Kingdom Keepers V (9781423153429) by Ridley Pearson

was the real Stitch. The character’s mouth and eyes moved. His facial skin looked oily in the dim light. He was not happy. Not at all. He was angry and troubled, and all of that anger was aimed at the dummies. He stuck out his jaw, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Finn felt a chill. The creature growled and took a step toward the dummies; all three took a step back. There was clearly a history between them, and Finn had little doubt who had the upper hand. Stitch stepped between Finn and the dummies. Now three others arrived into the landing pool. They saw Stitch and took off in the other direction.
    Stitch’s right arm waved. It took Finn a moment to realize the gesture was meant for him, that Stitch was telling him to get out of there. Finn slipped to the side and took off running.
    Behind him, he heard a shriek that had to be Stitch. Frantic drumming that had to be the dummies. Then more growling and guttural sounds. Something flew through the air, landing on the path in front of him. It was part of an arm—a torn dummy arm, bite mark apparent. More disgusting sounds behind him, and the drumming suddenly stopped.
    Finn ran hard and fast, skidding to a stop in front of the Boatworks cabin.
    He faced a good-looking girl wearing Typhoon Lagoon Cast Member shorts and shirt.
    â€œI’m Melanie.” She was older than he was. She had dark blue eyes and a pretty face. In school she would have been considered hot.
    â€œFinn.”
    â€œYes. Can I just say that you and your friends are doing the greatest thing ever.”
    He wondered if she knew CPR. He thought his heart had stopped.
    â€œAh…thanks.” Real suave of him. Hard to think up such a smooth response.
    â€œWe’ll do anything, anytime, to help you. Seriously, anything.”
    â€œThanks,” he said. On a real roll.
    â€œYou and I could text if you want. So you could contact me.”
    â€œThat’d be good. I’d like that.”
    â€œOnly if you want.”
    â€œI do!” Way too enthusiastic.
    â€œThere are a lot of us willing to help. No way we want Maleficent as our boss.”
    â€œOvertakers,” Finn said. “We call them Overtakers.”
    â€œYou can text me anytime.” She pulled out her iPhone, reciting her number. Finn pulled out his phone, but it was dripping water.
    â€œMaybe another time,” he said.
    She giggled.
    â€œLilo asked me to give you this,” she said, indicating a surfboard. “All you have to do is paddle. But you’ll need a rash jacket, and I have a full wet suit for you if you’d rather.”
    â€œI’m going surfing?” Finn asked.
    She glanced toward the Surf Pool and then at Finn as if he had to be mental.
    â€œAh…yeah. Listen, I don’t know what’s going on. Only that Lilo wanted me to give you this stuff and make sure you get in the water. Then I’m supposed to clear out. Crush ’n’ Gusher is shutting down for the night right now.”
    â€œI’m going to be in here alone?” If he had tried to sound like a six-year-old he couldn’t have done a better job of it.
    â€œThat seems like the plan.”
    â€œNo problem,” he said, trying to correct the situation.
    â€œHere, let me help you.” She held out the neoprene rash jacket.
    Finn undressed down to his swim trunks. She just stood there watching him, holding the jacket. She helped him into the vest.
    â€œLie flat on the board, your feet hanging off the back. Paddle with both hands. You can kick, too. Normally we would have you approach the wall and turn around and paddle out about ten yards—that’s where the waves come from. But for whatever reason, I was told to tell you to paddle into the middle, facing the wall, and just hang out. If a wave should come, you’ll just bob up over it.”
    â€œThanks, Melanie.”
    â€œNo worries.”
    Not for you, Finn was thinking.
    â€œDown the stairs. Careful because