“We’re too old for this.” I grumbled as Sasha drags me along. The fair is packed as we weave between the crowds, the smell of popcorn and corn dogs is thick in the air.

“Oh please!” She laughs as she tugs me. “You’re such a Debbie Downer.” She teases.

I roll my eyes, but follow after her.

She leads me towards the front of the fair, she giggles as she sees a bouncy castle. Bright blue, yellow and red, it would be an eyesore anywhere except a fair. Only a few children jumped around inside.

“Really..?” I cross my arms, looking at her excited expression. She practically jumps up and down in glee. “You’re such a child.”

She sticks out her tongue. “Race ya.” She said startling to book it towards the bouncy castle

I shake my head but chase after, my sneakers nearly slipping on the slick grass.

She’s faster of course, she throws her shoes off and practically dives into the bouncy castle.

I kick my own shoes off, adding them to the pile. A rather large pile of kids shoes stacked outside. I pause before going in, a chilly wicked breeze hits me. How odd, considering it’s June.

But I heard Sasha’s voice inside laughing and I crawl in.

It’s darker then I’d thought it would be, light shone through the very top of the castle. Filtering through the red plastic ceiling, casting a red glow. And it was bigger, probably twice the size I’d expected from the outside. The thick balloon likeness of the floor pulled my feet in, making it a chore to walk in.

“Over here!” Sasha called, her ponytail bouncing up and down. “See? Fun!”

I shrugged, “I guess, if you’re five.”

She pouts, I wrinkle my nose in annoyance.

BAM!

I jump, almost falling as the floor catches my feet. A sharp hissing sound comes from somewhere in the bouncy castle, the plastic floor ripples and sinks even lower.

“Oh shit.” I try to move, but the plastic lining has wrapped around my foot.

Sasha giggles and starts to run out, the floor seemingly not sinking her. “Come on!” She calls back to me.

“Wait! Sasha! I’m stuck!” I pull my leg, throwing my weight against it. But my other foot slips on the plastic and I fall down.

The red glowing ceiling begins to rapidly collapse, falling down behind me, the walls giving out with it.

I grab at the floor, attempting to pull myself out, but I sink in deeper. Cold sweat coats my forehead, all the hairs on my arms standing straight on end from the static.

The roof collapses on top of me, it’s still filled with some air but it feels suffocating. I scream out, trashing wildly for an exit. It constricts around my body, holding me back. I desperately let out the breath I had left and pushed as hard as I could. Squeezing through the tightening plastic.

And finally air! I push my arms through an opening, pulling myself out of the vice.

I tumble out, landing in the damp grass. I lay still, breathing heavily.

I sit up, looking around. “Sasha?” She’s nowhere to be seen.

But the bouncy castle is still there, intacted and inflated. Like nothing had happened.