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THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 39
Another tent, previously unvisited. Decorated in the Gothic style. A table for several people has already been served. Candles in heavy antique candlesticks. Red tablecloth. Red walls of the tent. Light darkness. The setting is intimate.At the sight of the space for a joint dinner, Lis swallowed convulsively. The state in which she was, even deja vu could not be named. Pure memories, but not hers. The most recent concerned just those captive teenagers. All you had to do was close your eyes.“ Four teenagers and a woman in a strange disproportionate dress are sitting at a table. From their hunted faces and bruises on the faces of the guys, it is clear that they are prisoners. Captives who did not succeed in their attempts to escape. The girls are dressed in dresses not for their age. One of them reminds me of Zoey, barely conscious, rubbing tears down her face. Tight blond curls and a baby face reinforce the image of helplessness.Last try. A girl with aquamarine eyes, whose face is u
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 40
“You wormed your way into my memory. It can be said that I heard the echo of your nightmares this night! He spoke so fluently that it seemed impossible not to believe him. “Still, I’m not proposing a massacre!” My circuses continue to live. As you noticed in the morning, the difference between bobbleheads and freaks is not great, but still there is an important difference! Artists receive deformities for their vices. And serving the Circus becomes their payback. Is it so disgusting to punish those who deserve it? There are no good people in this city!“What about the teenagers you kept here? Lis tried to wriggle out of his arms, clinging to her memories. What were their vices?However, it turned out to be impossible to escape from the grip, which seems friendly only with resigned submission, but in fact is not inferior to a bear trap in terms of strength. The air began to sparkle with tension as she felt his breath on her cheek.We all make mistakes, don't we? - from his close presenc
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 41
“Vulture,” hissed the Fox, trying to control the pain and keep outwardly impregnable. - Scavenger!For some reason, the legs themselves began to measure the distance between the walls of the tent, the voice became more insinuating, and the posture was proud.- Grave thief. "The dead don't need treasures," is that what you said?From the sudden change of image, the weirdo stared at the Fox with a glazed look, dropping a chicken leg from his hand. When the girl took a step towards him, he jumped back with a squeal, as if he expected her to at least punish him.He left his family to die of hunger. And he spent the loot on good food, corrupt women, booze and gambling! - with a venomous grin, the Fox looked at him carefully, considering him for the first time, not as a terrible creature, but as an image invented by the Man for punishment. With a smooth gait, she slowly approached him. - It's a good mask! Ideal for you. Do you justify yourself at night while everyone is sleeping? Do you kee
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 42
The wrists are tied with a tight clothesline. Again the same nightmare about drowning in the bathroom. Doomedly I press my cheek to the edge of the tub. The real world is not much better than the world of my nightmares. There is no desire to fight. I'll just wait until it's over and maybe wake up.A middle-aged woman with a dry, unkind face appears. Now she reminds me a little of Claudia. I involuntarily begin to fidget, lips whispering the words assigned to the role of this victim. It's probably a good thing that I see the nightmares from the faces of the victims. If I were in the role of maniacs, I would quickly go crazy. Perhaps my subconscious is saving me this way, rearranging the roles.– So it is necessary, the sun, – hands fall on my shoulders.I close my eyes. Now everything will end.However…A sharp jerk down under the water, which has become unpleasantly cold. The wrists are untied. I can control my body without being shackled by chains or a nightmare scenario.Around the
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 43
But the main action takes place not in the heat of battle. A grown-up girl with aquamarine eyes stands in front of a man. She is again out of place in a formal dress. The girl herself is disheveled and exhausted. The man is completely in his element. Predator movements, imperious voice, seductive notes. There is an offer to join the Circus in exchange for saving everyone else. Yes, the years go by, but the methods do not change. Again, dirty blackmail and a game on the girl's nerves. However, boldly looking into the slits of the Mask, she refuses.- What a disappointment! - despite the image of the imperturbable Dark Lord, the refusal responds with a painful prick.Then, having taken the disagreement to heart, the Man makes an even more obscene proposal to the accompaniment of the increased screams of the girl's friends.“You will live your worthless life and after death you will join us as a freak!” Choose or all your friends will die! - a wave of burning hatred becomes a bold allusi
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 44
- No, nothing like that. On the contrary, he became friendly . He helped with Mary and Dary, talked to me without a clear desire to bury my body under the Hellebore as soon as possible, - Alice answered, feeling a strange desire to straighten her hair and check whether everything was beautiful with her face.She was careful not to lie in the hope that honest answers would convince the Man not to violate her personal space.- Interesting. I have nothing to do with this. This is your job, young Witch! he smiled slyly. "Do you want to confess something to me?"- I touched him yesterday, or rather he me ... it doesn’t matter. I saw his memory. But not like yours. Only pictures, fragments, like a mosaic. Now I barely remember what I saw yesterday, - Fox caught herself in an unexpected phenomenon. - But yesterday I told him in full who he is and what he deserves.“You shouldn’t be ashamed of this,” looking at the girl blushing with shame, the Man seemed pleased, like the cat that got to the
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 45
