Silverlake

Chapter 17

*Author's note: I'm sorry that this chapter has taken so long to write! I hope you like it*

He stopped outside of Rager Park. It was this town's version of Coney Island except smaller and cheaper. It was almost midnight when we pulled up and all of the light's were off, ours was the only car left in the parking lot. 

"We're sneaking into the amusement park?"

He leaned across me to shove open my door. "No, we're here to have fun."

"By breaking in?" I followed him out of the car, but hesitated when we got to the front gates. 

"We aren't breaking in if the doors are already open, now are we?" 

Of course. I shouldn't have even questioned. 

He opened the gates with a slight push. 

"So, I'm guessing you can get the rides working too?" He grabbed my hand and pulled me through the gates before spinning me around on my heels. 

The entire park loomed over our figures as we made our way through the park. With each step deeper into the rides and empty booths, I should've been scared. I should've wanted to turn back, but I didn't. Next to him there was nothing I couldn't do. Me alone, well, things should be scared of me. 

We walked through the darkness at first until he got bored or I did and we started taking turns turning on the fairy lights and street lamps. I raised my hands with palms forward towards the merry-go-round. It barely moved. Sterling stepped right into the middle of it and it came to life around him. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't resist his outstretched hand. 

I giggled and jumped straight onto the biggest horse. He stood next me to, keeping one of his hands on my at all times, partly to steady me, and partly to know that I wasn't going anywhere. 

~~~~~~~~~

"Westerns or romances?" His fingers were interlaced through mine and he tried to pull away, but I held him closer. "Answer the question, Sterling." I laughed when he rolled his eyes. 

"Action?" He asked hopefully. 

"I'll take it." 

"Kiss me or kiss me?" He stopped to look at me with that grin on his face that was intimidating and revealing all at once. 

"Niether." I let go of his hand to run ahead of him and turn off all the lights in the process. I could hear him chasing behind me. Soft footsteps as he ran lightly close behind, and then silence. 

"Sterling?" 

No reply. 

I turned the lights in the park back on. They flickered slightly and in the dull light I only say shadows. "Sterling!" This wasn't funny. If this was some trick he was playing on my I wasn't going to take it, and to think tonight was going so well. 

"No!" A low scream took over the stillness of the park.

"Sterling!" 

I ran through the park towards where I thought I had heard the scream come from.  Barely shining was a light at the end of the rides where the lines for food would usually form. 

Carefully I approached the character shed where the light was coming from. There was too much to calculate and think about, but I put it to the back of my mind. All I cared about now is getting to Sterling. 

I stood back far enough to ease the door up an open with a wave of my hand. I kept my left hand out in front and ready for whatever was going to be stored through the doors. 

"Ah, at last. I've been waiting to meet you." His voice was old and worn. 

I turned around startled. The light was just a ploy.

"You're different than I thought you would be. Smaller."

"Where is Sterling?" I hated that my voice shook slightly when I spoke.  

My magic twittered through my hands and sent fire to my palms. 

"Silly girl, what do you think you can do to me?"

"I'm not sure you want to find out." He looked amused by my sudden change in cockiness and almost more taken aback than I was. Honestly, he didn't scare me. Sterling missing, now that scared me. 

"You don't know what I'm capable of, and you surely have no idea what you're capable of my dear." His breath was cold against my cheek. 

"What do you want?" 

"Now now."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT." There was no more slips in my voice. I threw my hands up in the air and focused just above him. 

Red fire burned from my palms and sparked the tree above him. He didn't flinch. 

"SILLY GIRL, LET ME HELP YOU," he yelled over the roar of the burning branches. I wasn't finished. I sent the fire forward from the trees and onto the ground around him, circling him and encaging him, this time with my mind, letting my hands free. I may not know everything, but I knew myself enough. 

"Don't you want to know why I started the fire in your car?" I paused. He unwillingly had my attention. 

"You?"

"So surprised that it wasn't your darling Sterling?"

"Not surprised, he wouldn't hurt me." 

"You keep saying that." How did he? He sensed my surprise and continued, "We've been watching you."