"Are you sure this is a good idea, Ben?" I whispered to my earpiece.

"Yes. It will definitely work – even Riley thought it was a good idea."

I glanced at Riley, who was munching happily on fairy floss (or, as he liked to call it, cotton candy). Of course he would think leading Ian's groupies to the other side of town would be a good idea… only because he got to 'take a break' and visit the carnival! I groaned helplessly.

"What?" He asked, his mouth still full of cotton candy. There was probably a little left over corn dog in there as well.

"Can I ask why you're eating fair food while we're on a mission?"

"Can I ask why you're wearing ugg boots with shorts?" He retorted.

"What do you care about what I wear? I'm still sick." I sniffled. "Anyway, I can afford to do it. I'm Australian."

"That's your excuse for everything." He mumbled, staring hopefully at a stand that said 'rainbow unicones'. Yes, you guessed right. That was an ice cream stand. Jeez, the things they have at American fairs.

"What I mean to say," I handed the money to the store owner, holding two fingers up and pointing to the chocolate flavoured ice cream in an attempt to buy it while adjusting my ear piece and talking to Riley, "is that Australia has weird weather. Sometimes its hot and then twenty minutes later its cold. You have to be fully prepared. Thanks, bro." I grabbed the two ice creams and handed one to Riley.

Riley gave the man the money. "So? You're not in Australia. Besides, no one says 'bro'."

"They do in Australia." I licked my ice cream and smirked.

"UGGGHHHH!" Riley groaned loudly. "You're so annoying!"

"Speak for yourself, mate."

He glared at me even more for saying that, and I just cracked up laughing.

He licked his ice cream while still glaring, and I pointed at his icecream. "Your welcome for that, you know."

"What? I paid for it!"

"Yeah, but I ordered it."

"Ugh!" Riley put both his index fingers to his temples and rubbed them calmly, breathing slowly. "Ben. Get me out of here. I'm actually starting to think it would be easier it Avalyn was the one who was kidnapped."

"Hey!" I put my hands to my hips and pouted.

"Riley!" Ben told him calmly. "We have to distract Ian's crew. If I know Ian, and I do, he will try to kidnap Ava to get twice the prize. His group is following you already, and by the looks of it, they aren't far behind."
"What?" I turned my head around and saw Shaw and Powell pushing a few kids out of the way so they could see us.

Riley grabbed my shoulders and turned me so I faced back in front.

"Just… be cool, okay? Act natural."

"Gotcha." I whispered to Ben.

"Where are you anyway?" Riley asked. "What's your part in this?"

"I'm outside Ian's place. He's trying to decipher the riddle… but I don't know where Vivian is. I'm going to break in from the guest bedroom upstairs and I'll see where that leads me without getting caught. Wish me luck. Turn your earpieces off to not cause any sudden sounds or further suspicions, but just turn it on again if you need anything."

"Good luck." I turned my earpiece off.

"Roger." Riley saluted mockingly, clicking the earpiece off.

"You know he can't see you, right?"

"Just keep walking, or you'll be fish food for Ian's little dogs." Riley grabbed my arm.

"Dogs eat fish food?" I questioned.

Riley being Riley, ignored my comment, and instead dragged me into an alley way leading to some haunted house. "Hopefully this will distract them for a while."

"Shit!" I heard Shaw say. "We lost them."

Riley pushed me into the door way and into the dark house. I faintly heard Powell mumble, "Ian won't be happy… why would those kids even want to go to a fairground at a time like this?"

Part of me wanted to yell, "WE"RE NOT KIDS!", but 1) I'm not stupid. We would obviously be kidnapped and held for ransom if I did that, and Ben would never forgive me for that… Also, 2) Riley pulled me further into the hallway of the haunted house.

I swear that I heard Shaw mutter, "It must be a trap!" but I ignored that.

"What are you doing? I can hardly see in here."

"We're going to blow up balloon animals. What do you think we're doing? Hiding. Distracting Ian's 'pets'. Trying to get your sister back…"
"Yeah I know that, but…" I bit my lip. "Why do we have to go in a haunted house?"

Riley smirked. "What? Are you scared!"

"N-no… it's just…" I gulped. Suddenly, a wild, hairy thing appeared and hit me with its belly. I screamed, almost knocking Riley over. I presumed it was just some guy dressed as a possessed teddy bear, and not big foot.

I slammed into a wall with my back. "Oww…"

"Ava? Where are you?" I could hear Riley's voice echoing into the distance.

I was too shocked to move. Actually, I couldn't move!

The wall was turning around, and I ended up in another room. I felt rubber arms holding me against the wall, but they suddenly let go once the wall finished its 180 degree turn. I tried to feel my way through the cramped room, feeling more and more claustrophobic every second. I felt a lever, and tried to pull it downwards. I yanked and heaved, even putting my feet against the wall to tug it, but nothing worked.

I felt arms wrap around me and I squealed, trying to elbow the guy in the ribs and kick him in the… you know, 'parts'.

"Relax, it's just me." I heard Riley whisper.
My shoulders relaxed a little and I felt less tense.

"C'mon, the guys are probably at the other end of the carnival by now. Let's find a way out."

He held one of my hands and led me to where he thought the exit was.

My heart was pounding. I didn't even know why!

"Are you okay?" I looked up to the shadow that was Riley staring down at me and bit my lip again.

"Yeah… I'm just…"

"Scared?"

I sighed. "A little." That was the only response he would get from me. But, that was technically admitting my fears.

"GAHAHHH!" A person dressed like a zombie tackled us against the wall. Just as quick as I screamed, it ran away.

"Look!" He pointed to a door with light coming from underneath it. "Finally, a way out. Let's get out of this freak show!"

We ran out of the door just as our earpieces beeped.

The last thing we heard before we sprinted out of the carival was, "It's done. Meet us in the car in 10."

"How he did that, I would never know." Riley joked.

We were then off to find the Templar Treasure.