The sky was as pink as a ripe cherry. It was only five o'clock and already the sun had gone down and propane floodlights began to dominate the atmosphere, splashing an ethereal noire-blue to most every surface. Amidst the ether were glittering lights that fought for a bit of control over smaller territories; reds and blues and yellows and greens, twinkling and sparkling in a cosmic nebulous of music and sound.
Emeral, Lyza, Ket and Kval arrived at the fair. It was carnival-esque, with booths of games and activities, or just fun stuff like fortune-telling and food. They underwent the admission process, and Kval forked over enough money for everyone to have twenty tickets to spend on whatever they wanted.
"Are they going to have fireworks?" Lyza asked, "I know it's not New Year's yet but you think they'll have some?"
New Year's was only two days away. It had been Kval's idea to go to the fair, which had been open since the day after Christmas. The fair was an annual event held at Whisper Valley Park, which was a bit of a ways from the kids' usual distance from home.
"I dunno, there may be a few. I imagine the big show will be on New Year's Eve."
"I wish we could come back then..."
They meandered into the park, staying very close to the brother rabbit. Even though the fair had opened only an hour ago, it was already swarming with people; here and there a shout, an occasional triumphant yell, a bell ring, clap-and-laughter, and the buzz of a party-curler.
Despite the chilly air, the place felt warm. Perhaps it was the population, or maybe it was the food; every few steps a new smell made their mouths water, even though they just ate McDonald's on the way. Roasted corn, hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheese-sticks pervaded the air like a miasma.
"So, what-to-do," Kval said, as they wandered around looking at all the booths, "What-to-do what-to-do..."
"I dunno," Emeral said, "Twenty tickets seemed like a lot at first, but this place is huge."
"Yeah," Lyza replied, tearing off one ticket and putting it in her pocket.
"Whatchya doing that for, Lyz?" Her brother asked.
"Emergency ticket," she replied, "In case I happen to really want to do something."
"That looks fun," Ket said, pointing out a booth where people shot at rubber duckies with rubber-band guns.
"Ooo! I wanna try that!" Emeral rushed up to the booth.
"Whaddaya have against duckies?" Kval muttered as she deposited the requisite ticket to the teenage rat behind the wooden bench.
"Here's your gun," he said, displaying it but not handing it over quite yet, "You pull the trigger here and the band'll shoot off," he explained, a little drolly as he'd done for the past few days, "don't aim it at me and don't aim it outside the range. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," She replied, and the rat seemed a little unused to being called 'sir'.
"Right. You get six shots; hit five ducks and win a prize."
Emeral took aim at the leftmost duck. The gun had a sight on it, and she lined it up with the innocent-looking duckling. She held it steady, and then pulled the trigger. The rubber band silently whipped forward off the gun, and the blue tarp that served as a backdrop rippled as the band missed the duck high above its head.
"Rats," she muttered, and then hoped the teen setting up another boy nearby didn't hear her.
"Aim it a little low," he said, taking the gun from her and stretching another rubber band across the firing trap. "They tend to shoot upward just a bit."
"Thanks," she replied, and leveled the sight. She lowered the barrel just as the teen suggested, bit the corner of her lip and pulled the trigger. Rubber met rubber, and the band snapped as it ricocheted off the duckling, which fell off of its precarious perch.
"Nice shot!" Lyza said, giving her friend a hi-five.
Ket shook his head, and Kval muttered, "Poor little duckling."
Gun locked and loaded, Emeral shot down a second and third duck. On the fourth one which was red instead of yellow like all the rest, she leveled the gun just right—she thought—but the band whizzed just past the duckling's head. "Dang!"
"That's a miss. You have one shot for fun, wanna take it?" The rat held the gun handle out, having loaded it with a practiced swiftness.
"Duck goin' down," Emeral huffed, aimed, and missed. She growled with flattened ears.
"That one taunts everybody," the teen replied, reaching for a baggy with a little yellow ring inside it, "It has yet to be shot down." The tigress eyed the baggy and then looked back up at the teen. "Take it," he urged, "but don't tell anyone."
As they moved on their way, Lyza spotted a game where the goal was to bounce a ping-pong onto one of several open soda bottles. One ticket got her two tries, and she tried four times without any hope of success; and when the old lady hosting the game didn't give her a consolation prize, it made her even more frustrated.
