Avo the Changeling: Part Two (special preview)

Something had gone wrong with one of the stage lights just hours before the carnival was due to open. You had tried absolutely everything to get it up and running, but a fear of a short made you decide to take it down and hope there was a replacement within the storage facility.

“I’m sure Heathcliff has something.” Mr. Faire walked along beside you. “And not to worry! If worse comes to worse, we shall work with what we have.”

You were chewing on your bottom lip. “No. No. There better be a light.”

Mr. Faire eyed you. “Is that tension I sense within your tone? Nothing to do with the nuptials tomorrow, I hope.”

You cut your eyes at him then looked straight ahead at the storage facility.

Mr. Faire’s  jaw dropped. “Is something wrong? Is Avo alright? Has he said anything? Your dress! If something happened to it we can get it fixed right away!”

“It’s not my dress!” You snapped as you stood before the door. You then realized you had just yelled at him. You clapped your hands over your face and dragged your palms down. “Oh, darn, I'm sorry Mr. Faire.”

He placed his hand upon your shoulder, an action that took nothing, but it was worth a fortune with how much it soothed. “What’s wrong, darling? You can tell me?”

You took in a deep breath and kept your hands pressed to your cheeks. “It’s nothing at all really. It shouldn’t be anything.” You looked up into his eyes and almost wanted to cry. “It’s just…all the…small things-”

“The song?” Mr. Faire asked.

“No-” You stopped she he chuckled and you laughed with him. “No. I mean…things like this,” you murmured. “The light going out. The stove smoking in the cafeteria. The hall of mirrors shutting down all of a sudden-” You huffed as even listing off things made you stressed out. “AIt’s all these little, annoying things that keep happening. Even with Avo there have been these odd little hiccups. Nothing bad. But just…small. It feels like some sort of sign. Like someone is trying to tell me something, or god forbid warn me.”

“That has no bearing on the wedding,” he said gently. “It’s just life happening. If it wasn’t for the wedding, would you even have paid notice to these things?”

You shook your head.

“Weddings are stressful,” he said calmly. “Trust me, I know,” he said with an air of pride. “It’s okay to be scared. This is a huge step. But there’s nothing and no one trying to warn or of some doom around the corner.”

Mr. Faire then furrowed his brow and lowered himself closer to you. A dark look crossed his face and his hand on your shoulder tightened. “Unless you’re hoping for a sign.”

You gasped. “No! Of course not! I want to marry Avo more than anything!”

His usual cheery expression returned. “Oh good! I was worried for a second there. Don’t fret too much over the little things, the little things are easy to fix! It’s when something big happens, then we should worry.”

Behind you it sounded like a bomb went off. You both whipped around to see smoke coming from the big top and the roof of it was flailing in the breeze, the edges glowing and burning.

“Oh-” Mr. Faire gasped. He then ran ahead at full speed and you tried your best to keep up behind him.

Everyone was crowding around the big top to see what had happened. People were rushing out with billowing clouds of pungent smoke.

“Make way! Make way!” Mr. Faire pushed through the crowd to get inside. “Everyone stay back!” he ordered as he ran head first into the tent.

You stood there dumbfounded, unsure how to act or what to do. You looked around at everyone, seeing those who had escaped the tent were getting attention and water. Smoke continued to plume from inside the tent so you pushed your way to the front of the crowd.

“Everyone needs to move back!” You ordered. “Back! Back! Get away from the big top! Make room!” Others joined you to usher the crowd back away from the big top. Just as you managed to get them back some feet, fireworks began erupting from inside. They shot out through the tent and the gaping hole in the roof.

The emergency hoses were brought out, and luckily a fire didn’t spread. Mr. Faire eventually emerged from inside, carrying two people while others followed behind him. It was a big to do, and for a while it felt like chaos was reigning.

As you were helping Ballura shut down the front gate, you heard your name being screamed out. You turned, seeing Avo near the big top trying to force his way inside. You stopped what you were doing and rushed towards him.

“Where is she! I can’t find her!” Avo was yelling. “She was working on the lighting inside! Please!”

“I’m here! I’m Avo!” You cried out to him.