Page 145 of Rattle the Cage

Leaving my friends in my dust, I was eager to get to work. I’d tear the whole place apart to find Tess before they did.

I felt the wind in my curly hair as I turned the corner into Rapid Rush, moving quickly through the section as water gushed from the replaced pumps of the rides. Feverpoint was gurgling back to life by my hand.

In the darkness of the park, I felt my eyes already scanning the shadows.

I wanted a third win, a third chance to take my Trinket for a spin. She wasn’t prepared for what I would do to her next.

And I’ll do anything for the chance.

TESS

I knew going into Fright Night that I wanted somewhere noisy. Between the squeaky pleather of my nun costume and my own jumpiness, silence would only hurt my odds. Luckily, I knew just where to go.

Superhero Sanctuary had some of the fastest, most towering rollercoasters in all of Feverpoint. The constant sound and motion would help me blend into the background without having to pick a totally concealed spot. That way, I could keep an eye on my hunters’ movements without completely trapping myself.

Not that I’d totally mind getting trapped tonight.

I at least had to put up a fight, though. The bragging rights alone would be worth it before I even took the money into account.

Beating them on their own turf on Halloween of all nights? Yes please.

In truth, strategy wasn’t the only reason I’d chosen Superhero Sanctuary. Feverpoint was alive with an energy of its own tonight. Maybe it was just lingering cortisol from Cyrus’ stunt back in the Haunted Manor, but to be honest, I was a little bit afraid.

The park was creepy on a regular day, but tonight, it was all heightened. The sounds were louder, the lights were brighter, and the shadows felt like they might reach out and grab me themselves.

Blade’s music choice for the night was creepier than usual, with ghost howls, cackling clowns, and terrified screams thrown into the mix. If I was going to survive twelve hours of bone-chilling terror, I at least could pass the time somewhere that gave the illusion that a hero would come to save me.

I ran, counting down the seconds on my lead until I reached Speed of Lightning: the fastest coaster in the park.

I knew from previous nights that the ride was as noisy as it was quick. Carts zipped so fast along the rails that I could hardly count them. Thunder and lightning effects were timed perfectly with the high and low points of the coaster, drawing tons of attention to the ride.

But no one would pay much attention to its darkened shadows.

I sprinted to the ride’s entrance, where larger than life cutouts of a weather-wielding superhero guarded the coaster. Between her and the fence was a narrow gap: just small enough for me to tuck away unnoticed.

I’d made it with perfect timing. Just as I burrowed into her shadow and folded my knees to my chest, the rides sprang to life.

Perfect timing.

For the next six hours, my biggest problem would be staving off the cold in my skimpy little costume. Or it should have been.

But the ride hadn’t even made ten loops before I heard the familiar scrape of a mallet over cobblestone.

Trixie. And Nash.

My heart thundered in my chest, keeping time with the coaster. Despite the ride’s volume, I didn’t need to strain to hear her: she was close, and getting closer. And suddenly, I felt like a sitting duck.

Maybe I can run?

All of Nash’s muscle made her less agile than Blade, if slightly. And I’d been training. If Trixie weighed her down enough, maybe I could make a brake for it. Maybe I could run.

Peering out of the shadow, I glimpsed her broad back, muscles already straining from the weight of her mallet. A strike of lightning lit her mask as she turned to take in the coaster.

And before logic could tell me to see through my original plan, I bolted, not looking back to see if she had noticed me.