"This is stupid," she said, "I already wasted two tickets."
"Maybe you'll find a game that's easy," Kval said with confidence. "I'll keep an eye out for one."
As they wandered the park, exploring games and activities some interesting to watch but not worth playing, the sky turned from cherry to black. Now, the propane lamps took full control of the world, casting sharp shadows, often more than one at a time splitting off from the caster. The air became much colder, crackling and tickling deep within the chest.
But with the strange light and the cold air came a sense of danger; Kval was on high alert for his responsibility. In truth, he had gotten permission from Emeral's and Ket's parents, but his own were only vaguely aware of where he and Lyza were. It took a great deal of convincing and reassurance that nothing would happen to his little sister, or else he wouldn't take her out again for a long time.
Lyza was down to six tickets, while Emeral only had two. They had played games which were easy and now both girls sported glo-sticks, blinking bracelets, Lyza a tiara and Emeral her ring. Kval, who only got five tickets for himself, managed to win a neon-pink Armstrong band, solely because his sister didn't believe he'd ever wear something pink.
Ket, however, had yet to spend a single ticket.
"So...what?" Emeral said, branching off a conversation about Lyza's glo-stick, "You bored and not having fun at all?"
Ket shook his head, "No, I'm having fun," he said loudly with a smile, as a mariachi-style band passed them, "I just haven't seen anything to spend my tickets on."
"There's lotsa stuff to spend tickets on," Lyza spoke back, "Like that baseball game over there." She pointed at a booth, and probably the most generic one to ever exist: classic six-stack cups, and a ball to knock them over. "I bet that one's easy for a guy like you."
"Nah, that one's rigged," Ket replied, "Most of these games are."
"So?" Emeral piped. "The point is to have fun."
"Maybe...but I don't want to do that game."
"Well..." Lyza looked around. "Fine. Emmy and I aren't spending another ticket until we find you a game. And whatever game we pick you hafta play—rigged or not."
Ket rolled his eyes, "Okay, okay."
They waded through motes of silver light and shadow. They had yet to go everywhere in the park, so they made for an area they knew was uncharted to them. But as they walked, Emeral lagged a little behind, and Ket subconsciously did as well.
"Are you sure you're having fun?" She asked in a low voice.
"Yeah," he replied, "Why wouldn't I?"
"I dunno," she admitted, "I just...can't read you."
He gave a quizzical look.
"I mean," she hooked his hand, "You just look...irritated..."
"I'm not," he said with a smile.
"Hey! I found one!"
The group followed Lyza past a large stage, glowing in artificial moonlight where high schoolers or young adults got up to sing karaoke. Amidst the metronomic bass and hyperactive guitar-dancing that sounded like a zillion bats fleeing from a cave, was a loud crash, a scrape, and the disappointed drone of an audience.
Even before they finally got to the event, Emeral saw the pillar with a closed fist atop it like some arrogant challenge to the heavens. It was supposed to be gold, but in the light it took on an earth-green brass. The meter that ran up the pillar was purple at the bottom, and progressed backward up to rainbow until at the 'wrist' it was blood red.
The Strongman's Challenge.
A little over a dozen people stood around the pillar, but it was an average number as oncomers and offgoers changed out every couple of moments. A skinny high schooler, a husky, stepped up with the hammer, Mjolnir etched across the head. He hefted it on his right shoulder, making a show of concentration. Then at last he changed his stance, putting all of his weight behind him. The hammer paralleled the ground as he started to yell, and made the widest arc he possibly could. He swung down, but angled in, and so when it hit the plate it more or less bounced away than was absorbed, and the spider only went a few inches up the meter—not even to the blue.
Another disappointed murmur.
"Next challenger?" The host of the game barked, almost militaristically. "Who believes they have the strength of Thor?" The stag tamped the ground with the butt of the hammer, and his "armor" jangled just a little.
"Maybe we should try a different game, Lyza." Emeral said.
"Why?"
Emeral looked at Ket. She recalled his nervousness at the ice rink, for it was still fresh in her mind. But there he was nervous because it was something new, and required a bit of learning. But this was different; anyone could swing a hammer. Plus, that husky was probably almost ten years older than Ket, and he barely made it move.
