WELCOME TO FUN ZONE! YOUR ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR FUN, FOOD, FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP!
Destiny Box shrieked with excitement as the sign came into view, causing a jolt of it in Danielle's stomach. This was it; they were finally here. Jodie wound down the window, so the park's theme tune came into the car through hidden speakers. She personally thought the sign was a bit corny when Destiny read it to her, but nor could she deny it was true.
"I'm so excited!" Crystal squealed from beside her. She grinned at her, trying not to bounce in her own seat.
Danielle and Jodie had picked the other two up a couple of hours before, and Destiny had insisted they had a coffee in the Haven before leaving, which Angela would not let them pay for. During this, the girls had talked about anything and everything, and it had only continued over the last hour in the car.
Everyone who knew Destiny and Crystal called them the future twins, and judging by the eye rolls from both, they'd heard this countless times before. Danielle joked their parents must have hated them. Their names were Destiny Box and Crystal Ball!
Danielle was always asking Destiny to open for her and tell her the future, being as she was a Box. This had earned her several pokes over the years. Jodie, on the other hand, constantly asked Crystal for a look into her eyes to find out her fortune.
Now, Jodie stopped her car by the registration booth. The girls had decided to go all out on this trip. Premium hotel rooms, fast track passes, so they didn't have to queue for rides, unlimited food passes, which would give them as much food as they liked all day, and unlimited breakfast in the hotel the next morning. All they had to pay for, were drinks. Fun Zone was so big, there were even electric buggies customers could hire for the day. They held four people each and had a little space to store merchandise and small bags. They'd hired one of these. The vehicles even had horns, which Jodie couldn't wait to show Danielle.
Now, Jodie produced the documents. The park opened at 9AM, closing at 9PM. The girls had got there at 9AM sharp.
"Good morning, ladies," the desk clerk smiled at them, taking the documents from her.
"Morning," the four chorused, smiling back at him.
"Ok, thanks Miss Craig, that's all good," he handed Jodie back the tickets, and Danielle her two special access cards. "You can pick up your buggy in the transport building just inside the gates. Have a great time!"
"Oh, we will!" The girls grinned at him. He grinned back, before Jodie drove through the gates, the theme tune sounding all around them.
A few minutes later, they'd picked up their buggy, storing their purses in the compartment, which locked and started the vehicle with the same key. Jodie had agreed to drive it first, then maybe swap with Destiny or Crystal later.
"Why can't I drive it?" Danielle whined, and everyone groaned.
"You drive I'm walking!" Destiny poked her arm. "Sorry babe!" She tried to pretend annoyance but only ended up laughing.
They all boarded, and the first thing Jodie did was honk the horn. Another group collecting their own buggy laughed with them, and the four smiled bac. Danielle's face lit up. "It has a horn! Awesome!" The sound was just a beep, but it was sure to get people's attention if they were in their way.
"Yeah, if people can hear it," the woman in the next vehicle said.
"That's a good point," Danielle smiled at her. "With all this noise!"
"Exactly. I'm here with my husband, son and daughter." The three said hello, and the four said hi back.
"Have a good day, ladies," the family said together
"You too," the four chorused, as the two buggy's drove out of the transport building. As the family drove away, they honked their horn at them. Jodie honked theirs back.
"I'll let you press the horn later promise," Jodie grinned at Danielle's excitement.
Fun Zone was just that, divided into zones. Water, an entire water park with all the rides and slides one could want, Relax, the place to find all the carrousels and smaller rides, Horror, the home of the haunted house, horror maze and other horror themed attractions. Speed, the home of all the rollercoasters and other thrill rides including several simulators, Soft, a soft play Zone, rest, which was where the hotel was, snack, where all the food places were, at least fifty of them, kids, where parents could drop their little ones into the care of professional staff for a few hours, with lots to keep children entertained. Finally, Arcade, which held every kind of arcade game and machine imaginable, with a separate smaller part for adults only. Snack was also linked to the Rest Zone, and guests staying in the hotel could access it after the park itself was closed, Snack Zone remained open twenty-four hours. As part of their premium bundle, all food from there would remain unlimited throughout their stay. Each Zone, accept Arcade had shops, selling merchandise and gifts themed around the Zone.
The first thing they did was go to the main gift shop next to the transport building, where the other three purchased a Fun Zone guidebook, which included maps. Destiny purchased two. All four purchased a Fun Zone Water bottle. They then filled them up from one of the many water fountains all over the park, at least three in every Zone. They were shown on the map by a little picture of a faucet, and a W. They suspected the park staff had put them there, for when it got unbelievably hot.
"I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO SOFT ZONE!" Crystal shrieked as they started to drive through the park, she and Destiny examining their books, Crystal reading parts to Danielle. "DESTINY AND I HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE, IT'S My FAVOURITE!"
"You're such an overgrown child," Jodie said, but affectionately. Everyone laughed.
"Isn't that the Zone where everything, even the floor and walls, is made of bouncy stuff?"
"Yep," Destiny confirmed, now she was the one bouncing in her seat. "It has soft slides, ball pools, trampolines, swings, things to go in and crawl through, you name it! Oh my God I'm so excited!" Everyone smiled at her, her excitement was infectious. Danielle told them about her room in Smith's Grove, which had the soft walls. "Why do we need ball pools? We've got a Ball here already!"
"I knew that was coming," Crystal groaned.
"Where shall we go first?" Jodie asked.
