Ambushed, part VII

The prank was going quite well so far, Harvey Rossel thought. The producers of Ambushed! had been approached by Lucy Davis right around the time of the previous season finale. Lucy's boyfriend, Mark Schroeder, had never seen the show, and she had a great idea for a prank. The producers loved the idea, and agreed to it. Now, it was being implemented. Here's what had happened.

Lucy and Mark had arrived at the restaurant, and waited for a table. While Lucy went to the bathroom, another young man (Vincent, a conspirator) had told Mark that he was proposing that night. He had asked the staff to plant the ring in her cheesecake. Mark asked if she might swallow it by accident, and Vincent said no, she took very tiny bites.

Mark and Lucy's table just "happened" to be near the table of Vincent and his girlfriend, Susannah. When the waiter asked Mark and Lucy if they wanted dessert, Lucy asked for cheesecake. Mark didn't want anything.

The desserts at the two tables were delivered at the same time. Mark told Lucy to watch Vincent's table. Lucy did, but ate her cheesecake in the meantime.

Mark was watching Susannah finish her cheesecake, and Vincent's troubled expression, when he heard a gasp from Lucy. He looked, and she was holding the ring. "YES!" she squealed in delight. "I'll marry you! I will! YESYESYES!"

Mark's eyes were wide. "N...n..." he stuttered, looking at Vincent. Vincent's look of shock at Lucy's outburst had turned into one of rage.

"YOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU!!!" Vincent screamed, jumping from his seat. "I TELL YOU WHAT I'M PLANNING, AND YOU DECIDE TO STEAL MY IDEA AND MY RING? HOW DARE YOU?"

"N...n..." stuttered Mark.

"Wait," Susannah said angrily. "That was supposed to be my ring? Buried in the cheesecake? Are you trying to kill me?"

"No," said Vincent. "I..."

"YOU KNOW WHAT BIG BITES I TAKE!" screamed Susannah, standing up and throwing her napkin to the floor. "YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" And she stormed from the restaurant.

Vincent stared after her for a moment, then slowly turned to Mark. "You're dead," he hissed. "I will hunt you down and kill you. Watch your back." Then he ran out of the restaurant after Susannah.

Mark looked at Lucy, who was staring at him in shock. "Then this wasn't for me?" she asked.

Mark shook his head.

Lucy began to cry. It was all very convincing, Harvey thought. And to add the finishing touch, she began to wail, "WE'VE BEEN DATING FOR FIVE YEARS! IF YOU CAN'T MARRY ME, THEN I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" And she too fled the restaurant.

Mark sat, mouth hanging open. Harvey pitied him a bit, but he'd know it was all a joke momentarily. Harvey was dressed as a waiter on this night, and walked over to where Mark was sitting.

"Wow," Harvey said. "That stinks."

Mark looked at him. "You could say that," he replied. "I ruined two relationships tonight. That guy is going to kill me. I'm never going to see Lucy again. I feel like shooting myself."

Harvey nodded sympathetically. "Well, before you do that..."

"In fact," Mark interrupted, "I've got a gun in the car. Excuse me." And he bolted from the restaurant.

"NO, WAIT!" yelled Harvey, but Mark was already halfway out of the restaurant. Harvey was terrified, and ran after him. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT WAS..."

An old lady stepped in front of him. "You're from that awful Ambush! show, aren't you?"

"Yes, but..." stammered Harvey, trying despearately to get around her.

"I saw what you did to that poor man last season," the old lady persisted. "Now you're trying to ruin someone else's life. How dare you?"

"Lady," Harvey said, angrily. "If you don't get out of my way..."

A blast was heard from outside. Harvey stopped in shock. "Goodness!" said the old lady. "What was that?"

Harvey pushed past her and ran outside. A crowd was huddled by the cars. Harvey ran over, visions of lawsuits and jail time in his head. The show was done. His career was finished. His life, as he knew it, was over. He pushed his way through and saw the corpse, lying on the ground, surrounded by dark red liquid.

But then the corpse stirred. It pushed up, and stood with its back to Harvey. Then it turned its blood stained face to him.

It was Phil Dundermann.

From the crowd, Vincent and Susannah, married for fifteen years and old college friends of Phil, grinned at Harvey with their arms around each other. Lucy and Mark, who had gone to elementary school with Phil and still maintained close ties, were stifling their laughter. Even Phil's mom, who had so effectively kept Harvey from coming out of the restaurant too early, had come out to join the fun.

Phil brushed some of the ketchup off his face, and said, with an evil grin, "Surprise. You've been Ambushed."

The crowd threw confetti in the air, and everyone laughed. Everyone, that is, except Harvey Rossel.

THE END