Caitlin Johnson is an author from Columbus Ohio. With a love for the paranormal she often finds her work inspired by it. Caitlin spends her time writing and making friendship bracelets. When she's not working she loves getting beaten at Mario Kart by her sister Allison.
CEDAR PARKS
by
Caitlin Johnson
The night air was cool along the lake and the peninsula. Lights of red blue and yellow spun along the rides with their electric glow across the sky. But Cedar Parks was closed.
And, as usual I found myself inside the park. But tonight, I wasn't alone. One of the main reasons I had this job is because I'm a psychic. Here ghosts run rampant along the midway. During the day the place operated as a normal park. But during the night, it is my job to make sure the place runs smoothly for our more unwelcome guests.
"You can't even eat food." I said bluntly to the floating man in the suit.
"Miss. Jones, I may not eat popcorn, but this stand was my pride and joy. I hate to see them moved so far away from their original outposts. Can't you please have them moved to their original spots again?
That was General William S Ford of the union. The original general manager of operations when the park first opened. And he still wore that pride like a badge of honor. Checking and "caring" for all of the little details of the park he could no longer control. So he complained about them to me.
"Actually, General, I came to ask you about someone else." One thing ghosts always love is gossip. But when he saw the look on my face he turned from interested to concerned.
"Another one's gone missing, haven't they?" He asked
I nodded slowly. "Yes, an employee this time. A retail worker."
There was silence between the two of us.
"Well miss Jones. I haven't seen any new… arrivals recently."
We watched as a young pale see through couple kissed on a bench before fading into mist.
" This is the third one this summer." I sighed. "If I don't find them, they're going to close the park."
"And we'll have no place to go. You mustn't let that happen."
"I'll keep looking, but I don't even have a clue where to look."
And with that he wished me well and I set off to hopefully find the body of the missing employee.
I went by normal procedure first. Checking the perimeter of the park first and then checking larger areas. Ride to ride.
It was 2 am and the fog from the lake covered the grounds. Creating an eerie glow from the lights on the ferris wheel and other rides. I made my way towards the front. When I heard laughing in the distance.
"Hello?" I asked. It seemed to be coming from the front of the park. And as I walked that way it got louder.
The horses of the carousel sat in the fog. And as the ride flickered to life there was a scream. I jumped at the sound and climbed onto the moving ride as it began to spin faster and faster. I made my way towards the organ box. Blood was splattering from the instrument and the center pillar
I landed onto one of the horse's heads. Who's faces looked ready to bite me. Finally I caught my balance. And came face to face with a mirror. Where in the distance stood a clown. His clothes were monochrome With hints of red.. He smiled at me from the midway behind the carousel. And as we came back for a second spin around, his image was gone from the mirror.
But the blood was still pouring from the instrument and the inside of the pillar. Blood splattered on my face. Pouring down the organ. And as I gained my balance I found where a panel to the mechanics of the lighting were.
Inside sat a the decapitated head of a man
His mouth stuck forever In a screaming position. His eyes wide. I gasped as I pulled out my radio.
"Boss, I found him." I screamed into the radio. I found-
The ride came to a sudden stop as the floor hit my head. My vision faded instantly. I passed out.
When I woke up I found myself in a hospital
I shivered. It was cold. I was surprised to see my boss sitting next to me in a chair.
" Nickel?" A nickname we had always called him. He had been falling asleep in the chair next to me and seemed startled to hear his name.
"Good to see your awake Scarlet."
"Awake?" I thought. When I remembered the feeling of warm blood spraying across my face. The sound of laughter and the face of the disappearing clown. I shivered, pulling the covers up around my shoulders.
"There's something you haven't told me. I said with a frown. Nickel and I shared a look at eachother.
"Who's the clown?"