A/N

Again, shout out to BoulderTheDragon for being very supportive and nice. ^w^

All the Happy Tree Friends characters are of course property of Mondo Media Studios.

The brief Resident Evil reference is owned by Capcom.

Sammy is mine.

Scott belongs to aforementioned BoulderTheDragon.

This AN is pointless, so let's move on.

Right turn at the end of the street.

Left turn at the light.

Straight down the road until you see the giant wheel.

And there it is.

The annual Woodland Carnival was held every year during the Fall. It had some kind of meaning, but I don't remember what it was. Something about having plentiful crops for the rest of the season or something. Regardless of what it stood for, the carnival was something the entire Tree Village looked forward to every year. From infectious concession treats to the mediocre attractions, the fair was every child's dream getaway.

All of the denizens of the small town would gather and have fun together under all the bright lights and creepy tunes that one would expect to hear at such a location. The sounds of the mechanical rides thundering through, the laughter of all ages flooding the scene, and often the screaming of someone having their first freak out on the Ferris wheel. If you could hear yourself think, then you needed your hearing checked. I'm sure none of these people ever heard of silent entertainment. So many people crowded the walkways between the confections and the rides, it was very hard not to bump into people as you took a step. If you ever lost a friend several years ago, odds are you would find them in line for the roller coaster.

Which is where I happened to find my friend. I didn't lose him, but the point still remains.

"Sammy! You made it!"

I could never see how he could be cheerful almost all the time. It's like there was always something to be happy for in his eyes. It was such an irritating quality, but yet...

"Holy hell girl.. What happened to you? Got hit by a flying math book or something?"

I just realized that, given the events of my sleepless night, I hardly did anything to make myself the least bit presentable before I left the house. I'm sure my face looked more like I was hit by a math book. Probably a truck of math books.

"I.. Well..."

Good response Sam. Now you look like a bum and sound like one too.

"Hehe. It's okay. Just wash up a little, you look like you've been crying for hours."

I wasn't sure what to think of that comment. But washing up sounded like a great idea at this point. I started walking over to where the only small building in the park stood, taking the turn to find the restrooms. I stopped midway through the door. Instantly, the memory of last night hit me so hard I almost fell back.

The small mirrors in the bathroom were dirty and smudged to the point where one couldn't see themselves in it no matter how hard you wash it. Even with that, I could still see myself just barely in the reflection.

In that one second, I saw it.

The creature.

It winked at me.

I blinked a few times. It disappeared. The sharp pains at my neck and arms returned quickly after. I rose my hands to my neck. I still didn't scream or shout. My eyes didn't close. But the pain was searing through the flesh under my fur. It burned. I felt my throat sear in pain. I couldn't breathe. Even with all this affliction, I still couldn't move. Just like last night. I stood perfectly still, my head was tilted to the sky. My eyes and mouth remained open. I just stood there. Burning. Suffering. Choking.

But then as fast as it came, it left.

My breathing resumed as normal, the burning was gone, I could move again. The reflection showed the real me. My tearstreaked face was the only thing staring back at me now. I had to take a moment to calm myself down.

The same pain as before. The same horrible feelings of death. But this wasn't a dream. The pain felt real before, and it sure as hell felt real now. But that could only mean that last night...

...last night wasn't a dream...

I could hear Scott outside calling for me, making sure I was alright. What did I come in here for again... Right. Clean up. Taking my view from the mirror to the sink, I had turned the water faucet on and washed up the dried tears and such from the night. My fur had become stained with something that wouldn't wash off, but it didn't look like what should've been just tears.

It was blood.

Dried blood stained my fur near my eyes.

That was all the proof I needed. Whatever happened last night was real. Thousands of thoughts assaulted my mind at once. If it was real, I should be dead. I should still be laying lifeless on my bathroom floor, my arms skewered and my throat torn out. I should be in a large puddle of my own blood. I should be dead. But here I stood, feeling as alive as ever. And if it was real, then what I saw in the mirror... What I just saw a few seconds ago... That creature is real... And whoever or whatever it was, it could hurt me severely. And it knew it.

I heard a knock from outside. Most likely just Scott checking up on me. Time wasn't going that fast I thought, that or he's just one of those people who worry too much. I tried my hardest to clean the dried blood on me and washed up the rest of my face. I didn't look in the mirror to check if I got it. I wasn't about to risk another look at that visage of terror that resembled me so closely. I took in a deep sigh. It didn't seem like it at first, but I could tell that I was still high strung from recent events, and I couldn't let Scott even think for a second that something was wrong.

That brought something else to mind. No one is going to believe this. This is something straight out of a horror movie to most normal people. Although I sure as hell didn't imagine the bloody assault from that creature, this was something that was sure to denounce me as mental. As much as I wanted to tell someone, let the world know of what's going on, I knew I couldn't for the sake of my, and maybe the sake of others well being.

Walking out of the restrooms, I met back up with Scott. He seemed eager to hang out today, a bit different from his usual demeanor of 'I don't care' or 'Whatever'. I suppose he was just worried about me. I haven't given no reason for him to think so I guess, so I'll have to deal with it.

"How long have you been out here anyways Scott?"

"Heh. A bit too long. I got to help out some people set up their stands and everything. Cuddles is really banking on us to support his stand for school."

"Interesting."

"Hell yeah it is! He's making this thing where you push a button..."

I kind of started to tune him out after he went on with his description of Cuddles' project, an attempt to bring in more money and support to the school I suppose. He just continued to rant on and on as we approached the tents in the fields. I'm not sure why someone would want these when they can go to the front attractions and the like. But I'm not about to complain.

As we reached one of the back tents, we were greeted by our teacher Mr. Lumpy.

"Hullo kids! How are we today?"

"Good.."

"That's great! Come on you two! Toothy needs help putting the signs up!"

The beaver was in the back putting up signs to decorate. Or something.. I didn't know for sure. In the corner sat the yellow rabbit we came to see, playing some video game with his pink girlfriend.

"No! Grab that! Shoot the zombie!"

"I'm trying to shoot the zombie! Shoot the damn hunter!"

"I'm trying! Shoot the freaking zombie!"

"I can't shoot the zombie if I- .. Oh look, now we're dead."

"Stop complaining, we have a first aid spray. Round two! Let's go!"

I swear they sounded like such dorks. I looked at the television set they were playing on. Sure enough they were aiming their little white remotes at the screen shooting zombies and other assorted monsters.

But as I looked at the screen, I could see the reflection of some kind of other monster I hadn't seen.

And the pains returned in full force...

It didn't take as long as before for me to recover this time. It seemed like only a few seconds of torture before I was able to see everything again. I was leaning back against the tent walls with my hand to my forehead. Toothy was at my side fanning me with something.

"What.. What are you doing..?"

"Just fanning you, you looked really hot and about to pass out. I think you did pass out actually. Maybe you should stay inside with the fan for a bit. I'll get Scott to help me set up the stand."

"You'll do what?"

"Thanks.. I guess.."

I sat down in a spare sofa that was empty. I closed my eyes. If just the reflection of the TV could let him see me and hurt me...

...He had me...