"I just don't think it's a good idea."
"I will!" Ket said, raising his hand.
Emeral flinched; "Ket, don't—", she tried to urge, but even as she did he fished into his pocket for the required two tickets.
"I promised I'd play the next game," he replied.
"But that hammer is huge! It's like twice your size."
"Fret naught, fair lady," the stag said to her, maintaining his character, "There is more than one Mjolnir." And as he said that, he went to a stand upon which hung various sizes of sledgehammers. He picked one out that was shorter, replacing the larger one, and brought it to Ket, presenting it on one knee.
Not exactly sure how to respond, Ket retrieved it with a thanks and then stepped up to the plate. Around him people talked and chuckled, but he tried to ignore them. He was nervous, but he recalled on the ice when Emeral had spun and fallen, yet everyone still cheered. In a way, he wanted to test that.
The hammer was heavier than he expected, even for a smaller size. He felt it tipping his balance in whatever direction the head went, but he quickly gained some sense of control. After a moment or so of gaging the hammer, he poised, similar to what the husky did. The husky had already left.
He breathed slowly. Once. Twice. On the third breath, he deepened the intake, and then with a mighty roar he arced the hammer widely. The weight of it pulled him forward, and as it struck the plate it bounced directly back up, as if the plate had deflected the force. Ket stumbled back, but the stag hosting the game was quick on his feet and caught Ket and the hammer safely.
Boys laughed; some girls cooed, others yelled at the boys and one slapped the loudest gaffawer for being so mean.
Ket let go of the hammer, and the stag smiled as he placed a shiny silver coin made of plastic in his hand.
"Thor admires your enthusiasm. Practice, and one day you will surely surpass."
As he returned to his friends, Lyza hi-fived him. "That was awesome!" She exclaimed; "You were all like—" she imitated his seriousness, "and then you swung and the plate banged and—"
"And monkeys flew down from the sky," Kval jumped in, "and then—"
"Don't ruin it, fart-head!" The sister exclaimed, "You're such a funny guy why don't you try to challange Thor?"
"I'm allergic to lightning gods," he said with a shrug. Then he pointed to a row of blue stalls. "I gotta...y'know, do some business. Anyone else need'ta?"
Lyza shook her head, Emeral did as well, and Ket just shrugged.
"Well...unfortunately you guys still have to wait for me. So, gonna have to come with at least."
"As long as we don't have to go in," Lyza muttered with a twisted stink-face. "I hate those things."
"I'll be quick," he said, leading the way. "Just don't go wandering off too far, got it?"
They nodded their heads. After he ducked away, and a very fat beaver came out of one and belched, they stood just a bit away from the portables. The light wasn't as dominant here; in fact it was ashen, turning their fur gray and heavy, sapping all color out of their eyes.
"I think I need to sit down," Emeral spoke with a weary sigh, pointing over at a ledge of rocks protruding from a grassy roll.
"What's wrong?" Lyza asked with great concern.
"Nothing just," Emeral shivered, "It's getting colder. I just need to stop shivering."
"Well...Kval said we can't wander too far..." Lyza looked to Ket; "Can you go with her? I'll stay here and wait for fart-head." She pointed at the stalls with her thumb.
"You sure?" Ket asked.
"Yeah, no prob."
Acquiescing, Ket walked with Emeral to the grass and they sat upon the rocks. Emeral looked at where Lyza was and saw her friend wasn't paying too much attention; she leaned upon Ket, releasing a sigh.
"You want my jacket?" He offered, "It'll fit under yours and you can wear two."
"I'm not cold," she replied, nestling further into the crook of his shoulder.
Lyza rocked on the soles of her shoes, hands behind her back. She glanced over at Ket and Emeral but couldn't really see them too well. What was Kval doing in there, painting a picture? She unclasped her hands and pulled her ears out of her jacket, to let their stiff stems loosen a bit.
"Psst."
"Hm?" She glanced over at her friends, thinking they had said something.
"Psst," came the whisper.
She glanced around, and a few yards from her, behind the wall of stinky houses, she thought she saw someone.
"Hello?" She asked, and stepped forward to peer closer.
