The carnival was empty, abandoned.

No footsteps. No wind. Just the faint scent of something sweet—burnt sugar and old rot.

Then the humming started. Off-key. Childish.

She rounded the corner in a skip, head lolling, painted grin smeared too wide across her face. Ribbons dragged behind her like entrails pretending to be bows.

“Ohhh, there you are,” she whispered, like it was a secret. “I was hoping you’d wander in.”

Her eyes didn’t blink. Didn’t need to.

“Let’s play a game. If you win, you go home. If you lose…”

She giggled, and something moved in the shadows behind her.

“…well. You’ll find out.”