“That is an evil smell,” said Freak.

“Keep it down,” said Achilleus.

“Come off it, Akkie,” said Deke. “If there was anyone here, I think they just might have heard that bloody big bang as I took out the door.”

“Shut up so’s we can listen, Deke.”

“Okay, okay.”

They shone their flashlights around the seating area where the vending machines had once stood.

Nothing. Empty.

“They’re gone,” said Arran.

“What a surprise,” said Achilleus.

“Told you this was a waste of time,” said Ollie. “Now can we go?”

Arran carried on toward the pool. A dim light was glowing green through the windows around the high ceiling. The air felt hot and moist. He used to come here nearly every week in the summer. There was a waterslide that snaked out of the building and back again. It had always been noisy here, busy with kids. There had been a wave machine and all sorts of fountains, waterfalls, and jets. Now it was absolutely quiet and still and stank like a sewer. Stringy weeds hung from the waterslide that stood on rusting supports.

Arran was aware of his heart thumping against his ribs. He didn’t like being here.

“We should take a proper look around,” said Freak, joining him by the pool and shining his flashlight around the cavernous space.

There was still water in the pool, but it was a soupy greenish-brown color. Clumps of algae and weed floated on the surface, and odd pieces of furniture had been dumped in it. Arran could see chairs and tables, a filing cabinet, and what looked like a treadmill, probably from the gym upstairs.

More algae and mold made its way up the walls, covering the windows—this was what was turning the light that weird ghostly green.

The others came through.

“We should go,” said Ollie, nervously glancing back toward the entrance.

“Scared, are you?” said Deke.

“’Course I’m scared,” said Ollie simply. “I’m always scared when we go somewhere we’ve never been before. It’s good to be scared. Keeps you alive.”

“Check this out,” Freak hissed, interrupting them. He was shining his flashlight across the pool.

A vending machine stood there, half submerged in the water, but they could see that it was still stocked with chocolate bars and candy and chips.

“We’ve struck the jackpot,” Deke whispered.

They moved closer to the water’s edge, marveling at the treasure trove in the stagnant pool. The side of the pool sloped gradually into the water, giving the effect of a beach. The smell was appalling, and the floor was slippery beneath their feet.

“What’s it doing in the water?” said Achilleus.

“Who cares?” Freak and Deke said in unison.

Arran shone his flashlight on a sign; it was still just about readable beneath the fungal growth on its surface. no running. no diving.

“See that?” he said. “No diving.”

The others sniggered. The thought of diving into the dark, stinking water was disgusting, but nevertheless somebody was going to have to wade in if they wanted to get to the vending machine.