The Disappearing Act

By Roxanne Walker

Zoe is just your average teenage girl expecting another average, hot, boring summer working the family business, a traveling carnival business that is.It's all fun and games until her friends start to disappear. Working together with her carnival friends and family, she realizes what she has always loved about the carnival is their ability to work together. In order to save them, she must accept her telepathic powers and help catch the kidnapper before it's too late! Yet, Zoe struggles with her powers and fear that the powers will lead to her going to the dark side. Ezra comes along with his telepathic powers and FBI connections. Will he help her face her own inner demons or is he out to lock up her friends?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxanne Walker
• Release date: Feb 1, 2018

Book preview

Chapter 1

Something Goes Bump in the Night

Psssst, psssst, shreeeeek

Whispering voices and scratching woke Zoe from her bunk bed, she glanced at the clock and the fuzzy red glow of the numbers read 12:02. Looking around the camper, she saw that her family was all still asleep. So the sounds were not her sister talking in her sleep as she sometimes did.

Pssst- Hey man, over here.

She heard the whispering again.  Curiosity got the best of her so she carefully moved the blinds just a peak, hoping the voices were her friends coming to convince her to go hang out. Beyond the security light she saw a figure bent over whispering to a shadow beside a bunk house. Other than that the camping area of the fairgrounds was empty this time of night, almost like a ghost town. The moonlight danced in and out of the clouds casting shadows here and there, right about when she thought she was imagining the figures at first. Then she saw one of the figures shake his fist as he said, I just want what is rightfully mine.

Are you sure you want to go through with this? You may not like what you discover, mumbled the hunched figure.

"Am I dreaming?" gasped Zoe thinking her overactive imagination was trying to bring last night’s movie to life in her dreams.

Appearing to hear something, the dark figures glanced over towards Zoe’s camper and Zoe quickly glanced away. She let her fingers slip through the blinds, closing them. She could feel her heart galloping in her chest and her breathing became shallow. Scared, but still wanting, suspecting it was a dream she shook her head and looked out the window. Seeing shadows retreating while dragging a bag behind them, she knew that she was not dreaming.

The rest of the night sleep alluded her, and when she did fall asleep near dawn her dreams were troubled. She wondered who the figures were and what was going on. Zoe had grown up in the carnival and spent many nights in the fairgrounds , yet this was the first time she felt unsafe.

Hey, hey,hey, hey. Sleepy head, stop being lazy! Get up!, stuttered Chloe, Zoe’s little sister.

Okay, Okay, dorkus. I’ll get up when you make me some breakfast, sputtered Zoe. She looked up at her sister wearing her typically pink jumper with a matching pink bow holding back her curly hair.

Make your own! I’m telling mom! shouted Chloe.

Zoe heard Chloe stomp out of the camper and slam the door, probably to go to the trailer to tell her mom that she was being mean. She must still be mad about me making her watch that scary movie, thought Zoe. Slinging off the covers, she started to hop down off the top bunk, grabbed her favorite Guns’N’Roses t-shirt, and went into the bathroom. Immediately, she started working on her hair. Curly hair can be such a pain, perhaps I should just leave it up today considered Zoe. Once she finished, her brush was full of brown hair that she had yanked out from pulling too hard. She cleaned her brown hair from the hairbrush and threw it in the trash. Her mom always joked that her hair brush could be an animal with all the hair that it collected.

The camper keys were beside the door, she grabbed them, locked up and rushed up to the trailer. Hey Zoe! Is your phone dead? demanded Xavier as the sun glinted off his mohawk.

What? No, but I haven’t checked it. I’m running a bit late today, my mom is going to kill me! exclaimed Zoe as she jogged past him.

Catch ya later, called Xavier looking confused as he narrowed his dark eyes.

Typically, she would always chat with Xavier at the start of the day and hang out with him in the afternoons and evenings so he was probably wondering why she was avoiding him this morning. However, not only was she late, but if she talked he would automatically know something was wrong and she was not ready to talk about it yet.  They had been best friends since before they went to school and most people predicted that they would start dating. As Skylar would say, they were like two peas in a pod as both of them grew up in a family business. While her family had food, Xavier’s family had a mixture of game trailers and rides. Since they both grew up in the carnival and spent most of their childhood around one another, they really understood one another really well.

