“YOU’RE NEXT.”

Milo Pockets stared at the giant shadow.

His heart stopped.

His brain stopped.

Even his ability to scream seemed to stop.

For three whole seconds…

Milo was completely silent.

Then he screamed.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The shadow screamed too.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Milo froze.

The shadow froze.

Milo pointed at it.

“Why are YOU screaming?”

The shadow pointed at Milo.

“Why are YOU screaming?”

Milo stared.

“Because you’re terrifying!”

The shadow looked confused.

“Me?”

“Yes!”

The shadow removed the giant clown mask.

Underneath was…

Benny Bumbles.

Milo stared.

“Benny?”

Benny stared back.

“Milo?”

Milo grabbed his chest.

“You scared me!”

Benny looked offended.

“You scared ME!”

“I thought you were a monster!”

“I thought YOU were a monster!”

“Why?”

“Because you were standing in the dark!”

“That’s not a reason!”

“It is at midnight!”

Milo took a deep breath.

“Where is Nora?”

Benny’s expression changed.

“I don’t know.”

“Professor Pickle?”

“Don’t know.”

“The clown?”

“Don’t know.”

Milo looked around.

“Everyone disappeared.”

Benny nodded.

“Yes.”

Milo sighed.

“Excellent.”

Benny stared.

“How is that excellent?”

“It isn’t.”

“Then why did you say it?”

“I panic differently.”

---

The Midnight Carnival looked completely different from the amusement park they had entered earlier.

The colorful lights were gone.

The cheerful music was gone.

Instead…

Everything was dark red.

The Ferris wheel moved slowly in the distance.

The roller coaster ran without passengers.

The carousel spun by itself.

And somewhere in the darkness…

Someone was laughing.

Milo looked at Benny.

“Do you hear that?”

Benny nodded.

“Yes.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Could it be the clown?”

“Maybe.”

“Could it be the ghost?”

“Maybe.”

“Could it be Professor Pickle?”

Benny thought.

“Probably.”

Milo frowned.

“Why?”

“Because he laughs when he’s nervous.”

A loud laugh echoed through the carnival.

“HAHAHAHA!”

Milo pointed.

“See?”

Benny nodded.

“Professor Pickle.”

Milo sighed.

“Of course.”

They followed the laughter.

It led them toward the roller coaster.

A giant sign stood above the entrance.

THE MEMORY RUSH

Underneath it:

ONE RIDE.

ONE SECRET.

NO EXIT.

Milo stared.

“That’s not a very friendly sign.”

Benny shook his head.

“No.”

Milo noticed something.

“Look.”

A small piece of paper was attached to the entrance.

Milo removed it.

Written on it were four names:

MILO POCKETS

NORA NOODLE

BENNY BUMBLES

PROFESSOR PICKLE

Milo’s face became serious.

“Our names.”

Benny nodded.

“Yes.”

“Who wrote this?”

“I don’t know.”

Milo turned the paper over.

There was another message.

THE FIRST RIDER REMEMBERS.

Milo stared.

“What does that mean?”

Benny shrugged.

“Maybe someone has to ride the roller coaster.”

Milo immediately stepped backward.

“Not me.”

Benny looked at him.

“You’re the detective.”

“Exactly.”

“Shouldn’t the detective investigate?”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

Milo shook his head.

“The detective should supervise.”

Benny stared.

“From where?”

“Very far away.”

---

Suddenly…

The roller coaster started moving.

CLACK.

Milo and Benny froze.

The empty cars slowly climbed the track.

CLACK.

CLACK.

CLACK.

Milo looked up.

“There’s no one driving it.”

Benny whispered:

“Maybe it drives itself.”

Milo stared.

“That’s worse.”

The roller coaster reached the top.

Then stopped.

A spotlight appeared.

It pointed at Milo.

Milo looked behind him.

“Is that for me?”

Benny nodded.

“Yes.”

Milo shook his head.

“No.”

The loudspeaker came alive.

“FIRST RIDER.”

Milo stepped backward.

“No.”

“CHOOSE.”

“No.”

“NOW.”

Milo pointed at Benny.

“Him.”

Benny’s mouth dropped open.

“What?”

Milo whispered:

“Sorry.”

“You just volunteered me!”

“You’re smaller.”

“How does that help?”

