Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   Your eyes followed the opening of the thick forest above your head, eyes tracing patterns among the stars oddly placed among one another. You always loved the forest, it was quiet and serene— a place where you can get away from society.

   That wasn’t… exactly the reason you were going there now.

   You were to meet a group of people, supposedly, to help save a town named Everlock. You’d personally never heard of this town, but your friend Joey had asked for your help— so you supposed you could spare some time to help. How long could it take, really? If Joey wanted to do it, it couldn’t be so bad.

   He had told you to pick a “1970’s persona”. Your pick was easy— a psychic medium. Your channel was all based around the unknown, the weird, the interesting. Plus— you’d had experiences with it, yourself. Nothing seemed to fit more perfectly then that.

   You tied your (H/C) hair back in a ponytail, two strands framing your face. The makeup you usually wore was light and gentle, but you opted for something darker— a royal purple with hints of a yellow in the corners. Dark red lipstick, and a perfume that smelled of sage. You were never one to skimp on a role.

   Crystals dripped from your jacket, down your arms and down your sides. A long black dress was underneath the cardigan, with black heel boots adorning your feet.

   Your eyes spotted a group up ahead, with a fire burning in the middle to keep warm. You took a deep breath, exhaling before approaching. Social interaction was never your forte, per say, but they were all friends of Joey! So you had that in common, at least.

   “Finally! I was beginning to wonder when my favorite girl was gonna show up!”

   A familiar, feminine voice reached your ears as you parted through the trees. Thank god— Nikita was here. At least you had her here.

   “So, what took y’a so long, babe?” Nikita questioned, slinging an arm around your shoulders and pressing you against her chest. You laughed, shaking your head and rolling your eyes.

   “You know me, got lost,” You replied, earning a “tsk, tsk” from the woman. That was blatantly a lie, you took your time to reach this area, getting distracted by different plants and creatures along the way.

   “Should have told me you were gonna be here! I could have picked you up,” Nikita sighed, “Then we could have avoided you getting lost in a damn forest.”

   “Oh, I’m fine. Jeez.” You roll your eyes, pulling your way out of her embrace. You glanced around, realizing that Joey, the man himself, wasn’t even here yet. “Okay. So. Where’s our host?”

   “Not here,” Manny answered, shrugging, “You know that bitch. Can never be on time for shit.”

   As if on cue, a rustle came from the woods— the tall blonde making his way from between the trees. The group cheered, seemingly having been waiting quite a while for Joey to appear out of the woods.

   “Finally,” Nikita sighed, rolling her eyes.

   “Took you long enough, Joey. We’ve been waiting,” A voice, unfamiliar to you spoke. You glanced over to where the sound came from, to see a tall brown haired man with glasses adorning his face— a brown, almost orange leather jacket on, and a badge on his hip. His role seemed to be a detective.

   “Sorry, sorry,” Joey placed his hands in an apology, a smile painting his lips as he glanced around the group. “You all made it.”

   “Of course we made it, Joey,” Rosanna answered with a bright smile, a smile she’d always wore. You’d met her before at a Christmas party Joey had held— she was always sweet, bright. “You asked us to be here!”

   “It’s just… a lot… I didn’t know…” Joey trailed off, his words seeming to hold more weight to him then the rest of the group. “… Anyway. I-I don’t know much about how we get to Everlock— but— I was given this bag. Maybe we should open it.”

   Given? Your first instinct was to ask by who? But you refrained from asking. Maybe he didn’t know, either. All of this was so… weird.

   “That would seem most logical,” The same man from earlier replied again. Smartass, you thought to yourself— resisting the urge to roll your eyes at his tone.

   Joey simply nods, folding open the satchel bag. He pulls out a scroll, a large bottle of salt, and five crystals. Salt was typically used in rituals, you knew that. Was this a ritual of some sort— and if so— one of dark intent?

   “I have the instructions.” Safiya spoke up, adjusting the aviators on her face as she unfurled the scroll. She cleared her throat, before beginning to read the scroll, “Those who desire to go back in time and enter the town of Everlock must be inhabited by a spirit that once lived there. Draw a circle of salt and place the five crystals at the head of the circle, hold hands, and repeat the chant.”

   Inhabited by a spirit? As in possession?

   “That sounds… sketchy.” You spoke softly, gazing around the circle crowded around the fire, “Possession is not something you exactly want to fuck with.”

   “She knows her shit,” Nikita affirmed, patting your back kind of roughly, “Listen to her.”

   “There’s no way around that, it seems,” Oh, god. This guy just thought he knew everything! You give him a glance, your arms folded across your chest.

   “Well, no. Not if we decide to go.”

   “Decide to go? These people need our help.”

   “We don’t know that! What if it’s all a ploy to get us there, and something bad happens?”

   “It’s worth the risk to help innocent people.”

   “We don’t know they’re innocent—!”

   “Okay, okay! Both of you stop,” Joey interjected, placing his hand against your shoulder and pulling you back, “We’re going to go, no matter the risk. Matt’s right, we have to help these people.”

   Matt? So that was this smartass’s name. It did sound… familiar.

   “Don’t blame me if something bad happens. Just remember I was right.” You huff, rolling your eyes. Nikita laughed at your words, shaking her head.

   Matt furrows his eyebrows, watching as you fall back into your spot beside Nikita— chatting with the woman you seemed to be closer friends with. Who did you think you were? These people needed your help, and you were happy to deny them. Even if you did claim to know better of the “unnatural” and “paranormal”— this was a risk that needed to be taken.

   You all gathered into the circle, linking hands with Manny and Nikita who stood next to you. You glanced around, before your eyes landed on Joey at the head of the circle, now holding the paper with the chant.

   “From across the veil of death, I request your presence, so I might make wrong things right. Enter into that I might see the doorway to Everlock.” Joey read, lifting his head to glance around.

   You could feel something building within you, a warmth that was moving from the tips of your feet all the way to the top of your head— a scream erupting from your lungs as something pushed it way through your throat— leaving you stumbling and breathing heavy.

   Everyone seemed to feel the same, all uneasy and out of breath. They must be inhabited by a spirit who once lived in the town of Everlock… she supposed that’s what that had meant.

   As you attempted to catch your breath, you look up, your eyes meeting a bridge with a warm glow around it— which, that definitely wasn’t there before. Above the bridge, reads, “Town of Everlock” sprawled across the head of a jester— or, you supposed, a clown.

   “Guys! Look!” Joey’s voice bellows out, you’re not sure how he’s even speaking after that— but he is, gesturing to the bridge in your field of vision.

   You’re hesitant. You don’t like the energy that surrounds the bridge— as if you could feel the negativity radiating from the area. You always had a knack for those things, but… it seemed… amplified, somehow.

   Joey leads the group toward the bridge, hesitantly placing your feet on the wood of the bridge. As you make your way across the bridge, you can hear distant laughter— shrill and almost similar to that of a hyena.

   The laughter grows closer, until a clown— painted white in the face with sharp black marks around the eyes— and a check board patterned outfit jumps out at you from behind the red curtain of the entrance.

   You jump back, startled by the sudden intrusion— your breathing still somewhat uneven from the whole “soul” fiasco a few moments ago.

   “It’s your lucky day!” Her voice is shrill and constantly dipping up and down, almost too much for your ears. “Because the carnival is in town!” She’s way too excited about this “carnival” for your liking. “We have a strong man, a snake woman, dolls with knives—“ All of that sounded threatening, not exciting! “— It’s like bloody Christmas everyday!” Her laugh is bubbly and bordering on crazy.

   You choke back a nervous laugh, not even daring to look this woman in the eyes. There was crazy in those eyes— and that was not what you wanted to mess with.

   “We will be friends soon, I have no doubt about that…” Her voice trails off into almost maniacal laughter, before she pushes the red curtain to the side— allowing the view to the other side to enter your vision, “Enjoy the ride!”

   Others mumble “thank you”s to the woman, but you keep quiet— giving her a sideways glance as you walk past— earning only a creepy wide smile. Your body racks a shiver, accidentally bumping into someone. Your gaze flits upward, to see Matt standing beside you now.

   You furrow your eyebrows, before averting your gaze, “Sorry about that.”

   “Don’t worry about it.” He adjusts his glasses on his face, where they where slightly jostled. A silence fades over you, before he clears his throat and walks faster to join up with Rosanna and Safiya.

   Your eyes flit around the carnival, it was retro— straight out of the 1970’s. Though, you supposed it should be, since that’s where you were. There were people playing carnival games, eating cotton candy and other snacks alike, chatting and genuinely having a good time. What saving did these people really need? They seemed just fine to you.

   Your instinct is to follow Nikita, to stick with somebody you knew, but you saw a man approaching her— long hair and a leather jacket adorning his shoulders. He was obviously flirting with her; and god, you didn’t wanna hear that. So, you opted to just go with Joey. Who, consequently, was with Ro, J.C. and Matt.

   Did you really want to put up with smartass comments and dorky remarks? No. But, you didn’t wanna walk around alone, and you didn’t wanna watch Nikita flirt with some guy— so this was really your only option.

   As everyone played carnival games and snacked on popcorn, cotton candy and other sorts, you simply watched the people. If you were here to save them, you might as well try and figure out what was wrong.

   But the people were all smiles. Nothing looked wrong.

   That’s when a woman catches your eye, sneaking around and weaving between people. Her hair was jet black, arms lined with tattoos, dark makeup and crystals dripping from her clothes— swaying as she moved. You two looked similar, almost.

   Arms folded across your chest, you slowly approach her, Ro following quick in toe— the woman didn’t seem too excited that you even thought about going off alone for a second. But you were fine that she followed.

   “Um.. hello,” You greet softly, the woman’s gaze now turned on you. She was the only one in this town not smiling. She must know something, right?

   “Hello!” Ro chirps, still smiling at the woman.

   “The stars,” The woman almost hisses out, her voice low and almost a whisper, “The stars have been talking to me.” She promptly raises a hand, pointing straight up to the twinkling stars above up— your gaze moving to look where she points.

   “What— are they saying, exactly?” Ro replies, gazing at the woman with innocent curiosity in her gaze.

   “All kinds of secrets.” She hissed again, eyes narrowed— hands clasped together.

   “What kind of secrets? Dark… serious, secrets? Dangerous?” You ask, gazing at her intently. She had to know something about this town, she was the only one who would really speak to you properly.

   “He’s coming.” She said blankly, as if you had a clue what that even was supposed to mean.

   “Who— I— who’s coming?” You furrow your eyebrows in confusion, knitting them together. But before you can get any semblance of an answer, a voice calls out, Matt’s— dragging Ro away and toward the Ferris wheel. You sigh, before deciding to follow. You probably wouldn’t get any damn answer, anyways, no use wasting time.

   You follow behind Matt and Ro to the Ferris wheel, watching as the pair boarded one of the cars. You fold your arms, eyes following their car as they were brought up the side of the circle. You can see their hands and mouths moving, as if attempting to communicate something to you.

   A faint yell from Matt can be heard— “Don’t trust the clowns!”

   Furrowing your eyebrows, your gaze finds the very same clown who had welcomed you in— lurking near one of the game stands.

   “You!” Her finger points straight at you, crazy laugh bubbling out of her red painted lips, “I have a fun game for you!”

   You glance up at the Ferris wheel, then back at the clown. They were telling you not to trust the clowns. They obviously knew more then you did.

   “Um, I’m okay, thank you—“

   “Oh, c’mon! It’s a fun game I think you’ll enjoy!~”

   Maybe you shouldn’t trust the clowns. But information was information, and it was worth the risk. The quicker you saved this town, the quicker you could get back to your apartment in California.

   Slowly, your boots heels hit the ground as you pad over— now standing in front of the woman who has a bucket of balls on a game stand for you. Her smile is wide and creepy, unnervingly so.

   “Don’t trust her! (Y/N)!”

   Ro’s voice calls out to you, but you simply ignore it, gazing at the woman. The game was simple enough, throw balls at cans, and you’ll win a prize. It didn’t seem dangerous. It was a simple carnival game.

   Your hand curls around a plastic yellow ball, giving her another glance before tossing them at the tin bottles— easily knocking them over and falling to the ground with a ‘clink!’.

   “We’ll, lookat that, missy!” The clown laughs, her grin turning into a devilish smirk, “You win a prize.”

   “… What do I win, exactly?”

   “This, here,” Her hands move to cradle a jack-in-the box, a red box painted with large stars on the sides and a handle on the left to turn. “I’ve been saving this for a very special occasion, missy… open the box and let the real carnival come out to play.”

   Cautiously, you took the box in the curve of your hand, gazing down at it. You raise your hand to turn the handle— but the woman cuts you off with a gasp.

   “Not yet, missy,” She warns, holding a finger up to your face. “Wait.”

   The two of you gaze at each other, silence overtaking the area, before a laugh erupts from the clown. You flinch back, cradling the jack-in-the box against your chest as you move to walk away and rejoin everyone else.

   “Hey.. uh, guys,” You spoke up, catching Nikita’s attention and causing the blonde to turn to you— “That crazy clown lady gave me this. Not really sure what for… but she said not to open it yet.”

   “Huh.” Nikita walks over to you, grabbing the box out of your hands, “Let’s give it to Joey. He seems to have so magical touch or some shit.”

   You give a short chuckle, nodding and following Nikita toward Joey and the rest of the group.

   “Well, we should open it,” Colleen suggests, furrowing her eyebrows. “It might have something useful inside!”

   The group began chattering, voices piled one over the other. Nobody could make a decision on what to do with the damn thing— but before you could speak up, a horn sounded from the balcony of a large building. You cover your ears at the shrill sound, before your gaze travels upwards.

   The mayor of the town stands above the crowd forming, who were cheering and clapping for her. She had that ‘business woman’ smile on her face, it was inviting and just saying trust me! Even though— you probably shouldn’t.

   “Thank you all for coming out to the carnival!” The woman’s voice echos from the megaphone, glancing between the towns citizens. “It’s truly our lifeblood.”

   “I think you mean it’s sucking our blood,” The woman who you had been speaking to moments previous, dressed in crystal garbs speaks up— gesturing a hand up to the woman. “The spell won’t last forever and then you-know-who is coming back.”

   The mayor sighed, rolling her eyes. “I wouldn’t listen to Calliope and her nonsense… shes trash who lives on the outskirts of our town, always refusing to join us…” She was talking about the town like it was a cult. “She’s not to be trusted.”

   Nobody here was to be trusted, it seemed…

   The woman, whose name you now know is Calliope, looks pointedly at Joey— her eyes narrowed and fear in her dark gaze. “Where did you get that?”

   “I— (Y/N) won it,” Joey casts you a glance. You try and shrink back, wanting no part in whatever this was about to be.

   “Calliope—“

   “Not today, Janet.” Calliope states firmly, casting a glare at the mayor before looking back at your group, “Do you know what that is. Do you know what that can do?”

   “It— It’s a music box. It’s a toy!” Janet interjects from above.

   “No! A toy,” She scoffs, “That is one of The Carnival Master’s wicked artifacts!”

   “It’s a harmless carnival prize— please— someone open that damn box and put this woman’s hysteria to rest.”

   Your group begins to argue on whether you should open the box or not. You’re about to tear the box from Joey’s hands and open the damn thing, to shut everyone’s cries, when he spins the handle and the jack-in-the box pops opens with a dreadful ‘squeak!’ and maniacal laughter.

   Your gaze rests on the carnival artifact. It was a normal jack-in-the box all down to the tune playing in the background— except for the knife screwed through the plastic clowns head.

   A shrill laugh erupts in the air, watching as a clown hoisted the mayor into their arms— tossing her off the roof as she landed on the glass of a car, blood spattered across the hood. You have no time to react, as gunshots blow in the air, the rest of the clowns running from around the corner—

   Don’t trust the clowns. That seemed to hold true.

   Before you even know it, your feet are flying in the opposite direction— bodies dropping limp around you as gunshots lodged through them— blood pooling around torsos and heads, people dying at the hands of these clowns.

   Mortimer, the man that Nikita had been with earlier as you’d found out, ushers you and everyone else into the arcade for safety— but you’re cut off from the group— and you find safety in a nearby tent the clowns seem to not look at.

   Your breathing is heavy as you lean against the wall of the tent, chest falling up and down at a exponential rate.

   So, this was hell.

Chapter Text

   You glance around the tent, attempting to see if there was a clue, or something— to tell you what the hell was happening. You walk over to a table, which has a blanket, and a newspaper sprawled across it. You pick up the newspaper, breathing still heavy but starting to calm down. You notice there’s jester symbols all about the paper, making your brows furrow.

   Before you can even process anything, three more people come running into your tent— causing you to squeeze yourself against the wall— thinking it would be the clowns, or hell, something else come to tear you to pieces.

   “Hey! Hey, it’s just us!” Ro’s sweet voice calls out, making your eyes fall open to see Matt and Ro standing in front of you— as well as Calliope. They’d managed to get down from ferris wheel, then.

   “Oh, thank god,” You gasp, gazing them over, “You’re all unharmed?”

   “We’re all fine.” Matt responded gruffly, fixing himself up.

   You pause, furrowing your eyebrows, “… Good.”

   “So, what’s the deal, here?” He’s speaks again, a slight pant in his tone— his chest heaving as he attempted to regain his breath.

   “I’m not 100% sure,” You shrug your shoulders, “There’s this blanket, and this newspaper. It has jester hats all over it, though I’m not sure what that could mean…”

   His hand moves to lift up the newspaper, eyes flicking over it up and down, “There’s four joker hats,” He murmurs to himself, you and Ro peering over his shoulder. “Maybe there’s a code, somewhere?”

