The office has been nice and quiet for a while. Nothing too harsh has come up for them that wasn't more than a three-day job. Juliet finds Hanson in his office with his nose in what seems to be a good book. He's been reading it for a few days and making considerable progress with it. Whenever she needs to disturb him she taps so lightly on the doorframe to his office. He finishes his spot before marking it, then gives her his full attention. "Come in Ms. Juliet. Have a seat." He's always so courteous when working with her. It's refreshing. She takes one quick glance down the hallway to make sure that Hunter is out of his office.
Hanson takes notice, setting himself upright. The door clicks quietly behind her as she takes her seat. Hanson is already keen on where this conversation is going to go, "What have you noticed with him?" Right on the head. Juliet keeps her voice low to try and keep suspicion off of them, "Lady Mackling's job; Garrett's death was odd." Hanson stared at her unsure of where this was going to go. "Well, the young master was fighting to defend you. Garrett was a lethal threat to both of you."
"I know but… Just the way it happened seems off. And it's all so fuzzy for me. You would think that watching someone die would stick with you. I just remember running back and then waking up in the car as we returned."
"It may just be how your mind is coping with it. Someone dying before you is a traumatic experience."
"Yes but it's still just so odd to me."
She sat back in her chair in a slump. "I just don't know what to do Hanson. Everything on the surface is fine but there's still just something bothering me. It's almost sinister. I may be saying too much but… I could taste it on him." Hanson could see the concern in her eyes as she spoke. There was something else troubling her that she really could not put her finger on. Maybe it was Hunter, maybe it's been an occupational hazard that's been bothering her. Nonetheless, her fears are genuine and needed to be addressed. "Lady Juliet, I assure you that I do believe you. Even if you don't fully understand it yourself."
"Thanks, Hanson. That means a lot."
The door behind them opens to their boss poking his head in. He caught both of them in the eyes before speaking, "Meeting of the minds? What's going on?" Juliet froze but Hanson was on top of it. "Lady Juliet was asking me about the possibility of a raise. I told her I would put in a good word with you about it." He was so smooth with it! He didn't skip a beat and just carried on like that was their conversation.
Hunter leaned against the door frame with a thoughtful look. "You know, she's been helping, she's been here a while. I'll forfeit 5% of my cut to give her a raise."
"I will as well make it an even 10%. I'll also give another 5% to Adam."
"I'll match it. He did good work on that last job. Congratulations Juliet, you got a 10% raise."
Hunter poked his head back out into the hallway for a moment, "Hey! Adam!" There was a faint "What?!" returned from down the hall. "You're getting a raise!" It seemed to catch him off guard before a return was given, "Oh cool!"
Hunter pulled himself back into Hanson's office, "There we go. Now you get to earn it though. We have a job to do. Conference room in five minutes." He knocked on the wall as he left to head upstairs to get their briefing ready. Juliet whipped over to Hanson with a face of shock, "Hanson! Why?!"
"You deserve it. An old man like me doesn't need that much money anyhow."
The familiar scene of a briefing in the conference room was almost relaxing. The projector was on showing a white square until Hunter hooked up his computer. A quick picture of a carnival popped up that looked a little more worn than it should. "We have an odd one. People are going missing in one of these attractions." Something seems a little cliché about a carnival being creepy. With people missing you almost expect a murderous clown prowling around in the middle of the night. Hunter moved to the next slide showing the entrance to a shabby-looking building. "Specifically, people are going missing in the House Of Mirrors. It's supposed to be a maze that disorientates you as you stumble and try to find your way out. People are going in and only a few are coming out. We were given the profiles of the people missing from the local police. Hanson and I will begin looking into those as we head out. Once we arrive we'll be in charge of a small construction crew who will help us tear down and build it back as we need."
This seemed like a lot of work for a building on a movable platform. "What else was there… Right! We also have access to go into the structure itself but until we deem it safe to do so, we will be monitoring it from cameras that we will place inside when we go through the deconstruction and construction process. We'll be providing our own equipment this time so Adam, you'll be in charge of mapping and finding areas to place cameras so we don't have blind spots. Juliet, your job will be simple. Observe and report from the entrance and exit of the building. Hanson and I will be collecting information from those who went in with others who have gone missing. We'll be looking for patterns of victims. We have limited time to work. They will not be closing down the attraction while we work. That can be good and bad for us. We'll get to see what happens but we may also lose more people. That means that time is critical. Questions?" Everyone stayed quiet in their seats. "Excellent. Wheels go up in 3 hours. Get packed and get moving."
