Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Ranch Creek, 1984
Ranch Creek was a quiet sleepy town, the type of town where people left their doors unlocked, kids ran around under the glow of the street lights, and your neighbor was always willing to lend an egg or some sugar.
One main road ran through the town almost as if by accident trailing past an outdated diner with cracked vinyl seats, a theater with only one screen and a fading marquee, and a downtown peppered with charming stores staffed by even more charming people. In the center of town standing strong in brick was the school which housed elementary students through seniors in high school. Everyone and their mother knew of all the happenings throughout town, you couldn’t even sneeze without word getting out.
The winding neighborhoods that surrounded the town were full of children running around to and from each other old houses. White picket fences adorned the picture perfect houses with yards decorated by abandoned bikes from excited children, tall imposing basketball hoops in the driver, and carefully curated landscaping in the yards of those with too much time on their hands.
At the far edge of town sat the forest that invited rumors of all kinds and a lake that stilled until a local fisherman decided to try their luck. The main attraction was the fairgrounds which housed the huge carnival that came to town once summer had dried up the spring rain. Pastel pink and blue clouds of sugar adorned on sticks were handed out to small children with hands far too sticky for this own good. The sound of popping filled the air accompanied with the smell of butter tempting even the sternest of men. Neon lights flashed and cheerful music played inviting in people of all ages to forget their troubles and celebrate as if they were still children.
As the trees changed colors and lost their leaves the joyous lights would dim until Summer came back around. The fairgrounds had a different air about them without the sights and sounds of the carnival. The large heavy steel gate was chained shut, the rides sat like skeletons that looked as if they could come to life at any moment. The magic of the summer carnival dulled into rusted metal and sun-bleached paint.
Rumors spread, as they so often do, attracting the attention of local teens to the empty fairgrounds. Large empty spaces invited rebellion making the fairgrounds a place the cops were called to often reminding the people of the town that trespassing was still indeed a crime. These rumors that spread throughout the town like an unchecked wildfire were tempting to even the most sensible person.
Shayne walked out of school with determination settling into his body. He was twelve years old and made of pure fire despite his height only reaching 5’2. He walked with his friends back to his house with a plan heavy on his mind fueled by the rumors that swept his middle school.
He made his way to the garage door, ready to punch in the code, of his small two story house: a pale yellow house decorated with white shutters and a white front door with beautiful stained glass. The houses in the suburbs all echoed each other like a melody. As Shayne entered the garage the smell of lawn clippings, gasoline, and old cardboard made the air stuffy.
He threw his backpack onto the ground, shoved his dirty blonde hair out of his eyes, and called out to his friend who had been walking with him, “Damien are you coming?”
A young Damien of thirteen years old ran into the garage laughing at a joke Keith had made as Keith trailed behind. “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. So what were you trying to say earlier?”
Damien set his backpack down with more care than Shayne had. He and Shayne had been neighbors since Damien was three years old and his dad had gotten transferred to the small police station in Ranch Creek. He was quieter than the other kids in their grade but had a sharper sense of humor and wit about him. Damien’s hair was dark and trimmed neatly per his parents’ request. His house carried that same level of meticulous detail with geraniums lined up like soldiers and his father’s tools organized neatly in the garage.
“Oh, don’t get him started I already know he’s on some bull-“ Keith laughed as he was cut off by Noah brushing him in the back of the head. Keith lived in the neighborhood behind Shayne and Damien’s. The small distance did not prevent them from running around and causing trouble together.
Of course wherever Keith went he was accompanied by a curly headed gangly Noah who still had to grow into his head. His voice still hadn’t dropped so as he yelled, “Language!” at Keith everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
Courtney bobbed in after the boys slightly out of breath with her blonde hair in a scrunchie on top of her head and her windbreaker swishing as she braced herself against the wall, “Hey! You guys forgot about me again!”
Shayne tried to stifle his laugh. Courtney was a little younger than his sister Angela and ever since she met Shayne she was fascinated by him. She wanted to play the video games he played, talk about the movies he liked, and do the things that he did. At first Shayne found it annoying and wanted to just hang out with the boys until his mom told him that it was sweet she admired him so much.
“As I was saying earlier, Spencer’s cousin said he knew someone whose cousin broke into the fairgrounds a few years ago. Apparently they don’t shut off the electric during the off season and the arcade is just sitting there ready to go. Tokens unguarded. Games still on. Are you following?” Shayne explained using his hands to add grandeur to his stories.
“Unlimited games. Unlimited chances to try to beat Chanse McCrary’s high score on Galaga,” Damien smirked.
