Kingdom Keepers II(63)

“That’s true,” Maybeck said.

“Shut up,” said Willa.

“I’m agreeing with her.”

“You’re being a nimrod, and you know it,” Willa protested.

“A tattoo!” Maybeck shouted, a little loudly.

“Everything in the diary has proved out,” Finn reminded them. “The tiger and lion were DHIs. She drew the lightning hitting the castle days before it occurred.”

“Change Rob,” Willa said. She reviewed Finn’s phone call to Rob for Amanda, and the discovery of the Chernabog anagram.

“And that too,” Finn agreed.

“The apes,” Philby added.

“And now the tattoo,” Maybeck mumbled. “Okay. I get it. So what now?”

“I’m going back there,” Finn said. “Into the vet clinic.”

“And I’m going with you,” Amanda stated, leaving no room for argument.

“I can take over the viewing station,” Philby offered eagerly.

“Willa and I will stand guard,” said Maybeck. “Our DSs at the ready.”

“What’s the code word if there’s a problem?” Finn asked.

“Give it a rest, Whitman.”

“Chernabog,” said Philby.

All eyes fell on him.

“At least that way we’ll all understand it’s serious,” Philby said.





48


FINN SWIPED HIS ID in the card reader. A small light changed to green. An even smaller light went off in his brain: what if the Overtakers had figured out the kids were using fake IDs and were now tracking them through the use of their cards? He shook it off.

He tried the doorknob, and the door opened. He and Amanda stepped through, leaving the sounds of activities behind them.

The hallway he found himself in reminded Finn of the veterinarian’s office where his mother volunteered part-time. It also served to remind him of his mother and the fact that he hadn’t yet called home. He’d messed up: soon his parents would be at Blizzard Beach looking for him. They were going to be furious. He wondered if any of the other kids were in the same predicament. One thing was certain—time was running out. The Park would remain open only another hour or so. Jez’s chances of being freed were quickly diminishing.

He knew that no matter how they tried, he and Amanda still looked like kids. Tired, even exhausted, kids—but kids nonetheless. There was no getting around it. And he had no idea if unaccompanied kids his age were allowed backstage. With this in mind, he signaled to Amanda to hurry, and they moved down the hallway with an eye out for someplace to hide. Thankfully, most of the doors had glass panels, allowing them to see inside. They passed an examination room, and another, filled with medical equipment. There was one door marked PRIVATE, and another with stickers and cartoon clippings taped to it. It was this door Finn tried first. Inside was a single table and some vending machines—an employee lounge. It was empty. They ducked inside, both wide-eyed and slightly out of breath due to the excitement.

“I’m terrified,” Amanda said.

“Me too,” Finn admitted.

“We have no idea what we’re looking for.”

“No. But she must have dreamed about that tattoo. That has to mean something.”

“But what?”

“The tattoos are given out to kids who take the private tours. Maybe there’s something on the tour we’re supposed to see?”

Amanda’s blue eyes brightened. “That’s got to be it! You’re a genius.”

Finn felt his face warm. “Hardly,” he mumbled under his breath, wondering how a guy like Maybeck could carry himself so confidently.

There was noise in the hallway, and both of them instinctively looked for a place to hide. But the employee lounge offered them nothing: a few lockers, all padlocked.

A text message appeared on both their DSs

angelface13: the green one just left the ice palace.





“Maleficent just left the ice truck,” Finn whispered.

“Yeah…I saw that. But what’s it mean?”

“No idea. But it can’t be good.” Amanda looked terrified. “Okay, here’s the thing: try to look like you belong here,” he advised, bracing himself for whoever was out there to come through the door.

Instead, he saw a woman dressed in green nursing scrubs leading two adults and a string of four or five kids down the hallway. A tour!

“I’ve got an idea,” Finn said.

A moment later, he and Amanda were in the hallway trailing only a few feet behind the family. For anyone seeing them they would appear to be a group. The nurse, busy with her explanations, a memorized tour she probably did too often, seemed to pay little attention to those at the back of the pack.