"You're the driver," the other three said together, laughing.
"We've just passed kids," Crystal said. Danielle couldn't help but listen happily to all the sounds around them. All types of music, screams, laughter, parents calling to their children. She loved it.
"This is water," Destiny said. They had all brought their swimming costumes, they were back in the car. "I vote we do that last, we don't want to be wet all day, do we? I know it has changing rooms, showers and stuff, but still." The others nodded.
"Isn't this the biggest theme park in the world?" Jodie asked, her tone awestruck. "It's fucking huge!"
"Yep," Crystal confirmed. "God knows how long this took to build!"
"They have new rides here too," Destiny said. "There's a new one in Horror, one in Speed!"
"Yay!" Danielle whooped. "I can't wait! How do we know which buggy is ours? Sorry about all the questions!"
"Hey girl," Crystal put an arm around her. "You ask away! Each buggy has a number on it, ours is number 17."
"This is Snack, maybe we should go there later too. We don't want full stomachs on rides, do we?" Everyone grinned.
"Ok, this is Speed," Destiny said. "Shall we do this one first?"
"Hell yes!" The others said together. Jodie drove them into Speed Zone, the dance music thumping all around them.
Being blind, Danielle didn't have to pay for her special access fast tracking. She and one other person could use it for free, that person being the one who was helping her. Danielle had tried to say she'd pay something towards the others fast tracking, but the other three had adamantly refused.
"You deserve something for being blind," Destiny had said firmly, to which the other two nodded.
"Come on then, you," Destiny said now, taking her hand and helping her out of the buggy. "We're right by, "The drop," the highest rollercoaster in the world. Who do you want with you for this one?"
"I don't mind," she smiled affectionately at her friends. Destiny took her arm. Jodie and Crystal stood behind them. Almost instantly, she and Destiny were boarding, "The drop."
"This one goes up over 300 feet, then drops you back down again," Destiny said excitedly. "Hold onto your stomach!"
A safety engineer came round, checking everyone's harness and seatbelts were secure. After he had gently pulled on Danielle's, she held onto the two metal handles on it's front.
Her special access was shown by a little card she wore around her neck, and the person with her wore another. She was also allowed to switch people whenever she liked. It put them right at the front, whereas standard fast tracking was behind them, then the regular queue.
The clerk had simply looked at her, nodded, and handed her the two cards. It was blatantly obvious she was blind.
"I could get used to this," Destiny poked her arm through their harness's. "I feel so special! Jodie and Crystal are getting in a few rows behind us, they're not as special as we are!"
Destiny and Crystal were the only ones who knew about her and Michael, apart from Jodie and their family. They'd been devastated they hadn't been able to make the wedding, due to work commitments they could not change. She adored them, because they'd stood by her side, and hadn't abandoned her for loving a serial killer. They hadn't met him yet, but said they couldn't wait to do so. They'd commented on the picture of Jodie and Michael standing together on Craig Crime, saying they'd loved the latest episode. Now, Destiny took out her phone and took a picture of Danielle in her seat, with her harness and seatbelt. The night before she'd asked Michael if destiny and Crystal could have his number for this, and he'd agreed immediately.
"Wow," Destiny grinned. "I'm about to text Michael Myers himself! Damn! I've just sent him a pic of you aboard, with your harness on. We're not going to move just yet, people are still boarding, the poor common ones behind us who can't afford fast tracking!"
"Box!"! She scolded, laughing.
"That's my name, don't wear it out! Only special people like you get this privilege! I almost wish I was blind now!"
"Shut it!"
Destiny put her phone in a secure zip pocket. Everyone else had left their things in the buggy, but she wanted to keep hers for the pictures, so had deliberately worn pants with zip pockets.
Suddenly, the dance music got louder, and the cars began to move. She was the one to shriek with excitement this time. A few seconds later, their car was pulled onto the clicking chain lift, as they were pulled up, then up again.
"FUCK ME!" Someone behind them screamed, and the two girls laughed.
When they were lifted for the third time, Danielle felt her stomach contract with excitement, but also fear of, "The drop," which was exactly the point of this rollercoaster.
"HOLY SHIT!" Someone else shouted.
They finally stopped, right below a speaker, from which dance music pounded, before it dimmed just slightly, and a deep male voice spoke three words. "Don't look down!"
"FUCK!" A girl's voice shrieked, and she knew they'd done just that. Whoops!
"BE GLAD YOU CAN'T SEE," Destiny shouted. "NOW I REALLY DO WISH I WAS BLIND! Jesus!"
Then, "The drop," dropped. It was so fast; she didn't even have breath to scream. They fell, down, down. She clutched her safety harness, feeling the wind shooting through her hair. When they eventually stopped, she realised her legs were shaking.
"WOO!" Destiny screamed. "That was fucking awesome!"
"Oh my God," she gasped for breath. "I fucking loved that! Is that the new ride in Speed?"
"Nope," Destiny said, as they waited for their harnesses to be removed. "That's a space simulator."
"Fuck yes!"
A minute or so later, the four were getting back into their buggy. "That was awesome," Crystal exclaimed.
"I know, I want to do that again later!"
"Oh, we will!"
The only rule special access had, was they had to wait at least an hour before going on the same ride twice. She didn't mind this at all, it was only fair.
"I think Danielle really wants to do, "Deep space," now," Destiny said.
"Sure," Jodie drove towards it. As they reached it, they heard the Star Wars music blasting out.