   Ro starts to dig through the items lining the tent, pulling up a pillow with a jester hat on it. You get the gist of the idea, and start digging for items that might have a jester hat on them. And you pull up a girafe piñata, starting to scrounge around for a bat to break it open.

   “Don’t hurt yourself,” Matt jests.

   You narrow your eyes, but a chuckle leaves your lips, “I’ll be fine, thank you.”

   You lift the bat, coming down with a hard swing to break the piñata open— dumping it out to find a small wooden piece. You hold it up, placing it in the palm of Matt’s hand— your nails brushing his palm.

   “Well, let’s tear open that pillow, shall we?” A small smile crosses your face, reaching for the pillow and placing one end in his hands— tearing on your end to find another wooden piece.

   You notice a mirror across the way, missing pieces to it. You grab the pieces from Matt, and slot them into place, “Two more.”

   One piece resides in a box; which Ro opens and grabs the piece out, sliding it into place.

   The three of you dig up every nook and cranny of the tent, unable to find the last item. Your eyes flit up, finding the toilet across the way. You realize— that’s the only place that hasn’t been checked.

   You pad over to the toilet, and open the lid— to be hit with a fowl stench, and the mushy, brown pile entering your line of vision.

   “That’s fowl,” You wrinkle your nose, stepping back and folding your arms across your chest. “I— I can keep watch.”

   “Oh, really, now?” Matt quips, a scoff leaving his lips.

   “You think I’m gonna stick my arm in shit? No!” You laugh, shaking your head as you stand with Calliope at the head of the tent.

   “I’ll do it.” Ro says, her tone almost hesitant as she rolls up her sleeves.

   You watch as the woman bends down next to the toilet, gagging slightly as she wrinkles her nose— glancing away for just a moment.

   “I’ll do it with you, Ro,” Matt bends down beside her, rolling up his sleeves. “Three, two, one…”

   When ‘one’ sounds in the tent, you can hear the cries of disgust from the two of them— as their hands push into the mush that lie in the toilet.

   “A-Alright, I got it, I got it—“ Matt’s strained voice speaks up, holding the last wooden piece in his now messy hand. The pair slowly stands up, the sticky, mushy piece brushing against Ro’s coat.

   “D—Did— did you just get that on my outfit?!” Ro shrieked, her eyes wide and hands clenched, “Matthew!”

   A laugh leaves your lips as Ro scolded Matt, watching as he shrunk back and shrilly apologized— knowing that he had messed up, even just a little. Matt pushes the piece into place, a drawer popping open. You walked over and took out the item inside, a note and a key on the inside.

   “… Maybe we should try and find the others now? This key has to lead to something,” You hold the key firmly in your hand, earning nods from your partners.

   The minute you emerge from the tent, clowns are on your scent— your heels kicking up the dirt under your feet, fear written across your expression. You try to evade them, but you feel arms around your neck— glancing around to see that everyone had been captured.

   The clowns maneuver you to the carousel, locking you to one of the horses by your hands.

   “We want our damn box back, you filthy cretin!” The clown growls, for once, that sadistic smile faded from her face.

   “Well, we don’t have it,” Joey responds, eyes narrowed.

   “You stole it from us!” She hissed, pointing at Joey accusingly.

   “Who has the box—?” Joey turns as much as he can, looking around at the people he could see. You, Ro or Matt didn’t have it— so someone else had to.

   “Mortimer— Mortimer has it—“

   They gave the box to the man that they barely knew? What—

   “We’re gonna roll our dice of death,” She speaks again, smile back on her face— dagger in her hand. “And whoever’s number comes up… I’m gonna gut ‘em! I’ll gut ‘em right here in front of all your friends!” She pauses, happily skipping around the sides of the carousel, “Unless.. oh, unless, Luke rolls a twelve— then— I’ll let one of y’a go!”

   She cackles, before her hand slams down on a red button, the carousel creaking before beginning to spin.

   You can see the blood red dice rolling on the dirt ground, the number showing up as eight. You look at the clowns, their hands raising to point at the only person you really were close with— Nikita.

   “Damn it!” You struggle against your chains, eyebrows furrowed. Yelling and screaming erupts from trou and your friends, feeling dizzy from the constantly spinning— when a motorcycle rips in the air. Your gaze flits up to see Mortimer ripping through on a motorcycle. He stops in front of the clown, firing one shot in her eye— before driving the motorcycle through a building that read ‘Fat Man Slims’.

   When he reappeared, he was off the motorcycle— tossing his helmet at the clowns, and firing shots through the small crowd of sadistic clowns that had formed. He rushes toward the carousel, untying people one by one.

   Matt was beside you, so when he was untied, he stepped over to you— his hands finding the chains that bound you to the carousel, loosening them and dropping to the ground.

   “Thank you.” You murmur, earning a nod from the man, as you rushed toward the arcade they attempted to run to earlier. When you get there, you collect your items— the clowns dice, a diary, and the key still clutched in your hand.

   Everyone starts tearing the arcade apart, pulling pictures off the wall, tossing pillows aside— until a safe is found behind one of the frames. A key was needed to open.

   “I still have the key we found.” You say, walking over to them and pushing the key into the lock. As you turn it, you hear a click— pulling the door open. “Here, give me the dice, Ro.”

   Grabbing the dice, you slid them into the slots— a something clicking and eyeing a screen that now read ‘ON’ above the refrigerator. Joey pulls open the refrigerator door, revealing a secret passageway to a lounge on the other side.

   One by one, everyone climbs through. The room was decorated lavishly, oranges and blues decorating the span of the room— lamps and a plus cough in the middle of the room.

   “There’s a map!” Manny calls, grabbing the map off the wall. You settle on the couch, where everyone files in, the map placed on the table. It was a map of the town, marking the important things they needed to find, though it appeared to be mostly blank.

   “Every time an artifact is cleansed, more of the map will be revealed,” Matt reads clearly, fingertips brushing against the corners of the map.

   “There’s something on the back,” You fold up a corner, spotting a story written on the back. Nikita clears her throat, gazing down at the words. The story tells of ‘The Society Against Evil’ who attempted to save Everlock, and slay the carnival master, but had failed in their attempt. There were artifacts that must be cleaned— eight, to be exact. If all our cleansed, the carnival master may be slain. If not, everything in this town— including them— will be destroyed. To cleanse each artifact, two must take on a death challenge, and one will survive to complete the cleansing.

   “Holy shit. Not what I was expecting.” Nikita scoffed, folding her arms.

   “We thought we were saving a town— now we have to save ourselves?” Ro piped up.

   “Yes… well, hopefully.” Manny responded.

   “You told us we were gonna save a town— not that we were gonna die!” Colleen protested.

   “We don’t know these people! Besides Calliope and Mortimer, these people have done nothing by try and kill us,” You hiss, “Why would we give one damn whether they live or die? We should be more concerned about us!”

   “We might as well try.” Joey sighed, grabbing the box. “We have to replace the spring and the song, we already have the gear.” He lifts a blanket, pulling out two envelopes— he reads aloud the note, telling them they had to go to the clowns disco party and recover the song for the jack-in-the box.

   “Okay, so the springs in the tent,” You speak as you read over the other note, “There’s no other way. We gotta split up.”

   “Half us can go to the disco, and the other half to the tent,” Joey nods. You quickly split up, and you follow the group to the tent— this group seeming to have more brains, and able to keep safe and get things done.

   You run into the tent, being greeted by a pile of plushies. Rip them open, you remember the note reading. You immediately grab a bear, and start tearing into the fluff. Gradually, silver coins were found— not the spring you were looking for, but it was something.

   “I just wanna bash y’a head in!”

   You let out a squeak as a clown comes barreling in, ducking behind a box with Ro by your side. You watch as the clown pads around, swinging her bat around.

   “I’m comin’ to find y’a!” She screams, “Mama’s comin’!”

   You get as low as possible, your crystal lined jacket swaying with each of your movements. When the clown disappears back through the tent, you jump up and find the rest of the quarters— having four quarters, a dollar, in your palm.

   As you dash toward the box, you slot the quarters in, and another drawer pops open with a comic-strip that reads— “Zero G-Man”.

   “Find Zero G-Man and solve his dilemma.” Manny reads. Matt grabs the comic-strip, and reads over it.

   “He’s sad because he’s lost his ability to fly,” Matt sighs, glancing around. His eyes land on the balloons in the drawer, grabbing them with a firm hand, “We need to blow these up and make ‘em fly.”

   “Mhm. But we have to find him first.” You quip. You could admit, you were being a bit of a smartass.

   Matt furrows his eyebrows, a little ticked off with your tone, “I’m aware.”

   After looking around, you find nothing. In an attempt to make sense of this, you read back over the comic— finding that you have to repeat his name six times to make him appear.

   “Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man!”

   Once you all repeat it, a box pops open and Roi runs over to it— picking up Zero G-Man out of the box. The rest of you blow up balloons with helium one by one, and attach them to Zero G-Man. Once you have him floating for a considerable amount of time, another box pops open, having the spring inside— and a note. The spring needed one more piece to work.

   As soon as you have the two pieces, you rush back to the lounge, being chased by Crazy Sally— all the way back to the plus lounge waiting for you.

   “This artifact requires one more piece to be cleansed. A new Jack,” Safiya reads, “Two must be selected by vote to undertake a deadly challenge to recover it. Choose wisely. One will make it out alive, one will not. For this unique trial, the contestants chosen must pick someone to fight for them.”

   “Wonderful.” You mumble, folding your arms, one leg folded over the other.

   “I will lay out the cards, and one by one, you will come to select the person you wish to see in the death challenge.” Calliope spoke, gesturing to the cards with your caricatures on the front. “First, The Savant.”

   Joey stands from his seat, and one by one, everyone stands up to pick who they want to see in the challenge.

   When Calliope calls out for you to come and pick your card, you swallow hard, and walk over to the table— gazing down at all the cards quizzically. You didn’t want to vote somebody in— but you had no choice. Your eyes flick over to Teala’s card, and from the conversations, the woman hadn’t been pulling her weight. You tap it, Calliope collecting the card, and gesturing for you to sit.

   “I will now shuffle and draw two,” Calliope says, picking up the pile of cards and shuffling them in her hands. She lifts one card, “The Hippie,” Gasps and surprised fell from everyone’s lips— all asking the same question— why him? “And The Super Spy.”

   J.C and Teala we’re going in to a death challenge.

   “You two must pick a partner to fight for you.” Calliope states, glancing between the two chosen.

   J.C’s eyes flick around the group before landing on Matt. Which, in retrospect, was a smart choice. “I’ll choose Matt.”

   He looks surprised, and nervous, to say the least. His gripping the side of his jacket, almost not even daring to look J.C In the eyes. What were the chances that he himself had voted him in?

   Teala’s eyes gaze around, flicking to you— which had your heart racing— before finally landing on Safiya, “I’ll choose Safiya.”

   The group makes their way over to the tent, glancing around to see the clowns lining the area— though, they’re still and unassuming, unlike earlier. Four trials are set up, that both Safiya and Matt must take down if they wish to save their respective contestant.

   You settle off to the side, watching as J.C and Teala were hoisted up onto the wonder wheels.

   The first challenge— follow the ball in the cup. Matt breezed through within moments, while Safiya wasn’t so lucky— having to try twice to get through.

   The next was to eat five hotdogs without any water— to which, Safiya had a time disadvantage— but was still able to pull ahead and move onto the next.

   By the time Matt arrived at the third challenge, Safiya had already finished it— and simply had to knock eight bottles off a shelf to win and save Teala’s life.

   When the last bottle fell, you felt your heart drop in your stomach. J.C didn’t deserve to die, even if you hadn’t known him so long. None of you deserved this— not J.C, not anyone. Damn Joey and his stupid ‘mission’.

   As Safiya grabs the Jack’s new head, the clown holds up her dagger’s— driving them painfully into J.C’s body. Blood pools from the wounds, dripping down his clothes and pooling on the floor beneath his hanging feet. Thankfully, Safiya screws in the Jack’s new head, and the clowns seemingly fall to dust.

   One artifact cleansed.

   “Holy shit,” You whisper to yourself, hands shaky as you gaze out at the scene. But you were snapped out of it when you can see a glimmer of white out of the corner of your eye— a soul, a spirit— it resembled. You blink, thinking, maybe you were seeing things. Yet when it doesn’t disappear, you hear words whispered to you— “Do what is best and get everyone out of here.” It was J.C’s voice.

   “(Y/N)?” Joey’s voice calls out, snapping your gaze to him. “Everything okay?”

   “Oh! Yeah, everything’s fine… just… shaken.” You mumble, following after him back to the lounge. Once there, Safiya places the Jack on the shelf, and settles down.

   “There was a note attached with it,” She holds up the note, reading aloud, “Not everyone in this town is telling the truth.”

   Glances are shared around the room, each suspecting and curious as to what those words could mean— until Colleen speaks up.

   “Well, what if it’s one of us?”

Chapter Text

   As of now, the only thing to go off of was the note that Safiya found— otherwise, you were just lying in wait until another monster showed up to kill you.

   Your head was pounding, still hearing J.C’s voice swirling in your brain. You could hear him so clearly, like he was in the room with you still, repeating the same damn words over and over again. You were going to lose it if he didn’t shut up—

   “(Y/N)?” Matt’s voice pulls you from your thoughts, snapping your head up. He was the last person you’d like to hear from, right now, “Is everything alright?”

   “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.” You grumble, turning your attention away from the group.

   He furrows his eyebrows, gazing at you from his glasses, “I only wanted to make sure.”

   “You got your answer, didn’t you?” You hiss, flashing him a sharp glare.

   “Okay, girl, what’s with the attitude?” Nikita flicks your forehead so you’ll look up at her. You raise your head up, “I’m not likin’ this. I know this is all stressful, but no need to be a bitch.”

   You sigh. She’s not exactly wrong.

   “Sorry,” You mumble, glancing over your shoulder at Matt.

   He pauses, then sighs, “It’s fine.”

   “Awh, see, all better!” Nikita hugs an arm around your shoulder, pulling you close against her side. Before you can respond to her words, you hear the arcade door fly open— expecting a snake, as you heard them talking about on the map earlier, only to see a normal woman— looking frantic and scared.

   When she spots your group, she immediately takes off. Everyone hops to their feet, chasing after her and out the arcade. This woman might have valuable information, or, could be the threat.

   Nikita and Manny are soon holding the woman's arms, shoving her into the lounge and into a chair; tying her to it so she couldn't just up and leave again. She might have valuable information on how to get out of here quicker. 

   "What're you doing here?" Nikita asked, leaning down in front of the woman with maybe the most serious you've ever seen her make, "I have ways of making you talk--"

   "Ooookay, that's enough," You grab onto her arm, pulling her backwards. You were better off leaving the questioning to Matt, even if you hated admitting that; he did know what he was doing.

   "What were you doing?" Manny questions, standing side by side with Nikita in front of the woman.

   "I'm looking for the same thing you are," She hisses.

   "And what's that?"

   "The serpents eyes!"

   "Look!" Safiya points to the woman's neck, lined with veins and with two bite marks in it, "She was bitten."

   "That snake bitch bit me and stole my husband," The woman growled. 

   "Do you know anything of the artifact?" Joey questioned. 

   "Look for suit's in the lounge," She huffed out, "Otherwise, I'm not sure."

   "You guys should go and look," Calliope gave a glare to the woman in the chair, "I'll stay and watch her."

   With a nod, the whole group made their way back to the lounge-- searching around for these so-called "suits". You pilfered around for something that resembled suits, maybe a drawing, of some sort. But you were drawn from your thoughts as Joey yelled out, holding a deck of cards. Suits! Playing cards.

   "We have to find every suit," Matt so nicely pointed out, making you roll your eyes. "Hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds."

   "Right," You mutter under your breath, quickly going back to your search around the room; looking for anything that resembled a playing card. Safiya had found a club, which had magnetized dice; always rolling onto two ones, snake eyes. And after flipping the cards over, they formed an eight on the back. Manny had found a perfume spray which, when sprayed on a sheet of paper, showed a map of the room; with an x where a hidden clock was.

   You found yourself sitting on the couch, behind where Matt kneeled on the floor; trying to figure out what was going on with the snake eyes and the cards. 

   "Anything?" You glance at him, earning you a glance back.

   "Well, all of these cards are hearts, and there's an eight on the back," He replies, "Eight equals hearts, on the clock."

   "Huh," You murmur. "I suppose that makes sense."

   "Yes," He mutters, "I thought you wouldn't want to speak with me."

   "I'm not one for puzzle solving, so I supposed I could help a bit here," You shrug. "Do you want me to leave?"

   "I never said that."

   "You're implying it." You grumbled, furrowing your brow at him, "Fine. I'll go help somewhere, then." You roll your eyes, standing to your feet and heading towards Nikita. She chuckles at seeing the glare you're giving Matt at the moment.

   "What now?" She nudges you.

   "He's a pompous asshole, that's what!" You growl, folding your arms across your chest, "He doesn't even want me around him. Am I that bad?"

   "You can be petty at times, babe," Nikita shrugs.

   "Oh, c'mon," You grumble. "You're supposed to be on my side." You whine. 

   "Sometimes I just can't," As she speaks, you hear the clock pop open; seeing a paper and stone amber stones inside. You peek over Matt's shoulder, earning you another glance; but this time, you ignore it. Maybe Nikita was right. 

   Teala grabs the paper, and begins to read, "This is the second of the wicked artifacts. To cleanse the Serpents Eye's, you must find the head of a great snake, place the eyes inside, and bathe it in the blood of the serpents' heart. 

   "So we need to find the great snake's head," Colleen spoke, holding the two stones in her hands. As she opened her mouth to finish speaking, a scream came from the arcade; everyone starting to rush toward it-- only to see Calliope on the floor and--

   The woman was dead.

