Mr. Faire's Scarebrook #1 (complete)

I was first brought to Mr. Faire ages ago when Robin found me stashed away and hidden in a basement. Mr. Faire took me in as one of his own, and although I was the first Doll to come into the carnival, I was accepted readily. 

The first act I was in was called the ‘Living Music Box’. Mr. Faire had a unique prop made that looked like a giant music box and, as music played, I rose up from within, dancing and twirling. As years went on, the act changed some. New Dolls came to the Carnival and I took them all under my wing. 

In a day that will live in infamy for me, Mr. Faire brought in a new part to the Carnival. I remember clearly how all of us were gathered into the mess tent to hear his supposedly good news.

“We are joining forces!” Mr. Faire announced proudly. “I have come across an old friend in desperate need of help. So we are combining our shows into one happy family.”

Now, by this point, I was used to Mr. Faire’s eccentricities and quirks, but he usually just brought in new family. This was the first time he was combining two acts together.

“Everyone, meet my dear friend, Ambrosius Tricksenstein!” Mr. Faire stepped aside as a man joined him.

He was horribly tall and gangly, dressed from head to toe in black velvet. His long white hair spilled out over his shoulders and long bangs covered his face. The only part of his body that actually showed was just his mouth. His skin looked gray and there were hints of scars on him, but it was hard to tell.

“Please, call me Bram.” He swooped off his hat and bowed low before us. He then stood erect and placed his hat back upon his head. “I am so glad to be here. Mr. Faire has been kind enough to save my little troupe and I. We all look very forward to joining your happy family.”

“What is it exactly that you do?” Muna scoffed from the back of the room. “What is your little troupe exactly?”

“Oh, it is quite amazing!” Mr. Faire interrupted as Bram smiled to himself. “It is a traveling horror show.”

I frowned and glanced at the faces across the room. Everyone had a confused look upon their face.

“What is that exactly?” I asked, raising my hand.

Bram’s dangerously long arm extended out and he pointed to me. “The lovely little creature here asked a perfect question.” His smile set me on edge. “You’d make a perfect addition to it. Perhaps as a bride?”

Mr. Faire chuckled. “Now, now,” he said. “Coraline, the horror show is like any haunted house show, only much more!”

“Or it will be more soon,” Bram replied with a sigh. “I’m afraid the old grand dame just ain’t what she used to be. The road was too hard on some of my members and I’m afraid we just don’t make enough otherwise. Some people don’t want Halloween all year round and, of course, we suffer by it.”

Mr. Faire clapped Bram’s back. “Not to worry, dear friend. Here it will be.”

It had been the first time I was concerned for Mr. Faire and his judgement. I wasn’t sure how a haunted house was going to make it in our carnival. Not everyone wanted to be scared. Not only that, but Bram gave me the serious heebie-jeebies.

After that and the beginnings of the Neighborhood of Nightmares was added to the Carnival, I went along with Mr. Faire’s plans. It was a hard feat, considering that every corner I went around, Bram seemed to be there.

“Lovely to see you, beautiful Coraline. I was wondering if you would take up my offer yet again of joining the Neighborhood?” He asked me this at least once a week. “A charmer like you would make a lovely addition.”

I looked him up and down, still unsure about him. He had been here for a long time and yet, no one that I knew had seen an inch of his face. “No, thank you, Mr. Tricksenstein.”

“Please, call me Bram.” He followed along beside me. “A Doll like you would make such a wonderful addition to the Neighborhood. I could easily make you a star act there.”

“I said no, thank you, Mr. Trickaenstein,” I sighed. “I told you once, I told you twice, I’ve told you several times it is not the place for me.”

Bram sighed. “Oh, Button Eyes,” he shakes his head. “I will accept it, but the offer will always stand for you.”

I turned to glare at him. “What did you call me?”

“Cute Dolls often have big Button Eyes ,” Bram smiled down at me. “You are no exception. Those eyes of yours are the best buttons I have ever seen.”

