Night Carnival

1

"How did I get here?" Alexander thinks to himself.

He was standing in the middle of what looked like a dark forest. The thick tree tops covering any trace of sky, allowing no light to flow through the leaves. Even though there was no light, Alex had a feeling that it was night. He decides to wander around a bit to get his bearings, and starts to notice that the trees themselves were giving off a slight luminescence. This was the only reason he could walk around without tripping over a stray root or rock.

As Alex walks he begins to hear distant music. He heads towards it. Any signs of life are good signs. Though he wasn't feeling afraid in the dank forest, his pace quickens as he heads towards the music. Accordion and piano becomes clearer and louder. The trees seem to part for him as he heads towards a dim glow. The forest leads him to a sudden clearing.

There, in the middle of the large area, was what looked like a carnival, complete with a Ferris wheel and small roller coaster. Alex steps closer, shielding his eyes from the bright flashing lights. Stalls click and whirl with moving targets, clown heads shift left and right waiting for a winner, horses bounce up and down to a gentle music box tune as the merry-go-round spins. From the corner of his eye, Alex sees a figure dart out of his line of vision.

"Who's there?" he speaks out. Small giggles echo in reply. He turns the corner of a striped stall and sees a group of children, no older than ten, staring at him with smirks of their faces.

"Are you new here?" A red haired girl asks. Eyes wide with curiosity.

"Um, what? Who are you guys, where is this?"

"This is the Night Carnival ya dummy." She sniggered back. "It's a place where we can just play around, no adults to tell us what to do!"

This peaks Alex's interest. No one to tell me what to do, and what not to do. I'd be free to do what I please...

"Come, play with us." One boy tugs at his arm, shaking him out of his previous thought. Wait what am I thinking? I don't even know these kids. I should be trying to get out of here. Wherever 'here' is. "Come on" the boy tugs harder. Alex looks around at the playful colours and patterns luring him in. Maybe just for a little bit.

"Y-yeah okay."