   Oh, god, not again. You couldn't bare to see another person dead, you just couldn't-- would they start speaking to you too? You weren't sure if you could handle another voice in your head, telling you things that you weren't sure were true. 

   "(Y/N)?" A soft voice pulled you from your thoughts, feeling a large hand find the small of your back. You blinked, looking over to see Matt stands there; big chestnut eyes staring down at you with concern, "You look as if you're going to pass out."

   "I am not." You grumbled, a small pink flush on your cheeks as you looked away.

   "Okay." His voice was resigned, obviously not wanting to put up another fight with you. You were very stubborn, and he knew he wouldn't be able to get past that stubbornness of yours. His hand removed itself from your back, stepping away from you-- seeming satisfied that you were fine.

   The only information you had about the snake woman now lay dead in the chair, tied up and motionless. Everyone began to search her person, to see if she had any information left on her that you all could use. Colleen pulls out a note, which tells you that you must go to Fat Man Slim's; as that's where this woman was supposed to meet her friend. 

   Hesitantly, you step out of the lounge; cautiously looking around for the snake woman, not wanting to be caught and killed by her. Halfway to Fat Man Slim's you hear a long hiss in your ears-- spotting the snake woman. You quickly pick up your feet, but Roy wasn't as lucky; getting a similar bite in his neck to the woman previously. 

   The group huddles outside the building, deciding what to do.

   "An antidote needs to be made," Mortimer says firmly, "There's a drug store down there."

   "I'll go," You offer almost immediately, not wanting to deal with whatever awaited you at Fat Man Slim's. 

   "So will we," Ro pipes up, gesturing between her, Matt and Colleen. Just perfect.

   You all make your way to the drug store, finding the many essential oils and elixirs on the shelves. Pamphlets were thrown across a counter, giving you clues as to what you needed to make the antidote to save a poisoned Roy.

   "If done correctly, the liquid will be yellow," You read out, gazing at the list of ingredients as you lean on the counter-- Matt on the other side, facing you, "Certain things are blacked out, we have to find the right things."

   "The first thing is Hem something," Colleen reads from over your shoulder, the woman going to look across the shelves for something that will match it. Your eyes flick over to Matt, narrowing them.

   "Can I ask you something, Matt?"

   "Go on."

   "Why did you vote for J.C?" You speak, voice even.

   "What? How do you even know that--?"

   "He told me," You were sure you sounded batshit crazy. But the words you said were true, J.C, while speaking to you from beyond-- had told you that Matt had voted for him, despite competing to save his life. 

   "He's dead, (Y/N). How could he tell you?" He scoffs.

   "I'm a psychic medium, remember?" You hiss, "He told me."

   "I don't believe you," He narrows his eyes.

   "You didn't deny voting for him, though," You move on, "So answer my question, Matthew."

   He scoffs, rolling his eyes as you use his full name-- "Because I thought he was the weakest player."

   "Did you want him to die?" You hiss.

   "I'm not a psychopath! Of course, I didn't."

   "But you voted him into a death challenge!" You scoff.

   "Somebody was going to die whether I voted him in or not," Matt sighs. "Believe me, I didn't want it. Nobody wanted this, nobody singed up for this game of death, (Y/N). You didn't either. But we have to play along, or we all are going to die."

   You fall silent, not wanting to hear of this anymore; going back to trying to mix the antidote. After a few failed attempts, the liquid finally turns yellow; telling you that you had made the correct combination. The walk back to Fat Man Slim's was silent; especially Matt, who walked with his head down and his brow furrowed.

   You were taking your leisurely walk toward Fat Man Slim's to deliver the cure to the rest of the group, when the snake woman dashed at at you-- causing you to trip over your heels. You would have fallen flat on your face and been posioned, if it hadn't been for a hand hadn't grabbed the back of your jacket. When you looked up, now safely inside, Matt was still holding onto you.

   "Thank you," You whisper, "I shouldn't have come at you like that. It's just-- been a lot."

   "I understand," He huffed, combing a hand through his hair in a frustrated manner; causing your heartbeat to pick up every so slightly, "Maybe next time don't accuse a guy of murder?"

   For once, you laugh at him.

   "Yeah, I'll watch it next time," You gently nudge him with your elbow, drawing a chuckle from his lips, "I wasn't lying, you know."

   He stares down at you, quizzically, trying to determine whether you were fucking with him or not, "I don't know if I can trust you on that."

   "That's fine," You shrug, nonchalant, "But one day, maybe you'll learn to trust me."

   "Yeah. Maybe."

   Matt then walks toward Roy and Teala, who had been posioned in the time you'd been gone; which, you supposed, wasn't such a bad thing. She never held up her end of any of the work around here. He distributed the antidote to them, curing them effectively. 

   With the entire group back at Fat Man Slim's, these men approach; unfolding a giant jenga tower-- telling you that the person who knocks over the tower will be put into the death challenge with no vote. They were to find the golden block. 

   Around an hour in, you were all sick of this damn game. You yourself were ready to knock it over and get that damn brick, even if it meant being put into the challenge. When you were about to suggest this, Nikita spoke.

   "Maybe you should do it, Roy," Nikita jests, "You're the daredevil, after all. Maybe you wanna show off for us." It's always hard to tell with Nikita if she's teasing or not. 

   "Okay. Maybe I should," Roy challenges.

   "Okay. Do it then, knock over the damn tower, and get that brick, daredevil."

   You want to gasp when he knocks it over; pulling out the brick and holding it up to Nikita.

   "There? You happy?"

   "Very," Nikta smirks. 

   Safiya takes the brick from Roy, and places it on a pedastal which opens a chest; revealing the snakes head. Joey takes the two eyes and inserts them into the seprents head, and reveals a card.

   "To be cleansed, the artifact must be bathed in the blood of the serpents heart. Two must be selected by vote to claim the heart and cleanse the artifact." Joey reads clear, a sigh leaving everyone. They had to vote once more; and Roy was already in the challenge. 

   When you return to the lounge, you're the first to vote. You survery your options; the person you wanted to select was the same you had selected last time, Teala. You thought that she didn't hold her own weight. 

   When the results were revealed: it was Roy and...

   Nikita.

    Shit, shit, shit. 

   Nikita could not die. No. Just no. That was your best friend, the only person that was keeping you truly sane here; if she died, you were sure to lose your mind more than you already were. 

   "You fake bitches," Nikita rolls her eyes as she stands up, and air of confidence still about her. "I'll be back, don't worry your pretty little heads."

   She gives you a pointed glance; and you can't help but be reassured. Her confidence just flowed off her person and infected other people like a damn disease. 

   With those parting words, she exits the lounge to compete in the challenge. You're practically curled up in a ball awaiting the results.

   "There's no need to worry, (Y/N)," Ro's sweet voice meets your ears, and shes followed by Matt. They're practically always a pair, like brother and sister; and you always found it entertaining when she bossed Matt around. "She'll come back."

   "I don't know," She whispered, shrugging, "These challenges can take anyone, even someone like Nikita."

   "She's much stronger then you give her credit for."

   "I know that," You chuckle. "She'd probably call me a sensitive bitch right now If she saw me like this-- and even though it sounds mean it always makes me laugh."

   You can feel Matt's eyes on you, as he leans over the back of the couch. You can see genuine empathy in his eyes.

   You give him a glance, you always were giving him glances, "Stop looking at me like that."

   "Like what?" He questions.

   "Like you care, or whatever," You can feel your cheeks flushing, ever so slightly.

   "... Are you blushing?" You can hear the tease in his voice, you can practically see that cocky smile plastered on his stupid face.

   "No, I--"

   "I'm back bitches," Nikita's voice rings out in the lounge, and you see her at the head of the lounge; covered in blood and holding the cleansed serpents head in her hand. "And I don't forget."

Chapter Text

   You were waiting, just waiting, again.

   That's what you did half the time; you were just waiting for a new monster to show up, something new that was going to try and kill each one of you, before you could cleanse the artifact and hopefully get out of her before dawn.

   "So," Nikita said in that raspy, lovely voice you always loved hearing, "What's up with you and Matt, huh? I constantly catch you two together, and you were blushing at him when I came back."

   "I wasn't, he said something stupid."

   "Oh, so you like the stupid ones, huh?"

   "What-- I-- Nikita, no--" You try and defend yourself, when you're interrupted by her laugh.

   "You have the hots for him. Wow!" She laughs, "I can't believe that. Getting a little crush while we're all dying. Someone's got priorities." 

   "Stop it!" You push to your feet, "I'm gonna go help, okay?"

   "Whatever you say, girly," Nikita shrugged, leaning back against the couch and engaging in conversation with Mortimer, who she was obviously still flirting with. Nikita and her flirting. As they were reading out the map, a loud crash was sounded outside; causing your head to whip over to it, and rush toward the doors.

   When you stepped aside, you were greeted with another dead body; Jesus Christ, how many times were you to see someone dead? 

   "Holy shit," You whispered, plugging your noise from the stench of the body-- gagging a bit.

   Joey walked over and unwrapped the man’s body, trying to find something that may be useful. When he pulled out a book, the group rushed back inside, and began reading out the book; with the notebook telling everyone more about the carnival master; and their next artifact-- the Statue of Era.

   They had to find six books, and place them all in order, to unlock the statue. After finding six books and placing them in order, a door fell open, revealing the statue that needed to be cleansed. Safiya quickly picked up the note attached to it. 

   "The Statue of Era infects all who touches it," She read aloud, "To purify the crusted idol, five ancient stones must be placed at its feet. To find the stones, you must assemble two hunting parties by drawing straws from the box. The two with the short straws will be party leaders. Starting with the youngest leader, they will take turns picking their team. The group to recover the stones will be safe from the final challenge. However, The Man With No Name protects his gems, and his touch removes you from the hunt for five minutes. Your only sanctuary is under a red light."

   One by one, everyone picks a straw from where Matt was holding them, your eyes locking with his as you draw your straw from his hand; drawing a long straw. You step back, tearing your eyes away from his.

   The two with the short straws were Manny and Teala; who stood beside each other, ready to pick their teams. And since Teala was the youngest; she got to pick first.

   "Matt," Of course, that was her first pick. You couldn't lie to yourself; that would be your first pick, too. He was the strongest and smartest player here by far, she was smart to pick him first. 

   One by one they picked their teams. You were the last one picked.

   Everyone thought you were insane, with your crazy talks of voices in your head of the dead.

   Nobody exactly wanted you on their team; until you saw Matt lean over, whispering something to Teala. After that, Teala spoke. 

   "C'mon, (Y/N)," She spoke, "Come with us."

   "Okay." You whisper, your eyes flitting up to Matt and mouthing the words "thank you". You were thankful that at least someone had decided you weren't completely a lost cause. Furthermore, you sigh, settling in beside your new teammates; specifically, beside Matt and Ro. That was a comfortable spot for you, you didn't feel... judged.

   When your group set out, it was obvious that this was about to be a mess. Nobody could solve a single clue to find any of the gems, and you were the ones up for the vote in the end.

   "The note we got says that the blood gem can only be collected by the learning the name of the man without one," Joey reads aloud, "Two must be selected by vote to enter his toxic lair and steal it from him."

   During the vote, you decided to vote the same for the third time; and hope that it was third times the charm. Teala had been the leader of your group; and the leadership had fallen to Matt in the end, and even then your group couldn't get it together.

   When Nikita walked up to the stand, she grabbed her card and turned around; furrowing her eyebrows-- holding up Ro's card, "This. Is for voting for me. I don't forget, bitches."

   Your eyes were wide. You never thought Nikita would genuinely try and get revenge, for the vote.

   "The first one in the challenge is," Calliope pulls up Teala's card. Finally. "The Super Spy," She paused, "And The Jet Setter."

   With tears on her cheeks, Ro made her way out holding hands with Teala; out to where the challenge was to take place.

   "Can I ask you a question, (Y/N)?" Matt asked from beside you, tearing yiur attention away from the blank stare you had been giving the floor.

   "Ask away," You hum.

   "Did you vote the same way as Nikita?" He said firmly, giving you a cold stare.

   "What? No." 

   "You two just seem so close."

   "Well, we are. But I don't agree with the way she voted, I promise," Why were you promising him that? Why were you so concerned about the way he thought about you? You shouldn't be. It didn't matter. 

   "At least we agree on one thing," Matt hums, "I'm-- not sure what I'll do if she doesn't come back."

   "She'll come back, Matt," You murmur, sliding closer to him on the couch, your thigh pressing against his. "That little woman is quite the firecracker."

   That draws a laugh from his lips, those eyes giving you another glance-- adjusting his glasses as if trying to get a better look at you, "I know."

   "Exactly, so why're you doubting it, hmmm?"

   "I'm just scared, yeah?" He sighs, "If she doesn't come back, I'll feel responsible." 

   "You're not responsible at all," You shook your head. Why did you feel the need to comfort him so much? "We all did our best, okay?"

   "Yeah," He mumbles. "We did."

   You were about to reassure him again, as he didn't seem so sure still, Ro made her way back in with the statue in her hands. Matt immeaditely jumped up, greetig her with a tight hug. You smiled, seeing him so relieved. Shit-- why were you smiling? 

   Oh, god. If Nikita was right-- you were absolutely screwed. 

Chapter Text

   Currently, you were in the lounge; without Joey. He had left, gone out as he claimed to "try and find something he lost". You didn't believe that bullshit lie for one second. But you also couldn't think of any logical reason for him to go out in this town alone.

   "We should go look for him," Ro suggests.

   "And get ourselves killed, too? Really?" You scoff, "I'm sorry, Ro, but this place is all a death trap."

   "For once, I agree with her," Matt chimes in from beside you. You roll your eyes, albeit playfully, and fold your arms across your chest.

   "See? Even Matt agrees with me," You smile cheekily, "We take one step outside, and suddenly we're being chased by some new monster, and we're gonna be killed."

   "But he's been gone for so long, if something happened to him, we should know," Ro responded, almost sheepish that Matt had chosen your side.

   "It doesn't hurt to check," Safiya buts in.

   "Okayyy... fine." You stand up from the couch with a sigh, adjusting your coat over your shoulders. With that, the group sets out to find Joey-- when you can feel a spiritual pull toward the entrance to a graveyard, so you start in that direction; and just from the vibe of the area, you can tell this isn't anything good.

   That's when you spot Joey in front of it.

   "Joey!" You rush up to him, tugging on his arm, "There's bad energy around here... you should take a step back."

   "Sorry, sorry… I..." He whispers, "I don't know why I came here, I was just drawn to it."

   You furrow your eyebrows, "You were drawn to a possessed area?" 

   "I was told the carnival master was here," He mutters.

   "By who?"

   "My friends, at the society against evil."

   This society against evil was really starting to sound more evil than good at this point. 

   "I've worked with them before," Joey states, "They needed my help, and they've asked for it again. That's why we're here."

   "I.. see," You murmur, "Well-- c'mon, let's get away from here and find everyone else. They have the map, there's something new on it."

   You quickly reconnect with the group, finding your place standing between Matt and Ro; a place you'd become accustomed to in the past few hours, even if it wasn't your first choice, you don't exactly mind it.

   "We have to visit the strong man's tent, and complete the strong man's game," Safiya announces. 

   "Well, what are we waiting for, then?" You pipe up, "Let's do this."

   You're eager to get this next monster over with, to get some more downtime; and maybe talk with Matt and Ro more. You enjoyed conversation with them, it ebbed and flowed easily, and the banter with Matt was... nice.

   When you enter the tent, you recoil immediately; the stench of body odor hitting your senses, and lord, it was strong. You supposed this really was the strong man's tent. You see an older woman, and a chalkboard with a bracket etched out on the green surface.

  "Put 'yer names on the board," The woman instructed, striking her nails against the chalkboard. You flinched, covering your ears a little, "What? Can't handle a little noise, sweetheart?"

   "I can handle the noise, okay?" You hiss, furrowing your brow, "You're just being an annoying bitch."

   "Temper, temper," She tsks.

   "I don't think I need to put my name on the board," You spoke firmly, obviously not going to move on your idea, "I wont be participating." 

   "Oh?" She cocks an eyebrow, "You don't have much of a choice."

   "I know I'll lose," You nod at her. "What's the point?"

   "You'll have yer punishment," She spat on your shoes, stumbling back a bit in disgust. "Don' worry yer' pretty little head."

   You kept a strong face, but anxiety was bubbling up in your stomach; making your hands a bit shaky. Punishment? What kind of cruel punishment could a place like this dole out to anyone, that was worse than the situation itself? "I'm sure I will..."

   Interest flickers in your gaze as Nikita strolls up to one side of the table, and Matt to the other side; that leather jacket sliding off his shoulders. You can see the way his button up hugs his shoulders and back, as he tosses the jacket aside-- rolling up his sleeves. It makes heat rush to your cheeks.

   You feel a jab in your side, glancing over to see Joey poking you-- making your flush even worse.

   "Fuck off," You mumble, adverting your gaze. 

   One by one, contestants fell; til only Manny and Matt were left, standing on either side of the strong man's table. Your eyes were trained on Matt, wondering if he actually had a real shot at winning this. 

   "C'mon, Matt!" Ro cheered, clapping her hands together.

   "Yeah, c'mon, Matt," You joined in with a soft cheer, almost mocking.

   The man's hands locked, elbows planted firmly on the table. At first, Matt was winning; almost with Manny's hand down on the table. But his strength was slowly giving out, Manny starting to push his hand down on the table; causing Matt to fold and let go-- falling to the ground on his knees.

   "You did good," You walk over to Matt, patting his back with a little force and helping him up, "You did much better than I could have done."