The meeting was adjourned quickly, giving core members time to get ready. Hunter seemed rather off about this job. He seemed almost agitated. He paced back and forth around the office before heading home to get his bag packed. When they all returned to pile into the vehicle to head to the airport he seemed almost apprehensive. This was eating at him in some way. Once the plane took off they were given their materials to work. Hanson and Hunter started deconstructing the layout of the scene using an aerial photo of the building with the roof removed. Adam was assisting with their planning looking for every corner he would have to put a camera in to make sure there were no blind spots. Juliet would be stationed out with the attraction attendant keeping tabs on the people coming in and going out making notes on each person. When they were to arrive at the place would be shut down for the night. The construction crew would be around and ready to remove the ceiling so they could place their cameras.
The roof was placed on top of stilts to hold it up while Adam started marking and placing cameras getting them hooked up. He seemed alone in his endeavor to set this up. None of the construction workers seemed to want anything to do with them. Hunter was busy working with their own staff to get information. They were very reluctant to give out any information about anything that had been going around. The only person who seemed to be cooperating at all was the front office manager of the place. They doubled as their circus ringleader during shows. She was also the one who put up the job. Everyone was introduced, Hunter as John, Hanson as himself, Adam also as himself, and Juliet as Isabelle.
Hanson seemed to be off on his own popping up now and again just to disappear. He should have been trying to collect more information like Hunter but his eyes seemed to be wandering around the area more than on the people. It only took a couple of hours before Adam was done getting his setup operational. The cameras were hard-wired to power and to a system to record while showing a live view. The sun had set leaving the air with a slight orange tint. The grounds were closed for the day. On Fridays and over the weekends, they keep the place open until midnight so people can enjoy the lights with a fireworks show on Saturdays.
That will be their problem tomorrow. Tonight though, they were given a few spare accommodations. The carnival rented two RVs for them to use. One would double as their base and sleeping quarters while the other would just be a place to rest. The group was given a set of chairs with a table to sit outside and work as well. Kathy, their contact and employer, showed them where they would be staying making sure that if they needed anything they got what they needed. They were all set for now letting her be for the evening.
Adam fell back into his chair stretching his hands. "They couldn't spare me a power tool but were so polite to give me a screwdriver and staples. 23 five-point contact cameras! That's 115-4" screws! I don't think I've ever had wankers cramp this bad before." Juliet leaned away from him, "Ew." Hunter cracked, giving a laugh. "Good job on toughing it out. That portion is most likely what makes or breaks this job. Remember the ground rules though, we do not go into the complex. Period. We find the source and then work from the outside to resolve this. With the roof off of the building, we should be alright as long as we keep eyes on our own people."
Juliet moved over in her chair getting into a lazy position, "This would be easier if the people here would be a bit more cooperative." Hansons jumped in on this, "These people are commonly referred to as 'Carnies'. They've built their own subculture that has brought a lot of negative connotations with it. So they are a very tight-knit group that doesn't work well with outsiders. As long as Kathy continues to work with us they will as well but note that there will be things they hold back. They're a family here. They take care of one another. Just remember we are the outsiders here and will probably be treated as such. Once they realize we are here to help, they should be more willing to assist. I hope."
They divided the RVs accordingly. Hanson and Hunter volunteered to take the base RV to give Juliet and Adam more room and comfort to sleep. While the carnival was quiet for the night the cameras were just left on just to test and monitor. Any motion would set an alarm to wake them up. It was quiet after a while. The chatter of the carnival workers died down and the quiet of the countryside took over. Only the sounds of bugs and nature were left washing over the RVs.
Morning came with the sounds of the people bustling around the site. The staff were getting things together and any cleaning that needed to be completed before opening. Hunter was up with Hanson looking over the cameras. Hunter was already in a spot where he felt uncomfortable about being here. It was not hard to see either. His twitching was almost unsettling to watch. His leg was bouncing, one hand was tapping his knee, and the other hand was being chewed on as he stared at the cameras. Hanson brought over a cup of coffee, placing it down before him. The steam slowly came up disturbing some of the lower screens. "Thank you, Hanson."
"Not a problem, sir. I figured some caffeine would help with your twitch."
Now that it was brought to his attention he could better control it. "I just hate waiting like this. People are disappearing and we just have to wait for it to happen. Not to mention I have this nagging feeling that something else is going on. That this house of mirrors isn't just the only thing going on." Hanson took his seat looking over the cameras, "I always said to trust your instincts. There may very well be something else and I have the fullest confidence that we can find it."
Hanson has always been a voice of reason along with a reliable source of wisdom. As Hunter finished his coffee his jitters started to come back. He just needed something to do. "Hanson, I'm going to walk the ground."
