Nightmare Carnival

Corath hurls shards of ice through the air.

The laughing continues.

He uses the wind to block it out.

A dark figure starts to stalk toward them.

Corath hefted his hammer, watching it.

It stalked closer, seeming to grow larger with every step.

Corath swung his hammer in a slow circle, ready.

The shadows part and two figures stand before them; the Magician and a devious looking Clown.

"Let us go."

"But there's still so much fun to be had." The Magician grins darkly and the Clown chuckles.

Corath gripped his hammer tighter, glaring.

"So what shall it be, norseman?"

"I won't participate in whatever sick games you have in mind."

"No? Then what about the fair lady?" He turns his attention to Julia.

She pressed against him. Corath's knuckles whitened. "You stay away from her."

The Magician grinned darkly. "We have a winner."

Corath put his arm around Julia.

The Magician spread his arms out, his cloak billowing about his shoulders. A cold concealing darkness spread about the room, muting every sound. Even standing together as they were, Corath and Julia could not see each other.

Corath held her closer, trusting Julia's hearing. She listened for anything approaching them, with ears like a fox.

A strange sound cut through the silence, almost like that of a whale's song in the deep depths.

Julia tipped her head, listening.

The sounds slowly died down. Silence filled the darkness once more.

They held close to each other.

After a long, agonizing moment, they heard a crash, like the shattering of glass, along with a muffled scream, like someone would make after they trip, sharp, terrified, but short.

Keeping hold of each other, they move toward it.