Circus Of Horrors

Hey guys and gals, the UK's James here again with my second short story, this time we enter the evil world of clowns. Hope you enjoy and I look forward to your comments!

As they stepped out of the car rain engulfed Caroline and Richard. This was the first day of Autumn where the weather really had turned and a storm was brewing. It was their 3 year anniversary and this year it was Richard’s turn to decide where they celebrated it. Unfortunately for Caroline he had chosen the one place she had no desire to visit whatsoever, the carnival and circus that Raven Falls held once a year.

It wasn’t so much the carnival that got to her but the circus itself contained her greatest of fears, clowns. And these were not any old clowns. The circus clowns were specifically attired to scare the audience witless with their unique masks showcasing the most evil of looks possible. Ever since she was a young girl Caroline feared what she called the ‘ultimate freaks of the circus’, with recurring clown nightmares haunting her throughout childhood.

Trudging across the soaked muddy grounds towards the carnival, their feet sunk into the dirt with every step and a squelch could be heard with every movement, the sort of sound you would expect from those low-budget horror films when part of someone’s anatomy is subjected to extreme violence.

Eventually they reached the entry gates, either side consisting of a pillar topped by an unusual looking gargoyle crouched with a sadistic smile. With her mind at unease she began to imagine them morphing into two clowns; yellow eyes that pierced through her like blades, crimson red hair that drooped down onto a ghostly a white face and jagged teeth that looked like they could be used to terrifying effect. Then the crouching turned into standing up and the clowns turned their heads towards Caroline, yellow eyes widening and then they pounced towards her. Caroline screamed.

“Babe, are you okay?!” a worried Richard turned to her. Her imagination had got the best of her and she squinted a few times in an attempt to get the images out of her vision.

“I’m sorry, you just know how clowns freak the shit out of me, I’m just being silly. Just stay with me and I will be fine.” Her tone clearly showing that her confidence in such an environment was waning. Despite this they carried on through to the bustling carnival.

Bright lights shimmered in every direction and young children screamed and shouted at parents at every possible ride and bazaar. Bumper cars, a helter-skelter and other rides covered the grounds before reaching a red and white canopy that towered above everything else, much like a skyscraper that looked completely out of place. And naturally on top of this towering structure was a huge constructed clown leaning out towards the entrance with an evil smile on its face. Caroline’s heart sank, this was the stuff of nightmares but she had to grin and bare it.

“Whoa, I wasn’t expecting it to be this huge! This is great!” the excitement from Richard a complete mirror of Caroline’ thoughts.

“The best thing babe is that we have got a meeting with the clowns after the show too, VIPs baby!!”

With this statement Caroline had to grit her teeth and refrain from unleashing an angered verbal attack. Richard had been good in letting her go to places she wanted to in the previous years and this year was his, she didn’t want anything to spoil that. She simply smiled and proceeded with their walk to the entrance.

Once at the entrance they were greeted by a young man in a black suit checking the tickets. With a sharp smile he checked theirs and simply responded with a nod of the head and, “Enjoy the last great show you will ever see!”

Caroline felt a shudder down her spine; those words were the last thing she wanted to hear with an impending horror circus awaiting her.

Sitting down in the front row the two of them settled and soon the show was up and running. The stage came alive with flashings lights, pumping circus-style music and what appeared to be masses and masses of clowns each performing their own stunts and routines. Caroline’s breathing stepped up a notch and she could not help but clench the hand of Richard throughout. This was her living nightmare.

An hour and a half of terror later and the show came to an end. Waiting until the crowds had disembarked, Richard and Caroline head backstage to meet the stars of the show. Despite a whole number of clowns appearing on stage they were met by one, introducing himself as Kane.

“Sorry guys, the others are just preparing themselves because as VIPs you get an extra special after-show. If you sir could come and get ready with me and ma’am you just go back to your seat we can get the show up and running.”

Richard met this with excitement and looked at Caroline.

“Babe this is fantastic! Go sit down and I will see you in a minute!”

Reluctantly with a disturbed look on her face she head back to her seat and awaited yet another show in which she would wince and genuinely be wishing she were somewhere else. She knew little of what was in store for her next.....

With at least 20 minutes passed until she had heard from anyone Caroline’s heart began to beat so hard that it began to hurt her chest. Panic began to set in as thoughts ran through her mind that a prank was about to be undertaken at her expense. Rising from her chair she looked set to demand answers.

Then she stopped dead as she experienced a feeling her body had never felt before. She froze and could not move a muscle through sheer shock. She had heard a terrifying scream, a scream that would torture the innocent through to their bones, a scream that personified suffering and death. To make matters worse she recognised who was screaming despite never hearing such a sound ever come from his vocal chords. It was Richard followed by sadistic laughs, clearly from the clowns she hated so passionately.

Never had she been subjected to such painful cries from her one true love. She didn’t know what to do. With no-one around and psychotic clowns on the loose she had little chance of escape. The screams soon turned to laughter, the clowns had clearly enjoyed their sadism at the expense of her partner.

Suddenly the lights dimmed and the circus music commenced. She stood, frozen on the spot, still unsure of what to do. With the curtains flinging open just one clown entered the spotlight. She had not seen this particular individual in the show.

With the most sadistic laugh she had ever heard the clown pointed towards her direction.

“I’m the star of the show now bitch!”

She felt like her heart should stop at that exact moment, her hands clammed up and all over her body a feeling of numbness overcame her. It suddenly dawned on her that this clown she knew perfectly well. RICHARD!

“What’s wrong with you Rich? What have they done to you?!” Caroline couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her one true love had changed in an instant and was now a stranger to her. The only thought in her mind now was to run, run as far away from the place as possible.

Turning her still numb body towards the exit her sight soon met with the sadistic eyes of the remainder of the clowns. Each laughing hysterically at her petrified state they walked towards her as she fell to the floor.

With clowns all circled round her helpless body, Richard overlooked her and simply uttered the words.

“Welcome to the show.........”