Ethereal Madness

Chapter 5- I'm In Danger

   "Here, hold this." Roxanne passed me a small flashlight.

I stared at it, still questioning just how stupid what we're doing is. By now, I've been around her enough to know Roxanne has a taste for danger. So when she called and asked me to hang out, I certainly was not expecting anything normal. Still, I have to admit I'm not comfortable crawling around an abandoned amusement park at night.

I stared at her but held my tongue.

She grinned and slapped my back. "What, are you worried? Nothing bad is going to happen."

"You say that..."

"Besides, we're both weapon users, right? We'll be fine."

"Unlike you, I can't just teleport out."

"Shoulda picked a better weapon. Not my fault your knife doesn't do crap," She snickered.

I sighed. Why did I agree to this?

"Relax, relax. It's not like anyone will be there. It's called an 'abandoned' amusement park for a reason."

There's no reasoning with this girl when she's like this.

With everything save for her peach skin and purplish-black hair, every part of her was completely black. Roxanne completed her all black fit by shoving her feet inside heavy obsidian boots.

"You ready, Arthur?"

Ready as I'll ever be.

"Mmm, yeah."

"Let's go!" She said excitedly.

Walking outside her house, I was embraced by the eerie, dusk air. The once lively suburban neighborhood full of children's laughter and family bonding was replaced by the deafening silence and occasional chirps of the small critters that dwell past sundown.

A light breeze flowed through me, soothing enough to put me at ease but not enough to give me chills.

"It's nice out here," I murmured.

Roxanne grabbed my hand and started dragged me. "Cmon, nighttime's burning."

I...don't think that's how that phrase works.

She didn't cease forcefully leading me until a few feet before the security toll. Inside was a woman I hardly knew but one that Roxanne was very familiar with. If only that was a good thing.

"How are we going to convince her to let us through this late?" I asked.

"Easy. Leave it to me," she said.

She walked up to it and tapped on the glass. Rebecca, I believe was the name of the woman inside, was just as I remembered her. Her uptight expression was enough to convince me that off-days were not in her job description, with mascara that was so poorly done it could be compared to kindergarten art, and a scowl that made children cry on sight.

"And just what do you want this late?" Rebecca glared at her.

"I'm going out," Roxanne said nonchalantly.

"Out, huh?" She analyzed Roxanne from top to bottom. "Dressed like that? What are you, a jewel thief?"

"Funny. That joke was almost as stale as your life."

"You think you're special girl? At the rate you're going, this'll be your future."

"Nah, no way I'd let my life end up like yours." She crossed her arms. "I have self-respect."

Wasn't the point of Roxanne walking up there to convince her to let us pass?

"You may have self-respect, but I have authority," Rebecca said. "And I decree you aren't allowed to leave here. So waltz on home to your dark room and complain about how everything is pointless, you goth-wannabe."