Funhouse

by Michael Bray

  Copyright © Michael Bray 2013

  The author or authors assert their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author or authors of this work.

  All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the author or publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  RS: 001

  Red Shark Publishing © 2013

  ISBN-13: 978-1492746607

  ISBN-10: 1492746606

  Cover by Stu Smith at Graviton Creations

  www.gravitoncreations.tumblr.com

  Edited by Sylvia Kerslake

  www.writaz.com

  &

  Garrett Cook

  www.chainsawnoir.wordpress.com

  Connect with the author on the web at:

  WWW.MICHAELBRAYAUTHOR.COM

  WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MICHAELBRAYAUTHOR

  Mr. Ghoul’s Quaint Little Ghost Train

  99.9AM

  The Eye

  Scarecrows

  H_ng__n

  The Boy Who Saw Spiders

  The Man in the Alley

  Sick Day

  Jasper

  Tilly

  Long Tall Coffin

  50/50

  Cabin Fever

  The Langton Effect

  The Trial of Edwyn Greer

  Candyland

  Author Notes

  MR GHOUL’S QUAINT LITTLE GHOST TRAIN

  The funfair had appeared overnight, and without warning. Potter’s Field had gone from an empty expanse of green, to a dizzying kaleidoscope of colour, as rides were erected and stalls set up. Alfie Jones stared out of the window with twelve year old enthusiasm at the construction, and thought that perhaps this particular Saturday wouldn’t be quite as boring as he had anticipated. He ran downstairs to the kitchen.

  “Can we go to the funfair today?” He asked as he sat down and took a sip of his orange juice.

  “Funfair?” Alfie’s dad said, as he peered over his paper.

  “Didn’t you see it?” Said Alfie’s mother as she put the bowl down in front of Alfie.

  “I can’t say I did.”

  “They’re set up on Potter’s Field dad.” Alfie said excitedly. “Can we go?”

  Alfie’s mother and father shared a look, and then his mother gave the good news.

  “I don’t see why not. Eat your breakfast and get dressed, and we’ll go over and take a look.”

  “Yes!” Alfie said, and began to shovel his cereal into his mouth, spilling milk onto his chin.

  “Slow down, you’ll make yourself sick.”

  “Sorry.” Alfie said, doing as he was told to ensure he stayed in his parents good books.

  “Would it be okay if I asked Tommy if he wanted to come?”

  “Why not, that boy spends as much time here as in his own home anyway.” Alfie’s father said as he winked at his son.

  “Thanks dad.”

  “Don’t get too excited yet, make sure Tommy asks his mother if he has permission first.”

  “I will.”

  Alfie ate the rest of his breakfast as fast as he dared without risking getting into trouble, then dressed and waited for his mother and father to hurry up and get ready. Tommy’s mother had said it was okay for him to go, and he arrived around thirty minutes later.

  He and Alfie had been friends for three years. Tommy was 14 and already tall for his age. He stood awkwardly and waited for Alfie and his parents to get ready, and then the four of them headed off to the fair.

  They were early, but the funfair was already filling up with curious people. The air was thick with the smell of hotdogs and burgers. The foursome stood at the entrance, looking at the array of rides and stalls.

  “Can Tommy and I go and explore?”

  “Go ahead, but be careful. And don’t leave the fairground without us.” Alfie’s father said.

  “Thanks dad.”

  The two boys walked away, looking at the rides and soon disappeared into the growing crowd.

  Alfie’s mother linked arms with her husband, and rested her head on his shoulder.

  “Well Dean, it looks like it’s just you and me.”

  “Yeah, it does.” He replied. He was looking around him at the stalls and rides.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know, something seems odd about this place.”

  “Funfairs are odd by design honey, that’s why kids love them.”

  “No, I don’t mean that, I… I don’t know.”

  “Are you okay?” She asked him as a mother carrying a screaming toddler walked past them.