"That's cool!" Danielle grinned. "The music!" They got out.
"It looks it too," Crystal said, beaming. "It looks like an aircraft cabin."
"Yeah, the seats are even leather," someone said behind them and turning, they saw the girl they'd met in the transport building.
"You don't half get thrown around though," the boy said with a grin. "Watch out! Don't eat anything first!"
"Please tell me you didn't make that mistake?" Danielle begged, and the group laughed.
"Nah," the boy smiled at her. "That would've really spoilt our day. I'm Jason, by the way."
"Danielle, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. Hope you don't mind me saying this, but I almost wish I had a disability to try special access, not just standard!"
"Jason!" His mother scolded. He blushed.
"Sorry, I just meant I've wondered what it's like. I have a badly disabled friend in a wheelchair, he'd sadly never be able to go somewhere like this, and I just can't help wondering what it would've been like for him if he could."
"Are you going on or coming off?"
""We're just about to go on," the girl said. "Hi Danielle, I'm Rachael. This is my mother Faith and my father Christian." They shook hands. Jodie could see Crystal, Danielle and Destiny trying not to grin. Faith and Christian? What were the odds? Clearly seeing this though, Christian chuckled.
"I can see what you're thinking ladies, yes, Faith and Christian, I know!"
"Please tell me your Surname isn't Church?" Destiny begged and all eight of them cracked up again.
"Webber," Rachael said with a grin. "Church would be just… bad!"
"It could be worse," Crystal groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "You could be named Crystal Ball!"
"No!" The family said in unison, and Danielle, Destiny and Jodie laughed all over again.
"I think my parents hated me," Crystal said. "That is honest to God my name, Crystal Jade Ball."
"I'm Destiny Box," Destiny muttered, and everyone laughed again. "Couldn't make it up, could you?"
"Think we got off easy with Webber, Dad," Rachael said.
""Well," Danielle said, turning to Jason. She would never have dared do this just after Adam, and she loved that she was now so outgoing and confident. She felt a rush of love for Michael at that moment. Adam would've absolutely lost it if she had even as much as talked to another man, let alone given him something. He would have perceived it as flirting, immediately. She loved the fact she could talk to a male friend, Michael not batting an eyelid, in fact encouraging it. Not that Adam had, or would have, ever taken her to a theme park. She couldn't deny the thought of taking Michael to one someday sounded amazing. Knowing what she was about to say, Destiny slipped the other special access card into her hand.
"Let's do this, Jason!" Grinning, she slipped her arm through his, handing him the card. "Wear that. Come on, we get on first."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep." Although she didn't see it, the others all smiled at her. Jason's face broke into a huge grin, as he guided her to the special access point. Behind them, the others followed.
"That was very kind of her," Rachael said.
"That's Danielle," the three girls said together affectionately.
Within a minute, they were boarding, "Deep space." Just as Rachael had said, the seats were leather, and they wore a lap belt as on an aircraft. "But this will be one turbulent flight!" He exclaimed, squeezing her arm. "It's new, only like two weeks, I think. There's a huge screen at the front of the cabin, which will show a film I believe. The cabin fits 30 people."
"Is there only one cabin?"
"There's three of them."
At that moment, the music started within the cabin, and a voice came over the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard flight 9027 into deep space. We will shortly be preparing for launch, and to leave the earth's atmosphere. Please ensure any personal items are secure and your seatbelts are fastened. We will experience turbulence, so please always remain seated throughout the flight."
"Awesome," Danielle grinned.
"Crystal, Destiny, Rachael, mom and dad are about to sit right behind us. The seats are in rows of three."
"Hey," Jodie said, sitting beside her. She was in the middle, between Jodie and Jason. "Destinies behind me; Crystal's next to her, someone else is on the other side. Rachael, Faith and Christian are behind."
"This is really kind of you, thanks loads! I always wanted to see what special access was like."
"You're welcome. That said, I'd rather not have to use it."
"Oh of course, but you deserve something for being blind!"
Jodie smiled at him. "That's exactly what we all said."
A short time later, the simulator began to move. Jason hadn't been kidding, they were thrown from left to right, backwards and forwards, and several times up, fast. It was only brief, but she was pretty sure it was to come as close as possible to making them feel weightless, as if they really were in, "Deep space." She shrieked with laughter as she was almost thrown into Jason's lap. "Sorry!"
"No worries," he laughed.
The film on the screen showed an aircraft, clearly met to be them, flying through the sky, getting into trouble and being attacked by enemies. "MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" A pilot shouted, as they dropped. Everyone screamed.
Next, they rode the "Corkscrew," which threw them upside down and in all directions. They wore the same safety harnesses as on, "The drop." This time, Danielle took Rachael through the special access route.
"Please let us buy you all a drink later at least?" Christian asked, as they dismounted, Jason looking slightly green around the gills. "We're staying in the hotel tonight."
"So are we," Jodie said. "We can meet up later if you like?"
"That sounds like a plan," Faith smiled at them.
"Are you ok, Jason?" Crystal grinned at him. "Not going to throw up, are you?"
"I think I'm ok," he said, smiling shakily. "Damn, I wasn't expecting it to be quite that… bumpy!"
Destiny disappeared for a few seconds, returning with a paper cup of water.
"Thanks," Jason smiled genuinely at her, taking it.
"Have you been here before, Destiny?" Rachael asked.
