Hell's Carnival: Check ooc before joining

Shadow Shore October 29'th, 2003 (Exactly one year ago.)

"Come one! Come all! Enter the most frightning carnival ever known to mankind! Do you dare to enter the chamber of lost souls? Or the house of mirrors insted? Before you leave, why not see the freakshow filled with demented freaks preforming for your pleasure?!"

People filled in the carnival, screeming with joy on the roller coster, yelling in fear while riding through one of the haunted houses. So its no surprize that when somebody screemed in bloody murder, nobody could tell the difference between joy, and death....

Todd closed his notebook, giving a short sigh. "Finnaly done with chapter one." Todd tossed his book on the desk in front of him and streched back on the bed. "One down, 27 to go..."

"27 what to go?" Todd suddenly came face to face with a person with googles tightly straped to his head. For seconds, time seemed like forever for Todd, until... "Boo."

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Tood reared back on the side of the bed until his head smashed into wall behind him. "Jester! What in the hell are you trying to do, kill me?!"

Jester just grinned, unaffected by the fact he was basicly hanging upside down. "Hey, you were the one talking to himself! Besides, you knew I was on top."

"That didn't sound right..."

"Whadda ya me- ah geeze Todd." Jester pulled himself down from the top bunk and grabed a shirt from his dresser draw. "Besides, this is my room, my house. Scare who I wanna scare."

"Yeah, I kinda guessed that." Todd gave a low sigh. "So, when are we leaving for your job?"

Jester glanced back at his friend. "Around opening time, thats about a hour from now, why?"

Todd looked down. "Just wondering."

Jester saw right through Todd, "You're eager to go? I though you hated frightning things? What, gonna face your fears and get on a roller coaster or something?" Jester smirked at that remark, then dodged the pillow that was flung at him. "Ya mis-" Jester was interupted by a second, faster and more acurate pillow. "-sed..."

Nix & Mina

“Nix, would you hurry up!”
Nicholas, AKA Nix, shot his best friend Mina a glare out of the corner of his eye as he finished gelling his hair into artful spikes. “You’re so impatient.”
“You take longer then a girl to get dressed,” Mina retorted with a smirk. Decked out in a pair black jeans and matching sleeveless t-shirt, hair in a pony tail, she had a right to talk. Had taken her ten min. to get ready, including the touches of eye shadow, mascara and lip gloss she wore.
Nix on the other hand, wore fitted black slacks, a button down shirt and a touch of make up in addition to the gel. “Just because you don’t want to look nice doesn’t mean that I have to follow suit, Mina.”
Rolling her eyes, she looked at her watch. “Come on, the carnival opens in half an hour and I want to be there when it starts. I missed opening day last year- stupid football game.”
“Boo-hoo you were with the band,” Nix told her, slipping his comb into his pocket with practiced ease. “I’d rather spend the evening tucked between Brad and Anthony then at some creep show.”
“You lost the bet, you have to come,” Mina reminded Nix as they walked out of the apartment they were sharing near the local collage campus. Locking the door behind her, she followed Nix to his car, a rather beat up but fast ‘66 Mustang. “One of these days, I’m just going to spray paint this thing. I mean, come on- I can see the primer in parts of it already.”
“That’s not very lady-like,” Nix said, ignoring her threat. She didn’t mean it, was just being Mina. Bit caustic but loyal and non-judgmental. A good thing over all.
“So you going to ride the scream coasters and go through the haunted houses with me? I’ll protect you from the big scary werewolf men,” Mina said with a laugh. She didn’t notice a shift in the wind as she spoke, as if something had taken note of what she’d said.
“Sure,” Nix said. “Least I have an excuse for screaming like a little girl, unlike you.”
“Oh, I’m wounded to the core,” Mina said dramatically, hands over her heart. She giggled and the two drove in silence to the carnival site. As they parked the Mustang, she asked, “So, think anything special is going to happen tonight?”
“Who knows,” Nix answered with a shrug.
Who knows indeed.

Todd and Jester walked up the hill near by Jesters place. Todd couldn't help but look back at the smalled one story house. 'Its surprising, That Jester's parents died only 2-3 years ago, even more of a surprize that Jester feels no sadness torwards the incident...' Todd looked back at the back at Jester who was walking ahead of him. 'I mean, I know I would be sad if Iloss my parents, no matter how much I hated them.'

