The Forgotten Carnival

Every summer as a child, Celia’s family would visit a small town where a mysterious carnival appeared without warning. Unlike the polished attractions of modern fairs, this carnival seemed from another era—rusted Ferris wheels, faded banners, and performers who felt both enchanting and unsettling.

Celia’s favorite attraction was always the House of Whispers. It was a simple, creaky wooden structure with no flashy signs, just a hand-painted warning at the entrance:

"Listen closely, but tread lightly—some whispers are not for you."

Inside, the air felt alive, filled with faint murmurs. Visitors swore they heard secrets: things only they could understand. At eight years old, Celia had entered the house for the first time, and the whispers told her where to find her lost toy, a plush rabbit she thought was gone forever.

The whispers seemed harmless—helpful, even. But as Celia grew older, they became darker. At twelve, the whispers revealed that her best friend was lying to her. At sixteen, they murmured her parents’ most painful truths. By eighteen, the carnival vanished from her life entirely.

Years later, now an overworked journalist in her thirties, Celia returns to the small town on a whim. To her shock, the carnival is there, exactly as she remembers it, as though it hasn’t aged a day. Drawn by equal parts nostalgia and dread, she decides to visit the House of Whispers one last time.

This time, the whispers are louder. They no longer reveal secrets but beg for her attention. Each voice pleads for her help, claiming they’ve been trapped in the house for decades. Celia begins to see faint outlines of people in the shadows, their faces twisted with desperation.

One voice stands out—a young boy's, trembling and terrified. "Don’t let them keep you. They’ll feed on your memories."

Celia stumbles toward the exit, but the whispers grow into a deafening roar. Shadows stretch and claw at her as the boy’s voice grows faint. Just as the door closes behind her, the carnival lights flicker and vanish, leaving her in the middle of an empty field.

Celia’s relief is short-lived. Back home, she realizes she can no longer recall key moments of her life. Her childhood memories feel like empty photographs, and even her own reflection seems unfamiliar. Desperate for answers, she begins researching the carnival and uncovers a chilling truth:

The carnival has existed for centuries, appearing to those who seek truths they are not ready to face. The House of Whispers is a trap—a feeding ground for something that thrives on the essence of memories.

But Celia isn’t ready to let her memories go. She vows to find the carnival again, to confront the whispers, and to take back what’s hers—even if it means risking everything.