The sun hung low in the sky, painting the quiet suburb in warm gold and pink hues. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves. At the edge of town, tucked behind rows of houses and overgrown fields, the abandoned amusement park loomed like a forgotten dream.
"I still can't believe you're leaving tomorrow." Lydie said, nudging Dunya's shoulder as they walked along the cracked sidewalk. (Lydie, the athletic and fiery one, always spoke her mind without hesitation.)
"Trust me, neither can I." Dunya replied with a laugh, though her voice carried a tinge of sadness. She adjusted the strap of her backpack, her steps quick and eager. "That's why tonight has to be epic. I'm not leaving this place with any regrets." (Dunya, confident and determined, had a natural way of drawing everyone into her wild ideas.)
Behind them, Colin jogged to catch up, balancing a soccer ball on his knee as he walked. "Define 'epic,' though. Because if it involves getting arrested, I'm out." (Colin, quiet yet effortlessly funny, always seemed to lighten the mood without trying.)
"Oh, please." Rola said, rolling her eyes. "You're the first one who'd get away with it. You'd just crack a joke, and they'd let you go." (Rola, generous and gentle, was the unspoken glue of the group—even if she didn't believe it herself.)
Colin grinned. "True, but let's not test that theory, okay?"
The group stopped at the corner where Emma Bornet-Lebec and Elena Bejan were already waiting. Emma clutched her sketchbook to her chest, her dark curls framing her face like a curtain as she scribbled something. (Emma, shy and thoughtful, had a creative spirit that spoke louder than her words ever could.). Elena leaned against a lamppost, scrolling on her phone, a soft smile on her lips. (Elena, cheerful yet secretly introspective, radiated a kindness that made everyone feel seen.)
"Finally." Elena said, looking up as they arrived. "I thought you forgot about us."
"Like I'd let that happen." Dunya replied, throwing her arms around her friends in an exaggerated group hug.
"You're in a mood today." Ben muttered, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket as he strolled up behind them. His eyes darted nervously toward the horizon. "So, what's the big plan? And why do I feel like I'm gonna regret this?" (Ben, the guarded and self-deprecating one, had a habit of hiding his soft heart behind dry humor.)
"Because you will." Lydie teased.
Dunya clapped her hands together, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Okay, so hear me out. I was thinking... since this is my last night here, we should do something we'll never forget."
"Uh-oh." Colin said.
Emma looked up from her sketchbook, a nervous crease forming between her brows. "What kind of 'something'?"
"The abandoned amusement park." Dunya declared, pointing toward the distant Ferris wheel that peeked over the trees. "We sneak in after dark and explore. Just for fun. No one's been there in years, and it'll be perfect for memories."
"You mean illegal memories." Rola said, crossing her arms. "Dunya, are you serious?"
"Dead serious." Dunya said, grinning. "Come on, Rola. You're always the voice of reason. Let yourself have fun for once!"
"Fun?" Ben snorted. "Breaking into a creepy, abandoned park in the middle of the night doesn't sound like fun. It sounds like the start of a horror movie."
"That's what makes it fun." Dunya shot back. "Besides, it's not like we're vandalizing anything. We'll just look around, take some pictures, and leave. No harm done."
Elena glanced at the park in the distance, her smile fading slightly. "I don't know, Dunya... it feels kind of—"
"—Dangerous? Reckless? A little illegal?" Dunya interrupted, her voice playful. "Exactly! That's why it's perfect. Don't overthink it, Elena."
Emma hesitated, her hands tightening around her sketchbook. "I-I don't know if I want to go in there..."
"Come on, Emma." Dunya said, softening her tone. "You don't even have to go all the way in. Just being there with us will make it special. Please?"
Emma sighed but gave a small nod. "Okay, fine. But if something happens, it's on you."
"Nothing will happen." Dunya assured her.
Ben groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "We're all gonna die, aren't we?"
Rola laughed, nudging his arm. "You've been watching too many horror movies, Ben."
"Because horror movies are based on stuff like this, trust me, I've watched Scream Saga many times... But anyways." Ben muttered, but he didn't argue further.
Colin bounced the soccer ball one last time before catching it and tucking it under his arm. "Well, if we're doing this, let's do it right. What time are we meeting?"
"Midnight." Dunya said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Right by the main gates."
That evening, as the last light of the sun disappeared and the moon rose high in the sky, the seven friends met outside the rusted gates of the amusement park. Shadows stretched long over the cracked asphalt, and the once-bright signs advertising "Fun for the Whole Family!" hung crooked and faded.
"Okay, we're here." Lydie whispered, her voice breaking the silence. "Now what?"
Dunya grinned, holding up a flashlight. "Now, we make memories."
With that, she pushed open the gate.
It let out a slow, eerie creak that seemed to echo through the empty park.
They stepped inside, unaware that the park had been waiting for them all along.
YOU ARE READING
The Circus
HorrorSeven friends. One unforgettable night. An amusement park after dark becomes the stage for something far more sinister than they could have imagined. For Dunya Taibi's birthday-and her last night in her childhood hometown-she and her friends decide...
