Surfacing

“That was the worst sleep I’ve ever had…”

Frankie never thought she’d be up this early- much less crawling through a ventilation shaft.

“Me too. Happy we didn’t get caught though.”

“Not yet… let’s hope we come up someplace safe. And… y’know. Don’t die on our way there.”

They’d been rudely awakened by a janitor doing a surprise check on the room just a few minutes ago. Both their hearts were still racing after the panic-induced escape plan that was crawling straight into the room’s vents.

“Ow!”

Frankie bonked her head as the way up ahead grew thinner.

“Can we even fit through here…?”

“Push the bag in first.”

The sisters squeezed through, continuing onward, only to find a sheer dead end up ahead.

“Doesn’t look like there’s anything ahead. So what now, do we just… go back?”

“Wait.” Katie noticed the slight change in the direction they were facing, its color ever-so-subtly lighter. “No, keep moving.”

When they hit the supposed “dead end” they saw that far up above it- straight upward, in fact- was a vent exit.

“Uh… yeah. How do we get up there?”

“We climb!”

Katie was pretty excited to be shimmying her way up the narrow vent, despite the fact that her sister was shuddering under the weight of the bag and would totally crush her if she lost her footing.

Suddenly, a single token fell from their stock.

“Crap!”

“I got it.” Katie assured once she’d seized the silver thing in her offhand. “I’ll carry it up, don’t worry.”

“Good. Wouldn’t wanna lose a single one.”

In time, and after a concerted, stressful effort- they reached the top.

“See anyone?”

“No, no… but… it’s kinda hard to tell… looks weird.”

Frankie punched the vent open, sticking her head out into whatever section of Kidney’s park they spring up in. Katie heard her faintly gasp.

“Hey! What is it? Lemme up!”

“I… uh…” Frankie climbed out into the new area, slowly eyeing her surroundings as her big sister hurried to reach the opening. Finally, she leapt from the tunnel, ready to bask in the new sights-

“Is this… supposed to be a theme park?” The tourist asked with great confusion.