Crimson Carnival

Prologue: Lost

"It was once a dark, lonely summer's Eve"

-Bottle And A Gun, Hollywood Undead

The rain pattered harshly against stained glass windows as I glanced around the darkened caravan. I looked around. The place was empty, dusty shelves and a table with two chairs the only furniture in sight. Grimy jars filled with all manner of slimy objects lined the shelves, some wobbling slightly as though the occupants were struggling to get out. I shuddered and focused my gaze instead on the table. It was small, the top covered with a black velvet cloth. A Crystal ball rested upon it, sparkling despite the dim light. Curious, I shuffled over to examine it, shivering slightly at the draft that started blowing in from the door.

"Might you be looking for something, my dear?" I jumped slightly at the voice behind me, turning around to see an old gypsy woman standing there, her coal black eyes sparkling with humor. As she made her way carefully past me, the thousands of tiny beads dangling all over her rattled and clattered, sounding like an army of skeletons marching, the sound making the hairs on the back of my neck stand. Her tattered purple dress swept along the floor, concealing her feet and giving the impression that she was floating off the ground. When she finally reached the chair across the table from me, she swept her dark brown hair to the side as she looked up at me with a kindly smile that seemed a little forced. Feeling a little uncomfortable, I backed away slowly, keeping my gaze locked on hers like a prey caught in the gaze of its predator.

"Won't you at least have your fortune read?" she asked, her raspy voice grating on my eardrums. Her smile grew a little threatening, and I reluctantly stepped forward, each step seeming to echo in this dark place. Reaching the table, I took a seat, glancing down at the table. The rickety wooden chair seemed ready to collapse any moment, and I held the table for support, examining the cloth laid upon it. The velvet sparkled as though a thousand tiny diamonds were embedded in its surface, subtle and mysterious.

"Don't worry dear, you don't have to look so tense." She assured me, her pale lips stretching into a toothy grin. Her teeth were yellow and rotting, as though she had never brushed them all her life. "I... Just remembered I have something to do..." I stuttered, getting to my feet slowly and backing toward the door, trying my best to smile apologetically and look convincing, but she wasn't fooled. "And where might you be going, my dear?" she gripped my arm with a wrinkled hand, her sharpened fingernails digging into my flesh hard enough to draw blood. I yelped in shock, trying in vain to pull away. She was a lot stronger than she looked, and as I watched, her teeth sharpened and elongated until they resembled fangs, looking sharp enough to tear through anything in just a matter of seconds. Her eyes started to lighten, a golden yellow taking the place of the coal black irises of before.

"You should know better than to just walk into unknown places..." she purred, starting to drag me into the darkness. Panicking, I did the only thing I could think of- I screamed. Her grip on me released slightly for a moment as she flinched away from the sound, just enough for me to slip out of her grasp and bolt toward the door. I could hear her muttering something in Latin behind me, and I sprinted faster, running out into the heavy storm.

Thunder crashed overhead and lightning flashed as I slid and slipped through the mud on the slippery ground. I shrieked as I fell, sure I was going to hit the ground and then the witch would descend on me when I felt a pair of strong arms catch me around the waist, steadying me. I looked around for my savior, into the blue eyes of a sandy haired boy, his eyes showing nothing but concern for me. Then I gasped, because I knew him. In this stormy place, empty of people, I found the person I least expected to see. "Ryo?!" I asked, shocked. "Tsukiko..." he seemed more stunned than I was, his sky blue eyes widening in surprise. "What are you doing here?" "how did you find this place?" we both asked at the same time, and in spite of everything that happened, I smiled slightly at my best friend. "You first." I said, looking at him. Before he could answer, the sharp snap of a twig silenced him. As one, we turned back to see the old woman of before. Ryo's face took on a strange intensity as he took hold of my hand.

"Follow me." Gone was the happy-go-lucky boy I knew. He was focused, glaring at the wrinkled old woman as she approached. Pulling me behind him, we ran as the first words of a spell rang clearly through the misty rain.