Later that night, Ben was at Lea's house, and knocked the door.

Lea opened it to see Ben with his Grandpa Max.

"Ben! Mr. Tennyson," Lea said, greeting both of them.

"Hey, Lea. We're here to pick you up for the carnival." Max said.

"I was hoping for that. And I already let my parents know I'm going with you guys," Lea assured, locking the door from the outside. "Let's get started."

"Then, follow us," Max said, as Lea sees a big RV.

"Whoa...Cool," Lea said, smiling when seeing the vehicle. "I've never been to an RV like that before."

"It's called the Rustbucket, and it's one of a kind," Max said.

"I can tell," Lea said, already going inside and taking her seat. "So, this is the legendary Rustbucket Ben rode on that one Summer I heard about."

"Yeah. The worst summer ever," Ben said, taking his seat facing Lea. "Me and my cousin traveled the country with Grandpa on this thing."

"I don't know, Ben. You got to see the different states more than me," Lea shrugged.

"Understandable. But that was the past. Now..." Lea paused in placing a hand on Ben's. "You have new Summer memories with me."

"True." Ben said. "But it was mostly boring sometimes."

"Understandable. But that was the past. Now..." Lea paused in placing a hand on Ben's. "You have new Summer memories with me."

"Yeah, you're right," Ben said, smiling back.

He then takes Lea's hand, as they rode off in the Rustbucket.

Moments later, Ben and Lea arrived at the Carnival. They both got off the Rustbucket to take a good look at the place while holding hands.

"Wow...I can't believe we're actually here," Lea muttered, feeling small nostalgia.

"Yeah, this place looks amazing," Ben said, seeing all the various rides and games.

"I don't even know where to start," Lea said, already entering the place.

"How about a simple toss-throw game?" Max suggested.

"All right," Lea said, looking for the game. "Let's see which one of us can win a prize and give it to the said person."

Ben and Lea then ran to the 'toss-and-throw' game. Ben mostly threw one ring into a bottle, while the other two he threw missed.

"Not bad, Ben," Lea said, tossing her ring to get one in.

"I only managed to get one in," Ben said. "You need to get all 3 rings in to win a prize."

"Don't be such a downer, Ben," Max said to his grandson.

"Well, I'm gonna see if I could win you a prize," Lea said, trying to focus on her aim before tossing another ring.

"Good luck," Ben said.

Smiling a little, Lea tossed her second ring and got it in the bottle like the first one. Then, before Ben and Max could say anything else, she quickly tossed another ring that first banged on the bottle in front and missed…yet land on a different bottle not too far from it.

"Whoa," Ben said in awe.

"Not the first time I had my fair share on a game of ring toss," Lea admitted, rubbing her head shyly. "So, which prize do you want, Ben?"

Ben sees a nice-looking toy of Mr. Smoothy, one of a Green Lantern plush, and a Sumo Slammer action figure. "How about that?" he points at the Green Lantern plushie.

"You got it," Lea said, facing the booth person. "One Green Lantern plush toy, please."

The person running the game gave the Green Lantern plush to Ben. "Thanks...But I originally wanted to win this for you." He said to Lea, getting the toy and giving it to Lea.

"Awww, Ben..." Lea responded, placing a hand on her chest. "You're so sweet. If it helps, we got more games to check out."

"That's true," Max said.

"All right, all right," Ben said. "How about that pie-eating contest?" He pointed at the stand over there.

"Well, if you believe that you got the stomach capacity, then I say go for it," Lea said.

"I haven't eaten anything today," Ben said.

"Seriously?" Lea asked, a little surprised. "Okay, then. I'll be cheering you on. Or did you also want me to participate?

"If you want to," Ben suggested, checking what flavored pies are being presented. "It's coconut cream pie."

"Yeah...I think I'll pass," Lea said gently. "I'm more of a chocolate pie girl."

"Okay, then," Ben replied. He signed up, put on a bib, and then everyone started eating them like wild dogs on those pies.

It gets crazy from there, but Ben truly impressed me in that pie-eating contest.

"3, 2, 1, times up!" The announcer said. He then walks up to Ben. "We have a winner!" he grabbed Ben's arm and raised it in the air with a full Ben with cream in his jaw. Everyone cheered, as Ben burped loudly.

"Excuse me," Ben said.

"Woo! Go, Ben! That's my guy!" Lea cheered.

"That's my grandson," Max said.

Ben then looks at Max and gave a thumbs up while Lea ran to Ben, wiped his mouth, and then kissed him. "Whoa! I'll call that my prize."

Lea giggled. "You're the best prize I could ever ask for."

Then, everyone cheered for Ben and Lea for some reason. Like he won her heart. "All right, kids. Let's go find another game to play." Max said.

"Good idea. Maybe something to take things easy for Ben, after eating that many pies at once," Lea recommended.

"Don't forget your trophy and prize of your choice," the announcer called out.

"What did I win?" Ben asked.

"You've won a lifetime supply card of Mr. Smoothy's." The announcer replied. "With this, you can get free smoothies for the rest of your life or at least when the card expires in 5 years."

"Lucky," Lea said, nodding in respect. "Guess we both won prizes of our own interests in the first rounds."

"Yeah." Ben said.

After the pie thing, we just started having fun at the other booths. While we didn't get too many big prizes, it didn't matter because Ben and I were having such a great time.

Soon, Lea, Ben, and Max were nearly done at their time at the carnival.

"I'm glad you kids are having fun. Now, before we leave, how's about we go into that haunted house?" Max suggested.

"Haunted house?" Lea asked, clearly not impressed. "All right, but I doubt anything will scare us there."

