Dr. Happy's Carnival (Book 1)

https://rumble.com/v51gbte-doctor-happys-carnival-part-1-by-ray-bush.html

                             

   Dr. Happy’s Carnival

By Ray Bush

“So what do you fellas have planned for after dinner?” Maxine asked, she was enjoying herself and didn’t want the blind date to end. 

The other couple on the date was Jordan and Violet who had been together for two and a half very happy years. Her date River was a different story, he was a bit of a player bouncing around the bed’s of many different women. He was Jordan’s best friend for nearly their whole lives. Jordan promised Violet that he was serious now about wanting to try a relationship. River had been trying hard for about the last six months to find someone that he could hang out with more than once or twice. Maxine worked with Violet, Maxine started about eight months ago when she found out her husband had been sleeping with her boss. It started at a Christmas party and continued for ten months until Violet caught them at a hotel. 

“Don’t be an ass to her dude,” Jordan told River a week ago, “She’s still hurting, and she seems like a cool girl. Violet seems to think so anyway. Jordan explained what she had been through, “If you aren’t serious about trying just tell me now. Violet’ll be so pissed if you play games with her man, for real.”

“I’ll be a gentleman and I’ll treat her like a lady,” River reassured Jordan. “I’m not sayin we’re getting married, but I won’t be an ass.”

“That’s all ask my man,” Jordan said smiling, he felt very good about the situation. “Plus, dude she’s pretty damn hot. And works with Violet so you know she’s smart.”

For the next week Jordan told River how great she was and how pretty she was. Now they were finally on the blind date and Jordan was right, River had never seen a more perfect woman. Her dark red hair framed her lightly freckled in the most amazing way. Her green eyes sparked like bright stars in a deep green sky. River didn’t think he had ever seen a redhead with green eyes.

“Well, this guy,” River jerked his head towards Jordan, “He wanted to go to a movie. But I thought, how would I get to know this beautiful woman in a movie theater? Nobody wants to hear us talking the whole time. I had a buddy from work tell me about this carnival going on in Willard. It’s called Dr. Happy’s Carnival, it’s like a normal carnival but mixed with a haunted house. He said he had a lot of fun.”

“Oh nice that sounds like fun,” Maxine said with a gorgeous smile, “I love haunted houses and carnivals.”

“Are you kidding me,” Jordan was smiling also, “You know that was my idea.” River laughed.

“Why you gotta bring up old shit?” River said and they all laughed. 

“What do you think babe,” Jordan asked Violet, “I know you’re not a fan of scary stuff. Do you think you’ll be alright?”

Violet thought very hard about it, on one hand she hated haunted houses and really didn’t like rides either. On the other hand she really didn’t want to be a buzz kill. After what Maxine went through Violet really wanted her to have a good time with River. 

“I think I will be okay,” Violet said but she did have a worried smile on her face. “I’ll just hang on to you,” She wrapped her arms around Jordan’s left arm and Jordan kissed her on the forehead. 

“You know I love when you hold me tight,” Jordan smiled. For some reason Maxine felt that it was a strange smile, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. 

They finished dinner while making small talk about their hobbies and work life. It turned out that Maxine and Jordan had a lot in common, even more so than he and Violet. They both loved basketball and even had the same favorite team. The two loved to camp, despite his name River hated camping and so did Violet. Jordan hadn’t been camping since about a week after he met Violet. He took Violet to his favorite lake, but she just complained so much that they went home a day early. That is one thing that he missed very much. It even turned out that they had almost identical taste in music as well as movies. 

Violet was feeling more than a bit jealous after all the dinner talk, not to mention a little annoyed. She made it a point several times in their conversation to say that opposites attract. Each time Jordan followed it up with a gentle, comforting, kiss on the forehead. Jordan was very attuned to Violet’s emotions, so he turned down the excitement a touch. He apologized with his eyes and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Violet was so in love with this man and was completely overjoyed that he loved her back. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world and hoped she made him feel he was just as lucky to have her. 

They got the check, River was happy how things were going so he paid for everyone’s meals. He paid for Maxine’s for obvious reasons, he paid for the others as a thank you for introducing him to this awesome woman that he felt a genuine connection with. They got in Violet’s crossover SUV Jordan drove and Violet took her favorite seat, shotgun next to her man. They drove north to the small town of Willard. Dr. Happy liked this location because he could watch the sunset over Willard Bay. He loved watching the sunset over any body of water, it soothed his soul. He also loved this place because of the assortment of fresh fruits available, the called highway 89 through Willard, “The Famous Fruitway.” Dr. Happy also loved fresh fruit. 

By the time they reached the fairgrounds the sun had set but the carnival was open until two in the morning. Jordan was surprised at how big the fair was, he was expecting a half assed tiny carnival. There were at least ten rides that he could see and twenty or so tents. Violet got the nervous bubble guts as they pulled into the empty parking lot. The orange light illuminating the fair, if you could call it illumination, was dim and greasy. The fair was surrounded by a high fence that was made to be able to be taken down quickly. The entrance was a large archway made up of human skull decorations with two turnstyles underneath. The men manning the turnstiles wore dark costumes, but it was hard to tell what they were in this dirty light. 

“Holy shit dude,” River said in awe at the sight of this place, “This place is way creepier than I thought it was gonna be. I don’t know if I want to go in there.”

Jordan laughed at that, and Maxine even chuckled a little. “Give your balls a tug,” Jordan said, and Maxine really laughed that time. 

Violet backhanded Jordan in the chest as he put the SUV in park. “Don’t be an ass,” Violet said. She didn’t know why Jordan was acting like this, but she wasn’t there last week when River called him a sissy because he didn’t want a spider to get on him. River was embarrassed, and he didn’t ever remember being this mad at Jordan. 

“Do you wanna feel how hard I can punch?” River asked with a smile that was not a real smile. Jordan knew River well enough to know that wasn’t a joke. 

Despite knowing that Jordan laughed, “Simmer down man, you know I am just messin with you.” River calmed down a little but he was still very embarrassed. “Do you wanna find something else to do? I really don’t care, this place looks fun to me but if you two really don’t want to go in we can leave. No judgment for reals.”

River looked nervously at Maxine then back to Jordan who was turned halfway in the driver’s seat. “I would never live it down if I let you go in there without me.” Jordan knew River was right of course. “So I’m in but it looks like you may have some convincing to get Violet to go in there.” 

River was of course right about Violet, she wanted nothing to do with this place. She looked at Jordan who had a hopeful look in his eyes. Violet thought back to dinner and how much Jordan had in common with Maxine. Her jealousy flooded back like a rushing river. She tried to push it away, but it didn’t go away completely. Violet looked at the ticket agents in the creepy hoodless cloaks. Then she looked at the large face at the center of the skull archway. Dr. Happy did not look very happy. His eyes were blood red matching the dreadlock ponytail growing out the top of his head. His face was painted white with a thick red lightning bolt painted over his left eye giving him a truly evil look. The face looked deep inside her, she could feel Dr. Happy in her mind searching her thoughts and fears. She was convinced that it was not just a sign, or maybe she was just losing her shit. 

“Yeah,” Violet said, but there was fear in that word, “I’ll be alright, but if I ask to leave then you have to promise me we’ll leave no questions asked.” The other three agreed, nobody wanted to make her uncomfortable.

The four got out of the car, the two men opened the door for the two ladies. Violet held Jordan’s hand while she looked at River’s face. He looked as nervous as she felt. The ticket collectors were dressed like poor kids going trick-or-treating in the eighties. They were supposed to be skeletons. Their faces were painted white with black misshapen circles around their eyes. The teeth were also drawn poorly as shaky lines above and below their lips. The bad costumes actually made them creepier to River.  

