Page 1 of Carnival Monster

1

GAGE

Glendale.

That’s the name of this shithole town we’re setting up in. The carnival has arrived five days before Halloween. I’m putting up tents and hauling equipment. The physical labor keeps my body busy, but my mind... it’s a fucking circus in there.

Thoughts swirl like a depraved merry-go-round. Violent urges gnaw at me, and voices whisper temptations in my ear. I try to focus on the task, but the darkness creeps in, seeping through the cracks of my fractured psyche.

I watch the others’ work, oblivious to the monster in their midst. If only they knew the things I’ve done, the lives I’ve taken. They’d run screaming, but that’s half the fun, right? The thrill of the hunt, the rush of the kill.

My skull mask sits nearby, waiting patiently for its time to shine. It’s my true face, the one that reflects the blackness within. I can almost feel it calling to me, begging to be worn.

But I resist, for now. There’s work to be done, and I want to blend in. Just another carnie, setting up shop in another forgettable town. They don’t suspect a thing, these fools. They go about their lives, unaware of the danger that lurks in the shadows.

Colt saunters toward me, his eyes widening as he takes in my unmasked face. “Damn, Gage! Every time I see you without that creepy-ass mask, I expect you to be hideous. But look at you, pretty boy!” He laughs, his voice grating on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

I don’t respond, my lips pressed into a thin line. I stare at him, cold and unblinking. He shifts uncomfortably, his laughter trailing into an awkward cough.

Inside my head, thoughts swirl like a cyclone. Fucking idiot, I think, my inner voice dripping with disdain. If you only knew the things I’ve done, the blood I’ve spilled. You wouldn’t be standing there, cracking jokes like we’re old pals.

I visualize grabbing his throat, my grip tightening around his windpipe, depriving him of oxygen. The way his eyes would bulge, his face turning a satisfying shade of purple. A flicker of excitement pulses through my veins, but I push it down, burying it deep.

Colt clears his throat, his bravado faltering under my unwavering stare. “Well, I just wanted to let you know that the boss needs you to help set up the Ferris wheel. So, whenever you’re ready...” He trails off, his eyes darting away from mine.

I give a curt nod, my jaw clenched tight. Colt takes that as his cue to leave, scurrying away like a frightened rat. I watch him go, my lips curling into a sneer.

One day, I think, my fingers itching to wrap around the handle of my knife. One day, I’ll show you what true ugliness looks like.

I grab my mask and put it on before turning my attention to the Ferris wheel. It looms in the distance, a towering behemoth of steel and lights. Seeing it fills me with a strange anticipation.

As I make my way over, I feel a heavy hand clamp down on my shoulder. I tense, ready to lash out, but then I see who it is. Cade. The only guy in this whole fucking place that I can stand.

He doesn’t say much, giving me a nod and jerking his head toward the Ferris wheel. “We should get to work.”

I appreciate that about him. No small talk, no bullshit. Just gets straight to the point. It’s refreshing in a world full of fake smiles and empty words.

We walk together in silence, the gravel crunching beneath our boots. Approaching the Ferris wheel, I feel a sense of kinship with the massive structure. It’s like me, in a way. Towering over everything, imposing and intimidating. But beneath the surface, it’s just a bunch of rusted metal and frayed wires held together by sheer force of will.

Cade and I get to work, our hands moving with practiced ease as we tighten bolts and check cables. We don’t need to speak since our actions are perfectly synchronized from years of working together.

But even as I focus on the task, my mind wanders to darker places. I imagine the Ferris wheel coming to life, its metal arms reaching out to grab unsuspecting victims. I picture the screams of terror, the sickening crunch of bone and sinew.

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips, hidden beneath my mask. It’s a fleeting fantasy, but it’s enough to send a shiver of satisfaction through me.

Cade turns to me, a knowing glint in his eye. “All set, man. Have a good time scaring the shit out of these fuckers tonight.”

I can’t help but chuckle, the sound muffled by my mask. Cade gets me in a way the rest of the carnival workers don’t. There’s a darkness in him I recognize all too well.

“Oh, I will,” I reply, my voice a gravelly rasp.

Cade nods, his lips curling into a wicked grin. “These idiots don’t know what’s coming for them.”

We share a look, a moment of silent understanding passing between us. In this fucked up world, it’s rare to find someone who sees things the way you do. But Cade? He’s almost as unhinged as I am in his own special way.

“Just don’t go too far, yeah?” he says, his tone half-joking, half-serious. “Ty won’t be too happy if you carve up the customers.”

I snort, rolling my eyes. “No promises.”

---