Of course, Amy knew this scenario had never occurred in the real version of this ride, but none of this jaw-dropping experience was vaguely like the original. Most of the incredible scenes reminded her of the extraordinary sets she had recently seen on stage at Sasin’s concert.

  It didn’t stop her from being absolutely terrified though, because somehow she knew if this creature reached her seat, something unspeakable would then occur.

  “Adam!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “A little help here!”

  “I can’t!” he yelled back.

  “What?!”

  “You have to do it. Don’t think. Just act.”

  Confounded by his advice, Amy didn’t have the faintest clue what she was supposed to do. Then a bolt of lightning flashed through the air, lighting up the grotesque face of the maniacally grinning demon. Continuing to punch holes in the carriage with its talons, it was quickly traversing the short space between them.

  Amy knew in just a few more seconds it would be within striking range and tear her apart like a flimsy rag doll. There was nothing she could do to prevent her dreadful end, though, as she couldn’t even raise her arms to shield her face.

  There was only one thing she could manage right now, so as she resigned herself to her fate, Amy sat back in her seat and squeezed her eyes firmly shut. Spared from seeing the hideous visage of her murderer, she opened her mouth and released the loudest screech she had ever made.

  She put so much effort into her throat-tearing wail she tensed her entire body, splaying out all of her fingers simultaneously. When she had run out of air, she gasped and began trembling uncontrollably as she waited for the suffering to begin.

  It never did, though.

  After a few seconds, she opened her eyes to find the demonic creature was no longer attached to the bonnet of the carriage. None of the other fiends were flying around either, the lighting-filled sky devoid of their savage forms.

  “Thank god,” Amy muttered through quivering lips.

  “Well done!” Adam yelled between the deafening cracks of thunder.

  Too traumatized to respond, Amy was concentrating on the pounding of her heart, which felt like it was about to explode in her chest. Silently praying for the simulation to end, she remembered the assistant’s advice about the Dreamgate being completely safe.

  Right now, she was inclined to believe the woman had been telling her a pack of lies.

  As further proof of this point, a vision of a screaming angel then appeared right in front of the carriage and nearly made Amy have a stroke. In an instant, she was joining the sad-eyed being in its deafening peals of suffering.

  Around this stage in the ride, she reached sideways and found one of Adam’s hands. Apparently, he had been extending it towards her for the entire time, but she couldn’t see it because the harness was in the way. Once she found his fingers, she held them in a vice-like grip as her senses continued to be assaulted from every angle.

  Eventually, Amy worked out she could close her eyes to get a break from the never-ending series of visual attacks. Once she had calmed down, her fear quickly morphed into seething rage, causing her to release an impressive string of curse words.

  When the coaster reached the final brake-run at the end of its circuit, she allowed her exhaustion to take over and let her entire body go limp.

  “Finally,” Amy murmured as she tilted her head to side and rested it against the padded surface of the seat. Releasing an enormous sigh, she felt the relieving sensation of the carriage coming to a stop at the exit station.

  “Are you okay?” Adam asked keenly as the harnesses rose. Once he had enough space, he crawled in front of her and focussed his attention on her face.

  “No,” Amy said in a breathy whisper as she crumpled forward once the restraint had lifted.

  Adam was waiting to catch her, scooping her up into his arms and carrying her effortlessly out of the carriage.

  Amy remembered little of what happened next except for Adam’s eagerness to take care of her. She vaguely recalled him carting her out of the building, a kindness which she could not thank him enough for. Once she was outside the high walls of the gothic structure, she immediately improved and could speak again.

  “Better?” Adam asked as he studied her intently.

  “Yes,” Amy replied quietly as she slumped on a bench just outside the exit. Glancing sideways at her date, she realized he was sitting right next to her, loosely holding one of her hands.

  “I can see some color returning to your face.”

  “That’s just the embarrassment kicking in,” she joked with a weak smile. “Thanks so much for your help.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “What happened back there?”

  “I believe it was a test. Sorry. I couldn’t help you.”

  “Was I in any danger?”

  “I doubt it. In any case, your sonic scream got rid of that fiend.”

  “My what?”

  “That wasn’t a sound regular humans can make. I wouldn’t be surprised if it works under water.”

  Amy emitted a weak chuckle as she revealed, “My mother says I used to drive her mad when I was a kid. I got nicknamed the banshee.”

  “Well, it’s a terrific survival skill,” Adam said with a gentle squeeze of her hand.

  Pulling herself up straight, Amy smiled through the humiliation of having to admit she could make a sound capable of scaring demons away.

  At least she seemed to have come through the ordeal unscathed and could now feel some energy returning to her body. As her mind grew clearer, she had to stifle her growing anger about the nightmarish scenario she had just been subjected to.

  “If I ever meet the people who created the Dreamgate, I’m going to slap their faces,” Amy muttered as she frowned.

  “I’d like to see that,” Adam remarked with a smirk. “Say, would you like to go to somewhere there aren’t any people?”