The group walked to the ticket agents that manned the turnstiles. The clerks did not speak, they only looked at them with soulless eyes. Even when Jordan asked to buy four tickets the guys still said nothing. They both turned slowly, reminding Maxine of the animatronics she had seen in her lifetime. They pointed at a small building that was painted like a barber pole with a red tin roof. 

“Sooooo do we just go in or what?” River asked but the men stood frozen pointing at the building. “Hey thanks for your help,” River didn’t want to be here which made his temper just a little shorter. 

Violet looked close at the men, in particular she looked at their mouths. Their mouths appeared to be sewn shut with tiny stitches. They looked back at her with haunted eyes that chilled Violet’s blood. She guessed that is how they were supposed to look to set the right vibe for the carnival. 

“Well here we go,” Maxine said as she stepped through the turn gate which clicked behind her. “I am pretty excited about this.”

“Me too,” Jordan said with a smile that Violet had not seen for a long time. He was so excited. “Thanks for doing this babe, you too dude. I know you don’t want to be here, and again if you want to leave just tell me.”

As they walked towards what they guessed was the ticket house River heard terrified screams. It was most likely a paid actor or some Halloween sound effects on loop, the same ones his mom played when River was a kid. Circus music played from speakers' zip tied to light poles, giving off the perfect ambiance. The light was no better despite flashing lights from the rides, that light seemed dirty also. River had no idea how lights could look dark. Behind the ticket house was a large ferris wheel and a tent marked Hall of Horrors.

“Well hello folks,” The clown man said from behind the fake glass window. He sounded like a cartoon character, “What can I do for you?” 

Jordan opened his mouth to speak but Violet spoke first, “Are we gonna die here?” The clown smiled nervously, “I mean all this stuff is realistic and pretty scary, including you. No offense. And the other people we’ve seen don’t look that great either.” Violet pointed to the few trundling people wandering in the dim light. They walked more like the NPC’s she had seen in Jordan’s video games. None of them seemed to be going anywhere or even have a sense of purpose. They simply trudged along heads down. 

The clown lost his goofy voice so he could speak seriously, “I know this place looks pretty scary and we try hard to make it as realistic as possible. Our authenticity is what makes us so popular, we are able to do this year-round.” To prove his point the clown man shouted to one of the NPC’s “Willy!” the man stopped to look at them, “We hittin the bar tonight after work?”

“Not in Utah,” The man answered, “This place stops selling alcohol at like four thirty.” They all laughed, including Violet. Utah was very well known for its strict laws, especially by the locals. The man seemed to shift back into NPC mode and wandered off to somewhere in the darkness. That exchange did a lot in the way of making River and Violet feel a little better.

“Are you guys good?” Jordan asked Violet and River, they both nodded. “Sweet, can we get four tickets please?” Jordan put his arm around Violet and pulled her close, that made her feel even better.

“We give you these cards,” the clown said and produced four cards that looked like cheap credit cards from under his counter. He continued to speak in a normal voice, Jordan thought it was, so he didn’t scare Violet. “Slide this in the kiosk at each ride or attraction then bring them to me when you are finished, and we will tally up the damage.”

Jordan smiled, he liked this guy. “Thanks man, we really appreciate your help.” 

The man reverted back to his character voice, “Hope you enjoy Dr. Happy’s Carnival.” Jordan felt violet tense up under his arm. The other three thanked the man. 

“Do you wanna try something tame first?” Jordan asked, then motioned towards the ferris wheel. In the center of the wheel was another sign that said Dr. Happy’s Carnival. “After that we can go to the Hall of Horrors.”

They walked over to the ferris wheel and scanned their cards, the waist high gate opened inwards for them. The basket was big enough to fit all four, they would face each other like a picnic table. River didn’t like what he saw when he looked at the condition of the wheel. He had always been skeptical of traveling carnival rides, but the rusty hinges and missing bolts made his fear much worse. 

He cocked his head to one of the rusty hinges, “Are we really getting on this thing? That shit don’t look safe to me.”

“You heard that clown,” Jordan reminded, “All of this is part of the show. Don’t remember Willy?” River reluctantly got on after the other three then shut the door behind him and then fastened the lock.

The basket they rode in was a very sun faded pink with a large, cracked sticker of Dr. Happy’s face on both sides. This ride was old. The wheel made partial rotations and stopped to let other riders on the ride. Once the thing got moving it was far worse than River could have imagined. The hinges screeched like angry owls arguing in the night. The basket rocked back and forth hard like being blown in a powerful windstorm. 

The wheel did not spin smoothly like other ferris wheels that River had been on. It jerked hard and made the basket rock even harder. The other groups riding the wheel were screaming and so was Violet. Jordan and Maxine were laughing like idiots, River could have smacked them both. The more it moved the more the hinges screamed like they had never been lubricated in their long lives. Out of nowhere the basket began to spin in a circle thanks to a hinge atop the basket, slowly at first but picked up speed rapidly. Violet became dizzy almost instantly, she had always hated spinning in circles. Now the basket started swaying side to side making the couple bang into their mates. River became convinced that one of the hinges would give out and he would die on this ride, or more likely splatted on the ground. 

Violet looked as nervous as River felt, the other two still laughed like they had been gassed by a dentist. They were both much more confident that all this was part of the show, and they loved every minute of it. After what felt like far too long to half the group and far too short for the other two the ride jerkily came to a stop. 

 “Do you guys want to go again?” Jordan asked after they finally got off, even though he already knew the answer was no.

“You’re joking right?” Violet asked with an attitude, probably because of the tears running down her cheeks. “You’ll never get me on another ferris wheel as long as I live.” River agreed and Jordan thought he could see tears welling up in his best friend's eyes. 

“That was so fun,” Maxine added, with a broad smile on her pretty face. “Do you want to try the Hall of Horrors? I bet it’s awesome.”

River wanted nothing to do with that tent and neither did Violet. Then she saw the way that Maxine and Jordan were smiling at each other, her jealousy came back with full force. 

“Let’s do it,” Violet said, she was wearing a smile but hers was nowhere close to real. “I can’t wait.”

“Really?” River asked, he was already more than done with this damned place. He was hoping Violet would ask to leave also, he could tell that she wanted to but for some reason she was acting like she wasn’t scared. “I thought you would want to leave as much as I do.” 

“No,” Violet lied again, “I had a lot more fun than I thought I was going to. It was scary but it was a good kind of scary.”

“That’s my girl,” Jordan said and gave her a soft smack on the butt. “I knew you would like it once I got you here.” 

River figured out why Violet was lying and he kind of understood. It surprised him that Jordan couldn’t tell. “Alright then,” River knew he was outvoted, “Hall of Horrors it is.”

Two walked to the tent in blissful ignorance of how Violet was feeling. They both should have known her far better than River did. Violet walked to the tent wishing she had the courage to tell Jordan how she really felt but she had always hidden that side of her from him. Violet never wanted him to see the jealous monster that she could be. So she pushed past her fear and tried her hardest to enjoy herself.

The Hall of Horrors was a car ride that was guided by a single rail underneath, like a monorail. The car was a four-seater, so they sat in the same arrangement as the ride over in Violet’s SUV, Violet and Jordan in the front and the other two in the back. 

“I will protect her,” Jordan said and put an arm around Violet, “And you protect her,” He pointed his head towards River. River was far beyond pissed, he didn’t know why Jordan was being such an asshole. 

A bar came down over their laps that Jordan didn’t think would be able to hold a child down. He put his arm around Violet, he could feel her shaking. 

Maxine put her arm around River and said, “It’s ok baby, mommy will protect you.” Then her and Jordan had another good laugh. Violet faked a laugh then felt terrible for making River go through this alone. River did not even pretend to smile, this would be his last date with Maxine. 

