A Burdened Family

Chapter 5

We returned to Cooper's Carnival later that night, just as the place was shutting down. Dean went to find a knife from a blind guy, so I figured he would be alright. Sam, on the other hand, was sneaking into Cooper's place. I thought he needed the backup more than Dean.
   
So, of course, I took the easy road and went with Dean.
   
We found him quickly and told the man what we were looking for: a pure brass knife. He led us to his tent to look for one. I felt really badly for referring to him as 'the blind guy' in my head, but I couldn't remember his name for the life of me.
   
"I got all kinds of knives." The blind guy, whose name I couldn't remember, said. "I don't know if I got a brass one, though."
   
"We really appreciate it..." Dean trailed off. Apparently he couldn't remember the guy's name either.
   
"Barry. Barry Papazian." The man answered.
   
"I know that, man." Dean waved a hand at the man.
   
"Seriously?" I hissed, hoping Barry couldn't hear me. "He just told us his name."
   
"Shut up." Dean hissed back.
   
"Here we go." Barry opened his door, using his stick to feel around inside. "Check the trunk."
   
I followed Barry into his tent with Dean right on my heels. He shut the door behind him and the two of us glanced around the tent. I moved to the trunk while my brother continued to scan the room.
   
I opened the lid and began shifting around inside, freezing when I came across a dirty clown suit. I picked up the wig, turning to Dean, whose brow had furrowed. He spun to face Barry.
   
"You?"
   
Barry dropped his stick and removed his glasses to reveal a set of perfectly functioning eyes.
   
"Me."
   
His eyes faded from dark brown to blue, and his face contorted in a way no face ever should. His smile stretched far too wide across his face, and his forehead elongated and gained about 13 new creases.
   
And then he faded into nothing.
   
"Holy shit." I whispered, suddenly regretting taking the easy option and going with Dean. "Maybe it does pay to take the hard road?"
   
"Huh?''
   
"Never mind." I shook my head. "Less talky, more escape-y."
   
"Right." Dean moved to open the door, but it was either insanely stuck, or locked.
   
"Open it!" I yelled at him, looking around, half hoping Mr. Freak appeared and half hoping I never saw him again.
   
"I'm trying."
   
"Well try har-ACKKK!"
   
I screamed as the shoulder of my favorite jacket was torn by a throwing knife. "Shit, I like this jacket."
   
Dean jerked away from the door, scanning the room for where Barry might've been. Another knife lodged itself in the door, dangerously close to our bodies.
   
"All right!" Dean yelled at the room. Another knife lodged itself in the door. "Screw this."
   
Dean threw himself into the door, and it flung open, leaving him rolling out of the room. I slammed the door behind me, hoping to buy us a few seconds against invisible Barry.
   
"Jeez." Dean muttered, quickly getting back up on his feet.
   
"He tore my jacket."
   
"Like you said: Less talky, more escape-y."
   
"Right."
   
The two of us ran out onto the carnival grounds.
   
"Hey!" I whirled around, recognizing Sam's voice.
   
"Hey." Dean answered, flailing gracelessly as he stopped.
   
"So, Cooper thinks I'm a peeping Tom, but it's not him." Sam informed us- not that it was really helpful information anymore.
   
"Yeah, we know, Sam." I huffed at him.
   
"It's the blind guy." Dean said, scanning our surroundings for any sign on Barry. "He's around here somewhere."
   
"He just played darts and used us as his target." I told Sam before turning to Dean. "I know he's the bad guy, but his name's Barry. Would it kill ya to remember that?"
   
"Well, did you get the-"
   
"The brass blades?" Dean finished Sam's sentence. "No. It's just been one of those days."
   
"I got an idea." Sam looked around quickly. "Come on."
   
He turned and ran into the creepiest place in the carnival: the fun-house filled with mirrors.
   
It's like he'd never seen a horror movie before.
   
"You're shitting me." I whispered as I followed the boys into the creepy room.
   
"Quit whining." Dean clipped my head with his palm.
   
"Rude." I glared at him. "I'm walking with Sam."
   
I ran up a few steps to walk beside Sam. He grabbed my fingers, walking quickly through a doorway. I glanced back at Dean to keep an eye on him, when I felt a shooting pain.
   
"Ow, fuck." I cursed. "Seriously? That wrist just cleared!"
   
Some door had slammed shut on my wrist, leaving my body on one side of the door, and my hand on the other. It wasn't broken, and it probably wasn't sprained, but it still hurt like hell.
   
"Son of a bitch." Dean ran up and broke a frame off a mirror. He jammed the frame between the doors that were slightly cracked and managed to pry them open a few inches. I could see Sam on the other side of the door, waiting anxiously for us to go through the doors.
   
"She okay?" Sam asked, looking around warily.
   
"Yeah, just brui-"
   
The frame snapped and the doors slammed shut.
   
"Sam!"
   
"Dammit!"
   
Creepy laughter filled the funhouse, and I shook out my hand a few times. Dean and I spent a few moments trying to unsuccessfully pry the doors back open.
   
"Find the maze, okay?" I heard Sam yell through the doors and I backed away from them, tugging Dean by his jacket sleeve.
   
We looked around at the room. There were about 10 frames, and I had no idea which were doors and which were mirrors.