Carnival: Hop To It

Jason was running down a hallway, he fell to the ground and looked around frantically. His only light being that of the blinking red emergency light. Thinking he was safe, Jason slowly got to his feet. Nothing to his left. Nothing to his right. Nothing where he came from. Just him and the blinking red light. Still looking around, he reached behind himself. Reaching for the emergency exit that would lead to the alley. The emergency exit suddenly had the silhouette of a rabbit costume outside of the window. Watching. Jason.

Earlier that day

Jason was on his phone when his little brother, Mikey, was watching a new episode of a superhero show called Super Charged. Mikey was holding an action figure of his favorite character, Spark, a humanoid bunny with black fur that held a golden grid-like design and large white eyes. Annoyed, Jason told Mikey that the characters were just Power Ranger rip-offs made to sell more batteries from Everlast Energy. Mikey continued to watch. Jason began to insult Mikey for liking ‘stupid kid shows for stupid kids’. Mikey cheered on Spark showing up to save his team from the villain of the week. Mikey even did the pose and recited the speech,

“Evil doers who spread fear and panic will never win! Be a bully or a monster, any problem can be overcome when you do your best! It’s time! To get Super Charged! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnd! Hop To It!!”

Upset, Jason insulted Spark and his super-powered friends. That was enough for Mikey to throw a pillow at Jason, with tears in his eyes. Mikey began to recite Spark’s speech again as Jason yelled about Mikey and Super Charged being stupid. Their father yelled from the kitchen for them to stop. They, of course, blamed each other for starting the fight. Only for their father to threaten to cancel their trip to the mall. That was enough to get them to stop.

Both of them were excited for the party at the new mall organized by the rich kid from school. His father built the mall and turned its opening day into a party for his child to invite their entire school. It was called The Shop-Topia. The commercials boasted about the hundreds, if not thousands, of stores. The slogan was:

“If you can buy it, we have it.”

Jason jumped out of the car and ran into the crowd in front of The Shop-Topia. Pushing his way through the crowd, he eventually made his way to the front. Ignoring his father’s calls, Jason rushed off without his father or little brother. The owner was on a platform answering questions, “We currently have 4 floors and are currently making a lower level intended to be an indoor amusement park. It should be about 2 more months before it is ready.”

“Is it accessible for a tour?”

“No. There are far too many construction hazards down there. We would never endanger the lives of anyone purposely, especially the lives of children.”

Jason, getting impatient, snuck off from the crowd just as Mikey and their father made it over. Jason saw a man go in a side door and followed. The owner acknowledged and announced that the party he was hosting for his son and his school was going to begin soon. He also announced that the party was partly sponsored by Everlast Energy. Jason had come around a corner to see the mascots of Super Charged walking towards an elevator. “Freaks.”

Jason said to himself. He heard the sound of electricity being discharged. Squinting, he could vaguely make out something shuffling along in a light green mist on the far side of the corridor. For a moment, he thought it was someone in one of the Spark suits from the show missing their bunny ears. That was, until he asked if the person was okay. The figure sharply turned their head towards him. Their big white eyes appeared to glitch green for a few seconds. Jason hesitated to reach towards the figure. A gesture he soon retracted as he saw what he assumed to be the suit blink one eye then the other.

Jason stepped back, “Uh…” the figure stood upright and the grid-like design on it began to glow with the sound of an engine starting up. “Nope… Nope nope nope.” Jason ran towards the elevator and pressed the button hysterically. He looked back constantly, hearing the electrical humming getting closer and closer. The elevator door opened, and a mechanic grabbed Jason.

“What are you doing down here kid?”

“There’s a monster robot thing down here trying to get me!”

“What? Were you messing with the animatronics?”

“No, this thing came crawling out at me for no reason!”

“Kid, you’re not even supposed to be down here. If anything is broken…”

“It’s not! It’s after me!” Jason interrupted.

“Look kid, there’s nothing after you down here.”

“Don’t you hear the humming?”

“There is no humming.”

“But…”

“That’s enough. Look, let’s get you upstairs. If you come back down here, we’ll have cops escort you off the premises. Come on.”