  “Absolutely,” Amy muttered as she glanced at the crowds milling around Terror Town. “I could do with less of an audience.”

  “I know just the spot,” he said as he rose to his feet.

  Adam continued holding Amy’s hand as she slowly stood up, watching as she shifted her weight between her feet to check she could walk. When she gave him a small nod, he began leading her away to a location where she could recover from her ordeal.

  Chapter 8 – Blue Moon

  Once Amy and Adam were outside the borders of Terror Town, the crowds thinned out and gave them some room to breathe. Moving along a wide path bordered by stretches of lush, dark grass, they were heading to a place where Amy could recover from her ordeal.

  Adam soon left the main walk and crossed the lawn to reach a row of tall hedges running along the back of some buildings. When he spotted an arched-shaped gap in the densely packed leaves, he entered a secluded nook hidden within the foliage. Lit up with dozens of tiny fairy lights, there was enough space for two people to lie down and gaze up at the moonlit sky.

  This was one of many spots in the park designed to provide some respite when it became overcrowded during peak season. Amy had discovered several of them when she used to come here regularly with her friends. She couldn’t recall them ever being lit up in such a romantic way though, or containing a plush outdoor rug anyone could use.

  “This looks perfect,” Adam said as he released Amy’s hand. “Would you like to sit down?”

  “Yes,” Amy replied, lowering herself onto the soft blanket.

  Watching his date, Adam then informed her, “I’m sorry to say this, but our time together is drawing to a close.”

  “Wow. Has it been an hour already?”

  “It’s gone much too fast.”

  “Yeah,” Amy agreed with a shy smile.

  “We only have about ten minutes left. You can stay here if you want to avoid any more dramas.”

  “Don’t you have to escort me back to the exit point?”

  “No. It’s unnecessary.”

  Amy gazed up at Adam’s softly-lit facsimile, wondering why she didn’t need to return to the fortune teller’s tent. It did not matter though, as after what they had been through, she was feeling a lot more comfortable in his presence. Whilst admiring his lovely visage, she came up with a brilliant idea about how to use the remaining time.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Would I be right to assume you know everything the, um, real Adam does?”

  Smiling, he replied, “You would.”

  “Okay. Well, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?”

  “Of course. Shall I sit down?”

  Amy patted the blanket as she said in a formal tone, “Please. Take a seat.”

  “I’m surprised you’ve waited this long to interrogate me,” Adam quipped as he lowered himself onto the rug.

  “What can I say? I’ve been restraining myself.”

  “I’ll bet it was hard for a journalist of your caliber,” he remarked as he leaned back on his hands and stretched his legs out in front.

  Releasing a small snort, Amy replied, “Oh, please! I’m not exactly top shelf these days. After that scene I made in the hotel, I am amazed you don’t think I’m trash.”

  “It was pretty obvious you were set up. I wasn’t happy when I learned my company was responsible.”

  “Was it your manager’s idea?”

  “No, it was somebody at the top.”

  “Can you tell me who?”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not allowed to.”

  “Well, I’ll let it slide as we have little time,” Amy said as she sat up straight. “Okay. Ready for some hard-hitting questions?”

  “Fire away.”

  “I’ve noticed your group gets almost no downtime. You’ve been on tour for over three months, so how do you cope?”

  “It is draining,” Adam confessed as his eyes wandered skywards. “They give us enough rest, though. I’ve also learned to say no to certain things.”

  “What about writing music? How do you create such amazing songs when you’re so busy?”

  “I’m thinking about ideas all the time. When I get a chance, I just write them down,” he explained.

  “So, you’ve been working on some new tracks?”

  “Of course. It never ends.”

  “Is there an album on the way?”

  “Now we’re back in South Korea, we’ll complete it.”

  Amy released a little gasp as she admitted, “I forgot Howland City was the last stop on this part of your tour.”

  “Once we’ve recorded the music for our next release, we’ll begin working on the videos. About a month after that, we start the promotional run.”

  “It never lets up, does it?”

  “Nope,” he replied as he continued to gazing at the full moon.

  “You’re the group’s leader as well, so you must have extra responsibilities to juggle,” she noted.

  “It’s not too bad. We have amazing managers to help with things like disputes,” Adam revealed as he lowered his gaze to meet hers. “When you have five demons living together, there’s bound to be some friction.”

  Amy had to muffle a snort when she heard his description of his fellow group members.

  Uncovering her mouth, she then said, “Sorry. You wouldn’t know any of you argue.”

  “That’s part of the job. We’re meant to look like we always get along.”

  Doing her best not to appear too engrossed, Amy relaxed her posture as she realized Adam’s duplicate wasn’t keeping anything from her.

  Tilting her head, she then remarked, “Other idol groups allow the public to get a glimpse of their personal issues. They go on tons of variety shows, so eventually you do get see how they feel about each other.”

  “We’ve been on tour, remember?”

  “You’re back in South Korea now, though. I’m just saying it would be great for exposure.”

