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It was dark and cold, and the air smelled of must and haze. It was rundown, but the only place to go. Katie pulled her jacket over her head and hurried under the marry-go-round. She lifted her fingers and touched the once beautiful horse. But she could see now, that what was once gold and bright and jeweled, was now crisp and peeling, and was cold and had dust all over it. Her body shivered as she ran her hand along the eyes, down the nose, past the nostrils, and then stopped. She didn’t dare touch the mouth.


She sat on the zebra and laid her head along it’s neck. She closed her eyes and tried to dream. She wanted to be somewhere else. Somewhere warm and prosperous and safe. But here she was cold and wet, and everything looked lifeless and...unsafe. She thought and thought, and her thoughts led to another, and then finally stopped, and she was asleep.


In the morning, everything was bright. Katie took off her jacket and felt the sun on her skin. It felt so good to feel warm. She splashed in the puddles, then looked around. It was huge, and she wished it was still open. She ran to what looked like the main office and stopped. She saw names written on a clipboard. It said:

Lotus, Jeremy
CoCo, Sammy
Pearl, Allene

There was open spots left. Katie thought it must have been all the kids who stayed here after it closed, so they wrote their names on it.
“They have funny names,” Katie thought. She looked around. “No pen...” she muttered.

She put her arm on the paper to hold it up, and pulled out the thumb tack that was holding it. She stuck it in her finger, and then slid it back in the paper. She wrote under the last name:

Blossom, Katie

And blood trickled down after it.

Katie ventured around the park, and turned a corner. Hands shot out and cupped her mouth, some grabbed her hands and back and eyes. It was totally black, and she was lead slowly away. She didn’t know where she was going, ans then she was lifted. She squirmed and tossed her head and her eyes opened. Only for a short second did they open, a quick glance of yellow and green, and it was over.

She awoke, and collapsed on the floor. She had fainted, and didn’t even know what day or time it was, or where she was. She sat up, and quickly grabbed her hip. It hurt. Bad. She moaned and lifted her shirt. There was a huge stitch left over. She screamed.

“Someone help! Help!” She gasped for air, gently rubbing her hip. Laughing came from the distance. Not maniacal, but just a laugh, like there was only that to do. Katie looked up and squinted. A light shown down on her, and the rest of the room was black. A woman came from the into view. She had short hair like a boys, it was a pale blonde, almost white. She wore a green dress with yellow flowers all over it, with a matching parasol. She had a puffy green hat that matched her dress, and green high-heels. She smiled and laughed as Katie studied her.

Where the hell is my kidney? Katie shouted. The woman laughed and snorted.
Ha ha, quick aren't we? she said.

Katie stood up, clutching and covering her wound. The woman watched Katie struggle, just standing there and smiling.

“You-you laugh too much. Katie coughed.
Don't cha know that laughing heals ya? she said, chewing her gum. You might wanna with that wound. she snapped. Katie flinched. The woman started again, with that laugh. It didn't even sound like a laugh. It sounded like someone told a bad joke, and she just faked her laugh.

So, what’s your name..? Katie could barely make it out. the blood was coming out, and the wound and stitches opening. She held her hand up. Blood. And lots of it. Then something broke the silence. that laugh.

My names Pearl, but everyone calls me Kilo. Katie watched as she blew a bubble and popped it.
My names-
I already know everything there is about you to know. But before Katie could ask how, a man stepped in the room. Ladies, stop the small talk, we have things to do.
Yes sir, Lotus. Kilo said. She walked behind him, twirling her parasol.
Well, come on now. Kilo ordered, turning around. She glared at Katie, very harshly. Katie tried to stand up. She fell. She covered her wound and stood. She wasn’t up straight, but it was the best she could do. Limping, she struggled toward Kilo, and seemed to be named, Lotus.
Lotus was short, but not too short. His hair was combed back, and wore a navy blue suit with silver buttons on it. He walked like a duck, and it was hard not to stare. His head was small, and his hand looked very rough. he gripped his coat, and it looked like he was going to throttle it.
Kilo, on the other hand, was very tall, and had big feet. Her hands were small, and very smooth and gentle. Her eyes were a deep green,and she was a little pale. A pair of gloves hung from her parasol, and it looked like she never wore them. They weren’t wrinkled, and they were whiter then her skin.

