“I’ll admit. I never thought carnivals were my thing,” a woman said to a man walking amidst the crowd. “But this turned out to be pretty nice.”
“Yeah,” the man said, digging his hand into the funnel cake they were sharing. “It’s good to feel like you’re a kid again from time to time, ya’ know.”
She smiled and wrapped her free arm around his. Dazzling lights filled the sky as they strolled the amusing grounds. Cotton candy, popcorn, and other delicacies wafted up to their noses as they took in the scenery around them. Sounds of laughter filled the air while kids and adults alike were embracing the wonder the park held. Entertainers rousing the crowd brought warmth to the somewhat chilly night. The man and woman couldn’t help but feel entranced in joy as they made their way around.
A group of people in a circle were just up ahead. They gasped in amazement at the center of attention blocked from the couple’s view. They shoved their way through the crowd to see what the commotion was about. Their faces turned to confusion. A pale figure took center stage of the adoring audience. Black makeup marks could be seen around the individual’s eyes and mouth. An athletic build filled the contours of the body. If it wasn’t for the feminine appeal of the individual’s curves, one could mistake the person for a man.
The mysterious pale woman put up hand gestures as if stuck in an invisible box while the surrounding crowd stared at her in awe. The couple could tell she was not a professional at miming. Some of her movements fell through the cracks as her postures and poses were not coordinated enough to be convincing; performing the acts. Nevertheless, people still looked on as if she was a real hit. The couple passed each other odd looks. They knew something was off. The mime did not have white makeup caked around her face and her outfit upon closer inspection was an all black suit, not overalls. She bowed. Applause deafened the area.
Boom!
An explosion rung through the ears of the couple and surrounding audience as a ball of fire flew to the sky.
“Somebody help! My boy is up there!” a stranger yelled, pointing at a nearby ferris wheel.
The man looked back at the mime only to see her slowly lift her face up and look at him with an eerie grin spread across it. The mime pulled a weapon from underneath her outfit. Shrieks of terror ripped the once peaceful evening. More explosions thundered through the night sky. Thick smoke darkened the area, impairing the park population’s sight. The thick air burned the lungs of the crowd as coughs spread like a plague. The mime let out a sick laugh as she saw the fear in everyone’s faces. The couples’ stomachs turned to knots as they realized they were under some sort of terrorist attack.
“Ahem. Sorry for the interruption!” a voice said through the speakers placed around the park. “Actually scratch that. I really don’t care.” The voice let out an insane laugh. “Some of you may definitely know me. I go by Jackel! I introduce you to the rose of my thorns, Mime!”
Mime laughed harder as she knew the people were now slaves to her whim. They knew better when dealing with Jackel not to run. He was full of surprises.
“And just like that, your dull orderly lives have been freed by us. Any attempt to flee will send you exploding in a trillion stars like the night sky!” Mime looked up to the sky and stared at the stars while she said this. “Isn’t it exciting?”
A person from the crowd quietly inched their way towards her while her back was turned. Beads of sweat formed on their face as they got closer, trying to take her by surprise. Once gasps of amazement turned into gasps of shock as Mime instinctively flipped the person to the ground, knocking them out with a quick punch. Staggering eyes could do nothing but watch the horror play out in front of them. A thunderous shot echoed as she used the weapon in her possession. Children could be heard sobbing quietly.
The woman of the now frightened couple was shaking. The man held her tight as Mime steadily made her way towards them. His heart raced out of his chest. He heard his blood pumping, feeling the inevitable sensation of doom course through his body. The crunch of the leaves being crushed between the grass and her shoes were dreadful as it approached closer.
Hmmm… Hmmm… Hmmm…
Mime was humming some sort of tune. It sounded extremely familiar to the man, but he couldn’t make it out. Suddenly, the footsteps came to an abrupt halt while the humming continued. He looked up only to see the pale face stare through the very fiber of his being like a ghost; a spirit from a dark place.
The melody finally snapped in his head as Mime uttered the words, “No strings on me”. The last thing he saw was her devious complexion before everything went black.
Reginald andah 