Freak Show by J Richards Read Free Book Online

a teleporter?” I’m baffled.
                  “Yeah, for thieves. If you’re hit or touched by it, it’ll snatch you up, too.”
                  “Oh,” I shake my head because I don’t know what else to say. “Um, thank you.” I mumble. This place is full of hidden dangers and I feel like I haven’t even discovered the tip of the iceberg yet.
                 

Five…
     
                  The lake rumbles again as it opens up slowly to swallow up the skate park. The sphere rises a little more, closing the skaters, riders and the park back up into its protective surface before it sinks beneath the surface once again. Kelly and Becca join Anne and I away from the railing and the people who had been gathered around us are now leaving to find other ways to entertain themselves.
                  “Well, that was exciting!” Becca grins.
                  “Sure was, where do we find those guys?” Kelly looks to Anne who shakes her head.
                  “You really are looking for trouble aren’t you? I think after the show they go to the Other Side.”
                  “Oh, poo.” Kelly fakes a pout and we all laugh. “Fine, their loss. Where to next?”
                  Becca pulls the map from the cup of her bra and unfolds it, shaking it out loudly. “If we go round the lake on this side there is a ‘mystical zoo’, and then past that is all the rides.” She looks up questioningly at each of us and I nod. Zoos have always been my favorite kind of theme park, and I can’t even imagine the things that will be here that I’ve never seen before.
                  “That sounds fun, but I need another drink first.” I slowly turn around in a circle looking for another tiki bar, but one isn’t in sight.
                  “They’ll have one a little way down. Come on, let’s start walking.” Anne takes charge and leads us deeper into the park. I look over the lake and wonder what other things live under its deceivingly clear waters.
                  The pathway starts to slope down and Kelly and I lock elbows for balance. Anne charges forward but stops quickly to look back at us. “Don’t get too close to the cages. No matter how cute something looks, OK?”
                  “Aren’t they like normal zoos where it’s all protective glass and stuff?” Becca wonders aloud and by the look on Anne’s face I can already guess that not even protective glass could keep some of these strange creatures at bay.
                  “Some enclosures are, some aren’t. You have to be really guarded with these animals. Some of them have telepathic powers and can convince you to open the doors if you aren’t prepared to block your mind.”
                  “Sweet baby Jesus,” I cough. “How the hell do you block your mind?” I stop walking, not daring to go a foot closer until I know I won’t be the idiot who lets some vicious beast out of its cage because it broke into my weak ass mind and told me to do so.
                  “Just think about walls.” I roll my eyes and Anne shrugs. “I know it sounds dumb but sometimes the simplest thing works. Just think of walls and how your mind is blocked from outside influences. They are just animals after all. If you’re trying to block a vampire from your mind, good fucking luck. Those bitches climb mental walls better than anything else I can think of.”
                  “Ugh.” My stomach feels sick again and I clasp my hand to my lower belly. “It’s hard work being here.” I complain and everyone laughs.
                  “You are such a drama queen. That show we just watched was a lot of fun and I know you can’t deny it, ‘cuz I saw that goofy, happy look you get on your face when you are totally into