"Okay, Grandpa. Let's get this over with," Ben agreed with boredom.

"Better keep my Green Lantern Plush Toy close," Lea said, walking next to Ben.

"Then I better keep my lifetime card in my pocket." Ben said, as he did what he said.

Our time at the Carnival was turning out better than we could ever hope for. And going to the haunted house as our final place for the evening...Well, I think I'll keep my mouth shut for you guys to see for yourselves.

Ben, Max, and Lea went inside the haunted house. And they mostly see jump scares, cut-outs of ghosts, and fake ghouls. Nothing that much. Or so they thought.

Around passing what looked like a room full of mirrors, Ben nearly jumped when seeing what looked like a creepy clown.

"Ben, are you okay?" Lea asked, placing a hand on his shoulder in deep concern.

"I'm... I'm fine. I just... I hate clowns." Ben said, looking pale.

"Maybe we should get out of here," Lea suggested, only to notice something off. "Hey, where's your grandfather?"

Ben looks around and... He couldn't see Max anywhere. "Grandpa? Grandpa Max?" Ben called his name but he hears no response. "Come on, don't do this to me."

"Something's wrong," Lea said, keeping Ben close. "We need to find your grandfather."

Just then, the blonde teen heard ticking...from a pocket watch. Even saw a small glimpse of it from one of the reflections.

"Oh no..." she muttered, her suspicions and fears growing.

"What's wrong?" Ben asked.

"Ben...Keep your eyes on me and/or the ground," Lea warned, looking at her feet and lowering her voice. "Don't look at the mirrors. I think there's a hypnotist her trying to put us in a deep trance."

But then she felt nothing. Like ben just disappeared.

"Ben? Ben!" Lea called out, still not looking at the mirrors yet realized he's not around. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

She looked everywhere but she sees nothing, but the mirrors somehow were getting closer towards her. She tries to look away but they kept getting more closer.

'This isn't happening. This isn't happening. This isn't happening!' Lea repeated in her mind, covering her eyes with her heart beating wildly.

Without thinking, the blonde teen blindly tried running out.

"Lea..." A voice said. But she doesn't know where it was coming from.

"You can't escape..." Another voice was heard, and it was echoing, and it sounded sinister... "Join me..."

"...No! Whoever you are, let my boyfriend and his grandfather go!" Lea demanded, placing her hands on her head. "Let me out of here!"

"Join me... Embrace your fear..." The voice said. It was almost sounding familiar...as a glow of yellow light shined the shadows.

Lea opened her eyes in shock, almost tempted to look up. "Fear? ...No...It can't be..."

Lea ran more but it felt endless. No door, no roof. Like an empty void. Until she bumped into one of the mirrors where Lea saw not her reflection…but Sinestro in his Yellow Lantern attire.

"Sinestro!? You can't be here! That's not possible! I faced and defeated you last time!" Lea exclaimed, recalling he was supposed to be locked up by the Indigo Tribe.

"And you think a little weak lantern could easily stop my big plans?" Sinestro questioned, walking closer with Lea moving back. "If you won't join me..."

Sinestro then morphed into an orange flair that then forms into someone Lea saw in her nightmares.

"Then, you will die and I will keep your corpse because it's mine!" It had Hal's voice. It was his Orange Lantern form with many Orange Lantern rings on him.

Lea nearly yelped in horror, suddenly tripping and falling down a trap door underneath the floorboards.

"WHOOAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" she screamed, feeling herself be consumed in darkness.

She then sees Hal in his Orange Lantern form, scary doctors with charms for hypnosis, Sinestro looking demonic, and the Puppet Master trying to control her with strings. They were yelling and laughing with demonic voices.

Just as Lea was on the brink of crying in tears of fear, her blue ring started faintly glowing. As if remembering the wise words of a Blue Lantern teacher.

"You must return to find your center, and avoid the smallest shocks," Saint Walker advised. "Let go of fear. Fuel it with hope, instead."

The blonde teen remembered those words...

"Let hope overcome fear..." she muttered, now calming down and focusing deeply. "This...This isn't real...I can't let fake fears get in the way of what's important."

"Lea..." Another voice was heard, and it was coming from her Green Lantern plushie. "Do not let fear win. Remember the oath of the Blue Lantern. Remember what you stand for, and who you love. Let it fuel your hope."

Lea smiled gently at the toy...the one picked by the boy she loves. Knowing what she has to do, the blonde teen closed her eyes and placed her ringed hand to her heart before saying the Blue Lantern Oath.

"In fearful day, in raging night, with strong hearts full, our souls ignite. When all seems lost in the war of light, look to the stars, for hope burns bright!"

By saying the oath, her Blue Lantern ring glowed and she transformed into her superhero alter ego; Midnight Hope! And she blasted the fears away.

When that happened, the darkness and nightmares were gone yet remained as Midnight Hope. Meaning it really is a reality now. She wasn't in the mirror room anymore, but was in some sort of trapdoor gimmick used for funhouses and appear to be sitting on an old mattress.

"What the…? How did I get here?" Midnight Hope asked, standing up to see she was still holding on to the toy in her arms that was not talking anymore. "Something tells me that this wasn't part of the attraction."

I wasn't sure how I ended up there, but I knew Ben and his grandfather were in terrible danger. And it was up to me to save them from whatever or whoever is behind this. I only hoped that I was not too late. Especially for what I was about to discover…

"Time to see who's really behind this! Hang in there, Ben and Max!" Midnight Hope stated, flying up with her light shining bright.

To Be Continued…

Curious about what's going on and how Lea ended up there? Along with who is doing all of this? Take a guess in the comments and find out next time to see if you're right. Enjoy and no flames, please.