I frowned at him. “Don’t call me that.” I turned and quickened my stride to escape him.

The Neighborhood of Nightmares only grew as did its popularity. Children adored it, and to my shock, they loved their creepy tour guide into Nightmares, the tremendous and deadly Ambrosius Tricksenstein. Meanwhile, my music box act wasn’t what it used to be. Nowadays, I mainly take care of the other Dolls and plan their acts. I also do the fortune telling booth and sometimes worked the arcade. 

One day, I am filling the claw machine when I see Bram on the other side of the glass. He is looking in at all the new toys I am placing inside and he gives me a smile.

“Lovely to see you, Button Eyes .” He waves his long bony fingers. “How goes your day?”

I roll my eyes and place a stuffed cat into the machine. “It was fine.”

“Was?” Bram walks around the claw machine and looks up at me. “What happened to make it a was?”

I give him the stink eye and he chuckles. “What do you want, Mr. Tricksenstein?”

“After all this time and you still call me that?” He shakes his head and clicks his tongue. “I will find a way into your good graces, Button Eyes , just you wait.”

I close the lid of the claw machine and lock it. “You can stop calling me that, for one thing.” I climb off the ladder and collapse the once full box. “Now, what is it?”

“Mr. Faire just gave me a brand new prop for the Neighborhood.” Bram flourishes his hands out. “It is something you are quite familiar with, so I wanted to get all your notes on it.”

I eye him suspiciously. “What prop are you talking about?”

“Why, the music box, of course,” Bram gasps.

I flinch and stare up at him. “My music box?” I clutch at my chest and pull on the straps of my overalls. “MY music box?” I charge towards Bram and he steps backwards. “Why are you taking my music box?”

Bram holds his hands before himself like a shield. “Mr. Faire offered it to me. He said it would make a wonderfully haunting addition to the Neighborhood. I knew it was your star act long ago.”

My shoulders slouch and my joints all groan and click. “How could he?” I whisper.

“Oh now, now,” Bram comes back towards me. “That is why I came to you. I remember your act, it was beautiful. You were beautiful.” He goes to touch me, but recoils his hands. “I wanted to offer you the role of the ballerina in the music box again.”

I scowl up at him. “But in your creepy little horror show!” I jab at his chest with my finger. It feels hollow, like I’m only stabbing at a shirt, but I don’t quite put this together. “I wouldn’t be a beautiful dancer there. I’d be some freaky sideshow attraction!”

“Key word there is attraction,” Bram smirks. 

I snarl and shake my fists at him. “I have no desire to be something so ooky and spooky! I’m a Doll! I’m supposed to be something beautiful and graceful and-”

“You can still be all those things,” Bram’s voice is smooth and low. “Beauty can be haunting. You’ve haunted me for years.” He clasps his hand over his chest. “Those Button Eyes  have been my demons and my prayers.”

I give him a scowling, dirty look.

“Even now when you look at me with despise.” He takes off his hat and bows low before me. “You would do me a great honor by bringing your talent and elegance into the Neighborhood.” He then stands erect again. “Your talents are going to waste filling up claw machines and giving out fake fortunes.”

I glance into the claw machine, seeing the stuffed animals have shifted some and others have toppled over. I sigh and look at the ground before I look up at Bram and try to see beyond his thick bangs that cover his face. 

“Let me think on it,” I grumble. 

Bram claps his hands together. “Oh, wonderful! You have no idea how happy you’ve made me. A thinking woman is a glorious woman.”

I give him another once over. “Calm down, I’ve not said anything to give you such high hopes.”

“Oh, but you’ve said many things to lighten my mood and put the spring in my step,” he grins. “How about you come over to my place for tea tonight? Even if you’ve made up your mind, I still want to tell you plans and dreams for the music box.”

“Well-” I mutter. I want to turn it down, but I also want to make sure my music box isn’t going to be turned into something stupid. 

