Page 14 of Rattle the Cage

His eyes bugged out at the assertion. I could try reasoning with him, but I had a feeling that hearing about Feverpoint’s Freaks and what I was about to do with them wouldn’t be anyone else’s idea of “safe.”

But I also knew that the Freaks wouldn’t hurt me.

Two of them, anyway.

He shook his head from the driver’s seat. “This whole town’s going batty.” Then, to my relief, he shifted gears and began to drive.

Shouldn’t make much of a difference to him, at the end of the day. After all, a fare is a fare.

I settled into the backseat, picking at the hem of my sleeve while my gaze drifted out the window. From the cab’s tinny old radio, some 1950’s doo-wop played. Each line crackled like it was broadcast directly from a dusty record player.

The air in the cab was tense, but my breathing was steady. As we drew closer to the park, trees began to rise from the landscape like claws closing in. The mountains rose over the horizon like the teeth of some great beast. And the shadows of early evening deepened, caressing my window like they wanted me to come play.

But the woods didn’t scare me anymore. Not once I realized the real monsters were penned up inside of the park.

Before long, there was nothing but our headlights and the wide, empty road that fed into Feverpoint. With each mile that passed, the cabbie grew more anxious, a cold sweat building at his temple until his headlights hit the wide open gates of the park.

His face paled as he stammered for words. “They… They say there are ghosts here. Do you⁠—?”

He turned over his shoulder to look at me before returning his eyes to the road. Before passing through the gates, he hit the brakes and threw the car into park. “Listen, are you sure you don’t want me to turn around? I’ll turn off the meter, I’ll drive you out of here free of charge.”

“That’s alright.” I shook my head, eyes fixed on the gate through the front windshield. Passing a stack of cash to his open palm, I offered him a curt smile. “Here’s good. Thank you.”

Before he could plead with me again, I grabbed my bag and tossed open the door, slipping out into the chilly night air. The only ghosts I had to worry about here were from my past. And I was done running from them.

He didn’t waste much time reversing the car, making a three point turn, and peeling down the road as fast as the old cab would take him.

I, on the other hand, just stood by the gate for a moment, taking it in. It was open, just like they’d promised.

My heart thrummed at the sight of the mist curling from the entryway. It was like Feverpoint itself was welcoming me home.

Only this time, I wouldn’t be staying. Just long enough to get my money. By dawn, I hoped to have seen the last of this place and its keepers.

Rolling back my shoulders, I pulled in a deep breath and hardened my resolve. Then, I tossed my bag down at the edge of the gate and marched back into Feverpoint.

Hopefully I’m not too late for one last freak show.

9

CYRUS

The carousel, the lake, the hole in the western fence: the camera feeds looped through a supercut of monotony, paying extra care to the spots that reminded me the most of Tess.

My fucking penance.

Still, I didn’t dare look away from the cameras. Against all reason, a part of me was convinced that she would show her face tonight. Nothing around here seemed to follow logic lately, so why should Tess be any exception?

Taking another sip of my coffee, I scrubbed a palm over my tired eyes.

I’d come up here to avoid the tense vibe that had filled the apartment since Tess’ departure. The three of us had had our disagreements before, but nothing that didn’t blow over in a week. Nothing like this.

I wasn’t sure that Blade and Nash would ever forgive me for breaking our sacred oath, for driving away their precious little treasure. Her face flashed in my mind — her stubborn resolve cracking like glass under the weight of my accusation that last night.

I wasn’t sure I’d forgive myself either.

But as always, the thought of Tess invited hot, righteous anger along with sorrow.

I could still see the tight set of her shoulders as she stormed away from Feverpoint and out of my life. How brave she tried to look as she threw herself to Rubin’s wolf pack.