"Very good but please be sure…"
He interrupted him, "I won't go into the house of mirrors. I was the one who said until it's safe that no one will enter."
Hanson gave a nod. That was what he wanted to make sure of. There was no sense in taking any unnecessary risks. Before the general public could set foot on the grounds there was a different air about the place. It was all staff and performers. Without the general populace, it wasn't the same energy. When they arrived it was full of talking, screams of joy and excitement, the sound of music echoing between stalls, and the sounds of the carnival games with buzzers, chimes, and bells. Right now it was just… empty. The conversations were at a low level where you had to be close to hear anything. The performers were in regular clothes instead of their flashy stage costumes. Everything was just different.
The footprints from yesterday were still beaten into the mud. With the morning dew, it made the ground soft once more. Hunter took in the quiet as he made his way to the House of Mirrors. He stood in front of it, arms crossed staring at the entrance. He knew he was well within the camera's view that was placed outside. He gave it a wave before widening his stance to stand there. His mind was focused on this place. How was he going to tackle this one? There are many myths and monsters that deal with and reside in mirrors.
His body jerked forward as someone slapped him on his left shoulder blade. It was a woman's voice that greeted him, "Well good morning! Did you sleep well?" Hunter looked at the owner of the voice. She looked rather different without her coat. In regular street clothes, she looked like anyone else. "Kathy, good morning. I did. Thank you for the amenities."
"Well we can't have our contractor tired and off his game now, can we? I know I told you yesterday, but if there is anything that you need, please let us know."
"Will do, thank you again."
She gave a nod with another pat on the back before heading on her own way. Hunter rubbed his shoulder. There was a lingering feeling of being touched hanging just off of his shoulder. It was odd. The more he focused on it the more it seemed to burn. He managed to shrug it off but not for a while. He took his time looking around the grounds. The machinery was being looked over before it began operations for the day. Some of the staff who were hired from the nearby city showed up to take their posts. They set up their stalls, got their games running, and before long crowds started to file in. Within an hour it was bustling with people. It became so packed that there wasn't a time that you were not coming into contact with another person.
As the crowd grew, Hunter retreated to the RV where Hanson and Adam were hard at work. Hanson was keeping track of the number of people walking into the House of MIrrors while ADam was keeping track of those coming out. If someone disappeared they would know near the end of the day. With so much traffic just keeping the numbers together was difficult. They developed a quick system between the two where they would call a person with a distinguishing trait and match them with a number. As they left Adam would declare the same person and their number. A few hours passed and their numbers were keeping steady. It was around mid-afternoon when the numbers began to become askew. First, it was one. Then two. Then three.
They kept tallying through the day until the last show finished. The rides and games ran into the night until 10pm when the final announcement was made that the carnival was closing for the day. The music stopped, the lights were turned down, and the air became that still sensation like the night before. Only the carnival staff was left behind. As the last car left Hanson and Adam took a breather. The House of Mirrors was closed with the last person pointing to the camera letting the ones watching know.
Now the real work began. They had to go through the cameras to find who the people who went missing were and where they disappeared from the camera's sight. Now that they had the time, they could go through the people on an individual basis. Using a shared document, Hanson would type their description. As they left, Adam would mark them off. Hunter stayed behind them keeping an eye on them as they worked.
He kept a sharp eye on Adam. This kid didn't need much direction when it came to problem-solving. Hanson was clearly holding his hand when it came to the process but once he picked it up, he ran with it. He could very well succeed in this field. There are a lot of contractors that need a good assistant who can keep up with events as they happen. The hours passed quickly.
The time was coming up when the carnival staff would begin to wake up. Even so, Adam kept his eyes open and attention focused. Hanson had been doing this for years. Even at his age, he was as strong as ever. Hunter got coffee going to help Hanson keep his mind up. Adam snagged an energy drink from the bag he had stashed under the desk.
He popped the tab on it catching everyone's attention. With the eyes on him, he shrugged, "What? I don't like coffee. You can keep it to yourself but the future of not sleeping is in taurine and B12." Hunter looked to Hanson before looking back, "Did he just call us old?"
"I believe he did, sir."
"Cheeky."
Hunter cracked a smile. The fact that he dared to crack that joke, he had started to really settle in with the group. The clock rolled over to 5am. They had their missing people and a rough idea of where they disappeared. "Hanson, you know what to do. Check with police to see if someone was reported missing who matches the physical description of the list you created. Get names if you can. Adam, get some rest. I'm going to have the carnival close down the house and lift off the roof so we can get in and take a look around. Juliet and I will take a look inside where we believe the disappearances are happening." The game plan was set. Hanson started making phone calls as Hunter took his exit.
