A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Metal steps led downwards towards the asphalt parking lot. The doors remained open. Nails tapped against the plastic of an armrest. His feet rocked back and forth, and his eyes pinned themselves on her. A grin decorated his lips, but he didn't say a word. Once she was out, the game would start again, and she doubted that he would keep that green hoodie on for her to distinguish him by.

Mentally, she gulped and headed down. Her first foot met the asphalt, then her second. Just barely, she heard the seat shift, and she was off. Feet carried her at a brisk pace across the ground so that she still could create some distance but also not look like she was running from someone. She didn't even glance back to sight if he had left the bus yet. No, her objective was to get inside the park and lose him.

Her mind thought back to the map. The haunted house was too obvious to enter first. No, a ride more open to public view would be better. Maybe, she even could hide among the various stands and stalls. It was unlikely, but it was worth a shot. Despite his admittance to his sadistic nature, he wouldn't start murdering everyone at the park in plain sight. That would have law enforcement on their backs in no time if even one person escaped or made a quick phone call.

Stopping by one of the shop stalls, though, would be beneficial. She needed clothes that he never had seen before and a hat. Maybe, she even could locate a wig that looked real enough to actual hair. Then, she could change in a restroom when he wasn't looking. There were several problems with that approach, however. One, she would still have her distinguishable backpack. That would need to be changed too. Two, he couldn't see her buy any of those items, or it was over before she even wore her disguise.

No doubt, it probably would be easier just to lose him in the park and find some means of transportation far away from the place. A mental groan sounded in her head. It wasn't going to be easy. Nothing ever was with the creature, and her thoughts traveled back to when he had paused on the bus. What had he been about to tell her? Probably, it was something that would've weakened him or at least his appearance. He hated seeming weak in front of her; he wished for her always to be afraid of him and his capabilities despite his love for her.

Whatever those words were, though, she didn't know. It most likely had some connection to the game, but she'd have to ask him to get the correct answer. As previously indicated, however, he wasn't going to do that. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and adjusted her backpack some after that. Her ears caught onto soft footfalls, and that sent her pace to become quicker by a little bit.

When she reached the entrance, she held out her ticket to the man collecting them. He stamped a castle outline on the ticket before he handed it back, and she thanked him. Dread, though, soon entered her being. Security would want to check her bag. Lovely.

(F/n) stepped up to the security guard and placed her backpack on the table. She resisted the urge to look over one of her shoulders for the creature and zipped open the pockets. Each item she showed. Nothing was illegal to bring into the park, but it was crystal clear that the guard was questioning why she had a whole series of travel supplies in there. "Packing light for vacation?" the guard asked skeptically.

"Yeah," she responded, zipping the backpack up and slipping it on. "I just carry what I need around with me. Makes it easier." She gave the guard a polite smile and signaled to the active park to her right. "May I head in?" The guard gave a reluctant nod, and (f/n) thanked her before she entered Castle Lake.

First on the list would be whatever was the most crowded so that she could get lost in the sea of people. Her (e/c) optics scanned over the various attractions nearby. There was the swan ride, which looked like a slow water boat ride, and the other boat ride, which had water splashing over even those in the waiting line. The faster of the two was packed. Perfect.

Before she made her way, she checked her surroundings. There was no sign of him, but she wouldn't put it past him to pop out of some random bush along the way. He liked surprising her, so he possibly already could be in the line for the faster ride. She saw no black hoodie in the crowd or green ones for that matter. With the area clear, she headed over to the line. A few people stepped away from her, and she was about to roll her eyes and mutter something before she recalled how awful she must look.

Last night, she had rolled across tile and asphalt. Barely, she had received any sleep, so dark bags probably rested under her eyes. There were scrapes and bruises on her, which couldn't be seen due to her clothes, but her clothing was torn in some places. She didn't even want to know how bad her hair was. Almost, she face-palmed. No wonder the guard was even more skeptical of her than she probably would've been.

