Madalen didn't stay longer; surely they all seemed absolutely crazy. She ran off the stage, heading to the amusement park entrance with the double-barred gate. It was closed. She pulled so hard, she thought she would dislocate her arms. But the gate wouldn't open. She panicked. She was trapped inside the amusement park with seven crazy clowns! There was nobody around. She would have to wait until the next day when the gate would be opened for the world to enter... But who was to tell her that they wouldn't force her there? She didn't know what to do.

Madalen sat in front of the gate with her head bowed, muttering curses.

"It won't open, no matter how long you wait," Jio said, snapping her out of her thoughts. Madalen jumped as soon as she heard his voice.

"It will open in the morning. People have to come, don't they?"

"Yes…" he took a moment to answer as if he was thinking about it. "But even if it opens, you won't leave."

"You can't keep me here by force!" she complained. Jio started to leave, then turned his face to answer her.

"Did you see anyone holding you?" he flashed a sarcastic smile.

"You know what I mean!"

"You are tired. I suggest you come to sleep and in the morning worry about your escape."

"No thanks, I'd rather wait until dawn!"

"As you wish," he said, leaving without further ado.

What the hell had happened? What did all this mean? Why her? Her thoughts tormented her. She couldn't understand how on earth she had gotten herself into this situation. She had a bad feeling it was going to get even worse tomorrow. She didn't know why, but Jio seemed certain that she wouldn't be able to get away. However, he did not force her, nor did he chain her, which seemed strange to her. If the gate opened, what would stop her? Maybe she was overthinking it...

The night seemed endless to her, and of course, she couldn't sleep, nor did she want to. She looked at the sky but saw no stars. It was covered by a veil of gray clouds, but it looked like fog. Little by little, the sunlight came out and the fog disappeared. All she could see were thick, gray clouds hiding the sun. And yet, something seemed unfamiliar; as if there really wasn't a sun, as if the light was coming from somewhere indeterminate. It was strange, but maybe not as much as what had happened to her so far. The invisible sun was the least of her worries. When night turned to day and she could see without a trace of darkness, she got up and stood at the gate waiting for it to open. That's when she saw Jio coming.

"It won't open yet," he said briskly.

"And when will it open?"

"Depending on our moods. We may welcome people in the morning, at noon, in the evening, or throughout the day."

"And what does it depend on?"

"I've told you, on our mood."

"Are you in the mood today?"

He smiled at her. "Yes and no."

"What does that mean?"

"Are you so sure you're going to leave?"

"Yes!"

"Okay then, listen to what we're going to do. I will organize a show for you as a welcome, and after the show, you can, if you want, leave."

"Do you think the show will change my mind?"

"Who knows?"

"Can't you just open the gate now, and I can come another day?"

Jio laughed. "You're funny, but no, it's not possible."

"Can you at least give me my cell phone?"

"Trust me, where you are, you don't need it."

"I have to call my brother and my parents. They will be worried sick."

She had been very worried about her brother, but she believed that the police or her parents would have found him and he would have gone home. Now everyone would be anxiously looking for her.

"You don't have to worry, trust me."

"How can you say that? You have kidnapped me! Don't tell me you brought my brother here too?" she froze in place. "If you did anything to him, I will…"

"Madalen, calm down. Only you are here. Your brother is fine, I guarantee it." He paused. "And I didn't kidnap you, you followed me," he said with a wry smile. She was seething inside, but said nothing else. She sighed and followed him into the circus.

"Well guys, we have a show today," Jio said to everyone. Everyone celebrated.

"Finally some action! I was bored for so many days because you weren't in the mood," Green complained.

"Not that kind of show, we wouldn't want to scare our guest," Jio said, gesturing to them. Everyone seemed disappointed. Madalen didn't understand what he meant. "We'll open in the evening," he continued.

"What? The evening?" Madalen complained.

"Yes, that's the time," said Purple.

Did she have another choice?

"Get ready while Madalen rests in her room," Jio said.

"My room?" she asked.

He smiled at her and told her to follow him. They entered the Box of Madness. She saw the rooms with the colored doors again.

"This is where the troupe rests," he said, but Madalen already knew that. "My room is the last one, at the end of the corridor with the white door."

Next to Jio's room was a brown door, which she hadn't seen before. It was as if another room had appeared out of nowhere. They moved towards it.

"This is your room. I made it especially for you," he said, opening the brown door and motioning for her to enter. When did he catch up and make it? she wondered.

Madalen entered hesitantly. It was a large room with a door to the left that looked like the bathroom. It had no other doors or windows. It was just a large space decorated like a checkerboard, as were all the rooms and corridors. The color of the tiles was a much lighter brown than the door. They didn't look out of place. In the middle of the room was a huge double bed with transparent, sugar curtains and next to it a nightstand. Left and right on the walls were wardrobes and a mirror.

"It's a little tight, but if you want us to add anything else, you can tell me," Jio said.

"Why did you make a room?"

"I'm a good host," he winked at her. "You can rest until the show starts."

Madalen didn't speak. Jio left and she was alone in the strange room, decorated like a chessboard.

She lay suspiciously on the bed after checking it to see if it was safe. The mattress was soft and did sink in, but not too much. She lay down, looking at the ceiling. She wasn't sleepy at all with the tension she felt. But her body definitely wanted to relax. She couldn't sleep until she left that place…