Juliet had been waiting on standby in the other RV. Her job was dedicated to the field portion of this mission but her services were not required until now. So she sat in the RV, watched the people, listened to what was going on outside, and read when she could. Hunter walked in to find her sitting at the table looking over a book. He recognized it now. She had read it a few times. With a cough, he caught her attention, "You ready?"
"Finally!" She dog-eared the page, "I have been bored off my face!"
She was ready for anything. She blew past Hunter stretching once she got outside. "How many times have you read that book?" She mulled it over, "Probably half a dozen. It's not that I like it but more every time I read it I find something I had forgotten about or missed the previous time. It's a very absorbing book." The two made their way to the House of Mirrors. With no crowds, it was easy to gain access to where they needed to be. They waved to the camera as they started their way inside.
The map they had showed how everything was laid out. In one large red circle, they had tracked down where the three people had disappeared, and where they were not going to set foot. The few lights that were on gave the place an eerie glow. They looked around making sure to avoid the circle from all directions. They found two dead ends in this maze falling within their search zone. Everything looked as normal as it could be to the naked eye. The cameras were working as they should be. They all had a green power light and a flashing green connection light. As much as it pained him, Hunter had to make the call that they could not look further into this. Not without having the roof lifted anyway. They needed the full line of sight from above to see what was happening.
The carnival day went on as before. Adam had gotten a bit of a nap. Enough that he could join back on cameras to keep an eye on things. Since they already had an idea of where these disappearances were happening, they needed to focus more on the people coming in and out. Keeping tabs on individuals was the main objective today. They needed to find the pattern of the victims to know who to look for. It was mid-afternoon when the count fell off again. At closing, there were only two that were missing. They were able to quickly identify them and find that the location they had disappeared from was the same as the others. They marked the camera that saw them last and where they didn't show up again. Things were beginning to not add up.
In his sleep-deprived state, Adam did his best to show where things were going on. "We have four cameras around this area. We see them here on #15, then on #16, then to #17 facing this dead end. But when they turn around to leave we don't see them on #16 again. Or any camera. And you can see that there is an overlap between these two cameras. Half of his body is in this frame and the other half is in this frame. But on the return, he just disappears."
You would not believe it if you didn't see it for yourself but it was just as Adam had explained. The cameras overlapped yet he just vanished into thin air. Just gone. No reason or logical explanation. The only good news was that they had found where the issue was occurring. It was a dead-end area that would force the individual to turn around and head back to where they came from.
The new area of operation was marked on the map. Every area other than that dead end was opened up for exploration. With the problem narrowed down, there was a new problem they would have to address. "Nope! We will not close down the attraction. That is what we told you when you arrived." Hunter was trailing behind the ringleader trying to keep up with her fast pace. "Kathy! People are disappearing! If this comes back to your business then you won't have a business anymore."
She took a hard stop and he almost ran face-first into her back, "I hired you to find and solve the problem. You are halfway there. Now, do the other half. We will not be closing the attraction. We need the income from all our rides to maintain ourselves. We walk a very fine line, a tightrope if you will." She was dead set on this. There was nothing he could do to try to convince her otherwise.
All they could do was sit and wait for the day to be done. They would have their chance again in the morning to have the roof removed to allow the group to take a closer look. Hanson and Adam were able to keep up with the crowds and numbers. Once the carnival shut down, they were released. They both needed the rest. They had been working tirelessly for two straight days counting, recounting, watching, identifying, and searching for more information. They were unstoppable and would continue to the point of burnout. With their order to be released, Hanson took to the bedroom in the main RV. Adam retired to their other RV. It left Hunter and Juliet on standby for the evening.
Juliet sat at the table reading her book from before. Hunter sat at the computer watching the cameras where people had gone missing. He mumbled to himself every now and again looking for an answer in his own brain. It got to where Juliet couldn't concentrate. It would always make her go back to the beginning of the paragraph. When it got to where it was the third time trying she gave up to join Hunter. "It's not often that there is something that sumps you."
He kept his focus forward staring at those two cameras. "I just don't see how you can go from here to here, be on both cameras, but when you return you just vanish. Thousands of people have gone through this and they pass this area with no issues. Some are in groups, and some are alone. It just seems random but there has to be a reason for it." He racked his brain while chewing on his thumbnail. It was beginning to bother him on a personal level. There was a detail missing. It was right in front of their faces! Juliet sat back in her seat to start staring at the cameras, "How can something in plain sight be so elusive?"
