Just for a Little While
Damien didn’t even look up at first when his mom said it.
“Can you take your sister to the carnival for a little bit?”
The words floated through the small apartment, mixing with the hum of the old refrigerator and the quiet cartoon voices coming from the TV. It wasn’t a question, not really. It never was.
Damien leaned back on the couch, one arm thrown over his eyes. “Ma, I just got back.”
“I know,” she said, softer this time. “But I have to leave soon for work, and she’s been asking all day.”
That got his attention.
He lowered his arm and glanced over at Ema.
She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, her small hands gripping the edge of the couch cushion, already watching him like she’d been waiting for this exact moment. Her hazel eyes were wide, hopeful in a way that made it hard to say no.
“Please?” she whispered.
Damien exhaled through his nose, dragging a hand over his short curls. “For a little bit,” he muttered. “Not all night.”
Ema lit up instantly, scrambling to her feet. “I’m gonna get my shoes!”
She ran off down the hallway, her footsteps quick and uneven against the worn floor.
Their mom gave Damien a tired smile as she grabbed her bag. “Thank you. Just an hour, okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, already standing. “An hour.”
But something about the way she said it made it feel like longer.
---
The carnival wasn’t far.
They could already see the lights from the end of their street—bright, flickering colors painting the sky in reds and yellows. It looked normal. Loud. Busy.
But as they got closer, Damien slowed down.
“You okay?” Ema asked, slipping her small hand into his.
“Yeah,” he said quickly. “Just… watch where you’re going.”
The air felt different.
Cooler.
Not cold—just enough to make the back of his neck prickle.
Music drifted toward them, but it didn’t sound right. The melody dragged in places, like the speakers were struggling to keep up.
Ema didn’t seem to notice.
“Look!” she said, pointing ahead. “The rides!”
The entrance stood just past a row of dim streetlights, a tall arch glowing with uneven bulbs. Some of them flickered. Others were completely dark.
A sign hung above it.
WELCOME.
Damien frowned.
“That’s it?” he muttered. No name. No prices. No times. Just that one word.
“Come on!” Ema tugged his hand, already pulling him forward.
As they stepped closer, Damien glanced around.
There weren’t as many people as he expected.
A few figures moved past the entrance, but something about them felt… off. Too quiet. Too slow.
One of them turned slightly as they passed.
For a second, Damien thought they were staring right at him.
He looked away quickly.
“Damien,” Ema whispered, suddenly closer to him now. “Can we go on the rides first?”
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then he nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, we’ll go.”
They stepped under the arch.
The moment they crossed into the carnival, the music got louder.
Clearer.
And somehow… worse.
Damien tightened his grip on Ema’s hand without realizing it.
Behind them, one of the lights above the entrance flickered—
then went out completely.
And neither of them looked back.
