CARNIVAL

The Invitation

"We walked all the way here, only to find a wooden door?" Chenle shouted in frustration, earning a slap on the shoulder from Jisung.

"Just shut the fuck up. We get it, you could've spent the rest of the day playing Mario Kart." He complained, clearly irritated at Chenle's continuous whining ever since the 7 of them set out at three in the afternoon.

"Quit acting like you weren't about to shit your pants on the way here, you fucking coward." Chenle retaliated in a wry tone. Jisung bit his lip and looked at his feet.

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you fucking did! You were on the verge of crying, dumbass."

"Oh my god, you two! Quit it!" Donghyuck barked, silencing the duo in an instant.

"Are you sure both of you are best friends?" Jeno whispered, trying not to cause anymore chaos admist the tension that laced the still air around them. He only received death glares from the two, chuckled and looked over Donghyuck's right shoulder.

"What does it say?" He quipped.

"Find the pathway, a light you'll see. Follow the gleam, happiness it shall be." Donghyuck recited, a hint of confusion evident in his quivering voice. The boy looked around, taking in the details of the facility. Brown paint was falling off from the sturdy mouldy walls, the air was rather stale with a tint of the repulsive scent of gasoline from the gas station a few kilometres away. Apart from that, the area was somewhat deserted. There were no other houses and very few people were seen. The front yard was extremely unkempt. The grass was untrimmed and had lost the luscious green it once possessed, bunches of weeds were even conspicuous under Donghyuck's sight.

The overall impression was not very welcoming, to say the least.

"Why don't we just head in? We've all followed the clues. We even double checked them!" Mark stated, but his words could not shake off the unsettling feeling that had manifested in Donghyuck's heart.

This was his chance to find out why his mother went missing, and he will not mess it up.

With a few shaky breaths, he faced his group friends.

"Guys, let's go in. Together." Donghyuck said, earning reassuring smiles from the remaining six. He then turned around, and clutched onto the rusty gold doorknob of the door.

It opened with a clicked, and Donghyuck was already over the moon and his soul was on his way to thank God. He pushed it open fully, and all of them peered inside.

The interior was pitch black.

A shiver travelled down Donghyuck's spine and beads of cold sweat started forming at the nape of his neck. His heart beat against his chest, utterly terrified at the possibilities that hid behind the mask of black.

"What the..." Jaemin said, a frown forming on his face. It was without a doubt that the rest were surprised too. Sure, they were not expecting much, but how was it possible for an entrance like this to be this dark? It was within a building anyway, there had bound to be some form of light.

But there was nothing.

The group exchanged weary glances before turning back to the entrance again. They inhaled deeply in unison, before bravely stepping into the dark.

However, they only found themselves surrounded by more darkness. It was as if they had stepped into nothingness. There was no form of guidance, clues or even human presence. Nothing.

Panic began to fill Donghyuck's chest. The absence of light bubbled a feeling of trepidation in Donghyuck's chest. He struggled to breath, mind swarming with questions and worries, and the fear he had felt earlier was gradually turning into ambivalence. He tried to shout out to his friends, but his throat felt too suffocated to do so. With legs buckling under his body weight, Donghyuck fell to his knees, grateful that there was some sort of solid ground beneath him. He clawed at the dark ground, desperation eating up his system like a termite.

"Guys? Guys!" Mark called out loudly.

"Where are we? Hyuck? What's happening?" Jaemin tried to get a response from the latter, but was only met with panicked breaths. Jaemin bit his bottom lip, and looked around. Nothing. He proceeded to take a few steps forward, and looked again. There it was. Faintly in the distance, Jaemin spotted a small speck of illumination. He shifted his body weight forward and squinted his eyes to confirm his discovery.

The glint of light was still present. Though faint, it still managed to glow conspicuously in the darkness.

"Guys, I think I found out something." Jaemin attempted to inform the rest.

"Look man, I hear you, but I can't see shit." Chenle complained, causing Jaemin to roll his eyes.

"I see some light. Just look around, it should catch your attention some how."

" I see it!" Mark replied. The rest soon responded quickly, and they all proceeded.

Everytime they took a step, the light seemed to draw further and further away, so much so that it was almost out of reach. They started to pick up the pace, running after it like their lives depended on it.

With short sharp pants, the group found themselves getting closer, and the light turned from a faint glint to a bright eye-blinding one. It was so blinding that they had to stop a few meters away from it, hands trying to block out the light from infiltrating into their pupils.

"Greetings dear children, welcome to the Gate Of Light. In you step will be your greatest decision, but regrets will be experienced. Find your fire, and that will be the key to your desire." a gentle melodious voice of a lady reverberated throughout the atmosphere.

Donghyuck squinted his eyes and opened them gingerly, gradually growing accustomed to the immense brightness. He inhaled deeply before saying,

"My mother has gone missing, and all that was left of her was this invitation. It has led all of us here, and we hope to find her. Please, help us." He pleaded, hands clasped together.

"How much do you yearn for her, dear boy? It takes a lot of courage and strength to enter the world that awaits you beyond this gate. Tell me, are you willing to do so?" The voice replied.

"I'm ready. Ever ready. I need answers!" Donghyuck said once again.

" Very well." With that, a loud rumble was heard. The ground shook, causing the seven boys to lose their balance. The light began to fade slightly, and a large golden door came into sight. It opened, inviting the group to walk in.

"Come inside. Take everything."