Page 130 of Don't Let Me Go
Maybe I just need to stop being afraid. Because regardless of all the things that I don’t understand about my life right now, there is one thing that I know is true.
I love Jackson Haines.
“I think?.?.?.?I think I’m going to go find Jackson,” I say, once again rising from the bench.
Audrey nods approvingly. “And I thinkthat’sa great idea.”
“Do you know which way I go to get to Galaxy Peak?”
“Yeah, I think you just—”
Audrey doesn’t finish her sentence. She’s cut off when a large, deafening crash shakes the air like thunder, almost knocking me off my feet.
“What the fuck was that?” Audrey shouts, leaping up from the table.
Over the tops of the faux-colonial storefronts, a dark plume of smoke rises from somewhere deep in the park.
“Is that a fire?” Tala asks, nervously reaching for Audrey’s hand. “Did something explode?”
A chill runs down my spine.
Before I know what I’m doing, I’m tearing down the street, winding through groups of confused tourists as I race past whirling rides and blinking lights. Somewhere behind me, Audrey calls my name, but I keep running.
I have to find Jackson.
My heart is racing. A cold sweat clings to my skin. But those things are nothing compared to the bottomless pit of dread that opens in my stomach.
I know what’s happening. And why it’s happening. Despite this, I still hope against hope that I’m wrong.
But I’m not wrong.
When I turn onto one of the wider thoroughfares, I see the cause of the commotion and it stops me in my tracks. It’s Galaxy Peak. From the corny commercials, I instantly recognize the enormous, futuristic-looking silver pyramid that houses the massive indoor roller coaster. Only the pyramid in front of me is very different from the one on TV. It’s lost its gleaming tip. That’s collapsed, leaving a massive hole at the top of the structure through which a raging column of black smoke is being belched into the air by the fire below.
“Holy fuck,” Audrey exclaims as she and Tala appear beside me, both of them panting for breath. “What happened?”
The three of us stare at the nightmare in front of us. People and families are scrambling out of the exit at the pyramid’s base, screaming in terror as more of the silver structure collapses in on itself.
Tala covers her mouth as her face goes pale. “Duy, Jackson, and Caleb are in there...”
“We don’t know that,” Audrey says, trying to reassure her.
But of course they’re in there. I know that with an absolute and crushing certainty.
Jocasta warned us that something would happen on my birthday if we didn’t stay away from each other. We didn’t listen. Now it’s too late.
Jackson and I are out of time.
Chapter 53
Jackson
The first thing I notice is the smell. Sharp and metallic, like burning wires. Then I hear a moaning followed by a soft whimpering. I can’t tell which direction it’s coming from. There aren’t any lights in this part of the ride. It’s like being lost in a black hole. I can’t get my bearings.
Though that might have more to do with the fact that my head feels like it’s about to split open. I must have hit it against something when our rocket coaster jumped the track and crashed. There’s a throbbing on the right side of my skull. And the ringing in my ears is making it difficult to concentrate.
“Duy?” I call out. “Caleb?”
In the darkness, I hear someone groan, but no one answers.
