*Chapter 8: Secret of Survival*
Max pushed through the cornfields, panting heavily after running for miles from the Cold Lake. He couldn't find Jordan anywhere. He prayed that nothing bad happened to her. Max finally got out of the cornfields and found himself back in Vampire Village. He went under the fence and sat on the ground, brushing the dry leaves off of his clothes and hair. He looked around and see that no one was around this village.
"If Jordan escaped, she would be looking for me or maybe she could be at the hotel." Max said. "My dad has to listen to me when I find him at the hotel with my step-mom. They have to listen. Horrorland is a horrible place." He got up and went down to the exit of the village. As he pass the signs, he had a feeling he was being watched. All he see is trees. He looked up in the sky to see the colors are blue/purplish color. Is it getting dark? Max had to go to the hotel fast. Suddenly, he hears a chuckle around him, echoing the area. Max stopped, moving his eyes around to find anyone. He's being followed, he knows it.
"Hello?" He called. A puff of smoke appeared by the tree, and there is a leprechaun. His hair is red, his beard is red, and he grins like a Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. He is wearing a green and white outfit. His eyes are dark. Max stares at the creature in silence. The leprechaun speaks to the boy.
"Cronby's me name, and giving humans riddles is me game." He said. "You must be Max."
"Uh...yeah." Max said.
"You are going to the hotel by foot, but you must play this game first." Cronby said. "Answer this riddle, you may pass. But I must up front and issue this warning, if you me wrong, you won't live to see morning." Max gulped a bit. Cronby grinned wider, he tapped his fingers together. "A man was once a magician, but one day, he is cursed as an animal. Who is he?" The leprechaun said. Max knew that this one is a riddle. But, he doesn't know the answer. Max wouldn't dare to walk pass the creepy leprechaun. Who knows what he will do to the poor kid.
"Well...can I leave this spot in order to look for an answer?" Max asked.
"This is the only spot you couldn't pass till you give me an answer." Cronby said. "Try to sneak pass me, you will face your fate." Max slowly backed away from him, and return to the Vampire Village.
"Should we call the kids and have them return to the hotel?" Barb asks, by taking out her cellphone. "They've been out in the park for a long time, it's almost dinnertime."
"I'll call my son right now." Stan said by dialing the number and have the phone up to his ear. Rings are heard, and Max doesn't answer. After a few rings, Stan hears a voice mail. "Huh. He didn't pick up. He couldn't hear the phone. They could be at a ride or something." Stan said.
"I'm calling Jordan, and she's not answering either." Barb said with worry. "Let's head down to Horrorland and find them." They started to head out until a horror stands in front of them, blocking the halls.
"Going somewhere?" The creature asked.
"We're heading to the park." Stan said. "To find our kids." But the horror didn't move.
"Excuse us." Barb said, trying to walk pass the horror, but he grabbed her by the throat. Stan watches in horror.
"You two have to stay here. You're kids are the ones who are going to stay in Horrorland forever..." The horror growled. He releases the woman. Stan grabbed his wife's shoulders gently. The horror walked away from them. Barb rubbed her neck.
"Stan..." She spoke. "I think...I think we should leave this place after the kids are found."
"Agreed." Stan said. They rush down the halls to get to the elevators. When the button was pushed, the elevator doors opened, and Barb let out a shriek. Inside there are bones all over. And they smell bad. "Stairs!" Stan suggested. They went to the door and head downstairs to get to the Stagger Inn lobby. But little did they know, the bones are back together and stepped out of the elevator, and they laughed.
"That was a good one!" One male skeleton said, giving his friend a high five.
"Those humans were so scared, they look like they leak themselves!" The other said.
Jordan found herself in a pyramid tombs. She had no idea how she got herself into this place. First, she left the club and then she walked into a secret door and it lead her to the tombs. Jordan grabbed the torch, and walk down the dark halls. There is a warning sign about mummies, beetles, and everything. Jordan felt chills running down her back about mummies coming out to get her.
"I've got to get out of here." Jordan said. "I hope Max is okay." She got her phone out, and there is no signal since she is in the tombs. She wondered if her mom or step-father tried to call her or Max. They've been gone for a long time now. And it's gonna get dark soon. This place will be twice as terrifying. "Werewolves and vampires will be coming out at night. I've got to be very careful." Jordan said to herself. She found a dark room where a coffin is against the wall. The lid is open. Jordan cautiously walks toward the open coffin and look inside. Empty.
'Weird. No mummy.' Jordan thought. But then, she hears something behind her. The voices are deep and very raspy. Jordan dropped the torch and climbed in the coffin and pull the lid over. She looked through the peephole to see three horrors coming down with Slappy. Jordan kept quiet in the coffin. Slappy spoke to the creatures, looking up at them with a glare.
"Those brats are poking around the park. They seem to know too much. I think we should begin the game for them tonight." Slappy said with a sick grin on his face. "I hear the Jordan girl survived the Cold Lake. Though I don't know where the boy is."
"I hear that Cronby gave him a riddle to keep him from going to that Stagger Inn." One horror said.
"That is not the point! We need to feed the monsters! Ghouls are starving for blood!" The second horror said.
"Werewolves need bones and meat!" The third said.
"Quiet!" Slappy snapped. "I've got everything under control! Be grateful that I am the king! I control things around here! You monsters mean a lot to me..." Jordan accidently sneezed in a coffin, she covered her mouth, eyes wide in fear. She sees the dummy and horrors turn their heads to the coffin. Slappy made a glare. "...Somebody's here..." Slappy said. He approaches the coffin. He climbs on the lid. Before anything happens, Jordan fell down the chute. She let out a cry of surprise as she is sliding down in the darkness. The air is cold. She couldn't see anything at all.
"Help meeee!" Jordan screamed. Suddenly, she looks down at her feet and see light. It's fire! She's going to burn! "Ahhhhhhhhh!"
