The Dark Carnival

3. Into The Greed Ring

Once Kira woke up, she was in a completely different place then where she was before. The windows of the car were open and she could see a mint green like sky instead of the dark blue of earth. Kate was out of the car and talking to a blue patchwork dog that seemed to have a pipe in his mouth like a snowman has. The dog had a black bowtie and a black bow around its neck while it had black button eyes that stared into anyone's soul. It stared at Kate, unblinking while it talked to her. The dog wasn't like any dog. It was standing on its hind legs like a human. The dog looked 6’10 feet tall while Kate was 6’0. Kira could hear them talk from inside the car.
“So Kate, You got the girl right? You do know that the boss will be glad to see a new face that is human.” The dog said while huffing a poof of smoke away from Kate’s face.
“Yes, Yes, Barnard.. I know he will be happy. Boss has been lonely lately. That's why he wanted us to get someone here that he hasn't met or seen yet. I'm not dumb y’know.” Kate spat, annoyed now and not her friendly personality.
“Kate, calm down. I know you're not stupid.. We all know that. So stop whining and show the newbie around the carnival for the sake of my non-existent sanity.. Please.” Barnard sighs, now agitated.
“Oh shut up you patchwork dog! You're nothing special, you know!” Kate argues, annoyed.”
“Kate. Shut it. You're the one who started to whine in the first place. You know the boss will be happy to see a human.”  Barnard speaks, crossing his arms. Kate rolled her eyes and opened the car door for Kira to come out. Kira stepped out of the car and looked at the green sky then at Kate and Banard.
“So this is the girl? She's..not as bad as I thought. I thought she'd be a pick me, to be honest.” Banard says, honestly surprised
“Yes.. she's actually nice. You think everyone is a brat no matter what!” Kate scoffs.
“Hey. I don't think that EVERYONE is brat. Sweet is a brat while Sugar and Spice are sweethearts! Don't insult them like that Kate! Boss will kill you for  a second time!” Banard says, glaring dead at Kate
“Whatever.” Kate scoffs “Anyway, this is Kira by the way.”  Kate introduces Kira to Banard. Kira looks at Barnard and smiles nervously, slightly waving at him.
“H..hi!” Kira says, nervously
“Hm.. Hello Kira. Nice to meet you. I'm Barnard, the patchwork dog. Welcome to the greed ring in hell!”  Barnard said excitedly but keeping the same dead face as before.
“Excuse me, WHAT?!” Kira yells, worried and scared.
“Barnard! We can't tell them that yet!! BOSS WILL KILL US FOR THAT!” Kate shouts, now staring dead at Barnard with her green emerald eyes that could pierce into anyone's souls.
“What? Can't give the girl a little scare before she starts out here?” He said chuckling a little before he went back to the same face as before.
“STILL! SHE CAN'T KNOW THAT YET! WE MAY BE IN HELL BUT WE CANT TELL HER THAT YET! BOSS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO KILL US” Kate argues, now slapping Barnard on the back of the head from annoyance and anger.
“Oh calm it down. Just make sure you don't tell the boss about it. Okay?” He said with a stern tone looking down at her.
“Oh you gotta be kidding me! You seriously don't think that the boss won't find out about what happened?! YOUR INSANE, BARNARD! You're the dumb one here for thinking that! ” Kate shouts, glaring at Barnard more. She seems like she's about to snap at Barnard.
“Hush down now Kate, the boss doesn’t need to know that. Right?” He said a little worried that the boss might actually find out what happened.
“He has eyes and ears everywhere! You should know that by now. We have been here for around 20 years! This carnival is the only thing keeping all of us alive! You know this! We're just tortured souls who needed a place to stay!” Kate says, annoyed.
“Ain't my fault. Sugar and Spice weren't tortured and abused yet they're here! Are you dumb!?” Barnard argues.
“HEY! WATCH WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE GIRLS! YOU KNOW HOW PROTECTIVE THE BOSS CAN BE ABOUT THEM! THEIR LIKE HIS KIDS!” Kate snaps at him, slapping him across the face. “You're not special to be talking about them like that! NONE OF US ARE!! We're just tortured souls who need a place to stay and live! We are all messed up!”
Banard stayed silent dumbfounded about what Kate said to him until he finally spoke
“Excuse me? Who are YOU to talk to me like that and slap me across the face!?”
“A very annoyed coworker you-” Kate was about to say but another voice shouted while walking out the carnival setting with their tall 7 '2 stance.