Jordan turned to see the sour look on his friend’s face, “C’mon man,” he said then grabbed River’s knee, “Don’t get so mad we’re all just trying to have fun.”

“I’m glad y’all are having fun,” River said angrily, “But I think I’m leaving after this one.” Jordan said nothing, he simply shook his head.

The ride started and the car went through the batwing doors into pitch darkness. The first room was a strobe light with two large glass cases along the wall. At first the group saw nothing, then things began to stand up. They were humanoid shaped but that is where the similarities ended. The things looked like gray aliens with extremely extended torsos, making them at least six and a half feet tall with stubby legs. The black eyes were full of pain and terror from what they must have gone through. Probably still going through. Their bodies were partially translucent, their organs were slightly visible. The six of them tapped on the glass and Violet thought she could see tears. 

Maxine laughed and the car went through the curtain into the next room. The room was lit with a black light and the walls were decorated with white seventies style hockey masks, the masks glowed bright against the dark wall. The car turned left on the track and three people jumped off the walls making Violet scream. River didn’t even react, he sat with his mad face and his arms folded. They were wearing hockey masks on their faces and their hands, that was how they were able to hide so well. Violet was actually really starting to have fun, it was intense, but she liked it. 

River’s sour face was set in stone, Maxine put her arm around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She whispered something in his ear, whatever she said made him smile. He felt relieved that she apologized and told him that she really liked him. He unfolded his arms and turned his frown upside down. Jordan turned around to see his friend smiling, that made him feel better. The car turned right causing a door to swing open letting the car pass into the next room. 

This room was a room of mirrors. Jordan and the girls jumped when the mirrors showed ghosts and ghouls sitting in the car with them. What River saw was much different and far more terrifying. Everything went black and slowed down, he could see only  one mirror without his reflection. Dr. Happy was looking back at him holding a bloody ax and his father's severed head. The body lay at Dr. Happy’s feet, bleeding from the neck. His dad’s eyes were closed and his neck was dripping blood as well as the ax. 

“Help,” his dad whispered, then his eyes opened, “Please help me son.” 

River’s mind spun out of control like a tornado in Kansas. How could they show me dad’s real face?  He thought, Do they have him? River wanted to jump out of the car. River screamed when a hand touched him on the back. The car turned left and went through hanging beads like a hippy’s smoke room. 

This room was much brighter than the other’s. The walls had cages that ran the length of the whole room, the bars were as thick as small trees. The floor was covered in a thick sheet of hay. A man wearing a potato sack mask jumped up on the left side, he pulled a chainsaw to a roaring start. Another jumped up on the right, he had the same mask, but he was holding a machete. The chainsaw guy pressed his chain against the bars, the sound was loud and terrible. Naturally everyone in the car leaned to the right. River felt something swipe past his back. He turned quickly to see the machete guy pulling his arm back through the bars. Instinctively he reached and felt the back of his shirt which now had a diagonal slash across it. 

The car went through one final door into complete blackness. A bright light flashed at the same time as an air horn blasting loud in the small room. They all screamed, and three quarters of the group were having fun, Violet hated that last room.

The car came to a stop at the same point that the ride began. The safety bar popped up quickly allowing the four to exit the ride. 

“Screw this place,” River said, “Did you guys see that shit in the mirror? Did you see that shit?” River was more upset than he had ever been in his life. 

“Yeah,” Jordan answered, wondering what was wrong with his friend. “Some cheesy ghouls and ghosts. Why what’s up?”

“Are you kidding me?” River was far more upset than Jordan thought he should be. “They have my dad! They have my damn dad!” The second time was louder. 

“Dude what the hell are you talking about?” Jordan asked, River was starting to worry everyone. “Who has your dad? What are you talking about?”

“I’m outta here,” Before anyone could protest, River ran off into the dim light. It wasn’t long before he disappeared into the darkness. 

Jordan chased after him but not very far, he didn’t want to leave the girls alone for longer than he had to. River was faster than Jordan, he always had been and probably always would be. Jordan stopped then jumped in surprise when Violet touched him on the shoulder. Maxine appeared on his other side startling him again. They looked but River was nowhere to be found. 

“What the hell is wrong with your friend?” Maxine asked, not even trying to hide her contempt. She had felt a genuine connection with, but now she didn’t care to see him again. “I can’t believe him.” 

“Take it easy,” Jordan was stressed but now she had him irritated, “He’s fine I just need to talk to him.” He gave her a sideways glance. 

They wandered through the fair slowly and scanned every person they saw. None of the NPC people seemed to be as cheerful as Willy had been.
“Did you see some guy run by here?” Jordan asked a woman with dark hair and soulless eyes. She didn’t even look at him, she continued to meander purposeless and robotic. Again, Violet thought of the computer players on Jordan’s videogames. It was very creepy. 

“I don’t think we’re gonna to find him,” Jordan said and sounded worried. “These lights suck. Should we go to the car and see if he went out there?”

“You know what?” Maxine said she was mad, “Screw him. If he wants to be a whiny baby, then let him.” 

From somewhere close by Violet heard a scream that sounded suspiciously like River. That made her heart sink to her toes. Why would he be screaming? Violet thought to herself, but Jordan was probably right. She was sure that River was at the car, he probably arranged a ride home. 

The three stood looking at an old, ragidity looking roller coaster. The tall hills and the steep drops made it look very fun, despite the chipping paint and rusty support beams. The wood wasn’t looking to be in great shape either, large chunks were missing from several different places. The coaster looked old and weak but somehow still looked fun. 

“Should we try this?” Maxine asked, Violet thought about it. If River was at the car there would be nothing they could do, there is no way he would listen to any of them. He was way too mad to think rationally.  

“And what about River?” Jordan asked but he was thinking the same as Violet. He and River would need to talk in private before River would accept a ride right now. 

“Would he even talk to you if you find him?” Maxine asked, she seemed to understand their situation. 

“Probably not,” Jordan admitted, “He would probably rather kick me in the nuts then talk to me for a couple days.”

“Why not?” Violet added, now that she thought about it, River was throwing a bit of a tantrum. “We can give it a shot.”

They scanned their cards at the Kiosk and Jordan wondered why nobody was manning the rides. That seemed like a serious safety issue. They walked through a waist high back and forth fence leading up to the boarding area. The gate opened and Violet got a bit of a start when she saw the train. The engine was painted beautifully like you would expect at the nicest theme park. She didn’t like the smiling pink face, she didn’t trust it. The rest of the cars matched the roller coaster. Old, rusty, and very dangerous looking. The holes in the cars didn’t give her that warm fuzzy feeling either. 

“Let’s sit in the back,” Violet suggested, “I heard you go faster when you sit in the back. It’s probably not true.” Jordan wondered why she always doubted herself even on the smallest things. 

Jordan sat himself in the very last car and the girls sat in the second to last. NPC’s were walking through the gate and getting themselves on the ride. Jordan wondered where they were coming, first on the ferris wheel and now the coaster. This place was getting creepier by the minute. They filled the car but luckily not full enough that someone had to sit next to Jordan. The NPC’s were starting to freak him out. They didn’t seem like real  people. They were like other things pretending to be people, like robots or maybe aliens. 

They buckled their seatbelt and a bar came down over their laps. The coaster started jerking and lurching its way up the tall first hill. They bounced hard, Maxine and Violet actually knocked their heads together. The train reached the top then came to a screeching halt, Jordan almost hit his face on the front of the car. Jordan sat at the peak of the hill for so long that he started to get nervous. Maxine didn’t like the way the frame of the coaster swayed and creaked. She felt like the thing was going to collapse on itself. 

