Kill Switch (Devil's Night 3)

I checked the dagger in my breast pocket, making sure it was tucked tight, and mounted the motorcycle next to Michael’s. I wasn’t sure why I brought the knife, but we had a history. Why not?

“Get on, girl,” I heard Will say. “Come on.”

I looked over my shoulder, spotting Alex grinning and shaking her head as she swung over the bike, sitting behind him.

Kai and Banks took the fourth motorcycle, while Lev and David backed us up in Michael’s G-Class.

Rika and Winter came out, Winter holding Rika’s arm as she led her over to me. I took Winter’s hand as she felt for the seat with the other one.

I smiled. She wore a blindfold of sheer red fabric. I could still see her eyes, but it was the perfect mask, because it didn’t hinder her other senses that she used to see the world.

“You know what you gotta do?” I asked.

She climbed on, wearing a small backpack. “Just tell me when.”

She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I unhooked my mask from my wrist, pulling it over the top of my head.

I looked over at Michael, Rika already situated behind him and pulling on her mask. “Your father will be there, too,” I warned him.

He laughed to himself, turning on the bike and revving the engine.

“First thing’s first,” he called out.

We all pulled down our masks, gripped the handles, and took off.

Damn straight.

It was the perfect setting.

Public space. No kids. Chaos and activity.

It seemed, in the past few years, that absence had made the heart grow fonder, and the town of Thunder Bay decided to institute some Mischief Night activities of their own, apparently lamenting the loss of the horsemen.

Earlier in the evening there was a Halloween parade with a carnival for the kids, but after ten, the curfew went into effect, and anyone under sixteen had to be indoors.

To let the adults play.

Bands set up in a couple pubs, drinks were served on the street, and the entire village square was like one dark, gothic circus with vendors, games, artists, and performers. Decorations hung from everything nailed down, people wore costumes, and masks were heavily encouraged, rumors even of naughtier get-togethers happening privately or by invitation only. The event had even started to attract some people from neighboring towns, too.

It was all very…cute.

Not bad if you wanted to hang out with some friends for a beer, but this wasn’t the real Devil’s Night. These people wore their black as a costume.

For us, the costume was coming off.

We stopped at the light, the village center ahead, and cast each other a look for any last-minute questions.

Arrive. Distract. Invade.

That was the plan.

I tipped my mask up, looking over my shoulder at Winter.

“You ready?”

“Like a bowling ball,” she repeated Rika’s instructions for her part tonight.

I felt her move the backpack between us, so she could reach inside easier.