Jest grunted. "Will you stop looking at me like that? Its anoying."

"Yeah, sorry." 'I forgot that he could do that.' Jester pulled out one of his, "Cigerettes" (Actualy, its just shredded mint leaf wraped in a speacial kind of paper.) and lit it. "Made another batch of that stuff?"

"Yeah. Well, three or four acutauly. Here." Jester tossed back two small boxes torwards Todd. "Like I promised."

"How the hell do you make this stuff?"

"Like I told you, I'll tell you when I'm on my death bed."

"Whatever."

"Yo, we're here." Jester stoped abruptly and looked at the entrance. "..."

"Whats up."

"Change of wind."

"So?"

"Nothing." Jester started moving again.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Todd chased after Jester, who suddenly became lost in another world in his mind, then snapped back to reality. "Move it runt." 'Something tells me its gonna be a loooooooooooong night!'

Dale

"So, you're almost ready?"
I was standing in a towel in my bedroom, still wet from my shower. The question was almost a joke. She was always ready in minutes, rarely one to go with much make-up and sometimes none at all. I on the other hand, couldn't manage to get ready in time for one of our "dates" without taking at least an hour and trying on four to six shirts.
T-shirts were a big deal. Right girl; right T-shirt. Major rule...
"Yeah," she replied, her voice too calm and cool on the other end of the phone. "Just have to get dressed. SHould I bother hurrying?"
She giggled some, but it was good-natured.
I looked in the mirror, eyeing my hair and taking note of what else I had to do before we left. "nah. Take your time. y'know how long it takes Lil' Bro to get ready..."
"Yeah, yeah..." SHe chuckled. "About an hour, hour and a half?"
"Maybe an hour, or less..."
Another giggle. "okay..."
"See you soon."
"Bye."
Click.
I held the phone up a moment longer, as if I may have misinterpretted the click and was afraid I'd accidentally hang up on her, then lowered the receiver and hit the TALK button.
I went to the closet to sort through my T-shirts.
When I got downstairs, Matthew was asleep on the couch. mom had been her usual overattentive self, harassing him to get ready early. "You can't have your brother waiting around all day while you get dressed 'cause you were messing around..." I hadn't heard her out loud, but when the same woman raised you, the words come to mind as naturally as they come out of her mouth. Them, or something very like them.
I went over to the couch, took hold of his shoulder and shook him gently, grinning slightly at the memory of Dad doing the same thing to me.
I wasn't expecting him to jerk into a sitting position, his eyes wide and his hands flailing. I jerked backward, then reached forward without thinking, trying to get hold of his hands.
"Calm down," I insisted.
He turned to me, breathing heavy breaths, his eyes still wide.
"Matty?"
Then he blinked and lowered his head some, relaxing. His arms, tense until then, eased some in my hands. he blinked and looked up again, taking easier breaths.
"Matty?"
I was at a loss for other words.
"I'm okay," he said. "Bad dream..."
"Another one?" I was relaxing now.
He nodded. "they'll pass. They always do."
I thought for a moment, wondering if maybe this whole Carnival idea was a bad one. maybe he'd be better off staying ehre with mom, but then, I couldn't go without him, now could I?
"Y'sure?" I asked, my date currently forgotten. I was still thinking, but the decision would have to be his. Who was I to say he would have to stay home? Afterall, the rest of the year.... boredom city.
He nodded. "Besides, the Carnival should take my mind off of it, right?" He sounded unsure, but I guessed that it would. If it didn't staying here wouldn't either...
"Just remember," I said, feeling like a fool talking to him as such, like he was much younger than he really was. "What we see at the Carnival... It's all a show, all for fun."
He nodded, looking a few years shy of his eleven just then. He'd come around though. Often enough, the dreams, which he never seemed to remember, were gone just a few minutes afterward, forgotten by the looks of him.
"All right," I said. "C'mon, I told Suzanne we'd be there in an hour..."
I stood, heading to the kitchen to grab the keys from the holder there.
"But, Dale," he began.
I turned back to him. "Yeah, Lil' Bro?"
"You brought the phone down over an hour and a half ago..."