   He gazed up at you; unable to figure out if you were messing with him or not, "Thanks." He accepted your praise nonetheless, despite not knowing if it was genuine or not. When he was back on his feet, your hand lingered in his for a moment; before you tore it away and tucked it into your sweater. 

   You opened your mouth to speak again, being cut off by a sharp roar that echoed across the tent. You stumbled back into Matt, causing him to stumble a bit backwards-- grabbing you under your arms to stop you both from falling on the ground. Not only that, but you felt a weird safety in the man's arms; that safety disappearing when he let go, gesturing for you both to run.

   Dashing out of the tent, you followed Matt toward the Ferris wheel; which, in retrospect, was a bad idea-- as you, we're deathly afraid of heights. If you had to get on the ride, you were absolutely screwed. Your stomach dropped as you read the card; you had to get on.

   "Y--You're sure we have to get on there?" You stammer, your heart pounding in your chest.

   "Yes, we do. It's what the card says," Matt responds, giving you a look up and down, "... Are you afraid?"

   "N--No! No, absolutely not!"

   "She's deathly afraid of heights," Nikita laughed, giving you a nudge in the side.

   "I-I can do the ground part!" You suggest, gazing at Matt with pleading eyes. He slowly hands you the statue of the wheel, giving you a little nod. The small structure seemed to control the larger one.

   "Rotate this cart to the top," He explains gently, tapping a certain on the wheel, "And these two on the sides. Okay?"

   His voice was so gentle, and so kind-- you looked up at him, nodding slowly and flushing a little at his proximity, "Got it."

   The three of them quickly boarded the carts, with you carefully maneuvering the carts into the specific rotation Matt had explained to you. Once they were placed in the correct spots, a box popped open; a smile spreading across your face, "A box opened!"

   Matt gazes down at you from the top of the Ferris wheel, all he could see was your smile. He had never really seen you smile like that. 

   You spun the Ferris wheel so they could get down one by one, rushing toward the box to pick up another part of the pyramid. This was the second part, so you assumed that the third part would have to be collected in a death challenge. It was routine, at this point. 

   "Let's head back to the lounge," Matt started his way back to the lounge, with the three girls in tow; finding a giant puzzle outside of it to complete. You were about to start on the puzzle, but without even being able to touch it, the strong man came racing in-- sending the four of you scattering. You ducked behind a game stand, your breathing heavy; chest heaving up and down. What if he found you, and grabbed you like he had taken Ro and Safiya previously? You couldn't--

   "(Y/N)? Hey, you're okay," Matt's voice found your ears, causing you to look at him. One of his hands was on your shoulder, the other holding your arm. He was looking at you with those chestnut eyes again, eyes that just comforted you the minute you looked at them. "He's gone."

   "Okay," You whisper, still out of breath, "T-- Thanks."

   "It's not a problem," He takes your hand, pulling you to your feet-- causing you to knock into his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt for a moment. Quickly, you pulled away, turning away from him. You could feel his eyes on your back for a moment, trying to figure something out; before they flicked away and focused in on the puzzle again. Thankfully for you, the rest of your friends had appeared; so you weren't left alone with your thoughts. After the puzzle was solved, a note popped out:

   "The artifact must be cleansed by a leather band, wrapped around the structure, which will be gained by finding a new strong-man," Joey read the note aloud. "Only the men can be voted in."

   Your heart just seemed to sink. That only gave three options; Manny, Joey, or... Matt. Despite your rocky status with him, and how you two always seemed to banter and bicker, you considered him a friend. Someone here you could actually trust. 

   "Let's hear you three out," Safiya suggested.

   "No, I don't think we have to," You but in, arms folded, "It's obvious, isn't it? Joey's shifty. He's untrustworthy. We vote him and Manny in, and Manny comes back. Matt's done nothing but hold us together."

   Matt blinked at you. Defending him? Okay, that was new.

   "But Joey..." Ro whispered, "He's the only one here who actually knows what we're doing. And he's the tie to the society against evil."

   "We would be able to find our way without them. Have they actually done anything to help? They're the ones that sent us here!" You yell. 

   ".. I have something to confess," Joey murmured. "I--died, already. I was.. given a contract. A contract by the society against evil, that if I was to save this town.. that I would get my life back. But.. if I die, this town dies with me." You watched as small tears fell down his cheeks, small, bullshit tears. 

   "Good acting," You scoff, giving a mock clap, "Nothing can change my point of view. I'm voting you in, Joey."

   "It is time to vote," Calliope announced, "The Psychic."

   As you reach the table, you swiftly pick up Joey's card; turning it around for the entire group to see. The Savant.

   One by one, everyone voted. After Matt had voted, he took a seat beside you, nudging his knee against yours.

   "Thanks for defending me, back there," He murmured, only you could hear it, you were sure.

   "You don't deserve to be voted in," You nudge your knee back against his, earning a dorky smile from him that you swore made your heart do a little dance in your chest. 

   "The first in the challenge," Calliope drew the card, showing Manny, "The Record Producer," With a pause, she drew another card. Joey, Joey, Joey, your head chanted, desperately wanting it to be Joey. Matt didn't deserve it, "And The Detective."

   Your heart dropped into your stomach. 

   This wasn't fair.

   "You're all insane!" You errupt, jumping to your feet in front of Joey, "There is something off about you, and your manipulating everyone somehow-- and now one of the most useful people here could fucking die! I hope you're fucking happy with yourself--" You were about to continue, when hands grabbed your arms, and pulled you back down into your seat.

   "It's fine. A votes a vote," Matt said with a heavy sigh, removing his jacket, and his badge, tossing them on the couch where he had previously been sitting. 

   You were stood to the sidelines. The strong-man was perusing the area, and it made you anxious--seeing as he had only tried to kill you about ten minutes ago, but now he was rather passive--he only had eyes for having one of them dead.

   The first challenge was to drag a tire across a line first: Manny had won that one.

   The next, heave a ball the farthest: That one, on the other hand, went to Matt.

   After that, they had to hold buckets filled with water for as long as possible: That went to Manny.

   The second to last went to Matt, thankfully. A tiebreaker. 

   You felt like you were gonna throw up when the arm wrestling table was brought out. It hit you right then and there, the truth of the situation, the reality that was about to hit you like a damn truck--

   Matt was as good as dead.

   He was going to die.

   You fidgeted with your jacket, you swore you were going to accidently pull some of the cyrtsals off your garbs. But, right now, you didn't care. You couldn't care; not when Matt could truly die right in front of your very own eyes. Your eyes were flitting from Manny to Matt, Manny to Matt, Manny to Matt--

    That's when it happened, your eyes glued to Matt.

   His hand hit the table.

   You desperately wanted to call out, to run to him and help him from the floor as you had before, but your feet wouldn't move-- something in your body knew that you couldn't. Some part of you knew that he was going to die, and you couldn't do anything about it. You wanted to cry out, to say something before he died, but your vocal cords wouldn't make any noise.

   Everyone began running to get the leather band, to cleanse the artifact, but you stood still. Your eyes were glued to the scene, the strong man gripping matt by the front of his shirt; gazing down at the innocent man ready to rip his heart from his chest.

   "Find the Lazarus coin!" He called out, eyes directly on you as he yelled his last words; before the strong man plunged a hand into his chest, ripping his heart straight from his chest.

   You couldn't look away, even though the gruesome scene had just played out in front of you, even though Matt's body lay bloody and cold on the ground at the strong man's feet. The strong man's gaze turned on you-- as if ready to rip your heart out too-- too bad. He already had.

   A hand grips your forearm, finally looking up to see Nikita and Ro running with you and rushing you back to the lounge. You're left with questions, why didn't he try harder? Why couldn't he?

   Why? 

Chapter Text

   He'd left his jacket and his badge on the lounge couch.

   You stared down at them as you re-entered the building, wanting to reach out and grab them, or say something, at the least. But you couldn't, you just couldn't bring yourself to do it.

   "Here, (Y/N)," Ro's soft and resigned voice met your ears, the short woman reaching out and grabbing Matt's jacket and handing it to you. With hesitant hands, you took the jacket between your fingers, clutching it against your chest, "He would want you to keep it, y'know?" She muttered, reaching out to grab his badge, tucking it in her jacket pocket.

   "Would he...?" You mumble.

   "Mhm!" Ro gave you a comforting smile, "He had a soft spot for you. He really did."

   "But he always bickered with me."

   "That's his silly little way of saying he likes you," Ro laughs softly, obviously trying to make light of the situation, "He respects your intellect."

   "You talk about him as if he's still here," You chuckle, clutching the jacket.

   "Cuz he is, in spirit," Ro hummed. "You should know that better than anyone, (Y/N)!"

   You laugh again. Her optimism was just infectious, "I suppose I should, shouldn't I?" Gently, you grab the jacket, sliding it over your dress after dropping your crystal jacket.

   "It looks good on you!" Ro smiled, giving you a gentle pat before walking past you; making her way over to Safiya, who was also visibly upset. She seemed like she was making her rounds to make people feel better. She was good at it, too.

   You sunk down onto the couch, the feeling finally hitting you. You were curled up in his jacket, the leather still smelling of cologne, and he wasn't here. He hadn't given you the jacket, you'd taken it because you wanted something to remind you of his presence that wasn't here anymore. The leather almost felt like his hands, hugging around the small of your back and making you feel safe. That's when your eyes found Joey across the room.

   Joey.

   That name in your mouth just made you feel sick. It just made you bitter.

   He should have died in Matt's place. He just should have.

   Your heart ached in your chest, yes, it felt like there was a giant chasm in your chest that left you feeling empty. But what you felt most? Anger. Anger that you had lost Matt, that he hadn't tried harder to stay here, that Matt had his heart ripped out right and front of you and Joey was still here, and most of all-- you had to look at Joey's face and be reminded of what was taken from you.

   An annoying voice drew you from your emotions.

   "You need to stop sulking," Colleen rolled her eyes, her hand on Mortimer's head; playing with his hair.

   "Sulking?" You hiss, "Excuse me?"

   "Sulking," Colleen confirmed. "You can't just sit in the damn corner and cry about this, when we have other things to worry about. He was one of our last hopes, we'll all miss him; it isn't just a you thing."

   "I-I'm allowed to be upset!" Your voice wavered, as if you were on the edge of tears, "He was one of the few genuine people, unlike you, whose just a fake bitch."

   "You tell her, bitch," Nikita joined in, giving you a little round of claps. She never really saw you like this, especially over someone like Matt. And she was here to cheer you on, since she could see the state you were in.

   "Calm it, both of you," Joey interjected, which just pissed you off more.

   "I don't want to hear it from you, absolutely not you," You yell, "You're here, when Matt could be right now. You're standing here, with your fake crocodile tears, when someone genuine and kind could be standing in your place right now, helping us get out of here. I don't wanna hear it."

   "Preach, girl!" Nikita piped up again, raising her drink to you.

   "And--" You were cut off, Calliope rushing over with the map in her hands; laying it out on the table. You rolled your eyes, a new place on the map, a new problem. Could you not grieve for two minutes?

   "The doll maker's shop," Colleen read aloud.

   "Oh, that sounds just lovely," Safiya hums.

   As you made your way outside, you saw a big red button outside the carousel. Nikita, of course; being Nikita, pressed it; turning the ride on. The box popped open to reveal a doll's head on the inside. Ro grabbed the doll's head, while Safiya picked up the note on the inside.

   "The Night Killer's doll was split in two--the body and the head. To begin to cleanse the doll, you must reconnect the body and the head," She began, eyes scanning the card. "But be careful, the Doll Maker's children were corrupted by the artifact."

   "Wonderful," You said sarcastically. 

   "Are you going to be like this the rest of the night?" Colleen grumbled, her brow furrowed.

   "I will be if I want to," You retort, gazing at her with narrowed eyes.

   "Maybe we should just vote her in now," Colleen scoffed.

   "Oh, you--" You were about to start going off on her again, before Nikita grabbed your arm.

   "Time and place, babe. Time and place." She chuckled, tugging you toward the doll maker's shop with the rest of the group. As you start walking, you notice a trail of baby doll feet, which you quickly follow; leading to a door with at the bottom. You grasp the key, and turn it in the lock, to open the door it had led you to. It wasn't the shop, but the warehouse. You opened the door, walking inside to find a torture chamber for dolls.

   "This is insanity," You scoff.

   You were repulsed at the idea of torture; especially to dolls, which represented children. It made you sick to your stomach, to think of hurting children in any way, shape or form. You approached a doll stuck in cuffs, with wood locked around its head; spotting a pair of tweezers, you grabbed them, reading a note nearby. "This doll is tongue-tied."

   You had to take out the doll's tongue. 

   With a shaky hand, you pulled the tongue out and tossed it aside; hearing a lock pop open from behind you. You thought about the action you had just completed, and how much you would love to do the same to someone like Colleen or Joey. To shut them up and have Matt back.

   Once each doll had been thoroughly tortured, all the locks had popped open, and you collected the body of the doll, connecting the body to the head. A note was with the doll's body, reading:

   "Beware of the twins."   

   Twins? It must be the doll-maker's children, the ones the note had warned you had been corrupted. Making your way out of the shop, two young twins stood there..

   Looming.

   They were still.

   Eerily still.

   After a few seconds of silence and stillness, they broke out in giggles and shrill screams; dashing at you with their small legs as you ran toward the doll maker's shop. You reached the door, missing the twins by a hair, shutting the door and boarding it up with anything you could find. Once inside, you were greeted with three challenges:

   Fear, pain, blood.

   Unsurprisingly, Nikita took on fear; shoving her hand down a sink drain. Safiya decided to take on the pain, holding onto electric stands, pushing them back until a switch went off; telling her she had completed the challenge.

   And now that they had completed those two, the group had to split to complete blood. You opted to go with Joey, Safiya and Ro, as you did not want to be anywhere close to Colleen at the moment.

   You let the three solve the real challenge; not wanting to get blood all over your clothes, especially not Matt's jacket. Not only that, but you were holding onto his jacket like it was a prize. 

   But when a small container was brought to your attention, you took it almost immediately, wanting to play the game. There were a few red pills inside, and a card that said if you wanted to play, you had to swallow one of the red pills. You take one of the pills, downing it dryly; scratching your throat a bit. When you assumed, after a few minutes, you're not going to die, you hear a box pop open. You slid Matt's leather jacket from your arms, handing it to Ro; rolling up your sleeves and digging your arm into the pot of tar.

   You feel around the vat of tar, before feeling a small circle at the bottom. Furthermore, you grab onto it, pulling it up and handing it to Safiya. It was the coin.

   The Lazarus coin.

   Your heart picks up in your chest, you found it. The last thing that he had asked for, the last thing he had called out for, you had found it. You had it here, and that made your heart settle every so slightly. You cleared your hands of the molten tar, taking Matt's jacket back in your arms. Your hands rubbed over the leather fabric, smiling softly to yourself. You had the blood doll, and you had the coin. Now you had to finish this, and see what the coin would do.

   When you arrived back with the other group, they had the pieces that they needed to unlock the maiden of madness. Your eyes scanned the maiden, the thousands of spikes were staring back at you. Someone had to go in there, and cleanse the artifact with their own blood.

   Earlier in the day, you had made your decision. Colleen was your vote.

   "I put up Colleen," You say with no doubt in your voice, no regret.

   "Well, I put up (Y/N)," Colleen retorts, her eyebrows furrowed at you.

   "Everyone who wants Colleen, raise your hands," Calliope hummed. Everyone raised their hands, slowly and one by one, almost hesitant. "Than it is settled."

   "What? No, no, no-- you can't! No, you fucking can't--"

   "I'm sorry, I'm sorry--!" Joey called out as they shoved her toward the box, shutting the doors with a snap. A scream erupted in the room, long and shrill, as you could hear the blood trickling down onto the now cleansed doll.

   As soon as you arrived back at the lounge, you inserted the coins into the box. You quickly grabbed out the harp and the note, a shaky sigh leaving your lips as you read the contents of the note.

   "Strum the harp three times... and think of the friend you want to bring back from the dead."

Chapter Text

   It had been about ten minutes since you had strung the harp, you'd left his jacket on the couch-- you didn't want him to see you with it when he came back. You had fifteen emotions swirling through your brain; excitement, happiness, anxiety, and one emotion that had been brought back from when he died.

   Anger.

   Anger bubbled in your stomach and was ready to make its way through your throat, but nothing would come out. You weren't sure it would until you saw his face again; until you laid your eyes on him.

   And that time was now. 

   Your eyes were trained on him as he turned the corner, the breath getting caught up in your throat. There he as, jacketless and stumbling into the lounge-- just his collared shirt, glasses, and pants adorning him.

   "Matt!"

   Ro called out to him, running toward him as he caught her in a hug. You gave a sad smile, you wanted to be happy that he was back. But all you could feel was the anger rushing from your toes up to your head, the anger blinding your happiness that he was back.

   You jumped up to your feet, making your way outside the lounge-- into the cold air of the carnival. It was always cold out here, the town always had a cold, foreboding air about it. You sigh, sucking in the cold air.

   "(Y/N)," You hear a voice call your name, a voice that makes the anger finally bubble from your throat.

   "What?" You hiss.

   "Are you not happy, it's me that's back?" He says, his voice barely a hushed tone.

   "Not happy it's you?" You scoff, taking a few steps toward him, "I'm the happiest I've ever been because it's you. I shoved a woman inside a box because she said something wrong about you."

   He furrows his brow, "If you care so much," He says, his voice firm and cold, "Than what is the problem?"

   "I'm angry with you, I'm frustrated! And I have no reason to be, but goddamn it, I am. I'm pissed at you, for leaving!" You yell. "Y-You left! You should have put up more of a fight against Manny, you should have tried harder instead of just letting it happen--"

   "Hold on, I--" He puts a hand up, trying to stop you.