  “I’m fine Sally, really. I think I just have an issue with places like this that’s all. I always found them creepy.”

  She grinned at him, and dragged him by the arm.

  “Come on, I’ll let you win me a prize or two then you might come around.”

  He grinned and dismissed whatever discomfort was there. They walked, arm in arm. The stalls were old, decorated in garish reds and blues, with dancing strip lights around the edges. There was a test your strength machine, a towering red structure with a bell on top. The couple watched as an overweight man in baggy shorts tried his luck, but came nowhere close to making the bell ring.

  “Wow, I haven’t seen one of those things in years.” Dean said as he watched someone else try their luck.

  “Most places aren’t as traditional as this. They have arcades and thrill rides. This seems more of an old school funfair.”

  Dean nodded. His wife had hit the nail right on the head. Although it was two thousand and thirteen, this place looked like it had arrived straight out of the fifties. He looked around at the other families, who seemed to be having fun regardless. He convinced himself he was being stupid, and that, in fact, it stood to reason that if the funfair was family run, it would still have its original fittings and rides. The pair walked on, and Dean tried as best he could to relax.

  For the next half hour, they ate ice cream, talked and admired the old rides and attractions. Dean had won a huge, fluffy toy rabbit on the hook-a-duck for Sally, and had already forgotten his discomfort. They had snaked their way around the attractions and were about to try their luck on the duck shooting stall when the two boys raced towards them.

  “Dad, Dad!” Alfie yelled as he dived around the families who were in his path.

  A surge of panic raced through Dean, and he forgot all about fairground rides and turned to his son.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” He asked.

  A cloud of uncertainty passed over his sons face.

  “Nothing, I just wanted to ask if we could go on the ghost train.”

  Dean relaxed, and hoped that nobody had noticed his overreaction, although a quick glance towards Sally told him otherwise.

  “Of course.” He said, trying to relax. “Go right ahead.”

  “We can’t, the man in charge said it’s too scary for kids. Adults have to go with them.”

  “He was probably pulling your leg Alfie.” Sally said as she tucked the toy rabbit under her arm. “It’s just to get you worked up enough to want to go on.”

  “No, he’s serious. He said it’s the best and scariest ghost train in the world. You should see it.”

  “Okay. Relax.” Dean said, trying to show that his earlier discomfort had gone, even if it hadn’t. “Let’s go over and take a look at this world’s scariest ghost train.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Alfie said, and then led the way.

  The ghost train was at the very back of the Funfair, and was quite spectacula
r. It was fronted with ornate gold angelic figures with demonic faces scowling at the customers from above. The structure itself was large, and adorned with large red flashing letters which read. Mr Ghoul’s Terror Train. The train seemed to be a three car affair, and the entrance to the ride itself was a ghastly clown face with purple hair and one pupil missing. It was really quite disturbing, and it appeared that the train entered the ride through the clowns open mouth, which was part grin, part laugh, part scream. As the group approached, they were greeted by a tall, thin man dressed in full ringmaster outfit. His eyes were wide and ringed with dark makeup, and his white hair stood to attention as he interacted with the people as they passed.

  “Good day folks.” He said as the four came to a halt. “I’m Mr Ghoul, and this, is the world’s most terrifying experience. See your worst fears come to life, experience your most private terrors up close and personal. Only here, on Mr Ghoul’s horror train!” He threw his arm behind him, as he flashed a wide-eyed grin.

  “How much is it?” Dean asked flatly, taking an unconscious step back from the colorful host.

  “Oh, no charge sir.” The grinning host said. “It’s just a case of holding your nerve long enough to say yes!”

  “Okay. Then I say yes. Go ahead, boys.”

  The boys started to go forward when Mr Ghoul stopped them. “Oh no! Not alone, it’s too terrifying without an adult.”

  “Come on.” Dean said under his breath. “Give me a break here. Let the kids on the ride. I’m sure a few plastic dummies and glow in the dark sheets won’t give them too many restless nights.”

