The bus hummed steadily down the moonlit highway, taillights glowing red against the dark stretch of backcountry blacktop. The pack was scattered across the interior\u2014some sprawled on couches, some curled into bunks, gear rattling faintly in the belly of the beast. The afterglow of the last gig still lingered, a buzzing warmth under their skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up front, Diesel leaned back in the driver\u2019s seat, one hand on the wheel, the other holding his ever-present thermos of truck-stop rocket fuel. The old road dog grinned at the empty two-lane ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cAlright, weirdos\u2026 where to next?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Emily, seated just behind him with her tablet and headphones, blinked as an alert popped up. She squinted at the screen, then turned to shout down the aisle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cHey! You\u2019re not gonna believe this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Cassie peeked out from behind the curtain of her bunk. \u201cIs it another bootleg fur-fest? Because I swear to god if someone makes a \u2018Paws and Praise\u2019 remix again \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Emily said, eyes wide, tapping her screen. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 a castle.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonah\u2019s voice called from the back: \u201cYou mean like a Cracker Barrel that looks like a castle<\/em> or an actual castle?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily turned the screen so everyone could see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The image was unmistakable: a massive stone structure with spires and towers rising above a forested hill\u2026 and a banner stretched across the front gates reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cMidnight Masquerade: A Gothic Gala for the Ages\u201d<\/strong>
Featuring live music from Feral Eclipse.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThane narrowed his eyes. \u201c…I didn\u2019t agree to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTechnically,\u201d Emily said sheepishly, \u201cthe promoter\u2019s email went to spam. It\u2019s already sold out. Thousands of people. Half in costume. There\u2019s, uh\u2026 a moat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriel sprang to his paws, tail wagging in wide loops. \u201cA moat?!<\/em> Do we get to cross a drawbridge?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maya leaned over the back of the couch. \u201cWhy does this feel like a setup for a Scooby-Doo episode?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark grunted from where he was tightening a case strap. \u201cIf there’s a guy in a rubber mask, I\u2019m out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cassie emerged fully from her bunk, eyes gleaming. \u201cGoth masquerade, castle venue, and a literal pack of wolves with stage passes? Oh yeah. Let\u2019s go give the undead something to dance to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diesel just chuckled. \u201cAlright then, buckle up, kids. Looks like your next gig\u2026 is in a fairytale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The engine roared. The bus picked up speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And somewhere in the distance, the silhouette of a stone fortress rose against the starlit sky \u2014 awaiting its pack of midnight legends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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