An Amusement Park of Wonders [NOEL]

A sharp gasp tore through the silence of the bedroom.

Noel’s eyes flew open, her breath ragged and uneven. Her body was drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling fingers clutched the silk sheets.

Her side, the place where the spear had struck her. She touched it.

Her mind swirled.

It was real.

Slowly, she pushed herself upright.

The fear, the confusion...they had not disappeared. But something else had taken root in their place.

Resolve.

She was not weak. Pressing a hand against her forehead, she exhaled, slow and controlled, willing her mind to steady itself.

"This is not over," she whispered, the words carrying the weight of an unbreakable vow.

She would find the truth.

No matter how deep she had to dig.

She had only one goal in mind, to uncover the identity of the red-eyed entity.

She searched tirelessly. The vast Redlaw family archives. The tomes in the grand library. The ancient records kept in the estate’s hidden vaults.

Nothing.

She decided she should not tell Leon just yet.

Not until she had more answers.

The night arrived.

And so did the dream.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she was back again to the same world

And standing amidst it all,

Leon.

"Welcome back, Noel."

Noel exhaled slowly, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than usual.

"Yeah…" she murmured, "I'm back yet again."

It was a simple exchange, yet something about it unsettled her.

Leon always knew.

He always seemed to expect her.

How?

It was impossible that they had met before this, and yet…there was a strange warmth, a sense of familiarity that she could not explain.

It wasn’t distrust exactly, but…

Noel wasn’t sure of her own heart.

She shook the thought away.

They settled into their usual morning routine, breakfast at a nearby café.

As expected, the flavors of the modern world continued to amaze her.

Afterward, they stopped by the game center, immersing themselves in the VR world once again.

As always, Noel could not shake the feeling of how eerily similar the game was to her own world.

An Amusement Park of Wonders

After the game, Leon proposed something new.

"How about we go to an amusement park today?"

"Amusement park?" Noel tilted her head. "What is that?"

"It's a place designed for fun," Leon explained. "There are attractions, rides, games, food stands, people go there to enjoy themselves."

Noel listened with growing fascination.

"Attractions? Rides?" she repeated, intrigued.

"Yeah, like a...hmm… how do I explain it? There’s this thing called a roller coaster...it’s like a fast-moving cart that—"

"Wait, wait, slow down," she interrupted. "So you have mechanical devices meant for entertainment?"

Leon chuckled. "Pretty much."

Noel's lips curled into a smirk. "Your world is truly a strange one, Leon."

A Dwarven Dream

When they arrived at the amusement park, Noel was stunned.

Bright lights. Towering structures. People laughing, screaming in excitement, running toward all sorts of attractions.

Her eyes sparkled with fascination.

"Your world is incredible," Noel said, crossing her arms. "Even though you lack magic, you’ve built wonders that dwarves in my world would never even dream of."

Leon laughed. "Dwarven dreams, huh?"

"Yes. If the dwarves from my world saw all this, they would lose their minds." Noel let out a light chuckle, shaking her head.

Leon grinned. "Well, I’m glad you like it."

Her voice grew softer.

The Carousel Ride

As they wandered, they came across a carousel.

Noel’s eyes narrowed in amusement. "Circling horses?"

"It’s a classic," Leon said.

She smirked, stepping onto the ride.

As the music started and the horses began their rhythmic motion, she let out a soft sigh.

"Hoh… Pleasant enough," she remarked.

The day continued with laughter, exploration, and fleeting moments of warmth.

It was far from over.

Into the Haunted House

The entrance to the haunted house loomed before them, its wooden facade aged and worn, as if the structure itself whispered tales of the dead. A cold draft seeped from the doorway, carrying the scent of aged wood and something eerily metallic. The sign above flickered dimly, the neon glow struggling to stay alive, as if even the lights hesitated to illuminate what lay beyond.

Noel glanced at Leon. "So…this is a house of spirits?"

The moment they stepped into the dim corridor, the atmosphere shifted. Thick mist slithered around their feet, creeping like phantom tendrils in the dark.

Then came the whispers.

Distant murmurs, indecipherable yet bone-chilling, as if voices from the abyss were calling out.

Noel instinctively tensed, her hand reaching for her waist...only to realize she had no weapon.

A grotesque figure emerged from the mist...a hunched silhouette with glowing red eyes, dragging itself forward with twisted limbs.

Noel's body moved on instinct, stepping back slightly into Leon’s space. Her heartbeat quickened.

The creature lunged...

"Relax," Leon said casually. "That’s just a guy in a costume."

Noel blinked. "...What?"

As the "monster" stepped closer, the dim lighting revealed the truth, a human in a fabric suit, with artificial claws and LED lights embedded in the mask.

She narrowed her eyes. "Costumes, you say?"

Leon grinned. "Yep. All just harmless fun."

She scoffed, exhaling a relieved sigh. "Now that I know the reality behind it, it doesn't really inter..."

Before she could finish her sentence—

A monstrous figure leaped out of the shadows.

