“Gambling’s no fun unless you risk losing something,” the Party-Monster said, grinning.

“How many people have you killed?” Kelly asked.

“Lots,” said Dave.

“And you killed them in new ways each time?”

“Each and every time,” said Ricky. “That’s enough. This isn’t Twenty Questions. Three guesses as to how you’re gonna die. First guess?”

Her thoughts jumbled together even as she tried to separate the possibilities into categories. Beating, stabbing, shooting, all probably used up. “Drowning?” she asked.

“Ooh, drowning,” said Dave. “We should keep that for next year.”

“Not drowning, Red,” said Ricky. “Second guess.”

“I don’t know, I … it could be anything.”

“Yeah, it could.”

“Burning then.”

Ricky’s grin widened. “I like the way your mind works. But no. We’ve already burned someone to death. Did that on our second Hell Night. Third and final guess, Red.”

“Give me a clue.”

“No clues.”

“Please, anything. Give me anything. A hint. Anything.”

“I think we should give her a clue,” said Dave.

“You’re just sweet on her,” Ricky told him.

“I’ll do it,” the Party-Monster said. “Okay then, you red-headed rug-muncher, you want a clue? Get ready for some history. We’re gonna kill you in the same way that Henry the Eighth killed two of his wives.”

“Beheading!” Kelly shouted triumphantly. “Beheading! He had their goddamn heads chopped off!”

She went to run between them, but Dave blocked her way.

She backed off. “You said! You said if I guessed it right you’d let me go!”

“You didn’t guess it right,” said Ricky.

“Bullshit! Henry the Eighth had Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard beheaded! I know my goddamn history!”

“You do,” said Ricky, “but the Party-Monster doesn’t.”

The Party-Monster looked confused. “I thought he had his wives hanged.”

Kelly paled. “That’s not fair. He’s the one who got it wrong, not me.”

“But what you failed to take into account is how dumb the Party-Monster is. And for that alone you deserve to hang. Come on. We’ve already got it all set up.”

She went for the gun, but the Party-Monster grabbed her arm, started dragging her after Ricky and Dave.

“You shouldn’t have called me Kevin,” he said. “Maybe I’d have let you go if you hadn’t called me Kevin.”

“I didn’t call you Kevin,” Kelly managed. “That was Linda.”

“Still, though.”

She got a hand to the gun as they turned on to Main Street, but when she saw the huge crowd of demons congregating around the square she left it in her waistband. Firing a gun now would only get her killed faster. Ricky and Dave shoved other demons out of their way, and the Party-Monster dragged her right into the throng. Curiously, though, none of the other demons were looking at her.

“They got one,” the Party-Monster said. He turned back to Kelly, grinning at her excitedly. Like they were friends. “They got one!”