Hunter mumbled to himself again. "Elusive… elusive… elus… ive… illusive… Illusive! It's an illusion!" Hunter launched himself forward sitting upright in the chair. He pointed between the two cameras, "They're not returning because they're no longer there. It's an illusion! Something is creating a false image." Juliet sat in her chair, keeping as still as she could. When he goes on a tangent like this, there is nothing that can stop him. She could only try and follow his thought process. He started rewinding back footage that was earmarked with the disappearances. He looked as closely as he could. He kept playing it over, and over, and over again looking for anything.
He paused it at a frame where one of the individuals entered the dead-end hallway. "There! There it is!" Juliet leaned forward but she couldn't see anything. "Do you see it?"
"No, I don't."
"Look at his hands."
She squinted, getting as close as she could. Something did seem off but she couldn't place it. "You're almost there. I can see it in your eyes. Look at his thumbs." She looked closer. His hands looked… off. "What is going on?"
"These cameras are on the same side of the wall. Every other person shows up as they should but if you look at the people who are missing…" He pulled up a few of the other earmarked videos, "They all have two left or right hands. Rather not similar hands, but they're mirrored. Whatever is making these people disappear, sees the world mirrored."
"It couldn't be… one of the mirrors could it?"
Hunter falls back in his chair with a grin, "I would bet money on it. I would even go as far as to say that it's the mirror at the end of this hallway. It can see who is coming, who is leaving, who is looking, and who is not. But it cannot see what we see here so it cannot correct from its own vision. We found a clue to our monster." Now that was the look she was accustomed to. He had that grin, that shit-eating grin that he had won. His plan was starting to come together. He was already beginning to formulate how they would finish this.
With an answer in sight, Hunter was able to get some good shut-eye. He was woken up by Hanson brewing a pot of coffee to find that there was a blanket placed over him. Hanson gave him a warm morning greeting, "Good morning, sir. Looks like Lady Juliet took care of you last night. She is a sweet girl." He looked around to find her nestled into the couch seat at the dining table curled up in her own blanket. He pushed it off onto the counter stretching. His joints clicked and popped as he started to move for the day. "Judging by the commotion I heard last night, you know what we are up against."
"Close. I'm not sure what it is specifically, but we are close. There is a mirror that is taking people. We need to find what is living in it."
Hanson shot him an intrigued look. "A mirror? My, those are rare breeds indeed. The fact that one still exists means that it must be long-lived. It won't be easy to take down." He was right.
Mirrors have often been thought of as portals to another realm, be they a copy of what is, or just a mirror of what we are. There are plenty of stories of those being lost to mirrors in many different ways. Some have lost themselves to their own reflections in pursuit of beauty. They died in front of a mirror looking for youth and good looks. Others have claimed that loved ones were taken to the other side of mirrors and replaced with their copy. They are almost exactly the same but just slightly different. These objects of reflection have always had a veil of mystery about them yet are one of the most common home items you can find. One has to take extra precautions when going up against these forces.
Hanson took his seat at the monitors, "So, how do we proceed?" Hunter enjoyed that first sip of that black brew to clear his head. With a deep sigh he started planning out loud, "First, we have to determine which mirror it is. Then we will have to determine what is living in that mirror. After that, we go by the book about removing it. We cover it, remove it from the attraction, and dispose of it. There are no laws in place with creatures like these because there is no reasoning with them." Hanson gave a nod and sip throwing his agreement out there. "But Hanson, there is something that concerns me."
They both leaned back turning to one another, "As I said when we got here, carnies are a tight-knit group. There is no way that someone hasn't noticed this and left it unreported for this long. We have to assume that there is someone here that knew about this problem well before it became a public problem. In this case, I would say that we work from the top down. I'm going to place a lot of trust in you and Juliet for this one. Don't let me slip over to the illusion."
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir. You are in good hands."
"I knew I could count on you. Now, I'm going to have a word with our ringleader."
The crisp air felt different this morning. A front had moved through dropping the temperature pretty low. There was a layer of dew on everything giving everything that glistening glow against any light. The fog wasn't thick, but it obscured vision for quite a distance. Hunter's boots disturbed the silence with each step. The rocks would crackle, the grass would shift, and the mud would slide underneath. He made his way directly to the RV with the company logo on it. Without a second thought, he banged on the door as loud as he could. Someone shuffled inside, "Good lord you could wake the dead. Do you know what time it is?"
Kathy opened the door to find Hunter standing upright, "We found your source." She looked reluctant. "Did we have to talk about this now? I have an hour left on my alarm. It's ungodly early."
"No, we need the roof lifted. We need inside to begin working before the crowds show up."
