Dark Carnival

Previously

…Its costume, once vibrant, was now stained and tattered, clinging to a frame that seemed too gaunt, too wrong. It shuffled past them, its movements jerky and unnatural, and for a horrifying moment, Silas saw not painted makeup, but a face stretched and distorted, skin pulled taut over bone. “Did you see that?” Elara breathed, her hand flying to her mouth. Silas’s jaw tightened. He’d seen enough to know that this was no mere street performer. “Keep your eyes open,” he warned, his gaze sweeping the deserted stalls and darkened corners. The air grew colder, a stark contrast to the humid summer night. They reached the carousel, its painted