This wasn’t a simple bonfire set out in the middle of nowhere, it was a sprawling festival complete with large white canopy tents, entertainers, and champagne being served on silver serving trays by an all female wait staff dressed in tailed, tuxedo leotards.
Stepping farther into a party with at least a hundred people milling about, I couldn’t stop staring at the decorations.
Fire burned in glass globes in a circle around the entire open area, open flames shot high from a pit in the center. In the center of each tent, chandeliers sparkled with dangling crystals, and glimmering candles were centerpieces on the tables.
At the far end of the circle, a large platform was constructed, high enough that any person standing on it would be able to see over the entire crowd, and to the right of me there was another trail leading out into the woods that was lit on each side by torches.
Everly turned to meet my eyes, her lips pulling apart on a wide grin.
“Didn’t I tell you it would be amazing? These guys never fail to go all out.”
As Clayton stood quietly by my side, Everly scanned the crowd, her line of sight finally fixating on a tall, broad man dressed in a period styled tuxedo complete with a top hat and a red satin lined black cape, his hand carved devil mask so beautiful that it must have cost him a fortune.
“There he is. I would know Jase’s swagger anywhere.”
Waving at Clayton and me, Everly called out a quick goodbye and promised to find us later as she rushed in Jase’s direction.
Whispering, Clayton asked, “Everly has it bad for him, doesn’t she?”
Nodding my head in response, I still couldn’t make sense of the party.
As a fire breather walked past to shoot a large line of hot flames from his mouth, my eyes widened even more.
“Isn’t all of this a bit of overkill? How is any of it possible?”
Clayton laughed and led me past a group of guys talking amongst themselves.
“Money talks. And if you have enough of it, you can make anything happen. The guys like to go all out on gauntlet nights since they happen so rarely.”
He grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing tray and handed me one, his expression hidden by the mask when he tried to drink his, but realized the mask prevented it.
“I probably should have planned this better.”
Laughter bubbled over my lips before I took a sip of mine.
“Hey, it could be worse. You could be wearing a torture device that makes it impossible to take a deep breath.”
Shoving his mask up his face enough to expose his mouth, he slammed the entire glass of champagne and slipped the mask back into place.
“You want to walk around for a little while and see all the sights? I’m sure the fire breather wasn’t the only circus act they’ve hired.”
Nodding my head, I wrapped my arm in his and admired the costumes and other details of the party.
For the most part, everybody was behaving, but the night was still young. After enough alcohol was consumed, I knew things would take a turn into hedonism.
Already there were professional dancers dressed in barely there attire spinning and weaving through the crowds. On the sidelines, two stilt walkers paced back and forth, their costumes designed to make them look like massive demons. I had to hand it to whoever planned this party, it was impressive for being so excessive.
Every so often, I caught sight of a devil mask worn by several men who were as large and dominating as Tanner. They all were dressed similarly with period tuxedos, top hats and the satin lined capes.
Pointing one out to Gabriel, I asked, “I assume the men wearing the devil masks are the Inferno members, right?”
Clayton nodded.
“Yeah. I figured that out a little while ago. All their masks are the same. It looks like the entire crew is here. I feel sorry for whoever is running tonight.”
On cue to what Clayton said, a loud horn blew in the distance, the sound a low, primal bellow, like something you would hear before a war.
We turned in the direction of the sound to see three of the devil-masked men standing on the raised platform with Brad positioned in front of them. Fire burned on tall torches behind their bodies, the dance of smoke and light casting a sinister haze across the scene.
Once they had everybody’s attention, one of them spoke using a hidden microphone. I recognized the voice as Gabriel’s.
“Welcome to Hell everybody, a land of milk and honey, lustful spirits and every soulful, provocative sin you can imagine. Before the festivities really get going and we let loose to whatever debauchery gets us off, we need to honor our special guest with a toast to get him ready for the run.”
Brad was stripped of his jacket and shirt, his black slacks left on to hang off his slim hips. He wasn’t anywhere near as large as the men standing behind him, but he wasn’t out of shape either. Wearing a blank expression, he peered out over the crowd, something in his eyes telling me he was scared out of his damn mind.
Worried, I leaned over to Clayton and whispered, “What do they do to him when he runs? He looks terrified.”
Clayton whispered back, the beak of his mask rubbing against my cheek.
“Nobody knows. The rule is they’re not allowed to talk about it. Not that they want to. You think he looks bad now? Just wait to see what he looks like when he comes out. Let’s just say nobody who has made the run messes with the Inferno again. In fact, most of them keep to themselves and stop socializing at all.”
Shock tore through me.
“Then why would anybody do it?”
Shrugging a shoulder, Clayton answered, “It must have been better than whatever price was asked of him.”
Unable to understand the insanity of a group of men who sounded more horrible with every new fact I learned about them, I turned my attention back to the podium to see who I assumed was Gabriel hand a bottle a bright green liquor to Brad.
As soon as Brad tipped the bottle to his lips, the crowd roared with life, eventually chanting for him to chug.
“What is he drinking?”
It looked like antifreeze from where I was standing, bubbles of air rising up in the liquid as Brad continued swallowing it down.
“He’s drinking Absinthe. It helps get him ready for the run.”
“How so?”
Clayton chuckled.
“It has hallucinogenic effects from what I’ve heard. Either that or they spike it with something in order to fuck with whoever is running. I’ve never drank it, so I’m not sure.”
Clenching my eyes shut, I watched as Gabriel took the bottle from Brad and led him down the stairs of the platform, the devil masked men following behind them, each carrying a flamed torch.
When they reached the edge of the woods where the second trail started, they paused long enough for people to stop cheering.
The horn blew again, the sound even more ominous now that I knew what it meant.
“Brad has a ten minute head start,” Gabriel explained, the microphone ensuring that everybody could hear his voice.
Turning to Brad, he said, “Run fast, little rabbit, because when you hear the horn blow again, your time has run out, and the first round of devils begin their chase.”
Brad didn’t hesitate to take off down the trail, his figure disappearing in shadows almost immediately.
Within seconds the music started again and everybody went back to talking amongst themselves and enjoying the party, none of them reacting to what happened as if it was disgusting or out of the ordinary.