Shayne turned to him and their hands met in a satisfying high five as Shayne nodded, “Exactly. Well maybe the Galaga thing is a personal vendetta but who can say no to unlimited games?”
Noah spoke up nerves lacing his words, “Won’t we get in trouble?”
Keith laughed and smiled, “Nah. As long as we don’t get caught.”
“Easy, then that means we don’t get caught,” Courtney said surer of herself than her age should have allowed.
They plotted and schemed their great adventure in the garage filling details like how to get in, when they would go, and who was coming: bolt cutters Damien planned to steal from his father’s tools, Friday as soon as the sun started to set, and Shayne, Damien, Noah, Keith, and Courtney.
As they stood around the old wooden table that used to sit in Shayne and Angela’s dining room but now lived in the garage for projects their discussion was interrupted by a high pitched voice that came through the side door that swung open, “Shayne! The TV isn’t working again-“
Angela’s little brown bob bounced as she poked her head in the garage, her request cut off by her curiosity. Her little glasses made her look younger than the ten she was with the round frames making her eyes bigger and brighter.
Another voice, not much deeper, came from behind her, “Hey, did you ask him?” Then another little face popped into view, Olivia with her dark long hair tied out of her face with a ribbon. “You guys are so busted, what are you doing?”
Shayne grabbed the notebook they had been planning on shoving it behind his back as the girls came into the garage, “Uh, nothing.”
Angela grinned as she raised her eyebrow at him before shooting Olivia a look. Olivia rushed at Shayne grabbing the notebook before he had time to move it. “The fairgrounds?” She exclaimed.
Angela squeaked, “Let us come!”
Shayne snatched his notebook back from Olivia with a look of disapproval, “No way weasels. You’re not coming.” Damien and Keith whispered to each other laughing at Shayne’s distress that came from an excited Angela.
“Why not?” Angela asked through pursed lips as she crossed her arms.
Shayne laughed at that scuffing her hair, “Because I said so.”
Angela straightened and fixed her hair. She looked at Shayne, then Damien, then Keith and Noah, and finally Courtney who gave a meek wave and whispered, “Hi Ang.” She looked back at Olivia before turning to Shayne with an evil look on her face, “I’ll tell Mom.”
Shayne looked at her with an incredulous look before turning towards Damien. With exasperation he said, “She’s bluffing.”
Damien took a look at Angela laughing at her determination, “I seriously doubt it. Don’t you remember the last day of school?”
Shayne groaned and put his face in his hands, “How could I forget? I was grounded for a whole week,” he turned back to Angela and Olivia, “Fine. You can come. You have to promise to listen to what we say though.”
They both nodded with an eagerness that matched that of puppies learning how to play. Shayne groaned knowing he would probably regret their inclusion but knowing he had no other choice.
The planning continued as they figured out alibis. Keith and Noah would tell their parents that they were staying at Damien’s, Damien would tell his parents he was staying at Noah’s, Shayne told his parents he was staying at Keith’s and Angela told them she would be at Olivia’s. Both Courtney and Olivia told their parents they would be staying at Angela’s.
With alibis set Shayne sets his eyes steady on Angela. “Don’t you dare mess this up.”
Angela responded shock clear in her voice, “I won’t!” She put her hands up as if defending herself.
The corner of Damien’s mouth twitched as he suppressed a laugh. He had a soft spot for her that made him want to vouch for her when Shayne tormented her. Courtney noticed this, the always inquisitive amateur detective deeply inspired by Nancy Drew, and she said nothing but filed it away in her mind smiling at the silliness of the situation.
Friday came quickly giving the group little time to prepare. The excitement buzzed through all of them as the last bell rang declaring them free from the brick building where each of them sat patiently at a desk. Olivia and Angela got up quickly from their English class running to their lockers earning them a scolding from their teacher Ms. P. Shayne and Damien discussed their plans as they packed their backpacks up at their lockers, their chatter energized and nervous.
That night, Angela got ready while Cyndi Lauper filled her room. She put on her favorite purple t shirt with the pink glittery star on it, her acid wash jeans, and her pink windbreaker. She zipped her pink windbreaker up to her chin then put a thin white headband on that complimented her white glasses. She brushed through her hair with her glittery hair brush trying to brush away the nerves. She grabbed her pink backpack then met her brother in the hallway.
Shayne in his long sleeved striped polo and his jeans scuffed Angela’s hair as he walked past her. She yelled at him, “Hey!” He chuckled as he runs down the stairs and she follows as she always does.