Just when Violet was about to say something to Jordan the train shot backwards like an electric rocket. It flew past the boarding area then up a hill that none of them saw coming. It was a strange feeling going backwards this fast, Violet didn’t like it. It went around corners giving Jordan butterflies in his stomach, it went up and down shallow hills. They went up a loop then stopped with Jordan at the top center of it. He was looking straight down and hanging by a flimsy seatbelt. Violet on the other hand couldn’t look down or up depending on your perspective.

She looked to the left, River walked into the Freak Show tent. “Look,” she said and pointed, “It’s River.” but before Jordan had a chance to look, the roller coaster bolted forward. 

They went over the same small hills and around same turns then past the boarding area. The two girls screamed louder than the wheels which were also shooting so many sparks that Jordan worried the dry wood would start on fire. They went up the tall hill that should have started the ride. Then wound around corners and up more hills. Jordan hated this ride. Again, they stopped the top of the loop, hanging upside down by the flimsy seatbelts.

Violet again looked out, so she didn’t have to look down, she got deja vu when she saw River walk into the Freak Show tent. The train bolted backwards again up the hills, around the corners and past the boarding area. They through the loops then over more hills and turns. The sparks lit the park better than the park's lights did. The ride stopped at the boarding area, so the girls were finally able to stop screaming. They exited the opposite side as they entered, the NPC’s were quickly off and out the gates. 

Violet had tears spilling down her cheeks. Jordan wiped them away then put his arm around her. “That can be the last ride we go on,” He told her, “Let’s just get out of here. I’m sure River is gone and I’m not liking this place so much anymore.” Neither of them noticed that Maxine gave her a dirty look. 

“We can’t leave,” She said, “I just watched River go into the Freak Show tent, twice.”

“What do you mean twice?” Jordan asked, clearly confused. “Are you sure that it was him?”

“Yes, it was him for sure,” She answered, “I’m a hundred percent positive it was him.”

“Again,” Maxine said, “Screw him. He doesn’t want to be around us. You said it yourself.”

Jordan understood why Maxine was angry with him, this was her first impression, and he did not look great. However, he would not let his best friend roam around this fair by himself. She was also not able to see the pain that was in River’s eyes in the seconds before he ran off. Whatever happened in the Hall of Horrors that rattled River had to be a big deal. River didn’t rattle easily. 

“I get it,” Jordan said kindly, “He has really looked like a shit head tonight, but I can promise you that he is really a good guy. I’m sure when we find him he will explain what’s going on.”

“He’s right,” Violet agreed, “I’ve known him since I met Jordan. He’s a good guy, that’s why I thought you two would be good together.”

“Fine,” Maxine was very frustrated, “We can go find your sissy friend,” She looked at Jordan expecting him to laugh with her. Jordan didn’t even smile, he was feeling too guilty for bringing Violet to this place. 

“When we get out of here you better believe we’ll make fun of him all night,” Jordan said gently. He liked Maxine despite, or maybe it was because, of her aggression. “I’m just worried about getting Violet outta here right now.” 

Maxine relaxed a bit, “Alright then to the Freak Show it is. “I’ve always wanted to see a Freak show anyway.

It was weird to hear someone say that, but Jordan knew what she meant. There were no such things as freak shows anymore, it was not PC. His grandma told him about shows that she used to go to, they sounded scary but fascinating. The three walked to the tent and stopped at the Kiosk which was next to a large sign.

Welcome to Dr. Happy’s Freakshow. Beyond this door are things that you would never imagine. The participants in the freak show have no natural human ailments or deformities, We have created these freaks in a private facility by top level doctors and scientists. These are mostly failed experiments but we also have a couple successes mixed in so you can see what’s coming to the world. You will see our wonders mixed with nightmares. I am not going to tell you I hope you have a good time because that would be a lie. I hope the things behind this door haunt you for the rest of your life. A Message from Dr. Happy.

They scanned their cards making the gates open inward they walked through then opened the door. The tent was long with at least ten doors on either side. The first door had a faded gold plaque on it that said, The Girls. Jordan regretted the feeling of wanting to see a freak show, he didn’t even want to see who these girls were. He was not worried about being scared, any door here marked the girls would most likely be terribly sad. 

Jordan opened the door then stepped through, “You guys can wait out here if you want.” He tried to close the door behind him. “I don’t think there is anything in here that you need to see.” Violet loved the way that Jordan always tried to protect her but there was no way she was going to let him leave her side. 

“Yeah right,” Maxine said as she pulled the door open, “You guys remember that this place is fake right?” She was smiling, “Don’t you guys remember Willy? Whatever is behind this door is fake, just like everything else in this place. They told us that from the start.”

Violet wrapped her arms around Jordan’s right arm and leaned her head on his bicep. Maxine scoffed and rolled her eyes, neither Jordan or Maxine saw. The hallway was short and went immediately left then the wall stopped revealing a glass display case. Violet gasped when she turned the corner and saw the girls with their misshapen faces. The one on the right had her right eye where her eyebrow should be and the left low on her cheek bone. The one on the left was the opposite, her left eye was high, and her right eye was low. Their noses ran diagonal from the high side to the low side. They smiled but neither had any teeth. Their slack faces made them look ruined and unable to complete even the most basic of thoughts. Jordan looked at the plaque, the twins behind the glass did not even seem to be breathing. 

This is Jemma and Jenna. We adopted these twins from a young couple we found in a hospital. Both parents died so we took them to our facility. They have been studying demonology and dark magic since they have been able to read. We taught them at a very young age, by the age of three. They have also been playing with different demon summoning tools including an extremely special Ouija board. Don’t let their appearances fool you, these are not helpless little girls. They are using their glamor to manipulate your perception. You are looking at two very powerful witches. If you give them the power, they will capture and enslave your soul for eternity. It will not take them long to link themselves to your minds and your hearts. We recommend that you do not linger. Do not stay longer than it takes to read this sign. Leave now. 

“Let’s get out of here,” there was no way to hide Violet’s fear, “I don’t like it, please Jordan let’s go.”

Jordan looked at the girls, for a flash he saw who the girls really were. They were cute but terrifying like most little girls in a horror movie. “Yeah, let’s get out of here.”

Halfway between the two doors on this side, there was a door on the opposite side. Two walked to that door reluctantly, Maxine was excited. On the faded door plaque was one word, Regor, Jordan had no idea if that was the name of the creature or the creature’s name. 

He opened the door then looked back at the girls, “Are you guys sure you want to come in here? I don’t mind going in alone.”

“I am not staying out here,” Maxine said this time she was very insistent. “I was serious when I said I have always wanted to go to a freak show.” She pushed past Jordan. 

“I’m not staying anywhere in this place by myself,” Violet said then grabbed on to Jordan again, she didn’t want to go in but there is no way she would stay on her own. 

“Alright,” Jordan said, then kissed his girl on the forehead, again he felt so bad for bringing her here.

They walked the hall that was identical to the previous hallway. Jordan only glanced at the large man-like creature behind the glass. His skin had a slight green tint, like mint ice cream. The whites of his eyes had the same shade of green around glowing red Irises. He stood at least six foot nine and chiseled from stone. Regor’s chest was thick and scarred heavily from who knows what. He wore shorts made from some sort of animal fur and no shoes or shirt. It was like looking at a demonic Greek sculpture. It was obvious that this glass or tent would not hold this massive monster if he felt like breaking free. 

Maxine looked at this creature with amazement and surprisingly more than a little lust. She bit her lip hard enough to bring tears to the eyes that just happened to be tracing each and every scar on his body. 

