The Devil In Disguise

The Fair

The excitement was almost tangible as Gianina and her friends stepped onto the fairgrounds, welcomed by the warm glow of lights strung between stalls, the sound of carnival games, and the scent of popcorn, caramel apples, and fried food wafting through the cool November air. It was finally the day of the fall fair, a much-anticipated tradition that was meant to be a carefree evening.

Yet, as they walked into the bustling crowd, a wave of unease washed over Gianina. Her senses were on high alert, the shadows seeming longer, the laughter echoing around them feeling too loud, almost unsettling. This was meant to be a break from the fear that had crept into their lives, but a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that they were far from safe.

"Alright, GG," Mary said, nudging her with a grin. "What should we hit up first?"

Gianina forced a smile, glancing around at the crowd. "Maybe the Ferris wheel? It'll be nice to see everything from above."

Marcus slipped his arm around her shoulders. "Ferris wheel sounds good. Let's get a view of the place before we get into the thick of it."

As the group made their way toward the towering Ferris wheel, Cal walked quietly behind them, his gaze scanning the fairground. Gianina noticed how serious he seemed, his eyes darting around as if searching for someone. She felt a shiver run down her spine, but she brushed it off, telling herself she was just being paranoid.

They reached the Ferris wheel, and after a short wait in line, they piled into separate cars, with Marcus sliding into the seat beside Gianina. As the wheel began to lift them into the air, she glanced over the fairground below, taking in the scene. The bright lights, the clusters of people laughing and milling about—it should have been comforting, yet something felt wrong.

As their car descended, Gianina spotted a figure in the crowd near the edge of the fairgrounds. Her heart skipped a beat. The man wore a sleek, dark suit and a red devil mask that glinted under the lights. His face was turned toward her, his gaze unblinking, locked onto hers even from a distance. She inhaled sharply, gripping Marcus's arm.

"Marcus... do you see him?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the Ferris wheel.

Marcus followed her gaze, his face darkening as he spotted the figure. "Stay close to me," he murmured, his tone serious. "We'll keep an eye on him."

The Ferris wheel came to a stop, and as they stepped off, Marcus tightened his grip on her hand, his expression tense. Cal, waiting for them at the exit, noticed their expressions and raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

Gianina hesitated, glancing around. "I thought I saw someone watching us... a guy in a red devil mask and a suit."

Cal's face remained neutral, but his gaze shifted, scanning the crowd with a slight frown. "Probably just some guy in a Halloween mask. It's the fair; everyone's out to show off."

She nodded, trying to shake off the unease, but as they made their way through the crowd, she couldn't ignore the feeling that they were being watched. Every so often, she would catch a flash of red and black out of the corner of her eye, only for the figure to vanish as soon as she tried to look closer.

They reached the food stands, each of them grabbing a snack and laughing as they sampled everything from corn dogs to cotton candy. Gianina felt a bit more relaxed, the lighthearted atmosphere helping to ease her nerves. But as they turned to leave, she saw the devil-masked figure standing at the edge of a game booth, his gaze fixed on her. Her stomach dropped.

"Did you see him again?" Marcus asked, following her gaze.

"Yes... he's back there, by the booth," she whispered, her pulse racing. But when she looked again, he was gone.