The Carnival Macabre Chronicles: Admission

One: The Raven's Eye

"Callie, what do you think of this?" Mom's voice penetrated my thoughts. I glanced up from my sketchbook to see her holding up yet another wedding dress. This one had long lacy sleeves and a gigantic bow on the back.

I shook my head no, and her face turned to one of disappointment. I looked back down at what I was sketching. A slender man with no face, wearing a suit, hidden behind the trees. Shadows outlined his features. I don't know why, but I tend to draw grotesque things and mysterious entities. I upload them to a blog I run and I have a steady number of fans. They think my work is genius. I find it disturbing.

"Ooh, this one is perfect!" I glanced up at the beautiful dress. This one I actually had to agree with her on. It had a long train and a light shear fabric that covered a darker grey color. I liked that she finally found a beautiful dress but hated her for looking for one in the first place. My mother has finally agreed to marry her boyfriend of a year now. I don't see why. He's just some loser car salesman named Bob. Who actually has a name like Bob nowadays anyway?

She claims it's meant to be, but I think she's just desperate and doesn't like to be alone.

"I'm taking this one, please," she says to the retailer. I slap my sketchbook closed, stuffing it into my faded messenger bag before standing up.

The clerk rings up mom's purchase and slips the dress smoothly into one of those white boxes that you'd normally get on Christmas.

Mom hands the box to me like she normally does, and went ahead, expecting me to follow her. I did, of course. She heads down the cobblestone path with me in tow. I let my eyes wander to the windows of the little boutiques and shops. I saw a bookstore. My eyes widened with happiness.

"Hey, mom?" I asked. She turned her head to me, replying with a, "Hmm?"

"Do... do you think it would be alright if we stopped by the book shop for a quick look?" I figured I had nothing to lose by asking.

"I really have to get going, but why don't you go ahead and meet us home for dinner, ok?" She replied. This was surprising. She hated me to leave her side, much less her leave my side. She was actually going to let me go off on my own for once, without pressure from anyone, that is. Absolutely astonishing.

"Right, of course, thank you," I said and handed her the box before running off quickly. I had to get away from her fast or else she might change her mind.

I looked in the window of the shop. Ugh. That revolting series had released yet another installment. The Dark Circus series. They were a phenomenon to teenage girls and middle-aged women alike. All it was about was some plain girl finding a creepy circus in the woods and falling in love with some arrogant vampire. What a borefest! I much preferred reading books about adventure or searching for oneself. Reading about romance can only lead to giving you high-expectations about finding your soulmate and all that garbage. Definitely not worth my time. Growing up with a mother who has remarried four times can only give you a bad rep about romance.

I ignored the Dark Circus series and made my way to the fantasy section of the YA books. Let's see here... read that... read that... read that. Oh! This looks interesting. The Raven's Eye by R.F. Crowe. How ironic. I never read a summary of a book. I find it unappealing to know what's going to happen before it does. Reading is all about the mystery of the novel. 

Checking the back of the book, I couldn't find a price marked anywhere, nor could I find anyone to help me out here either. The more trouble it seemed, the more I wanted to read the book.

"Can I help you?" a sudden voice made me jump. I pivoted around to see a middle-aged woman standing behind me. She had lipstick heavily stained onto her dry lips and piercing brown eyes that lay behind her cat-eye glasses. Hey plain hair was tied up in a neat little bun with chopsticks holding it in place.