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

good starting coaster. Build your way up to the big boys.” She laughed again.
    “I guess I can give it a shot.”
    “Good, you’ll love it. Oh I looooooove amusement parks. Hey, maybe we can hide out here at night and be here when it opens. I’m sure we can find a spot no one would find us. We could live here!”
    Mrs. Taylor chose that moment to tune in. “Don’t get any ideas, Miss. I have my eye on you.”
    “Don’t worry, Mrs. Taylor. I won’t really. But it would be fun.”
    Mrs. Taylor was satisfied and lost interest.
    Amy looked at Cole and giggled. “We have to be secret,” she whispered.
    She chatted away while the line, painfully slow, inched forward. Every inch they crept forward made the coaster loom larger and Cole’s heart beat faster.
    “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Cole asked at the bottom of the stairs, the final approach to the gate.
    “Yeah, come on. You won’t know how much you might love it until you try it.”
    “Or how much I hate it,” Cole mumbled.
    “You don’t look so great,” Amy commented casually. “Are you sick?”
    “No.” Not yet.
    “Haha I think you’re sweating,” Amy said. “You’re so funny.” She laid her hand on his chest. “Wow. It feels like you’re gonna have a heart attack.”
    If only. That would get me off this line.
    “Don’t be scared. It’s fun.”
    Easy for you to say.
    “Come on. Just breathe.” She smiled. “Don’t go dying on me.”
    “I’m fine,” Cole said abruptly. “Sorry. I’ve never been on one of these and talking about it is not helping.”
    “Ohhh. Sorry.” She giggled again. “I started reading that book you gave me. It’s amazing and I’m only on page five.”
    Amy talked about the book for the rest of the wait on line, but as it turned out, changing the subject didn’t help. Cole was transfixed on the test ahead of him, one from which he doubted he’d come out alive. Nothing Amy said got through; it took all of his concentration just to breathe.
    Before he knew it they were at the front of the line. Amy jumped into the car and slid over. Cole stopped.
    “Come on. Don’t chicken out now.”
    Cole took a deep breath. And shut off his brain. He meticulously placed one foot into the car and then the other. He could not even put on his harness. The attendant came around and snapped it into place for him. Amy was talking again , but he didn’t hear her, nor did he see her through his tightly shut eyes. He blocked out the world around him, praying for it to be over already.
    As the car started to move, a pit consumed his insides. Why am I here? Why am I here? He could hardly breathe, and the car was only moving uphill. He knew that was a bad sign. And that was the last thing he remembered. Or remembered clearly. The world was flipping, spinning wildly. All sense of up was gone. He thought he was screaming, but he couldn’t be sure because he was certain that all remnants of air had long since abandoned his lungs.
    Almost before it began, it was over, and it was only then that he realized he was screaming. He cut the sound short , but his mouth would not close and he could not peel his hands off the handles. His eyes finally opened, but they stared straight ahead.
    He heard Amy laughing next to him. “Are you still alive? Wasn’t that fun? Let’s go to a bigger one now!” When Cole didn’t respond she stopped laughing. “Cole? Are you okay?”
    Sweet air was filling his lungs now and he felt the blood returning to his face. “Mmmm,” he managed to get out. They pulled into the unloading dock and, as the other passengers climbed out of their seats, talking excitedly, he let go of one, then the other handle.
    “Come on kid,” the attendant said. “You have to exit the car now.”
    Cole moved a little faster and caught up with Amy at the exit. Seeing his face, she smiled wider. “Are you still scared? We’re not on the ride anymore, dummy.”
    “No offense,” Cole said, “but that was the worst