MISSION BAY – “I get to chase guests with a knife.”

Some people just find their dream job. Emma Elizondo did. She plays “Jay,” sort of a demon nymph in the Carnival of Chaos.

Jay lurks, and sometimes crawls, along the walkway near the Circus of the Damned and springs into action to scare the mini churros out of guests’ hands as they try to dodge the petite prankster.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Elizondo, as a makeup artist added finishing touches to her look about 90 minutes before this season’s Howl-O-Scream opening night on Sept. 12.

The 22-year-old self-described contortionist, who competed in gymnastics in school, is now in her third year as a SeaWorld San Diego scare actor. “I can do the creepy crawly thing, and I like that I get to be a freak.”

For the more than 150 scare actors S

See Full Page