Chapter 2

"Heads I Win, Tails You Lose"

How could she have forgotten? How could she have forgotten something as important as that! How? HOW? HOW!

But she knew. And now she had remembered, she didn't want to remember. And she didn't want to go back! Not now! It just wasn't fair!

She took a slow breath, walking next to Joseph towards the others. She had to calm down. She had to keep calm and think. She was home, but it was the wrong home. It looked like it had been, but things were missing, and different. And that was what Dungeonmaster had warned them about. Hank and Eric were gone.

She could remember being in the Realm, swathed in magic, and struggling to understand…

'What's happened? Where have they gone?' demanded Bobby. 'What's going on!'

Dungeonmaster looked sadly round at the four remaining children. It was a look Diana didn't like. Uni nuzzled into their Guide's hand, trying to reassure him.

'Venger has used the Crystal of Kronos to take them from their homes before they met you,' the old man said. 'Now they work for Venger, in a different Realm.'

There was a long, cold, terrible silence.

'Why are we still here?' asked Presto at last. 'If the Realm is different, why aren't we?'

'I have used magic,' Dungeonmaster replied sombrely. 'All my magic. But even this will not last long. You must be quick, before my magic runs dry and you are trapped.'

Presto gulped. So did Bobby and Sheila. Diana didn't only because her mouth was so dry.

'What are we gonna do, Dungeonmaster?' she asked. ' How are we gonna get Hank and Eric back!'

'There is only one way, my children. You must go to this new Realm and find them.'

'Find them?' asked Sheila, sniffing back tears. 'How?'

'It will not be easy,' he replied. 'You must return to your homes; but then you will have to travel here, back into the new Realm that they have created with Venger. Then you will have to persuade them to travel back to this Realm.'

'But how? How are we going to do all this!' said Shelia. 'It's impossible! We've lost them forever!'

Dungeonmaster laid a hand on her arm and smiled at her kindly.

'You will use the Crystal of Kronos, it is the key to your journey and your safe return. Through its power you will travel back to the day before you entered the Realm. But beware, all of you, for there will be much to distract you there! And when you reach the new, altered Realm, there will be much to distract you there as well. But above all else you MUST persuade all of your friends to use the Crystal. If they do not, then I can do no more.'

How could she have forgotten so much? And how were they ever going to succeed?

She wished more than anything that she could have time to think about this, but she didn't it was here and now. They had to act: Now.

But what were they going to do?

Diana let herself be lead up to the others, where Sheila and Presto both gave her a look that asked the same question, and she had no doubt that they were in the same predicament as she was! Bobby didn't seem that interested in her, but he probably remembered as well.

There was one other boy in the group, a friend of Presto's from school called Ray that Diana only knew vaguely. He hadn't been at the school long, and was considered a bit of a nerd, like Presto, but good at history and French rather than math and science. And he seemed to have taken quite a liking to Sheila.

'Now we are all hear,' said Joseph, 'it's time to go!'

He slipped his arm round Diana's shoulders and led then to the turn-styles. He insisted on paying as well, saying that it was his treat, and no one voiced any objections.

They were back in the Amusement Park. She looked around with her mouth open, feeling slightly sick. How many times has she wished to have that day back again, and wished that she could make different choices.

And now she could.

She didn't have to go anywhere near that stupid ride. She could stay here with her friends and family. She didn't have to go through, not if she didn't want to. Diana looked round at the others, seeing her feelings echoed on the faces of the other three.

It was one of the strangest experiences of her life, even counting all the time she'd spent in the Realm battling for her life against Orcs and dragons. She spent a while wondering what was the matter before realising what was wrong: it was just so normal. It was nice! She was having fun!! When was the last time she had actually had fun like this, in safety without worrying about staying alive or saving the world? When was the last time she had had any fun at all?

As they walked around, Joseph rarely let go of her arm, and in spite of her confusion and worries she found herself enjoying all the attention he was giving her. He was tall, and slim built, but had the blonde, Nordic good looks of his German ancestors.

And he was rich. Not rich-like-Eric rich, he wasn't a snob or elitist in any way, quite the opposite, in fact. He never flashed his money around, or only on very rare occasions. There were rumours at school that the money was dirty somehow, and that was why he didn't boast; something to do with the War and his granddad. But no one had ever asked him and Diana had never paid much attention to the whispers or the gossip. She had enough of that on her own account to put up with!

So she was content to walk around enjoying the ice creams and the conversation and the company, at least for a little while, and pretend that everything was alright. She could pretend that her memories were just a dream and that this was the world the way it was meant to be.

