Devoured by Amanda Marrone

Author:Amanda Marrone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2009-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

TEN

I duck through the passageway under the STAFF ONLY sign and drag my hand along the dark walls. A few dim bulbs every few feet light the way, and I keep my eyes on the glow tape lining the path. The walkway opens up a bit onto the Haunted Forest. The wolf jumps out to my right and I suck in my breath. It howls frantically and I wrinkle my nose. Who the hell designed this ride? No doubt the same nuts who made those mirrors.

Just keep going, get to the cottage, check in two cars, and then get out of here.

I walk up the steps and hear the witch’s voice punctuated by the sound of Remy crying.

Fabulous.

The path narrows and I start climbing the stairs to reach the control panel.

“Meggy,” she whines.

I look up and see Remy at the top of the metal stairs.

“Go away, Remy!”

“Meggy, she’s gonna die.”

“Who is gonna die?”

Remy’s face crumples. “Where’s Daddy?”

“God, I don’t have time for this!” I walk right through her, shivering in the wake of cold air around her.

I march up to the control board and hit the speaker button. “All set,” I say, my voice higher than normal.

I ignore Remy and look around the witch’s house. The jarring angles and too-bright candy-colored pinks and purples make my head spin. I look at the Hansel robot shaking his bars and fumble for my inhaler. I exhale and put it to my lips, but Seamus’s car enters the house before I can use it. I wait until the witch slides out and push the button to alert Ryan.

Seamus is clutching the safety bar, and I remember he’s one of the exchange students, so he’s never been on any of the rides here. “Watch out, the track’s gonna drop!” I call out, trying to keep my mind off of Remy’s nonstop rant.

“Thanks!” he yells as his car dives beneath the oven.

A few minutes later, the car carrying Hayden and Izzy comes into the house. They’re laughing, oblivious to Remy’s tantrum. Hayden points to Hansel in the cage. “Someone put a muzzle on that kid!”

“Hell,” Izzy says, “I’ll throw him in the oven just to make him shut up!”

I push the button when they’re at the oven, and then Remy appears in front of me completely solid, her face contorted in anger. In the back of my mind I take a second to wonder what stage Luke would call this.

“Why won’t you listen?” she says slowly. Water starts to drip down her forehead and gather at the ends of her braids. Her hands ball up and she glares at me angrily. “Why won’t you help her?”

Izzy and Hayden whoop it up as the oven lifts and their car careens down the slope.

“Stop laughing!” Remy shrieks. The electric board sparks up, and then the power goes out.

I drop my inhaler and freeze in place as Hansel’s frantic cries become slow and distorted and finally fade to silence. Smoke fills my nostrils and I pray the board won’t catch on fire.

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