Falling Awake

looked amazingly calm and composed and she was still alive.
    “Hello, Ellis,” she said quietly. “I knew you’d get here in time.”
    “Shut up,” Amelia ordered. She kept the pistol aimed at Isabel’s temple while she smiled ferociously at Ellis. “Drop the gun.”
    “Better do as she says,” Scargill said. With a trembling hand, he picked up the pistol he had placed on the counter and pointed it at Ellis.
    Ellis looked at Amelia. “You’re going to kill Isabel anyway, aren’t you?” He shrugged. “I might as well take you out at the same time.”
    Amelia looked baffled by that logic. “Vincent will shoot you dead before you can make a move.”
    “No he won’t,” Isabel said quietly, simply, her eyes never leaving Ellis’s face.

    Amelia laughed. “Of course he will. He understands that he needs me, don’t you, Vincent? I’m the only one who can give you the right dose of the CZ-149.”
    “Scargill is fast,” Ellis said. “He can probably take me out. But you will be dead before that happens so it won’t make much difference to you. Your only hope is to put down the gun.”
    Scargill gave a raw, weary, utterly humorless laugh. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a three-way standoff.”
    “Looks like,” Ellis agreed. He raised his voice slightly. “This would be a very good time.”
    “No.” Amelia took a step back. Her face worked with fury as she struggled to come up with a way to get out of the impasse. She yanked Isabel with her. “No, you’re not going to do this to me, Cutler. I’m not going to let you win, not after all I’ve gone through to get this far. I’m leaving now and I’m taking Isabel with me. Don’t move. Do you hear me? Don’t move or she dies.”
    Amelia-Maureen was fraying fast around the edges, Ellis thought.
    Clank, clank, clank.
    The muffled rumble of a heavy, rusty chain lift shuddered across the park. Simultaneously a spiraling maze of small yellow and white lights lit up the foggy twilight. The majority of the bulbs that festooned the old roller coaster had broken or burned out long ago but there were enough left to illuminate the carcass of the old thrill ride in a strange, ghostly glow.
    “What?” Amelia’s voice was shrill with rage and bewilderment. Clearly unnerved, she jerked her head around to stare overher shoulder at the strange apparition that had appeared. For an instant she seemed confused and distracted by the clanking noise and the otherworldly light.
    Down, Isabel, Ellis thought. For God’s sake, get down.
    As though she had read his mind, Isabel was already in motion, seizing the opportunity. She dropped like a stone to the ground, vanishing from sight on the other side of the counter. Amelia reflexively let go of her arm rather than be pulled off balance.
    “Damn you, Cutler.” Amelia whipped back, gun swinging toward Ellis.
    He pulled the trigger at the same instant that Vincent Scargill did.
    Amelia Netley collapsed without a sound.
    The roar of the guns filled the night, louder than the clanking of the roller coaster.
    Ellis watched Scargill.
    “Take it easy,” Scargill said. He put the gun down very carefully on the counter. Then he wiped his forehead. “Thanks. Wasn’t sure if you believed Isabel a minute ago when she said that I wouldn’t kill you.”
    Ellis lowered his pistol. “Amelia didn’t believe her but I did.”
    Isabel scrambled to her feet. “Are you two okay?”
    “Yes.” Relying on his good shoulder, Ellis planted one hand on the counter and vaulted through the opening to get to her.
    Scargill followed him, moving much more slowly and awkwardly. He went to stand looking down at the very still body on the pavement. A visible shudder went through him.

    Farrell appeared from the dark, misty space between a teacup ride and the carousel.
    “Everything okay?” he asked, checking faces anxiously. “I heard you give me the order to start the roller coaster but then I heard two shots.”
    “Farrell,” Isabel whispered.
    “Your timing was perfect,” Ellis assured him, switching off his phone.
    The clank, clank, clanking stopped.
    Ellis listened to the silence and felt the breathless anticipation that meant the roller coaster train had reached the summit of the first, high lift hill and now hung there waiting for the irresistible force of gravity to take effect.
    Isabel threw herself into his arms. He wrapped her close and hard against him.
    There was a grinding, metallic screech of rusted track and