Chapter 67: Wrong. Victims.
CRACK—!
A sickening thud echoed through the mirror maze, drowning out even Maria's scream.
The thick wooden beam, swung with everything she had, connected squarely with the back of the killer's skull.
The beam snapped in two, splinters flying everywhere. The killer's forward momentum stopped dead, and the boning knife clattered from his hand.
He didn't fall immediately. Instead, he slowly, stiffly, turned around.
That grotesque leather mask faced Maria, the eyes behind it radiating disbelief.
Maria's legs gave out and she collapsed, the broken beam rolling from her grip.
She'd used every ounce of courage she had—now only terror and shaking remained.
She'd done it, but now what? The killer just shook his head, seemingly unfazed by what should've been a fatal blow, but thoroughly pissed off.
He let out an animalistic growl, abandoning Jennifer completely, and walked step by step toward the cowering Maria like he wanted to rip her apart.
"Hey. I'm still here." Jennifer's cold voice cut through the air.
The moment the killer turned on Maria, she moved.
The succubus's speed maxed out in the confined space—she was like a red lightning bolt, closing the distance instantly.
Before he could react, Jennifer's elbow slammed into his lower back, right on the kidney.
"UGH!" The killer let out a choked grunt, his body curling like a shrimp from the pain.
Jennifer gave him zero time to recover, delivering a brutal chop to the back of his neck.
This time, the killer couldn't stay standing. His massive body crashed to the floor, completely unconscious.
"Damn, tough bastard." Jennifer shook out her slightly numb hand, then walked over to Maria, extending her hand with an approving smile. "Nice work, little ghost. That was pretty badass."
Maria stared at her, then at the unconscious killer on the ground, and tears finally spilled over.
But this time it wasn't from fear—it was from a complicated mix of adrenaline and lingering terror.
She grabbed Jennifer's hand and used it to stand, her body still trembling. "I... I actually hit him..."
"Yeah, you did. And you saved both our asses." Jennifer steadied her, voice firm.
In the mirror, Alan's reflection appeared briefly, arms crossed, a faint smile on her lips. She said nothing, just nodded once before fading away.
"What... what do we do now?" Maria asked, staring at the unconscious killer.
"Obviously, we go find Edward and the others." Jennifer grabbed some rope from nearby and expertly tied the killer's hands behind his back.
When she finished, she took Maria's hand. "Come on. Don't worry—I've got the rest."
Meanwhile, in the Axe Corridor...
When the killer in the metal mask smashed the master control, the entire corridor transformed into hell.
Dozens of axes went haywire, swinging at insane speeds and angles. The grinding screech of metal-on-metal and the whistling of displaced air created a symphony of death.
Carrie's face went white.
The tiny bit of confidence she'd just built up crumbled in the face of this mechanical nightmare.
The killer's figure weaved through the chaotic blade-forest like a demon from hell, raising his sledgehammer high. His target was clear—Carrie, who stood closest.
Edward stood behind Carrie, expression calm. He didn't act immediately.
He could feel the power inside Carrie boiling again from extreme fear. This was an opportunity—a chance for her to fully transform. If she couldn't do it, he was 100% confident he could save her before that hammer fell.
But he believed in her.
"AAHHH—!" Carrie screamed, but this time her scream contained more than fear—there was rage and refusal in it.
Why?! Why does this keep happening to me?! I'm DONE being scared!
An unprecedented surge of telekinetic power erupted from her body, forming an invisible shockwave!
BUZZ—!
Every mechanical device in the corridor seemed to hit pause.
The wildly swinging axes froze eerily in midair—some blade-edges only inches from Carrie's hair.
The killer, hammer raised high, mid-strike, also froze in that position, held by invisible force, unable to move.
Time seemed to stop completely.
Carrie gasped for breath, sweat soaking her hair.
She extended her hands toward the motionless "forest of death" before her. She could feel it—all this cold steel was under her control.
