There's A Stranger Here...

There's A Stranger Here…

God, my leg is killing me and the cold from this rain isn't helping any. I just arrived at the fair but there is hardly a soul here. All I can see is very few stragglers, homeless folks from the looks of it, trying to keep out of the rain. I have to know. I approached the homeless and presented the photo of the woman to them, asking them if they've seen her. No such luck so far.

As I continue through, searching, I try my hardest to remember. All I can remember so far is that I was with her, maybe much earlier tonight? I don't know. The lights were on and there were music playing and there were more people here. She was pulling my hand and running through the crowd and we approached a mirror maze. But where is the mirror maze? I'm at the spot right now and it's just a barren space. Did someone pack it up and move it out?

Maybe that's where she is; in the mirror maze and she's been taken somewhere. I have half a mind to go to the police but if they see my leg and check my house, they'll think of me as the main suspect and they'll probably lock me in a cell or something and investigate on their own. 

NO! I must do this myself, pain or no pain. Hold on, there's a stranger approaching me. He wears a coat and he's carrying an umbrella. Maybe this is one of the kidnappers coming to deliver a ransom? If this means I can get her back alive and well, then I'll do whatever it takes.

He kept the umbrella low enough to where I can't see his face, even though I can barely see enough as is. He just stopped in front of me. "I take it you are searching for someone?" he asked me. Something about his voice feels off. Sure, he sounded pleasant enough like he's trying to sell me a watch or something but at the same time, he just sounds… familiar. Who is he?

"Y - yes, sir," I stuttered. I then showed him the photo. He took it with elegance and stared at it for what seemed like forever. He took a long deep breath and handed the photo back to me. "I can help you," he said, "if you will but follow me." He turned his back towards me and began to walk off and I followed suit. Suddenly, a bottle clinked behind me. One of the homeless folks, a man with a thick scraggly beard yelled a series of obscenity in our direction but among his shouts was "GET OUT OF HERE AND QUIT SCARING EVERYONE, YOU CRAZY BUM!"

The stranger spoke in a calm tone, "Pay no heed to the likes of him, for he is beyond help." I couldn't help but look back and see him walk back into an empty booth and tuck himself in out of sight. I just turned away and followed the stranger. But who is the stranger and more importantly, what does he want? Is he taking me to her? Please, let it be so…