Nix & Mina

They walked into the carnival grounds, greeted with the scent of fresh cotton candy, corn dogs and something else, a neck ruffling scent that Nix couldn’t identify.
“What’s that smell, Mina?”
Mina scented the air, turning her nose up before she answered. “I think… its blood. Reminds me of when we disected those cows fresh from the field. Those suckers stank to high heaven, lots of blood and messy bowels.”
“I don’t see how you can do that,” Nix said, paling a bit. “That’s gross.”
“Only to the weak of heart and stomach,” she replied, leading the way to the ticket counter. The pair bought the “unlimited” bracelets that would allow the wearer to enter any ride he or she wished. A bit expensive but well worth it in the long run. If one was alive long enough to enjoy the rides.
“We meeting anyone here,” Mina asked, looking at Nix.
He stared at her, wide eyed, feigning innocence. “Would I arrange to meet someone behind your back?”
“Yes.”
“Bitch,” Nix scolded her, without anger. “I didn’t arrange for anything crazy, if that’s what your thinking.”
Looking up at the tent, Mina realized that the clowns in the pictures had tiny fangs, like those one would expect to find on a vampire. “I think this place is crazy enough on its own. Lets go ride the Kamikaze!”
Nix followed at a more sedate pace then the obviously enthused Mina, a trickle of fear building in his stomach. Even the name of the damn thing was scary, in a way.

Jester payed for the unlimited bracelets and tossed one to Todd. "Well, lets go."

"Yeah, sure... Do you smell that?" Todd sniffed the air. It smells like... Day old blood."

Jester carefully sniffed the air. "Yeah, kinda does, but that not uncommon here." Jester shrugged. "So, where to first? Ride or Midway?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Midway."

"Bingo Smartass."

Jester grunted at Todd. It was a constant battle between their wits. Currently it was Todd 2033, Jester 2022. "So hows ninja training?" Okay, scratch that Todd 2033, Jester 2023.

Todd and Jester was now walking through the midway, checking out the games, and of course, the prizes. "Hey," Todd started, "check it out. A test your strength game."

"Seriously?" Jester turned his head just enough to see what Todd was talking about. "So it is." Jester cracked his knuckles in a sickening manor and walked up to the infamous thing that proved if you were strong, or weak. "Stand back, let the mast show you how to do it!"

"10 bucks says you pull a muscle."

Suzanne

Two hours, almost on the nose, and he came rolling up the road, trying to slow before he reached the driveway, wanting to make it look as if he'd taken his time getting here, I was certain.
I stepped out onto the porch, letting the screen door close behind me and waited as the car came to a halt at the top of the driveway.
I smiled as he got out of the car. Matthew stayed where he was for the moment, sitting in the front seat, seatbelt still clicked in place.
Dale walked up, smiling back.
"Two hours..." I noted, aloud.
"I know...."
"By my count, considering you're always at least half an hour late, we'll say you were on time," I said, hugging him and patting him on the shoulder.
Matthew looked up over the dashboard and I waved to him. He waved back.
"What's wrong with you brother?" I whispered.
"Bad dream..." He replied.
I chuckled lightly, "Saw your driving performance coming?"
He just smiled, somewhat embarassed.
"C'mon," I said. "Let's get going. He's probably been looking forward to this all year..."
He nodded, stepping back and turning toward the car. Matthew unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door.
"You can sit there," I insisted. "I'm comfortable in the backseat."
Matthew shook his head, getting out. "That's okay. I don't mind."
He got in the back and buckled down.
I got in the front and did the same, reaching out as Dale sat down and taking a hard grip in he dashboard.
"All ready, Captain," I stated. He smiled, shook his head and started backing out the driveway.
I glanced around the inside of the vehicle. "So, where're the Oh Shit Bars?"