  Mr Ghoul’s smile faltered, and Dean thought he saw a flicker of rage bubbling below the surface.

  “I’m sorry mister, all children must be accompanied by at least one adult.”

  “Fine.” Dean snapped. “I’ll go with them.”

  They set off towards the train, and Mr Ghoul again held up a restraining arm.

  “Ahh, I don’t think you understand sir. Mr Ghoul requires each child to be accompanied by an adult.” As he said it he slid his eyes towards Dean’s wife. “Nice rabbit.” He said with a wink.

  “Look, just forget it.” Dean snapped, and was about to walk away when Tommy spoke up.

  “It’s okay, Mr. Jones, I don’t mind waiting out here.”

  “Tommy, come on!” Alfie whined, but Dean saw in the boy’s face that he was spooked, and didn’t want to embarrass him anymore.

  “Alfie, if he doesn’t want to, he doesn’t have to. Come on, I’ll go on with you.”

  Alfie glared at his friend, who in turn shifted and looked at the ground.

  “So, it’s just the two of you then?” Mr Ghoul said with his usual wide grin.

  “Yeah, just us.” Alfie said, shooting his friend another pained look at his apparent betrayal.

  “Okay then.” Mr Ghoul said, clapping his hands together. “Please sign the disclaimer, and then proceed to the first train car.”

  “Disclaimer?” Dean said with a snort, finding the entire process, and the larger than life, Mr Ghoul, ever more irritating. Unperturbed, Mr Ghoul pulled a rolled sheet of paper out of his jacket and handed it to Dean along with a pen.

  “The disclaimer states that you are entering the ride of your own free will, and that Mr Ghoul and all known subsidiaries are not responsible for anything that happens to you whilst on the train. Please sign and initial on the bottom for yourself, and on behalf of the child.”

  Dean shook his head, scrawled his initials and handed the paper back.

  “There. Good enough?”

  Mr Ghoul checked the document, rolled it up and slipped it back into his pocket.

  “Go ahead and board the train, sir.” Mr Ghoul said, standing aside and showing Dean and Alfie to the train.

  Alfie climbed in the small wooden car first, and Dean somehow fitted in beside him, his legs coming up to near his chin. As he sat and waited, Dean noted that it wasn’t a train at all, and that the other cars behind them were separate and unattached. Ahead were twin black double doors which were set under the ghastly clown face which would set them on their way as soon as the ride began.

  Dean looked across to his son, who was waiting with nervous anticipation. Dean only hoped that he wouldn’t have built his hopes up too much following the overblown performance of Mr Ghoul, as he was sure that once they were underway, only disappointment would follow. Another couple climbed into the car behind them, and a short time later, Mr Ghoul walked to the front train and grinned at Dean as he lowered the safety bar across them and clicked it into place.

  “Enjoy the ride, folks.” He said, flashing a grin.

  Ghoul moved to the car behind and repeated the process, then walked to the control panel by the doors.

  “Here we go folks, prepare to be horrified!”

  He pushed the start button, and the train jerked forwards, and began to move towards the grinning, one eyed clown above the entrance. Dean flashed a quick glance to his wife, and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked as she stood with Tommy waving in the morning sun. He had a sudden urge to get off the train, sure that if he didn’t, he would never see them again, but he knew it was stupid, and was instead about to wave back as the car bumped through the doors and enveloped Dean and Alfie in darkness.

  It was exactly as Dean expected. Cheesy music accompanied the rickety train as it moved past cheap, plastic models of vampires and demons, which moved pneumatically when they neared. They rounded a rendition of the Frankenstein monster, complete with flashing lights and jerky robotic arm movements, and then came to a path with two doors. The pre-recorded voice of Mr Ghoul echoed around the dark confines of the ghost train.

  “And now, we move to the personal horror section of our ride. Be afraid, be very, very afraid!”

