Chapter Eight

“Aghhhh!!!”

Lia screamed out in a mix of frustration and rage. She collapsed onto her knees in the forest's heart, realizing she had left the carnival only twenty minutes earlier and now found herself in the nearest lush wooded area.

She needed a moment to reflect on her deal, her past choices, and all the things that had spiraled out of control since they had entered the carnival to enjoy a foolish circus, which was now threatening their very lives.

Lia didn’t realize how much she was hurting until a teardrop landed on her knee, making her aware of her disheveled state. She wept, leaning against the damp earth, burying her face in her arms as she sobbed freely, letting her heart pour out all the stress, pain, weariness, and trepidation she had felt so far in such a short time.

Lia’s voice trembled with despair, "How am I supposed to find such a soul in just one day?"

She questioned, her thoughts swirling in helplessness.

"How can I possibly hope for success when there’s no solution in sight to begin with?"

Her mind raced, the weight of it all bearing down on her.

“How did a mere mortal like me even get involved in something like this?" She whispered, struggling to comprehend her place in the chaos that had her held as a prisoner.

‘And how... how will we all survive this?’

Her sobs gradually softened into faint sniffles, but she stayed curled in the same position, quietly sniffling as her tears subsided, though the weight of uncertainty still pressed down on her.

"Why... me?"

Lia murmured, the question echoing in her mind like a relentless whisper.

Unpleasant thoughts swarmed her, refusing to be silenced. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there must be something—anything—she could do to help herself, to help others. But no matter how hard she searched for answers, her efforts always led her to the same dead end, with not a single clue in sight.

Desperation gnawed at her as hope seemed more distant, like a shooting star with each passing moment.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, large and heavy, as she struggled to contain her emotions. They fell in steady, unstoppable waves, a reflection of the overwhelming chaos she couldn't control. No matter how hard she tried, the weight of the mess she faced was too much, and she couldn’t stop crying.

‘She can’t do this… not alone... at least’, Lia thought, though the idea of seeking help didn’t feel any better.

Perhaps, even with someone’s help, it wouldn’t matter.

After all, if she turned to adults, they’d likely dismiss her. They’d think she had lost her mind or was still trapped in childish fantasies, just because of her age. That thought alone deepened her isolation, making the weight of her dilemma feel even heavier than before.

No one was going to believe her.

Lia knew that much.

And when no one believed, no one would be able to save anyone in time. Everything would be lost—slipping through their fingers like some sand slipping out through the crack of an hourglass.

A creeping sense of dread settled over her as she began to accept what felt like an undeniable truth… she was already lost.

Lia's tears flowed freely as she wept, her body shaking with quite strong emotion. Finally, she sat up on the ground, wiping her tear-streaked face with the sleeve of her shirt. But her movements stopped abruptly when she heard a soft clink—the sound of her pendant snapping from its chain and falling to the ground in front of her.

For a moment, she stared at it, surprised.

She had completely forgotten she was still wearing it.

"I must have forgotten to take it off before bed..." Lia's thoughts trailed off as her fingers delicately opened the beautiful silver pendant, its surface adorned with an elegantly engraved "L."

The moment the pendant clicked open, her breath caught in her throat. Inside, a small picture of her family stared back at her, stirring a wave of emotion that silenced her mind completely.

The image showed a family of five, with a baby girl cradled gently in her mother's arms. Lia's gaze lingered on the picture, her heart tightening. A single tear slipped from her eye, landing softly on the photograph. "No," she whispered, her voice trembling with renewed resolve.

"I can’t give up. I can't lose anyone precious to me. Not again." She admitted to herself.

Lia gently closed the locket, her fingers lingering on its surface for a brief moment. With quiet resolve, she removed the necklace and carefully reattached the broken chain, restoring the pendant to its rightful place. Once it was whole again, she fastened it around her neck, her heart now filled with a newfound determination and courage.

"Come on, Lia! Don’t give up," she urged herself while her thoughts gained strength through her steadfast personality.

"There must be some way to stop the circus. Even if that soul doesn’t exist... I still have time to find a weakness, something that can defeat them. Nothing in this world lasts forever. Everyone and everything has an end." Lia whispered as she wondered.