Nix & Mina

They stumbled off of the Kamakaze together, dazed.
"I don't remember that thing being so fast at the county fair last spring," Mina said, shaking her head to clear it.
"It wasn't," Nix answered, looking a bit green. "NO more rides for a bit... midway or something, but no more big rides."
"Aw, the big tough he-man queasy," Mina teased with a smile.
"I don't have to pretend all that male stero type bs," Nix told her hauntily, his upset stomach forgotten.
Exactly as Mina had planned. "OKay then, lets hit the midway. I want one of those giant stuffed critters since my sisters' dog at the last one before I moved out after the end of my senior year."
"You make it sound so long ago, it was only last spring," Nix pointed out as they found the midway with its games and challanges. "Not like you've been out of highschool forever, just a few months."
"Oh shut up, mister I'm a year older and graduated early," Mina huffed, though her eyes were laughing.
She spotted a game requiring one to shot a star from the middle of a paper target with a bb gun. "Lets try that."
"Okay," Nix said. "Loser buys funnel cakes."
"You're on."

"Hit the bell, and win a prize!" Todd grabed the giant hammer and strugled to pull it up over his head.

"Careful now Toddy-boy, don't wanna strain yourself now do ya?"

"Sh- sha- shaddap!" Todd was having a hard to keep the mallet over his head, let alone argue with Jester's wise cracks. "Or this'll he your head!" Todd forced the hammer down full throtle onto the lever, which pushed a seemingly small weight up.... To sissy.

"Start weight training runt, and step aside. For a real man."

Jester fell on his ass, laughing like a mad man. "Wahahahahahahaaaa! Oh man, thats classic! That, is classic!!" Todd agressivly droped the heavy mallet on Jester's stomache "Hurrk!"

"If you think that you're stronger than me, then put up, or shut the fuck up!"

Jester only grinned. "Sure." He yanked the mallet off of him, and sat up. "I will." Jester stood up and walked (more like sauntered) over to test your weight attendent. "I'll do it."

"Two bucks youngster."

Jester didn't hesitate to pay and walk over to the standing point. "Piece of cake..." Jester lifted the mallet, and to his surprize, it suddenly became unaturally heavy. "Holy... Hey, Todd, whats with this thing? Its light one second, heavy the next!"

"Yeah yeah, jsut swing and miss like you do with the girls!"

Jester snorted at Todd before lifted the mallet up, and slamming it down with undenible force onm the target. The weight shot up and not only hit the bell, but went past it.

"Where'd it..." Todd started, but stoped when the bell landed.

"Well theres the bell," Jester stated, looking at the mangled thing. "Or whats left of it... But what about the weight?"

Jester was too busy thing to notice Todd running torwards him, until he spear him to the ground. "Jester! Move!" As soon as the two hit the ground, the weight hit the ground near them, or, where Jester was standing to be exact.

"Holy shit!"

The two stood up and walked over to the weight, and relized that it actualy broke the blacktop ground and made a dent. "Yo, its atleast... Three inches into the dirt man..."

Todd huffed "The prize better be damn good after th-" Todd looked behind him as he was talking, but stoped. "Ah. He's... Gone..."

"See, what I tell ya... This place is freaky."

Suzanne

"What?"
I couldn't believe he did it. But then, why not? I knew as well as anyone how hard it was to say no to someone who wasn't listening. Like my mom for instance, when asking me if I wanted to attend her old Alma Mater, Berkley. Or my father telling me that Dale was no good, a slacker. "I went to school right here with his father, and he was a slacker too." I couldn't quite explain to him that Dale's father had moved here from Wisconsin, where he'd been raised by his Aunt after his parents, who were from Montana, had passed away. But the parents were fairly cooperative; and so was Dale.
One the other hand...
"I didn't really invite him," Dale insisted. "He jsut heard us talking the one day and asked when we were going to the carnival."
We were standing outside the House of Mirrors, people starting to file in some now. Earlier, it seemed there weren't many patrons, but in the last fifteen minutes or so, the Fun House section of the carnival really began to pick up. Young kids drug their mothers by outstretche dhands toward the mini Fun Palace, a version of the grown-up Fun Palace that appeared to be built with midgets in mind, and high school and college kids, their friends and their S/Os moved toward the various spook houses. I stood facing Dale, disappointed, but almsot ready to deal.
"I'm sorry, Hon. Hey, he may not even show up."
"yeah..." I trailed off.
We were quiet for a moment, then I shrugged. "oh, what the hell, maybe he'll act his age for a change, huh?"
He smiled. "Not Cade, but we can fantasize about it til he gets here..."
I hugged him, "I jsut hope he doesn't hit on me this time..."
Dale was speechless.
After a few moments, we let each other go.
"What's taking your brother so long...?"
"I dunno..."

