Prologue
"For some reason I'm alive…
For some reason… I'm that kid from your past"
Reversed Kyle…
6 years before the present day, in South Park, Colorado…
It's a long and joyful night for the residents of South Park. The lights were on, the screams of happiness of the children were heard and the sounds of joy & amusement didn't go unseen through the ears of that town. Everything was like that because, obviously, The Cow Days Festival was hitting really hard that weekend. But of course, that's something we do not care about right now, the only thing that we should care about is one of the families that went to the carnival. More precisely, the only Jewish family in that town.
-Gerald: Alright! Let's put a coin to this baby & let's SMASH some moles!
-Sheila: Oh Gerald, please…Don't say the word "smash" that loud! I don't want our son to become an addict to violence. Isn't that right my little sweetie?
The couple's son didn't say anything, but that was normal for him. He was like 3 years young and he was still learning to speak. However, he reached the cabinet where the Whac-A-Mole game was, indicating a sense of curiosity in the eyes of his dad.
-Gerald: Welp, it seems he is interested, Sheila. What about if we turn it on & we see how it works, huh buddy?
The kid didn't respond. He had his eyes looking directly at the holes from the machine.
-Gerald: Hehe…I will take your silence as a yes…
Gerald puts the coin on the machine. When it starts up, a series of sounds of starting up are heard. Then, without warning, the kid got surprised when a series of figures similar to moles emerged and descended through those holes in an incredibly fast movement. The surprise was so big that the kid fell down to the ground.
-Sheila: Oh my God, Kyle!
-Gerald: Haha! Gotcha! I bet you didn't expect that surprise, right son?
-Sheila: That wasn't funny at all Gerald! It scared him and he fell because of it! He could have hurt himself Gerald!
Gerald looks at his son. He doesn't see fear in his eyes, only surprise.
-Gerald: You know something Sheila. In life, we encounter a lot of surprises, like a lot of them, and that's good, because by encountering them…
Gerald takes the hammer and hits one of the moles that emerge from the holes.
-Whac-A-Mole Voice Box: Bam! 20 points!
-Gerald: The only thing you can do next is live, learn and enjoy the little experiences they give you. What about if you try?
Gerald hands the hammer to his son. He's hesitant at first, but eventually his curiosity led him to pick up the hammer. Then his father picks him up in order to be at the same level as the game.
-Sheila: Be careful Gerald…
-Gerald: Don't worry, you see it right? You take the hammer and smash the moles! C'mon buddy, smash them without fear!
Kyle is hypnotized by the fast movements of the moles, but that doesn't stop him from taking the hammer and starting hitting the holes, hoping to hit one of the moles.
-Whac-A-Mole Voice Box: Bam! 10 points!
Bingo. Kyle hits one of them. He smiles when he hears the voice box.
-Gerald: There! You got one buddy! Keep on and try to beat my score.
Kyle continues hitting the moles. 10 points, 20 points, 50 points, the points just grew higher and higher and higher until suddenly…
-Whac-A-Mole Voice Box: *Beep, *beep, *beep. Congratulations smasher! You got…. 300 points!
-Gerald: Wow! 300 points! That's amazing buddy!
-Sheila: Did you like the game sweetie?
Kyle smiles, although that smile doesn't last that long and he just lets the hammer to the ground.
-Sheila: Oh well… It's fine sweetie. There's nothing healthy about hitting moles…
-Gerald: You know! I remember there is gonna be a firework festival near the end of the last stand of this carnival. What about if we go there, we catch the best places and we see the lights of the night, huh buddy?
-Sheila: I don't know Gerald. I mean…fireworks? I don't want him to get scared again…
BAM! A firework was released through the sky. Kyle and his parents are surprised again by the sudden sound.
-Gerald: Oh no! They are starting without us! If we don't go now we'll not be able to see the spectacle. Let 's go guys!
-Sheila: Gerald, wait up! Ugh, I hate when your father does that. C'mon sweetie. Let's follow your father!
Kyle and his mother follow Gerald. That's when something powerfully catches Kyle's attention. Next to him, he could see from afar what it looked like an attraction not really watched by none of the attendants, organizers and visitors of the carnival. It looked like any of the stalls with the only difference to have just an entrance where there should be a door, with the addition of a big bull with large horns opening his mouth so big and wide that it seemed like he wanted to eat those who desire to enter its domains. Nobody was keeping watch to that attraction, meaning that, either his keeper was lazy as fuck, or it was just an abandoned attraction. Whatever the case was, Kyle wants to go there.
