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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: EERIE (07/28/16)
Mark and his wife stood in the ticket line of Disney World, waiting their turn. “I can’t wait to get in!” Kayla squealed with delight, clasping her hands together. She hopped up and down like a little girl. For months they planned this trip. Kayla had never been before, but Mark’s family came when he was eight. What a good time that was! He, too, longed to get in the park, but had he known what the day held, he might have felt differently.

Mark put his arm around Kayla and smiled. They moved up in line until their turn came. “How many?” the ticket man asked.

“Two,” said Mark. Kayla squealed again. Mark grinned at her excitement. She was definitely happy, but he never saw her over-the-top happy, like this.

“$125, please.”

Mark paid, and the printer whirred to life. One ticket came out, and then the machine stopped. The ticket man read the screen and turned to Mark. “Mr. Davidson, you are eligible for the Magic Kingdom’s Premium Adventure package at no additional cost. Would you like to participate?”

Mark turned to Kayla, who had a huge grin on her face, bobbing her head up and down. Mark looked back to the ticket man and shrugged, “Sure.”

Hand-in-hand, they entered the park, having the time of their life. They rode the rides, watched the shows, and ate the food.

After a long day, the time came for the laser show. Despite the crowds, they managed to find a place right at the water’s edge, resting against the side of a small electrical shed, a perfect spot for the show. Lazily, Mark noticed a cloud light up with lightning.

Suddenly, the speaker rang out, “Welcome to the Magic Kingdom’s Electrical Laser Wonder.” Music blared to life and green lights streaked across the lake. Above, fireworks boomed like thunder.

Without warning a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky. The boom resounded everywhere and the lights blinked out. The crowd gasped as one.

Mark turned to look at Kayla, “Did you see…,” but Kayla was not there. Whispers and nervous laughs hummed through the silence. Mark shot to his feet, looking around frantically. “Kayla? Where are you?”

“I’m down here!” Kayla said.

The door to the electrical shed stood open, and stairs descended into the ground. Mark looked down the staircase. Faintly glowing red lights kept it from being pitch black. “Kayla? You down there?”

“I’m down here!” came her voice again.

“What are you doing down there?” Mark entered and descended a few steps. With a crash, the door slammed shut. Mark ran back up and tried to open it. It didn’t budge. “What’s going on?”

Outside, he heard the music and laser show start up again. Mark pounded on the door, but no one answered.

Mark turned back to the staircase. “Kayla?”

Kayla’s voice responded, “I’m down here!”

That was odd. She sounded exactly the same as the last time. Mark descended. “Squish,” Mark stepped in a puddle. He stopped and listened, the hall glowing eerily red. To his side, the wall felt slick with water. In front of him he heard a “drip, drip,” like the sound of a pendulum marking the passing of time. The air cooled and smelled moldy. “I must be under the lake!”

Continuing down the staircase, Mark came to a door. He opened it slowly, and peaked behind it. “Kayla?”

No answer.

Spotting something on the ground, Mark bent over and picked up Kayla’s purse. Panic surged in him, “Hello! Hello! Can anyone hear me?” Fearing for his wife, Mark briskly walked down the poorly lit passage, until he came to the last red light. Beyond, he faced a black hole.

Fearing for his wife, Mark strode forward over his own fear. “Kayla! Where are you?! Kayla!”

Turning a corner, Mark saw a sliver of light along the floor. Running, he came to a door, turned the knob, and burst through it.

“Surprise!” a large group of people yelled. Kayla ran up to Mark, throwing her arms around him, beaming with delight.

“You have successfully completed the Magic Kingdom’s Premium Adventure package! Con-grat-u-la-tions!” Disney officials walked up, explaining the adventure to Mark and handing him his prize, a complimentary three-day, two-night stay at the Disney Resort.

Still hugging him, Kayla said, “I knew you loved a good adventure!”

“Wow!” Mark thought to himself, “What a great day!”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Pat Small
08/06/16
Red ink: peaked should have been peeked. You used fearing for his wife twice in successive paragraphs. Otherwise it was an interesting tale, and kept my attention.