1 The Midnight Carnival

I was walking home from school with my two friends. It was like a normal day. Picking on each other, daring each other to do things, talking about the creepy abandoned carnival near my house. Just an average day. At least, until a clown came along. She had long, sky blue hair that was pulled into pigtails, a ghostly white face, purple eye shadow, and dark blue blush applied to look like two crescent moons. Her dress has a purple top and a light blue skirt. She was a little on the heavier side, but her figure made it look good on her. I was so focused on what she looked like, I didn't even notice she was speaking

"Hey! Are you okay, miss?" she asked in a chirpy voice.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine."

"Well, if your free this evening, The Midnight Carnival is in town! I hope to see you all there!" she exclaimed. She reached into a small wicker basket that looked like it was woven by hand. She gave us each a piece of candy and skipped off. My friend, Amy, was about to open it when I stopped her.

"Come on. You don't know where it's been! It could be poisoned, ya'know."

"What, is little Melody afraid of a clown?" Gavin asked. I punched him in the shoulder and started walking off. He's not wrong. Clowns have always freaked me out. It got even worse after the killer clown sightings started. For all we know, that girl is one of them.

During lunch at school, I noticed two candy wrappers where my friends normally sit. I looked around and saw them heading towards our table with their trays. "Guys. Did you seriously eat the candy that clown gave you?" I asked.

"Yeah. How could we pass up free candy?"

"It's almost Halloween! You could've waited! Besides, you know about the killer clowns yet you still ate it?!" I exclaimed. Amy and Gavin looked like they were about to laugh at me. I wish they took me more seriously.

Later that day, I laid on my bed, trying to sleep. I'm so worried about my friends. Who knows what was in that candy! I was almost asleep when my phone went off. It was a text from Amy.

-Hey, are you coming to the Carnival?

-No, I don't even know where it is.

-Yeah you do. It's by your house!

I looked out my window and saw Amy and Gavin walking into the abandoned carnival. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out the door. I told them not to go in there! They never listen to me! I ran to the carnival and stopped in front of the entrance. They were nowhere to be seen. I vowed ten years ago never to set foot in here again, but my friends need me. I took a step forward, then another until I was sprinting. My long, blonde hair was being blown into my face. I didn't stop until I saw a person on the ground. She had a small figure and brown hair. She looked like Amy.

"Amy! Are you okay?" I called. I rushed to her side and knelt beside her. She was shaking like a leaf. There was a sticky liquid covering her backside. I looked and saw Amy was covered in blood. She pointed to a warehouse nearby.

"Gavin. He's... in trouble," she whispered. I ran towards the warehouse to see Amy and Gavin were there, hanging on a wall. They were cut in half. I screamed and heard someone laughing behind me. It was the fake Amy. I watched as her body twisted in odd ways and started to grow from petite to a heavier build. Her hair turned from brown to sky blue. She turned into the clown from before.

"Well that was easier than I thought!" she chirped. Another clown walked in. This one was a girl with purple hair, white skin, and make-up that looked like yellow stars were on his cheeks. She has a crazed look in her golden eyes.

"What should we do with the remaining human, Sister Luna?" she asked. The clown, Luna, started laughing.

"Why, kill her, of course! Sister Stella, want to do the honors?" she laughed. I put my hands in my jacket and felt around. I found a bottle of Holy water I recieved from church and pepper spray. After witnessing that clown morph into my friend, I doubt they're human. I splashed holy water on them and watched as they writhed in agony. I ran through the carnival and eventually found the entrance. I got out, panting and crying over my friends. Suddenly, a light was shined in my face.

"Miss, what happened in there?" a man asked. I looked and saw a cop exiting his vehicle. I told him what happened, leaving out the part where the clown turned into my friend. He called for back-up and started walking inside. "W-wait! We should wait for back-up to arrive!" I said. The cop shook me off and walked in anyways. I sat in his car while other officers pulled up. I told them the cop went inside already, but they didn't find him

In the end, I was suspected of murder, but they found no evidence to prove I'm guilty. If only my friends had listened to me, this wouldn't have happened. I blame myself for not protecting them better even to this day. I just hope I never see those clowns again.