"Crystal and I have, several times," she smiled. "Crystal's favourite Zone is Soft. I love bouncing up and down and going on all the soft stuff! I think mine is Horror."
"We haven't tried those yet," Christian said. "Is there a part just for adults, then?"
"There is. "Do you guys have a map? The main gift shop sells them, it's next to the Transport Building."
"Not yet, this is the first time we've ever been here."
Stepping back over to the buggy and reaching into her bag, Destiny pulled out a Fun Zone guidebook. "Here, take this. I bought two."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep, it's fine." She handed it to Christian.
"Thank you very much," the family said together, as Christian flicked through it, before handing it to his daughter, who looked at it excitedly, followed by her brother.
The groups parted ways, Danielle and her gang riding the rest of speed, the other three taking it in turns with special access for Danielle. A flight simulator and other rollercoasters, including one where they stood in a cage, and were spun so fast, gravity held them against the wall, as the floor dropped away beneath them, and one which was like a train, riding fast over a very bumpy track. Danielle couldn't resist riding, "Deep Space," a second time, she and Jodie using special access, then, "The drop," with Crystal.
She and Jodie, Destiny and Crystal, got into two racing cars, one driver, one passenger, racing each other around a track, but the car was a simulator, giving them the thrill of driving fast, as the force pushed them back into their seats, feeling every turn and bump.
They entered the Speed gift shop, looking at all the merchandise. Danielle couldn't resist buying another rollercoaster shaped mug. There were the usual keyrings, pens and so on, with slogans like, "I rode the drop, and survived! I survived Deep Space!" They stored their merchandise in the buggy, then drove back to Snack Zone.
"Holy crap!" Danielle exclaimed at the choice of food places. "How does anyone know what they even want? Thank goodness for unlimited food passes, eh? Fun Zone is not stupid, they know how to make a damn huge prophet!"
They eventually all had a breakfast sandwich, cold drink and a piece of cake. Danielle could hardly believe they could have as much food as they liked.
"That explains why drinks are so expensive," Crystal said. "Sheesh!"
"Exactly," Destiny agreed. "But you can't deny it's good business!"
After their late breakfast, they got back into their buggy.
"It's your turn Crystal," Jodie said. "We'll go alphabetically, that makes sense. Where do you want to go?"
"Soft!" Crystal shrieked immediately, and everyone laughed.
They parked the buggy at the entrance of Soft Zone, stepping immediately onto the bouncy floor, and entering the adult Zone. They were very surprised to find it completely empty.
"MORE FOR ME THEN," Crystal shouted, sounding just like an excited child. Danielle tackled her to the soft ground, and the two rolled around, shrieking.
"Bloody hell," Destiny tried to groan, but only laughed, as did Jodie. It was so much fun to watch their friends, especially Danielle happy and excited, after all the shit she'd been through. Pulling out her phone, Jodie sent Michael a video of Danielle and Crystal bouncing up and down, hand in hand, before Danielle pushed her into a ball pool. Destiny crawled into a soft tunnel; Jodie got on a swing.
"WEE!" Danielle screamed, as she slid down a slide, straight into another ball pool, as Destiny went into the big soft house. Jodie was just in time to capture it on video, which she sent to Michael. She never thought she'd ever hear Danielle scream, "WEE!" Out of excitement and happiness again, and of all people, her husband deserved to hear it. She was starting to truly care about and respect Michael Myers. Not something she ever thought she'd feel! Crystal jumped onto a trampoline and began bouncing high into the air. It was surrounded by a tall net to stop her bouncing off.
"Are you stalking us?" Jodie laughed, and turning, the other two saw Jason and his family entering. Crystal told Danielle, and she grinned, before walking over to Rachael and tackling her to the ground, causing both girls to scream with laughter, as Danielle pushed her into a ball pool.
"This is cool!" Jason said excitedly, sliding into the ball pool after his sister. "I love how the floor and walls are made of this stuff through the entire zone."
"Safety all the way," Crystal grinned. "They don't want to get in trouble!"
Now it was Faith to follow Danielle into the big house. "Over here," Danielle sang, trying to hide.
"Damn this is huge," Faith called. "Where are you, Danielle?"
"You can't find me," Danielle sang, slipping into an alcove. Jason joined Crystal on the trampoline, Christian watched, grinning.
"Where the hell are you?" Faith laughed. "Dang!"
Jodie quietly asked Faith if she was ok with being videoed, and the whole family laughed, nodding. Jodie took a video of Faith trying to find Danielle, and slipped behind her to find her, showing her hiding in a soft alcove, before sending it to Michael.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Faith sang, and Danielle giggled.
"I love that adults can be kids too sometimes," she whispered to Jodie, who squeezed her hand.
"Shh, or she'll find you!"
Danielle loved the fact she could play a real game of hide and seek, not running and seriously hiding from a man who only wanted to hurt her.
"GOTCHA!" Faith shrieked, gently grabbing Danielle's hand. "Ha!"
"Damn it! I should've hidden better!"
"This house is huge!
"Awesome, isn't it?" Danielle laughed, as she, Jodie and Faith crawled towards the exit. "How much of this soft stuff did this take to build?"
"A lot," the older woman smiled at her.
They spent two hours in Soft Zone, their new friends staying with them. They eventually parted again, agreeing to meet up in the hotel later that evening, if they didn't bump into each other again before then. The Soft gift shop sold soft balls and other things, all made of the same soft material as the Zone. Jodie bought a soft elephant.