   "I'm not done!" Your voice is shaky, cracking with every word, "Y-You were one of the few people I trusted, that gave me a damn chance even though you may have thought me weird at first, you gave me a chance. And in one second you were gone. That comfort was gone!"

   "I didn't ask to be put in--"

   "You should have fought harder!" You cried.

   You continued to speak after that, but he couldn't hear a damn word that you said. It was like white noise fading into the background. Frustration was building into a knot in his chest, furrowing his eyebrows and narrowing his eyes behind his tinted glasses. He stared into your eyes, his chestnut eyes flickering down to your lips-- maybe he could help you calm down.

   He reached over, his large hand clenching your jaw, making you stop talking, and your jaw set into place. You gazed at him with (E/C) eyes, blinking slowly behind your long lashes. In a second, his lips fell against yours; drawing a hum from your throat. Your eyes fluttered closed, all your attention was locked onto him.

   When he pulled back, his hand was still clasped around your jaw; giving that faint warmth to your body. He slowly removed it, your eyes never losing that heated contact that they had first made when he returned.

   "We..." You whispered, naturally still starstruck from the sudden kiss.

   "I'm sorry," He muttered, his eyes now moving to the ground, "I didn't want to go."

   You couldn't bring yourself to respond, any semblance of words were stuck in your throat. You just nodded, faintly, wanting to say something-- anything-- but you couldn't manage it. Thankfully, for you, Ro opened the door with a smile.

   "There's a new place on the map, you two. Get out of the cold," She chuckled, closing the door and stepping back inside. You and Matt gave each other a glance, your arms across your chest-- not sure what to say to him, even after a few minutes, So, you both walked inside, heading toward the group. Matt sat beside Ro, leaning over the map. You could catch him running his hand over his mouth, feeling his lips where you two had just shared a kiss.

   You couldn't help but do the same.

   Likewise, you ran your thumb over your bottom lip, trying to regain the feeling. Your tongue darted out, running over your lips. You were trying to regain the moment, the feeling, the taste. You wanted that feeling back. 

   A door opened, close by, revealing a brief-case--a colorful briefcase. Your eyes ogle it, as they grab it and begin to unfold the things inside. Drawings, they looked like the drawings of a child. Yet these were supposed to be the work of an older man, so you couldn't help but wonder why they looked so... childish. It was a funhouse, that had appeared on the map. Maybe that had something to do with it.

   "So we pin these on the wall in order," Matt gently sifted through the briefcase, picking them up in his hands and starting to pin them against the wall. One by one, everyone pins a paper on the wall, and once they're finished--

   Black.

   The room went dark, causing a panic to well up in your chest. You tried to find something to lean on when you tripped over something, causing your balance to wobble, and fall into someone-- grabbing onto their shirt. Firm but gentle hands grabbed your waist, holding you steady against their chest. The feeling of their hands made your stomach flutter, your face flushing. Thank God, nobody could see due to the darkness. The UV lights flickered on, allowing you to see Matt holding you close.

   You tore yourself away, arms folding across your chest, "Thanks."

   "No problem," He muttered, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

   You sighed, taking in a deep breath. You shook off the feeling, as best as you could--seeing that another box had opened. Not that you had really noticed, you were too busy being flustered and losing your mind. The box held a flashlight; one that Joey and Manny had grabbed, shining over the map. The map now red, right below the Funhouse:

   "The Funhouse is open for business. Bloody business."

   Oh, that sounded just wonderful.

   "We need to get the lights back on," You sigh, holding your hand out to Manny to get the flashlight. You glance around as you shine it on the walls, trying to find something, anything. When you find specific spots, symbols appear in green on the dark walls. They're leading you somewhere, you just couldn't tell where. You were collecting a sequence of numbers along the way. "It's leading somewhere, but where?"

   You could practically feel Matt behind you, glancing at him over your shoulder. His eyes were scanning the same thing you were, his expression thinking and analytical. 

   "Follow the grave instructions, literally," He muttered, repeating the phrase on the wall. 

   "Wait--" You mutter, handing the flashlight to Matt and racing across the room. A poster, covered with graves-- which read r.i.p or rip, is what you're racing toward. You rip off the poster, tossing it to the ground. When you see the compartment, you sigh, feeling a hand reach over you to flick on the lights. Relief washes over you, you hated the dark.

   "Are you scared of the dark?" He chuckles, combing a hand through his hair.

   "Hah, no." You scoff, rolling your eyes, "Even if I was, what about it, Matthew?"

   "You're a psychic medium, you communicate with ghosts," He scoffed, "And the dark is what you're scared of?"

   "Oh, get off it," You huff.

   "Stop it, you two," Ro gently nudges you, as if trying to say: Matt just came back! Don't argue with him now. But if anything; you were even more pissed at Matt now. He had kissed you, and he was talking to you like it hadn't even happened.

   "C'mon, you three," Joey called, "We have to head to the Funhouse."

   "Oh, fine."

   As you were walking to the Funhouse, it was silent; eerily silent. The silence here usually meant something bad, but now it was more peaceful; making the tension between you and a certain someone seem like a louder buzz in your ears than it had ever been.

   Matt was walking beside Ro and Safiya, chatting idly; his eyes drifting to you every so often. He had put his jacket back on, and taken his badge back from Ro, but there was something off about his jacket.

   It smelled of sage and vanilla. 

   It was a specific smell, a scent that only one person in this entire group carried:

   You.

   "Excuse me a minute," He put a hand up, excusing himself from the two women and walking across the grass to you-- who was walking with Nikita.

   "Oh, someone seems to be here for you," Nikita jeered, nudging your arm. You rolled your eyes, watching as she walked away and started toward Manny.

   "I have a question," He hums.

   "And that is?" You furrow your brow, arms folded petulantly over your chest like they always were when you spoke with Matt.

   "My jacket," He chuckles, "It smells like sage."

   Shit.

   Shit, shit, shit--

   "I can't tell why that is," You say coolly, trying to act nonchalant.

   "Well, you had to have been doing something with it. You're the only one out here who even remotely smells of sage."

   "So what if I did?" You retort, "I was wearing. I missed you. Are you happy, Matthew?"

   He paused, "You missed me," He said blankly.

   "Yes," You scoff, "I missed you, and I needed comfort. Having your jacket gave me that."

   "So you're saying you need me," Matt chuckled, you could hear the smugness dripping from his tone.

   "Maybe I need a few different things from you, Matthew," You scoff, walking forward and catching up with Nikita; not even bothering to give him a chance to respond. You didn't need a response from him.

   He stops for a moment, stunned to silence by your implication. He combs a hand through his hair, fixing his glasses. He rubs his lips with a hand, furrowing his eyebrows in almost frustration. 

   You're standing outside the Funhouse, waiting for your time to enter, when Nikita spoke up.

   "Matt is burning holes in the back of your head, babe," Nikita points with a finger toward him, causing you to give him a glance, "What'd you say to 'em?"

   "I didn't say anything!" You chuckle, "He's probably just mad about something again." No, you knew. You knew exactly why. You had said something slightly suggestive, and it seemed to be effecting him more than you thought.

   Just then, Willie appears-- the Funhouse master. The man from the drawings.

   "A few rules before you suffer," He practically growls, groaning as he shifted his mask to a more happy expression, "At the end of the hall is an elevator, You want to enter in one at a time. If not, I'll rip your guts out with a fishhook. The elevator with drop you into a room, which you must solve quickly-- because every few minutes I will spin the dial of disaster, and whatever room it lands on I will enter and take one of you out as punishment. Now, a red light may flash from time to time, and you must get on the elevator quickly. Let's have some fun... tickets, please."

   Joey hands the tickets and one by one, you all enter the Funhouse, being dropped into different rooms. You had been dropped in the candy room with Ro and Matt.

   You attempt to solve the candy themed puzzles, but were having no luck; pieces seemed to be missing. That's when the red light went off. Ro raced toward the elevator, and was gone in a few seconds. You were left alone with Matt.

   "You stared at me like you wanted me dead." You state, your voice firm, "Is there a problem, Matt? Because you come back here, kiss me, and then we don't talk about it. At all."

   You hear his heavy sigh, as he attempts to solve the puzzle, "Because everything I say sets you off somehow."

   "Sets me off? I'm not a bomb," You scoff, "You could have at least said something. Anything would be great. It still would be."

   He places down the pieces of candy in his hand, standing up straight and walking toward you, "You frustrate me to no end, you know that?"

   You furrow your eyebrows, leaning back against the wall, "I could say the same damn thing about you."

   "Yeah?"

   "Yeah."

   "I could figure," His brow also furrows, taking another pace toward you, his hand on the wall beside your head.Your eyes move up down, up down his body. You let out a huff. Your eyes flutter open and closed quickly, raising your eyebrows.

   "Could you?" You hum.

   His other hand finds your waist, causing a soft and quiet gasp to leave your lips. Your eyebrows knit together at the firm touch, wanting him to never take his hand off your body. You wanted his touch, needed it. "i could," He mutters, tantilizingly close to you. 

   Both of your breathing is heavy, the only noise in the room is your pant. Your eyes flicker up and down from his eyes to his lips, back to his eyes. You wanted that feeling back again, you needed it back. He was the only one who could give it to you, and here he was.

   After a moment of heated eye contact, you finally feel it again; his lips crashing against yours. Your hands move upwards, grabbing at the leather of his jacket and the soft brown locks of his hair. His lips moving against yours felt like heaven, feeling his hands tug your hips against his leg. 

   The movements grow more desperate by the second, the two grabbing at anything they could reach. Jackets, hair, ties, clothes. Anything to pull them closer.

   Than, that dreaded bell rings.

   "Damn it," You whisper against his lips, pulling backwards and adjusting his hair and tie. You both probably looked a mess, feeling his hands comb over you as he fizes you up just the same as you did to him. You chuckle hoarsely, giving him a small smile as he dashes away to the elevator. When he spins away, Nikita spins in. It was probably the worst person to walk in, she would notice the smallest detail that was off about you.

   "Hey," You greet, your voice hoarse.

   "Hi?" Nikita cocks her head, a hand on her hip,"What were you up to in here? Not the puzzle, I see."

   "It-- was just difficult," You mumble.

   "Uh-huh. Difficult. Matching was difficult for Matt?" She rolls her eyes to the celling, "Sure thing."

   "Shut up!"

   You finish the Funhouse with Safiya, reading the note; which told you that you two had to choose two people to put into the Funhouse's death challenge. When you return to the lounge; the decsion is made. Safya refused to put Joey in, like you wanted, and you both agreed that Matt wouldn't be put in-- along with Ro.

   You only had two options, Manny and Nikita. You yourself refused to vote Nikita in, that was your best friend. So you put Manny's name in, and Safiya picked Nikita.

   After your vote was finished, Matt, Ro and Joey returned to the lounge to wait it out with you. Matt sat beside you on the couch, placing a hand on your knee. It brought a small smile to your lips, knowing that he was there for you.

   You were all waiting for one person to return to the lounge, Manny or Nikita-- but when Willie appeared, your heart dropped. Why was he here? Where were Manny and Nikita?

   "Why are you here--?!" Ro cried out, a scream leaving her lips as Willie approached Safiya-- plunging a fishhook into her stomach. You and Matt sprung to your feet, rushing to Safiya's side-- her skin cold as he blood seeped into the rug.

   If Safiya was dead, too-- where were Manny and Nikita?

   That's when the two rushed in, the lightbulb in their hand to cleanse the artifact-- and when they did, Willie disapeared into dust. Nikita and Manny where breathing heavy, stunned to see Safiya lying dead.

   "Why is she dead?" Ro rasped, tears in her eyes.

   "Whoever voted for the winner, was going to die," Nikita explained, "And I won."

   "You don't have to say it with such attitude--" Matt said hoarsely. You could hear the pain in his voice.

   "I'm just saying, I think she deserved it--"

   "Safiya is dead!" Matt yelled out, his voice raspy and pure anger in his expression. The two were face to face, anger and frustration on both their expressions.

   "She voted for me to die, she deserved it," Nikita hissed back, "If that was me, would you be acting the same? No."

   Matt huffed, pushing his glasses up his nose and a hand on his hip-- walking away from the situation. You wanted to follow him, try and comfort him, but he didn't seem like he would want it right now. Silence befell the group.

   This wasn't going to help. At all. 

Chapter Text

   You were sitting on one side of Matt, with Ro on his other side. Your hand was gently on the small of his back, as if trying to comfort him like he would do to you. Ro had a hand on his knee, the two of you trying to keep him from going off on Nikita again.

   "It wasn't fair," Matt whispered, giving you a glance, "She didn't even have a chance."

   "I know," Ro uttered, patting his knee.

   "She should've had the chance," You sigh. "She should've. And I know Nikita's my friend, but what she said wasn't right," You grumble. "She fought when she could. The cards just-- were against her, I guess."

   "You guess," Matt scoffed. You knew he was upset, but it was no need to direct it at her.

   "Don't be an ass now," You hiss.

   "Safiya died, (Y/N)!" Matt retorted, his tone hoarse and almost another yell. You flinch back, removing your hand from his back. That tone, that yell, it brought back memories you didn't want to think about. He can see the fear in your eyes, opening his mouth to say something but not able to muster the words. You slowly stand up, hands shaking as you make your way to a secluded spot in the lounge. 

   It was dramatic to be breaking down like this, you know that. It felt stupid, dramatic, but you could feel the tears streaming down your cheeks. No-one seemed to notice as they went on with the next task, your body shaking and your breath stuttering.

   That yell reminded you of a man's name you wished to forget.

   Your body shook violently as you settled down on a couch, tears rushing down your cheeks. The last time you had been spoken to like that was two years ago-- your ex-boyfriend, John. He was constantly yelling at you, degrading you. Was Matt the same? Were you making a mistake?

   "(Y/N)," A soft voice made its way through the curtain, looking up to see Matt's soft brown eyes peering down at you. He gave you a sad smile, "Can I come sit?"

   "Sure," You rasp, sniffling as you wipe your (E/C) eyes-- the whites of them red.

   He plopped himself down beside you, his large hand falling onto your knee-- feeling as if he wanted it to fall onto your thigh, but he was hesitant to even touch you, "I didn't mean to yell at you."

   The thing was; he didn't even really yell at you, he had only raised his voice, and it had sent you breaking down, crying.

   "You're hurting," You whispered.

   "It doesn't give me the right to yell at you," He muttered, his hand moving up to your cheek-- wiping away a few tears from your skin. You melted against his touch, a shaky sigh leaving your lips, "Especially not when you're crying like this."

   "I-It just brought up old stuff," You shrug.

   "Like what?"

   "An old partner," You whispered softly, as if embarrassed to say it.

   "Oh," He mumbled. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring any of that up."

   "You didn't know, Matt."

   Matt? Not Matthew? Well, that was some sort of step.

   "I still feel horrible for making you cry," He chuckled softly, his thumb stroking your cheekbone.

   "Oh, I'll live," You roll your eyes, sniffling once more, "Thank you for apologizing."

   "Thank you for accepting," He murmured, leaning down and pressing a kiss against your forehead. The gesture made your heart flutter, your stomach churn, and your body feel light as a feather.

   "Of course," You laughed softly. A soft something from you; you were never soft. But here you were, vulnerable and letting him see a soft side of you. And he had to say, he liked seeing your "soft" side. Your expression slowly grows serious, gazing up at him, "Don't leave me again, Matt."

   "I won't," He muttered, his gaze so serious you could practically feel the weight on you.

   "You promise?" Those words leaving your mouth were like professing your love for him, crying I love you! from the hilltops. Now you were sitting, gazing into auburn eyes, scared that he wouldn't say it back.

   "I promise," He gently captured your lips in a tender kiss, the sensation making your body tingle and feel like you were floating on clouds. As you pulled away, you smile at him.

   "Good."

   You we're all sitting around as you solved the next puzzle, and you were watching as Nikita and Matt were sat next to each other; silence falling over those two.

   "Listen, I know you probably don't like me right now--" Nikita started.

   "I never said I don't like you," Matt sighed, "I don't like the side of you I'm seeing, okay? You seem... darker... more-- competitive."

   "You have no clue what I was going through," Nikita grumbled.

   "I do. For God's sake, I died. I died, and I came back, of course, I know." Matt rubbed a hand over his mouth.

   "I don't want to argue about this." Nikita growled out, continuing to work on her puzzle.

   "Fine, we won't, then," He sighs again, "But-- no more yelling, okay?"

   "Deal."

   The moment is quickly interrupted, Mortimer storming into the lounge, frazzled and out of breath. You look at him with a puzzled expression, your eyes trailing him for just a moment. What had happened to him? Was he okay--

   "They're--they're going to burn him alive at the stake," He huffs, his voice strained. The group is quick to question who, but is met with no response-- "We have to go, we have to go now!"

   Instinctively, you grab Matt's hand and start running out of the lounge-- your hands intertwined. It felt warm and comforting, his hand clasped in yours felt right. 

   No one sees it, thankfully, and he hustles his hand from your grip. You glance at him, locking eyes for a moment--before your eyes lock onto the man, tied at the stake, a hood draped over his head.

   "You have to hurry," The man hisses out, "She'll be back soon to burn me."

   "Who?" You question, arms folded tightly across your chest. Why should you have any inkling of trust for the man? You couldn't even see his face. He could be messing with you, for all you knew.

   "The witches," He answers in a huff of breath. "You have to hurry! She'll be back soon to burn me, you have to find the key."

   That soon makes you realize you have to solve puzzles, of some sort. Making your way back into the gas station, you begin the rifle through different things. Boxes, gasoline containers. Anything that could lead to some clue. 

