In 1999, a carnival opened in Johnstone, a town you do not know and will not know because it is not on the map. It was huge and bright, with giant rides, fun booths and interesting acts. The hundreds in Johnstone came to see it, to enjoy it - and so did many others from California, Seattle and the towns you do know because those are on the map.
Cotton candy, ferris wheels and magic. Who could want more?
But in 2011, the Carnival closed down and no one knew why. The mayor didn't chase them away. No one bought the land. And as far as people were concerned, they weren't experiencing financial difficulties.
Five kids went missing. But no one noticed. Not even their families.
Because everyone forgot they existed.
The carnival closed down and was abandoned two days after five children went missing.
****
They stood outside the wire mesh fence that, once sleek ad properly oiled, now lay rusted and cracked with vines growing on it.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Selena Hart asked her friend Nairn Quinn.
Nairn nodded without looking at her. "Yeah. This is the address that was sent to me."
Selena stared at him for a while before shrugging and going on all fours and crawling through a hole forced open with unkwon hands. She ignored the dried blood that mixed with the dirt on the ground.
Beatrix West who was following behind said," Why take him to an abandoned carnival?"
"Why not?" Nairn replied as he waited for Ethan to pass through. "No one comes here so there'll be no witnesses to whatever happens. And this place is creepy so they won't suspect anyone to be here."
"That's unnerving, " Ethan said.
"Shut up and move your fat ass up here. It's your fault they took Nico in the first place!" Bea yelled at him.
"Don't be like that, Bea," Selena said calmly. "It's okay to be angry but don't lash it out at others."
"But it is Ethan's fault," Nairn agreed crawling to the other side. A piece of the wire caught his lower arm and he muttered, "Shit" before forcefully yanking it away and moving forward.
He stood up and stared as a fat drop of blood oozed off his wound and fell silently on the ground. Without a second thought, he bent his neck and licked it.
"Eww," Ethan said holding his nose.
"Shut up," was all Nairn replied with.
The full moon shone brightly above them. One big ball of silver light. Nairn could've sworn he'd seen a face on it.
Bea flicked on her flashlight and Ethan checked his watch. "Ten thirty."
That night was a solemn night. A dreadful night. Nico had been kidnapped by bullies and they sent a message to Nairn to come to the abandoned carnival to get him. Ten forty sharp. Nico wasn't just their friend but an important member of the group and without him, they didn't feel complete. Bea wasn't cracking any jokes, Selena looked worm out, Ethan lost weight and Nairn felt like there was an empty hole in his chest. Small, but still there.
And things were about to get worse.
The Carnival was desolate, empty. Fun rides gathered dust and rust. Tents grew vines and died. Booths had nothing and toys were rottening. It was overgrown and was inhabited by rats and squirrels and snakes.
Selena walked forward using her phone as a flash light and every one followed behind.
They passed the red and yellow circus tent. Now faded and dirty. Ivy tangled the legs and tore open the fabric.
They passed the cotton candy booth. The candy rotting away. The machine rusted and bent.
They strode towards the ferris wheel where the bullies stated they would meet and for the group to bring five hundred dollars. Nairn dug a hand into his wind breaker. The money was still there.
"It's not my fault Dev found outthat is was Nico that reported him," Ethan wasblabbing away. Even though it was what he normally did when he was nervous, Nairn couldn't help but get irritated with him.
"Could you just shut up?!" He hissed. "For your information, it was your fault Nicolas is in this mess. Who asked you to try to be friends with Dev, Silas and Paul?"
When he saw Ethan's face fall, he felt his heart drop. "Listen, E, I didn't mean it okey? I just got so bloody angry at myself, I lashed it out on you. You're right, it's not your fault." he squeezed Ethan's hand and gave him an apologetic smile.
Ethan nodded. "It's okay. People make mistakes."
Bea gave Nairn a look that said, how long will you lie to him to increase his fat ego?
Nairn glared at her. Shut up.
Surprisingly, the ferris wheel was the only ride that was unfazed by the abandonment. It stood large and glossy and clean without a single speck of dust on it as though someone had been coming over everyday to clean it. There were no sign of the bullies.
Selena placed a hand on it and instantly yanked it away.
"Ugh, what's this sticky liquid?" she said, furiously wiping it on her jeans.
"Selena," Bea said pointing her torch at the area where Selena's hand was, "that 'sticky stuff' is blood."