A/N: We're so close to the end, folks! I almost can't contain my excitement!
Dr. Vink and Sardo arrived at the Carnival of Doom with uncertainty in their hearts. They knew something had happened in between the time of the Cassidy running off to the carnival to help deal with Mr. Nobody and them receiving a phone call from her hours later, urging them to come to the carnival quick. They were greeted at the entrance by the ticket-keeper clown, a mischievous and knowing smile sat on his face as he gave them both a "Hello". As they walked through the carnival grounds, they pasted by other workers, each one grinning at them as they did.
Above them, the announcement system came to life.
"With the night drawing to a close, we at the Carnival of Doom invite all of our patrons to join us for one last show inside of our main tent before we close," Bartholomew's voice said through the speaker. Sharing a look, the pair of men headed alongside the patrons towards the main tent and took their seats upon the bleachers set up inside. As soon as the last person took their seat, an organ began to play and a spotlight lit up the middle of the performance area. Standing proudly in the center was Mr. Tophat, a wide smile sat upon his lips.
"Welcome one and all. My name is Mr. Tophat, I'm the owner of this carnival. I apologize for not being here to greet you in the opening show, I had, unfortunately, been dealing with a troublemaker, but now I have returned to all of you!" He waved his hands in a half-circle towards the crowd. "And now, for our final act! For this last act, a dearly beloved friend of the carnival has volunteered to participate in it!" Another set of lights came on and drew the attention of all to the top of the tent, where a large glass box was raised high above the ground. Inside a person was looking down with terrified eyes.
Dr. Vink and Sardo felt their hearts stop when they recognized the person inside.
"Cassidy," Dr. Vink heard himself say in frozen fear.
"Yes, Cassidy!" Mr. Tophat cheered, as though replying to Dr. Vink. "Dear Cassidy has been locked inside of that glass chamber. And when I say 'go!' she will have to find a way to escape the box and grab onto the rope above before that candle," Mr. Tophat points his cane towards the right where another spotlight comes on to reveal a candlestick placed on a table directly underneath a secured rope with Tickettaker clown, Horace, behind it. He smiles as he pulls out a lighter and lights the candle. The rope within second began to smoke from the heat of the flame burning it. The voice of Mr. Tophat brings the audience's attention back to him. "burns through the rope that is holding the bottom of the box in place. Once the rope is released, the bottom will open up and send Cassidy plummeting to the ground below!" He guides a path from the box to the ground immediately below, where set up boards hide the ground where she would fall onto.
"She's not going to make it!" Sardo urgently whispered to his companion, his hands clutching his right arm in a vice grip.
"Do not worry, people. Remember! No matter how scary this all may seem, It's all part of the -" Mr. Tophat's speech is cut off at the bottom of the box falls open and Cassidy lets out a terrified scream as she falls until her scream is suddenly cut off when she undoubtedly hits the ground behind the boards.
"No!" Dr. Vink screams, leaping from his seat as he watched his daughter's demise. The sound of the shout sent out a ripple in the air, passing through the people around him, rocking all who it hit, especially Mr. Tophat. The second he felt it hit him, he takes in a sharp breath and has to put out his hands to steady himself, before looking down at the top of his cane. There was a heavy silence in the air for a moment afterward before a pleased laugh comes out from behind the boards. The board facing the audience falls down to reveal a grinning and laughing Cassidy sitting up upon an inflated air cushion. She hops down from the cushion and holds her hands out at her sides, looking expectantly at the audience. After a beat, everyone stands up from the bleachers and begin clapping in delight and amazement at the trick. Cassidy takes a bow before waving over to Mr. Tophat, who then takes his bow as the audience clap.
"Thank you all for coming here tonight, we hope you all have a wonderful evening. Good night!" Mr. Tophat waves before he and Cassidy walk back to the curtains at the back of the tent and disappear behind them. Slowly, the patrons of the carnival begin to file their way out of the tent, though Dr. Vink and Sardo forgo the exit of the tent and head for the curtains instead, intent in talking to the other two.