   "Are we even sure we should be helping this guy?" Matt's voice rings in your ears, snapping your attention to him, "Everyone we've met in this town is evil."

   "We can only keep pushing forward," Mortimer speaks, his arms open wide. You raise an eyebrow at him. He'd been acting off; but the words in the context of the situation were.. weird, to say the least.

   Matt scoffs, "We can only keep pushing forward," He parrots. "Great."

   You let out a little snicker, glancing over your shoulder at him. Just as you do, something catches your eye--a hanging, bloody skull. You make your way over to it, grabbing the small scroll out of its jaw.

   "It looks like some sort of equation," You whisper, eyes narrowed. You definitely couldn't understand it. You turned to Matt with a small smile, handing him the paper, "All yours."

   He took the paper from your hands, walking toward the car. He splayed the pieces of paper over the hood of the car, looking at the equation before him.

   "Ro, Nikita--look for two J's. They'll be opposite of each other," He spoke clearly.

   You were leaning against the car beside him, giving him little glances, as always. He looked so cute when he was focused, his nose scrunched up and his brow knitted together in complete concentration. You almost wanted to giggle and kick your feet at the sight.

   You could hear whispering, beside you. Calliope and Mortimer were talking about something, something they obviously didn't want you to hear. You cocked an eyebrow. You didn't like Mortimer, nor did you trust him, but it isn't like you wished ill will on him. If you wanted to do that, you could easily figure out a spell for that.

   "You doin' alright, Mortimer?" Matt's voice piped up, nodding your head to his words. You looked at Mortimer, waiting for a response. 

   "Yeah, yeah--I'm fine. Just--just find that key," He hisses, gesturing to the clues in front of them.

   "Right," You whisper, slowly pulling your eyes from Mortimer.

   Ro and Nikita swiftly return with the items needed, and you watch as Matt's eyes scan the equation before him once more. How he could solve it was beyond you, but if it got you what you needed, you didn't need to know. 

   "Try ninety eight--counter clockwise," Matt looks up, toward the box where Manny and Ro are standing. 

   Manny does as told, entering the code as instructed. When the box snaps open, a green-white mist sprays back at Manny and Ro--hitting Manny directly. You almost jump back from surprise, clinging onto Matt's arm.

   When the two-step away from the box, you let go of him--stepping a few feet away. You wanted to be close to him, you did, but you were too worried anyone would see anything. 

   ".. Should we unlock him, then?" Manny suggests.

   "Unlock him? A man we don't know?" You fold your arms.

   "I agree. Maybe we should be weary about this--" Matt swiftly agreed with you; making you chuckle a little.

   "If I was locked up like that, I'd want someone to free me--and I'm sure you two would, too." Joey grasps the key tightly, and twists the key inside the lock. It fell open, releasing the man from the stake. You watched wearily, eyes narrowed

   The bag was removed from his head, and as it was, your eyes widened in shock. The man had a pigs snout, and ears.

   "You said witches did this to you, right?" You cocked your head.

   "Yeah," He responded.

   "So then we need a counter-curse," You murmured to yourself, "Do you have any idea where we could get that?"

   "I happen to," The man swung his car keys around his finger, gesturing to his car. "I took something from the witches."

   Your eyes widen as you see a paper with spells written across it. Your eyes sparkle with an almost childlike wonder, being a psychic medium--you loved everything magical, anything to do with the unnatural. 

   You could feel Matt's eyes on your back, but this time, it was more.. soft. When you turned over your shoulder, all you could see was a small, content smile playing on his lips--before he looked away toward Ro beside him.

   With a little giggle, you grabbed the spells from his hands. Just as you did, you heard the pounding of heavy footsteps on high-heels. You turned on your heels, dashing toward Fat Man Slim's.

   You rested the book on the table, folded open with the wicker doll in the middle, Matt leaning on your left side.

   "You seem excited," He commented softly, eyes full of admiration.

   "I like this kind of stuff," You shrug, a small blush painting your cheeks.

   "Don't be embarassed." He placed a finger under your chin, turning your head toward him with a smile, "It's nice to see you excited about something for once."

   "Oh, shut it," You mumbled, chuckling softly.

   "To cleanse this artifact, you must reverse three curses," You nodded slowly. "Well, we have you--what other curses--"

   An elderly looking woman stumbled through the curtains; wearing overalls and beads through her hair. You looked her up and down, from her silver hair to her sneakers.

   "You've been cursed too, then, I presume?" You cock an eyebrow.

   "Yes.. the witches, they--had their way with my brother and killed him. And they made me like this," She hissed, "I look like a goddamn hag."

   "Well, if it makes you feel any better--you look adorable," Ro said with a smile, making you smile to yourself. Her smile was so infectious; seeing her happy made you happy. 

   "And we need a blood pigs snout, a dead mans wedding ring, and the amulet of youth," You muttered, "Sounds like we have all the pieces we need to get this stuff, then. Where are your brothers bones?"

   "They're at the cemetery. You'll need to disguise as one of the witches lovers to find their location." She explains, fidgeting with her hands, a bit.

   "Right. So, let us four go together," Nikita gestured to you, Ro, and Matt. "Since Matt's our only straighty left, Manny and Joey can go get the ingredients."

   You weren't the biggest fan of this idea. The idea of some woman coming onto him, possibly touching him, made your blood boil until you were practically starting steam. But you weren't about to say that, you knew Matt would make fun of you.

   So, instead, you went along with it-- the group splitting off into two. You stayed in Fat Man Slim's to find the ingredients you needed to perform the ressurection spell. The ingredients were as follows,

   Soil Of The Sun: A sunflower. Earth.

   Wings Of The Gods: A fan. Air.

   Metal Flame: A lighter. Fire.

   Petrified Rain: Ice. Water.

   Once you had all four elements found, you collected the urn, and headed towards the cemetery. You were standing in front of the devils head, gazing at it with narrowed eyes. This place still emmitted dark energy. 

   You took in a deep breath, holding the book in your hands. You were still against, the whole idea, but you still didn't have a choice.

   "With this spell, we recite. Let thou walk as them tonight," The three of you recited, glancing up at Matt when you were done.

   "Feel any different?" You cocked your head questioningly.

   ".. No," He responded.

   "Well--it's all we've got. Lets just hope this works."

   Once you had all four elements found, you collected the urn, and headed towards the cemetery. You were standing in front of the devils head, gazing at it with narrowed eyes. You still didn't like this place.

   You were standing behind Matt, peering around the corner to see the witch walking around the graves. She was waiting for her love; which, sadly for you, tonight that was Matt. You were gently holding onto is jacket, glancing up at him every so often. You were jealous. 

   You understood that it was someting that had to be done; but you hated it so much.

   "Well, go on, then," Nikita pushed at his back, giving you a smirk. You rolled your eyes. She knew, you knew she did. It was Nikita, she knew everything about you.  "Look at you," She chuckled as Matt walked out, "You're holdin' onto him for dear life."

   "Whatever," You roll your eyes, flushed every so slightly.

   "Uh-huh," Nikita folded her arms across her chest.

   "Do you love me?" You heard the witch ask, her tone sultry and her hand moving across his shoulders to remove his leather jacket, "More than your wife?"

   Your heart dropped into your stomach, feeling fear creep into your chest. He had to tell her yes; make her believe that he was truly her lover. But having to here him say yes was going to kick you in the stomach, people already hated you, abandoned you. It was something you were used to. You were ready to feel the tears fall down your cheeks, but his promise rung in your head. He would never leave, not after his promise. 

   "Of--Of course I do," Matt responded with a tremor to his voice, which scared you, what if she didn't believe him?

   You peeked out from the corner again, to see that his jacket had now landed on the floor. You wanted to gag at the way she was touching him; but here you were, watching the whole thing go down. You twisted your hair around your fingers nervously.

   You saw Matt point toward the grave with two fingers, signaling for you to grab the bones. You rushed over, grabbing the mans bones in your hands. Once you had them, you rushed back behind the building.

   "You're not my lover," The witch hissed out, casting that same green that had hit Manny earlier. He grabbed his jacket from the ground, racing back to the group to cast the incantation.  When he stopped beside you, you looked him up and down, and he looked a damn mess.

   "You okay?" You reach over, adjusting his tie and fixing up his shirt buttons. The other two women watched with interest, giving each other glaces and silent laughs.

   "Just fine," He smoothed his hair back, "Dizzy, maybe."

   As you recite the spell, you see the building nearby glowing; and once you're finished, you make your way toward it-- watching a shirtless man walk from the doorway. You blink.

   "Excuse me," Nikita hums, "May we have your ring?"

   "I--I don't know." The man holds his hand close to him, keeping his ring near him.

   "Hey," You give him a small smile, "We need your ring to be able to help your sister," You walk over, gently grabbing his hand. "We'll get it back to you as soon as we can, okay?" You bat your eyelashes at him.

   "My sister?" He echoes, "I understand." He slowly slides his ring off, handing it to you. You smile, taking it and starting your run back toward Fat Man Slim's. On your way there, you feel hands creep around clothes, pulling you back into someone else.

   "(Y/N)!" Ro's sweet voice calls out, walking back toward you. You could see that Matt and Nikita were waiting not far behind, Matt's hands balled up in fists. "Hey... Hey, ladies!" Ro smiles, making your heart drop just a little. She was so sweet, "How about you let her go and we can be on our way, yeah...?" 

   "Are you saying you want to trade places with her?" The witch cocked an eyebrow, gazing down at Ro's short frame as the witch pressed the dagger against your neck. 

   "Uh--um, well, no," Ro smiled nervously, "You don't seem like the.. friendliest, of witches, so if I could just have the friendly one back.."

   Her words make you chuckle, which causes the witch to dig the dagger closer into your neck; pulling a wince from your lips. Ro's eyes flash with fear.

   "Take her quickly," She grumbled. "And get out of my sight before I cut you open crotch to throat."

   Ro laughs, a stifled, nervous laugh--grabbing you by the wrist. Before you could get away successfully, though, a blast of energy hit your skin--telling you you'd been cursed by the witches, as well. You had no clue what that meant, yet, but it couldn't be anything good, could it? Ro had been hit, as well.

   You stumble back into Fat Man Slim's, returning to Matt's side in an instant. He glances at you, seeing the red liquid trickling down your neck. His eyes narrowed, raising his hand to your neck--brushing it against the blood. You flinch at the touch, raising your hand to your neck and covering the cut.

   ".. What happened?" His voice is low, mixed with frustration and worry.

   "They pressed hard enough to leave a cut," You mutter, touching the blood on your skin, "It's fine."

   "Don't say its fine," He gently pulls your hand from your neck, interlocking your fingers, "It's not deep. Just bandage it."

   You blink at him for a moment, the genuine care in his eyes was evident; you had never felt so cared about. You had never felt cared about as much as you did as when those chestnut eyes fell on your frame.

   ".. The ones who have been cursed will be put into the death challenge," Joey read the note clearly, "The last one to complete the witches trials will be stabbed to death by the three witches. Those who make it through will receive the amulet of youth, and be able to cleanse the artifact."

   "Whose been cursed, then?" Nikita aks, her hands on her hips.

   One by one, everyone raised teir hands, everyone but Nikita.

   "Seems we have quit ethe competition," You fold your arms.

   The four challenges were the witches brew, the witches hat, apple bobbing, and a rope course. They all seemed easy enough

   You quickly downed the horrible tasting brews, one by one--moving onto the witches hat. You felt sick to your stomach, sure, but this was your first death challenge. And by god, you didn't plan on dying. 

   You watched as Matt flew through the witches hat. You could hear Joey asking him for help; something you too needed. You were fumbling, a bit, with the puzzle--anxiety growing in your stomach.

   "Move that one first," You heard a soft voice say, looking to see Matt standing there, taking his time to help you when he had just denied Joey the same help. You nodded, doing as you were instructed until you had finished. 

   Moving to the apple bobbing, you placed your hands behind your back, and ducked into the water--pulling up an apple and tossing it to the side.

   Being the small person you were, you quickly flew through the rope course, making it out on the other side--Matt just behind you.

   You glanced around, making sure everyone was more focused on the challenge rather than you two--you grasped Matt's hand, hiding the fact you were holding hands behind his back. You were breathing heavy, coming down from the rush of adrenaline you had just experienced.

   Your heart dropped as you realized Ro still hadn't made it past the first part.

   "It's alright, Ro," A sad, bittersweet smile crossed your lips as Matt began to speak to her. "Just take your time, its okay."

   You glanced away, unable to watch. If you had two favorite people, in this game, it was Matt and Ro. Ro was such a sweetheart, and had rescued you earlier--if she hadn't, she wouldn't have been cursed. You blamed yourself for the scene unfolding before you. 

   Once Manny had crossed the finish line, you gripped Matt's hand tighter--small tears slipping from your eyes. You felt him squeeze your hand right back. You were dragged away from the scene by Matt, neither of you wanting to watch. But he knew how you got when you were sad, shocked, scared. You froze up, you didn't move. He knew that because he saw the way you were stood, when he had died. You had been the last thing he had seen.

   "S-She doesn't deserve t-this--" You stammered out, turning to bury your head against is chest, "S-She--"

   "Shh," He shushed, wrapping an arm around your lower back and holding you close. "She doesn't have to live throughthis game anymore, she's okay." 

   You nod against his chest, tears streaming down your cheeks. You took in a shaky breath, your tears slowly stalling. He was comforting, everything about him brought you peace.

   Walking back into Fat Man Slim's, you saw Nikita standing there. It looked like Nikita desperately wanted to look smug, about the two of you, but she couldn't--worry washing over her expression.

   "Guys," Nikita rasped, "Where's--Where's Ro?" She paused, "Guys."

   "We--we have the amulet," Manny stammered, seemingly wiping water from his face. Though it could be tears, you were one hundred percent sure. He turned to Maira, placing the amulet against her forehead.

   In an instant, she took in a large, deep breath--eyes wide as she regained her youth. You watched closely, still wrapped up in Matt's embrace--watching as she got what was taken from her. A small, sad smile crossed your lips.. a least you were helping someone. It.. wasn't all bad.

   "We're finally helping people," Joey chuckled. "She gets to be with her family, again."

   "Yeah, we are," Nikita mumbled, "Now you two. I'd like to say I was completely right about whatever is going on here." She chuckled, gazing at you and Matt all cuddled up, trying to be lighthearted. Ro would have appreciated it. 

   You roll your eyes, burying your head closer against Matt's jacket. You couldn't even bring yourself to care, you felt so safe in his arms.

   Safe.That wasn't something you were used to; but you supposed you were going to have to now, because you had Matt. 

   Safe. 

Chapter Text

   You were settled in the lounge, one leg folded over the other. You were slightly leaning against Matt, your head on his shoulder, his hand settled on the right side of your waist. Not only that, but you had a small smile on your face, you were comfortable and his hold on you made you feel content.

   Soon you could leave this place-- and if you were lucky, you'd be out of here with him.

   "It's been ten minutes, there has to be something new," In reality, you were really trying to distract yourself from the fact that you'd just lost Ro. You sigh, getting up from your seat on the couch-- Matt's hand dropping from your waist onto the empty spot on the couch. You walk to the map, scanning it, "There are these symbols on the map."

   Matt follows your actions and gets up, standing behind you. He reaches over your short frame, pulling the map off the wall. He takes it over to the table, everyone gathering around the table as he places it down.

   "They're the artifacts," Matt mutters, "Arrange the artifacts in the order I tell you, yeah?"

   "Okay," You walk over to the artifacts, listening to him rattle them off one by one as you arranged them in the newly correct order. Once they were arranged, a box popped open, revealing a collar made of flesh and eyes. Your body shivered as you laid eyes on it, the energy from the collar was dark.

   "Someone should put it on," Manny suggested.

   "I'll do it," You offer, glancing around the group. Matt narrowed his eyes at you.

   "Come on, you don't know what it'll do--" Matt protested, but you put your hand up to stop him.

   "Let me do this one thing," You sigh, "I haven't been much help. Let me do this."

   "Fine," He whispered, folding his arms. He wasn't happy about it, but if this is what you wanted to do, so be it.

   You take the collar in your hands, shivering a bit. You pull the collar up to your neck, strapping the collar onto your skin. Furthermore, you suck in a breath, allowing your body to adjust to the choking feeling. 

   "How do you feel?" Matt questions, concern laced in his voice, "Any different?"

   "It's choking me a bit, but," You shrug, "Otherwise I feel fine--"

   A high-pitched, maniacal giggle fills your ears--the roaring of some large creature following not far behind. A girl in pigtails skips into the lounge, wearing a young school girl's outfit and a black baseball bat in her hand.

   "(Y/N)!" She beckoned you forward. Your feet started to move. Why were they moving? Shit, shit, shit. The collar allowed her to control you. As you're walking, you feel Matt grabbing onto your arm, in an attempt to stop you, but he can't. Your eyes fill with fear as you're now standing face to face with the clown looking girl.

   "I-I-- I can't move," You whisper, tone quiet and terror plaguing it. You swallowed, attempting to breathe; your breathing heavy and your chest heaving up and down. Matt gazed at you with worry; you were showing the signs of a panic attack.

   "Hey-- hey, stay calm, alright?" He said softly, "You're okay."

   You nodded slowly, taking deep breaths to try and calm your mind. You should be used to not having control, considering the voices in your head that were talking to you constantly. But you were starting to gain control back; and now you were being stripped of it.

   "Oh, there's something about you," Lucy, that was her name, was paying close attention to Mortimer, licking her lips and eyeing him up, "There's something dark in you... something you let creep inside, huh?"

   "I have no damn idea what you're on about," Mortimer retorted. 

   Lucy giggling, "I think you do," She slowly walked back to the front of the lounge. "No matter. The carnival master will be free soon, and he'll tear your goddamn throats out! You should be ashamed at how slowly you're progressing!"