“You’ve never been to the Neighborhood, have you?” Bram’s mouth hangs open in shock. “That’s right! You never have! Then I must insist on a tour.” He lays his hands over his heart. “Tonight, I’ll show you all of the Neighborhood of Nightmares and I’ll prove to you once and for all it is a place deserving of your music box, as well as your gifts!”

“Calm down, damn,” I huff. I rub my temple. “Ok, fine. I’ll come.”

Bram kneels down before me and takes my hand and kisses it. “I promise! You will be enthralled with the Neighborhood or I will make Mr. Faire return the music box to the main stage.”

“What?” I gasp. “Really? You’d do that?”

Bram leans up and makes an X across his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die. You can also stick a needle in my eye.”

I grimace. “Not quite so far, Mr. Tricksenstein.”

Bram rises from the ground, still clutching my hand. “Tonight then,” he says with a dreamy voice. “I’ll await with bated breath for you to come to my door.”

“Uh-” I look around anxiously before peering back up at him. “Yeah, sure.”

Bram turns away with a flourish of his long coat and I’m left standing there feeling uncertain about what I’ve agreed to.

That evening as I’m getting ready to go to the Neighborhood of Nightmares, I put on one of my old dresses. I’m not sure what possessed me to do such a thing, I hadn’t worn it in ages. It was the first dress Mr. Faire gave me. It was made from layers upon layers of sheer fabric with a beaded bodice. The beads went up to my neck looking like a cascade of jewels coming from my throat. I then style up my long, dark auburn hair into a bun, using a bird shaped pin to keep it in place.

I go to the entrance of the Neighborhood of Nightmares. The old iron gate creaks open loudly, sounding very much like a cat yowling. As I step inside, a raven comes flying down and lands on a scraggly tree before me.

“Welcome, Lady Coraline. We’ve been expecting you. My name is Edgar Von Gilbertroff, pleased to finally meet you.”

“Oh, uh-” I hesitate for a moment then bow slightly. “Hello, nice to meet you.”

The raven flutters over and rests on my shoulder. “Bram has asked me to guide you to his home and give you the start to the tour.” Edgar’s voice is surprisingly deep for such a small creature. 

“I didn’t know Mr. Tricksenstein had a talking bird as part of his show,” I chuckle. “I’m quite surprised at how elaborate it is.”

“I am much more than a talking bird, Lady Coraline. This is merely a form of mine I like to take. Flying is much fun, you know?” Edgar chortles and fluffs his feathers.

“Then what is your real form?” I ask.

“Tut, tut, tut.” Edgar hits his wing over the top of my head. “Save your questions for the end of the tour!” he then flies off my shoulder and lands on the top of a street sign. One points down a street called Graveyard Boulevard while the one I stand on is called Blight Avenue. 

“This here is the historic Blight Avenue, first main attraction of the Neighborhood of Nightmares. From it, the Neighborhood grew into what we know today.” Edgar hops in place and points down Graveyard Boulevard. “The Boulevard was added not long after the Neighborhood was added to the Children of the Night Carnival. It has become the most popular attraction the Neighborhood has. This includes the Mausoleum, the main graveyard, and Mrs. Percival’s mortuary and inn. There’s also Padubast the Mummy, he used to be part of the museum. but he just won’t stay put for some reason.”

Edgar flies off from the sign post and flies ahead. “This way, Lady Coraline!”

I follow after him, stopping when he lands on the statue of a lion that’s placed in the center of an intersection. “This is Rasoul, oldest neighbor of the Neighborhood and Bram’s first attraction.”

I step up to the lion. “But he looks brand new,” I remark with awe. I touch the smooth stone of the front paw. 

“Thank you,” the lion replies.

I jump back in shock and the stone lion steps down from the pedestal. He then stands on his two hind legs and bows before me. “It’s finally nice to put a face to the name.”

