Faces and masks: City of Fear

Chapter 9 - ("Theatre of fate")

Emily's POV

— So all those who have any ability for magic, or from clans and bloodlines, are recruited into this Fund." Am I getting this right? she nodded, smiling.

— Yeah. They wanted to take you there, too, but Emma's too scared to let you go. It's too dangerous a job. I just don't want to be a burden to you. My job now is to escort you to this theater and see to your safety, which with my special eyes will not be difficult. I hope - " she murmured the last word, then smiled again.

— No problem! At the same time we will introduce you to our friend Sally! She's eight years old and the namesake of our Sally-Shred! beside Jenny, Larry seemed to be amused, making her smile, too.

"I'm glad Larry's back to normal.»

"Shall we go see the theatre?" — what is it? " she asked with a smile, to which we all nodded and went inside a low building with a red awning.

Inside we were greeted by a corridor and a long red carpet with gold patterns, and a Desk, where the chair sat a skeleton... ...

We froze in place, startled at the same time. Jenny looked back at us uncertainly, but kept walking. I noticed the veins around her eyes were swollen. I think she'll know better. Blown away by the fact that she is calmly walking down the corridor, we can go too.

There was a fork at the end of the corridor and a few doors beyond. There are four of them. One of them, the very first, is open. After a quick run through them, and making sure that all but the first were locked, we went into the first passage.

We went out into the hall, where, apparently, the performance was to begin. But the stage was empty, except for... it's the character from the cartoon "spongebob"! What was he doing here? I remember him — squid Squidward! Except he looked pretty creepy. What were his tear-filled red eyes worth, as if they had burst all the vessels, which is quite likely. The sound of a musical instrument echoed through the hall. It seems that such a cartoon was playing Squidward.

A red mist began to fill the room.

— Not move. Jenny whispered to us, and we all stood with our backs to each other, watching the scene intently.

Mr. Squidward, are you all right?" I asked cautiously, and tried to step forward. I felt sorry for him. He's one of my favorite characters, and spongebob loves him, so the last thing I want is to see Him cry. But he abruptly raised his tentacles, began to cry and scream.

"Go away!" I want to be alone! Go on, go on! No, no, no... I want to be alone! And there's only one way to do it — " with that, he pulled a gun out of nowhere and shot himself in the mouth.

We started, uttering startled cries. A few drops of blood flew in our direction and fell on my face. I slowly touched my stained cheek with trembling fingers and brought them to my eyes. Blood... real blood... Then I looked up at the stage, but my eyes were immediately closed by Sally's hand, which turned me to him, burying his face in his chest, stroking my back.

— Not look. We're out of here. he whispered in my ear, then turned to Jenny. "Get us out of here."

- Yes! — squeaked it and we almost ran out of the auditorium. But before my eyes stood this terrible picture... Squidward, the hero of my favorite cartoon series, picked up and killed himself for no reason. What had happened to him? Or is it all the machinations of this evil that takes the form of our fears. Sally and I are the cause.

***

— What the hell was that?" Did you see his face in that fog? Larry asked us loudly as we stepped out into the corridor. Let's go to the other room, it's too scary!