Page 17 of Runt's Haunted Ride
"Took them to that tent away from the others. A little bit later, Mortis and the other clowns went to the tent too. About fifteen minutes later, the clowns left. Mortis, about thirty minutes later. Never did see the guys leave."
"Yeah, and there were all these weird sounds," Diesel added, shaking his head. "I can't really explain it." He made a vague gesture that could have meant anything.
Heavy, Torch, and Wrench from big tent security looked equally unimpressed. "Walked around that fucking tent all night," Heavy complained. "Had people come to the shows, but that was it. Although we did hear a couple of the performers hoping that Mortis would give them Halloween night off. I guess since a group of VIPs are coming the night before." Heavy shrugged.
All eyes turned to our table. The room went quiet, every member leaning forward in anticipation.
"Boys," Fang said, settling back in his chair, "you three look like you've got stories again. Start talking."
"Mortis is one fucked-up dude," Swinger started.
"If he even is a dude," I added. Swinger and Bulldog nodded.
"What? Fucking spill it," Fang spat.
Bulldog jumped right in. "Tonight was worse than last night. Way worse. This is going to take a while to explain."
"Worse? How the fuck is that possible?" Leaper asked, his envy clear.
I took a long pull from my beer. "We had to break up a fight between two drunk assholes who were fighting over one of the carnival workers. She was screaming. They were yanking her arms. It was totally out of control before we got there."
"You mean before he got there," Swinger said.
The room perked up. Violence they understood.
"You all look like you've seen a ghost," Tank said, swatting Bulldog on the arm as he passed, going to the refrigerator for another beer.
"I wish," Bulldog continued. "So, we stepped in and got the guys separated, made sure the woman was safe. Standard security stuff."
"They weren't any match for our gorilla strength," I added.
"Then Ringmaster Mortis showed up," Swinger added, his voice dropping low.
The room went dead silent. Everyone had seen Mortis when we first arrived, and nobody had forgotten that unsettling encounter.
"That fucker," I started, "somehow he spoke to the woman and none of us could hear it. He did that with one of the clowns too. And he healed her wrists. Plus, he grew. Like, literally grew. Starting at maybe six-six, ended up at least eight feet tall. His voice got deeper. His whole presence changed. It was like watching someone transform into something else entirely."
"No way," Crusher breathed. "You're full of shit."
"He's telling the truth," Bulldog confirmed. "Mortis leaned in and cast a shadow that made the guys confess what theywanted to do to the woman. Then he snapped his fingers, and both drunk guys went rigid. Not just still—they were completely frozen. Like statues."
Tank leaned forward, his interest clearly piqued. "Damn, I bet that's the guys we saw the clowns with."
"He said he was their nightmare," Swinger added. "After that, the guys talked as if they shared one brain. Oh, not to mention he yanked their wrists out of Runt and my hands. We couldn't stop it."
"We think Mortis is into black magic," I said. "It was the craziest thing I've ever seen."
"Me too," Swinger agreed. "He grew, and not just taller but wide. Like big, big." Bulldog stood on his chair and showed how much, and the room sucked in air in surprise.
"That's not all," I said, glancing at Swinger and Bulldog. We'd agreed to keep the money between us, but the jewelry story was fair game.
"What else?" Fang demanded.
"Before all of that happened, I watched the puzzle-faced clown bring this woman to the ring toss game. He stood right by her, encouraging her. But there was something between him and the carnie."
"So?" Diesel spoke up.
"Well, she threw three rings, and every single one defied physics to land exactly where it needed to." I threw my hands out in different directions to show what I meant. "There's no way those impossible tosses should have worked, but they did. Each one landed in the same place."