Zoe hurriedly ducked behind some trailers and off the midway which was full of people already. During the summers the midway, or the main road of the fairgrounds or carnival, was her home. Her family had food concessions, it was a family business passed down through the generations. Since she had grown up with pretty much everyone at the carnival, she knew most of them.

So taking the back area would be faster  as this way she wouldn’t have to wave to everyone, but would have to dodge all the drain hoses and electric cords. Leaping to avoid an electric box, she landed in a mud puddle of funnel cake mix water. Eww my shoes are gonna be a mess now, thought Zoe. She shook her foot off, continued weaving her way to her mom’s trailer. Their trailer was fairly simple with red signs and yellow and hopped in the back to wash her hands.

‘Bout time you got here, you need to sleep all day? questioned her aunt looking at her over her square glasses.

No, I’m sorry. I had a rough night sleeping, stated Zoe looking forlorn.

It’s alright, but let’s not make it a habit, scolded her mom, as I need to start chopping onions. Also, your sister came in crying earlier saying that you were being mean. If you don’t start being nice to her, I am going to make you take her on all the kid rides tomorrow.

Not the kiddie rides! Alright, alright I will be nice. I just saw something weird last night, and it made me a little grumpy. exclaimed Zoe.

She decided to get to work making sweet tea, and boiling up some Italian sausage as today was supposed to be a busy day. While they sold something different every week, they frequently sold sandwiches and told pride in their food, so Zoe always made sure to make good tea. Her mom always said, Take pride in anything you do, it’s a product of you, make it the best.

Some big entertainment was coming in, some punk rock band, so it was necessary to prep. Zoe wished it was the rodeo, as she hoped to watch some cute cowboys. She decided to look up how the weather was going to be for the day to see how much prep work she should have to do. Her phone said it would be sunny and 75, so she started to lay out a few boxes of meat to unthaw in the fridge while she was boiling. Well if I get everything caught up now, maybe I can hang out with Xavier or Skylar.  She went outside to get the mop bucket, and an R-key. Knowing it probably came from something important, she picked it up. Immediately, her head began to hurt and her fingers burned. Then, a voice was saying Please, don’t hurt me. I don’t know what I did! Freaked out she threw the R-key over to the drain where it clinked it’s way down into the sewer.

Glancing around to see if anyone noticed, she drew a deep breathe, and texted Skylar.

Zoe88: [Hey, I’m having a weird day, can we meet up this afternoon?]

She waited a moment and heard a ping which was Skylar’s reply .

Skylar449: [Sure, let’s meet in the grandstands. It will be quiet and cool there, and I’ll bring cards!]

Her aunt looked over at her from her trailer with a look that said stop goofing around. So she put her phone up on a shelf and got the trailer opened up and ready to go. After a few customers came up to buy some brats to go, she had to restock the grill. While putting the brats on the grill, she started burying them under the onions imagining that they were ancient artifacts that she got to discover. Zoe did not know why, but something about ancient cultures always called to her.

Tap, tap, tap, tap. Excuse me, young lady! exclaimed a grumpy looking middle aged woman.

Yes, ma’am. Can I help you? prompted Zoe.

I have been standing here for ages! Could you wake up from your dreaming, you lazy brat, and tell me where the bathroom is? Can’t you see my kids are getting hot here in the sun? barked the grumpy lady.

It’s down the midway and to your left. It’s that greyish building, explained Zoe as the woman waddled up the midway. Zoe thought Geeze, some people are so grumpy, she’s as sour as vinegar. She must really hate her life.

Ping ping ping, Zoe’s phone starting going off.

Skylar449: [Hey, I’m at the grandstand. Where u at?]

Zoe88: [ Still w/mom. Leaving now.]

Mom, I’m going to meet up with Skylar. Everything is done. Be back in a few! Bye! shouted Zoe.

As Zoe was leaving she did not see that someone was watching her. I wonder where she is going? Did she tell anyone about what she saw? Does she know it was me last night? I shall keep an eye on her, hopefully she doesn’t figure it out. I would hate to have to involve her, she always seems unpresumptuous, and pulchritudinous. She might not think he was impertinent enough associate with nor part of the haut monde, but she along with the rest would soon find out that he was all that and more.

