Darkwood: Circus Inferno

Circus Inferno - Act I

I

As Onyx walked home from school, the weight of his earlier emotions still heavy on his shoulders, he began to experience a strange sense of disorientation. The familiar sights of the town seemed to shift and blur at the edges, and he found himself momentarily lost in a haze.

He stopped on the sidewalk, rubbing his eyes as he tried to shake off the feeling. But as he looked around, the ordinary street transformed before his eyes. Shadows twisted and contorted, forming grotesque shapes that danced and writhed in the dimming light of the afternoon.

Demonic creatures—twisted, unsettling forms with glowing eyes and sinister grins—emerged from the shadows, their movements eerily synchronized. They seemed to be drawn toward a central point, a dark and foreboding presence that radiated malevolence. In the center of it all, he saw the circus tent, looming ominously over the scene like a nightmarish beacon.

Onyx’s heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled back, struggling to make sense of what he was seeing. The vision was so vivid and disturbing that he could hardly think straight. He quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers shaking as he typed a message to the group chat.

Onyx: “Guys, something’s wrong. I’m seeing demonic creatures dancing around town. The circus is at the center of it all. Please check it out!”

The message was sent in a rush, and Onyx’s anxiety only grew as he watched the creatures continue their disturbing dance, their eyes seeming to follow him with malicious intent.

Within moments, replies began to come in. Riggs and the others were concerned, but it was Greyson’s response that made Onyx’s heart sink further.

Greyson: “Onyx, stay where you are. We’re coming to you. Don’t engage with anything you see.”

Greyson’s message was clear and urgent, and Onyx could sense the genuine worry behind it. He nodded to himself, trying to steady his breathing as he waited for the group to arrive. The eerie spectacle continued, but he forced himself to stay calm, focusing on the knowledge that help was on the way.

As he stood there, the circus tent seemed to loom larger and more menacing, its dark colors and ominous presence standing out against the backdrop of the distorted reality he was witnessing. The creatures continued their macabre dance, seemingly feeding off the fear and confusion in the air.

When the group arrived, Greyson and the others quickly took in the unsettling scene. Their expressions turned from concern to alarm as they saw the demonic figures and the dark aura surrounding the circus.

Greyson approached Onyx, his eyes filled with worry. “Onyx, are you okay? What exactly did you see?”

Onyx struggled to describe the vision as he glanced back at the circus, the creatures still dancing in the distance. “It was like a nightmare come to life. The circus is the focal point, and those creatures—” he shuddered, “—they were everywhere.”

Greyson nodded, his expression grim. “We need to investigate this further. There’s something very wrong with that circus, and we need to find out what it is.”

The group gathered their resolve, preparing to confront the ominous presence that had taken hold of their town. Onyx felt a mixture of fear and determination, knowing that whatever was happening, they needed to face it together.