It was Danielle's turn, and she requested Horror Zone. As they entered it, the music around them became sinister and scary, making the hairs rise on their necks. Crystal told Danielle there was a ghost train, the haunted house, the, "Maze of fear, and the Dungeon.
"Let's do the haunted house!" Danielle exclaimed, and Jodie drove them up to it.
…
They stand in a small entrance chamber hearing sinister music, creaking doors, screams, cackles and rattling chains. "Quiet. Abandon all hope," a ghostly voice whispers, right at the back of their necks. "You have dared to enter this house; so, you will not come out alive." The gates slide open silently.
Entering the queuing area through a pair of ornate gates, they find themselves in the mansion's well-tended gardens and courtyards. The queuing path leads them past a pet cemetery, a mausoleum with pun names, and a white carriage hearse led by an invisible horse. They then step onto the porch, where they are led into the mansion's foyer by a sombre butler and maid. At the foyer, the Ghost Host, welcomes them as the cast members usher them into the first room: an octagonal portrait gallery. The wall panel slides closed, and the tour begins.
As the Ghost Host taunts his guests, the room begins to "stretch." The portraits on the walls elongate, revealing the fates of previous visitors, as follows: a bearded gentleman holding a document, wearing only his undergarments from the waist down and standing atop a lighted keg of dynamite, a pretty young lady holding a parasol, balancing on a fraying tightrope above the gaping jaws of an alligator, A widow holding a rose while sitting atop a tall gravestone, at the bottom of which is a stone bust of her husband George, with a hatchet embedded in his head, and a man in a bowler hat sitting on another man's shoulders, who in turn sits on the shoulders of a third man who is waist-deep in quicksand. He speaks. "...And consider this dismaying observation: This chamber has no windows, and no doors... Which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out! Of course, there's always my way..."
With a sudden thunderclap, the lights go out and the ceiling disappears. The girls screamed. A ghastly vision manifests above: the skeletal corpse of the Ghost Host dangles from a noose inside an octagonal cupola with 4 curtainless windows (rather than the hexagonal cupola with 6 curtained ones seen on the exterior), illuminated by flashes of lightning.
Seconds later, the room goes pitch-black, and a bloodcurdling scream is heard — falling from the ceiling to the floor, ending with the sound of shattering bones. A wall opens, and they are then led down a hall of portraits. As lightning flashes from the windows on the opposite side of the hall, the portraits transform into images of corpses and monsters in sync with the lightning. At the hall's far end are 2 statuary busts depicting a man and a woman? As they move past them, the statues appear to turn and gaze after them.
They step into a dark and misty loading area, where they are guided into their carriages or "Doom Buggies," by men in the dark suits and ties of funeral directors, who tell them to "rest in peace," and grin menacingly at them. The Ghost Host invisibly lowers the safety bars. "Do not pull down on the safety bar please, I will lower it for you, keep your hands inside your coffin at all times."
The journey begins. The Doom Buggies glide upstairs to the second floor and point them toward a hallway with no apparent end. A candelabra can be seen floating in the distance of the misty passage. Near its entrance stands a haunted, moving suit of Armour. Turning away from the endless hall, they travel past a conservatory filled with dead, withered plants and flowers. In the middle of the room is a coffin occupied by a restless "guest" who is attempting to get out. Perched near the coffin is a black raven with glowing red eyes.
The Doom Buggies continue down a corridor lined with doors. The sounds of pounding, screeching, calls for help and maniacal laughter can be heard from behind the doors. Knockers and handles are moved by unseen hands and some doors appear to be "breathing." The walls, covered in demon-faced wallpaper, are adorned with corpses which appear to move, and a large painting of the Ghost Host. A demonic grandfather clock chimes 13 as its hands spin backward and the shadow of a claw passes over it. They enter a dark séance room full of floating musical instruments. Madame Liotta, a medium whose disembodied head appears within a crystal ball, summons the mansion's spirits while levitating above her table. As she incants: "Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat / Call in the spirits, wherever they're at. / Rap on a table, it's time to respond / Send us a message from somewhere beyond. / Goblins and Ghoulies from last Halloween / Awaken the spirits with your tambourine. / Creepies and crawlies, toads in a pond / Let there be music from regions beyond. / Wizards and witches, wherever you dwell / Give us a hint by ringing a bell."
The instruments answer her in turn. They pass onto the balcony of a magnificent ballroom where the happy haunts have materialized. A ghostly birthday party appears to be taking place at the dining table (where a dinner plate and 2 saucers on the left side of the table combine to form a "hidden Mickey." Some spirits sit on the chandeliers, drinking, while others enter the hall from an open coffin in a hearse. A ghost wraps his arm around a female bust, and 2 portraits of men with pistols come to life to resume their earthly duel. A ghostly musician plays a discordant version of the attraction's theme on a pipe organ, while spirit heads float up and out of its pipes and transparent couples waltz nearby. The buggies then proceed to the attic, an irregularly shaped room cluttered with gifts, personal items, mementos and wedding portraits. In each portrait, the same bride is seen with a different groom, whose heads disappear to the accompaniment of a hatchet sound. (Eagle-eyed guests may notice that with each successive photograph, the bride gains another string of pearls.) Just before the Doom Buggies leave the attic, the same ghost bride from the pictures, Constance Hatchway, is seen floating in the air, intoning macabre wedding vows. As she raises her arms, a hatchet appears in her hands, seeming to head down towards the riders, but missing, as the Doom Buggies drift out of the attic window and onto the balcony of what appears to be a run-down Victorian mansion, rather than the pristine antebellum house that they initially entered. The starry night sky is filled with wispy spirits rising from the graveyard below. The Doom Buggies turn around, and tip backward down a 15-percent grade surrounded by dark, ghoulish trees with knotted expressions. The red-eyed raven caws at them from a branch overhead. The Doom Buggies reach the ground and turn towards the gate of the graveyard. There stands a caretaker and his dog, the attraction's only "living" characters. The caretaker's knees shake in fright, an expression of terror on his face, while his emaciated dog whines and whimpers. Around the corner, a ghostly band of minstrels plays a jazzy rendition of "Grim grinning Ghosts." the buggies ride into an execution yard. The scaffold awaits. "May God almighty have mercy on your soul," a ghostly executioner intones, as the buggies ascend to the top of the gallows.