Multiple people entered the line behind her, and she moved forward as another one of the carts filled up with eight people. Some trees blocked her from the rest of the park, and she leaned against one until the line moved again. Almost, she jumped. As the newest cart raced by her section of the line, she swore that she saw locks of nearly white hair, poking out from underneath a black hoodie, flying by. A pit formed in her stomach. Was he going to be waiting for her at the end of the ride? How would he have known about her going on this ride; was her logic that easy to read?

There were only two rides right at the entrance, and one obviously was crowded more than the other one. Had he figured out that she would try to hide among a busy line? Her stomach dropped more. She needed to get out even if she had been seeing things. Quickly, she squeezed between the trees and left the line. (F/n) recalled the map. To her left, there were some shop stalls and the Ferris wheel. For a bit, she could hide in one of the baskets and examine the map in more detail.

Feet carrying her towards the first shop stall, a hat souvenir place, she glanced back to the quick-paced water ride. Some of the carts were blocked by tall pines, and other parts had tunnel sections. She couldn't spot the black hoodie individual again if that person even had been on the ride. "(F/n)?" someone called out behind her. It wasn't the creature. Curse words streamed through her head. Did someone actually recognize her? "(F/n)? Is that you?" The voice came closer, and it didn't sound like it was in her head.

Forcing herself not to turn around, she picked up her pace and hurried off. "Wait?!" the person called out behind her. The voice didn't sound like Nick's either or Vincent's for that matter. It sounded feminine and as though the person was around her age. An old classmate from high school? She gulped and just hoped that the individual would leave her alone.

Abruptly turning a corner, she found herself on a short path that led to the bathrooms. Not what she wanted. "Sh*t," she muttered as she scanned over the place. There were tall trees around the area and some bushes. She heard the voice again, and she raced towards the restrooms before she went behind them and jumped behind some of the foliage. (F/n) seated herself behind them and made herself as small as she could.

"(F/n)?" the person asked again, stopping on the other side of the bathrooms. Light steps sounded. "Huh? I swear that could've been her." The steps got louder before more distant. Carefully, (f/n) crawled along the grass and towards the owner of the voice. Again, the footsteps paused. (F/n) halted too. When they started again, the young woman pushed back some of the leaves in order to see what this person looked like.

Black shorts, red tights, blue ankle boots and a blue jacket covered them. Black locks were braided into a single long braid. Brown optics glanced towards (f/n)'s location, and she remained absolutely still. A button nose and defined jaw line highlighted her facial features as the woman pursed her lips in frustration. (F/n), however, didn't recognize the female at all, but she looked to be in her early twenties.

"I better go ask him," she muttered before she took off. Him? Did she know someone who might know her? (F/n) furrowed her brows before she steadily rose up from behind the bushes. Movement behind her, however, drew her attention away from the peculiar woman. Spinning around, she saw a pine squirrel running up one of the pine trees. She gave a sigh of relief before she stepped out from the bushes.

Now, though, she had to avoid both the creature and that woman. She rubbed her temples. As if things couldn't get more complex. Whoever that woman was with, though, was another concern. With caution, she exited the small path and went back onto the main one. Directly across from her, there was a fruit smoothie stand. That sounded immensely refreshing.

After checking both ways and guaranteeing that the creature wasn't near, she hurried over to it and removed a couple of dollars from her backpack. "What can I get for you?" the smoothie vendor asked politely.

"One medium mango smoothie please," (f/n) ordered, handing the vendor the money, before she waited for her drink. She placed her hands in her jacket pocket and told herself not to examine the area. Otherwise, the vendor might question what she was doing. Her ears, though, tuned into sounds around her. Laughs, joyful screams, footsteps, rides running, whispers ... (F/n) froze. Nothing. Not another whisper sounded, and she accepted her drink before she thanked the vendor and headed towards the Ferris Wheel. On the way, there was another hat stall. If the creature wasn't around, she'd purchase one. Someone's found you. All of her went rigid, and she nearly dropped her smoothie.