But all the time was the feeling inside that they had to do something. They had to act, they had no choice, not if they wanted to help Eric and Hank.

And every so often Diana would look round at Presto and Sheila, and see them looking back at her, aching to get some time alone with them so they could talk.

Eventually, just before lunchtime, they got their chance.

The six of them had been walking around the boating pond in the centre, when Bobby suddenly pointed at something.

'The Spinner!' he shouted. 'Can we go on the Spinner, Sheila! Please!'

'Oh, no Bobby, not that one! I hate that one,' said his sister. 'It makes me feel all dizzy and sick.'

Bobby looked terribly disappointed, but to her surprise, Ray was looking disappointed too. And Diana suddenly had a wonderful idea.

'Say, Joseph,' she whispered. 'How about taking Ray and Bobby on the Spinner. Just look at their faces! It would make their day!'

Joseph smiled at her. She loved that smile, so clear and light and just… No! Stop it! She told herself. That is NOT going to help!

'Sure!' said Joseph with a nod. He turned to the others. 'Say, you two! Why don't we three go on the Spinner? How about you, Presto?'

Presto looked startled.

'Ah… um… no! All that centrifugal force… yuk! I'm, um, gonna, go and get… a drink! Yeah, a drink! You guys want anything?'

Joseph and Ray shook their heads and Bobby wasn't listening, as he was already half way across to the queue for the ride.

The moment they were out of earshot Sheila turned to Diana.

'You remember it, don't you?' she asked urgently. 'You remember Hank? Don't you? And Eric? Don't you…?'

Diana nodded, feeling slightly faint. This was real, it wasn't some sort of strange dream as a small part of her had hoped. Presto nodded as well.

'Then I don't understand what happened,' said Sheila. 'They're gone. And we're home and everything is normal except that they're gone!'

The three looked at each other, and Diana saw her inner confusion mirrored on the faces of the other two. She tried to concentrate, but it was all vague and fuzzy, like a dream. She still remembered them, and what Dungeonmaster had said, but it was getting hard and harder to hold on.

'I don't think anyone has heard of them,' said Presto. 'Hank's old house is derelict. And when I pointed it out to my Dad, he seemed really uncomfortable! No one had lived there for years.'

'What about Bobby?' said Diana, turning to Sheila. 'Does he remember anything?'

Sheila nodded, and the look on her face was one of sadness.

'He knows, he remembers, but how can I take him back? Knowing what it's like there! I can't! But I can't leave Hank…' She pursed her lips, fighting back tears. 'I don't know what to do.'

Diana tried to smile at the other girl, hoping to reassure her, but her own heart wasn't in it. She felt exactly the same way. Now she had come home, and even though she had only been back here for a morning, she didn't want to go back to fighting and sleeping rough and scavenging for food. She wanted to say here, with her family and her friends.

But no matter how had she tired to thing about all the good things, there was always that little, nagging voice in the back of her head that kept on chanting what about Eric and Hank…?

'I don't want to go back, either,' she said at last. 'But I don't think we have much of a choice.'

'No,' said Presto firmly, 'we do have a choice. We don't have to go. We don't have to do what Dungeonmaster told us.' He looked round at the girls, and his face was dark. 'We have a choice, and we know the right one to take. But, still…'

He looked away.

'We know what to do,' Diana said. 'It's just doing it that's going to be the problem.'

For a long moment they sat in silence.

Diana looked around the Amusement Park, at the rides and all the happy people having fun without a care in the world. It wasn't fair. She wanted to be like them, and not have to worry about saving peoples lives or rescuing friends or scavenging for food or sleeping rough, or Orcs or Dragons or giants or any of the thousand other reasons she hated the Realm.

But she knew what they had to do.

Bobby, Joseph and Ray returned surprisingly soon, the two older boys laughing and joking, with Bobby (and his fearsome expression) leading them on. Neither of the two boys noticed the change in Presto, Sheila or Diana as they each put on a brave face for the moment.

Though she smiled and took Joseph's arm, the growing feeling of fear and anticipation didn't leave Diana. It was coming, soon. They were going to have to go.

The people around her laughed and smiled; the tempting smell of fast food grew stronger; there was the sound of whirring rides and happy children. Joseph kept hold of her hand, and cast admiring in her direction.

It was wonderful. It was perfect.

Then they rounded a corner and suddenly, there it was in front of them: The Ride.

