Y/n's pov
As we stepped into the main room—the same enormous space where I had first appeared yesterday—I felt a strange mixture of familiarity and disorientation. The colorful chaos of the circus stretched before me, an explosion of vibrant colors and odd shapes that seemed to pulse with energy. I took a moment to scan the area, noticing that everyone was already gathered, chatting and moving about in their peculiar ways. I recognized a few of their names: Caine, Jax, Pomni… and, if I remembered correctly, Ragatha? Or was it Rathaga? My mind was still muddled from the whirlwind tour, and the names blurred together.
Caine broke through my thoughts, his voice ringing out in that cheerful, infectious tone. “Good morning, my friends! Today’s in-house adventure is... Hide and Seek!”
Hide and Seek? I thought, raising an eyebrow. It seemed basic, almost mundane, especially in a place like this. But it also felt like a relief amidst the chaos of my new reality. At least it was something relatively calm, or so I hoped.
“The seeker will be... Zooble!” Caine announced, and my gaze followed his as he gestured toward the strange, weirdly-shaped creature I had seen earlier. They turned around, muttering something under their breath that I couldn't quite catch but looked distinctly like “F&#€ off” as they shot a censored middle finger at the group.
“Right, so that’s how we’re starting, I guess,” I muttered to myself, a mix of bemusement and anxiety creeping in.
But Caine wasn’t finished. “Oh! The seeker will be... Gangle!” he continued, his enthusiasm unwavering.
I glanced around, trying to figure out who Gangle was. Just then, a shy voice piped up. “Uhm— I— Okay…” A comedy mask adorned a body made entirely of red ribbons. Her design was simple yet charming, a stark contrast to the chaos around us.
Caine explained the rules as he went on, his words coming out in a rush. “You’ll be in teams of two and will have sixty-one seconds to hide, then Gangle will have three hundred twenty-two seconds to try and find you all!”
I noticed Ragatha and Pomni pairing up, their expressions bright with anticipation, while the unsettling transparent bubble creature, its sharp teeth gleaming in the light, teamed up with a chess king that looked oddly regal amidst the absurdity.
“Well,” Jax said from behind me, his voice low and playful, “that leaves us two.” He flashed me a grin, that same cocky smirk that suggested he was already plotting something mischievous.
“Okay,” was all I could muster in response, still trying to wrap my head around everything happening around me.
“The sixty-one seconds counter starts... now!” Caine declared, clapping his hands together as if it was the most exciting news ever.
“Follow me! I know a place where she’ll never find us!” Jax exclaimed, excitement bubbling in his voice. He gestured for me to follow him, and despite my initial hesitations, I found myself trailing behind, curiosity piquing my interest.
As we darted through the colorful chaos, I glanced around, taking in the details of my surroundings. The walls were decorated with garish patterns, and every surface seemed alive with movement. A whimsical carousel spun in the corner, its painted horses galloping in place, while a nearby wall flickered with lights that created a strobe effect, adding to the disorienting atmosphere.
Jax led me through twisting corridors and past strange sights—a jester juggling impossibly large candy canes, a floating fish that sparkled with every color of the rainbow, and a clock that ticked backward as it hung lazily in the air. It felt like a dream that had spun wildly out of control, and I couldn’t help but wonder how many more surprises lay ahead.
Finally, we arrived at a small alcove tucked away behind a set of vibrant, polka-dotted curtains. “This should work,” Jax said, peeking around to ensure no one was watching. He pulled me in, and the fabric swayed around us, blocking out the sights and sounds of the circus for a moment.