Matthew

I couldn't move jsut yet, and I was wondering if anyone else had seen this, if it was real or some special effect.
As I stared, it stared back, still as I was, unmoving. Exactly as still as I was.
I waited for the other kids to come running through, thinking they might spur a little motivation. ove or be run over, embarassed, something that might get my feet moving in the direction of the door, which I had yet to locate.
It was your imagination, Matt, my mind insisted. But still, I couldn't move, not just yet.
I took a deep breath,
(It had been subtle)
and let it out in a long gust
(so subtle that I'd barely noticed it)
then closed my eyes for a moment.
When I opened them, I looked back, seeing myself staring, still perfect in its imitation. Still joined by several other Matthews, all being reflected by mirrors behind and around me.
Calm suddenly came over me.
My imagination, that's what it had been. Nothing but that.
I smiled, then froze, and the reflection before me merely stared.
No smile?
I crinkled my eyebrows, leaning closer some, my heart thudding loudly twice in my ears then seeming to stop altogether.
It didn't more, just stared back, then winked and cocked an arrogant grin.
My feet stopped arguing then, and I turned and ran.

Todd took one more glance at the weight. "We've only been here for 15-20 minutes, and already we almost get killed..."

"Relax Todd, it was just a simple acident."

"Bullshit," Todd snapped back, "A simple acident is like a little 4 year old pissing on himself. This was no f-ing acident." Todd gave Jester a sharp and deadly look. "Besides, aren't we here to do your job as a paranormal investigator? Didn't that look a little suspisious?"

Jester grumbled, then shot back at Todd. "First off, I'm a asistant, not the real deal. Second, we didn't exactly come here to do my job, we came here for the hell of it, nice try though. And third, if something paranormal was going on, don't you think I would have felt sensed it by now?"

"Are you saying you didn't feel anything???"

"Yeah." Jester didn't watch where he was going, and ran into something, knocking him to the ground. "Hey, what the..."

Jester looked up and came face to face (Well nose actualy) With a giant Clown faced entranced. "Wahahahahahahahaha!!!"

"Gaaah!" Jester crawled back with his eyes as wide as china plates. "Clowns! I HATE clowns!"

"And you call me chicken shit?"

It took Jenna a few moments, before her smile warmed over her tired face, like a new morning sun finally breaking the dark twilight. Shelly just looked back at her mom, screaming and giggling with delight.
When was the las time they'd had this much fun? When was the last time they'd have any fun?
Jenna didn't know, she didn't want to depress herself with those kinds of thoughts. They were here now, and Shelly was riding the little dragon around the stupid kiddie coaster. It went up and down, around and back, too small and too kid-like, but Shelly loved it nontheless. She rode the dragon with fearless heart.
When the ride finally stopped, Shelly ran and hugged her mother.
"I wanna go on the scary ride now."
Jenna looked around at the carnival, unsure which one she was talking about.
"Scary?"
"The haunted house! It's over there. I saw it! I saw it."
Jenna bit her lower lip. Was Shelly ready for a haunted house? Something that seemed just a little big for her age. Shelly's big brown eyes were pleading and pleading though.
"Ok... ok, we'll go on the haunted house ride, but then you've got to win me a goldfish."
"Yeah, ok!" Shelly ran off, Jenna in tow.

Kember was walking home from the park with her sketch pad and paints. Wanting to drop them of before heading for the fair ground's. She new she was just stalling, but hey its not like she had a hot date, or even a friend waiting for her.

A few hour's later Kember was walking by one of the game's at the carnval. Hearing the Anouncer saying Hit the Bell Win the Prize.

She watched a couple of guy's teasing each other about the game. One even fell on his ass laughing before he picked up the hammer himself.

She couldnt hear what they were saying, but it looked like they were having fun. Suddenly when he hit the bell the weight, and the bell were gone.... and so was the announcer. Running over to them after the first boy knocked down the bigger one.

