Nightmare Carnival

{Note that I am writing in a way so you can use first person, but if you don't want to, that's fine. I just don't know how else to start it.}


A vast forest stretches out in front of you. As you walk through it you see spotlights in the distance and hear the faint sound of... music. You decide to investigate closer. Climbing up a hill, you see a large carnival down in the valley bustling with activity. Why don't you check it out.

I flex my enormous biceps and shake my red hair out of my eyes. A touch on my arm makes me turn, and I see Mariah looking up at me. She nods, and we walk towards the carnival together.

As you walk into the carnival you are greeted by laughter and joyous shouting. Everyone seems to be having a good time. In particular you notice people converging on a large building in the center of the carnival.

Corath samples any alcohol they come by, and a bag of kettle corn, before making his way to the central tent. Mariah holds onto his arm, nibbling a caramel apple.

As they walk in, they see a vast row of seats in front of a stage upon which stands a man in white attire doing magic tricks the likes of which no normal carnival magician has ever done before.

He whistles in appreciation as he sits down.

The show is magnificent. Near the end, when he is doing the finale, the Magician turns and looks straight into Corath and Julia's eyes. The pair of them hear his voice in their head.
Time for the real show to begin.

Corath tensed, gripping his hammer, and Julia's eyes widened.

A dark flash blinded them and once they had recovered they found the place completely empty. But something else had changed. It seemed darker, more... evil. And backwards, like looking into a mirror.

Corath stood, looking around, keeping Julia close.

The Magician's words echo in the back of their minds.

This show is just beginning.

Corath's eyes narrowed and he tried to track the voice.

It isn't coming from any direction, it's just echoing in their minds.

Corath walks to the entrance.

There is no entrance. It's vanished.

Corath scowls and tries to smash an entrance.

His hammer shatters.

[Not possible.]

[Do remember that this is all a dream, an illusion. Unless there's no illusion powerful enough to make him think it can break...]

[He's as certain his hammer can't break, as he is certain as he's alive.]

[Darn it.]

It doesn't even make a scratch.

He growls. "This is preposterous."

"SHOW YOURSELF, CRETIN!"

There is a dark laugh in the air.