Dead Inside the Mall

The group gathered near the edge of the amusement park, crouched behind a row of rusted, unused ride cars. They could still hear the distant hum of the Ferris wheel, creaking as it slowly turned, its lights blinking rhythmically in the dark. The Clown’s laughter had faded, but his presence still loomed, like a storm cloud hanging overhead.

"We can’t keep running," Lex said, her voice firm but quiet. "Every time we try to avoid him, he finds a way to make us play his game. We need to turn the tables and make him play ours."

Damien clenched his fists, frustration clear on his face. "I’m all for taking him down, but how? He’s got control over everything—lights, rides, even those damn bumper cars."

"We don’t need to take control," Brandon said, his voice calm but focused. "We just need to disrupt his. If we can distract him long enough, we can set up a trap."

Sophie glanced at Brandon, her eyes wide with uncertainty. "What kind of trap? He’s smarter than he looks. Every time we think we’ve got him, he’s already two steps ahead."

"He’s overconfident," Lex said, a glint of determination in her eyes. "He thinks he’s invincible because he’s been controlling the environment. But that’s his weakness. If we can make him think he’s still in charge, we can lead him right where we want him."

The plan took shape slowly, piece by piece. They knew they couldn’t overpower the Clown in a straight fight—he was too fast, too cunning. But if they could make him believe he was winning, they could lure him into a trap of their own design.

"We’re going to draw him to the House of Mirrors," Lex said, glancing at the distant building where the distorted reflections glinted in the dim light. "It’s the perfect place. He’ll think he has us cornered, but we’ll use the mirrors to disorient him."

"And how exactly do we trap him?" Damien asked, still skeptical. "The guy’s slippery as hell. He’ll just vanish again."

Lex reached into her bag, pulling out a length of wire and a handful of small, portable lights they had scavenged earlier. "We’ll use these. Brandon, can you rig the lights to create a strobe effect?"

Brandon’s eyes lit up. "Yeah, I can do that. The strobe will mess with his vision, make it harder for him to move. If we can catch him off guard, even for a few seconds, it’ll give us an opening."

The group moved quickly, working together to prepare the trap. Brandon and Sophie set up the lights, connecting them to a small battery pack while Damien and Maya gathered anything they could use to barricade the exits. They didn’t want the Clown slipping away this time.

The atmosphere was tense, every sound making them jump, but there was also a quiet determination among them. They were tired of running, tired of being toyed with. This was their chance to fight back.

Maya tightened the wire around a support beam, her hands trembling slightly. "What if this doesn’t work?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"It will," Lex said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "We don’t have a choice. We have to end this now."

Damien nodded, hefting his wrench. "Then let’s end it."

As they finished setting up, Lex stepped back, surveying their work. The House of Mirrors was dark, the entrance barely visible in the gloom, but she could see the faint glimmer of the strobe lights ready to activate. It was a fragile plan, but it was all they had.

She took a deep breath and raised her voice, letting it carry through the empty amusement park. "Hey, Clown! You want to play? We’re right here! Come and get us!"

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the speakers crackled, and the Clown’s voice oozed through, smooth and mocking. "Oh, my little mice... you’re not running anymore? How brave! I’d love to see what you’ve come up with."

The lights in the park flickered, casting long, jagged shadows across the rides as the Clown’s laugh echoed around them. "Alright, let’s play one last game."

The group retreated into the House of Mirrors, positioning themselves carefully among the reflective surfaces. Lex held the portable switch for the strobe lights, her thumb hovering over the button. They couldn’t afford to activate it too early—they needed the Clown to step right into their trap.

The mirrors around them were eerie, reflecting distorted, twisted versions of themselves. It was hard to tell what was real and what was just a trick of the light. Lex felt her pulse quicken as she glanced around, trying to spot any sign of movement.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of color—a flicker of the Clown’s coat, darting between the reflections. She tightened her grip on the switch, forcing herself to stay calm.

"Get ready," she whispered. "He’s here."