She looked around the grounds as the haze. She didn't want to object but she really didn't want to cooperate. "I guess. Let me get some decent clothes on. I can't be running around in my nightwear." She shut the door with a bit of a huff. Hunter was eager to get started. The construction crew was not. They showed up at the House of Mirrors moving the heavy equipment through the fog and getting themselves set up. They got the roof lifted, and the supports in place, and let the group do whatever they wanted. They all left to get breakfast leaving them to their own devices.
Inside the attraction was oddly early this early in the morning. Everything was still untouched from the night before. None of the morning dew had collected past the entrance. Hunter took Hanson and Juliet in with him. They each had their own orders. Hanson was to keep an eye on Hunter at all times. To never let his eyes wander to anything else. Juliet was to keep an eye on everything else but Hunter. She was on the lookout and looking out for anything unusual. Adam was back at the RV watching the cameras with a radio to relay anything strange.
At the intersection of the dead end, they gather together. Hunter shook his shoulders trying to loosen himself up. "Adam, you ready?" The radio beeps as it sends the signal. There is a muffled reply over the shortwave, "We're ready." Hunter took two steps forward where he knew the cameras would begin to intersect. He raised his arms wide making sure that the back of both hands were facing the cameras. His right passed the threshold while his left stayed behind. He paused, waiting for the OK. "You're good, boss. Nothing unusual." Hunter shuffled himself forward making sure to keep his left arm in view of the other camera.
He was testing the waters. He was looking to see if what was there was hungry enough to try anything. Maybe even to test how smart it was. There were three people present. One was looking directly at the would-be victim, while the other was passively looking for anything unusual. While in this space, Hunter did what he could to look at the wall facing the cameras. There was nothing about the mirrors that seemed unusual about them. They reflected his actions just fine.
He stepped back past the line and repeated the process again facing the opposite direction. Once he got the go-ahead from Adam, he stepped forward once more to investigate the other side. Every motion was mimicked perfectly. Nothing signaled anything strange. Hunter stepped back to the safe area with the group. Hanson still had his eyes locked onto him. Juliet was still scanning the area. Everything worked as he had hoped. The only thing that they couldn't investigate closely was the mirror at the end of the hallway. It would have been out of reach to keep Hunter's arms within view of both cameras.
Hunter looked down the hallway, staring at this mirror. If there was something here, that is where it would have to be. He stared at the mirror looking into his own eyes. Or was he? He couldn't be sure at this point. With a deep breath, he let his team know they could leave. There was nothing more they could do at this moment. They took their exit.
The construction crew finished their breakfast and placed the roof back down before any attendees started showing up. Hunter retired to the RV where Hanson started getting a simple breakfast for everyone ready. Adam was oddly chatty, "So, with this, what's the next step? I'm curious." Hunter finished his bite, "Hanson is rubbing off on you. If I'm honest, I'm not sure yet. The last thing I want to do is send someone down the hallway and risk them being taken. At the same time, that might be what we have to do but we have to play it smart. Do we tie a rope around someone's waist so they don't get taken? If we do that, how do we know that the person we pull back is the same? There are a lot of 'what ifs' we have to deal with before we can get any closer to the solution. I refuse to put anyone in serious danger."
Juliet piped up, "Except yourself, obviously."
"A boss tells people what to do. A leader does just that, leads."
She was shut down pretty quick. "Juliet, I need to speak with Kathy. I would like you there with me when I do." She gave a nod back keeping herself quiet this time around. The sounds of people started to kick up about midday. The music started playing, and the games started buzzing. The carnival was in full swing. Hunter took Juliet with him when he left.
It was midafternoon with the sun high in the sky. Juliet kept behind Hunter as he made his way through the grounds. Their first stop was an odd one, the ticket booth. Hunter ordered two tickets to the afternoon show. As the two walked off Juliet tugged on his shirt, "Do we really have time for this?"
"We do. I still need to speak with Kathy and I've been kind of wanting to see the show since yesterday."
In a rare moment, he showed a human side of himself. The two wandered around for a bit. As they approached the big top, Hunter pulled Juliet closer to him to make sure they didn't get lost. They were just general admission tickets so they were nothing special. The lights went down as the show started and the booming voice of their ringleader Kathy May shook the stands. "Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, I would like to welcome you to the May Weather Big Top where the weather may always be spectacular! We've got a show for you today. We've got performing animals, feats of strength, and tricks that will baffle your mind! Without further ado, let's begin the show!"
The tent roared with excitement as the lights began to flash and the band began to play an opening tune. Kathy strutted around the middle ring hyping up the crowd before taking back to the mic. "Our first act comes from a faraway land covered in mysticism. I present to you Ali and his singing swords!"
