THE END
…or is it?
The 13th book to the bestselling Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan
Chapter 1
Twisting, turning, falling. It feels like I'm moving, but I can't be sure. I feel like I'm in the Cave of _ all over again. All well. If that's the case and I really have gone back in time, there's so much I want to change. I'd never turn Kurda in… if I hadn't done that in the first place, Mr. Crepsley would never had died and I wouldn't have been faced with the task of killing Steve and I.
That's why I'm here! Suddenly, it all comes rushing back to me. I'm dead. At that moment, the world stops turning around me, leaving me dazed and feeling a little nauseated sitting on the ground in the middle of nowhere. I look around me. So this is paradise? Then where's Mr. Crepsley? Wouldn't he be here to greet me? For a moment, my heart drops to my stomach until I remember that Evanna had said that Mr. Crepsley's soul had flown straight to paradise.
It's then that I see a tall mountain looming before me that looks exactly like Vampire Mountain. I sigh in relief. At least it's homey here… and if that old buzzard was anywhere, he'd be found there. I start whacking my way through the tangles and tangles of thorns, remembering the last time I'd been through this way with Mr. Crepsley and Gavner. I still recall the proud general's pink elephant boxers from his girlfriend! I laugh to myself at the memory, not being able to wait until I can see him again.
That's when I see Steve.
For just a second, he stares at me confused as he's sitting there on the ground, then he blinks and rises to his feet with determination in his eyes.
Crap!
I bolt; knowing the first thing he'd want to do is kill me. Could you die in Paradise? I don't want to find out! I imagine Steve behind me now with his arrow gun trained at my head. Somehow, this picture brings a speed I didn't even know I was able to accomplish, to my feet. Then something grabs onto my shirt and spins me to face him. It's then that I notice that it's his hand. He glares at me with deep hatred in his eyes.
"What are you doing here? You killed me!" He shouts.