The Clown’s reflection appeared, then disappeared, flickering in and out of sight like a ghost. It was impossible to tell where he really was—every time they thought they saw him, he would vanish, replaced by another reflection, another twisted smile.

Damien gritted his teeth. "I hate this. It’s like he’s everywhere."

"That’s what he wants," Brandon said. "But he’s not. He’s trying to confuse us, make us panic. Just stay focused."

The Clown’s voice drifted through the mirrors, soft and taunting. "Oh, I see you... but can you see me? So many reflections, so many choices... where will I strike next?"

Lex’s heart was pounding, but she forced herself to stay still, her eyes scanning the mirrors. She could feel the Clown moving, circling them, getting closer. She just needed to wait for the right moment...

Then, she saw him—a glimpse of his face, his painted smile twisted into a grin. He was stepping through one of the side entrances, creeping up behind them, thinking they hadn’t seen him.

"Now!" Lex shouted, slamming her thumb down on the switch.

The strobe lights burst to life, flashing rapidly and filling the room with blinding, disorienting light. The mirrors reflected the flashes, creating a chaotic, dizzying pattern that made it impossible to see straight. The Clown staggered, his movements jerky and uncoordinated, as he struggled to navigate the sudden onslaught of light.

"Get him!" Damien yelled, lunging forward. He swung his wrench, but the Clown managed to dodge, stumbling back into a mirror. The glass cracked, splintering into a spiderweb of jagged lines.

The Clown tried to regain his balance, but the strobe lights were throwing off his coordination. Every time he moved, his reflection seemed to twist and multiply, making it hard for him to see where he was going. He lashed out, swiping his blade wildly, but he was swinging at shadows.

Brandon grabbed a length of wire, looping it around the Clown’s ankle and pulling hard. The Clown stumbled, his leg giving out from under him, and he crashed to the floor, the blade slipping from his grasp.

Lex moved in, her spear ready. She pressed the tip to the Clown’s chest, pinning him down. He squirmed, trying to wriggle free, but he was tangled in the wire, his limbs flailing uselessly.

"Looks like the game’s over," Lex said, her voice steady but cold. "You’re not going to hurt anyone else."

The Clown’s grin faltered, but only for a moment. Then, he started laughing—a soft, wheezing sound that grew louder, more manic, until it was echoing through the room. "Oh, my sweet, sweet little mice... you think you’ve won?"

The mirrors around them lit up, revealing hidden cameras, all pointed directly at them. The Clown’s eyes gleamed with a twisted glee. "The show must go on."

Lex’s heart sank. "What are you talking about?"

"I’m not the only one watching," the Clown said, his grin widening. "They’re always watching... and they’re going to be so disappointed if you leave now."

A chill ran down Lex’s spine. She glanced around, seeing the blinking red lights of the cameras, realizing that this was all part of a bigger plan. The Clown wasn’t just playing games—he was performing, and they had been the unwitting stars.

But this time, she wasn’t going to play along. She tightened her grip on the spear, her eyes cold. "Let them watch. This show is over."

She drove the spear down, pinning the Clown to the floor. He let out a strangled gasp, his grin finally fading, replaced by a look of genuine shock. For a moment, he struggled, his fingers twitching, and then he went still, the laughter dying on his lips.

The strobe lights flickered off, plunging the room into darkness once more. The mirrors were still, reflecting only the group’s tired, battered faces. Lex took a step back, her hands shaking, but she didn’t let go of the spear.

Damien exhaled, his shoulders slumping with relief. "Is it... is it really over?"

"For now," Lex said, though she could still feel the weight of the cameras on her. "But we’re not done. Not until we’re out of this place for good."

The group gathered their things, their movements slow and exhausted. They had won this round, but they knew it was only a small victory in a much bigger fight. The Clown was gone, but whatever had been controlling him, whatever had turned the mall into this nightmare—it was still out there.

As they stepped out of the House of Mirrors, the park was silent, the lights dimming as if in acknowledgment of their victory. But in the distance, Lex thought she could still hear a faint, echoing laugh, lingering on the edge of the night.

End