actors besides the occasional ghost or clown guide with the shriek of laughter floating through occasionally. The second one wasn't much of a scare compared to the first one; it was more focused on keeping you on edge. It made you anxious to pass each door and round every corner waiting for the next scare.
Once they reached the end of the hallway they heard the rev of a chainsaw. Without looking back the three looped arms and ran like their lives depended on it, and in Po’s mind it did. He was ahead and pulled the two women by their hands, nearly toppling them over when they reached the outside porch that dipped off into a steep ramp.
He stumbled as their speed picked up at the decline. He managed to keep them all up right despite that and turned around hands on his hips, breathing coming out in heavy pants with a victorious smirk on his face. “Take that chainsaw douche.”
Baifern and Gam giggled at him. Gam took the opportunity to mess with him. “Po.” She gasped, hands flying up to her mouth and eyes blown wide. She shakily pointed behind him. “He’s – he’s”, her voice trembled. Po felt his body lock up but pushed through it to run behind the girls with a scream leaving his mouth.
Once he was behind them he peeked and didn't see anyone. Gam and Baifern were doubled over breathlessly laughing. Gam managed a couple words through her tears. “He’s not behind you!”
Po rolled his eyes and huffed in annoyance. “Maybe if you acted that well in the school play you would've gotten the lead.”
She wiped at her eyes and stood up straight. “You’re bringing up high school? You must really be mad. Besides we both know that Mrs. Never Pleased wasn’t ever going to let me have the lead regardless of how well I did.”
Baifern tried to speak through her hiccups. “Ye–ah. She was – me–an.”
“Whatever. Let's just go to the next one.”
Then came the shed of doom. It had white walls with white sheets pinned to them and a bright white light flashing bouncing off all the white as sirens blared all around you. It was overwhelming and designed to make you feel trapped and scared. After what seemed like 5 minutes but was probably only two a worker decided to step in and help guide them out.
They had missed the exit that was only a step to their left in all their panic. Once outside of the blinding white shed they took a seat at a nearby bench letting their minds settle. They all took a bathroom break and rehydrated before entering the maze Baifern had been vibrating with excitement about.
[*****]
Po, Baifern and Gam stood at the entrance of the maze. Po stood there arms crossed trying his best to fake nonchalance even after passing out and screaming in terror up until this point. Baifern looked like a kid in a candy store and Gam seemed intrigued but ready for disappointment.
Baifern nudged Po’s shoulder with her eyebrows raised and a sly smile. “You know you don't have to act like this isn't scary to you in front of friends right?”
“Friends wouldn't drag me to haunted houses knowing I hate scary things.” He replied dryly.
“Oh come on. This isn't scary at all! It's just a maze. They already brought the real scares when we first came in. This is just a wind down puzzle game.” Gam yelled, already moving into the hedge of corn stalks.
“Wind down and puzzle games do not belong in the same sentence.” Po argued.
Neither had returned his snide remark. Baifern tugged at Po’s arm and he reluctantly followed. It was either he would be dragged along or stall everyone else's turn and he wasn't good with confrontation. And truth be told he was ready to go home the moment that cannibal doctor reached out to touch his face in the second haunted house.
They had managed to get through the first puzzle game no problem. They just had to match some cards to solve a riddle to unlock a box that held a keycard that buzzed them through a gate into the next part.
They had just entered when Po nearly fell face first into the dirt. He'd caught himself on something hard and cold that felt like metal. When he looked up his breath got stuck in his throat but the horror was written on his face. He had saved himself by holding onto a creepy skeleton clown that had glowing eyes and a dripping red mouth.
His scream was stuck in his throat and his body locked up with fear. The two ahead of him noticed his silence and turned to see him hugging the animatronic. Gam belly laughed and Baifern screeched with amusement. She pulled out her phone and took a picture. “Oh this is so going in my Halloween 2025 post!”
A voice cut through Po’s paralyzing fear and startled him back to reality.
“Cute.”
“Fern, did you hear that?” But she was too busy fussing over the detailing in the props after screaming at being jump scared by them to notice him.
“It was this animatronic. It looks like they rigged it to a microphone or speaker of some sort. Someone's probably got a crush in the control booth.” Gam winked.