   "Bullshit!" Calliope yelled, walking toward her. Her brown eyes were narrowed to slits, "We've collected seven artifacts, and you're the only one standing between us and the last one. So move your ass before I beat the crazy out of you!"

   Her hands pushed Lucy backward, causing her to almost stumble into you. Lucy cackled manically, raising her bat and repeatedly hitting Calliope in her side. Your eyes watched as the tussle progressed, small tears bubbling in your eyes.

   You felt a warm, soft hand brush against your cheek-- flicking your gaze over to the same chestnut eyes and hands that made you feel safe again.

   "I'm scared," You whisper, almost shamefully.

   "You'll be okay."

   "You don't know that."

   "I do," He hums, brushing a strand of your hair from your face, "You're always okay," He chuckles, "Somehow you always are."

   You felt a small flush creep up your cheeks, sniffling as you gazed at him with a bittersweet smile. He was right. You were always okay in the end throughout your life, through all the things you've been through, you've always made it out okay in the end.

   "(Y/N)!" Lucy yelped your name, stepping away from Calliope with a bruised expression. Your body tensed up when she said your name, directing your eyes to her direction, "Grab him!"

   Your eyes shifted back to Matt, who made an attempt to shift away before you grabbed him by his yellow tie. You gazed into his eyes, mouthing, I'm sorry.

   You drug Matt by the tie into a tent. Not only that, but you could see the subtle pain etched onto his expression, since he was practically being choked by you. You wanted to say I'm sorry, but you didn't know if Lucy would reprimand you for that. He seemed to understand, you were sure he did.

   Joey had been grabbed by Lucy's demon dog, and the two men were currently being chained to a post in the middle of a tent. The tent was similar to the first tent you stumbled into with Matt and Ro, which now felt different because of the circumstances. 

   "Come on, (Y/N)," You tore your gaze from them as Lucy called you, Mortimer too who Lucy had grabbed, and her demon dog headed into another tent nearby where she chained up Mortimer for some sick and twisted sexual fantasy, you were sure.

   "Well, then, pretty boy," Lucy ran her hands down Mortimer's body, tugging at the front of his pants again, "What kind of evil did ya let creep inside of you? Ooh, is it daddy? Did he get such a pretty boy like you?"

   You watched the exchange uncomfortably, you were sure that it was vomit bubbling in the back of your throat. You tried to look away, but every time you did, that demon dog would grab your face and make you look again. 

   "What about you, girl?" Lucy questioned, "Don't you want a taste of the pretty boy?"

   "Um-- no," You said hesitantly, not sure if you should disagree with Lucy.

   "Oh, come on, you're not fun," She rolls her eyes, grabbing your hand and placing it on Mortimer's chest. You look up at the man, a plea for forgiveness in your eyes. "You're very boring," Lucy tossed your hand down, "What is your damn problem?"

   "I'd just rather not," You retorted.

   "It's that detective one, isn't it? Oh, the one you were sharing sweet nothing's with, looking into each other's so passionately as I dragged you away. Oh, how sweet," Lucy gagged, pointing to her tongue as it lolled out of her mouth, "You seriously chose that one?"

   "Hey!" You narrow your eyes, "You have no clue what he's like. And no offense, Mortimer, I like him much better than you."

   "I know enough," She gives you a wack to your side with the bat, making you keel over a bit and wince.

   You can hear a patter of feet outside, something Lucy doesn't seem to hear, thank the gods. You look up and out the front of the tent, seeing Nikita and the boys standing outside. Your heart leaps, knowing that they were here to get you--your question was: how?

   "What was that?" Another stir alerts Lucy, spotting the rest of the group outside, "(Y/N)! Get them!"

   You body launches forward, dashing at the four of them. You see Manny divert from the group and run after him, when you felt two hands wrap around your neck-- pulling you back into their chest. Furthermore, you thrash and whip in their grip, before you can feel the control melt away. With all four of their hands on your neck, the collar falls off and into Matt's hands. Your breathing is heavy, as if coming down from a high, your legs feeling wobbly and weak.

   "What in the..." You mumble, being cut off by a soft 'shh' from Matt-- whose holding your waist to keep you stable. He grabs your hand and drags you back to the lounge, so you could continue this conversation in safety.

   "You're alright now," He gives your hand a squeeze, "Just like I said you would."

   You chuckle weakly, "I guess you did."

   "I'm always right."

   "Oh, shut it," You roll your eyes, pushing his face away.

   "As cute as this is," Nikita buts in, pushing you two apart, "We have an artifact to cleanse."

   "Sorry," You whisper, blushing.

   "Apologies." Matt says, rubbing the back of his neck.

   "We have to find three rings to cleanse the artifact," Nikita hums, "Let's start at the church."

   You gather your group and the five of you rush toward the church, the demon dog chasing after your group, as if trying to reclaim you as a servant for Lucy. As soon as you slip inside the church, the demon dog is blocked, and you are safe. Thank god, he couldn't get in.

   "To claim the first ring, two people must lock themselves together," Joey reads, the group stepping over to the box.

   "I have an idea," Nikita takes the handcuffs with a smile, placing them around yours and Matt's wrists, "Let's lock the lovebirds together, they already don't leave each other's sides." And with a click, you're attached to Matt.

   A box pops open, and the first ring is collected, and placed on the collar. 

   "So many in this town took a dirty secret to their grave," Joey began, "The second ring can only be seen once you have re-united five of them with their secret fetish."

   "Someone has to distract the demon dog," Matt points out.

   "Joey, you go first," You say with a smile, a smile that is so obviously fake. He rolls his eyes, sighing as he dashes out of the church. You, Matt, Manny and Nikita head out to the gravestones.

   As your walking around with Matt, a chuckle leaves your lips, "I think I'd off myself If I was attached to you for the rest of my life," You say bluntly, at least, half joking. 

   He let's out a scoff, leaning down to pick up a ball gag and tossing it to the correct headstone, "Would you, now?"

   "Most likely."

   "Yeah?"

   "Yeah."

   "Well," He hums, standing up to face you, "I suppose we'll have to see where that leads you, hm?"

   You laugh, "I suppose we will."

   Your drawn away from the nice moment as the demon dog roars, dragging Matt along with you as you run back inside to see an exhusated Joey.

   "Can't... run... anymore," He huffs out.

   You sigh, glancing at Matt, "You up for a run?" 

   "If you are, I am," He responds.

   "Perfect," You smile, rolling your eyes. You dash out of the church with him at you side, the two of you running through the grassy area of the church. The demon dog is on your heels, but you can't seem to care. Running like this was freeing, it was calming. Feeling the wind in your hair in a place like this reminded you that you were still alive; that you could survive and get back home. No; you would survive and get back home.

   As the demon dog inches closer, you start to run out of breath, your hearts pounding in your chests. You run back inside the church, able to keep the dog distracted for a while with candy at the entrance, before it starts to run off and try to catch your friends again. 

   They all rush inside, Joey speaking, "We just need another minute." 

   "We can't run any longer," You say with heaving breaths, "Why don't you--"

   Calliope rips the piece of candy out of Matt's hand and tosses it far away for it to chase after, stoppig any aruguing from happening this close to getting out of this town.

   Once the puzzle is completed, finally, you claim the ring and attach it to the collar. 

   The next one is around the demon dogs neck, set the trap and lure him with a tasty human morsel," Joey read, glancing at all of you. "C'mon, the traps just behind the tree."

   You race to the large oak tree, hiding yourself behind it--meanwhile Matt had picked up the large metal spear, ready to kill the dog when given the chance. The thought spooked you, a bit, but you'd rather have it dead then chase you around like you were prey.

   Your eyes were trained on the other 3, who were attempting to guide the creature into the trap with candy--not that it was working. A tasty human morsel.

   Ah, that's what that meant.

   "Guys!" You yelp, "One of you needs to stand on the trap, and lure him in!"

   They seemed to get the message, Manny and Nikita slowly stepping onto the trap--jumping back as Joey pulled the rope, releasing the rope trap. You and Matt raced forward, stabbing the metal bar through its heart.

   You could hear Matt murmur a small "sorry," to the creature, despite its earlier antics. It made your heart crack, just a little, but swell as he grabbed the ring and dashed back to the church with the rest of the group in toe.

   You could hear a shrill scream. Lucy.

   She'd been robbed of her new minion, you, and you'd killed her pet dog that she seemed rather close with. Of course she would be pissed off, you didn't even fault the girl--despite her insanity. You'd been called insane before, you.. understood her, in a way.

   "We need one more ring," Joey confirmed, glancing around the room. Soon, his eyes landed on a card, settled on a table with voting cards placed on it. He sighed, grasping the card, "Two must be selected by vote to face Lucy and claim the fourth and final ring."

   "Again," You huff, still out of breath, "We have to do this again. Someone else has to fucking die."

   "Discuss amongst yourselves, please," Calliope settled herself behind the table, gesturing between the five of you.

   "I think," Joey sighs, "We all vote ourselves in. That's the only way that seems fair."

   You, for once, agreed with him. That was the only fair method pof voting this far in.

   "Alright," Calliope picked up each one of your cards, and shuffled them. Once she had shuffed them, she took in a deep breath and flipped over the first card, "The Record Producer," She picked up the next card, "And The Troublemaker."

   Nikita and Manny. Last time it had been the two of them, Safiya, an outside player, had died. What could happen this time?

   You could hear audible sighs. Manny and Nikita had to go against each other; two best friends, who had stuck together this entire time. They had never gone against each other, even when they thought they were. They came out together.

   But now it was possible they had to face one another-- and watch their friend die. 

   You traveled back to the tent where Lucy resided, glaring at her with daggers. You settled beside Matt, clutching his hand. Lucy really did scare you, considering what power she had over you, not so long ago. 

   "Oh--and just--one second," Matt grabbed a handful of the popcorn that lay in the pit, a small, almost cocky smirk on his face.

   "Really?" You gave him a wack to the shoulder, which caused him to drop the popcorn. Maybe on purpose, you didn't know, "Don't be an asshole."

   "They showed no remorse when Safiya died," He grumbled. You couldn't even fault him. "Why should I show them any?"

   As the challenge unfurled in front of you, each of them found the keys to their boxes, one by one each finding nothing. Until Nikiat unlocked a box that had a shiny silver item inside--

   A gun.

   ".. Shoot yourself or shoot your friend," Nikita read the card, grasping the card tight in her hand-- her gloves hands shaking.

   "Please Nikita, I--"

   "I'm sorry."

   She fired the gun three times into Manny's chest.

   Your eyes were wide as you rushed over to grab the ring, attaching it to the collar so Nikita's sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. After Lucy evaporated, you grabbed Nikita and you all rushed out of there-- the only words she could say were "I killed him," she repeated so many times you were sure it would be burned into your brain. "I killed my best friend."

   Tears pricked at your eyes as you got back to the church, gazing at Nikita. Despite the melancholy of the situation, hope sparked in your heart, gazing at Matt and you held onto his arm.

   "Were gonna get out of here."

   Together, you wanted to add, you were going to get out of here together. 

    "Were gonna get out of here."

Chapter Text

   You were walking out the church, ready to place the last artifact down, when you heard a rumble back inside the church. You all quickly whipped around, rushing back inside the church, to see Mortimer with all the artifacts.

   "Mortimer, what are you--" Joey rasped out.

   "Shut it!" Mortimer growled, "I'm bringing him back. He deserves to come back."

   "Mortimer, please," You pleaded quietly. You were so close to being free, to leaving this damn purgatory-- he wasn't going to ruin this now, not when you were so fucking close. 

   "It's already done!" Mortimer was quick to rip the collar from Nikita's hands, overpowering her with no problem. As the collar dropped onto the last podium, you all let out cries of defeat. This was it. All that work for nothing. 

   Your teary eyes shifted to the large case across from you; glowing an orange that reminded of amber, as if a fossilized creature was appearing from out of the case. You clutched onto Matt's jacket, fear coming off you in waves. The glass of the container broke around you in shards, him, The Carnival Master, stepping out of it. He was a beast, covered in hair, with a glowing blue stone glowing in his chest. 

   With slow, measured steps, he walked toward Mortimer. Mortimer dropped to his knees, gazing up at The Carnival master like he was some kind of worshiper of a god. 

   "I've done all you asked," Mortimer spoke breathy.    

   "Then come here, my child," He opened his arms to Mortimer. The group watched as their former ally walked right into the enemies arms, allowing The Carnival Master to embrace him. 

   "Traitor!" Joey called.

   "We fucking trusted you!" Nikita yelled, her voice strained; the pain evident in it.

   Second by second, you watched as Mortimer was taken away; his eyes glowing a bright red. As the "transformation" was almost completed, Calliope dashed over; grabbing the gun from Mortimer's waistband. She fired three shots into The Carnival Master's chest, hoping that it would do something, anything, but it was useless. He was too strong, the bullets didn't even pierce his skin. 

   His hand wrapped around Calliope's throat, strangling her until she went limp in his hand. Her body fell atop of Mortimer's, the two people who had been with them the whole time, dead. 

   "I can smell society stench all over you," He approached you four with a growl, stumbling back from his looming presence, "They have called you into a war that is not yours. And now, you're going to pay with it for your lives. But don't worry... I've got some friends who are going to come visit you." 

   Your eyes blow wide open as he slowly raises his arms, the stone in his chest growing bright blue. The artifacts surrounding him glow an amber ring, the group looking around frantically. 

   "There's people outside--!" Matt cried out, grabbing you by the arm and dragging you with him out of the church. You were running away with Joey and Nikita close behind, running for your lives again. 

   You were running, running, but you didn't know where. Matt was pulling you along with him, his grip like a vice. He didn't want to lose you now, and if he let go for even a second, he was sure that would happen. Before you knew it, you were pulled into the arcade-- barricading the doors and scrambling back into the lounge. 

   Your chest heaved up and down, trying to catch your breath. Everything was just happening too fast, if you could just get a moment to breathe--

   "Hey," His soft voice cuts through your inner turmoil. When his hand connects with your cheek and your eyes meet his, it's like you can breathe again. He was like the air that kept you going. "Are you okay? Sorry I pulled you like that." 

   "Yes, yes. I'm good," You sighed, placing a hand against your chest. 

   "He brought the damn dead back to life." Nikita gasped out, a hand against her chest as she tried to regain her own breath, "We're so fucked."

   "C'mon, don't say that," You sighed, shaking your head. It was just like Nikita to make you more scared than you already were. 

   "It's just the truth, babe!" Nikita shook her head.

   "It's not the truth," Matt retorted, his arms slinking around your shoulder and squeezing you gently, "We'll-- we'll figure this out."

   "And if we don't?" Nikita furrowed her brow.

   "We will, I--"

   "Cut it out!" Joey cut in, "Let's try and actually figure this out. There's something on the back of the map." He was holding the map in his hands, laying it out on the table. On the back, there was a scene displayed; there was a woman and a man, standing in front of the church. Though, you'd never seen them before. 

   "Those-- were the people I saw when I died." Matt spoke softly, gazing down at the portrait. 

   You flinch even at the mention of his death. It still haunted you to this very moment, "Who are they?" You ask, eyes flitting to him.

   "I'm not sure," He sighed, a hand combing through his hair, "All they did was greet me at the church."

   You nod, eyes scanning the paragraph on the back of the map. It tells you the story of the two people, and how they were slaughtered by The Carnival Master; because they didn't know the true power and protection that he held. They spoke of the "life stones," and how they kept him alive as long as they exist. So, they must destroy them with the power of the cleansed artifacts. 

   "Be careful of his minions, though," Matt read, "If they capture you, you will be taken to the cemetery where you must be rescued by two friends. They must lay their hands on the mausoleum. If you are not rescued within five minutes, the undead with feast on your flesh." 

   Your skin crawled at the thought of being trapped into that small space. 

   "So we agree-- if someone is trapped, we have to go and retrieve them?" Joey suggested, glancing around the group. The consensus seemed to be yes, with nods around the group, "Alright. We're all in this together, okay?" He placed his hand on the table.

   "Exactly!" Nikita placed her hand in next, and soon after, Matt atop of hers. You paused for a moment, debating it. You had never been a part of a group like this before. But-- you supposed you should start now. You placed your hand atop of the stack, "Together." 

   You all rose to your feet, walking toward the door. Furthermore, you peered outside, trying to find a route out of the lounge; but every angle was covered by zombies. Your eyes flitted around, noticing an alleyway. 

   "There! An alleyway. We can squeeze through there." You pointed to the dark alleyway, that would hopefully take you to the tree stump you had to arrive at. Slowly, you all slide out the door, dashing through the alleyway. You let out a yelp as the zombies start to dash after you, weirdly fast for undead creatures. Your feet carry you quickly to the tree stump, as Joey grabs the wand from the stump. It glows a soft orange ring around it, and as he touches it to the stump, the first stone floats down to the group. Nikita's eager hands grab it, cradling it close to her chest. As she holds it, a wispy, ghost like light floats away from the stone. 

   "The second stone rests on the end of the hangman's noose." Matt reads aloud, a heavy sigh leaving Nikita's chest; as well as yours. "However, you'll need to wear his executioners hood to see it. His raiments are high above, where you challenged the Serpents tower." 

   "We challenged that in Fat Man Slims," You earn nods from the group as you speak. Quickly, you set out on foot to get back to Fat Man Slim's; hordes of zombies crowding your way, "How the hell are we supposed to move past them?"

   "Run and hope to god no-one gets captured," Joey sighed out, dashing past you. You groan, and with no other choice, start running for your damn life.

