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*Dahlia*
I stand on the ground, watching Zac and Ian go up on one of the big water slides. It is a little wild for me, so I decided to stay on the ground. Also someone needs to stay with the kids.
So far it has been a great day. Everyone seems to get along splendidly and everyone seems to have great fun. The guys have mostly been left alone. Only a few fans have been bold enough to ask for a picture or autograph.
I have been watching Anele play with Stella in the stroller, blowing bubbles for her to burst. I am also keeping an eye on the guys, so I am ready when they reach the top. Zac will be disappointed if I don't see him go down the slide. He is such a big baby at times. He is laughing and goofing around with Ian while waiting in line and I get a feeling my husband are starting some kind of bromance here.
Zac leans over the railing, waving at me and I smile and wave back. This means he is up next and in a short while he will come flying down one of the slides.
Suddenly everything starts shaking violently as an earthquake hits and I scream as I watch big parts of the slides break off, falling to the ground. I pull Anele into me with one hand, shielding her and the stroller the best I can with my body.
*Zac*
Just as I get on the slide everything starts shaking, and having grown up in LA I instantly know it is an earthquake. I make a quick calculation and decide that I need to stop. So I put my hand and feet against the sides, using them as brakes.
Suddenly I see the track crumble in front of me. Shit !! I push with all I got, knowing that if I don't stop myself now, I will plummet to an almost certain death. And worse than that my wife and kids will be watching.
I manage to stop, literally on the edge. Holding my breath as I look down. Luckily the water dries up, making it a lot easier for me to hold on. I start slowly backing up, forcing myself to remain as calm as possible.
It takes me a couple of minutes, but then I hear Ian's voice from the platform. "Oh shit Zac, I thought we lost you there. Watch out the slide has detached from the platform".
"I am not so easy to get rid of". I say, turning to look at Ian and what I have to work with here. He is right, the slide has detached and there is a close to 6 foot gap between the slide and the platform. "Hmm this isn't going to be easy".
"You need to jump Zac. That piece of slide is not going to hold forever. I am going to do my best to catch you". Iam say, trying to smile reassuringly.
I slowly stand up. I mean normally 6 foot isn't a big jump for me. I have long legs and am in fairly good shape. But here I have to jump from slick plastic that is not really secure and upwards too. "Yeah okay. Move to the side okay ?"
Ian steps aside and I take a step back, getting as much power behind the jump as possible, launching myself towards the platform, feeling my foot slide just as I jump. And I know I can't make the perfect jump, landing on my feet as I hoped.
It hurts like hell as my chest slams into the platform and I desperately try to get hold, as not to slide off. Ian grabs my arms, pulling me up on the platform. "I got you Zac".
"Thanks man, my foot slipped". I am happy he was there to pull me up. I look around, there is only Ian, a kid ... around 9 year old and crying ... a teenage boy who might be 17 and the man from the park, making sure people waited their turn.
"Are you okay Zac ? That was a hard landing". Ian looks at me with concern.
I nod. "Yeah I'm fine, but I am probably going to be a bit blue over the ribs tomorrow". I say, it does kind of hurt, but we have other things to worry about now.
"So how are we getting down from here ? The stairs are gone". Ian says, looking around. "Also I am not sure if the platform will stay upright till we get help... especially if another quake hits".
I look down, we are more than 70 foot up. At least the platform has relatively close bars the whole way down. "Yeah we need to climb down".
"You are right, there is no other way. You should climb first, you are a lot stronger than me ... you might be able to catch someone if they slip". Ian says.
"You have a lot of faith in me". I say. I don't think I could catch someone. "But okay, I'll go first. You make sure everyone gets down and go down last".
Ian nods. "Yup, I'll go last and make sure everyone keeps moving". He looks at the little kid in the corner. "What do we do about him ?"
I squat down in front of the kid. "Hi there kid, what is your name ?"
"Sam, my name is Sam". He says, tears streaming down his face as he looks up at me. This definitely won't be easy.
I smile at him, and take his hand shaking it. "Well hi Sam, I am Zac. We need to get down from here. Do you think you can climb ?"
"No, I am so scared". He says, then his face lights up for a short moment. "Hey, you are Fandon, aren't you ?"
"Well yeah, or I play him". I send him a smile. We need to get him down somehow. "Are you sure you can't climb down".
His lips are trembling and he looks about to panic. "I am not very good at climbing, and I am afraid to look down. I don't dare".
"Okay.. do you trust me Sam ?" I ask, I need to do this another way then.
He looks at me for a moment. Then he nods. "Yeah, I trust you, I mean you are Fandon, you are a real hero and such".
"Okay then. I'll carry you down okay ? But you need to hold on really tight, okay ? Can you do that for me ?" I ask him. Not that I look forward to making the climb with about 70 lbs on my back, but I need to get the kid down.
Ian helps him get up on my back, and he clings to me. Ian sends me a reassuring smile. "See you at the bottom Zac".
"Climb carefully Ian, I don't want to have to catch you". I say, and swing my legs over the side, starting the slow descent, talking to Sam, reminding him to hold on.
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