Author's Note!
Here's a small note for everybody. Not that many people know about Escape the Night, but here's a quick overview. This is a novel of characters that users on Amino let me use for this story, with the permission of killing their characters off. Escape the Night is a Youtube Premium show about YouTubers being invited to something, but everything goes haywire and they start dying one by one. If you haven't watched the show, I really suggest that you do, just to get an idea of what this Fic will be about. With all that said, please sit back, relax, and enjoy Escape the Night: The First Act!
Prologue: A Beginning to Very Unfortunate Events
Halloween was over. Of course, everyone in Alistair's neighborhood would be suffering from what he called "Candy withdrawal." Candy Withdrawal is basically a symptom that happens when all of the kids in the neighborhood splurged on Halloween Candy, and when they ran out they would all become sugarless zombies. It was fun seeing parents walk around with their kids who crave sugar. Just watch what it was like during the week after Christmas.
But that's not what this story is about.
This story is about pain. The type of pain that this story is about is not temporary, but instead, it's a permanent pain, one that'll last for a very long time. Of course, Alistair does not yet know about this pain. But when the pain hits, Alistair's world will be completely changed. For the worse, instead of the better.
But that story has not begun yet.
Alistair had just woken up. It was a Saturday, which was the one day he got off from work. Honestly, working at a Cafe all week was Really tiring. Not just because he hated practically everyone who dared to breathe next to him, but the fact that he hadn't gotten his paycheck for 2 weeks, and the landlord was getting a bit restless. So of course when he heard that one employee could take the day off, Alistair quickly sprung for the opportunity as soon as he heard.
Alistair had nothing exciting planned. just a bit of lounging around in his small apartment, maybe order some Little Ceasar's and watch some Netflix. But of course, his brain pestered to get him outside and do something.
Cmon! His brain bickered, and Alistair just let out a groan. You haven't gotten a chance to walk outside ever since you've started your new Job! Not to mention you're still going to film school! Just take a walk!
"But I don't wanna!" He complained to himself, turning over on the couch and taking a long slip on his Caramel Macchiato.
Ok, Fine! His brain retaliated. You can take ONE nap and then you have to take a walk through Central Park! Alistair sighed, agreeing with his brain. He then grabbed the woolen blanket on top of the couch and shifted himself over to get in a nice, comfortable napping position. And soon, he slipped off into a deep, child-like sleep, IN which he would want to wake up from.
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He woke up. Well, He wasn't Awake-Awake. He was just, awake inside a dream. Like when you feel a sort of feeling when you're not quite asleep, yet you're not quite awake either. Think of it as a sort of, Sleepy Weightlessness. But he wakes up. He's on the ground, dressed in a Nice Collared Long Sleeved White Shirt, along with a pair of a gentlemanly looking suspenders. His black dress shoes accompanied his Black & Gold watch on his wrist. He was on a dirt path, facing the front of one of those ticket collector things at Disneyland that won't let you in unless you have one.
"Hello?" He asked, getting off of the dirt path and standing up. His voice echoed throughout the forest, which went somewhat unnoticeable through the wooshing sound of the intense winds that swept through the atmosphere. Nobody was there, and he was sure of that.
"Who killed the party?" He asked, taking slow strides toward the gate. It seemed as if the more he got closer to it, the more intimidating it became. Alistair doesn't know where the hell he is, or why he's there, or why there's an unsettling feeling that something's going to come out and stab him in the gut. All he knows is that something isn't right, At all.
Alistair approached the gate. He wiped his long fingers across one of the collecting booths, the largest amount of dust he's ever collected appearing on his finger. "Whoever made this place really needs a better cleaning crew." Alistair thought that the bars keeping him from entering the carnival would be closed, but yet again he was wrong. Instead, he easily pushed into the carnival, crisp leaves sweeping past his feet. "Or better security."
He looks at his surroundings. A huge sign saying "CARNIVAL!" with the R hanging off loomed above the entrance, but it was far from larger than the Ferris Wheel in the distance. The dark magenta that colored the sky matched well with the carousel, not so far in front of him. And of course, not so far away was one of those Laser Tag places you played as a kid. The whole Carnival had a sort of eerie beauty that accompanied it. But of course, it certainly was not the time to appreciate the decor.
