Black Hollow: April's Fool

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

WYATT COMPTON’S BODY still shook as he sat in the passenger seat of his grandfather’s car as they tried to make up time and catch up with the rest of Professor Compton’s Phantom Circus. Wyatt still had no clue what he saw last night, but the image left him shaking and sleepless. Was it a ghost? One of the phantoms from the circus playing some sort of prank on him? But then, what was with all the screaming? He shuddered, squirming in his seat a little at the memory. Needless to say, he was more than happy to be out of that trailer and back on the road, leaving behind whatever the hell that was he saw last night. At least the circus was normal. Well, as normal as possible for a paranormal circus.

“You seem a little more pensive than usual,” Wyatt’s grandfather said from the driver’s seat. “Not really a good look for a clown, you know? Where’s that merriment and jovial conversation I’ve come to enjoy on these trips?”

Wyatt chanced a quick glance over at his grandfather, the man’s shaggy gray hair falling into his eyes as he smiled over at his grandson. Chester Compton was the most jovial man Wyatt knew. His whole body shouted joy, his paunch belly jiggling when he laughed, his cheeks a deep burgundy red, and his nose a round bulb at the end of his face, drawing everyone to his sparkling red eyes. Humans thought he wore contacts to make him look mysterious and fantastical, but in reality, they were the eyes of a korrigan, the small dwarf-like spirits who used to haunt fountains in major cities. Chester turned that haunting lifestyle into a traveling business and entertained humans across the States. Wyatt debated telling his grandfather about the vision that woke him last night, but decided against it. Why worry the older man when Wyatt couldn’t even explain what he saw? Instead, he turned his gaze back out the window as night dusted the sky. “Sorry,” he said. “Just thinking about our next gig. I’m surprised Seraphine keeps asking us back to Black Hollow.” He glanced over at his grandfather. “I’m not sure a town of paranormals truly finds our acts entertaining.”

Chester laughed as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Sometimes, it’s fun to see others do what you know you can do. Besides, it’s not the deed itself but the act we add to it. We put pizazz with the supernatural displays, giving the normal an abnormal appearance. They come to see how we decorate the magic.” He shrugged. “It’s all about the show.”

Wyatt nodded, but still didn’t get it. Paranormals of all sorts resided in Black Hollow: gargoyles, leprechauns, demons, a yeti, even shifters of dragons and wolves. The phantom circus combined several of those, plus added a few more, but nothing that didn’t already live in the paranormal town. Wyatt just thought the circus wasted their efforts on the residents of Black Hollow.

However, that wasn’t the thing that troubled Wyatt the most, but he wasn’t ready to talk about it. “Have you heard from Kezzryx? It would be nice to avoid the hassle we had in Salem.”

Chester waved off the idea, keeping one hand on the steering wheel. “We’re going to Black Hollow. The twenty-four-hour man is merely a formality. Seraphine assures me all is in order. We’ll set up at the gazebo in the town’s center, a roundabout in the middle of town, just like always.” The twenty-four-hour man was the person sent ahead of the circus to prepare the way, or so Wyatt hoped. Usually, he went a week ahead nowadays, but Wyatt’s grandfather was probably right and sending Kezzryx in early was just tradition. The circus had been going to Black Hollow for years, setting up in the same spot year after year.

Chester turned the steering wheel, merging onto the interstate as the oncoming traffic moved over to the next lane, giving him room. A horn sliced the early evening air, and Chester jerked the steering wheel to the right to avoid hitting the semi. “What the...?”

Wyatt stared as his grandfather shifted in his seat, straightening as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “What’s wrong?”

“The brakes... They’re out!” Chester continued to slam down on the brake pedal as he swerved over the road. The tires ran over the warning bumps lining the berm, the clickety-clack echoing in the vehicle as Chester did his best to slow the car and keep from hitting the vehicles beside him.

Wyatt grabbed the support that dangled above him, gripping the handle tightly as he stared with wide eyes out the windows. “How the hell did the brakes go out?”

“What? You want a lesson in mechanics now?” Wyatt’s grandfather cried out. “Just hold on!”

“Turn off the engine!” Wyatt screamed.

“Then I won’t be able to steer,” Chester shouted back at him, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. “We’ll slow down. I just have to keep it straight and pray everyone behind us is paying attention and doesn’t ram into us.”

Wyatt felt his whole body tighten into one ball of nerves as he pressed down into his seat, clutching the support handle for dear life. “Who the hell maintains this car?”

“Now is not the time for questions,” his grandfather snapped.

The car slowed as Chester moved to the shoulder, the tires bouncing on the rocks and uneven pavement. Wyatt couldn’t believe the condition of the roads or the brakes. This was supposed to be a simple trip, and now they were swerving across three lanes of traffic, hoping to god someone didn’t slam into them. This was not how Wyatt saw his night going with his grandfather.

Finally, thanks to Chester keeping his foot off the gas, the car finally slowed enough that Chester could aim it at a small tree and bring the vehicle to a halt. The car rattled slightly, having only been moving at idle speed before it hit the tree. Still, it was enough to rattle Wyatt’s teeth as the impact jounced him around in his seat.

As soon as the shaking of the car subsided, he jerked his attention to his grandfather. “Are you all right?” he asked as he reached over searching for broken bones or cuts and gashes.

Chester swatted Wyatt’s hands away from his chest. “Will you stop touching me?” the old man snapped. “Check yourself out. I’m fine. Sheesh. We were barely going two miles per hour. Probably didn’t even put a dent in the front bumper.”

Wyatt sat back in his seat with a deep breath and a shake of his head. His grandfather was usually a jovial personality, had to be as Ringmaster of the circus. Of course, almost getting killed thanks to some faulty brake system was enough to make anyone grumpy. Closing his eyes, Wyatt did a mental check to see if he felt pain anywhere, but nothing jumped out at him. Opening his eyes, he did his best to see if he noticed any bleeding. Nothing.

“What the hell are you doing?” his grandfather snapped. “I told you, we barely hit that damn tree. You’re fine. Now get out there and see what happened.”

Wyatt turned his attention to his grandfather, his brows pinched in confusion. “Seriously? See what happened? The brakes went out, and we almost crashed; that’s what happened. Besides, the brakes are under the car. I won’t see anything.” He leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath. “We need to call for help.”

He heard the other door open and glanced over just in time to see his grandfather slip out of the driver’s seat and out into the late-afternoon. “Where are you going?” Wyatt called out as he watched his grandfather move to the front of the car. Other vehicles whizzed by on the interstate, a few moving over so as not to hit them inadvertently. Chester didn’t seem to pay them any attention as he looked at the car, hands on his hips, staring as if the vehicle would speak to him and apologize for breaking down on them. Wyatt took another deep breath as he rolled his eyes and reached for his own door handle. Knowing he would regret it, he stepped out and joined his grandfather, no longer thinking about the nightmare he had last night. The living nightmare he just endured was scary enough.