A Squeaky Surprise

In theory, some of the clowns were supposed to be actors dressed as mannequins. When the lights went out, they were supposed to spring to life and run around scaring the girls in the dark. But the budget didn't cover it this year. The funhouse had been very expensive to build, after all, and for some reason people tended to stay away from it.

A secret door slid open, and Nathan stumbled out into the room, wearing the clown costume he'd hastily pulled on. Of course, he wasn't going to prank Emily. That would be unethical! He was going to help her! She was running around in the dark, scared and confused, not knowing her way around the funhouse. She could easily trip over a clown statue or fall down a trapdoor or something like that.

Of course, he had to have a disguise. If the lights came on suddenly, she'd see him, and then she'd demand to know where he came from. He'd have to tell her he'd been secretly watching her, and then he'd seem like a creep. So that was out. And the clown costume was the only disguise at hand. It was all perfectly sensible, when you thought about it.

The only trouble was, it was completely dark in the room. And the clown costume didn't come with night-vision goggles.

He blundered forward, hands outstretched, in the general direction of Emily. His big shoes squeaked with each step.

Emily heard the most terrifying thing she'd ever heard in her life. The squeak of a clown's shoes! And, worst of all, it was coming straight for her! Naturally, she turned and ran as fast as she could.

Nathan heard her run. Oh, no! She shouldn't be doing that! Not in this dark room! She might fall over! Naturally, he started to run as fast as he could after her.