The mechanic mumbled under his breath as the elevator door began to close. Jason watched intently as the doors closed shut.

The mechanic reminded Jason to not return to the lower level before telling him how to get to the area where the party was. Jason was trying to talk himself into thinking that his mind was playing games. That he was still annoyed with Mikey and it made him see things that weren’t there. He convinced himself that it was Mikey’s fault that the mechanic thinks he was crazy. He made his way to the party as it was starting up and was almost instantly disappointed. He saw the Super Charge theme. He saw the people in the costumes. He saw the tablecloths, cups, masks, balloons, toys, lights, plushies, cutouts, and life-sized plastic posed models. He saw Mikey taking pictures with the Spark mascot. His fear became anger.

Mikey’s eyes were alive with joy as he looked at the pictures their dad took. He asked their dad if he could get the Super Spark action figure. Their dad said he would after they find something for Jason. Mikey protested at first. Their dad reminded Mikey that Mikey’s current Spark action figure used to belong to Jason. Jason gave it to Mikey when he was in the hospital to give him the strength to get better. Mikey only remembered that he held the toy tight when he got really sick and Jason tried taking it from him once he got home. Mikey felt guilty and thought about how he even brought the action figure to the party to show off.

“Dad… Is it too late to give it back?”

“It’s never too late to do the right thing.”

“What about the better thing?”

“Do you have something better in mind?”

“Yes,” Mikey said with a big smile.

“Then let's hop to it.”

Jason watched them go into a Super Charge store. He balled up his first and punched one of the plastic models. It rocked back and fell on Jason. Jason screamed as he stared into the eyes of the model. Another parent lifted it off him. They asked if he was okay. Hearing the laughs and snickers of other party attendees, Jason mumbled that he was fine. Shortly after, he saw his dad run over.

“Jason, there you are. Are you okay?”

“I said I was fine.”

“I’m glad” he hugged Jason.

Jason saw that Mikey was walking over with two brand new action figures. Jason pushed his dad off of him.

“He gets two new toys?! Seriously?! For what?!”

“Well… Dad, told me that my toy used to be yours.” Mikey said shyly.

“So you plan to finally give it back?! Just to replace it with two brand new ones?!”

“No, I actually wanted to..”

“I don’t want your stupid kiddy show garbage! I don’t want your charity!”

“Hey! Jason, he’s just trying to do something nice for you.” Their dad intervened.

“He has never done anything nice for me. Why would he start now? Everything he gets, he takes from me. You always baby him, so he gets his way all the time.” Jason snapped back.

Mikey was on the verge of tears but committed to handing Jason one of the toys. Jason looked at Mikey in shock. Mikey wasn’t giving Jason a replacement. He was giving him the much more expensive Super Spark action figure. Jason saw that there was a crowd watching to see his reaction. Embarrassed, Jason took the toy and smashed it against the plastic model that fell on him earlier. Jason panted as he saw the pieces on the floor. He couldn’t hear their father yelling at him for his actions. His face turned to one of shock and shame as he saw that Mikey was crying in disbelief. Mikey’s eyes were locked on Jason. So he didn’t notice the model rocking back towards him. Jason noticed but instead of calling out to his younger brother, he panicked. Just before the model fell on Mikey, Jason saw Spark running towards them in full sprint. Their father turned around to catch the model, Jason ran away with tears in his eyes.

Spark caught the model. The crowd clapped and cheered. Mikey looked up at Spark.

“Are you okay, young man?” the man in the suit could be heard asking. Mikey simply hugged him, crying, “I’m such a bad brother.”

“Evil doers who spread fear and panic will never win.” Spark said. Mikey looked up at him. “Be a bully or a monster.”

Mikey and the man finished the speech together, “Any problem can be overcome when you do your best.”

The crowd clapped as Mikey hugged the mascot tighter. Mikey’s dad asked Mikey if he was okay. Mikey nodded. Mikey’s dad then requested that Mikey stay there and enjoy the party while he goes to get Jason. Mikey nodded. His dad ran off, calling out to Jason. Spark sat Mikey at a table and asked him if there was anything he could do to make him feel better. In a moment of weakness, Mikey said “Just once, I wish my brother could understand how I felt.” the lights in the mall cut out. The emergency energy cut on shortly after.

