The Game of the Hunt by Alex Taylor (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📕

around the back to the wooden platform instead of the booth. As we approached we saw the man strolling calmly up and down the boards. Like a soldier keep watch. But, we are back at the roller coaster, so the next clue should appear. I glance over at Charlie.
“Where’s the book?” I asked impatiently as he checked his pockets.
“The book that can save us and all our problems?” asked Charlie. “I lost it.” It was then we realized we left it at the entrance. Charlie smiled sadly. “But, don’t you worry. I think I know how to win. It’s no fun for a hunter to hunt something that’s already dead. Maybe we’re supposed to ride this thing,” he said jerking his thumb towards the coaster.
“But, but,” I stammered, “but, we’ll die!”
“Maybe so, but I have a good feeling about you riding the coaster. You need to win this for us.”
I glanced back at him. “Me? Just me? What about you?” Before I could even get an answer out of him, he had yanked me onto the platform with him. The monstrous man tried to grab us, but Charlie dodged and pushed me into the roller-coaster cart. The handle bar came down, and I became trapped in the cart. I struggled and screamed, but I could not break free. I was forced to sit and watch my best friend, my only friend, be attacked. Charlie was putting up a good fight, but he was no match for this beast of a man. He began to look more and more weary, and he began to look more and more battered. He broke from the monster’s grasp just long enough the flip the switch on the control panel. Lights began to flicker on the panel and there were some clanks before the engine started to hum.
“No!” the monster yelled. “Ah!” In anger the monster beat Charlie some more before snapping his neck. He was dead. Charlie had lost.
I remembered what he said about having a good feeling about the coaster. As the coaster headed up the hill, I opened my eyes. My third eye saw some writing on the head of the seat. It read, “Congratulations! You have found the only way to escape, to return home press the red button near your foot.” And, sure enough, there was the button. I was about to press it. Pressing it would mean I won, and I had to win it for Charlie. But, was it worth winning? I couldn’t see how returning home by myself could ever be winning. It would be lonely and full of frightening dreams of Charlie dying. No, that was not the way to win. So, I did not press the button. This was how I would win. I would be content with the decision of how I was to die.
The roller-coaster crested, and I rapidly approached the drop off of the tracks. Everything seems to be in slow motion. My life flashes before my eyes, and I see a bright light. I feel the gut wrenching sensation of falling as my ears echo words of Charlie saying, “We won, we won.”

Imprint

Publication Date: 11-10-2011

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To Taylor for introducing me to this site =)