"C'mon, Acid, let's go!" I whined from the bottom of the steps. "Ok, coming Raven!" she said and ran down the stairs to join me. It was Halloween night and Acid and I were going to a carnival down town in our costumes. We were both killjoys, based off our favorite band's newest album. My costume consisted of: a purple corset with black lace trim along the bust and the bottom that had a design that made it look like black blood was splattered on it and laced up with black satin ribbons in the back, a black bandana with purple rose designs, purple raybans, black denim short shorts that were ripped, a black and purple studded belt, black floral patterned tights, and black combat boots with purple laces.
Acid's costume consisted of: a green corset with black velvet swirled designs, black lace trimming along the bottom and bust, and black snaps that kept it on, green raybans with a zebra print design on the legs, a green and black lace mask, green short shorts, a black and green studded belt, black tights with a spiderweb design, and a pair of green boots with black laces.
I grabbed my cell phone and jammed it into my back pocket before heading out the door with Acid on my heels. We climbed into my jet black 1978 Trans Am and I started it without a second thought. Music instantly began to blare, and it was one of my favorite songs: Na Na Na. I suddenly felt a new love for radio station 109.1. I drove down the streets in a hurry and Acid was practically shaking with excitement in the seat beside me.
Suddenly a brightly-lit sign appeared overhead that read, "ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!" We both squealed with excitement. I sped up and drove into the half-crowded parking lot and backed into a space near the main gates. Checking in the mirror, I smoothed out my purple and black highlighted hair and quickly got out of the car. Acid checked her makeup one last time then joined me outside.
We looked at each other and smiled wide then linked arms and headed to the front gates. There was a long line outside the gate; all of the people looked pretty much the same: kids who were using this day to be someone they usually aren't. I began to tap my foot impatiently, while Acid groaned in annoyance. "Wanna sing a song?" I asked. "Ok!" she replied with a smile. I returned the gesture and asked what song she wanted to sing. "Hmmm... Teenagers?" "Alright!" And we began:
"They're gonna clean up your looks,
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you.
Because they sleep with a gun,
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do.
Because the drugs never work,
They're gonna give you a smirk
'Cause they got methods of keeping you clean.
They're gonna rip up your heads,
Your aspirations to shreds
Another cog in the murder machine.
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me!
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed!
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose,
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me!
The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much, kid.
But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did!
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me!
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed!
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose,
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me!
Ohhh yeah!
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me!
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed!
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose,
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me!
All together now!
Teenagers scare the living shit out of me!
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed!
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose,
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me!"
We began to laugh at the odd looks we were getting but soon were silenced by a deep booming voice: "The gates to the dark carnival are now open! Purchase your tickets and then enjoy." The man's voice said.
The line soon began to move, and it was our turn to pay the entrance fee before I had even realized it. The ticket-taker was a really cute guy: he had dark brown hair with fringe he pushed to the side and chocolate brown eyes. "Hello," he said; his voice so smooth.
"Hi..." I said breathlessly.
He smiled and I noticed he was wearing a type of ringleader or magician costume. "How much is the entrance fee?" I asked.
"Well for pretty girls like you," he said, looking at us both then turning back to me and winking, "it's free."
I smiled wide and pulled him into a quick hug, "Thank you," I whispered into his ear and then grabbed Acid's hand and rushed into the carnival. We looked around and walked over to a map.
"Watcha wanna do first?" I asked.
"I'm gonna call Frank then do you wanna go to that show?" she asked, pointing to a flyer. I pulled it off the map it was stapled to and quickly looked it over: in the center was a picture of deep purple curtain, blue light surrounding it and giving it an eerie gleam. I nodded and waited for Acid to get off the phone. "Love you too honey, bye!" Acid said before hanging up her cell. "It says this show is at the 'Big Tent' and the next one is at 7, which is in 10 minutes. Let's go!" I exclaimed and took off in the direction of the huge, tall black and red tent in the horizon.