Their parents wave to them as they walk out the door. Their mother calls, “Hey make sure you get her to Olivia’s in one piece! Love you guys”
They meet the group at the end of the road everyone with their backpacks and duffle bags. They spot Olivia as she waves frantically at Angela, her red striped sweater sits under her white windbreaker that she paired with her old blue jeans patched with red fabric with white polka dots. The red ribbon in her hair flowed as the wind pushes against the group. Olivia squeals and hugs Angela, “I can’t believe we are doing this! We are so cool!” This earns a chuckle and some cringing from the group but Angela responds earnestly.
“Yeah this is gonna totally show Derek!” The girls high fived and broke into giggles. Shayne nudged them along to keep the group moving. Noah, who was in a jacket much too big for him, whispered his concerns to Keith, whose baggy basketball shirt and white high tops gave the illusion of pure athleticism, who laughed it off.
As they approached the gate to the fairgrounds the tall metal creaked in the wind and the light rain patted against it. Courtney, in a neon pink sweatsuit and white sneakers, inspected the gate and turned to the group, “Damien, did you bring it?”
Damien, who blended into the night in his black hoodie and dark jeans, slammed down his heavy duffle bang that hit the ground with a metallic clang. He pulled out bolt cutters and began working on getting the gate open, “Of course I brought it.”
Angela and Olivia watch on as their nerves start to ramp up. The rain came down a little harder as Damien worked on the chain. His fingers were steady and he didn’t seem to shake at all. With a large clink the chain slips down allowing the gate to creak open.
Damien put the bolt cutters back in his duffle bag and started handing out flashlights. They follow Shayne through the gates into the fairground. The funhouse sat near the entrance looking very different than it did under the summer sun and the stars of a hot smoggy night. The clown painted onto the front entrance flashed its grin made of white vinyl that had been muddied by the late summer storms giving the clown a menacing smile. The fairgrounds felt entirely too empty without the music, flashing lights, and hundreds of people that crowded during the hot summer weekends.
As the wind blew harder the Ferris wheel sang its familiar creek, its metallic ribs standing tall blending into the mist. Angela took a step back as she heard the creak and Olivia grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “It’s okay, it sounds way worse when it’s actually running. Remember. We totally thought we were gonna die the last time we rode it,” Olivia chuckled.
This earned a smile from a still nervous Angela. They continued forward headed for the Arcade when a faint sound came from the kiddy section to the left of them.
Damien lifted a finger to silence the girls as he picked up on the sound.
Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha!
The robotic high pitched giggle from one of the children’s rides carried through the air. This stopped everyone in their tracks and Angela squeezed Olivia’s hand hard. Shayne pointed his flashlight in that direction illuminating the faded horses with dead eyes from the carousel. He then moves his flashlight to the left revealing the spinning teacup ride adorned with large statues of elephants in clown outfits then lets out a sigh.
“It probably got set off by the wind or something. That’s a good sign though it means the power is definitely still on which means unlimited games are in our very immediate future,” Shayne assured the group. Noah let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding and Keith made a show of sighing and wiping fake sweat from his forehead earning a giggle from Courtney, Angela, and Olivia.
Damien, however, did not laugh and stayed stoic as he pointed his flashlight toward the ground sweeping it over the muddy footprints leading to the kiddy rides. The footprints were unmistakably large boot prints and as Damien inspects them he looks up at the group, “Fresh.”
Fear returned quickly to the group as rain continued to drizzle down onto them. Shayne’s breath hitched before his cool demeanor returned but his voice came out much lower than before, “Okay let’s stick together. I think it is probably time for us to leave.”
Across the fairgrounds a bell rang. Olivia looked up at the group, “That’s the strength game. Derek beat me like ten times at that game this summer.” As she spoke her face went from annoyance to clear understanding.
She looked at Angela as if she would be on the same page as her. Olivia cheerfully offered, “It must be Derek! He overheard us talking about our plan today and wanted to upstage us like always. Typical Derek…” She rolled her eyes in annoyance then ran towards the other side of the fairgrounds.
Angela who hadn’t been able to rid herself of the pit in her stomach called after her, “Liv! No!”
Shayne echoed the sentiment with a quiet growl, “Olivia! Get back here.”
Shayne started running towards Olivia as he turned towards Damien, “Get the girls out of here!” Keith and Noah followed Shayne as he ran towards Olivia, their flashlights bobbing as they run sending streaks of light in different directions across the stretch of fairgrounds.
Damien wanted to disagree but he had see the fear in Shayne’s eyes and understood immediately. He nodded and told the girls to follow him. Angela shook her head but Damien grabbed her by the wrist as she watched the darkness swallow Olivia, her striped sweater disappearing past the dark ride silhouettes. He was stern and brought the girls to the gate despite Angela and Courtney’s best protests.
