Mascots ~ The Dark Side To An Amusement Park

~ Rule Seven ~

Rule seven.

I scanned the list again quickly. An employee had gone somewhere dark or secluded without two buddies (or with a mascot, apparently).

Security arrived quickly, escorting the guests away. The most surprising thing was the weapons- they left Bill, the food vendor across the path from us, and me each a handgun, told us it was loaded, and said to shoot immediately if we saw anyone at all with something covering their face.

As for us, we were supposed to stay at our stations until all the guests were accounted for and off the grounds. I didn't mind much, but the hot dog vendor looked terrified. Poor kid couldn't have been older than nineteen.

In the distance, crying children and disgruntled parents argued with park security but complied, leaving the park. Bill kept both hands on his gun, keeping careful watch over the path. The food kid left his on the counter and started making himself a hot dog.

Bill glared at him but remained silent. I opened my mouth to speak, but he shook his head at me fiercely.

That was when I saw the child.

Just barely within my sight, partially obscured by a wall, a little boy five years old at most was eating cotton candy and smiling up at that damn grey cat mascot.

The cat laughed. The kid laughed. The mascot offered its hand. The kid took it, standing up from his bench.

Several thoughts ran through my head in that moment. 'Save the kid. Stay alive. Go save the kid. Don't get killed. SAVE THE KID. Survive this. GO SAVE THE DAMN KID YOU COWARD YOU'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOURSELF-'

I hopped the small fence, grabbed my gun, and started towards the mascot and kid, scowling.

Bill looked flabbergasted. He whispered "What are you doing get back here-"

I spoke calmly, at a normal volume, and he flinched. "Someone left their little kid behind. We have to get him out safely."

"You idiot-" He sighed. "You can't go off on your own."

I shook my head. "You and him. Two employees. Let's go."

The hot dog vendor shook his head. "I-I-I'm n-not g-g-going anywhere."

Bill pinched his nose. "I can't leave him alone. Just get back quick, take a radio with you, don't waste time checking the mascots for eye-holes before you shoot."

I nodded and broke into a sprint after the mascot and child, who had started walking away.

It was hard to get a straight shot at them. The cat held the kid's hand, always moving him away from other employees and the departing guests, and went around as many corners as possible. It was impossible to catch up, too- no matter how much faster than them I was moving, we always had the same distance between us.

"Stop!" I yelled.

The cat turned.

The kid looked confused. "Mister Kitty? Where's my mommy? You said you'd take me to her."

The cat mascot shook his head at me. I raised the handgun and fired three times.

Two hit- one buried itself in the mascot's chest, and one tore through the head. There was no blood. There was no view of the inside. Just a black dot where there had been fake fur before.

The cat mascot waved and walked backwards into the tunnel.

I growled and followed.