“Less wind resistance.”

“That’s not how roller coasters work!”

Milo pointed toward the ride.

“Go.”

Benny stared.

“No.”

“Go.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No!”

Suddenly…

A mechanical arm came out of the ground.

It grabbed Benny.

“AAAAAAAH!”

Milo grabbed Benny.

“WAIT!”

The arm pulled.

Benny pulled Milo.

Milo pulled Benny.

For a moment, they stood in a strange tug-of-war with a mechanical arm.

Then…

BOOM!

The arm released.

Milo and Benny flew backward.

They landed in the roller coaster car.

CLICK!

A safety bar dropped.

Milo stared.

Benny stared.

Milo whispered:

“Well.”

Benny swallowed.

“This is bad.”

Milo nodded.

“Very.”

The roller coaster started moving.

---

The car rolled forward.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Milo held the safety bar.

Benny held Milo.

Milo looked at him.

“Why are you holding me?”

“Because I’m scared.”

“You’re hurting my arm.”

“Sorry.”

“You’re still holding me.”

“I know.”

The roller coaster entered a tunnel.

Darkness surrounded them.

Then…

A voice whispered:

“Welcome back.”

Milo froze.

Benny whispered:

“Did you hear that?”

Milo nodded.

“Yes.”

The voice came again.

“Welcome back, Milo.”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“How does it know my name?”

Benny shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

The tunnel lights turned on.

The walls were covered with photographs.

Milo stared.

Every photograph showed the amusement park.

Some were old.

Some were new.

But one photograph made Milo freeze.

It showed the four of them.

Milo.

Nora.

Benny.

Professor Pickle.

Standing outside Whispering Wheels.

But the photograph was dated…

TWENTY YEARS AGO.

Milo stared.

“That’s impossible.”

Benny looked.

“Why?”

“Because we weren’t here twenty years ago.”

Benny pointed at the photograph.

“Then who are they?”

Milo stared.

The four people in the photograph looked exactly like them.

Not similar.

Exactly.

Milo’s heart began racing.

“That’s not us.”

Benny whispered:

“Then who is it?”

Before Milo could answer…

The roller coaster accelerated.

WHOOSH!

Milo screamed.

Benny screamed louder.

The photograph disappeared behind them.

---

The roller coaster raced through the tunnel.

Milo’s hat flew away.

“MY HAT!”

Benny shouted:

“FORGET YOUR HAT!”

“I CAN’T!”

“WE’RE GOING TO DIE!”

“MY HAT IS ALSO GOING TO DIE!”

The track suddenly turned.

WHOOSH!

The car flew upward.

Milo’s stomach dropped.

Benny screamed.

Milo screamed.

Then…

They went upside down.

Milo shouted:

“I HATE THIS JOB!”

Benny shouted:

“YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A JOB!”

“EXACTLY!”

The roller coaster continued.

Suddenly…

It stopped.

Milo opened one eye.

“Are we dead?”

Benny looked around.

“I don’t think so.”

Milo looked down.

They were hanging upside down.

“That’s disappointing.”

Benny stared.

“What?”

“I expected heaven.”

“This is not heaven.”

“How do you know?”

Benny pointed.

“Because there’s a clown.”

Milo looked ahead.

A clown stood on the track.

It was the same clown from before.

The clown smiled.

“Hello.”

Milo stared.

“You’re alive.”

The clown frowned.

“Obviously.”

“That’s surprising.”

“Why?”

“Because you disappeared.”

The clown crossed his arms.

“I walked away.”

Milo blinked.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t think you’d care.”

Milo stared.

“Of course we care!”

The clown looked surprised.

“Really?”

Milo pointed.

“You are part of the mystery!”

The clown smiled.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I’ll take it anyway.”

---

The clown climbed into the roller coaster car.

Milo stared.

“Why are you here?”

The clown sat down.

“To help.”

Benny shook his head.

“No.”

The clown looked at him.

“No?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because every time you appear, something terrible happens.”

The clown thought about it.

“That’s fair.”

The roller coaster started moving again.

The clown looked at Milo.

“Your friends are waiting.”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“Where?”

“Inside the park.”

“Where exactly?”

The clown smiled.

“Somewhere.”

Milo sighed.

“You’re not very helpful.”

“I try.”