It was larger than she remembered it; the gaping maw of the Dragon at the entrance seemed wider and darker, and almost leering at her. She shivered suddenly in the warm sunlight. Joseph and Ray walked on oblivious to what was going on, but the three older ones stopped and looked at each other.

Bobby, however, being Bobby ran on ahead.

'Look!' he cried. 'It's the Dungeons and Dragons Ride! Let's go!'

'Bobby, are you…?' asked Sheila.

She didn't continue, and Diana could understand why. Bobby had turned and there was a look on the young boy's face that was so grown-up and so knowing that there was no need to ask what he was thinking.

Diana glanced to Presto, who gave an imperceptible nod.

'Let's go!'

'Cool!' chimed in Ray. 'The game is great!'

Diana looked at him in surprise.

'I've played it with some of my friends,' he explained, seeing her expression. 'It's fun, you get to be someone else for a while, explore a new place, a new world. It's really exciting!'

He seemed so genuinely enthusiastic that Diana was at a loss for words. She didn't reply, not wanting to burst his bubble. Not just yet.

'Well, come on and get in line!' called Joseph. 'Before we have to wait all year!'

The six of them waited in line, Diana with a serious sense of déjà vu. She kept looking at Sheila and Presto, and Bobby too, and inside her the fear was building.

There were no guarantees. There might be no way back. She didn't really know what was ahead, but if they turned round and went somewhere else they could stay at home. They didn't have to go through all that again.

She looked at Joseph as he chatted to Ray, his lovely smile and the confident charm he had. He reminded her so much of Kosar, even down to the beautiful shade of his eyes. She didn't want to have to leave this behind.

But what about Eric? And what about Hank? the nagging voice persisted.

Her heart lurched slightly as she thought of her two missing friends. Hank she had always looked up to, he was their leader and someone she cared about very deeply; and that didn't even begin to cover what Sheila thought about him.

Then there was Eric; proud, infuriating, irritating and occasionally wonderful. She didn't know how she felt about him. Since meeting Kosar, things had been different between them. He didn't pester her the way he'd used to, he didn't needle her or annoy her either. It was almost as if he was being, heaven forbid, thoughtful!

But the bottom line was, she missed him. She missed the way they would verbally spar, or the way he would try and sneak up behind her just because he knew she hated it. He missed the temper tantrums and the stupid comments and the jokes and the fun and the way he grinned at her.

Ahead, the line was growing shorter, there were only a few people in front of them. It was going to be their turn very soon. Sheila and Diana looked at each other. The intermittent conversation had fizzled out, even Joseph and Ray were quiet in anticipation.

The last few minutes of waiting were the worst torture Diana had ever experienced (with one exception). Her heart was thudding as if she had been running a marathon, it was like waiting at the state championships for the result, only worse; a thousand times worse. This wasn't sport, or a game. This was real life!

Then she felt Joseph take her arm.

'You look really scared, Diana. You don't have to go if you don't want to.'

This was her chance to get out of it. She didn't have to go through that all again. But what about Eric and Hank? She pursed her lips, and shook her head, as firmly as she could.

'I'm fine.'

'Well c'mon, then!' said Ray. 'Smile a little. It's supposed to be fun!'

He gave Sheila an extra wide grin, and she tried to smile back, as well as she could.

The car drew up beside them.

'In you go, kids,' said the attendant, lifting the safety bar. 'Three in the front, three in the back.'

In spite of her resolve, Diana hesitated. But fortunately for them all, Bobby stomped forward and took his seat in the front left. Sheila joined him, and Ray snuck in beside her. In the back, Diana slid into her seat behind Bobby, feeling a little faint. Joseph sat next to her, and Presto was last.

She held her breath as the car sat still. She wondered how the others were feeling, were they feeling as scared and as sad as she was? Was she ever going to see home again?

Finally, with a jerk, the car moved forward towards the open mouth of the dragon. There was no turning back now. They had to go through with it, just like they did before.

It was exactly the same as last time, the mechanical dragons, the fire and smell of oil and exhaust fumes. For a moment, she worried that nothing was going to happen, and that all the worrying and fear had been in vain.

The car trundled on, past the animated creatures and the fake castles, and Diana looked around, panic growing.

What if nothing happened? What if they didn't go back? what if Hank and Eric were stuck forever away from their friends? What if…?

Ahead there was a creak of grinding metal, and a bright blue spark flashed across her vision. This is it!

'What's happening?' Ray shouted.

No one else spoke.

Then there was a flash of light and then the oddly familiar feeling of falling.