Po nodded, still reluctant to accept that as the truth but not wanting to ruin the mood. They had gotten past the creepy animatronic section successfully–if you count them screaming in a mix of excitement and slight fear with Po crying as success.
They'd come upon a gate that was locked. Upon closer inspection they realized the lock had an octagon shaped keyhole. They looked at each other in confusion. Po jiggled the creaking metal but it didn't budge.
“Okay I guess we actually need to find the key if we want to leave this section.” Gam commented, sounding a bit bored.
Fern jumped up and down excitedly clapping her hands. “This is amazing! I can't believe a traveling crew put this much care and structure into a maze.”
Po rolled his eyes trying his best not to show how nervous he still was. “Let's just look for the key and get moving before another group comes up.”
They began to scour the surrounding area looking for anything resembling a key. They overturned rocks, plastic pumpkins and Baifern even dug a small hole saying it just felt right.
“I don't know what that says about you that you were so ready and willing to dig a hole without being prompted.”
“It's called being prepared, Po. All those horror movie marathons have taught you nothing. I'm actually disappointed.”
“Guys.” Gam cut in. Thinking she was about to lecture them again they both prepared their own arguments fixing their lips to plead their case when Gam turned holding a small box.
Po went stiff. “What's that?”
Baifern rolled her eyes. “Obviously it's the key.”
“Fern. I will trip you if we get chased again.”
“How do you suppose you'll do that when you’re passed out on the ground covering our escape?” She said pointing between herself and Gam who was already over there arguing.
“GUYS! Come on, I just found the key, let's open the gate and GO.” Gam was already at the gate twisting the key in the lock. Once they passed through the gate a thick and heavy fog blanketed them.
“Okay this is entirely too much fog to be natural.” Gam said, eyeing the brush.
“What are you looking for? The door to Narnia?” Po snarked.
“No, Princess. Don't you smell that chemically sweet smell?”
“Yeah, what about it?” Po asked.
“It's a dead giveaway that there's a fog machine.”
Baifern laughed. “Okay women in stem. She smells the chemicals and goes sniffing around like a bloodhound to find the source. Hot.”
“I'm always hot for you.” Gam winked.
Po made a fake gagging noise. “If you two are done flirting I'd like to get out of here before the ground swallows us up.”
“You're so dramatic, Po.”
Gam stopped suddenly. “Found it!” She tapped the ground with her foot and when the other two looked they saw the cylinder poking out enough to be seen spewing smoke.
The trio trudged forward completing the puzzles with ease but the fog kept getting thicker and thicker making it hard to see their own hands.
“Stick close, we don't need to get lost and hold everyone else up. Looking at you, Po.”
Po had stopped to stare at an animatronic that looked a little too realistic. “Worry about yourself, Fern. You need glasses to see past your elbows.” He shot out.
He could hear them laughing but it sounded distant. Too distant for how close Baifern had sounded when she last spoke. When he looked to where they should have been in front of him all he saw was fog.
“Fern? P’Gam?” No answer. He tried again.
“Guys this isn't funny. If you can hear me, answer me!”
Suddenly a voice that sounded like it was right behind him spoke in a low whisper.
“Go right at the fork up ahead.”
A disembodied voice was the last thing he wanted to trust but seeing as he had no idea where he was going he listened. To his surprise he quickly came upon a divided path that led him to an opening with four more paths to choose from.
He wasn't sure which way to go because unlike the other clearings there was no hint or riddle to solve. Just four paths cleared with no indication of which was the right one. For a carnival corn maze this was proving to be entirely too difficult. Just as he decided to head down the path farthest to the left the stalks shook. He tensed while stepping close enough he could see it was blocked.
“It's like they were telling me ‘Don’t go there.’” He joked trying to ease his own tension when he heard a laugh come from behind him.
“Do you always talk to yourself when you're scared?”
Po whipped around so fast he felt dizzy. “Who's there?”
A shadow emerged from the thickened fog. Po stepped back instinctively but quickly realized there was nowhere to go. The figure stopped a few feet away, close enough to see how built they were but not quite close enough to make out any facial features. It appeared that they melted into the shadows like they were a part of them and not just shrouded in the night.