  Dean shook his head, trying to place which movie Ghoul had lifted the ‘be afraid’ line from as they bumped through another set of doors and came to a halt.

  “And here, on our left, we see young Tina Robinson.” Ghoul’s voice boomed over the speaker system.

  Dean froze at the name; sure it was a coincidence until he saw it. The darkness to the left had illuminated to show a bedroom scene. Now the animatronics had been replaced with live actors, although actors wasn’t really the word. Dean was looking at a younger version of himself, and the girl sitting on the bed was indeed the Tina Robinson he knew, the girl he hadn’t seen since high school. His stomach rolled and he gripped the handrail tightly, unable to tear his eyes from the scene.

  It was a bedroom; Tina’s bedroom, accurate down to the smallest detail. Tina sat on the bottom of the bed, nervous and afraid. The younger version of Dean swaggered towards her, and he heard the impossible – an exact transcript of the conversation that they had had that day. It was impossible, he knew that, but nevertheless it was playing out in front of him. Her saying that she didn’t want to, him pressuring her and telling her if she didn’t, one of her friends would.

  Dean flicked his eyes to his son, who was staring open-mouthed. He knew of course, he had seen photographs of his father when he was younger, and he too knew that they were in a very unique ghost train indeed.

  Ghoul’s voice blasted over the speaker system, causing Dean to utter a short yelp.

  “Tina said no, but Dean knew best, so he forced the issue.”

  As if on cue, his younger self slapped Tina across the face and started to force himself on her.

  “He got his way, even though she didn’t want to. Then guess what happened?”

  The scene faded to darkness and Ghouls voice was continued in a whisper.

  “Poor Tina got knocked up, but Dean didn’t want a kid, so he threw her down the stairs and she lost it.”

  A screaming, blood covered foetus suddenly appeared inches from Deans face as he peered into the darkness, accompanied by Ghoul’s cackling shout.

  “SAY HI, DADDY!”

  Dean screamed, and tried to get free of the car, but the bar was locked tight against his legs. The g
rotesque image faded, and the car moved on as Dean stared into the darkness.

  “Dad! What’s going on?” Alfie asked, his voice sounding both hollow and afraid in the darkness. Dean had no answer, and waited as the train delved further into the black.

  “Next up, on your right.” Came Mr Ghoul’s voice “Is another of Dean’s sordid little secrets. This one takes place back in the summer of nineteen eighty two, when, after a drug fuelled night out, things took a bad, bad turn.”

  As before, the scene illuminated beside the car, which came to a halt. Dean glanced over his shoulder, but the other cars had gone in a different direction, and they were alone.

  The scene was a dark alleyway. Rain fell from grey skies, and apart from the murky light from the overhead streetlamps, it was bathed in shadow. Dean watched as he — a younger version as before — staggered down the alleyway, drinking a beer straight from the can.

  His modern day equivalent couldn’t help but watch. Whatever this was, it was more than just a simple ride. Whatever he was watching wasn’t a set, or actors dressed up in costume. He was looking into a window from the past. He could feel the wind on his skin, accompanied by the occasional splatter of rain. He could smell the earthy stench of urine and rotten food seeping out of the alleyway. And because he knew what was coming, he understood that he couldn’t let his son see it.

  “Look away Alfie, cover your eyes.”

  Alfie stared at his father in the gloom, and then looked past him to the scene unfolding behind him.

  “I want to see it.” He whispered.

  Dean pulled the boy close to him. Covering his eyes with one hand and pressing the other against his ear.

  Pain jabbed into his spine from the seat, causing him to scream and release his grip on his son. He tried to lean forwards, but the restraining bar held him firmly in place. He screamed and squirmed as his son looked on.

  “No Dean. The boy must see. He must know the truth.” Mr Ghoul’s chastising voice said as the pain subsided.

  “Please, he doesn’t need to see, it was a mistake, I...” He trailed off, and then looked at Alfie.