|
Slaughterhouse-Five
and
The Dogs of Winter
. Curious, I
took it out. “Office-Home, Deed Box” was printed in the top left corner in
faded, dull gold. In the center was a silver lock. “What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s nothing important,” said Rad, taking it from my hands. “Just my old
Garbage Pail Kids collection. I lost the key years ago.” He put the box down on
the shelf and ran a hand through my hair. “I can’t believe you’re actually standing
here, in my apartment. You have no idea how many times when we were out
somewhere and you’d be laughing or biting your lip and I’d wish I could take
you home.” He kissed me, softly at first, then his kisses grew more urgent. His
hand traveled up along my thigh, past the hem of my skirt, brushing the elastic of
my underwear and sending a shot of adrenaline through my body.
His eyes met mine and I silently willed him to go further. But he stopped and
gently drew his hand away. “We’re meant to be taking it slow . . . remember?”
“It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be,” I sighed.
“You’re telling me,” he laughed.
We broke away from each other reluctantly.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go out.”
W
E
MET
L
UCY
and Freddy at Luna Park in Lavender Bay. It was a beautiful, clear
night. Summer was edging its way closer, and I felt a sense of magic permeate the
warm cotton candy air. Rad and I walked hand in hand, absorbing the carnival
atmosphere and the pretty lights that dotted the promenade.
“We were here for your tenth birthday party, Audrey. Remember?” asked
Lucy.
“Yeah. Candela was throwing popcorn from the Ferris wheel.”
“Didn’t she get into trouble?” Rad asked.
“We all did, which was totally unfair. We were the ones trying to stop her!”
said Lucy.
“She got us kicked out,” I added.
“Your mum was furious,” said Lucy. “She took us straight home after that.”
“I was livid,” I laughed. “I kicked her in the shins for ruining my birthday.”
“When was the last time the three of you got together?” asked Freddy.
“I don’t even remember,” I said, sadly.
“She doesn’t answer her phone anymore,” Lucy said.
Shrieks of terror came from the roller coaster that wound its way above us. A
small boy swung a giant hammer at the high striker, giggling with delight when
the lights shot halfway up the tower.
“Hey, let’s go on the ghost train,” said Lucy, and the four of us went to join
the line.
“Spoooooky!” said Freddy as we stepped into our carriages. The train jolted
into life and began to move through a dark tunnel, decorated with hanging
spiderwebs and silhouettes of ominous figures. I wasn’t a stranger to ghost trains,
but for some reason, this one made me feel edgy. I felt for my rubber band in the
dark but realized with a jolt of panic that I’d left it at home. I moved in closer to
Rad, and he squeezed my hand reassuringly. He almost had a sixth sense when it
came to how I was feeling.
“You okay?” he whispered in my ear.
“Fine,” I smiled brightly at him as a waxen Bride of Frankenstein suddenly
dropped from the cavernous ceiling to confront us. There were several loud cries
and shrieks, then I felt a tap on my shoulder and my head swung around sharply.
My heart leaped into my throat. It was Ana. I opened my mouth to scream, but
no sound came out.
“A
UDREY
! A
UDREY
!” R
AD
shook my shoulders gently as I sat frozen with fear.
One of the operators came over looking concerned.
“I saw a girl in there,” I told him, dazed.
“Wearing a white dress?” asked the operator.
I nodded.
“She must be one of our plants,” he explained. “We have a few in there.”
“Plants?” I was confused.
“Actors. Sorry if she gave you a fright.”
“I had some dude with a gorilla head tap me on the shoulder,” said Freddy.
“Scared the living daylights out of me.”
My heart rate began to steady. “Jesus, I had no idea they did that.”
“Adds to the drama,” said Freddy, raising his hands in the air like claws and
rippling his fingers.
“Audrey!” Lucy’s face was etched with worry. “You’re as white as a sheet.”
“You sure you’re okay?” asked Rad as he led me off the platform.
“Yeah, I just thought I saw a ghost.”
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
