We were threading our way around the front of the Small World building, past the Matterhorn, into the thick of the Fantasyland crowd. Hundreds of people bounced against us on either side. Surely someone would notice the girl being held hostage with the gun.

Or not.

Have you ever noticed how self-contained most people are? Every single person in that place had blinders on, focused on making the most of their vacations, oblivious to the people around them. I sent pleading looks to the young families standing in line at the Tea Cups. I mouthed help me to the goth kids waiting for the Dumbo ride. I shot alarmed, eyebrows drawn together, desperate tilting of my head toward the chick with the gun looks to the older couple holding hands by the carousel.

Nada.

I hated people.

There, Lani finally said behind me.

I looked up to where she was pointing. Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

We can have some privacy there, she said, pushing me forward.

I bit my lip, seeing my chance at freedom growing smaller and smaller the closer we got to the castle. Luckily, the square was jam-packed with bodies, and it was slow going. The daily show of King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone was going on in front of the carousel, a guy in a Merlin costume directing a ten-year-old kid and his dad to step up to the stone and try their luck.

A stroller knocked into me, a kid with a lollipop got pink goo on my leg, and a guy with nacho breath bumped into me and burped in my face. But no one saw the chick with the gun, shoving me just feet from certain death.

Well, almost no one.

That’s her! someone shouted.

Instinctively, I spun around, expecting to see one of Lani’s fans pointing her out. Instead, I spied a bony little old lady in a pink tracksuit hanging off a lamppost, pointing toward me.

Aunt Sue.

I could have cried, I was so happy to see her. In fact, I’m not entirely sure my eyes didn’t leak a little.

Now what? Lani hissed. Then she shoved me forward, knocking into a toddler who fell on his diapered butt and began to cry.

Stop! Aunt Sue shouted. Stop that girl! She’s a murderer! She has my niece hostage!

Unfortunately, already being in a state of Disney-altered reality, the crowd thought Aunt Sue was just part of the show. They all turned toward me, expectant smiles on their faces, waiting to see what the murderer and the hostage did next.

Go! Lani urged. Ignore them!

What choice did I have? I went.

Unhand my niece! This time it was Aunt Millie’s voice. Or face the consequences.

Oh yeah? Lani asked, spinning us both around to face her, showing the crowd her gun. And what would those be, old lady?