Читать книгу Game World - C.J. Farley - Страница 11

Like most twelve-year-olds, Dylan had gone his whole life without ever seeing magic.

Sure he had observed card tricks, watched palm readings, and a couple times he had seen street magicians performing for spare change. But seeing real magic was completely different—it made special effects in movies seem totally un-special. Real magic is more than an experience for the eyes. True wizardry wakes up the body and puts the senses on notice as they struggle to make sense of what’s going on. All of Dylan’s senses were awake and screaming for explanations, like baseball players shouting at umpires.

“This isn’t happening, right?” Dylan asked Ines. “Tell me this is a prank!”

Ines’s face was flushed.

Eli dragged himself back onto his wheelchair and rolled over to the weird opening. He reached out a hand and when he pulled it back it was dripping water. “The portal—if that’s what to call this—is still open.”

“This is a sick joke,” Dylan cried. “Let’s jump in the portal and find her!”

“Whoa—hold on and think about this,” Ines said, recovering a bit.

“You’re filming this for TV—is that it?” Dylan said.

Ines shook her head. “This is not a TV show. I don’t know where your sister went.”

“Things like this don’t happen in New Rock!” Dylan yelled. “This can’t be real!”

“Maybe we should call the cops,” Ines said. “Or the coast guard.”

“You told us that Xamaica was real!” Eli shouted. “Greatest. Adventure. Ever. Why weren’t you better prepared?”

“This is magic!” Ines shot back. “How can you prepare for that?”

“This isn’t happening!” Dylan moaned. “We’ve got to get my sister—now!”

“This better not be some corporate trick to cheat us from our prize!” Eli added.

“Will you shut up about the prize? This is about my sister!”

“You know how I feel about Emma! I just think the spokesmodel here is hiding something! You can’t trust a corporation, I’m telling you!”

“What about the red-eyed stalker guy?” Dylan asked. “Is he behind this?”

“He couldn’t have gotten by security,” Ines said. “We need help. Call 911!”

“I don’t know if this is a game, a trick, or what, but there’s no time to call anyone,” Dylan said. “We don’t know how long this portal will stay open. This has to be linked to the forty-fourth level. We’re Xamaica’s greatest players. If anyone can find her, it’s us.”

“Let’s do this,” Eli said. “I got your back, Dylan. Another mission for the Game Changers!”

Eli strapped himself securely into his wheelchair and gave Dylan a fist bump.

Ines paused for a moment in thought. “I started this—so I’m going too,” she said at last. “But no group hugs or anything. This bromance thing you guys got going made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.”

“You’ve got an heiress and a paraplegic as bodyguards,” Eli said, putting up the hood of his snuglet. “What could possibly go wrong?”

Dylan wondered about that, and about the wounds on his chest. Maybe something in this game was out to kill him. He didn’t know what it was but he was going to find out very soon. He just hoped he’d find his sister before whatever it was found him. It’s just a game, he thought. I’m not really here. This isn’t happening.

He took a step forward into the portal, Eli and Ines by his side.