Carnival World Boxed Set (Episodes 1-3) (7 page)

So she figured if it turned out to be otherwise, it was all Darien’s fault.

A loud pop came from the fire and Nicole jumped up. She saw Sam staring back at her. Embarrassed, she sat back down.

“You think they’re okay?” asked Sam.

“Huh? Yeah. Sure, kid. I’m sure everything is fine.” Although she didn’t really believe it herself. But what was she supposed to say to him? Hey little dude, we’re lost in some interdimensional time warp and we’re never going home and we’re going to die.

“My name’s Sam, not kid.”

She smiled at him, not really sure what to say to that. She was an only child. She didn’t have any experience with little kids.

“Do you hate my sister?”

The question caught her off guard and she fumbled to say something. “What? No. No. Why? What did she say about me?”

“Nothing,” said Sam.

But it was clear to Nicole that Summer had said something. Probably called her a bitch.

Nicole pondered how to tell Sam that she really didn’t have anything against Summer. But Katie Parsons thought she was gross and whatever Katie thought, that’s how things were. How could she explain that to a kid who watched cartoons and still believed things like “just be yourself” and “honesty is the best policy?”

Summer was honest in school and she was herself. And look where that landed her. At the bottom of the high school social ladder.

Nicole picked her words carefully. “Look, high school is a big place. You can’t be nice to everyone. You only have a limited supply of nice.”

He scrunched up his nose. “That doesn’t sound right. I’m nice to everyone.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”

Sam kicked at the ground. She thought maybe something else was bothering the kid. Nicole didn’t press him, though. Because honestly she really didn’t care. She had her own problems to deal with.

“Something happened to me,” he said. “Summer said I dreamed it. Do you think I was dreaming?”

“I think I’m dreaming right now and I just can’t wake up.”

She looked around the ruined pavilion now devoid of other people. It was the most truthful thing she had said so far today. There was no harm in telling Sam. It wasn’t like he mattered at school or in her social circles. He was a safe zone, so to speak. Nicole suddenly felt as if she could breathe easier.

She looked at Sam and nudged him with her elbow. “So tell me what happened.”

Sam told her his whole story. Nicole listened to the very end, didn’t interrupt and didn’t ask him any questions until he’d finished. She was proud of herself for actually being attentive to him. Normally, she’d zone out when someone was telling her something, especially if it had nothing to do with her.

“This carnival person told you we need to go to Warren?”

Sam nodded.

“Why would he do that? Warren’s where all the criminals are at.”

Nicole’s mom had been paranoid about even driving near the town of Warren. Nicole made sure never to tell her that she’d pen-palled with one of the inmates before.

Jake had been his name. He was serving two years for burglary. Nicole figured that wasn’t too bad. It was just stealing stuff and not hurting someone.

On a dare, she’d visited this website for cons to find women to connect with. Katie was the one who egged her on, naturally. And she’d found Jake. He was cute, so she thought, why not? She’d written to him for about two months and then stopped when he told her he wanted to see her when he got out.

Nicole had freaked out and stopped writing. Jake was due to get out of jail in three months. Her stomach rolled over just thinking about it. She ran a hand over her belly as Sam kept talking.

“I know, but he told me if we don’t go there, bad stuff is going to happen.”

Nicole smirked. “Ha. What could be worse than being stuck in this craphole?”

A noise reverberated through the pavilion. It sounded like metal hitting metal.

Nicole sat up straight. “What was that?”

Sam grabbed her arm.

They waited, holding their breath, but nothing jumped out at them. No other sound came. Nicole relaxed a little. It must have been something rotten falling over. She glanced down at Sam.

“I’m all for getting out of here, but I don’t think following something you dreamt is a wise move.”

“I told you, I didn’t dream it,” said Sam.

He let go of her arm, then dug in his pocket. “The Barker gave this to me because I did so good at the game.”

Nicole looked at what he held in his hand. “A compass? How is that supposed to help?”

“Maybe it points to where we need to go,” said Sam.

She shook her head. Part of her wanted to believe Sam. At least that way she could be sure there was a way out of this place. But this was too crazy.

“You have a really great imagination. Maybe you should be a writer when you grow up. If we ever get out of here, that is.”