-Sheila: Oh no Kyle, we can't go there, that attraction is closed. We can go to all the ones that you like, but that one is a no no sweetie…
Kyle listens to his mother, but still he wants to go there. His mother will not let him go from her hands, which makes it impossible for the little boy to go where he wants to be.
Both mother and son eventually find their father, sitting on top of what looks like a picnic blanket, put on by those in charge of the carnival.
-Gerald: Uf, guys. You guys are finally here! It really took you long enough…
-Sheila: Well Gerald you're not the one in charge of your kid! And you know what? Never go one step ahead of us! You act like you were a child…
-Gerald: If I hadn't gone one step ahead of you I wouldn't have had the chance to find a good place in order to see the spectacle, honey…
-Sheila: *sigh, Whatever, just… don't do that again ok?
-Gerald: Ok then, have a seat here, especially you Kyle…
Sheila and Kyle sit on the blanket as Gerald. The fireworks spectacle is about to start.
-Gerald: You're going to like this Kyle, just look at the sky and enjoy the show!
Kyle didn't understand the amusement of his father, still, he looked to the night sky, waiting for whatever it had to happen.
A large crowd formed to watch the show. Some initial fireworks were released as a warm-up of what was going to be released. Then, without any warning, it started. Big fireworks were thrown to the sky, leaving a dense trail that differentiated each one from the others. When they exploded, they formed various recognizable pictures, such as the USA flag, the Denver Broncos logo and, of course, cows. Everyone was amazed, kids were fascinated at what they were seeing, basically the fireworks festival was catching the attention of everyone. Well, almost everyone.
Kyle wasn't impressed at all. In his mind there was only one thing, and that thing was the abandoned attraction he saw earlier. That's when he noticed the little absence from his parents while watching the show. They weren't paying attention to him at that moment. That's when Kyle took advantage of his situation and, without his parents getting notice, he left the firework show heading towards the abandoned attraction.
From one moment to another, there began to be fewer fireworks in the sky, until a big one was launched, and the trail that it left behind was so dense that, when it exploded in the sky, displayed the biggest message of all of them:
"Happy 8th Annual Cow Days!" It said,
Everyone applauded. Kyle's parents also applauded for the spectacle.
-Gerald: Wow, that was really amazing, right Kyle?
No response from his son.
-Kyle: Kyle?
-Sheila: Kyle, don't be so rude and respond to your father. Kyle?
Still no response.
-Sheila: Wait, he's not… here?
-Gerald: Not here? Impossible…
They look around their seats. Effectively, he's not here.
-Sheila: Gerald! Our son is not here!
-Gerald: But… He was right next to me…
-Sheila: Next to you! Why didn't you notice when he left us?
-Gerald: Me! I thought you were paying attention to him in case this happens!
-Sheila: Gerald! Is your son, for god sake!
-Gerald: Our son Sheila! Our son!
-Sheila: Do you think that's important right now? If our son is not here, then who knows what could have happened to him! He could be wandering alone in this carnival or, even worse, he could have been kidnapped by a pedophile!
Sheila is getting nervous. Gerald sees this and tries to calm his wife.
-Gerald: Honey, honey. It's gonna be okay honey…
-Sheila: Gonna be okay!? My little fudge is gone and you want me to be okay!?
-Gerald: Listen Sheila, it's going to be okay, alright?. The last thing that we want is panicking. Listen, the fireworks show has been really short, so if Kyle left during that moment, then he could not have gone that far away…
-Sheila: In that case let's not waste more time! We have to find him quickly! God only knows how scared our little creature must be going right now…
Meanwhile, Kyle managed to come to the abandoned attraction, standing in front of the entrance. He standed there, being hypnotized by the bull's big threatening eyes, looking directly to his soul. Kyle was hesitant to enter at first, but as in life, curiosity can lead anyone to new experiences, besides, the dark entrance predominated there, so he, full of perseverance, entered, with the big mouth of the bull letting him pass, as if it had swallowed him to its domains…
-Sheila: Excuse me sir, have you seen a kid like this but a little bit smaller?
The entrance of the bull led to a big hallway that ended in a normal door, resembling the throat of one of them. It didn't look like something special, as Kyle thought it was gonna be, still, he kept moving forward to the door.
-Gerald: He is dressed with an orange jacket, like those ones that many engineers use for security procedures…
Kyle still moved forward to the door, not sure of what was behind it. However, that wonder soon became a surprise when he heard the sound of something hitting the ground from far away. Now Kyle was more interested than ever of what was inside that uncharted terrain.