"You have been found guilty of witchcraft and now you will hang for your crime." A ghostly crowd cheer with excitement as the noose appears. The death bell begins to toll. "Do you," a ghostly priest intones, dressed in the clerk's collar. "Wish to make a confession?" The buggies drop fast once, in the motion one would feel when at the end of a noose. There is a single snap, that of a breaking neck.
The buggies glide through the gate into the graveyard and towards and open grave which they enter. The death march can be heard in the background and the smell of death becomes all consuming. "Rest in peace," the Ghost Host whispers, as the grave starts to close. But just as it appears they are buried alive; another side opens, and the buggies glide out. They all scream again.
Ghouls pop up from behind tombstones, a king and queen balance on a teeter-totter, a duchess swings back and forth from a tree branch, and a skeletal hellhound howls from behind them. The Doom Buggies travel down a hill and turn to see 5 expressive haunted busts singing "Grim Grinning Ghosts" in barbershop harmony. They encounter a ghostly tea party surrounding a hearse stuck in the mud. An arm protrudes from a crypt with a wine glass in its bony hand, while banshees ride bikes in the distance. Nearby, the ghost of a hearing-impaired elderly man struggles to understand the words of an awakened mummy through an ear trumpet. The Doom Buggies turn to face 2 opera singers ("phantoms of the opera") who are blasting their voices up into the night. Beside them, three other ghosts — a decapitated knight, his executioner, and a prisoner — join in with them.
They pass a spirit bricking himself into his own tomb. As the buggies approach a crypt, the Ghost Host speaks once again:
"Ah, there you are—and just in time. There's a little matter I forgot to mention..." Entering the crypt, they encounter the hitchhiking ghosts. The buggies pass in front of large, ornately framed mirrors, where they find that one of the trios has hitched a ride with them, as the buggies glide towards the exit.
…
"HOLY CRAP!" Danielle shrieked, as they left the attraction. "THAT WAS FUCKING TERRIFYING! ESPECIALLY THE EXECUTION BIT and being buried alive!"
"I love that," Destiny grinned from ear to ear. Their next ride was the Ghost Train.
…
They join the queue for the ride outside the ride building, decorated as a derelict railway depot, featuring mock protest posters about fracking. They enter a dark pre-show room to watch a ghost speaking. He delivers a presentation on the concept of fear as entertainment. They then proceed to the main station room where a VictorianNorth Easton Railway train carriage is seen as if suspended from the roof in chains. Boarding the train, they enter a modernunderground carriage interior, hosted by uniformed staff. They are seated, the train sets into motion and the ride begins. Riders watch the events through live actors, who perform from another carriage as they ride past. The scenes show a passenger on the train discussing the consequences of a fracking disaster and an infected passenger appearing to attack the riders. Following the scene of a train crash, they are instructed to leave their seats and evacuate the train.
Riders disembark and walk out into a derelict present day tube station, where the exterior of the carriage is now seen to be a modern Underground 1995 Stock train. The scene shows an animated train crash and smoke screen projection effect, before they are ushered back onto the carriage, they start to move again. This second live sequence involves the train and its passengers appearing to be attacked by a demon. Riders appear to fall out of the train, plummeting through a huge hole into a fiery Hell and into the mouth of the demon.
A voice is then heard announcing that the experience is now over, only for the demon to reappear as ajump scare. They are then ushered into a final scene, a busy tube station where all the occupants appear to be dead, before arriving at the exit.
…
"That was so cool!" Crystal exclaimed. "The ghost train's been remodelled; I've not done that version before!"
They then entered the Dungeon, which did managed to scare them, Danielle was impressed.
First, they sat on benches while a female guide talked about torture, asking where her human eating leaches were. Something moved under every audience member, and everyone screamed. "Oh, there they are," the guide said.
They boarded a boat, crossing a lake full of cannibals, all of whom tried to grab them. On the other side, they entered an execution yard, witnessing a man being decapitated.
"Any last words?" Asked the executioner.
"I hate you all," the man said, as the crowd howled for his blood.
"I hope you rot in hell," said the executioner, before the Gili teen fell, followed by the crunching of bone and whoosh of blood.
A room with a chopping block and rubber axe, where they could have their picture taken. One on the block, one holding the axe. Jodie and Crystal did it, then Danielle and Destiny. Danielle bought her picture; she had rested her head on the chopping block, while Destiny stood behind her, axe raised high in the air. Destiny sent a copy of it to Michael.
