Alienhated: A feel-good paranormal romcom by Sophie-Leigh Robbins

Author:Sophie-Leigh Robbins [Robbins, Sophie-Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Got It Covered Press
Published: 2023-10-18T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ray

As we approach the structures in the distance, I can hardly believe my eyes. Sprawled in front of us like a ghost of entertainment past is an old, abandoned amusement park. I’ve dreamed of visiting one of these ever since I was a kid and went through my parents’ textbooks about life on Earth. I don’t even care that this one is old and abandoned. Maybe I could get some of the rides to work.

“Is that an amusement park?” Jo asks, only now realizing where we’re headed.

I nod. “We’re what, sixteen miles from your hometown? How did you not know there was a ghost town with an abandoned amusement park here?”

“I know, it’s unbelievable.” She bites her lip. “Maybe I should go out more often, but it’s hard. I have my routines and work… Visiting my parents usually involves getting into an Uber and following a direct route to the airport. My bestie married an Australian guy and moved there, so we hardly ever see each other.” She trails off, suddenly appearing self-conscious. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It’s embarrassing. You think I’m a freak, right?”

I laugh and shake my head. “Are you kidding me? I’m an alien living on Earth. Your limited social interactions don’t even register on the freaky scale compared to that.”

She laughs at my answer. “Do they teach you to be charming in Earth class, Ray?” she teasingly asks.

“No, that I was born with,” I joke.

We reach the entrance, and I marvel at the size of the gate. Big, rusty letters hang from the top, reading “Desert Vista Funscape.”

Recognition flashes in Jo’s eyes. “I did know this was here. My parents told me about it once. It closed down right after I was born. Since no one ever bought the park or the land, it’s just sat here for almost three decades, withering away in the desert.”

“What about the town we saw on the map?”

“I thought Desert Vista was the name of the town. Honest mistake.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Does that mean I’m not the only one who makes mistakes?”

She shoots me down with a look that says “don’t even think about it.”

“Let’s not go there, Ray. Not if you want to keep the truce between us.”

“I won’t mention it again,” I say, my hands raised in the air. I pull on the straps of my backpack. “Here’s my plan. We go in, find a place to spend the night, get some food, then work out a plan for tomorrow. And maybe, if I can get them to work, we can go on some rides.”

“And fall to our deaths because the joints of all these rides have rusted? No way.” Jo takes a step forward. “First, shelter. Then, food. Then… We’ll see. Come on, let’s get inside and give Buster some more water to drink.”

We both put our weight against the gate and push it open with a creaking sound. Stepping inside the park’s terrain fills me with feelings of exhilaration.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.