Darkwood: Circus Inferno

Rattlesnake

***

Wei and Nathaira moved swiftly through the winding corridors of the circus tent, their footsteps muffled by the plush, red carpets beneath them. The air was thick with the eerie tunes of a distorted calliope, each note sending chills down their spines. Wei clutched his injured side, feeling the pain from the earlier attack, while Nathaira kept glancing around, her senses alert for any sign of danger.

“Stay close,” Nathaira whispered, her voice barely audible over the unsettling background noise. “There’s no telling what else this place has in store for us.”

Wei nodded, his expression grim as he tried to ignore the lingering terror from his encounter with Callico and the rats. His wings ached, the pain a constant reminder of how close he had come to a brutal fate. But he pressed on, focusing on the task at hand: finding a way out before they were cornered again.

They turned a sharp corner and found themselves in a narrow hallway lined with mirrors. The reflections seemed to warp and twist, distorting their images into grotesque shapes. Nathaira frowned, her hand brushing against the dagger she kept hidden beneath her cloak. “This whole place feels like a trap.”

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, and both Wei and Nathaira tensed. They crouched low, readying themselves for another fight, but the figures that emerged from the shadows were familiar. It was Tixo, Ren, Onyx, and Kaito, all looking just as worn and battle-hardened as they did.

“Wei!” Tixo called out, his voice tinged with relief as he spotted them. He quickly rushed over, looking him over with worry. “You’re hurt. Are you okay?”

Wei nodded weakly, though the pain was evident in his eyes. Nathaira glanced between the group, her expression guarded, but there was a flicker of relief as she recognized Kaito.

“We’ve been looking for a way out,” Nathaira said, turning to face the group. “But this whole place is like a maze, and it’s crawling with illusions and traps.”

Ren, who had been scanning the surroundings with a wary eye, nodded in agreement. “We’ve faced some of those illusions ourselves. But we can’t leave without finding Ambrose. He’s somewhere in here, with the Ringmaster.”

Onyx’s face was set with determination, though his exhaustion was clear. “We need to stick together. If we keep splitting up, we’re just playing into their hands.”

Kaito, who had been quietly observing the interactions, stepped forward. “I can lead us through some of the more dangerous areas, but we’ll need to be careful. The Ringmaster’s influence is strong here. He’ll know if we try to make a run for it.”

Nathaira crossed her arms, glancing at the group with a mixture of frustration and resolve. “Then let’s not waste any more time. The longer we stay here, the more we risk being caught off guard.”

Tixo placed a reassuring hand on Wei’s shoulder, trying to keep his own fears at bay. “We’ll get through this. We have to. Let’s go.”

With their path set, the group moved together, navigating the twisted, surreal landscape of the circus. Despite their fears and injuries, they pressed on, each step taking them closer to the heart of the Ringmaster’s domain—and hopefully, closer to escaping his grip.

As Tixo, Ren, Onyx, Kaito, Wei, and Nathaira pushed forward through the eerie hallways of the circus, they found themselves entering a vast chamber lit by flickering, orange-tinted lanterns. The air grew hotter, heavy with the scent of smoke and scorched fabric, and the distant crackle of flames became louder with every step.