Author's note: Another chapter already? Yeah, I was anxious to keep this story going.
-
Chapter 2: A Wheel Good Time
-
Before Penelope could get a lick, a guy about Penelope's age bumped into her. She spilled her ice cream on the ground.
"S-Sorry about your ice cream, ma'am," the guy said. "My name's Ronald. Ronald Redlight."
"Delighted," Penelope responded. "I'm Penelope Pitstop. The ice cream's no trouble. I can always get another one later."
"THE Penelope Pitstop? Wow! Want to go on a few rides with me?"
"Sure. Let's start with the Ferris wheel, okay?"
And with that, Penelope and Ronald walked off in one direction while the Anthill Mob left in the other direction.
"We'll meet you at the fountain in the center of the park a little later," Clyde called to Penelope.
The Hooded Claw was not happy. "Blast!"
A few minutes later, Penelope and Ronald arrived at the Ferris wheel. Penelope purchased tickets for both of them, and they got on; Penelope on the left, Ronald on the right.
The safety bar that keeps passengers in Ferris wheel seats locked down. Up... up... up... the Ferris wheel rotated until Penelope and Ronald were as high as they could go. Then... the wheel stopped abruptly.
"Wow!" Ronald said. "What a view! I can see the whole amusement park from here!"
"Take a good look around, you two," an all-too-familiar voice told them, "because it'll be the last thing you'll ever see!"
Penelope gasped. "The Hooded Claw!"
"Uh, Penelope," Ronald asked, "does this happen often?"
"More often than I'd like," Penelope responded. Then she and Ronald turned and looked at the Hooded Claw, who was seated comfortably in the Ferris wheel control booth. "What's your half-brained scheme this time, Claw?"
"Now, now, don't rush me, and I'll tell you. If you look to your left, you'll see the lookout tower. Your seat is level with that balcony."
"The Bully Brothers are aiming a laser beam at you right this minute. When they fire, the beam will cut through the two of you like butter!"
You can imagine how Ronald felt about all this. "What do you have against us, Hooded Numbskull?"
"Against you, nothing. Just Penelope. Since you're with her, though, I might as well take you along for the ride, ha ha!"
Ronald and Penelope started to call for help, but the Anthill Mob were busy playing with the bumper cars, and didn't hear them.
Ronald, however, couldn't resist asking the Claw just one more question. "By the way, how do you intend to aim a laser beam with such accuracy from such a distance?"
"I took measurements last night," the Claw replied. "You think I don't plan out every one of my schemes?"
Penelope and Ronald were both silent.
What will happen to Penelope and Ronald? Will there be a future of love for this couple? Will there be a future at all for this couple?
Stay tuned, and Chapter 3 will come!