Nightmare Pt.7
Date: 7/5/98
From: marcos1

Nightmare

~~~~~

Jeb Hawkes threw the baseball at the target. The clown jeered him on. "Come on now. Who is throwing that ball? Is it dear sweet Alexander...or lovely Michael?" The clown sat on top of a tub of water and the object of throwing the ball was to release a lever and plunge him into the water. The bumpkin's face was painted many different colors.

Jeb turned and whispered to Nicholas. "How does he know my childhood names?" Carolyn and Maggie were standing at a nearby concession stand buying cotton candy. Carolyn looked over at Jeb, smiling fondly.

"This carnival was brought from the afterlife by Cassandra," Nicholas said, softly. "I would assume that everyone here is actually dead. This world holds very few secrets for the dead."

Jeb shook his head. "I don't know...I really don't like it, man. That clown gives me the creeps." He frowned.

"Jeb," Nicholas said, earnestly. "I must admit that I'm not overly fond of the idea of dealing with Cassandra." His eyes narrowed. "Let's just say that my sister and I have a certain kind of history together...and it wasn't always one of trust. Many times she has been my worst foe." He broke into a smile, as Carolyn and Maggie approached, and whispered to Jeb. "But Thanatos leaves us very little choice."

"Is that clown starting to get to you?" Carolyn asked smiling. She reached for a baseball. "Here give me a chance."

"Oh, look at the little lady," the clown called out. "The lady is trying to be tough. Go ahead...throw it. Throw it for David," he gibed. "Throw it for your cousin who lives in Hell. He's burning right now...did you know that?"

Carolyn started to shake. "How did he know about that?" She started to cry. "What kind of place is this?" The clown started to guffaw.

Jeb embraced her. "Don't worry honey. We will leave this place. Damn that stupid clown." He threw the baseball with his full strength plunging the clown into the icy water.

Maggie stood watching, a mortified expression forming on her face. "Nicholas, do you know anything about this? Are the black arts involved with this carnival?" Her eyes narrowed. "Before we were married...you promised me...no more sorcery."

"Maggie, I swear that I'm not behind the appearance of this carnival," Nicholas said, in a supplicating way. His eyes looked at her with love. "I would never do anything to deceive you. There are other forces implicated with this..."

Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke from the shadows. "He is speaking the truth, dear Maggie." She was dressed in a red dress with four white buttons in front, her raven hair was short, wearing two golden earrings, with a blanch colored ring on her right hand.

"Cassandra," Maggie gasped. "What are you doing here?"

Cassandra laughed. "Why shouldn't I be here? I am the mistress of this place, this is my carnival. I just wanted to talk with my brother and his new bride."

"Jeb, please take Maggie and Carolyn back to the motel," Nicholas said. "I think that I need to speak with my 'sister' alone." He glared at Cassandra, as Jeb walked away with Carolyn still sobbing. Maggie walked by their side.

To be continued--