Page 10 of Carnival Nightmare

“Tell me about it,”I mutter, stripping a wire with my teeth. “But you know Tyson. Too cheap to buy anything new.”

Lars chuckles. “Yeah, unless it’s for his precious magician’s show.”

We share a laugh about that. Though it’s our least popular attraction,Tyson loves splurging on new props and tricks for the magic show. He’s obsessed with trying to make it the carnival’s big spectacle. Me and Lars know it’ll never compete with the rides.

I continue fiddling with the wires, trying to bypass the short circuit. Lars watches me work.

“Need a hand with that?”he offers. “I don’t mind lending my mechanical skills.”

I debate turning him down, but an extra set of hands could speed this up. “Yeah, sure, man. See if you can get the motor running smoothly again.”

Lars grabs a wrench and gets to it. We work mostly in silence, which is how I prefer it. No mindless small talk is needed. After some tinkering, Lars looks up.

“I think I fixed the issue. Give it a try now,”Lars says.

I flip the power switch. The motor hums to life, smooth as butter.

“Hey, nice work!” I say, impressed.

Lars grins. “I’ve got more skills than people give me credit for.”

We do a quick test run to confirm it’s operational. The gravitron spins perfectly, ready for another night of shrieking riders.

“I appreciate the help, man,”I tell Lars sincerely.

He waves it off. “Anytime. Let me know if you need a hand with anything else.”

I clap him on the back as we walk off in opposite directions, grateful to have at least one decent guy to work with around here. I’ll buy him a beer later to say thanks. But first, I’ve got plans to make. Heading to my trailer, I clean my hands and change clothes before walking toward town.One destination in mind—the diner where my little angel works.

I push open the door to the diner, the little bell above it jingling merrily. My eyes instantly seek out Lily behind the counter. As soon as she sees me, her face pales. I feel a little thrill rush through me. She remembers me.

I stride to the counter and sit on one of the stools. Lily glances around nervously before coming over.

“W-what can I get you?”she asks, not quite meeting my eyes.

I give her my most charming smile. “Just a coffee for now, angel.”

She nods jerkily and goes to pour it. I watch her, noting the way her hands tremble slightly. She’s afraid of me. Good.

Lily returns with the coffee pot and a mug. As she leans over to fill it, I make my move. My hand darts out and grabs her slender wrist in an iron grip. She gasps.

“Why don’t you sit with me for a minute?”I say softly. It’s not really a question.

“I... I’m working,”Lily stammers. She weakly tries pulling her arm back, but I don’t let go.

“I’m sure they can spare you for just a moment,”I reply, my voice still gentle but with an undeniable edge.

Lily’s eyes flick around the diner again, but it’s late and there are only a couple other customers. They aren’t paying us any attention.

Seeing no way out, Lily shakily sits on the stool next to me. I finally release her wrist, which she immediately cradles against her chest.

“What do you want?”she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I take a sip of coffee, enjoying this immensely. “I just want to talk, Lily. Get to know you better.”

She shakes her head rapidly. “Please, just leave me alone.”

“Now, why would I do that?”I ask with a low chuckle. “We’re just starting to get acquainted.”

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