Free Dark Mind (The Dark Mind Trilogy Book 1) by Matthew Goldstein

can’t leave until you are all quiet.” When the noise level reached a whisper, she continued. “Everyone, please, for my sake and yours, do exactly as I say. Do not wander off on your own. Stay close…”
    Cole lost interest, drifting off into his own world. He had pinpointed his nervousness to more than the intimidation of giant steel machines flinging him through the air and Amy pressuring him to ride them. What if I can't find her? What if I can't stay with her?
    Before he knew it, the rest of the students were lining up at the front of the class and he was the only one left in his seat. “Come on Cole,” Mrs. Taylor said, trying to sound motherly. “We need to leave now.” A few kids snickered.
    Cole's cheeks flushed as he joined the line. Now people were paying attention to him. They all filed out of the building and onto a big yellow bus where Cole sat behind his teacher in the second row. He was thankfully forgotten once again and he stared out the window in peace. How did I get myself into this?
    The ride seemed to go on forever , but at last they arrived. Mrs. Taylor escorted them through the entrance, trying desperately, along with the two chaperones, to keep them all together. Once they were inside the park, they split up into smaller groups, one chaperone per group. Cole stayed with Mrs. Taylor.
    “Excuse me, Mrs. Taylor? Where’s the rest of the school? I don’t see anyone around.”
    “We must be late. Now, come along.” She started walking away, Cole trailing at her heels.
    “Would I be able to join someone else’s group?” he asked.
    Mrs. Taylor looked down at him, but kept walking, afraid of losing the kids who were pushing ahead. “Probably not, but maybe. We’d have to figure it out with the other chaperone.” She looked back up in time to see one kid running off. “Hey! Justin! Get back here this instant!”
    Where is she?
    They all stopped at the line for the first ride. Cole craned his neck to look up at the steel coaster looming over him, which was small for a coaster, but to Cole’s inexperienced eye, it was a mammoth. He swallowed hard. No way.
    “Cole!”
    His heart skipped a beat as he faced the direction of the voice. There was Amy, farther up in the same line, standing amidst her group. She waved to him and then ducked out of line, racing back to join him.
    Seeing her run off, Amy’s chaperone freaked out and screamed at her to come back. She pretended not to hear and, being stuck with all the other kids, he stood there undecided.
    “It’s okay,” Mrs. Taylor yelled to the unfortunate parent. “I’m a teacher at their school.” She turned her attention to Amy. “Young lady, you cannot go running off like that. You’re going to be in a lot of trouble if you do that again.”
    Amy looked up pleadingly. “I’m sorry. Can I stay with your group? Please? I promise I’ll be good.”
    Mrs. Taylor sighed. After a long moment she called out to the parent. “She can stay with me for today. Is that all right?”
    The parent showed nothing but relief. “Yes. Absolutely. Please keep her.” He turned back to his own group. They faintly heard him say to them, “And if any of you try anything like that, I’m going to tell both your parents and your teacher. Are we clear?”
    “All right,” Mrs. Taylor said to Amy. “Now that you’re with me, don’t pull that again. Got it? What’s your name?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’m Amy.”
    “Hi Amy. Glad we’re clear.”
    Cole thought Mrs. Taylor flashed a quick smile at him before she looked away.
    “Isn’t this exciting?” Amy was boiling with excitement. “I can’t believe we ran into each other right when we first got here. Talon is so awesome. Have you ever been on it?”
    “Um, no,” Cole said quietly, looking at the ground.
    “Then you’re in for a huge treat.” She laughed with pleasure.
    “Uh huh. Do you think I’ll like this?”
    “Of course. It’s great. Everyone loves it. And this one’s not too bad. A