This is Regor. He started in this world as a young man named Roger many years ago. Although he is not a failed experiment as much as he is an experiment in progress. We found him in an abandoned hospital strapped to a table begging for his life. He is on a daily diet of raw meat, a careful mix of about sixteen different drugs, and mental torture that you would not believe. As of today he has not slept for thirteen days and probably won’t for at least another thirteen. His daily injections have helped him grow into this beautiful behemoth. Our doctors think he is stronger than even the mythic ogre. Unfortunately his mind remains strong, he has been much harder to break than we originally thought. Feel lucky he is still in control of his mind, we are waiting for the day when he snaps and kills some of our guests. He would be able to get through that glass and crush you before you would be able to move. You better hope he likes you.

“Maxine,” Jordan called after she heard the door open, “What are you doing? I really don’t think we should stay here.”

Still, she lingered his eyes were full of pain, but Maxine could see a touch of hope hiding in the corner. She put her hand on the glass. “I’ll come back,” she mouthed, then turned to leave. She saw a tear roll down the monster's cheek. 

The door closed behind them then a loud bang came from the room. Regor hit the glass hard enough that Jordan was surprised that it didn’t shatter. They crossed the hall again and on the door it said “monster 2-739.” Whatever was behind this door was not even important enough to have a name. Jordan didn’t bother asking the girls, he knew that both of them would follow him in.

This wretch of creature was truly one of the saddest things Jordan had ever seen. Its face looked somehow young and like a thousand-year-old worrier at the same time. Its gray skin hung loose on its bones, the thing had almost no muscle. Dark hair grew in patches like someone who visited Chernobyl for much too long. The vile thing opened a tongueless mouth and revealed the few remaining yellow teeth. Jordan thought the thing was trying to speak. Thick yellow pus oozed from sores all of the things decaying body. His legs lay limp and lifeless on the floor behind this sad thing. 

This is monster 2-739. He came to us with incredibly damaged legs. We worked hard to give him some sort of life but no matter what we did the damage was too great to overcome. There is really nothing left to say about this disgusting lump of meat. His existence is sad and far beyond repair. This will be his last carnival so you should feel lucky to have seen him before we send him to the morgue to hopefully die a horrible death. We will lock him in a drawer and hopefully let him rot away into nothing. 

The creature slowly pulled itself to the glass using flimsy arms that looked like they would snap at any second. His legs dragged lifeless behind him making Violet’s heart sink. His face looked like a saggy mask of pain and agony. It put its hand on the glass but lacked the strength to hold it there. It made a terrible squeakish sound as it slid down.

“Let’s get out of here,” Violet begged in a soft disgusted voice. She hated this freak show and thought Dr. Happy was right, these things would haunt her dreams for a very long time. “Please babe, let’s go.”

Jordan agreed then looked at Maxine to get her thoughts, she looked as disgusted by the wretch as the others. They left quickly and Violet shedded a few tears when the thing let out a gurgling cry after them. Jordan shut the door harder than he had meant to and a deep growl came from behind Regor’s door. Jordan wanted nothing less than to upset that giant man that Dr. Happy called Regor. 

“That was the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” Maxine said, choking back the lump in her throat. “Real or fake, that was too much.”

“I don’t think River is in here,” Jordan said. They were standing outside the wretches door trying to come up with a plan. “I don’t know if I want to see what’s behind any of these doors. I know why freak shows got canceled.”

“I know that I don’t,” Violet added, “I don’t want anything to do with this carnival. I just want to go home.” 

“Me too babe,” Jordan agreed wholeheartedly, “I can’t leave until I find River. You guys can wait at the car,” Jordan suggested hopefully. He wanted Violet out of here as soon as possible. He didn’t think that she was safe in here anymore. He called himself a fool again for dragging her here. 

“Have you tried texting him?” Maxine sounded more than a little smug. Violet didn’t like it, but Jordan understood. Why hadn’t he thought to text River?

“Holy shit,” Jordan said feeling more than a little dumb, “That should have been the first thing I did.” Jordan pulled out his phone and sent a simple text. Dude where you at, then hit send. “He usually has his phone out, hopefully he texts me back soon.”

He put his arm around Violet then headed towards the exit with their heads down. They didn’t even want to look at the names of the poor things stuck in this nightmare. None of the three even considered opening another of the doors until they passed the last one. The last door looked brand new, and the golden plaque looked fresh out the package. It was like the tent extended to add this last door. Jordan’s eyes filled with tears and his stomach did a somersault when he read the name on the plaque. River.  

Jordan looked at Violet then at Maxine, all three of them were terribly nervous. “I don’t want to go in there,” he said, “I mean really don’t want to go in there.”

Jordan reached for the knob, took a deep breath, then twisted the handle. Violet grabbed his arm tight, it was her favorite position when she was scared. They both were shaking like leaves in August. They walked through the door and down the same hall as the other three. Thankfully River was not behind the glass, instead a note was taped to it. 

This exhibit is not yet ready. His name is River and we were lucky enough to catch him just tonight. He came to our gates with three of his friends and will now remain with us for the rest of his life. If you would like to see him then please make your way to the funhouse located at the southernmost corner of the carnival. A message from Dr. Happy.

“Son of a bitch,” Jordan whispered softly, and even though the girls said nothing they both agreed. 

They got out of that room and the tent as fast as they could. Jordan knew that he would have to go after River, he would not leave his best friend in this place. He prayed to all the gods in all the worlds that the girls would go back to the car without him. He would do his best to get River and himself out alive, but he didn’t have a ton of confidence that they would make it. He kept feeling guilty for bringing Violet here and didn’t want to risk her meeting the same fate as him. 

“Please you two,’ Jordan pleaded, “Please go wait in the car. I have to get River. I can’t put you in the kinda danger that’s in front of me.” He pleaded to Violet with his eyes and for a moment she really thought about it. “Babe for real, I’m begging you.”

Violet looked into his eyes, she really liked doing what he needed her to do. But what would she do if he wound up in Dr. Happy’s Freakshow? Would she ever be able to live without him? She thought not. If there was danger in his road, then danger was in her road also. 

“Jordan,” Violet spoke in her sweetest voice, “If I lost you then I would have nothing left anyway.” She looked at her feet momentarily, then lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her blue eyes were blazing in a way that Jordan had never seen. She looked fierce like a warrior angel, Jordan loved it. “I’m sorry but I won’t leave you.” Seeing her eyes like that, Jordan gained confidence that they would be ok. 

From behind them Maxine burst out laughing. “You guys are ridiculous,” Maxine said, "This place is fake, that last monster was a little much for me but it was just makeup and good acting. But Regor, he was one hundred percent man, that’s for sure” Jordan raised his eyebrows. “Let’s go to the funhouse I guess,” she said, still smiling lustfully.  

Neither Jordan nor Violet knew what to say about that, so they said nothing. Violet grabbed his hand, and they walked south, hopefully on their way to help River. Jordan could feel the strength radiating off his girlfriend, with each step it seemed to amplify. Jordan fed off it and soon he felt not only stronger but not nearly as afraid as he had been. This woman was amazing. She stopped when she saw the purple eye over the entrance of the tent. Jordan didn’t notice the tent or Violet stop until he hand was almost yanked out of hers. 

Madam Mystic Come In And See What I See Learn Your Future From Tonight Until The Day You Die. Learn Lessons From Your Past And The Past Of Your Ancestors. I will Help You Remember The Faces Of Your Mothers And Fathers. Look In My Dragon’s Eye And See What The Universe Has In Store For You. The sign invited.

“I think I need to go in there,” Violet said softly but not with a lack of strength. “I really think I need to hear what she has to say.”

“What do you mean?” Jordan asked, he really hoped she was not suggesting that she go in there alone. “You aren’t going anywhere without me, I can promise you that.”

“I don’t want to,” Violet said, then reached up and caressed his cheek. “But I think for River that I need to.”

