Paula took a deep breath as she processed his deceptive account of what had happened in the basement. Her body calmed, and she glared into his eyes. A devious smirk replaced the anger and humiliation in her face. Dave looked at her expectantly, waiting for a verbal response that didn’t come.
“So, I still need to get the sodas and ice,” he said as he took one step up and waited for her to move aside so he could pass. She didn’t flinch but instead looked down at the man she married, micro-nods of her head expressing agreement with unspoken thoughts.
“Do you mind?” he said, waiting for her to move.
She exhaled, and then smiled back at him. “Forget about that. Go out there and…entertain everyone. I’ll get the drinks and ice,” she said.
Dave shrugged. “Are you sure? It’ll take a couple of trips.”
“Go,” she replied. She waved him off and turned toward the back door. The mothers watched her like a herd of deer caught in the headlights. Without slowing down, Paula looked at them as she opened the door. “I’m married to an idiot,” she mumbled, loud enough for them to hear. The door closed behind her and the mothers relaxed, breaking out in restrained laughter.
Seconds later, one of the children yelled out, “Hey, look, Chester peed his pants!” Instantly, every child instinctively pointed at Dave and screamed out in laughter, each one trying to be louder than the rest. Looking like a little boy holding back his urge to pee, Dave cupped himself with both hands and rushed toward the house. The moms showed no mercy, laughing full out as he rushed by sideways in a feeble attempt to mask his embarrassment.
Chapter 32
As Geno finished tying off the gag behind Joe’s head, Joe struggled to free himself from the ropes restraining his body to the metal chair. Geno found humor in his struggle.
“Try as hard as you want, pizza man. Soon you will learn as they have.” He moved in front of Joe and pointed to Dale and Ringmaster, bound and gagged in chairs beside him. “I’m an expert at restraining people.”
Geno stepped out of the large circular space, leaving the three alone. The lights dimmed. Dale, Ringmaster, and Joe looked around the room until movement in the mirrored panel opposite them drew their attention. Peepers appeared in the glass, blocking parts of their own reflections. Through his gag, Joe let out a “huh” to express his confusion.
Staring across the room, Peepers smiled, then moved his left foot through the glass to the floor of the labyrinth. The rest of his body soon followed until he was into the room with them. Again, Joe managed to express himself with a muffled but recognizable “What the hell?”
Peepers stepped into the center of the room and raised his arms, palms up. Ringmaster closed his eyes and turned his head away.
“My name is Peepers. I am master of the Guild of Fallen Clowns.” On cue, circus music filled the room as Peepers turned to face the mirrors he had just stepped through. With his hands still raised, he watched as more images appeared from the darkness of the mirrors. Within seconds the twenty-foot span of panels filled with distorted faces and colorfully clad bodies of all sizes and shapes—a virtual gathering of the creepiest-looking clowns one could imagine. Each one celebrated their gruesome leader by pumping fists, whistling, and cheering as they slapped each other’s backs, high-fived, and enthusiastically danced in place.
In the center of the frenzied apparition stood Agor and Spanky, leading the rally. Upon seeing Peepers freely moving outside the mirrors, Agor confidently jumped forward. The panel shook from the impact of his body, but the invisible shield between realms prevented his passage. Spanky understood what Agor was trying to do and decided to test his own powers against the barrier. Peepers and Agor were the only spirits watching as the others continued with their hysteria. After watching Agor’s pitiful attempt, Spanky tried a more subtle approach. He pushed his hand forward. As it reached the edge, his hand encountered little resistance. Emboldened, Spanky moved his arm through to his elbow. He smiled as he gripped his freed hand. Then, without warning, his hand and half of his arm turned to a mist and evaporated in front of him. He pulled away, but his arm didn’t return from the trip. Holding his stub at the elbow, he snarled at Peepers.
Peepers sneered back. “You two failed to complete tasks. Not worthy of movement to solid world.”
Peepers snorted and lowered his arms. His motion quieted the music and the Guild as they focused their attention forward. Peepers stood motionless with his feet and knees pressed together. His body appeared to rotate one hundred eighty degrees until he faced the three captives. Dale matched his stare with one of contempt. Joe jerked his head and raised one nostril as he mumbled an undistinguishable obscenity from behind his gag. In the middle of them sat The Ringmaster. His eyes were still closed, his head tilted down to his shoulder. Peepers grinned.