The roller coaster entered another tunnel.

The clown became serious.

“Listen carefully.”

Milo leaned closer.

“The park is alive.”

Milo frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“The park chooses who enters.”

Benny swallowed.

“Why?”

“Because it needs people.”

Milo stared.

“People for what?”

The clown looked toward the darkness.

“To remember.”

Milo frowned.

“Remember what?”

The clown whispered:

“The night everything went wrong.”

---

The roller coaster suddenly stopped.

A door opened beside them.

The clown pointed.

“Get out.”

Milo looked at the door.

“Where does it go?”

The clown smiled.

“To your next clue.”

Milo stepped out.

Benny followed.

The clown stayed inside.

Milo turned.

“You’re not coming?”

The clown shook his head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not allowed.”

“By whom?”

The clown pointed toward the darkness.

Milo looked.

Nothing.

He turned back.

The clown was gone.

The roller coaster was gone.

The track was gone.

Milo and Benny stood alone in a giant room.

Benny stared.

“Where are we?”

Milo looked around.

There were hundreds of doors.

Each door had a name.

Milo read the first.

NORA NOODLE.

His eyes widened.

“Nora!”

He ran toward it.

Benny followed.

Milo grabbed the handle.

Locked.

He tried again.

Nothing.

“NORA!”

A voice came from behind the door.

“Milo?”

Milo smiled.

“Nora!”

“Is that you?”

“Yes!”

“Are you alive?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

Milo looked at Benny.

“She asked if we’re alive.”

Benny nodded.

“Fair question.”

Milo shouted:

“How do we get you out?”

Nora answered:

“I don’t know!”

Milo looked at the door.

“Can you see anything?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“People.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

Milo frowned.

“How many?”

“Three.”

“Three people?”

“Yes.”

“Are they ghosts?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are they alive?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are they dangerous?”

Nora paused.

“Probably.”

Milo sighed.

“Of course.”

---

Benny walked toward another door.

His name was written on it.

BENNY BUMBLES.

Benny stared.

“That’s my door.”

Milo looked.

“Yes.”

“Why is there a door with my name?”

“Maybe because you’re special.”

Benny smiled.

“Really?”

“No.”

Benny’s smile disappeared.

“Okay.”

Milo looked at another door.

PROFESSOR PICKLE.

Milo stepped closer.

“Where is Professor Pickle?”

Benny pointed.

“Maybe inside.”

Milo tried the handle.

Locked.

Then…

A voice came from behind the door.

“HELP!”

Milo shouted:

“Professor!”

“YES!”

“Are you okay?”

“No!”

“What happened?”

“I forgot where I am!”

Milo stared.

“You’re behind a door.”

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Can you open it?”

Milo pulled the handle.

Nothing.

“Apparently not.”

Professor Pickle shouted:

“THEN BREAK IT!”

Milo looked at the door.

He kicked it.

THUD!

Nothing.

He kicked again.

THUD!

Nothing.

Benny tried.

THUD!

Nothing.

Milo looked at Benny.

“Your turn.”

Benny kicked.

The door opened.

Milo stared.

Benny stared.

Professor Pickle stared.

Benny smiled.

“I am strong.”

Milo nodded.

“Apparently.”

Professor Pickle stepped out.

“Finally!”

Milo looked at him.

“Where were you?”

Professor Pickle pointed behind him.

“Inside.”

“We know.”

“Then why did you ask?”

Milo sighed.

“Never mind.”

---

Nora suddenly shouted from behind her door.

“GUYS!”

Milo ran toward her.

“What?”

“I found something!”

“What?”

“A photograph!”

Milo froze.

“Another one?”

“Yes.”

“What’s in it?”

Nora paused.

“You.”

Milo frowned.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“What am I doing?”

“You’re standing outside this park.”

“When?”

“Twenty years ago.”

Milo’s heart stopped.

“That’s impossible.”

Nora continued.

“You’re holding the golden key.”

Milo stared.

“That’s not me.”

Nora went silent.

“Then who is it?”

Milo didn’t answer.

He remembered the photograph from the roller coaster.

The four people who looked exactly like them.

He remembered the mysterious child.

The clown.

The Midnight Carnival.

The missing boy.

And now…

A photograph of himself.

Twenty years ago.