"Perfect, Carrie." Edward's voice came from behind her like an anchor. "Now make him eat what he's been serving."
Hearing Edward's words, Carrie's eyes hardened with determination.
She looked at the frozen killer, something sharp flashing in her gaze.
She jerked her hand!
The heavy sledgehammer yanked itself from the killer's grip, arced strangely through the air, then came down with thunderous force on the killer's own knee!
CRACK!
The bone-breaking sound was nauseating.
The killer let out an inhuman shriek, and the telekinetic hold vanished. He crashed to the ground, clutching his ruined leg, writhing in agony.
But Carrie wasn't done.
Her other hand swept sideways.
One of the suspended axes—closest to the killer—suddenly changed direction. Not the blade—the heavy blunt back of it slammed into his chest.
WHAM!
The killer coughed blood, his body convulsed twice, and he went completely limp.
After all that, Carrie felt like every ounce of strength had drained from her. She swayed, almost collapsing.
Edward stepped forward quickly, steadying her shoulder. "See? You're way stronger than you think."
Carrie leaned against Edward, staring at her hands—exhausted but also feeling something new: relief and confidence.
She'd done it. By her own power, she'd taken down a monster.
Edward walked over to the unconscious killer and crouched down to examine him. This guy's physical conditioning was way beyond normal—those two hits would've killed an average person, but he was just severely injured and unconscious.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
Jennifer emerged from the mirror maze exit, pulling Maria along. "Looks like you had fun over here too." Jennifer whistled, taking in the destroyed corridor and the crumpled killer.
Edward stood. "You ran into one too?"
"One with a knife, skinnier than this guy." Jennifer jerked her thumb behind her. "Our little ghost ambushed him and knocked him out. He's tied up back there."
Ten minutes later, guided by Jennifer, they'd dragged both unconscious killers into one spot and bound them securely.
Edward pulled out his phone.
He calmly dialed 911.
"Yeah, hi. 'House of Ultimate Terror' on West Elm Street. You've got two actual murderers here."
"Yeah, alive."
"They've been subdued. No danger now."
He hung up casually, like he'd just ordered pizza.
Edward turned to the others. "I'll handle this. Jennifer, take Carrie and Maria home."
"They need rest, not an all-night interrogation at the precinct."
"What about you?" Jennifer frowned—she didn't want to leave Edward here alone.
"Me?" Edward smiled, gesturing at the two unconscious assholes on the ground. "I gotta stay and explain to the cops exactly what happened with these two 'dedicated employees.'"
Jennifer studied him, then nodded.
She walked over, stood on her toes, and breathed softly in his ear in a voice only he could hear:
"Master, don't be too late."
With that, she pulled the still-dazed Carrie and Maria away.
Leaving Edward alone, standing next to the two real monsters, quietly waiting for the approaching sirens.
Later, at Springwood PD...
Lieutenant Thompson rubbed his temples as he reviewed the reports.
Two serial killers. Using a commercial haunted house as their hunting ground. Had already murdered three people before tonight.
And they'd been taken down by four teenagers—two of them high school girls.
One killer with a shattered knee and broken ribs.
The other with a concussion and possible spinal damage.
Both still unconscious in County General's secure ward.
"Lieutenant?" An officer poked his head in. "That kid Edward's still in Interview Room 2. You want me to cut him loose?"
Donald looked at the file in front of him. Edward Connor. Same kid who'd somehow been involved in resolving the Elm Street incidents a few weeks back.
"Yeah," Donald said tiredly. "Let him go. And Thompson?"
"Sir?"
"Make sure he gets a proper thank you on the way out. Those kids probably saved a dozen lives tonight."
The officer nodded and disappeared.
Donald looked at the Halloween decorations still hanging in the precinct and shook his head.
Some holiday, he thought darkly. Some goddamn holiday.
But at least this time, the monsters had picked the wrong victims.
And that, at least, was something to be thankful for.
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