The rain grew harder and colder as Damien led the girls to the front gate. Their breaths catching Damien pulled them into the large bush by the usually cheerful but now abysmally dim ‘Welcome’ sign. He set the flashlight on the ground to provide the smallest amount of light as to not beckon unwanted attention.
Angela trembled pulling her windbreaker tighter, her now wet hair sticking against her face as her teeth chattered. She looked smaller than before especially next to Courtney who was tall for her age and desperately trying to stay brave.
As Angela’s lip quivered Damien quietly whispered to her, “Hey, it’s gonna be okay. Your brother will find her. He’s good like that.”
Tears threatened to spill from her little face, “He better. She’s my best friend.”
Damien’s throat tightened and he felt anxiety course through him, “He will.”
Angela stared at him like she was trying to decide if he was lying.
Courtney huffed, “This is stupid. We should be looking too.”
Damien shook his head but found himself, “It’s okay to be scared.”
Courtney’s eyes flashed, “I’m not scared.”
Damien said, “Okay,” like he believed her, which somehow made Courtney’s shoulders relax.
The rain beat down harder and thunder boomed making the girls jump and put Damien on edge. Damien racked his mind on how to regain control and looked at Angela then at Courtney, “What movie is the best movie ever made?”
Angela looked in confusion then he repeated himself, “Go on, what movie are you and Olivia going to watch once you get home?”
Angela’s nerves seemed to soothe, “Ummm… Probably Robin Hood. It’s the best movie.”
Damien chuckled having already known the answer from witnessing many fights over the TV between Shayne and Angela, “That’s a good one. Robin Hood is pretty funny in that. Though I must say the snake, despite his wrongdoings, holds a special place in my heart.”
Angela laughs and protests, “But he’s bad!”
Damien nods still chuckling, “Yes but he is bad at being bad which makes him good. Court, what’s your favorite movie?”
“Grease! It’s so romantic!” Courtney swooned.
The girls then fell into conversation about whether or not Sandy was cuter before or after her makeover. Courtney pointed out the irony that there is a carnival at the end of the movie except it is actually fun. They go back and forth whispering lyrics to the songs.
Damien lets it happen and steadies his body to keep himself between the carnival and the girls to protect them. He stills himself to keep alert listening for any sounds that don’t belong.
Rain poured down hard soaking the group. After what felt like hours had passed Damien snapped his head as he heard the squelching of shoes quickly approaching them.
“Stay down,” Damien whispered to the girls. He slowly made his way out from behind the bush to get a visual on the source of the sound. Strobes of light flashed in his direction as he saw the group running back towards him.
He saw Shayne first covered in mud followed closely by Keith who was out of breath. Noah stumbled after them his long curls stuck to his face from the rain and pure terror painted on his face.
Shayne yelled towards them, “Go! Go!”
Damien yanked the girls up from the bush by their arms then started running with them. The boys followed behind them running fiercely though no threat followed behind. Angela glanced back to see Shayne, Noah, and Keith and then her body understood what she was seeing before her brain did.
Her knees weakened and she slowed to a stop as tears spilled down her face. Shayne slowed for her but urged the others to keep going. When she refused to move he picked her up and slung her over his shoulder running at a slower speed due to the weight of Angela fighting against him to go back. She watched the carnival get further and further out of sight and for a moment she saw lights flash from everywhere.
The kiddy rides lit up, the arcade games glowed, and the Ferris wheel blinked neon. Then it all went dark again. Angela’s tears continued flowing down her face mixing with the rain that chilled her to her core and flushed her cheeks.
Blue and red lights flashed through the trees.
Police cars filed into the front of the fairgrounds one by one their tires hissing on the wet gravel. Their flashlights and dogs overtook the fairgrounds as officer’s radios echoed throughout the grounds.
The kids were separated and questioned one by one.
“How did you get in?
Who cut the lock?
Did you see anyone?
Did she say anything?”
Parents were at the fence line in pajamas under coats talking with officers and each other as they watched the search in disbelief. Damien’s parents held him tighter than he thought he could handle and Shayne’s mom sobbed as she rubbed his back to comfort him as he stood stiff with shock.
Angela watched the search wrapped in a blanket from the back of the ambulance that had came with the police officers. As they had run her glasses had fallen off drawing attention to her puffy eyes from the tears that refuse to stop coming.
It wasn’t long before the camera crew arrived and a reporter with far too much gel began using his newscaster voice, “A child has gone missing at the Ranch Creek Fairgrounds in the middle of the night. There are no signs of where the child….”
Behind the newscaster the carnival rides stood behind him. Tall. Menacing. Large metal skeletons looming over him.
Those same metal skeletons that had swallowed Olivia whole and left no signs as to where it took her.