"C'mere," he said, but it was like he was a thousand miles away, and his voice whipped like it was tossed by a strong wind.
Lyza looked around, and then took a few steps forward. "Why?" She asked.
"I need your help," he replied.
Against her nerves, she couldn't deny someone who needed help. She thought how Kval would handle it—he would try to help right? She approached, but kept at least a foot away. He was a mole; short, but he looked like he was sitting down or leaning against something. He wore a trench coat that bellowed just a little around his feet, his hands stuck in his pockets. "What's wrong?" She asked.
The mole's whiskers twitched. "See, my boss is mad." He said, and stood up; he was short, but much taller than her still. "You think you can help me out—make a trade?"
"Trade what?" She asked, "Who's your boss?"
"Doesn't matter. Whatchya got?"
"All I have are tickets." She reached into her pocket and pulled out six stubs.
The mole's hand swiped out and took the tickets. "That won't work," he said. "You got any friends?"
"A few," she replied nervously, "B-but, why? What are you trading?"
The mole reached with one hand to the lip of his jacket and peeled it away, revealing little bags like tarantula egg-sacks clipped to the fabric; there were spaces where it looked like some of the white bulbs were missing.
Lyza did not know what was in the bags, but she recognized, and needed only recognize, what the bags meant. She took a step back. "No." She said.
"But you promised to help," he said, his voice grating. He smiled, teeth black and several missing.
"I said 'no'," she repeated more aggressively, and started to turn, but he reached out to grab her.
"But you said—"
Lyza screamed. Immediately there was a crash as plastic collided with plastic; footsteps pounded the grass and a beam of light pierced the darkness. Lyza screamed again and the hand on her shoulder let go; the light blazed her eyes again as it approached. She closed her lids.
A voice, thick with rage; a tongue thirsty for blood; teeth hungry for meat, came deep from within the throat like a dragon warning all it was about to roast the very sky: "What are you doing with my sister?"
The mole tried to say something but his words were cut short. His tongue tasted blood; his teeth ate the meat of his tongue. "L'e 'ell ma'—" He was cut short again, drowned by a wrathful shout.
Lyza opened up her eyes to see the beam of light blaze past and then flicker out. There was a sob, and the sound of retreating footfalls, and distorted swears and curses. A moment later there was heavy breathing, and still a moment later the light finally came back.
Kval stared with a slightly open mouth, exposing his large incisors. His lips shut and he looked down at his sister. "I thought I told you not to wander."
"I—I'm s-s-sorry," Lyza shivered. "K-K-Ket took Emmy t-to th-th-over there," she pointed, "and then h-he—the mole—he—"
Her explanation was cut short as Kval collapse onto her, wrapping his arms around her. Her ears lowered; suddenly she felt warmth and safety. "...Th-they told us...at school...to just say 'no'..." she replied, "I was doing what they said..."
"Sometimes 'no' isn't enough," Kval replied. "Now c'mon, we have to go to your friends. Why don't you hold the light?"
Lyza took the little mag-lite in her paws and held the beam; it wiggled back and forth, and she tried to keep it still. She played it about as they walked, and once or twice Kval reminded her to keep it in front of them as she quickly darted it left or right at a sound.
"What's the matter?" Emeral asked when she finally saw her friends. "We heard a scream and—"
"Lyza saw a bug," Kval replied.
"Oh jeez. Was it a spider?—I hate spiders!"
"How did she see a bug? It's winter..." Ket trailed, and Emeral punched him.
"Shh! Don't be mean to Lyza."
"Don't worry about me, guys," Lyza said, "I just..." She trailed. When she looked up, she could see, despite the dim light, three pairs of eyes on her.
Emeral was the one to speak. "Do you...wanna go home?"
"No," Lyza shook her head, very much against making them leave because of her for a second time, "I'm fine, really. Besides Ket still hasn't really spent any of his tickets yet."
"It's okay," Ket shrugged, "I don't need to."
"Yes you do!"
"No really, I—"
"Why don't we try this," Kval said, displaying another flashlight and handing it to Ket, "We'll go to the petting zoo for a bit, and figure out what to do from there."
"There's... a petting zoo?" Lyza said, immediately forgetting her mood.