A swift gust of her wooshed past his back, as he turned around, hearing a collection of muffled whispers circling him. "Hello?" He asked, trying to see who would be behind him. "Reveal yourself!"
The wind only got stronger. The whispers became less muffled and instead became louder than ever. Alistair whipped his head and body everywhere but instead found nothing but his fear growing larger than ever. He took this as the opportunity to book it, deeper into the carnival than ever. Thunder booms in his ears as he takes off deeper into the night.
He doesn't know exactly what he's running from. But all he knows is that he's running from something. Something bad. It begins to rain, but he doesn't care. He doesn't have the bloody time to care. He becomes soaked to the skin, his hair dripping with water. Of course, He's reasonably scared out of his damn mind, but he also has a sort of giddy excitement rushing through him. So, his mind not letting him wonder a minute longer, he pauses to take a breath.
And then he sees it.
A monster. An Ungodly monster. A strange creature, towering over him by at least a few feet. He was about 6'1, so the fact that it was towering over him was terrifying. The creature has a terrifying pixelated look, almost as if it's flickering in and out of reality. Its face was twisted into a terrifying position, a warped nose the size of a mallet hanging off the edge of rotting flesh. Its hands were formed into tentacles that outstretched toward Alistair's face, whispering one thing only.
Death.
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Alistair woke up with a cold sweat. His blanket was tossed onto the floor, soaked with sweat. He looks at his phone, and it was already 3:00 PM, even though he went to sleep at one. "Short Nap?" He scoffed, clicking open his camera app. He stared at himself through bloodshot eyes and a terrible case of bedhead. At least there was something called the bathroom. So, instead of walking outside (As he promised his conscience), he instead made some minor touchups to himself and his outfit, of course including his favorite article of clothing, Flannel.
Later on, he went on to the park. With a Beanie, Flannel, and some nice skinny jeans on his person, he gave his conscience a little relief and took an Uber to central park. Once he thanked the driver, he walked into the park, greeted by the passing of little woodland squirrels. And Moths, which he attempted to swat away with his phone. DId he mention he had a fear of Moths? They always greet you like you're a friend, but then they always come and attack you out of nowhere, attacking when you're the most helpless.
The park was absolutely beautiful, The trees turned into a deep orange and red, making the whole park light up like a switchboard light up like a giant Thanksgiving dinner. The woodland critters chirped and cheered all around him, terrifying him with their happiness. The babies and children and adults all walked around him, making him feel as invisible as possible. Which is what he was rather used to.
Then after at least 30 minutes of walking, he decided to sit down (Because he was terribly out of shape) and take a short little rest. Of course, he couldn't walk for 5 hours nonstop walking without taking a break! Are you mental?! So, he took a quick rest.
In which he was promptly smacked in the face with a flyer.
"Ow!" He said, taking the flyer off of his face. "What the actual Hell?!" He was tempted to throw the flyer into the trash, but instead, he was sort of, entranced by the flyer. The flyer was a dark magenta, the same color as the horrifyingly dark sky he saw from his dream, and in bold print letters "Come to the Caligari Carnival!" and in a smaller sort of letters it said "Home of Magic, Delight, and Wonder!"
Huh. His conscience thought. You could do this on the weekend! "But why?" He asked his conscience, not caring at all that he was in public. Because you're a lazy pig with a day off! What more could you ask for?
"That is a valid point." Alistair sighed, "Sure, Why the Hell not?"
Author's Note!
Oh my god! I did not expect for me to finish this chapter so soon! Alistair has absolutely NO idea what he's in for! It's almost funny thinking that he's so clueless! Are you guys ready for the next chapter? IN the next chapter, all of the participants in this fun little experience all revealed! A bunch of fresh meat! Of course, there's a time-traveling mini-bus involved, because why not? Get ready for a bunch of craziness, as our 16 quests enter Caligari Carnival!