Before they could get a word out Po booked it down the nearest clearing he could, hoping and praying to every deity he could that he wasn't murdered in the corn maze. He came upon another opening after tirelessly sprinting for a good while, longer than he'd like to have run if he were honest.
This clearing didn't have any open paths. It was walled all the way around with stalks. There were no wires and no decorations. Not even a sign with a bat or a ghost saying ‘Got You!’. He turned to go back but as he did he saw that the opening he'd just come out of was no longer there. He spun in a circle confused and scared, his breathing becoming ragged and shallow. The only solace he had was that the person in the shadows hadn't followed him.
He closed his eyes and rubbed his face hard hoping he was just scaring himself. The fog was dense and the clouds had hidden the little light the look offered. He peeked with one eye open turning 180 degrees one way then completing a full 360 with no opening in sight. He began to actually panic then. His body trembled with fear as he kept turning, seeing nothing but green whiz past his eyes in a blur.
A soft voice broke through his panic. “Hey, it's okay. We'll find a way out.”
Po stopped, eyes blurry with tears and his cheeks stained red as he turned to find the source of the voice. The fog was still too dense to actually see anything but he could make out an outline. It looked like the same one from earlier when he'd initially ran.
“You!” He exclaimed while trying to retreat again. He knew there was nowhere he could go but that didn't stop his terrified mind from telling his body to bolt.
The figure put a hand up. “There's no need to run. Again.” The man said as he put his hand to the back of his neck. “I got separated from my friends and I happened to hear you talking to yourself earlier. I promise I'm not a weirdo.”
Po crossed his arms against his chest and popped his hip out. “You're not gonna apologize for scaring me?”
The stranger stepped forward with the fog clearing around him. The clouds parted and the moon broke through giving the man a glow. The glow looked unnatural, too bright and only bathed him in its light.
As soon as Po could make out his features he saw just how handsome he was. High cheekbones, full lips, strong jawline and beautiful amber eyes that had a faint glow to them that didn't appear to come from the moonlight.
The stranger was smirking at him in a playful way that made Po’s heart race. His stance faltered. Po cleared his throat and shifted his other hip forward. “Well?”
The man laughed. “Alright, alright. I'm sorry, okay? I really didn't mean to scare you. I just thought it was cute how you were mumbling to yourself.”
Po titled his head, a playful smile on his face. “Trying to win brownie points by stating the obvious?”
Now the strange beautiful man laughed so hard his shoulders shook. “Cute, funny and sassy. I bet you're a handful when you're not scared.”
Po was taken aback. This man had the audacity to compliment him and make jokes like they were friends. He couldn't let him have the upper hand. “Do you make it a habit to flirt with everyone you meet when you're lost in a corn maze?”
“Only the really pretty ones.” The man smiled while tilting his head. His eyes roamed over Po in a way that was far too intimate for them having just met. They raked over his neck, pausing at his chest as a sly smirk crept onto his face.
“So you get lost in these often?” Po questioned with a raised brow.
“Mm. No.” The stranger shook his head while smiling. “But I figured that sounded better than the real answer.”
“I’d say it's definitely more cocky.”
“Maybe.” He answered completely unashamed.
His glowing amber eyes slowly slid down stopping at Po’s waist as the smirk grew larger before finally landing on his thighs. The pants Po was wearing had holes in them and through the light from the moon the tiny holes and thin stringy fabric could be seen strapped to his legs.
“Are you wearing fishnets?” There was a playful tilt to the man's voice that made Po shiver.
“I'm also wearing a baby tee. Congratulations on being able to see, I guess. Are you done undressing me with your eyes now?”
Po had always feigned bravery when his whole body was lit up with nerves. It was like a shield. But that shield would turn to putty the minute he was faced with anything remotely terrifying, like this stranger trying anything with him.
“For now. Should we look for a way out?” The man teased.
Po rolled his eyes and bit back a smile. “Unless you'd like to stay in here all night.”
“If it's with you I wouldn't mind.”
“Okay, Romeo. Let's calm down and find the exit before we go making up romantic scenarios, yeah?”
As the two walked around the edges of the corn stalks the fog dissipated in the surrounding area effectively clearing the way for them. The moonlight lent them its light and Po could see there were in fact other pathways. Maybe he had been too scared plus the fog and smoke were mingling together making it harder to see anything.
