"Cuts": A Halloween Horror Story

Cuts

 The lighter ignited and a tongue of flame licked out.  Nolan sucked in through the pipe, drawing the flame down into the bowl, then releasing the lighter's fork, cutting off the flame. Smoke from the burning weed in the bowl streamed into his lungs.  He lowered the pipe and sat for a moment, eyes closed, holding the smoke in his lungs before opening his mouth and expelling it in a long, satisfied breath.

"See," said Jason from the driver's seat, "aren't you glad you didn't drive now? You can sit back and smoke."

"Not that I had a choice, since my 'vette got stolen." Nolan took another long hit.  "This is some good shit," he said, reaching forward to pass the pipe to the front seat. "Hit this." He tapped Dara, who was sitting on the passenger side, on the shoulder.  She reached back to take the pipe and lighter from him. He tried to let their fingers touch a bit longer, but she pulled away.

"Hey dumbass," Jason said, his short brown hair, wide forehead and square jaw appearing in the rear view mirror. "Where is this place?"

Nolan looked down at his phone, bringing up Google Maps. "It's on around the valley, it's like a farm house or a ranch house or something."

"This is like the middle of nowhere, dude." Jason kept one hand on the steering wheel while one hand strayed across the seat to rub Dara's leg.

"I know, that's what makes it such a great party house.  No one around to call the cops. Chillax, it's gonna be off the fuckin' chain."

"Nobody says 'chillax' anymore, if they ever did."

"That's why I like it." Nolan grinned.

"You're an idiot."

Dara reached down to pull Jason's hand off her leg, setting it down between them. She straightened the tight black skirt around her legs.

"What's your problem?" Jason asked.

"Nothing."  She reached out a hand with the pipe and lighter.  "Here."

"You didn't hit it," he said.

"I don't feel like it."

"You been acting weird all day." He took the pipe and lighter from her.

Jason's silver Trans Am bounced its way over several potholes as they made their way around the valley on Farm Road 2.  To their right the hill sloped away into the forest, trees stretching away into the mist.  It was approaching dusk, and a fog had settled over the valley, obscuring the miles of forest that ran off into the distance.

Nolan leaned forward, his long blonde hair draping over the seat.  "Hey, up here on the right there's a short cut."

"What short cut?" Jason took a long pull off the pipe while Dara held the wheel.

"An old dirt road.  Cuts across the valley and connects with F.M.2 on the other side.  It's up here...you can turn off...not yet."  Nolan allowed his eyes to wander down Dara's long brown hair and into her shirt, where her caramel brown skin just began to curve before her shirt prevented him from seeing more.  He leaned back again.

Dara raised an eyebrow.  "Turn off down the hill? Nuh uh."

"Yeah, it's cool, I've been down it a bunch of times, it's totally safe."

Jason slowed, watching for the road.  "Okay, you'll have to tell me where it is."

"It's right up here, there's a warning sign about flooding, then right past that you'll see it."

"Warning sign?" Dara looked back at him.  "Oh hell no!"

"They have to put those up, it's no big deal."