Chapter 2

Carnival Reunion

Zoe took the shortcut behind the game trailers, she could hear the shouts of people winning prizes. Typically it was better to avoid game row if you were in a hurry, the game guys were always trying to get customers and would even try to get Zoe to win a goldfish even though they knew well enough that she never fell for their promises of a prize. Hearing someone win the water race made her turn her head and she ran right into Xavier. Ommmp! Hey! Be careful! You’re as jumpy as a flea, Zoe. Everything ok? asked Xavier.

Zoe glanced around nervously then whispered, I saw something last night…..

Were you watching those ridiculously funny ‘scary’ movies of yours again? jeered Xavier giving her a wink that matched the diamond winking from his ear in the sun.

Noooooo, gosh you think I’m afraid of my shadow. I saw people talking outside my window and they were dragging something and being creepy! replied Zoe while narrowing her green eyes.

Yo! I thought we were meeting in the grandstand, exclaimed Skylar, why are you guys hanging out on the side of the Grand stand? I didn’t interrupt ya’ll did I? Skylar giggled while making kissing sounds  and punched them both in shoulder. Zoe flinched a little as the metal from Skylar’s rings dug into her shoulder blade.

Zoe and Xavier made a face and shook their heads. Then, Zoe began to tell Skylar what she told Xavier about what she saw the night before. All the while Xavier is rolling his eyes. Yet, Skylar looked worried. Zoe noticed and wondered if she was worried about her, thinking she was going crazy. She was always getting weird feelings, and neither of her friends really understood when she talked about it. At least Xavier found it amusing, but Skylar always found it worrisome like she could predict bad things.

Maybe they are those prisoners who escaped a few months ago? You know that Novak often hires questionable sorts that work for room and board, stated Skylar as she examined her brightly colored fingernails, Hopefully, they will get picked up by the police before they cause any problems,.

Zoe frowned, I don’t get the feeling that they were on the run and something about the hooded man that seemed familiar.

Maybe it was that creepy customer you waited on the other day. Remember the one that said, ‘I will be back’ after asking about fried mushrooms, but never ordered anything. He was probably talking about coming to kidnap you or as you call it ‘rescue’ you from having to work all day, stated Xavier while wagging his eyebrows. Anyways, dad’s callin’. called Xavier as he disappeared from the bleachers and out into the crowd.

Ugh he spends too much time being a bozo and ballying. Always ready with an insult, that one. At least he’s got some pretty blue eyes, and they are always looking after you. I wish his friend would cut a joke sometimes, then I might date him, mused Skylar.  Zoe watched as she flicked her hand through her long black hair allowing her purple highlights to be seen.  Then, Skylar popped her gum and said, Sounds like this summer might be kind of interesting, text me if you want me to walk with you at night. I gotta run, my aunt has hundreds of balloons for me to blow up.

Zoe watched her friend dance her way through the crowd wearing her signature black combat boots and plaid mini shirt with shorts underneath. She wondered why she was acting different. They had always been good friends even though her family owned games and were often at different events, and Skylar typically shared everything with her. However, Skylar seemed to be trying to push her in the opposite direction for clues about what she had witnessed and normally she would have grilled Zoe more about what she had witnessed. Perhaps she was too wrapped up thinking about the new guy she was crushing on, thought Zoe.

Xavier

Xavier looked over at Skylar and gave her a look and shrugged his shoulders. Skylar commented, Isn’t she acting more odd than usual?

Well Zoe is always a little different and stubborn as a mule, you know that. That’s why I like her, admitted Xavier while picking at the grease under his nails.

But it’s different than usual. She reminds me of how my aunt acts occasionally, explained Skylar.

Xavier raised his eyebrows and asked, Isn’t she the one who gets visions and stuff? I thought you didn’t talk to her much.

We don’t, but she would get feelings and such. It was weird, but to be honest she was generally right, stated Skylar with her dark blue eyes looking worried, I just hope that she does not get involved in something that could get her in trouble.

You are one to talk. Aren’t you getting feelings too? questioned Xavier.

Skylar shrugged and replied, Sometimes, but they aren’t strong enough to really get me in trouble. Plus I found ways to ignore them. Anyways, you get stuck with the games this week?

Yea, I have to make sure the guys give the correct count, and keep an eye on them. You know how Uncle Kavanaugh gets if the game guys trick the locals, give away teddy bears to the cute girls, or cheat on their count outs. I’m not too worried though, we have a pretty good crew this season,  responded Xavier, You going with us to the next spot?

Skylar shook her head making her purple highlights pop