She thought of immortal vampires and fantasy creatures in cartoons—they all met their demise eventually, and they were always the villains, just like the ones she needed to defeat in her story.

With calm resolve, Lia rose to her feet, brushing the dirt from her knees. After wiping the last of her tears, she adjusted her glasses, ready to face whatever came next.

Lia scanned her surroundings, taking in the dense forest that enveloped her.

A realization struck her—she was near a library, just a few blocks away, if her memory served her right. Typically, her memory was sharp, and she recalled catching a glimpse of the library the night before as they made their way back home from the carnival. The image of the library still lingered in her mind as a beacon of hope amid the growing uncertainty within her.

First and foremost, Lia needed to gather every detail she could about the 'Fabled Whimsical Circus.' Understanding her enemy was essential before she could make her move. With urgency coursing through her veins, she climbed back onto her bicycle and pedaled fiercely. She navigated through the forest, emerging onto the quiet roads as the sun began its ascent, casting a gentle glow over her path.

She raced to the library after parking the bicycle against a pole, her heart sinking when she found the doors locked. While she had anticipated this outcome, a small part of her had hoped that, being a public library, it might open in the early hours of the day. Disappointment washed over her as she stood there, staring at the closed entrance.

Knowing she couldn't afford to waste an hour or two waiting, Lia pulled her phone from the pocket of her jacket and leaned against the library's door. She connected to the internet, searching for anything related to the circus. Unfortunately, all she found were glowing reviews of their performances, extolling their fame and magnificence. Frustrated, she switched gears and tried to dig up the history of the 'Fabled Whimsical Circus.' The results were similarly unhelpful, revealing only that they had been active for over ten years—information she already knew. If they were indeed supernatural, they were likely manipulating their online presence as well, or who knows, they might have been using illusions to manipulate almost everything. This was precisely why she had hoped to visit the library; now, she needed to seek out something ominous or particularly rare about them.

Lia continued her search, her determination unwavering until she stumbled upon a peculiar comment regarding the circus.

“This circus needs to be shut down immediately! My child vanished right after visiting the circus last night. If anyone sees this comment and believes me, unlike the authorities who dismissed the circus as innocent after just one investigation window that they opened after feeding them tons of money, please look into it further. There is something truly strange about this circus!”

The words sent a chill down Lia’s spine, igniting a spark of urgency within her.

As Lia hummed softly to herself, she absorbed the comment and then continued scrolling through the thread. A mix of reactions filled the screen—some defended the circus, while others expressed their disapproval. But one particular comment captured her attention once more.

“Hello everyone, I hope this message doesn’t offend anyone. I felt compelled to share my thoughts because, as someone connected to the ancestors of dark and spiritual sorcery, I sensed unsettling vibes from this circus during my first visit. I don’t want any attention on my doorstep, but I can offer guidance to those seeking answers or who have found themselves in trouble with them. All I can say is… look for a shop named ‘Mystical Repository.’ It will reveal itself to you if you truly believe in the supernatural and are in desperate need of its services. That’s all there is to it.”

The words resonated within Lia, stirring her curiosity and sense of surprise.

Lia furrowed her brow at the comment, noticing that it had restricted others from sharing their thoughts on the post.

"Mystical Repository?" She repeated the name in her mind, skepticism creeping in. It felt like either a spam tactic or a cruel joke aimed at those in need.

"I suppose she’s just toying with the emotions of people who are desperate," she thought while being irked, as she was convinced that blocking the community from commenting was a deliberate move to avoid any backlash.

Lia let out a frustrated sigh.

While she had come to accept the existence of the supernatural, she remained skeptical about the comment she had just read. Rubbing her eyes beneath her glasses to ease the sting from the sunlight, she blinked away the remnants of sleep. As she did so, her gaze suddenly widened, landing on a peculiar shop right in front of her.

Lia removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes once more, ensuring she was fully awake. She could never drift off when her mind was in such a tumult, so she pondered what exactly she was staring at.