-Sheila: He has green gloves, like those with a little bit of…
-Bull Image Face: SALT!
An image prop of a scary bull appeared from the left side of Kyle, jumpscaring him. Kyle scared the sh*t out of himself and ran more quickly to the door, also being jumpscared by other two props: One with an owl and another one with a skeleton face.
-Gerald: Yeah! and don't forget his blueish green pants, like seaweed!
Kyle finally grabs the doorknob, turns it and opens the door, letting all the cold out of it covering his face…
-Sheila: You really haven't seen it! He's the only kid wearing an ushanka in all the carnival!
-Random Guy: What the hell is an ushanka?
Kyle enters in whatever is on the other side of the door…
-Gerald: Like a green hat! Is like a green hat!
The door closes after he enters, with him inside the attraction, with no intention to cross that hallway again.
-Random Woman: Oh wait! A little kid with a green hat? I have seen it!
-Sheila: Seriously? WHERE!?
-Random Woman: I saw him entering that attraction. I thought he was part of it to be honest…
The woman points where the abandoned attraction is.
-Gerald: That attraction? But its closed…
-Sheila: Wait! I remember, when we were heading towards the fireworks he tried to escape from me to go there. He has to be in there of course!
-Gerald: But Sheila, there? I don't think he likes terror atractions….
-Sheila: Gerald, didn't you say two moments ago that life is full of surprises?
-Gerald: I mean, yeah, but…
-Sheila: Then don't complain and LET'S GO AFTER THAT CLUELESS!
-Gerald: Sheila, wait! Let me go first!
Pure silence. That's what Kyle heard when he entered inside of what was behind the door. He walked away in a few steps, just to clear up what type of attraction he was. That's when he suddenly stops, noticing something from his right. He looks in that direction, nothing happens. He moves some steps forwards, but still notices something from his right. He's pissed about this and abruptly looks again. That's when he decides to approach in that direction to see what's causing all his attention. However, he stops because of what's watching in front of him. Is a kid, from his same size, his same clothes, his same eyes, basically like him. Scared, he moves forward that little kid until he collides with him. Confused, tries to go forward again, but collides one more time, this time without not falling on the ground. That's when he touches the hand of that kid, it's solid, like a wall. When he finally notices this, he finally realizes it. That thing is not a kid, it is a reflection, his reflection. The reflection of a giant rectangular mirror. The purpose of the attraction was to be a mirror maze.
Kyle wandered through the maze, still impressed that the mirrors were intact despite being abandoned. There were a grand amount of them, from different sizes, different reflections, opaque, curvilinear, everything counted on that site. Of course, Kyle couldn't count how many there were, it was like an infinite line of mirrors. With no end. With no…beginning? Kyle started to feel uncomfortable, watching too many reflections of him without having a real companion helping him with the departure tour made him feel vulnerable. It was as if someone was watching him through the mirrors, waiting to strike him when he wasn't looking. He started to sweat, he didn't want to continue with the path, so he turned back and decided to head towards the entrance. But there was one big problem. Where did he start his march? It was at that moment when Kyle realized that he was lost.
Kyle started to sweat even more, his uncomfortableness transformed into panic, he didn't know where the exit was. Scared, he started to walk through the path, with the thousands of reflections mimicking his movements. The walk became intense, he started to run. The sound of his constant footsteps was one of the few sounds that could recognize from the maze, but then he started to hear other sounds, metal sounds precisely.
SALT,SALT,SALT,SALT!
Kyle also heard that the jumpscare sounds combinated with the metal sounds of the ambience started to invade his head. He couldn't control it! He thought that someone was now chasing him, like a shadow with his owner. He couldn't take it anymore, he started to cry while running.
-Kyle: Mum, mum, mum!
Kyle screamed the names of his parents, with the hopes that they could hear him. The sounds intensified, he was panicking so much. That experience of being alone in a maze felt endless, and it continued to feel more and more endless as he ran through it. He became suffocated, his head was spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning unt-...
BAM!