She noticed they seemed to be upset and just before she reached them the second guy ran into a giant clown, and started to crawl backwards... if she still hadnt been shaken over the near miss with the mallet she would have laughed. Insted she asked Hey are you guy's ok??? Wow that was pretty freaky..

"Oh brother."

"Shut up, just shut up, okay Todd?" Jester stood up and brushed himself off, before giving a dark glare at his friend. "You don't leave a chance to ridicule my paranoia of clowns, do ya?"

"No, not really."

'Hey are you guy's ok???'

Todd turned around, and saw a girl not much younger than Jester running torwards them.

"Um, yeah, we're fine."

The entrances eyes lit up in a street light yellow before suddenly emiting that creepy laugh again. "Wahahahahahahahahaaaaa!"

"I hate that laugh..."

Dale

"How did it happen exactly?" Suzanne was asking.
I leaned down, listening carefully as he spoke a third time, his voice overly nasal with the napkin pressed against his nose.
"I wudd runnig in da gladd huss..." He explained. "annn i hidd the mirror...:"
"But why were you running?" She asked.
He paused for a moment, uncertain it seemed, how to respond. That might have just been me, expecting an answer too soon. There was no way around the bloody nose now, and other than that, he appeared okay. We'd just have to be careful how many rides we let him ride that might concern us for nosebleeds.
"Cusss I wanted to lebbb. It was boriggg.." He replied, finally, then shrugged. He looked away as he spoke, however, seeming to take careful note of a carnival worker walking by. The man was smiling, but Matthew's expression seemed to imply otherwise.
Suzanne looked up to me, questioningly.
I shrugged. "He'll be alright. We'll have to be careful letting him ride some of the more... aggressive rides, I guess, but... A nosebleed is just a nosebleed, so long as it stops."
He nodded, though cautiously.
"Oh, shit! What the hell happened to you?"
The voice came form behind me. Matthew turned to it at once. "Gladd husss."
"Okay, whatever," Cade replied, walking around in front of us. "So, how long you guys been here?"
"Not too long," Suzanne replied, standing to her full height. "About half an hour, tops."
"So, you haven't checked out any of the games yet?"
I shook my head. "Nope, came over this way, just wandering, and found the glass house. Rest is history."
"Cool, what'a ya say?"
I shrugged. "Well, Matty can't ride for a few minutes, if at all, so we may as well."
"Alright, let's rock..."

Kimber stood about 5ft 4in at around 115lbs. With long red hair braided down her back, her eyes were gray green in color. She wore blue jean's a light blue tang top, with a jean jacket over the top.

Kimber shivered in reaction to the laugh wraping her arms around herself as if she were cold. For some reasion the laugh brought an immage to mind of a small figure huddled in the dark some where... but it wasnt a very clear picture. Shaking herslef she looked over at the two guys.

i agree i hate that laugh myself.... its good to know that you guys are ok. Mind if i hang out with you all? She asked them and introduced herself.
My Name is Kember... Whats your's?

[Lyle]

"Fuck, where are they?"

Lyle already knew that answere. His friends were probaly gone, ditching him just to get high. "Geez!" Lyle punched the vending machine by him in agrivation. "I can't belive those guys!"

Lyle pushed back his black hair and walked back to the main stream crowd.

[Todd]

Todd sighed at Jester. 'He's hopeless!' He just had to look away so he couldn't laugh.

'i agree i hate that laugh myself.... its good to know that you guys are ok. Mind if i hang out with you all? She asked them and introduced herself.

My Name is Kember... Whats your's?'

Jester shruged. "I don't see why not."

Todd looked back at Kember and smiled weakly. "My name is Todd, and this is Chaz," Jester made a small snort at his name. "But, every bodie just calls him Jester."

"Hi."

Kember smiled at them both, and started walking with them. Its nice to meet you both.. Did you all have a destanation planned or were you just walking around?

"We were pretty much just checking out the Midway for the time being," Jester replied, "the rides are pretty dull 'round here before it gets really dark."

"Yeah, especially those corny walk through fun houses."