She wore her glasses back on as confusion flickered in her mind as she tried to make sense of the scene before her.

In the very heart of the winding road stood a dazzling little shop, its walls cloaked in a sky-blue shimmer that seemed to glow softly, as though kissed by morning dew and starlight all at once. Twisting vines of pink and purple blossoms curled along the shop’s trim like enchanted embroidery, each petal glinting faintly as if whispering secrets in the sunlight.

Lia’s eyes widened as she tilted her head back to read the sign swaying gently above the door. Letters as bold as they were beautiful sparkled like polished moonstone: MYSTICAL REPOSITORY. The name pulsed with quiet magic, as though the words themselves had just taken a breath.

But what truly caught her attention was the flutter of movement all around. Dozens of butterflies—each more brilliantly colored than the last—danced in the air around the shop. Their wings shimmered like stained glass, catching every ray of light and spinning it into rainbows. They didn’t flit away like normal butterflies might. Instead, they hovered there, lazily circling the shop as if it were a flower too rare to leave behind, as if something inside whispered to them, stay.

Lia took a step forward but halted when a sleek black car zipped past her, driving right through the shop as if it were nonexistent in the middle of the road. Confusion swirled in her mind like bees going wild for an ounce of honey.

"What on earth is happening here? Whatever it is... the shop certainly feels magical. I suppose I'll learn more once I step inside and explore," she thought, her curiosity piqued as she continued toward the entrance, finally reaching the wooden door.

Lia drew in a deep breath, willing her nerves to settle as her fingers, quivering with anticipation, reached for the door’s handle—a handle sculpted like a blooming flower, its petals cool and velvet-soft to the touch. With a gentle push, the door groaned open, releasing a sudden rush of goldish-white light that poured out like sunlight wrapped in stardust.

The brilliance embraced her, wrapping around her like a warm spell. She squinted, lifting a hand to shield her eyes, and stepped forward into the unknown. As the light faded and her vision cleared, a gasp escaped her lips.

She stood inside what appeared to be a library, but not like any she had ever seen. This one was alive with wonder. Towering shelves spiraled toward a ceiling lost in glittering mist, each packed with peculiar books bound in shimmering leather, glowing thread, or even what looked like pressed petals and bark. The space seemed impossibly vast—far bigger than the modest shop exterior could have ever suggested—as though the very walls bent around magic itself.

Around her, a flurry of color and movement stirred the enchanted air. Vivid birds with glimmering feathers soared through open archways high above, trailing echoes of songs that sounded like secrets. Butterflies with wings painted in dreamlike patterns hovered near the shelves, occasionally landing as if curious to read the spines of the books themselves.

Lush flowers in every imaginable color blossomed from floating pots and enchanted vases that hovered midair or nestled among the bookshelves, swaying gently as if moved by unseen hands. Sparkles—tiny, weightless flecks of color in shades Lia couldn't even name—drifted through the air like playful fireflies, brushing her cheeks and vanishing with a gentle twinkle.

A wide, awestruck smile stretched across her face. This wasn’t just a shop—it was a place spun from pure imagination, a realm where magic breathed through the walls, and every corner promised a story waiting to unfold.

Lia glanced at the reception area, only to find it empty. Curiosity stirred within her once more as she pondered whether the shop operated magically, independent of human assistance, or if there was a natural entity that revealed itself only when its services were required.

Lia hummed softly in contemplation, as the magical air of the shop wrapped around her like a gentle breeze. But the moment she turned around, she froze in surprise.

Standing before her was a tall girl, elegant and graceful, dressed in a flowing white gown that shimmered like fresh snowfall under moonlight. The dress was adorned with vivid blue flowers that looked astonishingly real—petals layered and textured as if they had bloomed right out of the fabric.

The girl’s long, straight ginger hair cascaded neatly around her shoulders, framing a face that seemed to glow with a gentle light. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled, bright and welcoming, and her smile was as warm as sunshine breaking through a cloudy day.

“Welcome, our little guest,” she said, her voice laced with a friendly charm that made Lia feel as though she had just stepped into the beginning of a most wondrous untold story of her world.