Geno re-entered the room. His right arm held objects close to his chest. He stopped and looked at Peepers. “Now, Father?” he asked. Peepers replied with a nod. Geno moved to Joe and pulled one of the Peepers figures from under his arm and placed it on Joe’s lap. Before stepping up to Ringmaster, Joe writhed his body enough to send the figure to the floor in front of him. Geno turned and started to reach for it but Peepers stopped him. “No! He cannot escape me now. Leave it.”
Geno backed away and placed the second figure on Ringmaster’s lap. Ringmaster’s closed eyes cringed from the contact.
Dale watched as Geno placed the final figure on his lap. Like Joe, he immediately began thrusting to expel it from his lap. Geno laughed and reached for the figure. “It’s already too late,” he said to Dale. He removed it from his lap and stood it on the floor in front of him. Then he leaned in to Ringmaster’s ear and whispered, “Now you will see what it’s like in here. Be careful for what you wish for. Heh heh.” He grabbed the figure from Ringmaster’s lap and placed it on the floor in front of his bound feet. He stood Joe’s figure upright, like the others, and moved to the side.
Peepers was deep in concentration as he locked eyes with Dale. “Peepers’ powers stretched with thoughts from many. The clown’s brother has secret we see clear with attachment.”
“What is it? What’s he hiding? Do you want me to beat it out of him?” Geno said. His hand tightened to a fist and he started toward Dale.
“No!” Peepers shouted. Geno stopped. “His vehicle draws attention. Take keys and move from grounds.”
Geno reached into Dale’s pocket and yanked out his keys. “I’ll take care of it, Father,” Geno said. He shook the keys and disappeared behind a panel leading to the rear exit.
*****
Lyle looked like a human yo-yo as he tried to keep pace with Alan’s speed walk through the parking lot. He took short sprints before falling behind and sprinting again. Catching up for the fifth time, he took a few extra steps ahead to give him time to ask a question before Alan could outpace him a sixth time. “Hey, when we see Dale, can you do me a favor and don’t call me Stinky?”
Alan chuckled and continued his pace. “That really bothers you, doesn’t it?”
Lyle started into a jog to stay with him. “It’s just that Dale’s a cop. Our shop does a lot of work for the department and I don’t want it to spread.”
“Imagine how it feels to be called Booger,” Alan replied.
“Yeah, good point,” Lyle confessed. “Tell you what, I won’t call you Booger anymore if you keep a lid on the Stinky thing.”
“And if I don’t?” Alan said. They reached the gate and Alan slowed his pace. Lyle tried to catch his breath as he responded. “You got me, Boogy. I still won’t call you that word, even if you call me Stinky.”
“Well played, my friend. But this just means we have to come up with a new name for you.” Lyle agreed when Alan pointed to the ticket booth. “There’s Cracky. Let’s ask him if he saw Dale.”
There weren’t any customers at the booth when Alan and Lyle stepped up and caught Cracky by surprise. His head was turned away to exhale cigarette smoke through a crack in the side door.
<
br /> “Holy bejesus, Boogy! Don’t do dat to me. I almost dropped a log in my trousers.”
Lyle cracked a smile and chuckled under his breath.
“Sorry, Cracky. Didn’t mean to surprise you like that—”
“I’m already on round two with da undershorts, and dis is my last pair.”
“Right, I’m sorry about that—”
“Round two?” Lyle asked.
“Yeah, flip um inside out and you go twice as long before having to wash um,” Cracky said. “Who’s your friend, Boog? And why you all dressed as clowns?”
“I’m in a hurry, Cracky—” Before he could finish, Lyle reached his hand out. “My name is…Popsicle. Popsicle the clown.” Cracky shook his hand.
Alan looked back. “Really? That’s what you picked?”
Lyle shrugged. “I had to think fast and I saw those kids over there eating popsicles. I choked.”
Alan returned his focus to Cracky, but before he could speak, Cracky jumped in.
“Yeah, I get it. You’re one of dose bomb-pops wid da red, white, and blue all over your face. Just like da red, white, and blue popsicles. Dat’s clever, pal. I like it.”
