Page 12 of SinEaster: A Novel

Contest Summary

  Song Competition

  1st Place 2 points

  2nd Place 1 point

  3rd Place 0 points

  Quests

  Finding Object(s) 2 points

  Finding an Answer 2 points

  No points subtracted for not achieving objectives.

  The Easter Bunny’s Riddle

  Correct Answer 2 points

  No Answer 0 points

  Incorrect Answer 2 points subtracted

  The person(s) with the highest total score will be declared the winner(s).

  Silvia was the first to say, “Hey! How come the last three lines of the prophesy poem don’t rhyme?”

  Deciding to play around with the gummi-girl, Charlee said, “Of course it rhymes! What are you, dyslexic?”

  Silvia huffed, then replied, “Do I look dyslexic? Yes, I’m pleasantly plump, if that’s what you’re trying to incinerate with your sarcasm.”

  Charlee suddenly found that she was the one who’d ended up confused. “Er, I meant, the lines don’t rhyme, you’re right. I was just messing with you.”

  Silvia nodded. “Thank you. And there’s nothing wrong with a girl having a few curves.”

  Deon said, “I can agree with that. You’re very attractive.” He seemed to be taking long glances at Silvia’s chest.

  Silvia giggled. “Well, thank you!” Then she and Deon stared at each other for a little too long.

  Charlee rolled her eyes, then said to Princess Megan, “So how come the last lines don’t rhyme?”

  The Princess replied, “Well, the Easter Bunny was the one who found the poem, written on a page torn from an ancient book called the Corruptanomicon. He says the bottom part of the page was torn away.”

  They all turned to look at the Easter Bunny, who shrugged, then said, “I found the page in a coconut shell on the ground. It was already torn. We’ll probably never know the last part of the poem.”

  Charlee said, “And there are no other copies of this Corruptanomicon?”

  Princess Megan said, “Nope. There was only one copy, and it has been lost. Every once in a while, pages torn from the Corruptanomicon are discovered, but it would freak you out how those pages seem to get lost, then mysteriously travel and get found again. I’d be afraid if I ever found one of those pages, myself. They’re tainted with dark magic.”

  Silvia said, “Hey—”

  The Princess clapped interruptingly, then said, “Yes, so we don’t know the last part of the prophesy poem! It’s a mystery and we may never know! Okay, let’s get this show on the road! We will wait in the castle for you to return.”

  During the next few minutes, each of the three contestants was given a waterproof fanny pack, inside of which there was a foam-lined plastic egg for the transportation of small, delicate objects. They each folded their informative sheets of paper, then slipped them and their pens inside their fanny packs. Two personal escorts were called from inside the castle gates to transport two of the Chosen Ones to the destinations where their quests were to take place.

  fanny pack a small zippered pouch held by a strap around the waist. It’s not a purse!