Katie followed them outside. It was night. Just great, Katie muttered under her breath. There was no moon, it was covered by black and gray clouds. There was only a small glow of faint light pouring out of the hassle free clouds.
The rain had come, and hadn't stopped. Kilo was dry, but no one else. Water peeled off of her parasol, and made small puddles in the ground. The dirt became mud, and very soggy. It stuck on Katie's shoes.
They passed the front office desk, right what got Katie into this. She tried to remember the other names, but couldn't. So she stopped, and walked close toward the clipboard. Oh no, Katie gasped. She thought her eyes deceived her, but they didn't. Another name.
`
They were in a room now, and Katie had sat down. A girl sat down across from her. She was an odd one.
She had pink bangs and jet black hair that was short as a boy’s. Her bangs were long, and came down longer than her shoulders. She wore a black T-shirt and green capris. She had black nailpolish on, and she wore no shoes. She wasn’t pale, but she wasn’t too tan. She didn’t look too happy, and she had stitches and scabs around her wrists and ankles.
Kilo laughed and then the girl moaned. Kilo couldn’t stop laughing though.
“Oh, will you just shut up already?” She groaned. Kilo stopped. “Geez,” Kilo sat down and lied her hands on the table. Her arms were so thin and long. Lotus stepped in.
“Alright, Blossom, this is,”
“My name’s Coco, I know my own name, Lotus.” She rolled her eyes. “Shocking,” Katie thought. “She doesn’t seem to like people, but she speaks her mind in front of them freely.”

Katie watched as Coco rubbed her eyes. Mascara marks were now all down her cheeks like Indian war marks. She looked at her fingers. Grey smothered on it. She flipped them over and wiped it off on the table. More black streaks.
Katie laughed. Coco looked up at her.
“What?” she asked.
“It just reminds me of the Cat in the Hat, and the stain from the dress wouldn’t...Uh...O-okay, I’ll shut up now.” Katie slumped down in her chair. She didn’t look at Coco now. From what she said, she couldn’t.

Lotus clapped his hands together. “Katie, you will now be referred to as Blossom.”
“Why?”
“Shoosh.” he snapped.

He slipped his hand in his pocket. He rummaged around in it and grasped something. His hand slipped from his pocket slowly. He opened his grasp from his fist.
A ring. It was dark ruby red, even blood colored. It looked like a mood ring. Clouds of red swirled in it and disappeared, only to reappear. Lotus snatched it back up as Katie peered closer towards it.
“You don’t touch this....Err...Not yet.” he murmured. Katie looked up at him. He was serious. There was something about that ring...

Lotus slipped the ring back in his pocket. Katie couldn’t stop eyeballing it. Lotus covered his hand over his pocket. He could tell she was curious. He whispered something to himself and turned away, patting his pocket. Kilo and Coco followed him, and Katie sat and waited.

“Alright people, it’s time ” Lotus shouted over a speaker, which really wasn’t necessary, because there were only five of us, including himself. They had just got a new comer. His name was...well, Katie didn’t truly know what his name was, but she sure thought he was-

“Kilo, get everyone ready, Coco, do what you usually do,” Lotus walked off and stopped the new kid. Katie couldn’t hear what he was saying to him, but it didn’t seem like a lot.

Katie was new to this, so she was instructed to watch this time. Next time, she would have to participate, in whatever ‘it’ was.

Everything was ready now, which Katie didn’t even know for what, and it was time.
“Everyone, hurry up We’re on a schedule, you know ” Lotus sure did seem nervous, Katie thought.

Suddenly, Katie slipped, and she was on her knees. She didn’t move. “Hurry up, Blossom, you’re just staring into space.” Kilo smiled and grabbed her hand, pulling her up and dragging her to the Under Mill.

The Under Mill was a cramped, cylinder like ‘portal’. It was bright silver, and high-tech. Probably the only thing that was up-to-date here.
Everyone stepped in it, clutching their pants or skirt, or whatever they could get their hands on.
Kilo leaned over and whispered, “Get ready,”

Everyone closed their eyes, so Katie followed. Red lights flashed on and off, and the heat begin to rise. Perspiration rolled down Katie’s face and back. Smoke filled the air.

Then, Katie’s stomach rose, like when you ride in an elevator. They were dropping, and fast.

Katie opened her eyes, frightened of what would happen. Her hair whipped her face, and her clothes blew as if she were being hit by a blizzard. She couldn’t turn her face, the gravity was intense, and made her feel like she gained 300 pounds. She breathed harder and harder, but the air was so hot, she was almost choking. Her body was hurting, and her mind was scared

Sometimes, when you’re scared, and you think you can’t do anything else to stop the pain, you scream. And sometimes, it helps. Its like a voice that relieves all your stress and thoughts out, and before you know it, the worst is over, like you swallowed it before it happened, and released it all out.

Katie was breathing like she had asthma, which frankly, shedidn’t. Her body was shaking all over, and then suddenly, it stopped. She tried to pick up something, but her fingers were too weak to clutch it, like in the morning sometimes, and it dropped.

Kilo yawned and stretched, and then cracked her knuckles. She sighed and started pushing everyone out of the Under Mill. She giggled and skipped out.

“That was it,” Katie thought. “I’m going to puke ” She ran out of the Mill, thinking of rounding to the side. She stopped.

“What is this place?” she asked.
“Welcome to Fear Carnival, Blossom.”