Darkwood: Circus Inferno

A Familiar Face

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Onyx strolled through the narrow, winding streets of town, his hands casually tucked into his pockets as he took in the familiar sights. The day was still, and a low mist clung to the cobblestone alleys, giving everything an eerie quietness. But as he rounded a corner, something strange caught his eye—a fleeting shadow, a figure in the distance.

The figure moved with purpose, a glint of metal from under a wide-brimmed cowboy hat catching the faint light. Onyx squinted, trying to get a better look, but just as quickly as the figure appeared, they vanished behind another building.

Curiosity pricked at him, and Onyx picked up his pace, slipping into the mist and following the shadowy figure. His instincts screamed caution, but he was determined to see what this mysterious stranger was up to. As he pressed deeper into the maze-like alleys, the faint jingle of spurs drifted through the air, each sound making his senses sharpen.

Without warning, a loud crack split the air, and a bullet whizzed past his head, missing him by inches. Onyx’s eyes widened as he ducked behind a wall, his heart pounding. Another shot echoed, embedding itself in the stone beside him.

“Persistent, aren’t you?” a low voice drawled, drifting through the mist like smoke. “Makes it all the more fun to hunt you down.”

Onyx barely had time to catch his breath before he heard another click—a trap laid just inches from his foot. He leapt back, narrowly avoiding a spiked jaw that snapped up from the ground. His eyes darted around, scanning for any sign of movement, but the cowboy was nowhere to be seen.

He pushed forward, keeping to the shadows, but each step seemed to trigger something else—a wire pulled taut across an alley entrance that set off a line of hidden explosives; a tripwire connected to a crossbow that fired as soon as he passed. Onyx moved with practiced grace, dodging each trap, but the onslaught was relentless.

The cowboy’s silhouette emerged once more, further down the path, his fingers tapping along the handle of his gun as if daring Onyx to come closer. Onyx braced himself, then launched forward, ducking low to avoid a fresh volley of bullets. The cowboy laughed, a rough, mocking sound that sent chills down his spine.

As Onyx drew closer, he could finally make out the stranger’s face beneath the brim of the hat—sharp eyes filled with a cold, predatory amusement, and a scar running across his cheek. There was a raw intensity to the man’s gaze, a gleam that promised he wasn’t one to let his prey slip away easily.

“I’ve heard plenty about you,” the cowboy sneered, his voice carrying a cruel edge. “But let’s see if you’re as quick as they say.”

Without waiting for a response, he aimed and fired again. Onyx ducked just in time, the bullet grazing his shoulder. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he darted into another alley, only to find himself facing yet another snare—a swinging blade that swooped down from above. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding it.

The chase went on, each trap more brutal than the last, each shot a near miss. But Onyx kept his focus, his mind racing as he searched for any opportunity to turn the tables. He knew he was being hunted, but something in him refused to back down.

Finally, he caught a glimpse of the cowboy reloading, his guard down for just a split second. Taking a deep breath, Onyx lunged from the shadows, charging toward his attacker with a determined fury.