Lyle gave Alan a smug grin. Alan shook the entire conversation from his head and boldly inserted himself into the exchange.
“Cracky! I don’t have time to explain. I need your help. I’m looking for my brother, Dale, the cop. Did you see him come in here—maybe an hour or so ago?”
Cracky thought for a few seconds. “No, I didn’t see no cops today. I woulda noticed dat. I’ve been in dis booth for at least two hours.”
“He’s got to be here. Is it possible you might have missed seeing him? Maybe you were smoking and he could have slipped by without you noticing him?” Alan said.
“I suppose it’s possible, Boog, but what’s going on here? You look like you just saw a ghost or somethin’. Is everythin’ okay?”
“Maybe he changed his clothes. Of course, he must have changed so he could wait for me without drawing attention to himself,” Alan thought out loud.
“Boog, what is it?” Cracky said.
“Dale’s in trouble. Geno must have done something to get him inside the Labyrinth. Peepers is going to kill him. I’m sorry, Cracky, I have to help Dale. I hope it’s not too late.”
Cracky grabbed Alan’s forearm before he could take off running. “I don’t get all what you’re sayin’, but I’m not lettin’ you go up against Geno widout me. He’s a bad apple just like his old man. Now, I’m gonna let you go, but you gotta wait for me to get out of dis booth.”
“Okay, but hurry up.”
Cracky released his arm and exited the booth.
“Okay, let’s think about this,” Alan said. They walked at a quickened pace. “Wait,” Alan said as he stopped. Cracky and Lyle also stopped and stepped back to him. “What was that you said about Geno’s father?”
“His old man? Aw, don’t worry about that psycho killer. He died a long time ago. I was just sayin’ it’s possible Geno’s apples come from da same apple tree as his daddy.”
“Was his fathers name—Peepers?” Alan said.
“Peepers? No, I don’t remember exactly. I was just a kid when it all happened. I just heard da stories. I think he had one of dem old country names. He was from Europe or one of dose other countries where everyone drinks all the time.”
“Was he a clown?” Alan said.
“No, he ran da Labyrinth before Geno took over. Oh, wait.”
“What? What? Wait, what?”
“There was somethin’ ’bout a clown. Yeah, dat’s right.”
“What? What about a clown, Cracky?” Alan begged.
“They called him—Da Happy Clown Killer. Dat’s right, I knew he killed a bunch of people, but I almost forgot what his serial killer name was. Probably ’cause he didn’t dress like a clown when he killed people. It don’t make sense, does it?”
“Then why did they call him that?” Alan said.
Cracky thought hard. Then he looked back at Alan and shrugged. “Beats me. Like I said, it was a long time ago. I was maybe ten at da time, living wit my mother. Why you asking all dese questions anyway?”
Ignoring Cracky, Alan started walking again. They followed. “It must be him. Geno isn’t being forced to do anything. He’s helping his father. Peepers is Geno’s father.”
Outside the Labyrinth, Alan stopped and walked in circles, looking for his brother. Cracky and Lyle caught up and joined in the visual search.
“I don’t see him,” Lyle said.
“Me neither,” Cracky added.
“This isn’t good, guys,” Alan said, his focus moved to the Labyrinth. “Dale must have gone in without me. Damn it!”
Lyle turned toward the building. “Let’s go!”
“No, wait, Lyle.” Alan grabbed his shoulder. “This is my problem. It’s too dangerous. I can’t let you guys go in there with me. Call the police and wait for them out here.”
Frustrated, Lyle jerked his shoulder out from under Alan’s hand. From behind, Cracky placed his own hand on Alan’s shoulder. “No way, Boog. Da cops will take too long and Geno’s smarter den he looks. He’s got home field advantage in dat building. You need backup support. Now what’s da plan?”
“The big guy’s right, Boogy. You need us,” Lyle said.
Alan knew he wouldn’t succeed in changing their minds. It also occurred to him that he didn’t have a plan. “The plan?”
Lyle pulled his Poppy figure out of the oversized clown suit pocket. “We gonna use these again?” he asked.
Cracky’s eyebrow rose as he looked at the figure. “What’s dat for? You gonna whopp Geno over da noggin wid it?”