“You going in there alone is not an option,” Jordan said, he would not let her leave his sight. “I absolutely cannot let you go in there by yourself” 

“We don’t have a choice,” Violet sounded surer of herself than Jordan ever remembered her being. There are two paths for us to take, either we are right and this place is real. In that case they may have helpful information that will get us out of here. Or Maxine is right and this is fake, if that’s the case then she may be the one that gives us clues of what we need to do. 

“But the part I don’t get is why do you have to go in alone,” Jordan was worried for the woman he loved. “I don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand either,” and that was the truth, but her eyes were so fierce that he thought it may be the fortune teller that was in trouble. “But I can promise you I will walk out of that tent without so much as a scratch. I’ll be back babe, try not to worry.” Maxine was proud and impressed, she knew this was fake, but Violet didn’t. Violet was a strong woman. She gave Jordan a kiss then walked into the tent without looking back, looking back would only make her job harder. 

The room was dark except for a dark purple glow illuminating from the ball on the table in the center of the room. It was the deepest purple that Violet had ever seen, it really was like looking into a dragon’s eye. It looked to be a prop from a high budget movie, very high quality and lended authenticity to the mystic. At the edge of the dim light were hanging shelves on all four walls. On the shelves were smallish to medium sized jars, in the jars were a variety of odd creatures. They were in all stages of decay, from glowing fairy bones to things that looked like they could have died earlier in the day. There were spiders, scorpions, and centipedes, even a giant spider with the tail of a scorpion and enormous dragonfly wings. Most of them Violet didn’t recognize and hoped that she would never see. 

Violet took a seat in front of the ball because she did not know what else to do. For a minute or so the only thing that happened was Violet sat there awkwardly waiting. The dark purple glow lightened and also brightened to a beautiful lavender. Violet’s eyes adjusted to the new light as lavender smoke poured from below the ball from under the table. It smelled beautiful like standing in a field of the lilac bushes. The smoke swirled in the chair across from her and began to take shape. Before long a beautiful cyclops woman made of the smoke sat across from her with a blank look on her face. She had flowing hair and dark purple tribal tattoos decorating her face. 

“I am Mystic,” her voice was musical, “I am the watcher of the purple eye. With it I see the past, from yesterday to the beginning of your history. I can also see from today to future worlds you would not recognize. I can track your future from the smallest decision of yes and also see the opposite future when the answer is no. I gave the eye in my head to see through the eye of the dragon into the beyond.” The smoke swished this way and that, making Mystic in a constant morphing state. “I know you are here for River, the sign spoke true. He is in the funhouse, but you must be careful.”

“What’s in there?” Violet asked with wide eyes but feeling dumb for talking to air. Facts or tricks Mystic knew everything that was going on. 

“You must stay away from the velvet room,” The smoke woman answered. “The velvet room will show you one thing to draw you in but it is all a ruse. No matter what you see, in the room is a vampire, a soul vampire. He will steal your essence, you will watch him grow young while feeling yourself grow old. You must also be wary of the girl. It is said that she is young, beautiful and has an adorable yet creepy voice. Nobody that sees her leaves the funhouse, not even the bodies.”

“What does she look like?” Violet asked, she had lost most of the confidence she had when she came in. But when you come across this type of magic it’s intimidating. 

“I know not,” Mystic answered, “for I have been given good fortune so I have seen her not. For even with the dragon’s eye and my magic I would still not be safe. It is said that she is the daughter of the god of lies and war. I believe this to be true.”

“Does she have a room?” Violet didn’t know what to ask but she wanted to get as much information as possible. She loathed the idea of this funhouse.

“She roams the house like wind over a plain which is to say she roams freely,” Mystic answered. “She likes mirrors, I know not how I know but I do know. You must stay away from her, you mustn't see the girl. You must stay safe, if you must sacrifice Jordan then you must. But a millennium of future events depend on you living.”

The smoke began to swirl its way back into the ball making Violet panic. “What do you mean?” She asked, “I have so many more questions, please wait. Is Jordan in danger?” But the shape was no longer Mystic, it was the shape of exhaled cigarette smoke. After only moments Violet sat alone in the room wondering if that just really happened. 

  The ball went black, inside the tent was still filled with a dim purple glow. She stood up, maybe Jordan could make some sense of everything. She walked out of the tent and screamed when she saw Dr. Happy towering behind her man with a hunting knife to Jordan’s throat. Jordan looked calm enough, like nothing was happening. How was he this calm with that lanky clown holding him hostage like that? Violet blinked and Dr. Happy was gone.

“What the hell babe?” Jordan smiled a nervous smile, “You look like you just saw a ghost.” Violet knew Dr. Happy had been there, maybe not his body but his presence was threatening Jordan. 

“Yeah,” Violet answered, “I just thought that I saw something behind you.” Dr. Happy had his eyes on them for sure, maybe Mystic was a minion, but Violet thought not. Mystic seemed like a captive. In light of what she just saw Violet decided to keep what Mystic told her to herself. “That was just creepy as hell and made me jumpy.” 

“Are you sure you’re alright? You look pretty freaked out,” Maxine was genuinely concerned. 

Violet nodded, then Jordan walked to her and wrapped her in his arms, “What did they say?”

“Not much,” she said, trying to remember what she actually told Violet. Her memories were fading like a dream when you wake up in the morning. “She said it was dangerous and we can’t see the girl but everything else is rolling away like the tide. She has never seen the girl so we don’t know what she looks like.” She scrunched her face up comically, Jordan recognized that as her thinking face. “That’s all I can remember.” 

Jordan was a little frustrated, but he would never let Violet know that. He didn’t understand how she could forget from there to here. “What happens if we see her?” Jordan asked, “Is she like a toddler or like nine? How little is she?”

“She didn’t say, but I think seeing any little girl in there would not be a good thing,” Jordan picked up on her sarcasm and didn’t much care for it. She usually wasn’t like that with him, but she was a bit frustrated at herself for forgetting so quickly. “Or I don’t remember, I’m not sure which.”

“Damn,” Jordan said, he hoped his frustration didn’t come through in that one word. “You are probably right though, there is probably only one little girl in there. “Well to the funhouse it is,” he sounded as excited as Violet felt, which was zero percent excited.

They walked almost blindly, not even looking at the rides or the tents. Violet didn’t even want to look at the people, or more accurately the not people. Jordan was done with this place, he wished he would have never seen that ad on his profile page. Or he wished the women would wait in the car. Then he thought of the blaze in Violet’s eyes and was glad that she was here. He was starting to believe that she is what he needed to be safe. It took them less time than they had hoped to reach their destination. 

The outside of the funhouse looked like the background to a low budget children’s show. The bricks seemed to be made of foam and painted badly with charcoal. The main entrance was a castle style gate that was about twice the size of a normal door. Above the entrance door was a window covered by batwing style fake wooden blinds. Every ten seconds or so the blinds would open outwards in order to let an animatronic Dr. Happy puppet poke his head out and look around. Then he would tuck his head back in and the blinds would close, the process seemed everlasting. Two towers on the right and left corners of the funhouse were guarded by to misshapen gargoyles. 

“This doesn’t look so bad,” Maxine said, she was a little nervous and failed to hide it. About ninety percent of her still believed this place to be fake, “It’s kinda cheesy.”

He was the opposite, Jordan was about ninety percent that this place was real. “I hope you’re right,” Jordan did not do well hiding his nerves either, but he wasn’t really trying to. “Are you two sure that you don’t want to wait in the car?” He had to try one more time, despite knowing it would probably be Violet that saves him. Jordan always wanted to protect her, not because she was weak but because he couldn't live without her. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if something happened to her. 

“You already know my answer,” Violet said, Jordan had never seen her so fierce. “I go where you go, and you need to find River.” Maxine agreed with a firm nod.