Po cleared his throat, willing those thoughts away, or at least tried to. “Since we're stuck in this together shouldn't you at least tell me your name?”
The man laughed. “As long as you promise not to curse me.”
Po shrugged. “Can't make promises I'm not going to keep.”
“I'll take that chance. I’m Thame.”
“Po.” He turned to face Thame, who was already looking at him.
“Something on my face?”
“Nothing. Just admiring.”
Po’s cheeks turned crimson. He looked away and muttered under his breath. “Let's just find the path so we can find our friends.”
“Found it.” He called
“There's no way you found it right after I said that.”
“What can I say? I'm just that good.” Thame shrugged.
As the two walked side by side down the path Po could feel Thame’s bodily warmth pressing against his arm. It was nice. The cold air had grown colder as the night grew later. He shivered when a gust of wind shot through.
Without a word Thame had already shook off his coat and began to drape it around Po. Startled by the sudden warmth and weight that hit his back Po craned his neck to look at Thame who was casually looking ahead like he didn't just do what he did.
“Are you not cold, Thame?”
“No. I was getting a little hot so it all worked out.”
“Thank you.” He mumbled pulling the coat tighter around his body and inhaling Thames’ scent. It smelled of wood mixed with an aroma of pepper and a hint of vanilla.
The path had led them to a makeshift tunnel. The letters on the front read ‘Portal to Nowhere, Somewhere and Anywhere’ and right below it another one read ‘use at your own risk!’.
The tunnel was so dark that Po couldn't see anything inside of it. He felt around on the wall and to his surprise it was mostly solid with very little give. He clicked his tongue. “It's pretty solid for a one month setup.”
Thame chuckled. “Seems like they take pride in what they do.”
“Yeah. Honestly even the houses were really well done. I can appreciate that even if I am sca –.” Po stopped short hoping Thame wouldn't tease him.
“Even if you don't admit it, I know. Why else would you have sprinted away from me?”
Po remained silently staring ahead, ears red, as they crossed the threshold into the tunnel. Thame didn't take offense to it. He knew Po was just a bit flustered. Once inside, the darkness was quickly replaced with light. Fixtures that resembled torches lined the walls, lighting the way for them.
“Wow they really went all out. I respect it.” Po spun in a circle taking it all in.
“Is that sarcasm?” Thame mused.
“No, I mean it. I thought this was just going to be another run of the mill corn maze but it's been so much more. I mean they put animatronics, puzzles, gates and fog machines throughout. And now this?” Po gestured to their surroundings.
“This is honestly amazing. I'm glad I came.”
“Speaking of – how did you find yourself here – I mean at this kind of place?”
“My friends invited me knowing I don't like this sort of thing saying it would be fun. I didn't have any other plans so why not, you know?”
“I hated it at first but wanted them to have fun so I stayed not wanting to spoil the fun but now–” he looked around the space, his eyes landing on Thame, “I’m glad.” A small smile pulled at the corners of his lips.
But that smile was wiped off his face the moment all the lights went off. “Oh you're shitting me.” His hands shot out in an attempt to grab something to hold onto. What he had grabbed in his panic was solid and warm beneath his touch. His fingers curled around fabric as rumbles of laughter vibrated through his palms. Then he felt a hand land lightly at his back.
“Please don't tell me I'm anywhere close to where I shouldn't be right now.” Po pleaded, hoping to keep a shred of his dignity intact.
“Well besides the hands that are gripping my chest currently, I'd say you're good.”
“Oh god.” His cheeks burned.
The lights came back on and Po jumped back releasing the hold he had on Thames’ shirt. “Sorry.”
“All good.” He smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
They kept walking after that still side by side like before but not saying much but thankfully for Po the tunnel was short and they arrived at the exit shortly after the incident.
“Oh my god you're kidding me.” Po stared open mouthed at the 6 different exits placed before them. “How are we supposed to know which one is right?” He threw his hands in the air and was about to rant when he heard Thame snicker.
“What's so funny?”
Thame froze mid laughter. His face filled with mock seriousness. “Nothing. You just panic easily.”
Po turned to face the pathways then whirled back to look at Thame in the eye. “You say that like we're not being forced to pick between six different paths with nothing to indicate which one is right!”
