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Cursed Carnival

A Woman's Quest to Confront the Haunted Carnival and Free Herself from its Terrors

By Adria_X_RaePublished about a year ago 7 min read
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Once a year, the carnival would roll into town, bringing with it an air of excitement and wonder. Children would line up for hours to ride the Ferris wheel, the bumper cars, and the other thrilling rides that the carnival offered. Adults would come to relive their childhood memories and indulge in fried foods and games of chance.

But there was something different about this year's carnival. The lights on the rides flickered ominously, and the clowns that usually walked around, spreading joy, had a menacing look in their eyes. The air was thick with unnatural energy that made the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

Dana had been looking forward to the carnival for months. She had recently moved to the town and was eager to experience the excitement and energy of the event. She was particularly excited to ride the Ferris wheel, as it offered a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding countryside.

As she waited in line for the Ferris wheel, she noticed a group of teenagers laughing and pointing at a sign near the entrance. It read "Enter at your own risk," and it was adorned with skulls and crossbones. Dana dismissed it as a silly prank and made her way to the front of the line.

The ride was slow and peaceful, as she had hoped. As she reached the top, she looked over the town and saw something that made her blood cold. In the distance, she could see a figure moving through the darkness. It was humanoid, but its movements were jerky and unnatural. It was too far away to make out any details, but Dana knew that it was not human.

As the ride ended, Dana was relieved to be back on the ground. But her relief was short-lived. The carnival had taken on a sinister quality, and the air was thick with oppressive energy. The clowns had multiplied, and they were now following her, their painted faces twisted into grotesque sneers.

Dana tried to run, but the clowns kept pace with her. She stumbled and fell, and they closed in around her. Just as she thought she was about to be devoured by the horde of clowns, a voice called out from the darkness.

"Over here! Follow my voice!"

Dana scrambled to her feet and ran towards the voice. She didn't know who it was or where they were leading her, but she knew she had to escape the clowns.

The voice led her to a small tent, hidden away from the rest of the carnival. Inside, there was an old woman sitting in a rocking chair. She was dressed in black, and her face was wrinkled with age.

"Sit down, child," the woman said. "I've been expecting you."

Dana was too afraid to speak. She sat down on a nearby chair, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I know why you're here," the woman said. "You're looking for answers. You're looking for a way out."

Dana nodded. She didn't know how the woman knew what she was thinking, but she was desperate for any kind of help.

"The carnival is cursed," the woman continued. "It's been cursed for generations. Every year, it draws in unsuspecting victims, luring them with the promise of fun and excitement. But once they're inside, they're trapped."

"How do I get out?" Dana asked.

"There's only one way," the woman replied. "You have to confront the source of the curse. The entity that has been haunting this carnival for centuries. If you can defeat it, the curse will be broken, and you will be free."

Dana didn't know how she could defeat an entity she couldn't even see, but she was desperate to try anything. The old woman gave her a small amulet, a talisman that would protect her from the entity's powers. Then, she pointed Dana in the direction of the haunted house, the place where the entity was said to reside.

Dana hesitated for a moment, but then she steeled herself and made her way towards the haunted house. The air grew thicker and more oppressive as she got closer, and the shadows seemed to grow longer and darker. The sound of laughter and screams echoed through the darkness, and she could see the glowing eyes of the clowns in the distance.

As she entered the haunted house, she felt the temperature drop dramatically. The air was thick with mist and the scent of rotting flesh. The walls were adorned with grotesque paintings and eerie sculptures, and she could hear the sound of footsteps echoing in the distance.

Then, she saw it. A dark figure, humanoid in shape, with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp claws. It was the entity that had been haunting the carnival, and it was coming towards her.

Dana held up the amulet, and the entity recoiled as if struck by an invisible force. She knew she had to act fast, and so she began to recite the incantation that the old woman had taught her. The entity hissed and screeched, and the air grew thick with the stench of decay.

Dana felt a surge of power coursing through her body, and she raised her hand towards the entity. A beam of light shot from her hand, striking the entity and causing it to howl in agony.

Then, it was over. The entity dissipated into nothingness, and the curse was lifted. The air cleared, and the shadows retreated. Dana knew that she had saved herself and anyone else who might have fallen victim to the cursed carnival.

When she emerged from the haunted house, the carnival had vanished. There was no sign of the clowns or the rides, and the only thing left behind was the old woman's tent. Dana walked inside, and the woman smiled at her.

"You did it," she said. "You broke the curse."

Dana nodded, feeling a sense of relief and exhaustion wash over her. She didn't know what would happen next, but she knew that she would never forget the terror and horror of the cursed carnival.

The old woman handed Dana a small vial and told her to drink it. She said it would give her the strength to leave the carnival grounds safely. Dana drank the potion and felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. She felt as though she could take on the world.

As she stepped out of the tent, she saw that the carnival was still there. It was as though time had frozen, and everything was exactly as it had been before the curse had been broken. Dana walked through the carnival, taking in the sights and sounds, but everything seemed surreal and otherworldly.

As she made her way out of the carnival grounds, she heard a faint whisper in her ear. It was the voice of the entity, and it said, "You may have broken the curse, but you will never truly be free. I will always be with you."

Dana shuddered at the thought, but she refused to let the entity's words haunt her. She knew that she had faced her fears and emerged victorious. She would never forget the cursed carnival, but she was determined to move on and live her life.

Years later, Dana returned to the site where the carnival had once stood. She found a small plaque that read, "In memory of those lost to the cursed carnival." She placed a bouquet of flowers at the base of the plaque and whispered a prayer for the souls that had been lost.

As she turned to leave, she felt a presence behind her. She turned around and saw the old woman, smiling at her with a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"Remember what I told you, child," the old woman said. "The carnival may be gone, but the curse lives on. It will follow you for the rest of your days."

Dana shuddered at the thought, but she knew that the old woman was right. The cursed carnival had left its mark on her, and it would be with her always. But she also knew that she had the strength to face any challenge that came her way. The curse may have been broken, but the memory of the cursed carnival would live on forever.

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About the Creator

Adria_X_Rae

"Dreamer with a vivid imagination, expressing inner world through literature, music & visual arts. Emotionally intuitive, exploring mental landscapes through creative pursuits."

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