“I knew you was goinna  say that,” He planted a kiss on the end of her nose. He was glad she was coming, not just because of her fierceness. Jordan always felt not only stronger but safer with her by his side. “I guess we should go in,” Jordan was sick of watching Dr. Happy poke his ugly face out of that window. 

The more Violet looked at the fake Dr. Happy she got the same feeling as when she saw him hanging above the entrance. There were either cameras in the eyes or his essence, maybe even his aura hung around the whole park. She hated the feeling no matter what was in that puppet. They scanned their cards and the giant entrance door swung open and a witch cackle echoed away into the darkness. Violet screamed again, she was so sick of hearing herself scream like a child. 

The first room was cylindrical with a bridge running through the center to another door. Jordan knew what would happen as soon as the door shut behind them, he was not disappointed. The room slowly began to spin then the light went out leaving them in complete darkness. The blackness was brief because star lights were projected covering the spinning cylinder. The feeling of motion was instant, Maxine grabbed the handrails to steady herself. Jordan laughed, this was his favorite part of every fair. He always loved the feeling of floating through space. The room flashed a blinding blue followed by a loud boom that was louder than any thunder Jordan had ever heard. The two women pushed past him and out the door to the next room. 

Jordan didn’t loaf nor did he hurry, he would at least enjoy one thing tonight. When he got to the next room Jordan wished he would have hurried. He opened the door Maxine was gone and Violet looked terrified. 

“What happened to Maxine?” Jordan asked as he scanned the red-carpet hallway. The walls were the same red and both were decorated with royal looking golden designs. At first Violet said nothing, she just stared down the hall with wide eyes. “Violet! Where is she?”

“Something took her,” Despite the tears in her eyes they blazed with the strength of a Renegade. Jordan had no idea why that word came to his mind, but it felt right. “We walked in and she bumped into a standing shadow or dark puff of smoke, it was not shaped like a man. She fell and it grabbed her feet and dragged her behind the door.

Boop Boop Didem Dadem Wadem Chew. The singing voice was that of a young girl. She sang beautifully but could not have been more than eight or nine. And They Swam And They Swam All Over The Damn. 

“My mom used to sing that song to me,” Violet said, her voice sounded distant like she slipped into the past for a flash. “How are they in our heads like that?” She asked but didn’t really expect an answer and she didn’t get one. 

“Well that sounds like a little girl to me,” Jordan said, and Violet agreed. “Let’s find Maxine and get the hell out of here.” 

They began to walk and the image of a burgundy velvet room flashed in Violet’s mind. There was a beautiful four post bed and mirrors on the wall broke up the velvet wall panels. “We can’t go in the velvet room,” She burst out suddenly, “I just remembered, and I am glad I did. I don’t know what will happen, but we can’t go in. 

“Me too,” Jordan said, “I wish you remembered why.” He guessed it really wasn’t important just as long as they didn’t go in. Still he was a little curious. 

She gave it some serious thought, “I don’t.” She was so pissed at her stupid memory. Like Jordan, she thought it wasn’t really important as long as they didn’t go in. “Dammit I wish I did.”

Mares Eat Oats And Does Eat Oats And Little Lambs Eat Ivy A Kid Will Eat Ivy Too. The young voice sang slowly, it gave them both full body chills. 

“She sang that one too,” Violet said, “And I remember you saying that your mom did too.” She was right and Jordan nodded. 

“Well let’s get moving,” Jordan suggested, “Did you see what room they took her in?”

“I did but they all look the same,” Violet was a little flustered, “It’s hard to tell but I think it was that one.” She pointed to the fifth door on the right.

They both took a step and all the doors opened in sync like one of them stepped on a trigger, or more likely stepped off one. After a moment of pauseJordan gave Violet’s hand a soft tug and they both walked. The two kept their heads down like they were intensely studying the gold pattern on the carpet. When in truth it was because neither wanted to see what was in any of these rooms. Jordan did take a peek in the third room, he wished that he hadn’t. There was a giant bigfoot type creature with a naked woman strapped to a bed. Jordan looked away quickly, that was enough for him. He watched the floor until they came to the door Violet believed Maxine to be in.

It was the most luxurious room Violet had ever laid her eyes on. The walls were a deep burgundy velvet with matching shag carpet. The bed posts were masterfully sculpted and stretched from the floor almost all the way to the mirrored ceiling. Just like the flash in her mind, mirrors also broke up the velvet panels on the wall. Violet got vertigo when she looked at the ceiling and saw the entire room upside down. There was something on the bed, Violet looked hard. It was an old woman, she slowly slid off the bed to her feet. Violet looked hard at the woman, her first thought was that she was a witch. She gasped, it was Maxine. The poor girl looked like she had aged a hundred and fifty years. 

“Violet help me,” She croaked. Her skin was pale and her bones were crooked. The nightgown hung loosely on her no-shape body. Maxine’s once beautiful hair was now patchy, gray, and weak. “Why did you bring me here?” 

    “We gotta help her,” Jordan said and tried to pull his hand free. Violet tightened her grip, “What are you doing? We have to help her.”

“If that’s really Maxine then it is already too late,” Her voice was cold. Jordan was still slightly pulling against her grip, he really wanted to help her.

“Are you sure about the room?” Jordan asked, “You had trouble remembering everything that Mystic said to you. If you are sure I’ll trust you, but you have to be sure if I am going to leave her like this.” Violet thought hard, she was trying to remember Mystic’s every word.

She heard it clearly in her mind, “I’m one hundred percent sure that we shouldn’t go in that room.” Jordan looked at Maxine and his heart broke. Violet’s eyes were cold and her heart was stone. “Jordan we’ve got to go,” The urgency in her voice was very clear. 

As soon as Jordan stepped away from the door all the doors slammed shut. Except for the last one on the left. Above it a colorful sign dropped down from the ceiling letting them know that was the exit. Equally colorful lights chased themselves around the border of the sign. They looked at each other then started quickly towards the door. It was a staircase that led up. Behind the door was a glass cage very similar to the cages in the hall of horrors. Behind the glass River was strapped down to a surgery table. His eyes were closed, Jordan banged on the glass with both hands but it was too thick to even budge. 

“River!” Jordan yelled, “River! C’mon man wake up.” Jordan was obviously extremely upset, he had to find a way to get him out of here. The door slammed behind them and still River did not move a muscle. 

A door beyond River opened inwards and the clown from the ticket booth danced his way in. He was wearing polka dot scrubs and the same mask as Dr. Happy, The smile from the smiley face emoji. His eyes got crows feet as his smile widened under the mask and the clown waved happily. The clown did a jig to the table then petted River’s head softly. Jordan banged on the glass again, this time much harder. The clown covered his laugh with a hand, he looked ridiculous. 

“Get the hell away from him,” Jordan yelled and punched the glass hard enough that he almost broke his hand. The clown frowned under the mask and wagged his finger. 

The lights turned off for maybe ten seconds and when they came back on the clown stood next to River holding a scalpel. Jordan punched the glass again, not as hard as the last one. Neither the clown nor River paid Jordan any attention. The lights went off again but not as long. This time when they returned the clown was inching the scalpel to River’s naked chest. River’s eyes opened suddenly and he tried to sit up, he almost got cut. The lights went out again. Simultaneously River screamed and the floor dropped out from underneath Jordan and Violet. 

They landed in a shallow pit of foam shapes in front of a door that was also a mirror. Violet’s heart dropped like an anvil from a plane. She had no doubt what was behind that door. River’s scream ceased when the trap door slammed shut above the couple. Violet was able to clear the pit faster than Jordan, she was very agile. She hoped against the inevitable like so many people, but she knew who or what was behind this door. 

“Are you ready?” Violet asked when Jordan finally stood by her side on the porch. He reached out and gave her hand three soft squeezes.

