We carefully weave our way through town, keeping an eye out for The Killer Wails.

We’re almost at City Hall when Hunter gasps and herds us all behind a bus stop.

‘Oh, no!’ she moans. ‘One of them is keeping guard at the Main Street crossing.’

‘How do we get past?’ I ask shakily.

‘We’ll have to blend in,’ says Hunter. ‘There’s loads of zombies out there – just hold out your fins and groan.’

Gilleon lets out a huff. ‘I do not “blend in”,’ he says. ‘It’s against the diva code.’

‘Just pretend you’re starring in the Kriller video,’ suggests Hunter. ‘You know, that famous zombie song by Michael Jackfin?’

Gill’s eyes light up. ‘SLAY!’

Striking our best zombie poses, we slip into the crowd and cross the street.

I watch the orca robot as we pass, making my face extra drooly.

‘Gilleon,’ Hunter hisses.

‘Less dancing, more groaning.’

Finally we get to the other side, unnoticed. Hunter leads us over to City Hall. Out the front is Town Square.

‘Fin-tastic!’ grins Hunter. ‘It’s still set up for the opening ceremony.’

‘Gnash cut ribbon?’ Gnash asks excitedly, pulling out his giant scissors.

I pat him on the back. ‘Not today, buddy,’ I say. ‘Maybe next time.’

Hunter zips around the square, checking the equipment.

‘These speakers are ginormous! We can put on a show the entire town will hear. Our new song is bound to snap everyone back to reality.’

I gasp. My tailfin starts to tremble again. ‘You want us to play our new song?’ I squeal.

Oh, no.

‘Aren’t you forgetting something, Hunter?’ Gilleon says. ‘We have no instruments.’

Hunter looks around the square with that good old gleam in her eye. ‘Let me handle that.’

Hunter drops a drum kit, two guitars and a keyboard in front of us.

‘Er … no drumsticks?’ says Gnash.

‘No problem,’ says Hunter. ‘I think I swallowed some this morning.’

‘Here you go!’

Hunter pushes Gilleon and Gnash onto the stage. ‘Come on, Finley!’ she cries.

I nervously hover behind one of the giant speakers. ‘I c-c-can’t,’ I stammer. She rushes down to drag me up onto the stage. ‘I’m not ready!’

‘You can do it, Finley,’ Hunter says. ‘I know that riff is super difficult, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s you.’

A lump starts to form in my throat. Hunter’s wrong. I’ve tried and tried, but it’s otterly fin-possible. ‘Can’t we sing one of our old songs instead?’ I ask.

Hunter looks around. ‘Everyone already knows those songs. We need something new. And it really is the best song you’ve ever written – maybe even the best song anyone’s ever written!’

I sniff. ‘You really think so?’

Hunter nods. ‘Listen … maybe you are right. Maybe that riff is too hard for Finley.’ She grins. ‘But I bet it’s a total cinch for Felix Frenzy.’

The lump in my throat goes away. Hunter’s right. Felix Frenzy can do anything.

‘Okay,’ I say shakily, then I take up position at the microphone, ready to put on our best show ever.