It all began with a simple date...

Chapter 9

         Angelica loved the speed and Max was amused by the way she was enjoying herself. She was unknowingly getting her true self out.

          And then proceeded to the Giant Ferry Wheel as Angelica dragged him even when he flatly refused. Max found this part of the time they spent, best of all even though he wasn't fond of the wheel.

          Since it was two seater, they had only each other's company to rely on. At first it was calmingly easy, where they were just talking.

          But when they reached the peak of its height. It stopped and their tiny little glassed cabin rocked a little causing Max to look down. Which freaked the hell out of him since his darkest fear was heights.

         Angelica understood that and let out a little giggle. No, she wasn't scared of it. In fact she enjoyed it. Cause she knew she wasn't that breakable.

          "Max?" He looked up at her and she could see the fear he felt right through his glossy eyes. "I'm scared-" "I know." She interrupted and softly smiled. She slipped her fingers through his and gripped it tight as a sense of assurance that she was there. And he returned the gesture of gripping hers too as he let his eyes shut. He was going to wait till it's over.

           "Max? Look at me." She ordered. He opened his eyes and he saw her grey eyes staring back at his. And began observing every speck of colour in those beautiful gems.

             The wheel started moving again and in excitement, she looked down to see the view. He realised he was no more scared as his attention had been turned away. He moved towards her and kissed her on her cheek. This simple action shocked her. What did he just do?

         Her ears were itching to come out but she kept them under tight control. She didn't want betray her normalcy under the pretence she was playing in. And she definitely didn't want him to know about them. She kept silent.

          Both the things, her attention to her secret being hidden and the innocent kiss was tearing her apart. She didn't know how to react. But she still hasn't left his hand yet.

          "Thanks... It made me feel so much better..." He let out really gently and softly just as the ride ended which brought out tingles on every inch of her skin. But quickly she shook the awkwardness she felt.

            "Anytime!" She replied with a smile. "So what do we do next?" Kitty pretended like nothing happened. And he followed her lead.

        "Well, we could play the mini games..." And they went for it.

          They started off with the target shooting game where you get three bullets to try shooting the empty cola cans.

        Max tried his best, paying five times, to get Angelica a soft toy of her choice. But he couldn't do it. So Angelica took a chance.

        With her cat eyes, she managed to gain accuracy and shot all three bullets in one can. Both the man handling the game and Max were impressed.

         And when asked what she would like, she chose a huge grey cat with 'the blue eyes' and she loved it. The inner cat in her was mewing because it found a companion like her, even if it was inanimate.

            They tried other mini games. Angelica knew that she could win all of them because of her perfect eye-hand co-ordination. But she was pretending to be normal so she couldn't.

          So she had to purposely miss some of the chances so that she could lose. Plus she was amused and enjoyed seeing Max try his best to win the games and get her a toy with his own efforts. But all were in vain.

          There was one thing which caught Angelica's eye when she was having the time of her life. A particular man.

            He had nerd glasses on which complimented his blue eyes and dark shade of blonde hair and he was keeping an eye out on her. Plus it was weird that this was the same man who had waited on her family yesterday.

          What was he doing out there? Plus why was the kitty feeling like she had seen him somewhere before? Was he going to do something to her? She had to be on guard. Even as she was having fun.

          After they tried many of the mini games, Angelica was hungry and Max heard her stomach rumble.

          He laughed as her cheeks took on a dark shade of red. She was embarrassed and she wanted to hide her face.

          So he got her a huge ball of candy floss, something he knew she would enjoy and something she has never tasted in life. Well, in her previous life, she was never given treats. So she never experienced anything new.

          He laughed again when he saw her purring in happiness. It was really cute the way she was trying to eat it.

           In fact she was so intrigued the way they were making it that the man allowed her to stick her hand in. And the way she laughed because she said it was ticklish, got Max smiling too.

             He was really beginning to like her. But he kept his distance as he too was hurt, by past experiences.

           It was nearing ten and soon they would have to leave but they had enough time to go for one more adventurous game and it was a mutual thought for the Haunted House.

           Max wanted to prove to Angelica that he wasn't a weakling but a brave knight while Angelica knew that she couldn't really be scared in the dark because of her sudden reflexes, her intuitions and her perfect eye sight which could see in the dark too.

            So they went in together, hand-in-hand.

            They entered and it was pitch dark but Angelica could see the outlines of things that were there. She also sensed a presence that should not have been there. But she thought it was a simple part of the act.

            They went a little deeper and by chance, her hand left his.

            At that time, something else gripped her by the arm. It was a person's silhouette, she could make out. The same presence she felt. She screamed in a high pitched tone.

             But then it was muffled by his hand. Which later she realised was coated by a handkerchief which contained a strong sedative.

            Suddenly she began to feel light and dizzy. Everything in front of her was blur. She tried to get her mind clear. But more she tried, the more she was falling deeper into it.

            Last thing she remembered was Max calling out for her.