Kathy had made her way out of the ring as a man stepped in with a large box of curved swords. They twirled and danced, as they clanged against one another they released a charming tone that echoed through the tent. The show continued with trained tigers, a balancing act 100 feet in the air, elephants that would carry their handler around the rings, and clowns that would interact with the crowd. Hunter and Juliet were far enough back that they were able to avoid these on-floor interactions but still get the feel of the show.
It was a good hour and half-show where Kathy sent the crowd off with good vibes and a warm thank you from the entire performing crew but didn't forget to give a shout-out to those who work behind the scenes to make it happen.
The crowd began to shuffle out but Hunter had them wait a little while. Once it was clearer they made their way to the floor. They were stopped by one of the staff cleaning up but Hunter reintroduced himself as part of the group helping with the House of Mirrors. They were given a swift escort to Kathy's tent-side dressing room. She was still dolled up in her makeup wearing her performance outfit when the two walked in. Her face went from a happy greeting to a more relaxed composure. "You two got to see the show?" Hunter nodded, "We did. It's really well put together."
"Everyone here has worked hard and come from a lot of different backgrounds. That's why the work you are doing is important."
"I knew that before but now I see why from your eyes. Now, we didn't just come here to compliment your show. We have information."
"I like information."
She motioned for them to take a seat on a simple couch that was near a beat-up coffee table. She took a seat opposite of them leaning forward, "OK, what do you have?" Hunter straightened himself up before leaning in as she did. Juliet kept herself comfortable while these two talked shop. "Kathy, we have isolated where these incidents are happening. I already told you that, but we have reason to believe that either something has taken up residence in a mirror or was inadvertently brought in when building or replacing a mirror. There are a total of seven mirrors that it could be. To play it safe we would recommend that you let us remove these mirrors and dispose of them."
She didn't skip a breath. "No. We can't do that. We had to get those mirrors second hand because we are not swimming with money as you can imagine. Replacing seven mirrors is not within our budget. They are expensive and when it comes to our budget, replacing equipment on the tent and safety equipment comes first to protect our actors and performers."
"My company could easily reimburse you for the mirrors to have them replaced with new ones."
"I would rather you find the one or the group that is the issue. I'm glad you are so close to solving this. Mind you, we are on a time frame. We are only around for a few more days. Then after that, we move on."
"Honestly, we would not mind replacing the mirrors outright."
"And I would rather you not. You are here to meet your client's needs and wishes and this is my wish."
Hunter sat back with a nod. "I understand." He motioned for Juliet to come with him. Before he left he assured her that they would find the responsible mirror. The walk back to the RV was done at a brisk pace. Hunter made a hole in the crowd for Julet to follow through. Once they were back inside the RV Hunter kicked his muddy boots off to the side before falling over onto the small couch. Hanson walked over with a brown drink over ice. "Thank you, Hanson." The ice clinked against the glass as he tossed it back. "What are our next steps, sir?"
"Hail Mary. We go for broke. It's going to be tonight or never. The construction crew isn't going to help us this time so we are on our own. We go in tonight, we find the mirror, and we destroy it."
"Does the client know the plan?"
"The client is involved. We can't run it past them."
Juliet did a double take, "Kathy's involved?!" Hunter sat back up brushing his fingers through his hair. His eyes darted between everyone in the room. "It's a huge accusation to make but I firmly believe that she is either compromised or complacent in this. We need to move before they do and resolve this otherwise more people are going to go missing. After the carnival closes this evening, we move. And fast."
The group stayed in the RV until they heard everything begin to close. It got quiet as the attendees vacated the grounds. Once the lights went low, it was time for the group to move. Adam was on camera, and Hanson, Juliet, and Hunter made their way to the House of Mirrors. With no lights on, every little shadow jumped out at them. Hanson turned on the flashlight from his phone giving them a bit more direction. The hallway seemed the same as always. Hunter spread out his arms again to get the OK from Adam. Once he had the OK he slowly made his way deeper into the house. He dropped his arms bringing him into the view of just one camera.
It was going to be the time to make it or break it. Hunter put his hand back into the other frame but Adam reported back something odd. "Hunter, you're not showing up on the other camera."
"Good. That's what I was hoping for. Hanson."
Hanson took his position square with Hunter at his end of the hallway. He gave Hunter the order to raise his right hand. He did, then dropped it back to his side. Hanson gave the order to raise his left hand and Hunter followed before dropping it back down. Hanson kept his eyes locked on Hunter. Hunter kept his eyes locked on the mirror behind him. "Right hand. Left hand." They got faster and faster until they got into a good rhythm. "Right hand." Hunter raised his left. The mirror behind him showed him with his right hand up.