“Why won’t anyone believe me?” asked Sam.

“Because you’re like what, ten?”

“Yeah. So?”

“Little kids are infamous for making stuff up.”

There, she said it. There was no point in sparing the kid from the cruel facts of life, even if he was cute like a puppy.

Sam slid off the bench. “I’m going to go find Summer.”

Nicole heard another noise. This one shuffling, like something moving. She grabbed Sam’s arm before he could move.

“Don’t leave me alone.”

But Sam had already stopped moving and his eyes were wide with fear. He whispered, “I think there’s something in here with us.”

Then they saw it. Ryan’s dog. It was more hideous than she could have imagined. It was crouched under one of the picnic tables with its teeth bared.

“Looks like some kind of dog,” said Sam.

“Not like any dog I’ve seen.” Nicole’s heart was hammering in her throat.

Growling, it slunk nearer.

“Sam, get up on the table.” Nicole scrambled onto the bench.

Sam did as she said and hopped on top of the picnic table. Nicole got up there too and put him behind her. Sam grabbed hold of her.

“It’s going to eat us.”

Nicole didn’t answer. She couldn’t do anything but stare as the twisted, raw-looking thing drew closer. She saw its open maw—razor-like teeth lined every inch. And she had nothing to fight back with.

––––––––

“I
have to get Sam.” Summer started toward the pavilion. Nothing else mattered but holding her brother. She’d promised her mom that she would take care of him. And she never broke her promises.

Darien grabbed Summer’s arm. “You can’t go charging over there. What if you run into it?”

She grabbed a piece of wood from the ground. “Then I’ll bash its head in.”

“We’re going with you,” said Darien. He looked at the others. “All of us.”

Ryan shrugged like he didn’t have anything else to do. Justin helped Maddie to her feet.

Not waiting for the others, Summer sprinted toward the pavilion. She could hear the others running behind her. Ryan had his metal bar, the others held torches.

“Sam! Sam! Answer me!”

Summer reached the pavilion fence just in time to see Sam jump from one picnic table to the next. Nicole was right behind him.

As she jumped, the dog snapped at her retreating legs. It was twice as big as the creature from the carousel. And Summer’s heart leapt into her throat.

Its teeth snagged Nicole’s purse and yanked it from her arm. The tug pulled the girl off balance and she fell to the ground. But the monster ignored her and kept after Sam. It smelled the weaker prey. It knew Nicole would put up a fight, but Sam... Sam had the smallest fists and the shortest legs. No power behind them.

“Sam! Jump to me!” Summer screamed.

Sam turned toward her voice and jumped to the next table. He wobbled a bit and nearly fell. But he righted himself and leapt to the next table. Then the next.

Summer reached over the side of the pavilion and grabbed him. With all her strength, she pulled him over the fence and out of harm’s way.

Nicole scrambled to her feet but her knees were banged up and bleeding badly. The blood was like an elixir to the monster dog. It stopped and sniffed the air, turning in Nicole’s direction and let out a long, guttural growl that sent shivers through Summer.

Just then, Darien, Maddie and Justin all rushed it with their torches.

“Get out of here, Nicole.” Darien waved his torch at the beast.

Nicole limped away as the group threatened it with fire. It barked at them but did not back off.

Ryan climbed onto one of the picnic tables, his metal bar held high in the air. He jumped down right on the dog, smacking it with all his strength and weight behind the blow.

There was an audible crack as the animal’s back broke.

Summer hugged Sam tight as three more smacks echoed from the pavilion.

THWACK. CRACK. THUD.

“Jesus, Mulvaney. Are you a freaking psycho, or what?” said Darien.

Sam’s face was buried in Summer’s side. “Did he kill it?”

“I think so,” said Summer.

Ryan walked out of the pavilion, the metal bar dripping with dark-tinged blood. Drops of crimson were splattered across his t-shirt and shoes. And if Summer wasn’t mistaken, she thought she saw a small smile on his thin lips.

Darien, Nicole (who was limping badly), Maddie and Justin followed him out. They all looked ashen and badly shaken up.

“You didn’t have to kill it,” said Darien.

“Why, did you want to play with it?” asked Ryan.

“I’m glad he killed it,” said Maddie. She moved to stand by Ryan.