Wrapped head to toe in tattered bandages, it moved unnaturally fast, closing the distance in an instant.

Noel let out a sharp squeak, a sound she would later deny making, and without thinking, her reflexes took over.

SMACK.

Her palm connected with the mummy’s face in a clean, sharp slap.

The entire room froze.

The "mummy," who was definitely just an employee, stumbled back a step, clutching its cheek in pure shock.

Leon, eyes wide in horror, immediately grabbed Noel’s hand and bowed deeply in apology.

"I am so sorry!" he said hurriedly, dragging Noel along as they made a swift exit.

As they stepped outside, the cool air of the amusement park greeted them once more.

Noel huffed. "That was an unpleasant surprise."

Leon exhaled. "You slapped an actor, Noel…"

"Well, if they wish to startle me, they should at least announce their presence properly."

Leon shook his head, holding back his laughter.

After a few more rides, including a spinning teacup ride that left Noel slightly dizzy, they finally sat on a bench near a food stall.

Leon gently placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her to sit. "Take a break. I'll be right back."

Noel barely heard him.

She was lost in her own thoughts, her mind drifting through the day’s events.

She had felt… happy.

Each moment was new, unfamiliar yet exhilarating. And in every single one of them...

Leon was there.

A warmth spread through her chest, an emotion she couldn’t quite define.

A small, involuntary smile curled on her lips.

Her fingers brushed against her cheek as she realized it...

Her face was warm.

She was blushing.

Why?

Before she could make sense of it, Leon returned, holding two ice creams.

"Here," he said, handing her one.

Noel took a cautious bite.

A sharp shock ran through her senses.

Cold.

"Mm?!" Her eyes widened. Cold yet… delicious.

"What a magnificent food!" She quickly gobbled it up, caught between the contrast of its icy texture and sweet taste.

Leon noticed a small smudge of ice cream right on her nose.

Without thinking, he reached out and gently wiped it away with his thumb.

Noel froze.

Her eyes widened as she stared at him, her breath hitching.

His touch was warm against her skin.

Leon realized what he had done a second too late. He quickly withdrew his hand, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Oh—uh, sorry. There was just a little on your nose, so…"

Noel’s gaze flickered downward.

Her voice came out soft,

“…It’s fine.”

A silence fell between them, thick and unspoken.

Something had shifted.

Leon cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "Ahem. Wanna try the roller coaster?"

Noel nodded, quickly standing up...a little too quickly.

The roller coaster left her breathless...not with fear, but with thrill.

While others screamed in terror, she embraced the rush.

The wind against her skin, the sharp twists and turns...this was what she loved. The pure adrenaline, the feeling of being alive.

And finally, the last ride of the night...

The Ferris wheel.

As they ascended, the city below stretched endlessly, bathed in twinkling lights. The world seemed quieter up here, detached from the bustling amusement park below.

Noel, lost in the breathtaking view, didn’t notice at first...

How close she and Leon were sitting.

Until she heard it.

His breathing.

Slow, steady...right beside her.

A quiet, rhythmic sound. Intimate in a way she hadn’t expected.

She turned slightly, her gaze drifting toward him.

Leon was watching the city, but for a fleeting moment, his eyes flickered toward her.

A moment.

A feeling she couldn’t define.

Noel wasn’t foolish. She recognized the tension, the warmth that lingered between them.

But she didn’t look away.

Because at that moment, she knew one thing...

This day, this happiness...

She didn’t want it to end.

Yet, she knew it must.

The day had ended. The bright, dazzling world of laughter and discovery faded into the quiet of the apartment.

The apartment lay in hushed stillness.

Leon had gone to his room. The faintest sounds of the city buzzed beyond the window, but inside...absolute silence.

Noel waited.

Then...when she was certain...she moved.

Swift. Silent. Unnoticed.

She stepped past Leon’s door, through the hallway, and out into the night.

She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t look back. She had made her choice.

And as the familiar glow of the moon bathed the city in silver, she knew she was right.

A crowded intersection. Bustling, bright, alive.

Noel stopped.

Her breath was steady. Her pulse, calm.

She lifted her gaze...

And there it was.

The Red Eyed Shadow.

Silent. Watching.

Waiting.

A slow breath. No hesitation. No fear.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment.

Then...they snapped open.

"Come!!!"

The air shuddered.

It moved.

It descended like a reaper.

Noel ran, toward it.

Weaving through the crowd, dodging bodies, pushing forward.

It followed. Relentless. Merciless.

The distance between them vanished in seconds.

The spear pierced through her.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as a blossom of pain exploded in her stomach.

She staggered.

A pool of blood spread beneath her feet.

The world slowed.

A murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd, then a scream.

Panic. Chaos. People backed away. Some ran. Some stared in horror.

Noel’s vision blurred.

But even as she sank to her knees, she smiled.

Because this time...

She was not alone.

There were witnesses.

There was proof.

Then, everything faded to black.