“Even if we pick the wrong one we can just turn back; it's not like they stretch on for miles. They'll be short and quick.”
Po eyed him suspiciously. “Are you an expert on corn mazes or something?”
“I've been to quite a few but I wouldn't say I'm an expert. I’m intermediate at best.”
Po rolled his eyes. “Okay Mr. Intermediate lead the way then.”
“Gladly.”
The first two paths were a bust. One had a sign that said ‘wrong way, turn back’ and another just ended abruptly. The third path took them a little longer to get through and there was a wooden scarecrow that popped out with a creepy laugh track that scared Po straight into Thames arms. Again.
This time Po didn't back away. He stayed pressed into Thame’s side with his hand eventually finding its way to Thame’s, interlocking them without thought. The only thing he could think of was how fast his heart was beating. Whether that was due to him being scared repeatedly or the way holding Thame’s hand felt so right to hold he wasn't sure.
They came to the end of the path where a giant fluffy spider was propped up against the stalks to look menacing. “Oh he's cute!” Po exclaimed, rubbing one of the legs. He turned to see Thames' stunned face.
“What? Are you scared of spiders?”
“No but I thought you would be. I mean you've been scared of everything else but you're okay with giant hairy spiders?” Thame said, sounding disappointed.
“Well he's not real.” Po said matter-of-fact.
“Neither was the scarecrow but that didn't stop you from holding my hand like it was going to snatch you away.”
“Fair. But come on this little guy is just too cute. That scarecrow looked like he'd come to life and turn me into one of his pumpkin people.”
“Pumpkin people?”
“Never mind. Let's turn around and try again.”
“Let's go down the fifth path this time. I feel like that one's right.”
Po made his way over once again pressing himself into Thames’ side. “Do you feel it in your bones like an old crone?”
Thame laughed and held out his hand for Po to hold. “Are you calling me old?”
“No. Pretty sure I'm older than you.”
“I doubt that.”
“I'm 26. I'm guessing you're possibly 21 or 22.”
“Good guess.” But Thame made no offer to correct him.
Po laughed it off. “Very mysterious of you.”
They walked hand in hand back to the same 6 pathways choosing the fifth one. This one was different. It had lights lining the footpath and a wider passageway. Even with the extra width Po didn't move from Thames’ side. And Thame didn't ask him to.
They walked and talked about their favorite snacks, go-to movies and favorite things to do in their free time. The two had a lot in common. Po hadn't thought to check his phone once to see if his friends had texted him. He'd been too busy, too consumed in Thame and his company for it to cross his mind.
He didn't know how much time had passed and when it had dawned on him to ask he realized they had come into another opening but this one was decorated. There were jack-o-lanterns of all sizes with different smiling faces lined up around the base of the corn stalks.
He saw a couple cardboard cut outs with the holes where faces were supposed to be. There was an archway that had black and orange streamers hanging from it with orange ghost shaped lights placed around the top of the archway.
The two of them took photos together on Thames phone laughing and giggling at their silly poses. As they walked through the archway Thame abruptly stopped turning to face Po. “See you next weekend.”
Po heard the way he said it. Not as a question but a statement. Like it was already a known fact that Po would return. They hadn't discussed it but the way Thame said it made it sound like they had. He didn't know what possessed him to agree knowing he hated all of this. He could have told Baifern to take someone else. But there was something alluring about Thame, something he couldn't ignore.
“Yeah. Next weekend. I'll see you then, Thame.”
Thame extended his hand. Po went in to shake it but Thame’s hand landed tenderly at the side of his neck. Po should've smacked it away and put distance between them. But the hand at his neck was warm against his cold skin and he melted into the touch.
He placed his hand over that warmth. Thame smiled. Po visibly stilled, stunned at just how beautiful he was.
“I look forward to our next meeting, Po.”
Before Po could say anything else he heard his friends' voices cut through the tension. Sharp and jarring. “PO! Po, can you hear us? Where is he? I swear he was right behind us.”
He turned in time to see them coming into the clearing. With their appearance he felt the warmth fall away from his neck leaving shivers in its wake. When they spotted him they ran to him and gave him a big hug nearly knocking him to the ground.
“PO!” They both shouted in unison.
