Thread: Bring The Kids (As Day Fades & vertigis)

It had been Renee's idea of course. None of the rest of them had even heard of anything called a Thunder Hills Amusement Park until she mentioned it. Renee was always reading though, always digging around online and at the college library, and she loved collecting little bits of weird and esoteric information. Particularly if there was something creepy about a thing. Mel had known her since they were kids, had considered Renee her best friend since grade school at least, and shed always been that way. So there was no way they were going to drive within a dozen miles of something like Thunder Hills and not at least stop t look. And it was creepy. Absolutely one hundred percent vintage creepy. Just the huge vacant parking was bad enough in Mel's opinion. It was the middle of the afternoon on a hot July afternoon, the sun still high overhead, but there wasnt a sign of life anywhere to be seen. The lot was barren and gave the look of something long forgotten by time, weeds sprouting up wildly through the numerous cracks left un-patched over the years. Hey, I think I know what those people must have died from. Fucking boredom from driving here. Tamara had been complaining for the last few hours and everyone had taken to ignoring her now. She hadn't wanted to detour from their planned route just to see some junked old park. The sooner they got to the beach the better, she'd argued, and Mel had privately agreed, but had taken Renee's side anyways, because of their long friendship. Tamara was her dorm roommate, and she'd really only invited the tall abrasive black girl along on their summer road trip because she'd felt obligated. Plus she was hard enough to get along with without telling her 'no'. Why'd they build it in the middle of nowhere? Rednecks must really love their carnie rides or something. Mel rolled her eyes and moved to join Renee, who was busy snapping pictures of the old roller coaster rails with her camera. As they approached the rusted gates, they were greeted by a large grinning sculpture of a cat's head hanging overhead, obviously some kind mascot for the park. Years of neglect had left its black and white paint peeling and one of its yellow eyes broken out to become a home for nesting birds. Renee tested the chains with a rattle and frowned as she found them quite sturdy despite the rust. We're not really going in there are we? Shanti asked nervously. She was Renee's roommate and Mel wasn't sure if she'd ever met anyone as quiet and reserved as the little Indian girl. She thought it was nice of her friend to invite her along really, even if she was hard to really have a conversation with because of her shyness. Of course we're going in, Renee replied firmly. We didn't come all this way just to get pictures of the parking lot. Aren't you curious? Mel could tell by Shanti's expression the answer to that was a resounding 'no' but the girl only shrugged. Well, I didn't bring any bolt cutters so There was a loud rattle as the metal gate shook wildly. Mel's younger sister Christy had made it up and over in just two quick motions, and stood grinning on the other side. Apparently all those track and soccer trophies their parents were always bragging about weren't just for show, she thought dryly. C'mon then, Renee called, give me a boost! Tamara muttered something about them all getting tetanus before the day was over but within short order all five of the girls had hopped the gate and found themselves standing inside the abandoned amusement park. Now let's explore, her friend called excitedly, tugging at her sleeve, and reluctantly Mel followed along. It wouldn't take too long, she told herself. Just a little walk around and then they'd all be back on the road, headed to someplace sunny and fun for the summer