A torture chamber, where a man was contemplating his fate out loud, while locked in a small cage which was gradually getting smaller, ready to crush him. "I don't even know where my head will rest," he said.
Another man was being spun on a wheel, screaming, a woman stretched on a rack. Another woman was strapped to a table, repeatedly saying she was thirsty, while the sound of dripping water was heard.
A court room, all sitting on bench seats, facing the judge. A girl was picked out of the audience and approached him, as he sentenced her to standing naked under a full moon, after she had been declared a witch.
A hospital, where a macabre doctor talked about fatal surgery, how to kill people, and operations without anaesthetic, then notorious grave robbers throughout history.
They boarded a London iconic black cab, which had buttons to select the language of the audio, journeying through the capital's history. From the comfort of their taxi ride, they witnessed the historical and cultural events that shaped London into one of the greatest cities in the world.
They relived Tudor England, saw the streets being ravaged by the plague. "Bring your dead," men intoned, as it was explained to them that families did this so they could be buried safely, to stop the plague spreading.
They caught the moment the Great Fire engulfed the city in flames. Emerging from the ashes was Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece - St Paul's Cathedral. Encountered a monumental recreation of Nelson's Column, ahead of arriving in a city at war where the familiar voice of Prime Minister Winston Churchill calls out, rallying the nation. Roling on the bright lights of the swinging 1960s in Carnaby Street and the vibrant colour of the 80s, before they stepped out of their London taxi.
"England sounds awesome," Danielle said with a grin. "I'd love to go there someday. London haven't had it easy, have they?"
They entered the "Maze of fear," and Crystal shrieked as everything went pitch black. The walls were made of the same soft material as Soft Zone, to stop people getting hurt when bumping into them. They were immediately lost, as they and other groups bumped into each other, shrieking and giggling. Jodie was certain she saw a couple making out against one of the walls in the darkness.
Danielle genuinely screamed when a voice shouted, "Boo!" Right in her ear. Laughing, Destiny told her there were sensors in the walls and floor, which when stepped on or knocked against made sounds or caused things to move. Danielle found the second out for herself when she knocked against the wall and an animatronic started to walk towards her, moaning sinisterly.
"FUCK!" She screamed, and so did Destiny.
Live actors jumped out of hiding places, shouting in their ears, gently touching them, making them jump out of their skin. Danielle was certain someone had radioed ahead to tell them someone blind was coming through, and she really appreciated it.
Jodie screamed a few seconds later, a true sound of fear. Crystal burst out laughing, telling Danielle one of the actors had just stepped in front of her, covered in fake blood. All four screamed along with others, when an animatronic serial killer started moving, holding a huge knife.
"Sound familiar?" Jodie asked Danielle quietly, and the two smiled at each other. It soon turned into screams again though, as the animatronic killer continued to approach them. Damn, these were programmed well.
"SHIT!" Someone else screamed, as another animatronic started to move! "HOLY, FUCKING SHIT!"
"That animatronic serial killer resembles someone we know," Jodie whispered, and Danielle snorted with laughter, Jodie taking a video of the knife wielding animatronic moving slowly towards them, sending it to Michael.
"Ha!" She laughed a few seconds later. "Michaels just replied, saying, "Hmm, very good try.""
"Haha," Danielle grinned. "Do you actually think it was modelled off him?"
"Maybe!"
Actors, sounds, moving animatronics and scary music continued, as they moved through the maze of fear. Danielle stepped on a sensor, activating the sounds of rattling chains, screams and creaking doors. An actor jumped out on her and Destiny a few seconds later, and both girls screamed again.
When they eventually got out, finding the exit, they entered the Horror gift shop. It was like speed, keyrings, pens, mugs and the rest, but also little models of London taxis and furry ghosts, skeletons and other horror creatures. They even sold Ouija boards, not for sale to under eighteens.
"Do you believe in that stuff?" Danielle asked Destiny.
"I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "But I don't think I'd want to mess with it, just… in case."
They went back into Snack Zone for some lunch. They all had different things, Danielle opting for McDonalds. They sat together on one of the many benches and tables in the main area of Snack.
When it was Destiny's turn, she said Arcade. Upon entering the Zone, they heard the usual amusement arcade music, clatter of coins and machine sounds. Danielle grinned.
She immediately went with Crystal to play the quarters machine, where quarters were slid into slots and the aim was to win more. Grinning, Crystal told her Jodie and Destiny were trying to win a teddy bare. They won several quarters but only put them back in again. Jodie moved on to a fighting game, while Crystal and Destiny played each other at air hockey, Danielle on Destiny's side of the table, as Destiny directed her hand with the puck.
The shooting gallery, where Danielle managed to shoot the dinner bell, which rang loudly. Jodie racked up the highest score, shooting the bullseye.
"Never knew you were such a good shot," Destiny grinned at her. "No wonder you carry a gun!"
Jodie laughed. "Not right now I'm not!"
"Well, that's good," Danielle teased, as she and Jodie watched the other two playing table football.
Entering adults only, they played Blackjack at a casino table, with a croupier, before trying poker and roulette. Danielle ended up winning fifteen thousand dollars. Everyone cheered.
"That's you set for the next few months," Crystal beamed at her. "Nicely played!"
"It's just luck," Danielle smiled. She insisted on paying for everyone's trip. The other three tried to protest, but she wouldn't hear it, giving each girl a thousand dollars.
"You really didn't have to, D," Crystal said.