"Wait up!" Acid exclaimed before running to catch up with me. I raced her all the way to the tent, and I froze when I saw who was standing next to the entrance. Acid practically crashed into me, and sent me tumbling to the floor. "Oww…" I whined, rubbing the back of my head.
"Need some help?" I looked up and saw it was the same guy from the main gate entrance.
"Yeah sure, thanks," I said as he gently pulled me up. "What's your name?"
"Brendon Urie at your service," he said, tipping his top hat. I blushed then told him my name, "Raven Way."
"Well it was nice to meet you Raven, but I must get to work. The show is about to start. I'll see you soon," he said before walking into the tent. "Ohhhhh! RAVEN LOVES BRENDON, RAVEN LOVES BRENDON!" Acid yelled excitedly.
"SHHH!" I exclaimed, putting my hand over her mouth to quiet her. "Let's go get seats ok?" I pleaded with her, desperate that she wouldn't scream that I loved Brendon any more. "Ok." We walked into the tent and found relatively good seats in the middle just before the lights went out.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GHOULS- STEP RIGHT UP!" Brendon yelled from the center of the big tent; I was instantly transfixed with him.
"BEHIND THIS CURTAIN LIES A GHASTLY CONCOCTION OF DELIGHT, HORROR, FANTASY AND TERROR! YOUR EVERY WISH IS OUR COMMAND, YOUR EVERY WHIMSICAL DESIRE BROUGHT TO LIFE. BUT I'M WARNING YOU- THERE'S ALWAYS A PRICE. WELCOME TO THE GREATEST SHOW UNEARTHED!"
The curtain rose and two men came out beside Brendon and they all bowed before fog rose around them and they disappeared. I looked at Acid and we stared at each other for a moment before sprinting towards the center of the big tent where all the guys were. Acid and I held onto each other as the fog seemed to get even thicker, but eventually we reached the other side of it; I gasped.
There was a huge house of mirrors. At the opposite end, there appeared to be the rest of the carnival. I glanced at Acid and noticed she looked nervous and excited at the same time. "Are-Are you ready?" I asked her. She gulped and nodded. We walked slowly towards the entrance when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Raven, I'd like you to meet Curtis and Erik. They created this carnival." Brendon told me.
"It's nice to meet you both," I told Eric and Curtis, shaking their hands. "I love this carnival, its fantastic!"
"You haven't even seen it all yet, you must go through the fun house of mirrors." Erik said.
"Yes, go on. It's quite fun." Curtis agreed, nodding as he urged on.
Acid and I nearly stepped inside, when I heard someone call my name. "Raven!" my brother, Gerard yelled. "Gee!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arm around him and giving him a tight hug.
"Frankie!" I heard Acid yell as she hugged her boyfriend. I looked around to see who else was here: Gee's girlfriend, Lyn-Z, my younger bro Mikey, Mikey's girlfriend, Alicia, and Ray. "Why didn't you tell me you guys were coming to the carnival?"
"I thought it would be obvious we would be here. I mean- hello! This is basically what I live for!" Lyn-Z said dramatically as she through her arms up in the air for extra emphasis. I giggled and nodded, "Yeah I guess I should have expected to see you. Well, we were just about to go through the house of mirrors, are you guys coming?"
"Not yet you aren't!" Brendon said. I stared at him oddly, but he explained: "You each must say what your biggest fear is before you enter the carnival."
Brendon handed me a piece of paper and a pen, and we each wrote down our biggest fears:
Frank- Buried Alive
Acid- Spiders
Alicia- Being tortured/Being kidnapped
Mikey- Big bodies of water
Gee- Needles
Ray- Heights
Lyn-Z- Zombies/Corpses
I was last, but I didn't want to admit my fear- let alone have it in writing! "Brendon, can I just tell you?"
"Of course Raven," he said kindly. I smiled at him and whispered into his ear: "Just…waking up in the morning and dealing with all the shit that is my life..."
He stared at me but nodded, and we were allowed into the house of mirrors.
If only we knew then what I know now.