Whodunit

Chapter 8

New Orleans didn't shy away from its eerie past and creepy tourist attractions. The history boasted its darkness. People traveled for miles to get the chance to see a ghost or sleep in a haunted hotel or even learn the history of Louisiana voodoo. Yet, Dmitri knew the real hauntings came from everyday life. In the crimes witnessed, the evil spread, and memories from people, places, and experiences that once brought you joy.

"I don't know about this, y'all," Nubia said as the group trudged through the murky waters leaking from Lake Pontchartrain as they approached the tall, rusted gates of the abandoned Six Flags New Orleans park. "Something feels off. The energy is all wrong."

"Come on, Nunu! Don't ruin the fun," Ximena playfully tugged the shorter girl's elbow, the light from her camera highlighting her mischievous grin. Coming to the forbidden grounds was all her idea. Forget the tourists' attractions. She wanted to explore something that really gave her the chills like walking through mud and pitch-black darkness. Spooky videos always got a lot of views.

Six Flags Over New Orleans had died almost fifteen years ago. It was one of the many lives stolen by the whirlwind and havoc of Hurricane Katrina. The amusement park had once brought a huge grin to Anisa, Dmitri, and Jordan's faces. Desi and Nubia were too young to remember its liveliness, and Zaria didn't come into the picture until after the storm.

"Man, I used to want to go to this place so bad," Dmitri said as they slowly stepped up to the gate.

"You've never been?" Anisa looked over her shoulder.

He shrugged. "Nah. Not with my mama. She barely fed me let alone brought me to Six Flags to actually have fun, childhood memories."

Anisa frowned and looked away. Part of Dmitri felt shot in the heart and not by Cupid. Anisa used to show way more empathy for his past whether it was through hugging and holding him as if trying to heal him through touch or by saying something uplifting. Now, she just frowned and looked away?

"This place is huge," said Desi.

Nubia trailed behind next to Zaria, her arms wrapped tightly across her full chest. "How are we supposed to get in?"

Jordan piped up and began looking around the gate. "I saw a split in the wire somewhere...right...here." He pulled back a ripped part of the gate until it created a hole big enough for them to crawl through. "We can just crawl through here."

"I think I'll stick to climbing." Dmitri smirked.

Jordan returned the gesture. "Yeah, you know a lot about climbing gates, huh?"

Dmitri's nostrils flared. One of these days he'd punch Jordan in his pretty boy mouth and shut him up for good.

Nubia stared up at the looming barrier separating them from the prohibited area. A sign that read Dangerous Animals Are Present hanged loosely from the top. "Dangerous animals? What kind of dangerous animals?"

Jordan laughed and rubbed his hands together. "Snakes. Probably some alligators, raccoons, and a lot of roaches and bugs."

"This better be worth it," Nubia breathed as she squatted and forced her body through the opening. Desi followed after then Ximena and Anisa.

Zaria looked up at her big brother, her iPad tight in her petite hands. "Ahmad, I don't want to see any alligators or snakes or raccoons. I got a field trip to Audubon Zoo next week. I can wait till then."

"If you don't get your butt through there, ooh I swear," Jordan made a blank threat but the girl didn't take it lightly as she slid her tablet under the fence and crawled through the hole.