Jacob felt an odd feeling as the group walked through the rusty turnstiles, into the park. This was the first time Jacob had gone into the park since it closed, it felt awkward to him as he didn't like the thought of a place of fun being desolate and silent.
"This place is falling apart" Liam said. Sam replied by saying "Oh really? Couldn't tell" in his typical sarcastic way.
The group proceeded to walk down the "Main Street" of the park to the fountain at the centre, this would be where they would start taking photos. The water still in the fountain was green from standing so long, the paint chipping away. Aaron placed a light behind the fountain to backlight it while Jacob started filming his video.
"This place looks terrible, I wonder why they didn't demolish it" said Sean.
"Why would they?" Janine replied. "They have no reason. It's in the outskirts, relatively hidden away, it'd be a waste of money to demolish it."
Jacob finished recording the beginning of his video in order for the group to set up more lights for photos. Jacob did his best to avoid Janine, he told Will to help him set up the lights in one of the buildings in the entry plaza.
"Enjoying seeing Janine?" Will joked.
"No, I hate seeing her. She shouldn't have come with us." Jacob replied.
Will, becoming more serious, stated "I know dude, I'm sorry. She shouldn't have done what she did to you."
"I know, I wasn't ready, it really wasn't fair." Jacob said, looking down, setting up the lights.
They finished setting up the lights, and turned them on. The bright white lights illuminated the windows as if there was two small suns in the building. Jacob and Will saw Janine jump at the lights turning on, which made them laugh. As they left the building, Will overheard the sound of a piece of glass falling, but brushed it off.
Once Jacob and Will returned to the fountain, they met back up with Janine and Katy who stayed by the fountain.
"Lights startle ya?" Will said, messing around with Janine.
"Yes." Janine said, annoyed. "It's not funny, so stop giggling like a kid." Will kept laughing.
As Will joked around, Katy sat on the side of the fountain with Jacob and looked at him to ask if he was ok, he nodded. There was a few moments of stillness until another light flashed on, then another, then another two, and then a final one. The rest of the boys left the buildings and convened at the fountain.
"Now, let's get this shit going." Sean triumphantly said.
The group split into smaller groups of two. Jacob with Katy, Aaron with Janine, Liam with Sean, Sam with Will. Each went to different parts of the park once they completed taking photos of the entry plaza. They left the lights in the entry plaza on as they didn't think anyone would notice due to the park not being relatively noticeable from the outside.
Each group went different ways. Jacob and Katy went to the most famous ride from the park, Wild One, Aaron and Janine went to the observation tower in the centre of the park, Liam and Sean went to take pictures by the central lake, and Sam and Will went to the parks 150 foot tall Ferris Wheel.
The walk to the Wild One was very difficult. Once Jacob and Katy passed the entrance sign for Wild One, the queue line was covered in vegetation. The coaster was practically isolated from the park due to the overgrown nature of the park. Jacob and Katy climbed over the cattle pens until they reached the ramp up to the station platform of the coaster. The wood creaked with every step the duo made. It ached and groaned every time either one of them so much as leaned to one side.
"Jacob, why did we come here? It seems too dangerous." Katy quivered.
"That's the exact reason why we came. Plus, it's beautiful." Jacob responded.
"Let's just take pictures and get to safety." Katy said wearily.
Jacob indicated they climb the lift hill of the coaster to take pictures from above the park, which Katy was reluctant to do but followed Jacob once she knew he wouldn't stop.
At the same time, Liam and Sean reached the other side of the park in order to take pictures of across the lake to the entry plaza. They were having a laugh until Liam said:
"I really like Katy, do ya think I should ask her out?"
"Totally. You should follow your heart." Replied Sean.
They continued talking about Liam's crush until Sean asked:
"What should I do about Will? I proper like him"
"I know he likes you, he told me. He said he wants to ask you out on a date. Trust me, you two are gonna become a thing." Liam said enthusiastically.
They both began laughing with excitement. Their laughs echoed across the park, so loudly the others heard.
Sam and Will arrived at the parks Ferris Wheel. They noticed that, due to the breeze around the park, the wheel was slowly spinning, squeaking very loudly. They climbed into one of the buckets to take some photos from the inside.
"How's your mum?" Asked Will.
"Not good, she's staying in the hospital. They say she doesn't have long left." Replied Sam, in a melancholy tone.
Will reassured Sam that he'll always be there for him no matter what. Sam thanked him, and then tried to hold his hand, which Will rejected.
"Hold up, we're not going down that path again. Me and you, we're in the past." Will said in a defensive tone.
Sam apologised, but Will explained that he wanted to be alone so he left Sam. Will walked away, leaving Sam alone by the Ferris Wheel.
Finally, Aaron and Janine reached the observation tower. They heard the sound of glass being crushed under their feet, and heard the creaking of the tower swaying from side to side.
"Is this what you call a date?" Janine said, agitated.
"No, I wanted to go out with my friends. You're the one who wanted to come with." Aaron replied.
They continued to bicker and fight while Aaron was taking photos and Janine was picking up glass and throwing it at the tower. At the same time, each group noticed the lights in the entry plaza turning off, one by one.
Each group decided to go to the entry plaza to see what was going on. First to arrive was Liam and Sean, then Jacob and Katy, then Will, and finally Aaron and Janine. They noticed that the lights weren't broken, they were just switched off. Once they checked this, they realised that not everyone was there.
Sam was missing.
YOU ARE READING
Puncture: The Finny's Funland Murders
HorrorWhen Jacob and his friends go exploring in a local abandoned amusement park, they realise that they aren't the only people on the grounds. Someone else is there, and they aren't there to explore. They are soon thrust into a nightmare that a few won'...
