All eyes were on the Ringmaster, Lin, as he stepped forward into the light cast down on the vast stage.
"And now dear guests, fellow adventurers of this life so rooted in time unforgiving..." he began slow and cryptic, gaze swooping from audience member to audience member. "This is the moment you've all been waiting for! I advise you not to blink." He took an extravagant bow and vanished as the spotlights that were converged on him split into separate lights that focused on two empty spots atop the grand stage.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew over the heads of spectators and intensified rapidly to form what seemed like a whirlwind over the stage. The audience let out a collective gasp as children jumped and yowled in excitement. Hair and clothing whipped about as the unnatural force rested where the light settled. A female remained, beautiful staff in hand with colorful garb adorning her.
Simultaneously, the shadow cast by a support beam of the stage bubbled as if a black puddle. It then moved, to everyone's surprise, to the remaining light source, and the bubbling blackness swirled upwards to create a figure most terrifying. It was covered in a cloak that billowed over the floor, and held a massive scythe loosely in both hands. It seemed to be quite tall and lanky, but hunched over and careless in its presentation.
The female released her hold on the staff and it floated by her side. "Do not be alarmed, city-dwellers. My name is Treat, progenitor of the Reaping Ritual." She bowed her head slightly, "I am very pleased to see you all, and extend my heartfelt thanks for the help you offered my dear companion in his time of need last year."
The figure let its scythe scrape the floor, chains rattling as it chuckled deeply. "Mm, Voltra was deliciously helpful. Trick would've been in a bind if you weren't there for him, yes? Trick wishes to say..." Its voice was a chilly rasp and sent shivers down even the most endurant spine. "He appreciates you, yes. Each and every one of you, heh... heheh!" It turned to face a portion of the audience and they saw a mouth open from nothing on its blank face and express a wicked grin.
"My gift for you, Trick," said the witch with a smile, offering a tiny box wrapped in decorative paper and topped with a magnificent bow.
"Trick will never tire of this ceremony for the strange but... decidedly good feelings it does invoke in him," whispered the reaper with his unnatural grin. He reached for the present with long inhuman fingers in an almost surgical way, afraid his touch might destroy such a seemingly fragile item.
Suddenly, the spotlights over the outdoor stage blinked out. They were replaced by a crimson glow emanating from the raised platform people were gathered around. The audience made sounds of soft wonder, but Trick reared back in surprise.
From beneath the witch, strands of deepest black spun up from the stage and coiled around her like a web of vipers. "Trick! Trick, help me-" She was cut off as the tentacles clasped over her mouth.
"T-Treat!" The reaper went to grab her outstretched hand, but she was yanked downwards into the swirling abyss beneath the blood red light. "No... no! You cannot have her! She is all that Trick has!" He brought his scythe to bear with a reverberating echo of chains, eyes alight with sickly green flame.
A deep, deep sourceless laughter could be heard then by all in attendance, and a chilling voice seemed to threaten the immortal beings: "Don't worry, little reaper. The table wouldn't be set without both of you."
Trick released a bloodcurdling cry cut short by his forced descent into the unknown. There was stunned silence in the audience until a young man began to hoot and holler, "Those effects were freakin' awesome!"
Before anyone could reply, a black fog that had been steadily seeping over the stage and slowly creeping along the grassy fields blasted outwards in one powerful gust of unnatural wind. There were no screams despite the terrifying affair, but surely that was impossible?
When the fog started to clear, the shopkeepers met up and cast a wary gaze around the bleak fairgrounds. There were no humans in sight save for them, but above in the darkened skies? A thick flock of cawing crows flew in circles. Some perched here and there, but most were content to fly.
Vanora was the first to speak up, "So on a hunch, I'm going to guess all this isn't part of the show."
Vivienne shook her head vigorously, "Oh no, oh no, oh no! This doesn't look good at all! Where'd all the people go? What in the world's happening?"
"This must certainly be the dreaded arc wherein evil besets the heroes," Vontell adjusted his glasses with a nod. "We have to be strong, friends, else the darkness claims us as well!"
"I'm afraid it's a little late for that, my boy," said a voice unfamiliar to all but Van and Vivi. A well-dressed older man approached the group with a frown.
Vivi's eyes lit up in recognition, "Oh, it's you! Smolkie, the hypnotherapist!"
"Indeed it is! It's a shame we've met again under such tumultuous circumstances, Miss Harper. Before we catch up, however, I do say there's a matter of great import to address."
"Oh?" Velvet gestured to their surroundings, "And what could be more important than all this?"
"Welll... how do I say this," Smolkie rubbed the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "I suppose I'll just come out with it, hm? One of you has been tainted. Tainted by the darkness, I say! I can sense it and ohh... it's just terrible. Before we do anything else, I do suggest we, ah, find the one who has been touched by evil and, erm, incapacitate them before it spreads!"
"Whoa now," Vyc crossed his arms. "You mean to say one of us is not right in the head or somethin'? You just show up with that claim, man. What if this person is you?"
"It - it could be, I suppose, but I must assure you that it's not! I have naught but my word, you see. I urge you to trust me because I have the knowledge and power to exorcise that which has wormed its way into one of your hearts, but we must act now before it grows stronger!"
Ash 8/7/19 
