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“Welcome, one and all, to the Carnival di Modifica!” The loud speaker echoed throughout the park entrance, the microphone crackling as volume peeked. “Witness mysteries, myths, and monsters, experience the change you need. Have a scary good time!”
Maya scoffed at the repeating speaker, body slack against a pole as her friends giggled with their water guns and their racing horses. The town had gotten a new carnival for the Halloween festivities this year—one that was supposedly well-acclaimed yet cheap—but, to Maya, it was the same as always. Rigged games run by disinterested carnival workers, masked volunteers with the worst costumes she’d ever seen, rickety rides that were one screw away from killing someone. For a Halloween carnival, this wasn’t scary. What was even worse than all of this? The slogan. How would a carnival change you? Whatever made them sell tickets, she supposed.
“Maya!” A high-pitched voice called out and Maya straightened. Simon, her best friend, smiled at her. “Come on, we’re going to check out the maze!”
Maya rolled her eyes, arms crossed. “Seriously? Those are so elementary.”
”You know,” Simon smirked as he pulled her forward, “you have a lot more fun if you just loosened up.”
”That might be the case, but then who would be here to chide you all for all the dumb stuff you’ll manage to do tonight.” Maya planted her feet, her lips fighting back the smirk that always seemed to appear when Simon talked to her. After being friends for most of their lives, Simon seemed to bring out a certain side of Maya—one she was not too fond of. It often got her into trouble and she could not afford trouble right now, with college around the corner. Chuckles came from behind Simon. The rest of their friends staring into Maya’s reluctant face. She knew what they thought about her. How she had changed, how she wasn’t any fun and how she would snitch or ditch them at the first sign of things turning for the worst. Maya knew that the only reason she was still invited anymore was because Simon wanted her there.
“Simon, let’s go! The line’s getting long!” One of the boys called, his arm wrapped around his girl.
Another voice called out. “Leave her! She’s no fun anyways!”
“Simon, please, go without me.” Maya sighed, slowly pulling out of her friend’s grip, “I’m ‘no fun’ anyways. We both know it.”
Simon’s smile shifted, his expression firm as his hand tightened in hers once more, closing the gap between them. Maya’s green eyes met his baby blues. “Please, Maya, just this one night? We can go home right after the maze, promise.” Maya looked at her feet, kicking the gravel around. Simon always knew how to convince her. Before she knew it, she was walking hand-in-hand with her best friend. The group chattered excitedly around the pair yet a comfortable silence settled between Maya and Simon.
The building they approached was, for lack of better words, a glorified shack. Small and shifty, one harsh wind away from uprooting. A stream of people came from the door, all wearing faces of excitement and fear, which only got more so when costumed actors came up to scare those waiting. The group stood at the back of the fast-moving line, their conversations overlapping while Maya stared anxiously at what lay ahead. Her body coiled as screams came from up ahead, laughter soon followed as the girls composed themselves and entered the maze. Maya chuckled nervously. What a dumb reaction, she thought, how could anyone be afraid of any of this? An actor walked by her, slowing as they locked eyes. Maya’s stomach turned. Its mask smiled at her, painted white and bloody, its lines deep and accentuating. The stare of bright yellow eyes nailed her to the ground, digging and crawling under her skin like a bug. Her breath hitched. The two stared at each other, each pair of eyes scanning the other for every detail, any flaw or weakness. Maya whimpered before her eyes darted to the nearest exit from the line, her mouth dry as she turned away from the actor. The mask, she thought, its stare--it wasn’t right. It was too real. Maya flipped around, her mouth agape and lip trembling, her body scrambling away from the entrance. She couldn’t do this, it was too much. This carnival was not all cheap games and cheezy monsters. There was more to it, and Maya didn’t care to find out. People exclaimed as she pushed past them, Simon’s attention catching on to the sudden commotion. His gaze followed, brows furrowed, as his friend left.
“Maya, we’re almost to the front. What are you…” His question disappeared with one look at Maya’s face. Her trembling body was against the wood wall of the building, arms wrapped around herself, and wide eyes almost bursting from their sockets. Maya’s mouth stuttered, but no words came from it. Simon slowly approached her, his hands lightly taking her shaking body and guiding with ease to the dying grass on which they stood. “You’re going to be okay, Maya. None of it is real-”
“Si-” Maya heaved, her eyes staring into his, Simon’s own stomach turning at the expression. “I can’t, Si. I don’t- I don’t feel good.”
