Chapter 1: Surprise, Surprise

The sign above me read, "Lakeside Amusement Park."

(Huh?)

The place was encased in fog, and I couldn't see shit.

Nervous, I started forward. I had a flashlight in my pocket, and it cast a comforting glow. Although, the range sucked. I couldn't see more than about three feet in front of me. It looked like it was about midnight.

Slowly, I started to walk into what was clearly an old, abandoned amusement park. I took in the gaping holes in the ground, the rusted, metal grating-

-and a supremely creepy Robbie the Rabbit costume draped over a bench, as though it was just chillin'.

"Where am I?" I muttered.

I started forward, and realized that I was holding something in my hand.

Looking down, I discovered that it was the box cutter that Dad was always encouraging me to carry around. It had weird, dark stains on it.

I also had a noticeable amount of weight pressing against my back, and my hip. I checked, and found that I was also carrying a steel pipe, a handgun, and a submachine gun.

(What in the freaking, furry, FUCK- oh wait, I'm dreaming!)

Minutes ago, I was in the mall, lounging in the Happy Burger, and all of a sudden I'm in a scary amusement park- and I'm armed to the teeth? Oh yeah, I'm just dreaming!

Strangely, a sort of morbid curiosity overcame me, and I wandered over to the costume. I noticed the liberal smears of dark fluid around the mouth.

I squashed down the image of carnivorous pink bunnies. That was something I didn't need in my head.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a set of double doors. Curious, I passed through them.

My surroundings now included a run-down gift shop, and a bunch of other decaying boutiques.

And a couple of strange, dog-like creatures. They look almost... skinned.

Initially, I thought it was some sort of amusement park ploy.

(Hey, wait a minute, advertising... in a nightmare?)

The things turned, and looked at me. Oh yeah, they were alive, all right.

Then, to my horror, their heads split open down the middle; revealing more rows of sharp teeth than any dog had any business having.

(It's a dream- it's just a dream!) I thought, shuddering.

That's when the ugly fuckers decided to charge me.

"Fuck!" I shrieked. Jerking out the handgun, I managed to get a couple of rounds into one as it leapt for me. The bullets slammed into it, knocking it aside. I sidestepped the other, and lunged for the gift shop.

(Please be open, please be open!)

I noticed the sign with the ever present bunny. I jerked open the door, and dove inside.

I slammed it closed behind me, and leaned against it.

I looked up.

That damnable rabbit was everywhere.

I remembered that Robby the Rabbit was an old cartoon from the eighties. They had old reruns on cable. Even before the one outside took to cannibalism, I had been unnerved by the thing. But, I had never known that he had an amusement park devoted to him. The creepy fucker.

Okay, I so wasn't taking another step into this place. I took a deep breath, and ran back outside.

I noticed an 'exit' sign, and dove for it. I also took note of a second sign; one that advertised the 'Mountain Coaster'. I rushed through that door.

I saw more metal grating, and a rickety stairwell leading up to the roller coaster. I jogged up to it, and that was when I heard almost thunderous footsteps begin to pound behind me.

There was a terrified squeal, and I realized that it was me. I took off like a shot, and ran like hell for that staircase.

A loud, almost painful shriek accompanied those footsteps. I ran faster.

At the top of the stairs, I found that the place was empty. No one was in the office, and no cars were on the tracks.

I now had two options. One, I could go back down the stairs and deal with whatever was making those noises.

...Uhm, no!

Or two; hop on the tracks and go see where they lead.

With a sigh, I hopped onto the tracks.

The walk was nice and quiet for awhile; which my nerves greatly appreciated.

Of course- within moments- a distinct clanging noise. The sound of metal on metal. It was accompanied with a sudden surge of terror on my part.

A light was coming right at me. And I knew what the hell it was too.

It was the roller coaster. And it was headed in my direction.

I had just enough time to grunt, "Ah, crap." before the fucking thing plowed right into me.

I woke up with a start.

I looked around. I was in the Happy Burger, and it was empty. According to the clock, the mall was getting ready to close.

I shuddered, and then stretched.

"God, what a nightmare." I sighed.

I got up, and slumped out of the café. I had to make a call. Just outside the door I looked for a phone.

Thankfully, I noticed one within a couple of minutes. It was wedged into a corner, looking almost decorative.

I went over to it, and immediately dialed home; silently whining to my dad. I wouldn't be this tense if he got a cell phone.

Luckily, he was home. He even picked up on the first ring. He was a little weird that way. When he was home, he always dove for the phone when it rang. I teased him mercilessly about it- maybe he was waiting for Officer Cybil to call him.

The two of them had carried a bit of a torch for each other for as long as I could remember, but they never acted on it. They just made googly eyes at each other on the few occasions she stopped by. It was revolting.

"Mason residence." he chirped happily. Dad was obviously in a remarkably good mood. Weird.

I grinned. Dad was a bit of a dork- but he was a good dork. He had that kind of personality that you couldn't help but like.

"Dad? It's me."

"Hey, sweetheart!" he replied. I could hear the smile in his voice. Even as he tried to use his Serious Dad tone on me. Which never worked on me. "You're running mighty late, missy." he chided.

I squirmed, but didn't stop smiling. "Yeah. Sorry I didn't call sooner."

He laughed. "Don't worry about it, honey. You're seventeen. It's what seventeen year olds do. I guess you just lost track of time. You are a teenager., you know."

I chuckled quietly. "Yeah, I guess I was. Anyway, I'm coming home now." We both paused, and then I remembered something. "Oh. I didn't get that thing that you asked me to."

