The scent of rust and despair crept into their nostrils, clinging to their throats like the dust of death. Kai's eyes weren't seeing, but he felt fear seeping from the pores of the skin, trembling in the cold extremities of others. There were no screams, only held breaths, each a silent horror story. Their wide eyes stared at him, reflecting the shadows of monsters only he could see. It wasn't about trust, but about the despair that made them follow any glimmer of hope, even if it led them to the abyss.
Layla's steps were light as a ghost, slipping through the crowds. Her eyes, a mixture of curiosity and sarcasm, gleamed with a strange light. She didn't utter a word, but her gaze said a lot: "Are you truly their savior, or just another clown in this circus?" Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of darkness, and her faint smile caused more anxiety than any scream. She stood on the edge of the abyss, enjoying the view, while others clung to anything that prevented them from falling.
"Next Station: Madness Station." The mechanical voice echoed in Kai's ears, reverberating in everyone's bones. It wasn't an announcement, but a judgment. He felt immense pressure, not from outside, but from within. His consciousness was cracking, shattering like an old mirror. Was this circus driving him to madness, or was he already mad before he set foot in it?
He remembered the words of Baek Sa-hyun, the psychopath who saw the world as a stage for his own game. "Madness is the highest form of freedom, Kai. When you abandon all constraints, you become the master of your destiny." His words were sweet poison, tempting the soul to break free from the shackles of the mind. Was Baek Sa-hyun seeing the truth, or was he just another reflection of Kai's madness?
The doors began to open slowly, like the mouth of a hungry beast. There was no light outside, only dense darkness, swallowing everything. The air was heavy, saturated with the smell of blood and fear. There was no need for words. Bodies were speaking, trembling, retreating. But Kai didn't retreat. He felt a strange force pulling him towards the darkness, a force he didn't understand, but couldn't resist.
"Are you afraid?" Layla whispered, her voice like the rustle of wind in a graveyard. She wasn't asking, but challenging. Her eyes stared into his, searching for any trace of weakness. But Kai showed no weakness. He had transcended fear. He had transcended everything. He had become part of the circus, part of the madness.
Kai stepped out first, his steps firm, as if walking towards his inevitable destiny. Others followed him, their bodies following his, but their souls clinging to fear. Layla was smiling, a cold smile, as if enjoying the show. She knew this wasn't just a circus, but a game, and the game of madness never ends.
They crept into the darkness, each step intensifying the horror. There were no sounds, only the echo of their rapid breaths. The walls were breathing, twisting, as if they were living beings. The dim lights flickered, revealing distorted shadows, dancing in the corners of the rooms. There was no escape. They were trapped in this circus, in this madness.
Suddenly, Kai stopped. His eyes were staring at something others couldn't see. There was a mirror, large, cracked, reflecting a distorted image. It wasn't his image, but the image of a monster, smiling a psychopathic smile. The monster wore a clown costume, its eyes gleaming with the sparkle of madness. Was this the real Kai? Was this his destiny?
"What do you see?" Layla whispered, standing beside him, her eyes staring into the mirror. She didn't see the monster, but she saw another reflection, a reflection of her own madness. She was smiling, a wide smile, as if she had found what she was looking for.
"I see the truth," Kai said, his voice hoarse, as if coming from the depths of the abyss. "The truth is that we are all mad. We are all part of this circus. We are all puppets in this game."
Layla laughed, a resonant laugh, echoing through the corridors of the circus. It was a mad laugh, a free laugh. She had found a companion in madness. She had found someone who understood her. She had found someone who shared her destiny.
The circus began to shake, as if the earth was cracking. The lights flickered faster, revealing more distorted shadows. The music rose, mad music, horror music. The show had just begun.
Kai looked at Layla, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. It wasn't a sparkle of fear, but a sparkle of understanding. He had understood everything. He had understood that madness was the only way to survive. He had understood that madness was the only way to freedom.
"Are you ready?" Kai asked, his voice calm, as if talking to himself. "Are you ready to be part of the show?"
Layla smiled, a wide smile, as if she had been waiting for this moment her whole life. "I was born ready."