You don’t even remember agreeing to play this year.

But the game of “Slasher tag”—which was basically an adrenaline filled game of hide and seek where you get chased by a couple people dressed as legendary horror villains—had become the main event at your friends yearly halloween party.

One minute you were sipping your drink, the next someone was screaming “GO!” and the lights cut out—and your survival instincts immediately kicked in.

And now here you are, barefoot on the upper floor of a mansion you’ve only half-memorized, and your heartbeat pounding loud in your ears.

The game isn’t necessarily supposed to be scary. Fake killers. Fake weapons. Fake blood.

It’s the chase that’s scary.

Especially with Martin in the game.

You know he’s one of the slashers this year—you knew the moment the lights went out and someone in a ghostface mask started following only you.

You should’ve seen it coming.

This is the same guy who calls you princess with just enough mockery to make it hot, who kisses your neck when he’s bored, who shows up at your door with weed and leaves with his handprints all over your thighs.

You’re not dating. You’re just…involved. Confusingly.

You duck into a side room—one of the few rooms off limits. Door locked. Lights off.

Everything is still for a minute. Then the creak of the door slowly being opened breaks the silence.

You locked it, you swear you did.

And there he was, Martin, hidden under a ghost face mask, wielding a fake knife.

You bolted for the bathroom without thinking, but he was faster.

His free hand caught your waist, dragging you back. You froze, letting him think you’d given in, but the second his grip loosened, you twisted out of his hold and took off again.

“Oh so you wanna play psycho killer?” Martin chuckled darkly under the mask.

Suddenly you were on the ground, wrists pinned by Martin’s free hand, as he straddled your hips, he yanked the mask off before holding the fake knife at your neck.

“Gotcha,” he said, voice muffled by panting but still maddeningly smug. “Told you to run fast.”