I sare in shock. I know I am a living Doll, but I had never seen a living statue before. “Oh, wow,” I can’t help but gape.

“He isn’t so special here,” Edgar scoffs. “We have other living statues with us, including an original Erotes.”

Rasoul scoffs. “Yes, but can Anteros claim they once belonged to Cleopatra? Or can they even remember the Hanging Gardens?”

“Just shut up, you old man,” Edgar scoffs.

“Or what, you’ll shit on me?” Rasoul shoos Edgar away and he offers me his arm. “Bram is right around the corner.”

Edgar perches on my shoulder again. “Bram resides in the original haunted house.” His feathers fluff and he shivers. “The only attraction we had before Bram merged with the Children of the Night Carnival.”

The house isn’t as grand as I expected it to be. It’s rather small and slim, with a wide, round porch at the front. It slopes to the left, leaning diagonally on its foundation. The front door opens and Bram steps out. He is wearing all red and gold, two colors I had never seen him in before.

“You’ve made it!” He comes down onto the stairs, taking my hand from Rasoul. “Did you enjoy the first part of your tour?”

“It was interesting,” I reply.

Edgar flies off my shoulder and perches on the porch.

“Then come inside and rest before we finish it,” Bram says. “I made a special tea just for you.” His gloves are golden and fit much tighter than his other gloves. His fingers were always long and thin, but now they seemed quite bony. 

“I have wanted to have you over for so long.” Bram says as he closes the door. “This is quite the treat for me.”

The walls are dark red and black picture frames hang everywhere, but are strikingly empty. The next room has a small fireplace and dark furniture, all of it mismatched and different. Bram has me sit down there and pulls up a cart with tea ready on it. He pours a cup and offers it to me.

“So far, what do you think of my Neighborhood?” He sits down across from me and crosses his long legs.

“It’s not what I imagined,” I confess. 

Bram tilts his head to the side. “And what did you imagine?” He asks me. “Some sort of hokey pokey operation?”

I look down at my tea and remain quiet.

“I try to go for authenticity and less Halloween aisle at the grocery store.” Bram smiles at me. “This is all made with love, very much like the rest of the Carnival. It is home to many good souls, just like you. Ones that were lost and had no place in this world.”

I fidget with the tea cup. “I was found in a coffin in the basement of a morgue,” I confess. “Mr. Faire took me in, no questions asked.”

Bram’s mouth is open wide. “You have such a backstory and you have never told me this before!” He slams down his teacup. “That is it, Button Eyes ! I am finally angry with you.”

I stare up at him as he rises from his chair. 

“You were found in a COFFIN in the basement of a MORGUE? Yet you keep me at arm's length? You’ve never been to the Neighborhood until now? I am offended! You have hid so much from me!”

“It isn’t something I like to talk about!” I snap.

Bram kneels down before me. “I have always known you were perfect. I have always sensed you belonged here. Why do you keep trying to avoid it?”

“I don’t want to be scared! I hate being afraid!” I blurt out. “I was locked in a coffin for so long! I heard so many horrible things and I just-” I cover my face with my hands.

“Button Eyes ,” Bram whispers to me. “That is not the kind of horror we serve here.” He takes hold of my wrists. “This is a fun place and even if we terrify and spook, it will be safe. We do not torture and torment. And certainly we do not scare our own kind here.”

I lower my hands and look up at him. “But-” I whimper.

“I would never lock you away,” Bram whispers to me. “Because you belong out and about, showing the world your beauty. I do not know who dared to keep you locked away and hidden, but I would scratch their eyes out.”

I smile softly. “You’re just saying that.”

“I mean it,” Bram snarls. “For years I have been trying to get you to even notice I exist, Button Eyes . And all this time, I just had to reassure you.” He squeezes my hands tight, but it feels nice. “We do not deliver real horrors here. Those are saved for the world beyond this carnival. We serve scares here meant to distract from the anxiety and decay of reality. Children come here, for goodness’ sake!” He laughs. “Whatever fears you have, they don’t belong here.”