Something wasn’t right.

Milo slowly looked at Professor Pickle.

“You said you were here twenty years ago.”

Professor Pickle nodded.

“Yes.”

“Do you remember me?”

Professor Pickle stared.

His face suddenly became pale.

“Yes.”

Milo froze.

“You remember me?”

Professor Pickle nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Professor Pickle stepped backward.

“Because…”

He swallowed.

“…you were there.”

Silence.

Benny stared.

Milo couldn’t speak.

Nora shouted from behind the door:

“What do you mean he was there?”

Professor Pickle closed his eyes.

“The night the boy disappeared…”

He opened them.

“Milo was there too.”

Milo shook his head.

“No.”

Professor Pickle nodded.

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t.”

“You were.”

“I would remember!”

Professor Pickle’s voice became quiet.

“That’s the problem.”

Milo froze.

“What?”

Professor Pickle looked at the walls.

“The park took your memories.”

Suddenly…

Every door in the room opened.

CLICK.

Milo turned.

The doors swung open.

Behind every door…

Was a different version of the same night.

A child running.

A clown crying.

Professor Pickle performing magic.

A golden key.

A giant clock.

And four children standing together.

Milo stared.

Four children.

One looked like him.

One looked like Nora.

One looked like Benny.

One looked like Professor Pickle.

Milo whispered:

“No.”

The children turned toward the camera.

The little boy holding the golden key smiled.

Then the photograph changed.

The boy disappeared.

The three other children remained.

Milo’s face went pale.

“Where did he go?”

Professor Pickle whispered:

“The park took him.”

Milo turned.

“Why?”

Professor Pickle shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

The lights went out.

A voice echoed:

“LIAR.”

Professor Pickle froze.

Milo stared at him.

“Who said that?”

The voice came again.

“LIAR.”

The floor began shaking.

Professor Pickle covered his ears.

“No.”

Milo stepped toward him.

“Professor?”

“No!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I remember.”

Milo froze.

“What?”

Professor Pickle looked at him.

His eyes were filled with fear.

“I remember everything.”

The doors slammed shut.

BANG!

The room disappeared.

Milo found himself standing inside the center of the Midnight Carnival.

Nora, Benny, and Professor Pickle stood beside him.

The clown stood across from them.

And behind the clown…

The mysterious boy.

The boy held the golden key.

He smiled.

“Now…”

He raised the key.

“…we can finally begin.”

The clown stepped forward.

“NO!”

The boy turned.

“You can’t stop me.”

The clown shook his head.

“I won’t let you.”

The boy smiled.

“Then tell them.”

The clown froze.

Milo looked at him.

“Tell us what?”

The boy laughed.

“Tell them who you really are.”

The clown slowly removed his mask.

Underneath…

Was the face of a young man.

Milo stared.

Nora gasped.

Benny stepped backward.

Professor Pickle whispered:

“No…”

The young man looked at Milo.

Then at Nora.

Then at Benny.

He smiled sadly.

“I remember you.”

Milo’s heart raced.

“Who are you?”

The young man answered:

“My name is Elias.”

Milo stared.

“Elias?”

The young man nodded.

“The boy who disappeared twenty years ago.”

Everyone became silent.

Milo looked at the little boy.

Then at the young man.

Then back at the boy.

Two versions.

One person.

Milo whispered:

“How can there be two of you?”

Elias looked at the little boy.

“Because the park doesn’t let anyone truly leave.”

The little boy smiled.

The carnival lights turned red.

The roller coaster began moving.

The Ferris wheel spun faster.

The carousel started laughing.

And the giant clock above the park began counting backward.

10…

Milo stared.

“What’s happening?”

9…

Elias shouted:

“RUN!”

8…

Nora grabbed Milo.

7…

Benny grabbed Nora.

6…

Professor Pickle grabbed Benny.

5…

The little boy raised the golden key.

4…

The entire carnival began collapsing.

3…

Milo looked at Elias.

“What happens at zero?”

Elias stared at him.

“Everyone who has ever entered the Midnight Carnival…”

2…

“…will disappear forever.”

1…

Milo’s eyes widened.

“Then how do we stop it?”

The clock reached zero.

0.

Everything went black.

And the last thing Milo heard…

Was the little boy laughing.

TO BE CONTINUED…