Chapter 79 079

• When they finally emerged, breathless and disheveled, Vera stood with crossed arms near the maze exit. Her witch hat sat crookedly on her head, and Mateo hovered behind her with an apologetic shrug.
• "You missed all the good parts!" Vera huffed, kicking at a stray plastic skull. "The candy fountain exploded! And there was a fire-breather!" Her eyes narrowed at Chase's torn sleeve and the smear of paint still on Ella's collarbone.
• Chase and Ella exchanged a look and a silent, shared current of laughter passed between them. Without warning, Chase snapped his tiger-striped mask back into place.