The reflection in the mirror quickly tried to correct the error but it was too late. Hunter saw it in the far reflection. Everyone else saw it as well. Juliet let out a silent gasp as she tried to comprehend it. With a mule kick, Hunter shoved his heel into the back mirror. There was a loud crack before a blasting boom. The percussion pushed Hunter down the hall into Hanson's chest. Adam called over the radio, "You're on camera! Get out!" No one needed to reply. Hanson took the lead pulling everyone the way they needed to go. The fresh air hit their face as they escaped the house. "Dammit! I cracked it. It didn't break." Juliet went grasping for a positive, "But now we know which one it is, right?"
"And I would appreciate it if you left it as it was."
A third voice came through the darkness. In her carnival dress outfit, Kathy approached them outside. She had half her face covered with her right hand. "I think you've done enough for us. I've called your contract completed and you may leave. Tonight." Hunter placed his hand on Hanson's shoulder, "Take Juliet and begin getting things ready to leave." He was confused, but the urgency in his voice let him know that they were done, even if the job was not.
As they two left, Hunter and Kathy were left standing in the dirt. "You did a real bang-up job, you know that. You don't know what you're working against though." She dropped her hand to show that her porcelain-like skin was cracked. The iris of the eye she had covered was a sharp yellow color. She stepped closer, getting within inches of Hunter's face, "We are family here, meaning I will do everything I can to keep that family together. If our show wasn't as spectacular as it was, then no one would bother to come to see it. I only have to do what I have to."
She squared her body to Hunter's, keeping them chest to chest. She pierced into his soul with that eye. He felt like she could read everything he was thinking. It was intruding into his brain! "Let me tell you something, contractor. I think it's in our best interest that we call this a draw. You leave, never speak of this again, and I won't have to deal with your crew in a manner that you would find most unbecoming of individuals like us."
"What do you mean like us?"
"Deny it all you want, but I know that you know. Now, if you excuse me. I believe that you have overstayed your welcome."
"What if we don't leave?"
"Well, if you would rather stay, I think that my family would take some offense to that."
Hunter's eyes darted behind her. From the darkness laid the eyes of every other performer. They were hidden by the shadows. The only reason he could see them was that they wanted him to see they were there. "What do you say now?"
Hunter stepped back with a nod. No words were needed. There was nothing he would be able to do in this situation. Sometimes the smartest action is to leave things as they are. Not a fact that he appreciated in this business, but sometimes there is a line that must be drawn in the sand. He hated to turn his back on a threat but he needed to move faster. He could hear the ringleader laughing as he started to walk off. "Make sure that you tell Anubis that Ammit says 'Hello!" She cackled in the darkness as he grit his teeth.
Hunter walked into the RV with a scowl on his face. "Hunter!" Juliet was the first one to him. "Are you ok? Are we really leaving this as it is?"
"We've dealt a blow to it. We are messing with forces outside of what we are prepared for. Our best move is to leave it as it is."
The most uncharacteristic thing that Hunter could do would be to give up. In this situation, there were forces at play that they should not fight with. Their bags were packed within the hour and they rolled off the carnival lot. When the wheels went up on the plane they began to break down what had happened, what they were up against, and what they could have done about it.
Hunter led the meeting, "We were tasked with finding out what was causing the mysterious disappearance of multiple persons. We were able to do just that through a series of observations. Unfortunately, we were unable to recover them. From the evidence that we were able to observe and collect, I believe that we were encountering a Ungaikyō, a tool or item that is possessed by a spirit. This particular spirit took the physical bodies of these individuals. We can only speculate what it had done with them. By the unusual behavior we saw with the Ringleader Kathy May, there is a solid reason to believe that this monster was working with or under her. If that is true it's also possible that these people were harvested for their souls to provide her with power for her show's spectacles.
During my observation of their performances, there were a lot of effects that would not have been possible with the budget that she had described to us. I believe that she may have also been a mythical being that used the power from the mirror harvested to perform their shows. If this is true, then there is no recovering those who have gone missing. Also, there would have been no way that we would have been able to truly complete this contract. She would have done everything within her power to defend that mirror to death if it meant keeping her show going.
There is a lot of speculation and unfortunately, there is nothing more we can do about it. We already passed a danger threshold I was already uncomfortable crossing and was not going to endanger anyone any further. Hanson will report our solid findings. If they request more information then we will share our speculations. Until then, we are done. It's another one in the books."
The answer they were given didn't really sit well. No one was happy about the outcome of this job. But as Hunter had said, they were already outside of where they should have been. The best course of action was to let it be.
The next morning, the carnival would move on to their new site, to a new town, to continue their show.