Carnival of Darkness (FaeTAL Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

position. Heck, I’m not even sure the man is breathing at this point.
    The woman gets to her feet, blood dripping from her skinned knees and elbows.
    “Please! Please, someone h-h-elp me! Please!” she pleads through her sobs.
    This act is so freaking real. Many people in the crowd are on their feet. Some seemingly struggling with the pull to help the woman. I have never seen something like this. How can this be fake and yet feel so real?
    As she starts to limp-run her way to the exit, the clown walks slowly behind her. Slicing out with his knife, he aims for her back. She screeches in pain and a red line forms on her ripped shirt. The clowns mocking laughter fills the ring.
    The cowboy eyes the woman with anger, yet his eyes are almost filled with pity or sadness. Removing a lasso from the saddle horn he digs his thighs into the horse and moves toward the scene playing out before him.
    Finally, he’s going to help her. He’ll rope the clown and this demented scene will be over. My sigh of relief is quickly cut off when his rope wraps around the woman just before she reaches the gate that marked her freedom. Jumping from his horse he quickly and efficiently hog ties the woman, turns his back and walks his horse from the ring. Leaving the woman helplessly waiting for whatever the clown has planned.
    His eye gleaming with joy, he kicks the woman before bending down and whispering something meant only for her ears. His knife glides along her exposed body as if he is letting it choose where to start.
    Gulping back a sob, I turn my head into Rick’s shoulder and refuse to watch anymore of this sick show. His fingers run soothingly through my hair. After a few minutes, he pulls away and I find the ring empty. The only thing left behind are a few drag marks and a small pool of red liquid sitting peacefully in the middle of the ring.
    “Come on, Char. Let’s get you out of here, huh?”
    “Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good. I think I’m done.”
    He looks disappointed at my announcement, but I just can’t find it in me to care. I can’t stand to stay in the place a minute more.
    “I’ll walk you to your car. I don-”
    Sensing his growing protest to me leaving alone, I interrupt.
    “You don’t have to walk me out, Rick. You stay and hang out with Greg and Sara a little longer. I’ll see you at work on Monday.”
    Flashing him the most sincere smile I can muster, I stand and start the trek back to my car. Rick stays with me until we find our friends standing in line to ride something called the Zipper where I encourage him to join them.
    “I promise, I’m okay guys. I have just had my fill of horror for a while. Thanks again for inviting me. It was... nice.”
    After saying our goodbyes, I wander through the back side of the vendor tents trying to avoid the crowd and creeps on the way to the parking lot. It’s well lit and there are workers everywhere, so I feel safe enough.
    Before I have time to protest or even think through what is happening, a hand holding a rag is pressed into my face. My body is being pulled away from the tents and my eyes are getting heavy. I can’t find the umph to struggle. To scream for the help I so clearly need.
    My head pounds in time with my heart. My breathing slows. My limbs feel numb and useless. My vision blurs just before everything goes black.

    Brett
    “Hey, Brett. Get ya ass over here and help me with this would ya?”
    At the sound of my name, I jerk my head in the direction the husky voice came from to see one of the vendors dragging a sack across the grime covered dirt.
    What the fuck? Remind me not to eat at any of these damn nasty-ass booths anymore.
    “Whatcha got there, man?”
    On closer inspection I see that the bag is moving.
    “What’s it matter to you?” He delivers a swift kick to the bag and smirks when it goes still. “Just come help me get her into the back trailer where Fred wants her, damn it. Bitch is making it harder than shit.”
    Damn it! Looks like