Brooklyn was alive with energy, pulsing under a twilight sky as the early Halloween carnival cast its eerie glow over the bustling streets. Rose stepped out of the car, her red curls catching the fading sunlight like embers. Crowds of people flooded the area, a kaleidoscope of colors, laughter, and the haunting tunes of carnival music echoing through the air. The scent of sweet funnel cakes, roasted nuts, and cotton candy wove through the breeze, igniting nostalgia.
Right beside her, Scar Face huffed, adjusting the dark leather jacket he wore. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk, his hand twitching near his concealed weapon. He wasn't thrilled to be here. He'd rather be back at the bratva training grounds walking Misha—the overly energetic Bratva dog who had a habit of biting anyone he didn't like. And that was almost everyone.
Rose didn't care. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Her heart thudded against her ribs with the thrill of finally being here. Every year, she came to this carnival. It was tradition—her favorite thing. Only this year, it was different. Earlier. Bigger. Crazier.
She stretched her body standing on tiptoes, trying to find a familiar face in the crowd. Then she saw him.
Alejandro stood near the tall iron gates of the festival entrance, leaning against a post like he belonged there. His curls were wind-swept, his black hoodie barely hiding the defined cut of his jaw. Beside him, as always, were Matt and Kile. Matt wore a grin too large for his face and waved the moment he saw her. Kile, with his ever-present beanie and sunglasses even at night, elbowed Alejandro, pointing.
"Red Hair!" Matt called, arms wide open. "You finally made it."
Rose smiled, practically skipping over. "Took me forever to convince Scar Face to not threaten the driver for taking a wrong turn."
Scar Face rolled his eyes and muttered something in Russian. Probably a curse.
Alejandro's arms folded, his expression unreadable. "And yet you still made him come."
"Orders," Scar Face grunted. "From Nikolai. She doesn't breathe without a babysitter."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Let's just go in. The candy apples are calling."
They entered through the towering gates, swallowed by a sea of people. The carnival stretched in all directions like a world of its own. Rides screamed with joy and terror. Children in tiny ghost and vampire costumes ran past them. Overhead, strings of orange and purple lights blinked with mischief. Fog machines hissed ghostly trails across the pathways.
"I swear this thing gets bigger every year," Kile muttered, sidestepping a guy in a full clown suit.
"That's because Marius runs this.," Alejandro said, his eyes scanning the booths. "He's the king of over-the-top theatrics. I swear if it was someone else it was just going to be boring."
Rose pointed at a stand lined with red, glistening candy apples. "Scar Face, be a dear and get us some."
He shot her a glare. "I am not your servant."
"But you are my babysitter. And if you want to keep me happy and not wandering off..."
Scar Face groaned. "Brat." Still, he walked to the booth, money in hand.
"You still got it," Matt laughed. "Making grown men do your bidding."
They took a slow stroll through the heart of the carnival. A fire-breather blew a massive plume of orange flames into the night air, drawing gasps from the crowd. A fortune teller's tent sat ominously on the edge of the square, the heavy red curtains swaying. Somewhere nearby, the shriek of a rollercoaster echoed.
When Scar Face returned, he handed out the candy apples with a look of disgust. "Sticky."
"Thank you," Rose said sweetly, taking a bite.
They passed game booths where people shouted for winners, kids screamed with joy, and masked staff danced in skeleton costumes. Then Alejandro pointed to a large structure looming in the distance.
"The Haunted House," he said. "You in?"
Rose's eyes gleamed. "Definitely."
Scar Face stiffened. "This is a bad idea."
"Relax," Matt chuckled. "It's fake blood and jump scares. Not a war zone."
They joined the line that snaked toward the haunted house. The facade was tall and dark, carved to look like a crumbling Victorian mansion. Flickering lanterns hung from crooked posts. A sign read: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here.
When it was their turn, a cloaked figure ushered them inside. Immediately, the air grew colder. The hallway was narrow, the walls lined with peeling wallpaper and dusty portraits that followed them with their eyes. Thunder rumbled above, though the sky outside had been clear.
"Told you," Alejandro muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Marius is all about details."
Suddenly, a door slammed on its own. Rose shrieked and grabbed Matt's arm. He laughed until a skeletal hand dropped from the ceiling, brushing his head. Then he yelped louder than she did.
They moved through the maze-like house, encountering ghosts that popped out from walls, a possessed doll that crawled toward them making Rose jump and Alejandro laughed at her calling her a scared cat, and a room that tilted so heavily they nearly slid into a wall.
Scar Face walked stiffly the entire time, glaring at anything that moved. When a vampire jumped from a coffin, Scar Face threw a punch before realizing it was an actor. The poor guy squeaked and scurried away. Poor guy.
"You can't punch the staff!" Rose laughed.
"Reflex," Scar Face growled.
Finally, they stumbled out into the cool night air, breathless and laughing.
"Best one yet," Kile said, wiping tears from his eyes.
They wandered through more of the festival. Rose and Matt attempted a ring toss game and lost miserably. Kile bought a small glow-in-the-dark dragon toy that sat on his shoulder. Scar Face refused to eat or play, sticking close and watching everyone with suspicion.
Then, the music shifted.
A steady drumbeat, rhythmic and commanding, pulsed through the air. People turned, drawn like moths. A small stage lit up near the center of the festival grounds.
"Masked dancers," Alejandro said. "They're amazing."
They joined the crowd forming near the stage. The performers wore elaborate costumes with feathered capes, porcelain masks with exaggerated smiles, and glowing eyes. Their bodies moved like liquid fire, twisting in perfect synch to the beat.
Rose stood on her toes again, eyes wide. The lights strobed, illuminating the dancers in eerie flashes of red and blue. It was mesmerizing. The crowd started dancing to the rythim, Rose, Alejandro, Matt and Kile did too. But Scar Face did not. His face twitched when people bumped to him while they were dancing. Praying to every god that exists to give him the strength to not burn this whole place down.
Suddenly— the lights went out.
All of them.
Darkness swallowed the carnival. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
The music stopped.
And silence fell.
The dancers stopped dancing
Then—nothing.