“Maddie...” said Justin.

“The other one almost ripped my throat out. That one would’ve done the same to Nicole or the kid.”

At the mention of this, Sam squeezed his sister harder. She soothed him as best as she could. But it was getting harder and harder to do that in this place.

“Thank you. Finally someone who’s reasonable around here,” said Ryan.

There was another howl in the distance. It made them all jump.

“I think we should all stay together. It’ll be safer,” said Summer.

“I agree. It doesn’t make sense splitting up again,” said Justin.

Everyone looked at each other. Summer wondered if anyone would disagree. They’d be stupid if they did. Together they were stronger. Apart, they were all sitting ducks for whatever was out there hunting them in the dark.

Finally, Darien nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“I concur,” said Ryan.

“Where should we hole up?” asked Maddie.

“In there.” Ryan gestured to the pavilion. “It’s easier to defend.”

“What about the dead dog?” asked Justin.

“Well, we’ll have to move it won’t we, genius?”

Justin looked like he was going to say something but Maddie moved toward Ryan. “I’ll help you move it, Ryan.” Ryan smiled at her.

Justin frowned. Summer could tell he did not like this development one bit. She didn’t blame him. If she had a sister, she’d definitely not want her to get involved with a guy like Ryan. Sure, he’d saved Maddie and Nicole from the mutated dogs, and he had some ideas about what was happening to them, but she’d seen the look of glee in his eyes when he killed that animal. It didn’t make Summer feel safe, not one bit.

Grudgingly, Darien went to help as well.

“Does no one care that I’m hurt? I could have rabies,” complained Nicole.

“It didn’t bite you. You just fell,” Summer said. Although the girl did look a mess and was still bleeding.

“Look at my knees, I didn’t just fall.”

Justin gestured to an errant cement block. “Sit over here and I’ll see if I can clean them up.” He took off his outer shirt and ripped it at the hem.

Nicole limped over to Justin and sat down. “Oh, and someone grab my purse in there. I think I have anti-bacterial lotion.”

––––––––

L
ater, the dog’s body was gone but its blood stained the ground black. They all congregated in the center of the pavilion. A fire burned in the middle of the surrounding picnic tables.

Sam lay on a tabletop on his side. Summer was lying beside him, rubbing his back.

Nicole, her knees hastily bandaged with strips of cloth from Justin’s t-shirt, had decided to lie down on another table.

Maddie and Justin were huddled together. Justin rubbed her arm but her attention was on Ryan, who stood at the pavilion entrance with his metal bar in both hands. Ryan practiced sword grips and strikes on the air.

“Where did you learn how to do that?” Maddie asked.

“Took a little kendo. And... Some LARPing,” said Ryan.

Justin laughed.

“Some what?” she asked, not getting the joke that Justin obviously knew.

“LARPing. Live Action Role Playing,” Justin answered. He laughed some more. “You’re a geek? Dude, I thought you were in a gang or something. I thought you were a drug dealer.”

“Drug dealer? Yeah right. Contrary to what you see on TV, those guys have a seventy five to eighty percent chance of getting busted. Federal drug trafficking charges result in a minimum sentence of ten to fifteen years. I got better things to do with my time.”

“You researched drug dealing?” asked Justin.

“I research everything. I have a mild case of ADD and 24/7 access to the internet.”

Ryan was unusually gabby. Maddie hoped it was because of her.

Justin smirked. “Nerd.”

“I’m a nerd with a broadsword and a nasty disposition,” said Ryan.

Maddie was fascinated with what he was suggesting. “So what? Are we trapped inside some kind of video game or fairy tale?”

“If parallel universes really do exist, and the evidence is pretty strong at the moment, then anything’s possible. I sure hope this isn’t a video game.”

“Why not?” asked Justin.

“Because I’ve played these kinds of games before. And you always die on your first run through.”

Maddie glanced across the pavilion at Darien, who was off on his own. “So is Darien cool with us heading out for Cedar Falls?”

“Fido and friends convinced him that staying here is a bad idea.”

Ryan bit into a snack cake they’d found in the old vending machines. Maddie ate one earlier and it was surprisingly moist inside. But she had heard that some snack foods could survive the apocalypse.