Kyle hit himself with another wall, but this time it was not a mirror. The metallic sound that came through the collision indicated to him that it was not an ordinary wall, but actually, a door, a metal one. The door had a sign that said "Do not enter, employees only". He didn't understand what employees it was talking about, the attraction was abandoned, why keep the sign on the door? However, still, Kyle didn't wanna return to wander alone in the maze, so he, inflicting an amount of force, opened the door, leaving a screeching sound of rusty metal through the environment. On the inside a pair of stairs were dominating its entrance, leading all the way down the attraction, with darkness surrounding it. It was too dark, too dark to actually see something, and Kyle wasn't comfortable being in dark places. But suddenly, the sound of fast footsteps was heard behind him. He got so scared that he jumped to the stairs without hesitation, stumbling and falling down from there. The metallic door closed itself after this.
Kyle reached the end of the stairs, sore, hurted, wanting to cry because of the pain. However, as a miracle, he didn't break anything from his body. His legs, his arms, his head, everything was at its place. Kyle got up from the ground and searched the new area that was at. A pile of boxes, broken lights, some kind of backup mirrors. Definitely, he was in some sort of warehouse, with only another dark path looking forward to more darkness. Kyle stopped crying, now he was scared, but scared of the unknown. He started walking forward, with no stop, letting the darkness swallow him. He couldn't see anything from afar, his footsteps dominated the whole warehouse, not sure if he would be able to find an exit through there. The seconds become minutes, Kyle was more than jaded. He just wanted an exit and he couldn't find it there. He started to be tired, and decided he had enough, he was going to the maze again, this time being sure to take the correct path to the entrance.
Of course that was until Kyle finally distinguished something from afar.
Something that was out of the darkness.
Something bright, like a big lightbulb.
Something… like a green light?
Kyle was intrigued, but at the same time, he was finally relieved, maybe it was a flashlight and someone was finally there to rescue him. He approached the light, faster than ever. He felt free, like leaving a weight behind. He was coming closer, almost as if he was going to hug it like it was his mother. However, as he was closer from it, something tall and round predominated in the center of the light. Kyle wasn't sure what it was, he couldn't distinguish it from anything he had seen before. That was until Kyle was finally in a safe distance from the light and what was blocking it. And there he saw it…
The thing that blocked the light was not a thing. It was rather a figure.
It was a kid. From his same size, his same color. It was definitely a kid.
Kyle was stunned. A kid also wandered alone that attraction before him? It seemed to be the case…
However, that kid was turning his back on him. Maybe he didn't hear his footsteps. Maybe… If he told him something, he would react, right?
Kyle, despite his fear, dared to say two words against him.
-Kyle: Um…Hi…
The kid moved a little. It seems his words also surprised him. Is at that moment when, slowly and carefully, the kid turned face to face against Kyle.
Kyle analyzes him another time, only this time, looking at his yellow hat, his green jacket, his grayish pants, and his eyes. Big yellow shiny eyes.
The kid also analyzed him, and Kyle felt examined by him. He didn't say a word. He was staring at him, to his eyes.
Kyle thought that maybe he was as scared as him, so he tried to grab him from his hand, with the purpose of not letting him feel alone in that place, and maybe, find the exit, together.
Ha… What a bad move…
PUSH!
The kid pushed Kyle to the ground. It seems he didn't understand the gesture. Immediately after that, the kid just ran towards the green light, leaving Kyle alone once again. Kyle was going to burst into tears because of the pain until…
-Sheila: Kyle! Kyle, come back here young man! Right this instant!
The voice of his mother now predominated the ambience. His parents were also in the maze. Finally, help arrived for him so, getting up as fast as he could, he ran so fast to the stairs, leaving the warehouse to never see it again.
So as you could tell, everything went back to normal for the Jewish family. Both parents and son reunited together, Kyle received a good rant from his mother, his father picked him up on his shoulder and the three left the abandoned attraction without any inconvenience at all, promising himself to never put a foot on that location ever again. After that, the night just went normal again.
Of course, as the years passed, new carnivals were hosted there, the Jewish family grew older and stronger, as well as containing a new integrant in the Broflovski line. Old memories were forgotten, new memories appeared, and Kyle Broflovski just became the person we know now: compassionate, firm in his beliefs, social, friendly and, of course, the voice of all reason.
Kyle embarked on numerous adventures with his friends. Some were great, others were traumatizing, and others just got out of control. Still, that didn't stop him from doing what he believed was right and standing up against the rare situations that revolved him and his group of friends.
However… A small piece of old memory predominated with him for a long time. A memory that eats his sleep while dreaming in the stars of his room. A memory that sometimes it was and other times was just some vague nightmare. He wasn't so sure if it was real, or it was all just his imagination. Wherever that memory showed up in his brain, he only formulated one question to himself. One simple question…
"What the hell did I see in that attraction?"