“No one panic. It was likely knocked out due to the incoming storm or mechanical failure. Stay close so our security guards and superheroes can keep a better eye on everyone. Until the system comes back on, please enjoy the Everlast Energy glow sticks and glow accessories.” the owner boasted.

Jason sat in the stairway, crying. Arguing with himself for being so mean to his brother. Just as he started talking himself up to go and apologize, the lights went out. He was completely dark except for two things. The blinking of the red emergency lights in the hallway. And the faint light green glow coming from the upper level. Jason’s eyes widened as he heard a low electrical humming sound coming from above him. He slowly looked up to see a figure with long bunny ears dropping over the railing, big white eyes staring down at him, chewing on wires as if it were eating a carrot.

Jason was running down a hallway on the lower level. He fell to the ground and looked around frantically. His only light being that of the blinking red emergency light. He thought about how he should have propped the door to the main floor open. He thought to himself that he should have just banged and yelled for help. Since it had been awhile since he last saw the rabbit he thought he was safe. Jason slowly got to his feet. Nothing to his left. Nothing to his right. Nothing where he came from. Just him and the blinking red light. He looked at the door behind him and saw a handle. Before he could touch it, he heard the faint electrical humming. He turned around breathing heavily, looking around. He reached behind himself. Reaching for the handle of the emergency exit that would lead to the alley. The emergency exit that suddenly had the silhouette of a rabbit costume outside it, visible through the window. Watching. Jason.

Jason got his hand on the handle and turned it, just in time to hear his dad calling his name. Jason squinted, looking where he had come from, and could just barely make out his father’s figure. He ran to him, crying. His father ran to him, yelling for him. Jason was experiencing tunnel vision. He envisioned his father’s smiling face and open arms. He imagined his father’s joy as they comforted each other. He couldn’t hear his father’s screams for Jason to hurry to him. He couldn’t see the fear in his father’s eyes. He didn’t see Spark coming in from the emergency exit or the breaking of the handle. Spark took a running stance.

Electricity began to build up around him as he spoke with a slightly distorted version of his voice from the show, “You. Who spreads fear and panic. Will not be allowed to prevail. Bully nor monster.`` The humming got loud enough for Jason and his father to notice and face Spark. “I will overcome you. Suuuuuuuuper! Charge!” the grid-like design went from glowing yellow to glowing green to match his eyes. Spark smiled as he took off, with blinding speed at Jason.

Back at the party, Spark was seen walking up to Mikey. Mikey ran up to him.

“Did you find my dad?”

Spark nodded.

“Did he find Jason?”

Spark nodded.

“That’s good. Do you know how long they’re going to take?”

Spark shook his head.

“Oh… Could you stay with me until they come back?”

Spark shook his head.

“Oh… Can you… Can you at least stay with me until the lights come back on?”

Spark hesitated for a moment but nodded. Mikey happily held his hand as they made their way to the table. Mikey went on and on about why Spark is his favorite character, even remarking how warm Spark’s hand was. Spark sat Mikey down at the table. Mikey recalled the incident with the action figure earlier. Spark looked over and saw that some pieces were still on the floor. His designs glowed yellow for a moment. Spark gave Mikey a brand new replacement for the smashed toy. Mikey took it excitedly, “Wow really?! Did you have this the whole time? I didn’t even see it in your hand.“

Spark ruffled Mikey’s hair and walked away. Before Mikey could say anything the lights cut on and Spark was gone. Mikey smiled and put the action figure on the table with his other belongings. He went to play with the other kids. Spark jogged over to Mikey while he was talking to some of his classmates. “Sorry kid, it took me a while but I got you a replacement for your toy from earlier.” “But you…” “Enjoy the party and stay Super Charged.” Spark said as he jogged back to his original post.

Mikey looked at the action figure and noticed it was the wrong version of the toy, “But you already gave me a replacement.”