Page 45 of All My Witches
Thistle’s shoulders shook with silent laughter as Clove’s cheeks turnedred.
“Landon isn’t a fan of the music montage,” Iadded.
“Don’t forget the bacon bath,” Landon snapped. “You’re totally making it up tome.”
“I won’tforget.”
“Then let’s get moving.” I thought he was angry, so I was surprised – and rather pleased – when he linked his fingers with mine and tugged me toward the door. “We have an island tovisit.”
“How much do you want to bet it’s like the world’s cheesiest island?” Thistle asked as she followed. “You just know Aunt Tillie’s version of Witch Island has to be completely messedup.”
I nodded as we cleared the door. “But the terror isreal.”
IT TURNSOUT WITCH ISLANDhad more in common with Coney Island than MonsterIsland.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Landon shook his head as he stared at the strip of land across the way. It seemed the apartment complex opened to a nice view of Witch Island … and it resembled an over-the-top amusement park. “How is that anisland?”
“It’s surrounded by water,” Thistle saiddryly.
“It’s surrounded by like ten feet of water on every side,” Landon argued, stepping forward. He grabbed a stick from the ground and shoved it in the water, frowning when it hit bottom right away. “Like two feet of water deep toboot.”
“At least we don’t have to take a boat ride,” Clove said philosophically. “I get seasicksometimes.”
“Yes, it would be truly tragic to ride ten feet on a boat,” Landon drawled. “Come on. Let’s see what Witch Island holds.” He gripped my hand tighter as we stepped into the water. I wasn’t thrilled about getting my shoes wet, but there didn’t seem to be an easier way to arrive at ourdestination.
Once on the other side, I took the opportunity to study the area. The spot to our right looked like an amusement park. The area to our left looked like a spa on steroids. There were mud baths, people frolicking in the mud baths, and waitresses walking around with alcoholic drinks and snacks to tempt thefrolickers.
“This isn’t the island onLostby any stretch of the imagination,” Sam noted. “It’s more like a little kid’s idea of what an island shouldbe.”
I shifted so I could look over my shoulder and found the apartment complex was gone. We were now literally on an island; all we could see in any direction was water. “Has anyone noticed that it’s as if we’re stuck in a Lego videogame?”
The question caught my companions offguard.
“What do you mean?” Cloveasked.
“No, she’s right.” Landon stared at the spot where the apartment complex used to be. “The locations are on top of each other and there are times you can only go forward instead of back. It’s like a videogame.”
“You can roam freely in Lego video games,” Sam pointedout.
“Not always, and the first time through a Lego video game you often can’t go back,” Landon said. “Aunt Tillie has been playing that new Marvel game the past few weeks. I’ve been watching her. She was complaining about not being able to roam the way she wanted. She said the people at Marvel were trying to put her on aleash.”
“If only,” Thistlemuttered.
That sounded about right. “I don’t know that it’s important. I just found itinteresting.”
“It’s another insight into how her brain works,” Landon agreed. “Speaking of her brain … .” His eyes landed on the row of amusement park games. “I don’t even know what to say about this freaking island. Where do you think we shouldstart?”
“I’m not sure.” I glanced toward the romantic mud pits, quickly jerking my eyes away when I realized the couple in the nearest pit were in the middle of making out in something of a feverish way, hands and tongues flying in every different direction. “I think we should start at the amusementpark.”
“Why?” Landon looked to the spot where I’d stared moments before. “Oh, right. Why don’t they get stopped by a musicmontage?”
“Because Aunt Tillie wants to use them to further torture you. Why do you think we’re seeing this so soon after you were cut off from the …loving?”
Instead of reacting with anger, Landon smirked. “She is a sadistic thing, isn’tshe?”
“I believe that’s the top line on her businesscards.”
“The amusement park it is.” Landon tugged so I would follow. “This place is reallyweird.”