“Simon!” A boy from their group yelled. “Hey come on, man, we’re about to head in!” Simon looked between them and Maya, her grip pleading with Simon to stay with her.
“I don’t want to go in, Simon.”
“That’s okay, Maya. You can stay out here and wait for us-”
“No. Please, stay with me. I-” she sighed and closed her eyes, “I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Maya, I-”
“Dude! Are you coming or not?” The boy stressed. Simon stared at Maya, his face apologetic as he stood up.
“Just wait here, Maya, I won’t be long.”
“Simon,” she frowned, stuttering as she followed him up. “Simon, what are you doing?”
“Don’t come in, Maya. We’ll leave as soon as I’m out, okay?” He crouched down, his hands on her shoulders, to meet her gaze. “I promised before and I promise now.” Maya nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Simon walked back to the group, last-second regret flashed across his face as he left Maya alone. She stood against the wall, staring as the last of their group entered the maze. Her stomach twisted while her throat tightened, a hand almost reaching out for them. For Simon. Before she knew, it was one step. And then two. Her feet carried her towards the maze entrance, her heart beating out of her chest. This is stupid, this is going to cause trouble. Simon always had a way of convincing Maya, of making her feel strong if just for one second.
The carnival worker didn’t call after her as she entered the maze, not that she heard him if he did. It was nearly pitch black as she walked through. Her hands reached out, looking for something to guide her in the dark. Her fingers trailed along the wood-like sides, her eyes adjusting to the dark as she took deep breaths. Oh she had done it now, she thought. Only she would be stupid enough to run into a scary carnival maze all by herself. A shiver travelled down her spine as whispers echoed around her. Her pace quickened, her hand leading the way through the dark passage. She had walked for what felt like eons. Her back was lined with sweat while her mouth sounded like sandpaper with every swallow. Her one arm wrapped itself around her body, just to help with the shivers. Soon, a white light peeked from around the corner. Maya breathed a sigh of relief, rushing forward only to clash into a mirror. Her eyes struggled to readjust yet when they did, mirrors surrounded her. She chuckled nervously, standing up and looking herself over. Under the bright lights, Maya looked plain. Almost black and white. Once again, her hand reached out in front to guide her through. Slowly walking through the maze, the chills never stopped. Her head was constantly on a swivel, her stomach twisting from the nerves. The voices came back, louder now. Mimicking the snide comments and complaints from the group she had come with, ones she had overheard throughout the night.
“Maya’s no fun anyways,” a girl’s voice said.
“Yeah, I’m glad we left her ass behind!” Another giggled.
A boy this time. “Hey, she’s only here because someone keeps trying to get her involved.”
“That’s enough, guys,” Simon’s voice, “come on, I see the exit.”
Wait. That wasn’t repetition. It was them! She was close to them, she could get out-
“I don’t know why you keep dragging her around like your pet, Simon,” another guy chimed in, “she hates it.”
“You don’t know that-”
“Si, denial is an ugly thing,” the first girl chimed, “even on you.” Maya’s pace slowed as she listened to the group ahead. “That girl is all about herself. She may have been your best friend once, but that was ages ago dude. She’s changed.”
“You both have, dude, and I think you need to realize that you’re going into a totally different direction.”
Maya scoffed. As if. Her and Simon, despite their different paths, were still close. They hung out all the time, studying and watching movies. His new friends had nothing, meant nothing when-
“You’re right.” Simon chuckled, sniffling. “All she’s done is complain this whole time and cling to me. Man, I think at this point, she’ll annoy herself into an early grave.”
The group cackled, the volume decreasing as Maya fell onto her knees. Something had shattered on the way down; her heart, a mirror, it didn’t matter at that moment. Another chill ran down her spine, but she didn’t flinch. She barely moved over to the wall and curled in on herself. Maya’s limbs tingle and prick all over, her face red and wet from the streamline tears. The numb beat inside her chest echoed in her ears, her sobs choking out any sound left in the room. Slowly she moved to stand, wincing as blood flow returned and pale hands wiped dejected tears.