Dad sighed, and I felt a little guilty. But then, he laughed it off. "It's okay, kiddo. It can wait. My surprise is too important!" He was starting to sound giddy. Gross.

Dad had been like that all day. Before I had left that afternoon, he had told me- all excited- that he wanted me home by dinner. He said he had some big news. And that I had to buy a cake.

"Okay." I conceded.

"Hurry home. And take the train- it's faster!" He urged.

"Okay. I will."

"Love you, Baby Girl."

I smiled warmly. "I love you too, Dad." I hung up.

As I started to walk away, I noticed an elderly man in a trench coat- cliche much?- step out from behind a wall. He started to follow me.

After a dew minutes, he decided to open his mouth and let the bullshit flow.

"Heather." he said. How did this asshole know my name? "I need to speak with you. My name is Douglas Cartland. I'm a detective."

A detective, huh? I stopped, and gave him a cold look. "A detective? Really? Well, nice talking to you."

I started walking again. He started following me again. My stomach started to knot nervously, but I didn't let it show.

He tried to talk to me again. "Hold on. There's someone who wants to meet you. Just let me have an hour- no, half an hour of your time."

I stopped again. I turned, and looked him in the eye. In my best 'get lost' tone, I said. "My Daddy always told me never to talk to strangers. I secretly hoped he'd take the damned hint.

He didn't. "This is very important. It's about your birth."

Though I didn't know why, the knot in my stomach suddenly quadrupled. "I'm not interested." I replied tonelessly.

I kept walking. He kept following.

"Are you following me?" I yelled. "Do I have to scream?" Which is what I so wanted to do right now.

"Sorry." he said. He seemed genuinely contrite."I'll wait here."

Thank God. I entered the ladies' room.

It was quiet in there. Relieved, I walked in deeper.

I noticed a bit of graffiti on the mirror. It looked oddly familiar somehow... I stared at it, and looked away only when my head started to throb.

I thumbed the pendant around my neck. Dad had gotten it for me on one of my birthdays. I don't think that I've ever taken it off.

I checked the stalls. The first two opened, but the last was locked. Curious, I knocked.

Someone knocked back. I jumped.

"Okay..." I muttered. No hiding out in here. I looked around. I sure as shit wasn't going back out there to Detective Creepy.

"Yahtzee." I whispered. There was a good-sized, open window ahead of me. I climbed out of it.

I ended up in a back alley. I searched for a way out, but both ends were blocked. One end by a wall, the other by a big-ass van,

Dammit to hell.

Of course, that was when I noticed the door. Sighing in defeat, I entered.

It was a nondescript corridor- completely devoid of the good-natured capitalism going on deeper in the mall. I found it to be slightly unsettling.

I turned right, and walked ahead. A little bored, and anxious to get the hell out of there; I just kept following the corners until I reached a set of double doors.

(Should I- or shouldn't?... Oh, what the hell...) I passed through them.

"Wow, talk about nasty." I gaped.

I found myself in a sealed off portion of the mall. The floor was saturated with a great, heaping layer of-

-blood-

-mud. I walked around and just took in the mess for a minute or two.

I noticed something on the floor. It appeared to be a distinct trail- almost as though someone had walked through it.

(Okay, maybe someone plodded through all the yuck- and that someone knows how to GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!)

I followed the trail, and it led to a half-closed.

A voice in my head suddenly yelled, (No way- it's too weird! Don't go in!)

I went in.

It was a clothing boutique. Quaint. It was obvious that the place had had a certain charm- but it had clearly seen better days. It seemed almost... tired.

And there was a handgun on the floor.

There was something almost ominous about it. It made me nervous.

But, I also felt somewhat compelled to take it. Which I did.

And, seemingly on cue, I began to hear wet, crunching noises.

(What the hell?)

I turned, and stared; transfixed.

Absurdly, I could only register the shop clerk's name tag; 'Janine'.

(Cute...)

She was wearing the remains of a common- but never really out of style- sundress. I could even see tiny, pale tulips through the...the... blood

And, and-

She had no skin.

I realized, as the nausea hit me, that the wet noises were coming from the creature hunched over her. It was gnawing on her; it's muzzle buried in her chest.

I had once been a maniac for those 'Autopsy' specials on cable. Hysterically, I knew what killed Janine.

(Oh God- oh God! The dead don't bleed! Fuck! The dead don't bleed!)

Poor Janine had been eaten alive.

It stopped gnawing on her, and turned to look at me.

Though 'look' may have been a comparative term. It didn't seem to have any eyes. Just a cylindrical, grinning mouth.

And it definitely wasn't human.

Thud. Thud.

It was starting to advance toward me on it's equally strange, thick feet.

(Crap! The handgun!) I snatched it up, and pointed it at the monster.

"Stay back!" I warned.

Thud. Thud.

"Stay the hell away from me!" I screamed. A note of hysteria slid into my voice.

Thud. Thud.

I fired into it's face

I hit it dead on, too. I saw the puncture hole just above it's grinning mouth.

It kept coming. Thud. Thud.

Never one to be a quitter, I kept firing as it advanced.

Suddenly- click. Click.

My gun was empty!

(FUCK!)

It lifted one of it's arms- clearly ready to smack the shit out of me, when-

-it promptly dropped dead.

"Crap." I squeaked.

I fought not to hyperventilate. It was a struggle to regain my composure. I leaned against the counter.

And hurled.

: AUTHOR'S NOTES : I know, I know- low grade ending! But hey, I had to end it soon- the chapter was getting excessive. And yes, I know I took liberties by making her puke, and with the phone call- but lemme know if they were good liberties!