The trip to Dreamscape Amusement Park was anything but serene. Windsor Middle School's 8th graders had been abuzz with this field trip for months—a final, glorious night of fun before they bid farewell to middle school.
Ethan Carter sat in the second row, huddled against the glass, watching the city's lighted skyline blur past. His heart pounded, but not because he was looking forward to the rides. It was her.
Lena Rivera.
His girlfriend. Alright, sure, they'd technically been together for two weeks, but it was still in a dream. He'd lusted after her all of 8th grade, and now, for the first time ever, they were going to share a whole night together, no parents, no teachers (okay, mostly), just the two of them at the most coolest place ever.
On the other side of the street, Mason Bishop and Jayden Lee, his two best friends since grade school, were having a heated debate over what ride they would hit first.
"Come on, guy, Nightmare Plunge is by far the best ride," Jayden described, rolling his eyes. "You drop six stories straight down, and the floor actually drops away from you."
Mason, linebackery big and with a hunger for three people total, head-shook. "No way. Warp Coaster X is the route. Triple loop, spin through zero gravity, and you're a-sail in mid-air upside-down for twenty seconds."
Ethan smiled and glanced at his phone. Lena had texted him.
Lena: Where r u sitting?
He replied shortly.
Ethan: Middle row. U?
A second passed, and he saw movement in the direction of the front of the bus. A dark-haired girl with a high ponytail turned to face him, smiled, and waved. Lena.
Ethan's cheeks flushed as he returned the wave.
Jayden grinned. "Man, I still can't get over that you and Lena are really dating."
Mason nudged Ethan with his elbow. "Don't mess it up, dude. You're the first in our friend group to get a girlfriend. You're setting the example."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "Relax, guys. Tonight is going to be perfect."
---
Dreamscape Amusement Park – 9:30 PM
The park was packed with 8th graders from different schools, all looking forward to the Grad Bash party. Dreamscape was among the most visited amusement parks in the country, with its massive twisted roller coasters, horror house rides, and sci-fi attractions.
The moment the students were let out, chaos erupted. Mason and Jayden ran ahead to the roller coasters, but Ethan fell behind, waiting for Lena.
When she finally caught up to him, she was a vision under the flashing neon lights, wearing a plain hoodie and jeans but somehow managing to make them look effortlessly perfect.
"So," she elbowed him with a smile, "what ride do we do first, boyfriend?"
Ethan wasn't quite ready for her to call him that yet. "Uh, can we do something mellow first? Neon Rapids, perhaps?"
Lena glared at him. "That's a water ride. It's like, 50 degrees out."
"Oh. Oh, I see.".
She chuckled and grasped his hand. "Hey, let's do Spectral Manor. I wanna hear you scream."
---
10:15 PM – In Spectral Manor
Spectral Manor was the most frightening haunted house in the park, set up as a Victorian mansion with hologram ghosts, spooky animatronics, and hidden doors that led to plummeting falls.
As they walked down the dark hallways, Lena grasped Ethan's arm, though he thought she wasn't scared—just an excuse to be close to him.
Halfway through, they reached a room filled with life-like mannequins dressed in 1800s aristocracy.
"I hate these monstrosities," Ethan complained.
Lena smiled. "What, one of the scarecrows is gonna jump out and get you?"
Then, without warning—
One of the mannequins twitched.
Lena gasped. Ethan leapt back, heart pounding, but the moment he blinked, the figure froze once more.
"The hell…?"
Lena dragged him down the next corridor. "Nope. Nope. I don't care if it's animatronic or some creepy guy in a costume. We're getting out of here."
Ethan concurred.
As they left the ride, he looked back at the room of mannequins. Just for a moment.
One of them was still looking at him.
---
11:50 PM – Ferris Wheel
It was just one of those nights. They had fought every thrill ride, eaten funnel cake to the point of being sick, and were now sitting together on the massive Ferris wheel, looking down at the entire park.
Parks blazed with neon light below them, the screams and roars of roller coasters and far-off voices of joy echoing through the air.
Lena rested on his shoulder. "This night was worth it."
Ethan smiled. "Told you."
She shook her head. "You're nervous about high school?"
Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "A little. Everything's happening so fast. Feels like we just started middle school, and now that's done too."
Lena looked up at him. "Promise me something?"
"Yeah?"
"No matter what comes our way next year… we won't change."
Ethan's chest tightened. It was something he desperately wanted to promise.
"I promise."
The Ferris wheel topped, and when it halted, they leaned in—
Then.
There was a deafening boom on the other side of the park.
The entire Ferris wheel jerked.
Ethan and Lena's eyes widened as black vans came screeching into the park entrance.
Masked men spilled out, hurrying.
A wave of blind panic rolled over the crowds as people started screaming.
Then, from the intercom, a mangled voice
"Shut up, kids. Some of you are coming with us. Don't make it hard. It'll be easier that way."
Lena's grip around Ethan tightened.
"Ethan," she whispered. "What is it?"
Ethan had no clue.
But deep in the recesses of his mind, he already did.
Tonight wasn't ending with a kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel.
Tonight was going to become a nightmare.