Jester slowed to a stop and looked at Todd and Kember. "So, what should we do now?"

i didnt have anything in mind really, so what ever you all feel up to is fine with me. Kimber said with a smile. Looking around as she waited, to here what they had to say.

Kimber thought she saw a little kid dodging in, and out of the game both's, but when she tryed to look closer there was no one there.
Kimber shook her head thinking it must have been her immagination, but the kid reminded her of one of her drawing's, and Kimber wondered wether she should tell Jester, and Todd about it, or wether the would just think she was crazy. Hummm choices.

Suzanne

"What the fuck?!"
Dale wrinkled his brow, shaking his head. Swearing wasn't something he tolerated well in front of Lil'Bro. He bore his tongue, however.
I looked ahead, keeping one arm around Matty's neck. The bleeding had slowed, maybe stopped altogether, but he'd need to watch it for a while.
Ahead was a tall metal frame, looking almost like an oversized outdoor thermometer. The sign nearby read "Test-o-Strength" but it looked to be out of order. A little person (dwarf, I wasn't sure what exactly I was supposed to call them) was standing near the bottom, eyeing it carefully for nothing in particular that I could see. An extremely tall man, one that I would have guessed was on stilts had it not been for the broad shoulders and his head so large.
A giant and a dwarf.
I waited for Cade to speak up, but he didn't. Not in the rude sense I would have thought. Instead, he walked up to them and asked, in his normally polite manner. "What the hell happened here?"
The dwarf looked up. He was dressed in a blackcloak, looking as though this technical job was only one of two he worked, the other being some sort of midget grim reaper he'd been in the process to preparing for when the game had problems.
He looked up to Cade and said, thoughtfully, "Looks like someone didn't know their own strength."
He turned and surveyed the other three of us. I smiled, and Matty waved his free hand and offered "Heehhh."
He nodded, professorly, then glanced up at the giant, who'd been looking at me, licking his lips. I crossed my arms across my chest, feigning I was chilly and glancing away.
"C'mon, maybe later, Cade," Dale said. he felt the odd chill too, I guessed, or realized that I did.
Cade nodded, still looking up at the giant, who smiled down at him, locking eyes with him, arrogant for one who was obviously such an outsider to the rest of the world.
Cade took three steps backward, surprising me when he didn't lower his own head, didn't show himself to be intimidated at all by the large man, then turned to the rest of us as we made our way off.
"So, what do you want to play first?" Dale asked,
Matty pointed to the Skee-Ball tent.
Dale nodded.
As we entered, I glanced back at the two, who still watched us, now both were laughing.

"Huh..." Jester watched a shadow move in and out the gam booths, what was odd about it was that the shadow was running in well lit areas, so whoever it was, should have been easily seen.

'odd... Better keep sillent, I don;t want to scare Kimber with this... She may think I'm out my damn mind.'

Todd shifted his eyes torwards his friend, who seemed to have the "Look". "Jester? Whats up?"

"Eh? Its nothing."

"So where are we headed then?"

"Ummmm..."

"Wahahahahahaha!" Jester sharply turned his head at trhe entrance. "Dare you enter the fun house? Or are you a little bed wetter?!"

"Oh hell no..."

"Jester, think before you act... Je-Jester!!" Too late, Jester was already heading forthe clown. "Jester, the last thing we need is you to vandalize something!!!"

"Vandalizing, who's vandalizing!? I'm going in! Are you comming or what?"

Todd sighed, then looked at Kimber. "Well, lets go before he gets himself hurt."

Right behinde you.... Kimber said quickly following Jake inside. Kimber new they were hurrying to catch up with Jester,but she had to know weather she were seeing things or not. Hey umm Todd??? i know this is probly going to sound like i am nuts or something... but well did you see a little kid dodging in ,and out of the booths a muinet ago??

Todd looked at Kimber, he didn't look at her weird, or as if she was crazy. "A kid...? Mm, no I haven't. I wasn't really looking at the booths." Todd stoped as soon as they caught up with Jester. "Hey Jester, did you see something running in and out the booths?"

"Huh? In and out the booths?"

"Yeah, Kember said she saw a kid running in and out of them."

"... All I saw was a shadow sig zaging all over the place." 'So she can see them as well?'