𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 | ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟚 𝕠𝕗 ' 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕖 ' HIATUS

lxvvi

October 8th, 1968

In bright neon letters the word ' FUNHOUSE' flickered on and off as the sun setted. And a moment later it stopped and glowed so bright the red illuminated Evelyn's unsure face. The young girl grimaced as the cut out clown's nose lit up as well, " Mama I don't wanna,"

Her mother looked down and laughed, " C'mon sugga' it's a right of passage to go through!" she yelled, as you could barely hear over the screams, laughter, and fair music that surrounded them from all sides.

Evelyn looked around for her fifteen year old brother who had already ran off with his friends and sighed when she saw no sign of him, " Fine," she grumbled. Holding her hand out for her mother to give her a ticket.

The witch glowed as she passed the small slip of paper to her daughter. Evelyn took off toward the pot-bellied man who was smoking a horrid smelling cigar. He grabbed tickets from children and merely jabbed his thumb in the direction of the entrance.

He raised an eyebrow at Evelyn, " You ain't old enough to go by yer-self, girl," he said in a thick drawl, " Get outta here,"

Her tan face grew crimson, " I'm ei-eight?!" she stuttered.

The man rolled his eyes before snatching the ticket from her, " Just go on then!" he spat.

Evelyn hauled ass toward the open space and was quick to bump into every piece of glass that there was. With a frustrated huff she threw her hands in front of her, using them to guide her to the exit where she knew there to be a staircase that would lead her to the second story of the ancient pop-up attraction.

A group of children pushed past her and she was forced to shove herself in a corner, thinking about how if she ever had kids she would teach them basic manners. She continued on to the mirrors. They had always unnerved her, mirrors at least did. She supposed the funny ones weren't so bad.

She liked the one that made her look taller and thinner than she actually was. Evelyn allowed herself to sit in front of it for a moment. She squinted at the reflection and when she saw a movement from behind her she spun around, only to see no one.

It took her a minute to realize she could no longer hear the loud carnival music, nor the thundering footsteps of children coming in and out of the fun house. With a shaky breath, she continued through a cut out in the back of the wall, " Hello?" she asked, almost immediately feeling stupid for calling out.

If Ed and Josie were here they'd be calling her a scaredy cat by now.

They weren't wrong though. . .

She placed her foot on the dirty step of the aluminum staircase that led her to the top of the attraction. Where she knew there to be a slide. She was ready to get out and be back with her mother.

Before she could reach the top she felt her foot slide over the grime. Panic shot through her as she felt herself beginning to fall but just as she was about to, a hand shot out from the entrance and grabbed her outstretched one.

Evelyn's other hand latched onto the railing and with wide eyes she looked up to see a woman smiling down at her. Her pink lips turned upward, " Be careful now," she said softly, her sapphire blue eyes twinkling with mirth.

Evelyn's cheeks flushed a brilliant red, " Th-thank you ma'am," she stuttered, allowing herself to be steadied. The girl took this moment to realize how pretty this woman was- almost as pretty as her mother.

And since she considered her mother the standard of beauty that was saying a lot. But something about her silky brown ponytail and crisp voice was hauntingly familiar.