It didn't take long to find the other two, their voices were easy to follow and find them standing off with a group of the carnival employees and a familiar group of children. Mr. Tophat was excitedly spinning her around in a hug while the rest looked on with amusement in their faces.
"We did it!" he could be heard cheering as he spun her one last time before finally releasing the girl.
"And what exactly have you done?" Dr. Vink called out, watching in satisfaction as his unexpected question caused everyone in the group to jump. Cassidy shot her father a glare at the trick, but could not keep the excitement from her face.
"Didn't you feel it, back in the tent? When you shouted in fear at the performance?" She excitedly asked, bouncing up and down in her place. "The curse! It's gone!"
"How can that be?" Sardo asked in confusion.
"Because, don't you remember what father told Marcus all those years ago? If he scared him before the sun rises the next day, he wins!" Cassidy answered. Both Dr. Vink and Sardo frowned in even more confusion.
"But that was years ago, the agreement was only until the sunrise that next day," Dr. Vink explained. Dr. Tophat shook his head.
"You never specified that it was," he countered. Dr. Vink opened his mouth to argue back but then shut it as he turned the thought over in his head. Sardo looked over at his companion in disbelief.
"Did you actually?" he whispered. Dr. Vink slowly shook his head before he began to chuckle. Soon the chuckling became laughter and grew more and more until it reached a level that had all watching him wearing expressions of concern and unsettledness. Finally, the laughter died away, leaving the man bent over and holding his sides with both hands.
"I never specified a deadline! How brilliant! What a genius loophole, my dear Cassidy!" he cheered, moving over to his daughter to envelop her in a hug.
"Well, of course, do you expect any less of the daughter of the brilliant Dr. Vink?" Cassidy smirked.
"Of curse, nothing less of my daughter!" he agreed, squeezing her tightly.
"Now that that's over, I think it's high time we all went home. Because, I don't know about you, but all of this excitement has tired me out," Akiko butted in, looking around at the nodding heads of the other Midnight Society members as they voiced their agreements. With that, they all headed to the exit to finally end the eventful day and prepare for whatever life has to throw at them next.
One week later, Rachel and her mother found themselves standing on the porch of the finally settled in house of Cassidy and her family.
"Welcome! So happy you could join us!" Dr. Vink greeted as he opened his front door to let the pair inside. They were quickly guided to the living room, where the others and their families were at. Hannah greeted Gavin's father and his father's new girlfriend, Rosalyn, with joy, quickly falling into conversation with Rosalyn, Adam's mother, and Graham's aunt about anything that had since they had last talked. Hideo was talking with Louise's older brother and Louise's father about sports games. Rachel joined where her friends were sitting.
"What about mummies?" Gavin offered.
"Too much toilet paper," Akiko said back, waving her hand.
"Vampires?" Adam offered.
"Already suggested and shot down Adam," Rachel said as she sat down. Gavin patted his back as the other boy frowned.
"Oh yeah," he mumbled back.
"I got it! The hidebehind!" Graham excitedly said.
"The what?" Louise asked.
"Its this creature who no one can ever see! It hides behind everything, always just outside of your vision. The only hint you have of it being there is the strange sound it makes," he explained, leaning in for a dramatic effect.
"Hmm. While that would be hard to make, it does sound interesting. I'll put that on the 'maybe' list," Akiko nodded. Graham smiled brightly and sat taller in his seat, proud of his achievement in helping his friend. Rachel couldn't help but giggle a little at the sight. From the backdoor in the kitchen, she could hear Dr. Vink, Sardo, and Graham's father arguing back and forth on who should be the one handling the grill. Cassidy stood at the kitchen counter watching through the window as the three men argued, before turning her head and catching Rachel's eye. Both girls then began to laugh more in agreement over the ridiculousness of them. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Hannah Carpenter called out and headed for the door before anyone else could move or speak. Curious to see who else was apparently invited to the party, Rachel hopped up and follow her mother to the door. She arrived just in time for her mother to open the door and reveal the person who stood on the other side.
Standing on the porch of the Vinks' residence was a smiling Mr. Tophat.
A/N: Next and final chapter coming right up.