I sniffle and hang my head. “I’m sorry.”

Bram kisses my forehead. “I promised you a music box,” he whispers. “Do you want to see it?”

I nod and keep hold of his hand. He leads me from his house and takes me through a garden. In the back, surrounded by a curtain of ivy, I see my music box. Shimmering light falls upon it and music starts to play.

“It’ll rise from the ground as the music starts, then once the lid opens, you’ll be there dancing.” Bram goes over to it, mimicking dancing but is horrible at it. “You’ll dance out into the crowd of people, see.” He does his horrible dancing and I can’t help but giggle. 

“You’ll distract them,” he spins around me. “You’ll keep their eyes locked, their attentions focused because you’re a haunting beauty. Your dance is morose and elegant. Then, when they least suspect it, a creature comes from the music box and steals you away.” He grabs me up and spins me around and around.

“Bram! Wait! Careful!” I squeal as he spins me faster and faster.

“The horrible monster is taking you as his bride!” Bram announces loudly. “It rips you away, terrifying the viewers and making them run away!” He lowers me down and I keep my hands on his shoulders. 

“What do you think?” He grins.

“Who would the monster be?” My voice is soft and quiet.

Bram chuckles and takes off his hat, his hair going with it. From his mouth up, his head is a hollow strange shaped skull. Gold coins hang suspended in his eye sockets. He smiles at me as he removes his gloves, showing tight gray skin clinging to bone. He then unbuttons his shirt, revealing to me an empty rib cage. Within the rib cage, there is a patchwork heart hanging. It looks roughly made and sewn poorly, as some stuffing is sticking out. 

I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand. “Oh my,” I whisper. I look up into the gold coins of his eyes then brush my fingers along his jaw. “Bram, you-”

“I was never finished,” Bram murmurs to me as he catches my hand. “I am incomplete, which is why I always look so much at you, Button Eyes .” He takes my hand with his bare one. “I will be the monster, if that isn’t so obvious. If you will be my bride.”

I touch his face, running my fingers along his jaw and then up onto the porcelain of his skull. “You’re a Doll too,” I whisper in awe.

“That I am,” he chuckles. “Did you not know that?”

I shake my head. “Not at all! I had no idea what you were.”

“Oh, Button Eyes ,” Bram laughs as he places his gloves back on. “I am not a fan of how I look, so I cover myself up as much as possible. Mr. Faire gave me this wig. He tried to give me more, but I am not a primadonna like he is.” He slips the wig and his top hat back on. “But I can at least use my visage for this.” He extends his long arm out. “I started the haunted house, hoping to hide myself from the world and yet still share myself with it.” He buttons up his shirt. “Like you, I didn’t want to be hidden from the world.” 

“You’re not-” I hesitate for a moment. “I mean, you’re not so ugly you need to hide.”

Bram’s lips part slightly. “What do you mean?”

I brush the bangs from his face, looking at the coins in his hollow sockets. “In your own way, you too have a haunting beauty.”

Bram’s smile grows. “Why, Button Eyes ! Are you paying me a compliment?”

“Don’t ruin it,” I grumble. I take the pin from my hair and pin his bangs back. “I mean, I’ll try being the bride,” I sigh. “Just for a trial run to see if I like it here or not.”

“I am so happy!” Bram picks me up again and spins me around. He then sets me down on the lid of the music box. “I will make sure you never want to leave the Neighborhood! You will fall in love with this place and the people within it. I promise you that.”

I wasn’t quite ready to admit how charmed I had become by the Neighborhood and the people I had already met there. I also was far from prepared to admit that my first impression of Bram was wrong. In time, I would come to realize how wrong I was about the Neighborhood of Nightmares and my assumptions of Bram. I played the bride for a long time, but my role changed eventually. I stopped being a bride, and I soon became a wife.