V The second night repeated exactly its predecessor. The beginning nightmare, this time with a lobotomy, instantly ended with a dash through the ice barrier, after which, with the Mask of the Man on her knees, Alice found herself alone in a clearing under the stars. In this realm of dreamless sleep, she mentally tried to tame the memory of others still spontaneously surfacing in her head.However, attempts to curb foreign memories led to the opposite results. Awakening Lis met in a broken state. The man was not in the tent again. Spots danced before her eyes, turning into another frightening scene from his life when she closed her eyes for more than a second. With difficulty, she forced herself to stand up. Every step, every movement seemed like an incredible feat based on overcoming oneself.“Apparently, this is how my stay at the Circus will alternate: either everything is fine, or immediately very bad! - Through the hum of voices from someone else's memory, she thought, putting her
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 46
"I hope you're happy!" she thought angrily, pressing her back against his back. For mutual convenience, the Man chose a chair without a back.“Try practicing voice suppression. At their core, they are just a part of obsessive memories, like a melody that eats into the mind and does not want to leave! he suggested, feeling her displeased fuss on his back.“It’s like I became part of the Siamese twins!” Lis muttered. – But you can rejoice, Man, even in theory I won’t be able to plan something against you!"You didn't mean to!" he replied mockingly.“I didn’t mean to, but now I won’t!” she nodded. - What will happen in the evening?“You will see how the Circus really works. What happened yesterday is just an attempt to play for time. Decades drag on. It makes no sense to give a show every day, and you have to look after other candidates for a long time, ”she visibly tensed. The man gently nudged her with his elbow. “Today all you have to do is look carefully and describe everything you s
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- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 131
Over the years, I have long understood that the provision of choice is only a play of his own composition. Man really likes the behavior of his toys in those moments when they think that they still have freedom, but in fact he has been pulling all the strings for a long time. Everything will be just the way he wants. And these "certain conditions" will be fulfilled by me regardless of what I say or do.- The very first thing - together forever, my dear! A blanket falls off my shoulders. His cloak flies to the floor.- Easy! I smile, straightening the buttons on my vest.- And the second, - his hand, bypassing pajamas, moves along the spine, causing pleasant goosebumps, - to the King and Queen ...- Oh no!" ...should..."- No, no, no!- ...to be husband and wife!- Somehow without me! - I try to get out, does not allow.Several years have passed since Kenny's opaque hint, and each time this intriguer, in any case, specified the nearest date of that very day. Over time, Man began to th
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 130
For a month, Lis loaded herself with work and new projects so that the breaks between activities were only for sleep. She even preferred to eat food on the go, which could not but worry her friends. But it was easier that way. She did not ignore the support of her brother and the company, and almost every November evening she called to her gatherings with or without an overnight stay. It was more difficult with the nightmares, which instantly returned without the Man. Bypassing the subsequent revival in Brantford, but just as disgustingly detailed. Nights without their King literally became torture.- Would you like to visit me today? - suggested the Fox, locking the doors, although the very idea that someone would break into her cafe in her City caused hysterical laughter.“Actually, we wanted to invite everyone to our place today, Kenny will again liberate modest Wendy,” Trisha smiled, “but if you yearn for the Man, then we can organize gatherings with you!”“I miss you madly,” the
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 129
"Month of the Unknown. What if another Four comes along and challenges him and destroys him? Or will the old one gather and, shaking her gray hair, avenge her ruined lives? Or will he find himself another young sweetheart? – the last thought harassed more than others.She had no doubts about the ability of her King to foresee all possible outcomes and become invulnerable for a month with full replenishment from the Circus. As well as how greedy for his mysterious image of girls of all possible ages. And if she could tolerate the townspeople, realizing that they were of little interest to the Man, and if they wished, they would simply go to dinner for the ghouls, then the events of Saintfor ...“All his women are from this Devil City, come to think of it. Even me! she thought displeasedly, looking through the audience from behind the scenes, in search of a potential weirdo with whom the Circus would go on tour completely full. - Devil! Am I like Persephone? Will I strangle any one for
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 128
The door bell chimed cheerfully, letting in strangers.– Welcome to Nightingale City! Lis smiled.The city whispered to the girl behind the counter that the customers weren't local. But no hint was needed. It was enough to see their faces. All new people have anxiety, loss and hopelessness in their eyes. Like all guests of the city, they are confused by how exactly they ended up at the doors of the themed cafe. But they couldn't get in. The one who can is not yet born. The trinity of young people is slightly older than Alice herself.– We are glad to welcome guests of the city in our cafe “Alice in the Land of Teas¹”!She politely invited those who entered to sit down at the bar counter, into which the counter passed.Let me offer you tea. For guests of the city, absolutely free! – warning their refusal, she added.“Thank you,” one of them said in a trembling voice, “Miss…- In our small state, you can call me Alice! she winked with a smile on duty as she prepared welcome tea for them
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 127
The man sincerely grinned, gently unhooked the pale girlish fingers, dragging Lis forward to hug her from behind. Feeling the familiar warmth in her shoulder blades, enveloping her with a mute promise of protection, she closed her eyes in bliss.- Unusual. Very nice variety!Today the townspeople have outdone themselves! In a good way! she chuckled. – I think this day has become a pleasant change for everyone!“And for you, my singing queen?”“You have hearing like a bat?” she wondered, adding, “Kenny and his brother decided to have a therapy session to get rid of their sad thoughts through public humiliation. By the way, effective, although I could do without it. Holidays are great medicine in and of themselves. And I prefer to sing only to a narrow circle of the elite." Chosen, you mean? - Alice's words thrown as an excuse for timidity were very flattering.Will life be much more boring now? the girl asked, smiling when a scarlet maple leaf fell on her face in a gust of night wind.
