Chapter 7: **The Carnival of Shadows**
Vito stepped into the next chamber, his boots crunching against what felt like gravel. But as he looked down, he realized the ground wasn't gravel at all—it was shards of broken glass. They glittered under the dim light emanating from an enormous chandelier hanging precariously above.
"Lovely. A room full of broken dreams. Really sets the mood," Vito muttered, carefully stepping forward.
The space stretched out before him like an abandoned carnival. Rusted metal frameworks arched overhead, and tattered banners swayed in an invisible breeze. A row of shadowy stalls lined the walls, each one displaying strange, shifting objects that defied logic. A spinning wheel in the center of the room creaked ominously, its faded colors barely visible beneath layers of dust.
"Is this supposed to be fun?" Vito asked, his voice echoing in the cavernous room. "Because I'm not seeing any cotton candy or stuffed animals."
The shard in his hand glowed faintly, and a low chuckle echoed through the space. Vito froze, his eyes darting around. "Oh, great. The labyrinth has a sense of humor now."
---
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a lanky man in a threadbare suit, his face obscured by a mask that resembled a jester's, though its smile was cracked and grotesque. He held a cane topped with a spinning golden orb that hummed with energy.
"Welcome, traveler, to the *Carnival of Shadows!*" the jester-like figure said, his voice unnervingly cheerful. "Step right up and test your luck! Win a prize, or… lose something *precious.*"
Vito raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, hard pass. I've already lost enough to this place, thanks."
The jester tapped his cane on the ground, and the spinning wheel in the center of the room lit up, its colors brightening with unnatural vibrancy. "Oh, but you see, you *must* play. The rules of the labyrinth demand it. Spin the wheel, thief, or remain here forever."
Vito groaned. "Why is it always games with you people? Can't we just have a normal conversation? Maybe a cup of tea?"
The jester's smile didn't falter. "Spin."
---
Reluctantly, Vito approached the wheel. Its sections were labeled with symbols he didn't recognize—one looked like a burning tree, another like an hourglass spilling stars, and another like a hand clutching a dagger. The shard pulsed nervously in his grip, as if warning him.
"Yeah, I don't like it either," Vito muttered to the shard. He glanced at the jester. "What happens if I lose?"
The jester's mask tilted slightly. "Ah, but that's the fun part! You won't know until it happens."
Vito rolled his eyes. "Fantastic. Love a good surprise death."
With a sigh, he grabbed the wheel and gave it a spin. The symbols blurred as the wheel turned, and a haunting tune began to play from nowhere, the melody both whimsical and unsettling.
The wheel slowed, ticking loudly as it passed each segment. Finally, it stopped on the hand clutching a dagger. The jester clapped his hands in delight.
"Ah, a bold choice!" he said. "You've won… a duel."
Before Vito could respond, the ground beneath him shifted, and the glass shards rose into the air, swirling together to form a humanoid figure. The figure's body was jagged and reflective, like a living mirror, and in its hand was a gleaming blade made of pure light.
---
"Of course," Vito muttered, drawing his dagger. "Because nothing screams carnival fun like stabbing yourself."
The glass figure lunged, moving with unnatural speed. Vito barely managed to dodge, the blade slicing through the air inches from his face. He retaliated with a quick swipe, but his dagger bounced harmlessly off the figure's mirrored surface.
"Okay, note to self: stabbing mirrors doesn't work," he said, dodging another attack.
The shard in his hand pulsed, and an idea struck him. If the figure was a mirror, maybe it could be tricked. He waited for the next attack, timing it carefully. As the glass figure lunged again, Vito ducked and angled his dagger to catch the light of the chandelier above. The reflected light blinded the figure momentarily, causing it to stagger.
"Gotcha," Vito said, leaping onto the figure's back. He slammed the shard against its surface, and a burst of energy erupted, shattering the glass creature into a thousand tiny fragments.
---
The room fell silent. The jester clapped slowly, the sound echoing eerily. "Well done, thief! You've proven yourself worthy… for now."
The spinning wheel disappeared, and the shard pulsed once more, guiding Vito toward another doorway. But before he could leave, the jester called out to him.
"Beware, thief," he said, his tone almost serious now. "The labyrinth watches. And it *remembers.*"
Vito didn't reply. He'd had enough cryptic warnings for one day. He stepped through the doorway, leaving the shattered glass and haunting laughter behind.
As the door closed behind him, he muttered, "I swear, if the next room has clowns, I'm quitting."