“Hello,” came a voice, thick with an accent. Maya jumped back against the mirrors, eyes wide as she looked around. “Careful now, child, we wouldn’t want you to hurt.”
“You’re not real,” she gasped, “this is just mind games.”
“I assure you, Maya,” the voice boomed from behind her, “I am very much real.” Maya scurried away from the mirror, finding that a figure stood within the mirror. Standing tall and thin, a tricorn on his crown, fashioned in neat Venetian tail coats. The figure removed his hat and bowed to her. Once he straightened, Maya saw that his face was hidden by a detailed mask.
“How do you know my name? How are you in the mirror?”
“I know all that come into my carnevale, child. Though almost none have been as curious as you!” Maya whimpered, slowly moving away from the mirror. “Come now, don’t run. It’s no fun when they do.”
“What do you want from me?” Maya screeched, throat still sore from the sobbing.
“Oh, caro, I want nothing from you,” the mask appeared in the mirror next to her, a sharp yelp escaped as she scampered back into the maze, “I just want you.” Maya crashed into every mirror, desperately searching for the dark tunnel she had come from. Her breathing heaved, eyes red and frantic as all she saw was her. Maya surrounded herself, reflection upon reflection. An endlessly looping hell as she thrashed around, screaming fire with her broken voice. Her body vibrated as she banged on the mirrors. Let me out, she wanted to cry, I never wanted this. I never wanted trouble.
“How is it that you find yourself alone, caro? You came with so many young folks! All chattering away and playing games, yet… you would watch. Yes, you would watch and pout, screaming about how unintelligent they were. As if you were so much better, Maya. A boy. That’s all it took for you to falter. Every time you urged to leave or stood on your own, caro, he thought otherwise.” The masked figure appeared in the mirrors once more, behind Maya’s reflection. Its voice straddled between condescending and compassionate, swaying its way through Maya’s memories of the night. “You followed him everywhere, not just tonight, but through your whole life. It was his promises that drove you, his presence that caused it all. Following him around like a pet. You are better than that, caro, you can be better than that.”
“I don’t see what this has to do with-” The reflection shushed her, gloved hands resting on her shoulders. She could feel it, but her peripheral vision couldn’t see if it was there.
“I can make it all better, caro. Easier. You will be strong and unmoving. They will listen to you from now on. Everyone will hear and see you!” The figure kneeled in front of her, amusement laced in its words. “Would you like that, Maya?”
Maya held her breath, clenching her fists as her eyes stared into the hollow spots of the mask. “Why? Why me?”
“Because you are in need of change,” the figure stood, arms grand in its gesture to the surrounding mirrors, “just like the rest of us!” Maya looked around, goosebumps running down her arms as the various masks and figures of the scare actors appeared in the mirrors. The next was more gruesome and vivid than the next. Her head spun as everyone- everything closed in on her. The figure stood above it all, mask discarded, as bright yellow eyes forced Maya still, her voice silenced as her body screeched in painful heat. The figure cackled, his trance intensifying. “I have a special role for you, caro. You will be a jewel within the Carnival of Change!”
Maya barely heard him through the scorching pain and wasn’t awake long after a snap, a pop, and a crunch.
It was a year later when the Carnival di Modifica arrived back at Simon’s small town. A whole year without Maya. He had looked for her after they had gotten out of the maze--he had a promise to keep--yet she was nowhere to be found. He had assumed she had gone home, however she was reported missing 2 days later. Simon sighed, hands shoved into his coat pockets as the group headed for the infamous maze. The group chattered around him as he looked towards the front of the line, a pit in his stomach as old memories arose. A tingling feeling overtook him, like he was being watched. His blue eyes locked with the gaze of one of the scare actors. Decorated in bloody jewels, its mask frowned at him, the scornful crying rudy red as bright green eyes stared into his soul, planting him where he stood. The stare dug under his skin for flaws, weakness. Simon swallowed the lump in his throat and looked away nervously, guilt on his mind. The actor walked away as Simon glanced at it briefly, his hands fidgeting. Those green eyes looked so familiar.