Giggles - 2 (Patreon)

Becky Morrison awoke to find herself bound to a large, ornate post in the center of the carousel. The ghoul, a twisted figure of sinew and shadow, stood before her, his eyes gleaming with malevolent delight.

"You've broken the rules, so you will be crafted into one of our attractions," the ghoul intoned, his voice dripping with cold finality.

"No! My father has money, and I just had to use the bathroom!" Becky pleaded, her voice trembling.

The ghoul shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry, my dear, but rules are rules. Let's see, which attraction needs you the most?" He looked over a dark book, its pages turning with a life of their own. "The Freak Show, one of the games, the circus tent... hmmm."

He stopped, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "Ahh, I have the perfect place for you." He rummaged through a drawer of jars, each one filled with a strange, shimmering substance. Selecting one, he unscrewed the lid and blew the contents into her face.

Becky inhaled involuntarily, the fine powder rushing into her lungs. Instantly, she felt a strange pins-and-needles sensation coursing through her body. Her long, straight brown hair sprang into a curly red mass around her head as her scalp seemed to flow back from her forehead. Her feet extended into bony lengths, her skin lightening to an eerie alabaster. Her nose inflated grotesquely as colorful markings spread across her face like an infection.

Her clothing changed, morphing into a bright, polka-dotted clown suit complete with oversized shoes and a ruffled collar. The ghoul set up a full-length mirror before her, forcing her to witness her transformation. Becky stared in horror at her reflection, now a grotesque parody of a clown. She frantically tried to remove the bulbous nose and wipe off the white paint, but it was embedded into her skin, a permanent part of her new form.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at the ghoul, who watched her struggle with grim satisfaction. "Welcome to your new life, Becky. You will bring joy to the carnival's guests, whether you like it or not."

With that, the ghoul turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Becky to her fate. She was now part of the Carnival of Souls, a living attraction doomed to entertain the masses for all eternity.