   You're running faster than you think you've ever run in your time on earth; but still, it isn't enough. As you watch Matt, Nikita and Joey slip through the horde right into Fat Man Slim's; hands grab at your jacket. You cry out, hoping to catch someone's attention; and Matt turns on his heel. He stops dead in his tracks, looking as if he's about to dash at you and grab you. You want to yell at him and tell him to go back inside, but you can't speak. Luckily enough, Nikita grabs him by the collar and tugs him back inside. 

   "We have to go and get her now, I--" Matt stumbles out his words, panic obviously in his tone, "We only have five minutes--" 

   "Matt, I don't know if we have enough time," Joey huffs. "I know how you feel about her, but..."

   "Don't have enough time? The hell we don't!" He retorts, his brow furrowing. He rubs his forehead in frustration, "A couple of minutes ago, you were saying we are all in this together. How we have to promise, to save each other, and now you're going back on that? You're a damn hypocrite."

   Nikita blinks at the sudden ferocity of Matt's tone. She can't help but admire his dedication to keeping you safe. 

   "Listen, Joey, if you don't wanna go with us, that's fine. But Matt and I are going to get her," Nikita proclaimed, moving to stand with Matt, "So you can either stay here or come with us."

   Matt and Nikita are already dashing out the door, running through the zombies and toward you to free you from your confinement. They don't spare the time to look back and see if Joey joined them. Quite frankly, they don't care. Your safety was the priority right now.

   If you were already gone before he got there, because of Joey's arguing holding them up, he'd strangle that man with his own bare hands. When they arrived at the box, they placed their hands on it, watching as it glowed a deep amber. The door unlatched, and you stumbled out. Matt walked around the side just in time to catch you, holding you upright by your shoulders.

   "M-Matt," You whispered out, tears in your round eyes. You hated small spaces.

   "Hey, you're alright. I know you're cared, darlin', but we have to keep moving, okay?" His voice was soft, pulling you out of your panic. You take in a shaky breath, a bit frazzled still from being in that tight space-- and half from the petname he had called you. Since when had he started doing that? 

   You nod, taking his hand and weaving through the zombies this time. When you arrived there, Joey was sitting in a booth. That prick hadn't even come with them to save you. 

   "Glad to see you're okay," Joey spoke to you as you arrived. Bullshit. You could tell from his tone.

   "Don't even," Nikita rolled her eyes.

   "Lying piece of shit." Matt spoke through gritted teeth, his brow furrowed. You'd never seen him so upset before.

   A look of offense crossed Joey's face, but he soon wiped it off; seemingly choosing to focus on the task at hand.

   "There's rope here," Nikita started to follow a long rope up the stairs, Joey following after her. You debated going with them, when you saw Matt struggling to keep the door shut. You sped over, helping him push back against the zombies undead strength. 

   "How're you feeling?" Matt said in a breathy tone, glancing at you as he pulled his glasses from his face; rubbing his eyes.

   You chuckled, "Uh, scared. Probably the most scared I've been since being here," You sigh, "We're so close to getting out of here and we could lose it all."

   "Yeah," His eyes flitted to the ground, "I've already left you once," He chuckled, eyes shifting back to you, "I don't want that to happen again."

   "I don't want you to leave either," Your tone was soft, your (E/C) eyes gentle and warm. You meant it.

   "Then we won't," He murmured, "Ever. Promise?" Gently, he held out one hand to you, offering his pinky to you. You laugh at him. "You're laughing at me?"

   "Yes!" You break a smile, slowly wrapping your pinky around his, "It's cute."

   "Cute," He huffed, rolling his eyes, "Hardly."

   "I think so," You hum.

   He opened his mouth to retort your answer, but Nikita and Joey scrambled down the stairs. Your hands swiftly seperate as they appear with the rope and the hood in hand. 

   "Nikita can distract them while we get everything ready," Joey suggests, helping Nikita get the hood onto her head.

   "Hand me the rope, I can get it together," Matt holds out his hands for the rope as Nikita dashes out the door with the black hood on her head. You peer out the door, watching as the zombies horde around her. Once matt had the rope prepared, ypou called Nikita back with a yelp, telling her to come back in.

   "Alright, Joey," You pat him on the back with intended passive agressiveness, "You're up." And with those words, your heading up the stairs with Matt and Nikita in toe. 

   "Head straight, Joey!" Matt called out.

   "I doubt he knows how to do that," Nikita quipped, her arms folded. It drew a snort from you, covering your mouth.

   Matt rolls his eyes at the two women behind him, though a small smile crept onto his face, "Right there! Wrap it around the merry go round!" 

   "You're doing great, sweetie!" Nikita called as Joey headed toward the second pole, wrapping it around the pole slowly as the zombies pooled around him.

   "Now head to the last pole, and back to the merry go round," Matt yelled out, watching as Joey managed to complete the trial slowly but surely. He heads to the middle of the triangle with light direction, and raises his arms.

   "A box popped open!" You yell, "Go left!"

   He listens clearly to your direction, stumbling toward the box and pulling out the second life stone. As he lifted it into the air, another wisp left the glowing stone. Joey, foolishly, rips the hood from his head-- removing his invisibility. With a shreik, he begins to run.

   "The drugstore!" You yelp.

   He dashes into the drugstore, closing the door tightly behind him. You watch as he slips out the back, dashing back into Fat Man Slim's. The three of you rush down the stairs to greet him, Nikita and yourself flopping into a booth. Matt leans on the table beside the two of you, his stance almost protective. 

   "The Maiden of Madness contains the last life stone. It will only release the crystal once it has feasted upon the flesh of an undead mother." Joey reads out, glancing at the three of you. 

   "What's the Maiden of Madness?" Matt questions, looking between you and Nikita, not bothering to glance at Joey.

   "It's where we killed Colleen," Your voice is small, almost bashful.

   "I might need a small refresher, seeing as I was dead," Matt jokes, but you give him a glare that shuts him down almost immeaditely. 

   "Basically we had to throw her in there, and we closed it on her while she was impaled with spikes," Nikita explains. "Super gruesome."

   "But we know where it is," Joey sighs heavily. He glances back at the card, "Hold on, theres more," He holds the card up to read the rest. "Caroline passed away two year ago from grief over her lost child, and they say she was buried with a token of her daughter."

   "I can run out and distract them again?" Nikita suggests, taking the hood from Joey's arm.

   "Be careful," You place your hand on her shoulder, earning a smile from her. She pulls the hood over her head, and dashes out of Fat Man Slim's. You, Joey, and Matt divert your attention and make your way toward the cemetery. When you arrive, you search the graves, and discover that there are two carolines buried here.

   "The woman who longed for children," You read aloud, glancing at Joey who was standing at the second headstone.

   "A grief stricken mother. This one!" You pick your feet up and hurry over to the stone, beggining to dig in the rocks. As you do, you find a baby rattle in the shape of a bunny. You grasp it in your hand, and speed back to Fat Man Slim's to hopefully retrieve Nikita. Your down on your luck as you do, the zonbies crowding around you. You slip into the lounge, watching Nikita as she pulls off the hood to distract them again. While they're distracted, you make a run for it.

   You and Matt climb to the balcony of Fat Man Slim's to see Nikita stumbling around with the hood over her head.

   "Follow my voice, Nikita!" Your heart pounds in your chest as you yell for her. What if they grabbed onto her? What then? She needed to make it out of here with you, "It's just another late night, y'know? Just like back home!"

   "Walk of shame," She huffs out, drawing a chuckle from your lips. Joey guides her the rest of the way back inside, and she makes it inside safely. The two of you rush down the stairs, and you greet her with a tight hug. 

   "I--I'll go out and try to call Caroline over," You slowly reach for the black hood, still holding the rattle.

   "Are you sure you wanna do that?" Matt cuts in, making you laugh quietly.

   "I'm sure, okay? I'll be fine," You confidently pull the hood over your head, despite your shaking hands. It's noir black, and you can't see a damn thing. So, you just start rattling the toy; hoping that it will lead your zombie to you. 

   "There she is!" Nikita calls out to you, "Come back in!"

   You scramble back inside, bumping into Matt. His chuckle is soft as he pulls the hood off your head, "Careful."

   "You distract the while we lead her back to the Maiden since you we're-- y'know, dead for that part?" Joey suggests.

   "Sounds good," He pulls the hood over his head, and stumbles outside into the horde of zombies. He disapears into the town; which makes your heart tremble, not having eyes on him scares you. 

   You hold up the rattle, shaking it as you run toward the doll shop. Caroline follows you into the shop, and you lead her to the roo with the Maiden. Your tomach lurches, remebering the dreadful screams that Colleen had let out when you had shoved her in there only a few hours previous. 

   "C'mon, it's lovely in here!" Joey cohorses her into the Maiden, dropping the rattle at the bottom. As you close the doors, she shreiks horribly, almost mirroring Colleen in a sense. A drawer pops open, similar to before, and the last life stone presents itself.

   Your heart pounds vigorously in your chest. It hits you all at once-- you were finally, finally leaving. You were leaving this place and you were getting out with Matt. 

   "We need to find Matt, and quickly," You usher them out the door and back to your homebase, catching a glimpse of Matt; who almost tripped and planted on his face, "Matt! Matt! We have it!"

   "You do?!" He yells, starting his way toward the sound of your voice. Once he feels the door, he rips the hood from his head, pushing his way inside and wrapping you up in his arms-- spinning you around. Your eyes widen, gripping onto his jacket tightly before a laugh escapes your lips.

   "Matt! Put me down!" You playfully hit him.

   "Sorry," He places you back on your feet, holding your shoulders and gazing down at you with those beautiful brown eyes, "Just-- excited."

   You nod, smiling up at him. His excitedness was adorable in your eyes.

   "Our last clue," Joey holds it up, breaking up the sweet moment. "The faces of your dead friends have a message on their backs that will turn the tide in your fight against them."

   "Their faces? Where do we find--"

   "The cards!" You interupt whoever was speaking, you weren't sure who, "It's the cards. That's where their faces are." 

   "Back to the lounge one last time," Matt huffs out, opening the door and starting the run back to the lounge. And just like he said, one last time.

   Once you're all back in the lounge, you swiftly board up the doors, and rush into the divine lounge. As you discover the box, it seems that there is no way to open it. The four of you stare, puzzled, until Nikita reaches out and slides one of the life stones into the top of the box. The box falls open, and you pull the cards out of the slot. You lay out the cards on the table, realizing that the back of the cards line up to form a message. 

   "Place the stones around the harp, and strum it twice. The lazarus harp can be used to summon fallen champions." Joey read quietly, glancing between the four of you. Nikita and Joey collect the stones and the harp, placing it on the table; surrounding it with the three glowing stones. You slowly reach out, strumming the harp twice. As you finish strumming it, glowing energy manifests in the room, and two people walk through the hallway-- the same hallway Matt appeared from-- and it was the two people pictured of the back of the map, who bore the Scoeity Against Evil sigil. 

   "You've done the impossible like we knew you could, Joey," The blonde spoke clearly. "Grab the life stones. It's time to finish what we started." 

   When you arrive at the church, you're met with The Carnival Master once more. You clutch onto Matt again, the same fear from before coursing through your veins. But, this time, something is able to be done. Before you could even process it, the Society Against Evil members and throwing themsleves into battle. It eems that the two of them have the upper hand; before you see them pinned against the wall by their throats. Your heart clenches, your freedom was in sight. 

   You were about to lose all hope. But the blonde pushes back, kicking him off of her, and pushing him to the ground-- her knife slicing at his throat. Your hand comes up to cover your mouth, watching as blood bubbles out of his throat. 

   It was over. He was dead.

   "This is what you came here for, Joey," The blonde gestures toward the glowing crystal in The Carnival Master's chest. He creeps over to it, pulling it from his chest. "The spell is broken, and your contract is complete. You're free. Everlock now has a future because of you." 

   As your walking out of the town, the day begins to break. Light creeps over the town, brightening it exponentially. The town you had just fought for your life in looks less threatening, and more inviting as you're finally leaving it. Nikita is walking ahead, eager to leave, while you stutter behind a bit with Matt. 

   "Did you ever think we'd make it here together?" You chuckle, arms crossed against your chest.

   "Considering I was dead a few hours ago? No." He laughs back, earning a punch in the arm.

   "Well, we're here," You stop in your tracks, turning to face him, "Together, just like you promised me."

   "I keep my promises, y'know," He shrugs. You grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, pulling him down.

   "Just kiss me, you idiot." You rasp, eyes flickering from his eyes to his lips. His hands shakily wrap around your waist, pulling your lips against his. You sigh into his frame, almost melting into his body. You both pull away, so, so slowly. Like you never wanted to be apart again. 

   "Here," He pulls his jacket from around his shoulders, handing it to you, "Keep it."

   You eye him, as if asking are you sure? and when you get a nod, you slip it on over your shoulders. It's snug, and comfortable. It smells like him, of musky colonge and most important it makes you feel safe. 

   He wraps his arm around your shoulders as you walk over the bridge and out of the town. You're alive. And you're together. 

   Maybe he wasn't so bad.

Chapter Text

    Time skip!

    You were sitting around with the rest of the Society Against Evil, in the forest, because you were on this mission that Joey set up. Because he believed he needed to "undo" all his wrongdoings. This was about the same time you found out that he had been the cause of more than just your group's deaths. It only made you hate him more.  

   "Are we anywhere close to being done?" Nikita complained beside you. The two of you were lounging on a blanket, waiting for Matt to bring you coffee. Your husband, might you mention. 

   "Knowing Joey? No." You sigh, laying back against a fluffy pillow.

   "I have your coffee, you two," Matt's voice makes you shoot up from your position. You smile, blowing him a kiss as he hands the two of you your coffee cups. "I think I deserve a real kiss."

   "You'll have to come down here, I'm not getting up," You smile at him, sipping on your coffee as a blanket pools at your waist. 

   "I'll get one later," He huffs, leaning against the tree beside you two. 

   "Oh, yeah. Sure." You roll your eyes, albeit playfully.

   "I'm fed up with your constant flirting. Where is my man to flirt with?" Nikita whines.

   "You'll find him soon, honey," You pat her back gently.

   "You three!" A brunette calls. You peer over at her, and Nikita and Matt do the same, "A portal has opened up."

   You leap to your feet, leaving your warm blanket and coffee behind. Furthermore, you walk toward the portal quickly, as do Matt and Nikita. 

   "You probably won't have much time there," She warns, "Use it wisely." 

   With a nod, the three of you slip through. You're met with sand colored walls, and plants covering the floors. You glance around, looking for any sense of people, when you spot a door not far off. Not only that, but you run to it, almost tripping in your heels, but fling the door open. Matt and Nikita rush in behind you.

   "Matt! Nikita! (Y/N)!" Joey yells happily, but the three of you meet him with a cold glare. After everything that happened at Everlock, the three of you had decided to cut him off from your lives; trying to forget what happened in that wretched town.

   "Matt! (Y/N)!" Ro runs up to you with an excited yelp, and you greet her happily with a big hug from the both of you, "Oh, how are you two?"

   "We're good, Ro! I'm more worried about you!" You laugh, holding the smaller woman close against your chest.

   "Oh, I'm fine, I'm fine-- don't worry about me," She chuckles, pulling back.

   "Look," You gingerly hold out your hand, revealing the diamond ring that adorned your finger. And though it was more obvious, the leather jacket that sat around your shoulders was Matt's old jacket from your time in Everlock. It still brought you comfort to this day. 

   "Oh my god!" She gasps, holding your hand and examining the ring. Her eyes flit to Matt. "You married her? Matt!" 

   She leaps into his arms, holding him tight. He laughs, nodding to her, "Asked her to marry me as soon as I could."

   "You two? Married?" Colleen scoffed. You glance at her, sighing softly. The last time you saw her was when you were shoving her into a box of spikes, hearing her screams that still haunted you to this day.

   "Yes. Married," You chuckle awkwardly, "It's been two years since we married. And now we're back here, trying to help all of you." 

   "Now, the magic doesn't last for long, and we can't stay here the rest of the time--" Matt cuts in, and you nod along, "-- But we're here to help you any way we can."

   The way the night unfolds almost takes you back to Everlock. The three of you and helping them through each trial and tribulation, working as a group and trying to get them out of this museum. You're bantering with Matt and Ro, just like you used to. You wish that you could just bring Ro back with you to the society, and let life be right again.

   You've made it to the last puzzle. The death challenge. 

   Your heart lurches in your chest as you see Matt holding the clue card, and you were transported back to Everlock immediately. To the night that Matt was killed and taken from you.

   It's almost as if he can feel you spiraling. His arm wraps around your waist, pulling you into his side. His other hand meets your face, turning you to look at him. You gaze up at him, gazing into those brown eyes you fell in love with years ago. His forehead gently falls against yours, holding you close. 

   "Everything's okay, yeah? I'm right here." He whispers reassuringly. You sigh, pulling away.

   "I know, I know. Just brings everything back." You shake out your arms, trying to regain your confidence.

   He turns back to the card, while still keeping a close eye on you, "To claim the final piece of the medallion, build a monument to Poseidon from the pieces hidden throughout the maze. Your chosen guardian angel will search the maze for the pieces you'll use. The first to complete the monument will receive the piece while the other will be torn to pieces. Watch your back, the Minotaur will be roaming the maze." 

   Colleen, smartly, chooses Matt. And Alex chooses Nikita. 

   When they find their way out of the maze, only Alex returns. This meant that you had a hand in Colleen's death not once, yet twice.

   You sigh, embracing Matt. You could feel the disappointment in himself coming off him in waves; you knew he was going to take this to heart. You suddenly feel a twitch go through your body, pulling away from him.

   "Seem's like my magics up for this time," You chuckle, gazing up at him. You pull him by his collar into a quick kiss, "See you on the other side?"

   "See you on the other side."