Free Inferno Park by JL Bryan Page A

got arrested.
    “I’m afraid you’ve caught us at a bit of an embarrassing time,” the man said. “We are still in the midst of our renovations. We haven’t opened for the season.”
    “Oh,” Kevin said, nodding. “Are you the new owner? Sir?” He thought the “sir” might help keep them out of trouble.
    “I am indeed.” The man nodded slightly. He looked at them coldly, but he did not seem particularly angry. Bored, almost.
    “Are you re-opening the park?” Reeves asked.
    “Not to the general public, though wouldn’t that be grand?” He peered closely at Kevin. “Only to a select few. Only those who are worthy. Are you worthy?”
    Kevin shrugged. “Probably not.”
    The man smiled just a little.
    “How were your concessions?” He looked at Kevin a bit longer, then at Reeves. “The French fries? The milkshakes?” He looked back at Kevin. “The pastry?”
    “Uh...” Reeves said.
    “We would have paid for them,” Kevin squeaked. “If anyone was there. And...if we had any money....Right, Reeves?” Kevin nodded rapidly, as though in a hurry to agree with himself. Reeves didn’t say anything, just stared at the guy.
    “We restored the food stands first,” the man said. “Because you must offer your guests refreshments first, followed by entertainment. That is the proper etiquette. Gifts from the guests are given upon arrival, at the beginning of the evening, while gifts from the host are provided at the end , just before departure. Am I understood?” The man’s flat gray eyes stared at Reeves.
    “Uh, yes?” Reeves said, shuffling uneasily on his feet and looking away, like he was thinking about running. If he ran, Kevin would never be able to keep up with him.
    “Good. But you’ve already helped yourself to gifts, haven’t you? From the shrine?” The man’s gaze shifted to Kevin, and his cold eyes now seemed a dark gunmetal color.
    Kevin felt the horror and guilt of that sacrilege rising in him, the shame of sin, something he’d learned about during the handful of times his mom had dragged him to church.
    “We didn’t mean to,” Kevin whispered. “Are you mad at us?”
    “Of course not. In fact, it has brought us to this unique opportunity.” The man reached into the shack and pulled on something. “As I’ve said, the rides are not yet fully restored...but Jungle Land is up and running, if you don’t mind the actual swamp grass and live frogs. I think those add something to the experience, don’t you? I suppose you can tell us about it after your ride.”
    The double doors at the ride exit may have looked like bamboo fencing, but they creaked with rust as they swung open. A plastic boat, decorated like a bark canoe on the outside, rolled out of the open gate, trundling through the heavily overgrown canal. It braked with a squeal in front of the roped platform where Kevin and Reeves stood. The boat had two plastic benches for seating, one behind the other, each with belt buckles for three people. Though the ride’s waterway was badly overgrown, the boat looked freshly restored with a new coat of paint.
    “What do you say, gentlemen? Will you help with a little market research?” the man asked.
    “Does that mean we get to go on the ride?” Kevin asked.
    “Provided you keep your hands and feet inside the boat at all times,” the man said. “Climb aboard, and do remember to wear your seatbelts.”
    Reeves and Kevin shared an excited look—there was no doubt, they were definitely taking the free ride.
    They scrambled into the boat, buckled their seatbelts, and stared at the bamboo doors set into the cave entrance ahead. A safety bar dropped over their laps and locked into place.
    The man finally descended the stairs and approached them. His smile was almost warm now, though his eyes were not. He stood on the edge of the canal, looking down at them.
    The drumbeats sounded louder and faster inside the dome.
    “Watch for snakes and alligators,” he said. “And the jungle