"I know I didn't, but I love you all! I want to, please! Please just accept it?"
After a second, the three sighed. "That's very kind of you," they all said together. "Thanks, Danielle."
Entering Relax at Jodie's turn, they went on the carousels, Danielle enjoying peacefully spinning round and round, as the calliope music played, sitting on her animal of choice, a horse. Jodie rode an elephant, Destiny lion, Crystal tiger.
"Woo, swing boats!" Crystal shrieked. "Come on!"
"I haven't been on those for years," Jodie smiled, as they boarded, the same calliope music playing, as they were swung back and forth. They then went on the pirate ship.
"Who the heck puts a pirate ship in Relax?" Destiny asked as they dismounted. "My stomach's still up there somewhere! Hardly relaxing!" The others laughed.
On the Ferris wheel, Destiny told her they had a stunning view of the entire park once at the top, while Danielle remarked it was the most peaceful ride they'd been on yet!
On the bumper cars, Crystal and Destiny raced Danielle and Jodie around the track, trying to hit them. Jodie had them spinning round and round at one stage, making Danielle shriek. The exterior of the cars was also soft, to stop people getting injured when bumped into.
"GOTCHA!" Crystal shrieked, as she and Destiny finally hit them, before chasing after another group. Jodie grinned.
"They are such kids," she laughed.
"I think we all are in a place like this," Danielle smiled at her. Right on queue, Crystal shrieked with laughter. Jodie and Danielle hugged each other.
A while later, the group drove back to Snack, voting on having dinner before they hit the Water Zone. Checking the time, she saw it was 4PM. Opening her messages, she texted Michael.
Hey darling, I love you. Oh my God! We've had so much fun, and it's not over yet. Did you see all our videos?
His reply came back a few minutes later.
I love you too, my sweet Danielle. I did, you all with your new friends. You were even kind enough to take two strangers through special access with you, that's the kind of lovely woman you are. It sounds like you are having a great time. I had a long whistle and my ears a wiggle at the sound of your happiness! M.
She cracked up, reading this message to the others. "Wow, who would've thought Michael Myers would and could be playful?" Destiny said. "It's beautiful to see."
"Do you think he actually did?" Crystal giggled. "Wiggle his ears and whistle?"
"I very much doubt it," Danielle laughed.
"I told him you took Rachael and Jason through special access," Jodie smiled at Danielle. "Your husband is right; that's exactly the lovely person you are."
I won a very large sum of money playing Roulette and Blackjack, I will tell you more later, but will send you some, of course.
You keep it, my sweet Danielle. There is not much I can do with it here, spend it on what you'd like. M.
That's not how a marriage works, babe, what's mine is yours. I will hold onto it, for when you are here then.
If you want to use it, my sweet Danielle, do so. You won it, you spend it. I love you very much. M.
After they'd all had their different meals, they drove back to the car to grab their swimming things, then entered Water Zone. As soon as they did, the sounds of rushing water, giggling and screaming children hit them. Danielle grinned.
First, they went on the bumper boats, the water equivalent of bumper cars. The boats held four people, so they all went in the same one, racing other groups across the water to hit them. They all shrieked when they got absolutely soaked upon impact with the other boat, as did the other group.
They went on a water ride, sitting aboard rubber boats and being pulled up on another lift. They all screamed when the boat dropped them sharply back down, knowing they were going to get wet at the bottom. They were wrong. They didn't get wet; they got absolutely drenched. "COLD!" Jodie screamed, to renewed laughter.
They went on the peace raft, where they sat in huge rubber rings, floating peacefully around a slow-moving river, the water version of Relax. Danielle almost nodded off, at the gentle feel of bobbing up and down on the slight waves.
They then went on water slides, some enclosed, others not. Danielle loved shrieking, "WEE!" Once more, hearing her voice echo down the shoots.
They swam in the adult's pool, while the wave machine was activated. The waves were for serious swimmers, huge. They sat in a hot tub, surrounded by bubbles, relaxing music and beautifully warm water. Danielle kept pressing the buttons to change the jets.
Eventually, having dried off, they got back in their buggy. It was now 7PM. They had two hours before the park closed for the evening, thus bringing an end to their fun. They split up, so Crystal could have a little longer in her beloved Soft Zone, Destiny and Danielle went back to Horror, to do the Maze of fear one more time, and another longer look in the Horror gift shop. Jodie went into Arcade, playing a sit-in racing car game and other machines. She saw the Croupier leave while she was still there, waved and smiled at him. He waved and smiled back.
Before they knew it, the announcement came over the hundreds of speakers throughout the park that Fun Zone was closing in thirty minutes, and buggies had to be returned within fifteen. Reluctantly, Danielle and Destiny drove back to pick up the other two, returning their buggy to its station.
Before long, they were in their premium hotel rooms, and they were indeed luxurious. The showers were rainfall ones, and there were complimentary snacks and drinks in a mini fridge on the desk, as well as tea and coffee and a huge flat screen television.
"We have to come here again very soon," Danielle said as they sat in her room sharing a drink and snack before bed. They had met Christian and his family in the bar, and he'd insisted on treating them all to a drink. All accept Danielle and Jason had alcohol, as they were both too young. But Danielle didn't mind, as she hated the stuff anyway!
"Oh, we will," Jodie squeezed her hand. "Definitely."
"I can see why it's named Fun Zone," she smiled at her friends. "It's just sad that today had to come to an end. For now, at least."