  “We have security concerns,” Adam revealed in a level tone. “Besides, our managers don’t want us doing what everyone else does. Sasin is meant to be unique.”

  “So, they’re not interested in making you relatable?”

  “The strategy is to create intrigue. Plus, we have some problems engaging with people.”

  “Really?”

  “I can’t discuss it. There may be a solution for it soon, though.”

  “I hope so.”

  “What you’re suggesting won’t increase our popularity. We’re already one of the biggest groups on the planet,” Adam said without an ounce of shame.

  “How did you do it in such a short time? You guys debuted less than a year ago, so it shouldn’t be possible.”

  “Not if you know what people truly want,” he replied, narrowing his eyes.

  Unable to hold his intense gaze, Amy looked away as she said, “Well, you certainly know how to deliver.”

  “As our CEO says, we only have a limited time to make our mark on the world. We’re like falling stars. We burn brightly for a brief moment before we disappear into the darkness.”

  “When you put it like that, it sounds so sad.”

  “It’s no worse than any other short-term career.”

  “True.”

  “I think that’s enough about me,” Adam said as he continued to keep his silvery-blue eyes on her. “Please tell me why you chose me for this date,” he asked as he leaned towards her.

  “Well, all my friends made a pact. We had to pick a member of your group,” Amy replied as she avoid looking at him.

  “I’m very glad you selected me. Are these the same people you were with earlier?”

  “We all went to your concert a couple of days ago.”

  “Did any of them choose me as well?”

  “No. We all like different members.”

  “I am pleased to hear that,” Adam said as he lay back across the rug and gazed up at the starry sky. Placing his hands behind his head, he then asked, “How did you meet your friends?”

  “We grew up together in a little country town.”

  “What’s it called?”

  “Bakersfield. It’s south-west of Howland City, up in the highlands,” Amy revealed with a slight frown. She found it strange Adam’s duplicate was asking her so many personal questions when Dreamgate’s system would already have this information.

  "It must be amazing to develop friendships that way," he remarked with a wistful smile.

  As Amy gazed at his reclining form, she considered what his pensive remark might mean. She was aware idol trainees often began studying their craft when they were quite young, leaving them with limited opportunities to meet people outside their profession.

  “Were you coached with the other members of your group?”

  “I was. We became brothers.”

  “You must miss your real family. I hope they let you go home and see them.”

  “I visit when I can.”

  “Still, it must be hard.”

  “They know how important my work is,” he advised as sat up and bent his knees. Looking at his date, Adam then asked, “What about you? Do you regularly meet your family?”

  Amy dropped her eyes as she replied, “Not really.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Like you, I’m busy. Besides, I have little to share.”

  “What are they like? I’ll bet you’re similar to one of your parents.”

  “Who isn’t? But, to answer your question, I think I have a lot of my father’s traits. He was a really good journalist, but he’s no longer with us.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Dad had a heart attack about five years ago. He lived his life to the full, so it wasn’t unexpected,” Amy revealed. “He was a war correspondent before he moved into political affairs. I’m not sure if he liked the change as he often said he felt safer in a combat zone than he did with most government officials.”

  “I’ll bet he was pleased you didn’t choose to report on the same things. What kind of music do you cover?”

  “Anything contemporary. Pop, rock, alternative, you name it.”

  “So, you would know all about my group, then?”

  “Yes,” Amy admitted with a small smile. “To be honest, I wasn’t interested in Sasin at first. You can thank my South Korean housemate for introducing me to you guys.”

  “Was this person at the concert?”

  “Of course.”

  “You said you went with the people you grew up with,” Adam noted.

  “Oh, Rachel came to Bakersfield when she was a kid,” Amy explained as she met his eyes again. “She was only six years old when she moved in next door with her grandmother.”

  “I see. So, How does a Korean woman and her grandchild end up in a country village on Nevari Island?”

  “Well, Rachel was never told why her parents sent her here. Her grandma immigrated ages ago, and fits right in with the locals. It’s a bit of an odd place. Lots of hippies and alternative life-stylers.”

  “Really? Now I want to visit,” Adam said with a warm smile.

  “My mother falls into the first category. See this peasant blouse? She made it,” Amy revealed as she held her arms out to show the fullness of the sleeves. “When I was a child, she weaved little flowers into my hair,” she added in cheery tones. “She still runs a big crystal shop in the main street of town.”

  “Wow. She sounds amazing,” Adam remarked as he looked Amy up and down.

  “She was born in Hawaii, which is where Dad met her. He used to call her his groovy islander babe. She’s been friends with Rachel’s grandma for ages and they both own stores in Bakersfield. They’re so sweet and quirky, like pretty much everyone there.”

  “Why did you want to leave, then?”

  “It wasn’t the people, it was the place. The town is lovely, but it is a bit boring. By the time I was eighteen, I was going away every weekend with my friends. When I graduated from college, I ended up in Howland City with a job traveling the world.”

  “How do you find life on the road? After three months of it, I think I’m done,” Adam admitted.

 

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