“No,” Jordan Said gloomily, “But I damn sure don’t want to stay here and wait for her.”

Violet opened the door but it was Jordan who walked through first, Just like she had known he would.  Ring Around The Rosey’s Pocket Pocket Full Of Posey. The same scary little girl sang softly. Jordan really didn’t want to see the face behind that voice. He knew that Violet was the key out of this place yet he wanted to go first because he wanted to be between his girlfriend and danger. Violet smiled sweetly, she was so in love with him. She knew she had to get out of here because these two had a long life to live together. She let out a short burst of laughter when Jordan walked face first into his reflection. He was always good for a laugh whether it be intentional or by accident. Jordan rubbed his forehead and Violet grabbed his hand. 

   Eenie Meenie Miney Moe. She sang from somewhere in this glass catacombs. Olly Olly Ox In free. The melodious voice was maddening. 

“Let me lead babe,” Violet said kindly, “You took three steps and almost broke your nose.” Jordan didn’t want her to lead, he felt like he should be protecting her with his life. She read the look on his face as easily as she would read a children’s book, “Don’t worry babe, I got this.” She still had that renegade blaze in her eyes so he stepped aside and let her take the lead. Now he had to hope the danger would come from behind them. 

Catch A Tiger By The Toe. She sang Ashes Ashes We All Fall Down. Jordan thought she really had her nursery rhymes all mixed up. 

Violet got moving and Jordan was far beyond impressed by how quickly she moved through the maze. Now he could hear a soft taping on the glass coming from all around them. Violet moved to what she hoped was the exit but with mirrored walls, floors, and ceilings it was hard to tell anything. She rarely even had to back track, Jordan wondered how she was so efficient. Violet was better than a wolf with the scent of easy prey. 

Violet and Jordan Sitting In A Tree K I S S I N G. Jordan was not real excited that the daughter of the god of evil knew him by name. But the bigger problem was that she was very close now. He had no doubts that the little girl had the maze memorized or maybe could travel through walls. 

Violet Picked up the pace, arms out in front of her guiding her like a cat's whiskers. Jordan looked back and thought that he could see a small shadow reflecting in the mirrors. Jordan’s heart was trying to beat its way out of his chest and Violet was starting to breathe hard, but he thought more out of fear than tiredness. They had to get out of here. 

Tag You’re It, Tag You’re It, She sang then giggled, Tag You’re It, Her laugh became more wild as if she were sure they would not escape. I’m Going To Get You.

The footsteps were right behind them and catching up like Jordan was the cat and the girl was his ass on fire. “Come on babe,” Jordan tried to hide his nerves, “I know you can do this.” Jordan looked back again, he didn’t want to but he felt like he had too. From the shadow Jordan could tell that she was right behind them. Violet hit a dead end. There was a wall in front and one on either side of them with the devil girl nipping at their heels. The two took turns banging on different walls hoping that one of them would be a door or break maybe. The girl was giggling with excitement. Jordan watched behind them waiting to see what this demon looked like. He saw a turquoise shoe poke its nose around the corner like a nervous mouse. If Mystic told Violet the truth then they were about to die. 

Suddenly the wall to the left opened outward to the dimness of the carnival. They ran out and Jordan slammed the door behind them. Silently they both prayed that she couldn’t leave the funhouse. After a full minute of silence, neither was even breathing, the two assumed that they were safe. Jordan looked around to get a bearing of where they were and how to get out of here. 

Maxine and River stood stiffly ten feet away with very awkward smiles across their faces. River had fresh stitches and blood around his head like someone had taken the top off. Maxine looked old but not ancient like the woman in the room. 

“Holy shit,” Jordan said, then ran to River to give him a hug. However, Jordan stopped short. They were standing funny, kinda stiff like the froze during a robot dance. “How did you guys escape?”

“Why would we need to escape?” River asked, “It was all a joke.” His voice was different, it was almost River’s voice but maybe AI generated. “We brought you here as a joke, Ha Ha.” Was he suggesting that he and Maxine set everything up, that would have been impossible. They never had a chance to meet before tonight. Maxine also had that terrible, AI generated, laugh. 

Jordan didn’t like it, Dr Happy and his clowns turned his best friend into one of the many meandering dummies walking around this park. He looked at Violet and could tell that she also didn’t trust them. “What’s wrong with you dude? What happened to your head?” Violet stepped behind Jordan, not to hide but to initiate an escape if needed. 

“What do you mean my good friend Jordan?” There was that creepy damn voice again.

“We are okay,” Maxine added in her equally creepy AI voice, “I think that you are just frightened.” 

Violet stepped back still holding Jordan’s hand, she squeezed it softly three times. She took off and Jordan was right behind her. The fake Maxine and the fake River gave chase. Jordan hoped that the fake River was not as fast as the real River, if he was then Jordan was screwed as well as Violet. In his mind a soft voice said, Violet must stay safe, no matter what keep her safe. Violet led Jordan through a maze of “not” people and wondered where the hell they had all come from. The carnival was nearly empty the whole time until now. Maxine and Jordan made no effort to dodge anyone, they just ran through everyone like a bull in a china shop. Luckily that slowed the fake people down so the real people could get further away. Violet could see that gate and even her car. 

She skidded to a stop when she really looked at the gate, it was guarded by not only the two skeletons but the card-giving clown and even Dr. Happy himself. He towered over the three, he must be almost seven feet tall. Jordan looked back and to his dismay the mob of NPC’s had come to life and had begun giving chase. 

“This way,” Violet said and pulled Jordan down an alley between two tents towards the outer fence. “We have to jump the fence,” of course she was right but this time Jordan would make her go first. If one of them had to suffer then it was going to be him. 

The mob ran through the tents, luckily they didn’t appear to be that bright, and most of them got tangled up. River and Maxine were at the head of the group, these two were still able to think. Violet hit the fence then was over it in a flash, Jordan wondered where this bad ass chick had been. Violet had always been great but she was shy and timid, this new Violet was amazing. Jordan hit the fence and climbed as fast as he could. Unfortunately it was not fast enough. River grabbed his foot and began to yank hard ,making Jordan almost lose his grip on the top of the fence. 

“Jordan,” he could hear the panic in Violet’s voice, “Get your foot back babe, please.” She was terrified that she was about to lose him.

“Get out of here,” Jordan demanded, River had a tight grip on his leg and he didn’t want Violet to see what was about to happen to him. “I’ll catch up to you,” He hoped she would listen.

She wouldn't listen, she turned on her phone's flashlight and started scanning the ground for anything she could use as a weapon. There had to be something on the ground left by a lazy worker that helped set up this fair. River was yanking hard but Jordan was still holding strong but she could see on his face that he wouldn’t be able to for much longer. That’s when she saw it, a chunk of rebar barely peeking out of the dirt. She yanked it free, it came up more easily than she would have thought. 

Now Dr. Happy was charging with long and lanky steps, followed by his three minions. Violet looked sadly at the fake River, he had been such a nice guy and now he was a monster trying to kill his best friend, or at least to change him. River was so focused on Jordan that he didn’t see Violet shove the rebar through the fence and into his eye until it was too late. He screamed and let go of Jordan’s foot, the fake Maxine had been so sure of victory that she was slow to react. 

Jordan cleared the fence and was next to Violet in the blink of an eye. The two ran into the darkness of the early morning towards Willard Bay without a single thought of Violet’s SUV. The dim lights dimmed until they were hardly visible before the couple slowed. Nothing gave chase, maybe they are restricted to the boundaries of the carnival. 

Both of them pulled out their phones when they vibrated at the exact same time. Violet had a message from Maxine and Jordan from River. Both said the same thing. 

Dude where you at