“We thought we heard you talking. We've been looking for you for the last 10 minutes. Where do you go?” Gam asked, pulling him deeper into the hug.
Baifern began to string out apologies. “I’m so sorry. We thought you were behind us the whole time! We even heard you giggle when we got to the end. When did you disappear?”
Gam was confused as well. “Yeah I swear you were with us the whole time. I turned as we neared the end to check on you. And you were there walking with us. I mean I couldn't really see you because of the fog but who else would it have been?”
Po was absolutely bewildered. “Guys I lost you a while back.” He gestured behind him. “Thame helped me get here. I was having a slight panic attack when he found me.”
Gam raised her eyebrow. “Oh you've got jokes now, huh? Forgive us Po for we have committed the gravest of sins.” She bowed dramatically with Baifern going right along with her.
He turned expecting to see Thame but maybe being hidden by the corn stalk or pulling a prank on his friends but there was no one. He looked down and only saw one set of foot prints – his own. The fog that had dissipated had begun to come back almost as dense as before. The moon returned to the cover of clouds.
He mumbled. “That's weird.”
He turned to face his friends again. “I swear there was someone with me. Maybe he left to go find his own friends. He did say he'd lost them in the maze. Maybe they called him or something.”
“Mhm. Anyways next weekend we're tying you to us with a ribbon.”
“And adding bells to your belt loops.” Gam added.
Po smiled at the thought of seeing that mysterious handsome stranger, Thame. “Okay, enough. Let's get out of here. I'm dying to lay down after taking a hot shower.”
The two smiled back at him. “Agreed.”
They walked back to the car with all three excitedly chatting about next weekend. The two teased him about only looking forward to meeting the hot stranger who helped him only to leave without a good bye like some kind of drama. Po didn't deny it.
Po felt that same sensation he'd felt twice that night. Like someone was staring at him. He turned to look and didn't have to look hard. Not too far off stood Thame who had helped him and along with him were 4 other people. They were all staring at him. He didn't feel scared of the attention anymore, just aware. He assumed those were the friends he'd lost before finding himself in Po’s company.
Across the way Thame was watching as Po and his two friends left the parking lot. Nano was the first to speak. “So what was that all about, P’Thame?” His voice carried playfulness.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Nano gasped and slapped Thames' arm. “Come on! We all saw you thicken the fog and use the moonlight as your own personal spot light. And you even purposely scared him after telling us not to!”
“Yeah you could've just told us you wanted him to yourself, Thame.” Jun said while smirking.
Pepper and Dylan remained silent. They watched with a light amusement as Thame was teased relentlessly by the two.
“He's cute so I get it but you could've let us have fun too, Phi.” Nano pouted, batting his lashes at Thame.
“Enough.” Thames' eyes glowed when he spoke.
“Fine.” Nano huffed, crossing his arms.
“He's coming back next weekend and I expect you all to be on your best behavior when he does.” Thame said while staring Jun down, warning written in his eyes.
“You're looking at me like I actually carved him up in that room. I only wanted to mess with him. He's cute when he's scared.”
The air grew colder around the group and Thames' eyes glowed even more to the point they looked red. His head tilted to the side and his hands clenched at his sides. Sensing the growing tension Pepper stepped forward placing a hand on Thame’s shoulder. “Relax. He's just trying to rile you up because he's bored.”
Dylan snorted. “When is he not bored? He's just annoying and likes being the center of attention.”
Jun threw his arm over Dylan's shoulders pulling him close. “I'm never bored with you, baby. Maybe I just like having your attention.”
Dylan elbowed Jun in the side. “Call me baby again and I'll make sure the next jar you put in that room has a piece of you in it.”
The two began to bicker with Dylan flipping Jun off as he walked away without looking back. Jun followed like a lost puppy who wanted to win the favor of his owner again.
Pepper sighed. “Well looks like he found something to keep him busy for a while.”
Nano giggled as he disappeared leaving behind a streak of light that danced in the sky as his laughter floated through the wind.
Thames’ eyes dimmed, returning to their amber color. The two of them stood under the moonlight watching the people come and go. When the wind picked up a little harsher than it had all night the two disappeared leaving behind their own trails of light but no laughter followed, only the sound of the leaves rustling carried through the air. And a whisper meant for someone who'd already left.
“See you soon, Po.”