Lyle began to explain when Alan cut him off. “Look—I don’t have a plan. I mean, I had one, but that was before Dale went missing.” Alan glanced at the figure in Lyle’s hand. “Put it away,” he instructed. Lyle shoved it back into his pocket.
“So what was da plan? Maybe we can make some improvisations,” Cracky said.
“Well, the plan was to destroy the molds so Peepers couldn’t leave the Labyrinth and kill more people.”
Cracky jumped back. “Whoa, you lost me pal. I thought dis was about Geno. What’s all dis talk about molds and murderin’ people? And who da hell is dis Peepers character?”
Alan shook his head. “Please, Cracky. Even if I did have the five or six hours it would take to explain it all to you, you still wouldn’t believe any of it. Just trust me, you don’t know what we’re dealing with. It’s too dangerous, and you might be able to help more by clearing the area and calling the police.”
Lyle jumped between the two, facing Cracky. “We’re dealing with evil clown spirits. I’m not sure who Peepers is, but Boogy’s telling the truth. I’ve seen them with my own eyes.” Again, he pulled out his Poppy figure and showed it in front of Cracky. “This is one of them—but this one isn’t evil. It comes to life as my father and kicks ass against the evil ones.” He turned to Alan and continued. “Alan has one too. His father is a giant. Show him, Alan.”
Alan sighed. “Wow, it sounds so much worse than I thought,” he grumbled. He nudged Lyle to the side and stepped closer to Cracky and whispered, “See what I mean, Cracky? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I believe this Peepers guy is the spirit of Geno’s long-dead father, the serial killer. We’re obviously two very sick and potentially dangerous people. If nothing else, you might want to call the cops so they can haul us away to the loony bin. We’ll be in there.” He pointed to the Labyrinth. “Make sure they send the entire force because it’s not just the two of us.” He pulled the Poppy from his pocket and waved it in front of Cracky. There’s four of us. Oh, wait.” He reached into his other pocket and pulled out another. “Five, there’s five of us crazies.” Lyle looked surprised to see a third Poppy.
Unfazed, Cracky attempted to calm Alan by lowering his arms with the figures. “Boogy! Keep it down. Dey might hear you,” he said in a low tone as he scanned the area
.
“I know. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You don’t want us around your customers. We’ll scare them all away. Think of the children, Cracky. Think of the children,” he pleaded.
“No!” Cracky gritted his teeth. “Dose spirits. We don’t want to tip dem off.”
Complete shock came over Alan’s face. “What? You can’t be serious. You believe us?”
Cracky nodded. “Yeah, I know people, and you are an honest person. I know you ain’t crazy because I’ve seen more den my share of para-abnormal shit happenin’ in dis place over da years. I ain’t never seen no ghosts of clowns. Dat’s a new one, but I got some stories of my own dat would make your head spin. As a matta of fact, one night, I saw a ghost walking away when its head did actually spin full circle. So stop with da crazy talk and let’s figure out how we gonna free your brother.”
“Full circle?” Lyle repeated. Cracky nodded.
“Okay, but now we have two objectives,” Alan said. “Assuming Dale is in there, and still alive, we need to get him out. The other thing is, I still need to destroy the molds.” Realizing the fact that neither Cracky nor Lyle had any background of the relationship between the molds and recent deaths, Alan took a few seconds to brief them. “If the molds aren’t destroyed, Geno or someone else can make an unlimited number of duplicates. The figures of Peepers allow him to go beyond the walls of the Labyrinth, where he can kill hundreds, possibly thousands, of people. I might not get another shot at this, so the molds have to be destroyed.”
“I can find your brother,” Cracky said.
“I think you should both find Dale,” Alan said. “I’ll look for the molds.” He pulled the third Poppy from his pocket and held it out to Cracky. “If your father looked anything like you, this will come in handy.”
“I don’t look anythin’ like my father. I’m puny compared to him. He was da strong man in da freak show.” Both Alan and Lyle smiled, but Cracky didn’t take the figure.
“Go on, take it. I brought it for Dale, but I don’t think it would have worked for him because he barely remembers our father. You’ll need it.” Alan held it out further. Cracky raised his hands and stepped back.