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 126
Before the eyes of Alice, who was rapidly blushing with embarrassment, everyone who heard Andy's loud announcement, as well as everyone who knew one of them, pulled up to the small stage. Friends with hyenas' hysterical laughter pushed the girl onto the stage, taking away her bag and broom. The band members, meanwhile, descended from the stage, took large lanterns and, for the effect of bright spotlights, began to illuminate the girl from large spotlights.“Brother,” Lis sang with a wide smile of shock, “I hate you!” I'll go down from the stage - I'll kill!“Relax, Kiki,” Kenny winked at her, “consider it part of therapy. We treat despondency with public disgrace!- That's not how it works! - hissed the girl, getting a guitar in her hands. Correcting the instrument, she timidly turned to the crowd, expecting either a song from her, or ... she didn’t even want to think about the second. - Okay, hello people! You know, in my memory - this is the best holiday in our city! I'm right?The
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 125
- Why is Robin Hood not included in the support group? Andy asked, looking to ensure that the preparations were going at the right pace, but a boot flying in his direction made the guys step back from the tent one more step.- Don't peek! - the girls printed their will in unison.All three voices were clearly heard in the angry trill.– Because he performs the most important mission – guarding the entrance to the territory of the Circus! Pirate Roberts grunted, brushing off the broomstick.- And if there are no jokes?- If no joke, then with all his inclinations towards your sister, multiplied by his pathological inability to keep his mouth closed and his hands to himself ... think for yourself! Kenny answered in the tone of a mentor explaining something obvious. - Here they will pull out his arms and legs and change places, and deservedly so, and I will also assist!Three girls emerged from the tent. Sarah in a classic ghost costume and Trisha in the image of Rose Cotton paired with
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 124
The Man in the Mask himself found himself in a spiral of difficult questions. Does the King need a Queen after a complete and unconditional victory in the last chess game? As it turns out, more is needed. Which for the pragmatic part of his essence seemed strange. When the enemies stopped brightening up the dullness of loneliness, Alice's halo of "usefulness" almost completely melted away. And now that the Mask had no plans left for her, the Man's attitude towards the fragile little witch became even more reverent. As soon as all plans to conquer the city and eliminate the last coven were completed, the temporarily suppressed desire for the constant closeness of the Foxes returned. The fistula called "loneliness" did not poison his existence only with the full presence of his beast in his life. Her presence nearby, when only the body is close, and the soul is hidden in darkness, forced him to make a decision that was unexpected for him.The sun began to move towards the horizon when a
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 123
The morning of the last day of October, almost until breakfast, Lis spent in tears. The whole "raw period" Man did not leave her a single step. As in the case of her exhaustion after the first merger with the City, he could not influence the girl. All that was left was to watch helplessly. In the end, poured into the girl by hook or by crook, a transparent liquid with a cloyingly sweet and sour taste managed to stop the endless stream of tears. However, this author's sedative lasted only a couple of hours.Upon awakening, she wanted only one thing - to fall into a dream and not wake up for at least a week. However, the dream waved its tail and left the Fox, gloatingly endowing her consciousness with crystal vigor, with which it became impossible even to doze off. It was comforting that the tears had ended, and clarity appeared in my thoughts, albeit a sad one. Under the soothing roar of the Human's heart, she opened her eyes. Feeling the weightless movements of his fingers on her shou
