She didn’t waste any time; she searched the entire amusement park for something she could use to cut the wires. She managed to find a pair of pliers, stealing them from a booth. She didn’t know how they got there, but she didn’t care. She searched around the amusement park, looking for a place with something tall enough for her to climb and cut the wires to jump over the fence. Then, to her good fortune, she saw a truck with balloons parked near the fence. She climbed on it and used the pliers to cut the sharp wires.

Then she heard a loud bark. A Doberman ran at her furiously, but fortunately, it couldn’t climb onto the truck, so it couldn’t reach her.

   “Shut up, you stupid dog!”

The dog kept barking incessantly. With all this noise, someone would surely hear her. She didn’t waste any time; she took a running start and jumped over the fence. She landed on her feet. The impact was so painful that one of her ankles twisted. But she didn’t care. Limping, she began to move away from the terrifying amusement park and the circus’s insane troupe.

    As she walked, a thick fog covered her surroundings. The air was suffocating. Out of nowhere, she felt something pulling her back. A hand held her tightly by the arm, and then she heard a voice:

“Stop!”

It was Jio. She didn’t know how, but he had found her and stopped her.

“No, let me go!” she screamed.

“Look ahead!”

Madalen looked… The fog had begun to clear, and then she saw something that took her breath away and made her heart stop. Beneath her feet was an endless, deep chasm. She couldn’t see what was at the bottom; it was so dark and foggy that nothing was visible.

“This can’t be!” Her eyes widened in terror.

“If you don’t want to die, it’s best to follow the rules from now on.”

“Why? How?”

It was as if she hadn’t heard his words, asking herself in confusion. Everywhere she looked, there was a chasm. There didn’t seem to be a bridge or anything to cross it, nor could she see what was on the other side—if there even was another side.

She slipped from Jio’s grip and started to leave hurriedly.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To the other side! There must be a way out!”

Jio sighed.

“Don’t you get it yet?”

“Get what?”

“That you can’t leave…”

“No, I will leave! I’ll go to the other side and…”

“And what? Jump into the chasm?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at him in terror.

“Yes, we are surrounded by a chasm. We are in the middle of it, if you haven’t realized it yet.”

“No, impossible!”

“Yes, indeed.” Jio remained as calm as ever.

“And all those people who come to the amusement park?”

“They are here for the show,” he replied with a sigh.

“I don’t understand!” Her expression was so bewildered that Jio couldn’t help but enjoy it.

“And the policemen?”

“Yes, them too.”

“And where do they live?”

Jio looked puzzled but didn’t answer.

“Come with me, you’re safer with me,” he finally said.

“Yeah, right,” she said sarcastically.

Jio sighed.

“Look, I know you don’t understand any of this, but I’m a friend…” He paused as if considering his words. Madalen made a disapproving face. “I know it’s hard for you to believe, but for now, I’m your only option.”

And with those words, he pulled her along. She reluctantly followed him.

    They reached the gate, which was unexpectedly open. At the entrance, the Doberman was waiting. As soon as it saw Jio, it wagged its short, cropped tail happily. As they entered, the gate closed behind them. Jio petted it.

“Good boy,” he said.

Limping, Madalen followed Jio and his dog back into the box of madness. They arrived in front of his bedroom.

   It was a huge room, bigger than hers. Inside, it had a sitting area, a bed, and a bathroom, while the walls were decorated with various trinkets and crystals. The wall across from her had curtains, giving the illusion of a window or balcony behind it. But Madalen knew that if she opened the curtains, she would see nothing of the kind, just a blank wall.

On the walls to the right and left were portraits, but not with calm images. Although in color, they exuded a sense of paranoia and madness. The people or animals depicted looked like demons, their faces distorted and terrifying. Humpty Dumpty's portrait made her shudder more than anything. On the right wall, in the corner next to the purple curtains, was a huge double bed with equally purple velvet sheer curtains adorning it. Next to the bed was the sitting area. A red velvet sofa, like the seats of the circus, and two old-fashioned velvet chairs and an armchair of the same style. Below was a carpet with strange symbols on it. In the middle was a wooden table carved with designs of plants and flowers. On it was a vase of dried roses and a teapot with teacups designed with geishas. On the opposite left wall, next to some frames, were wardrobes, a bookcase, and a large full-length mirror. The whole decor looked a bit like a dollhouse.

"Sit down," he told her. She reluctantly sat on the red velvet sofa across from Jio, who was already sitting in the red armchair. "Do you want tea?" he asked as he poured himself a cup. The dog sat comfortably at his feet.

"No thanks," she replied curtly.

"This is Iron. He's very protective," he said, petting it.

"I noticed," she commented.

"He'll watch over you from here on out."

"No need," she said sharply.

Without speaking, Jio got up and headed to a white door in the room, next to the bookcase, which was probably the bathroom. He went inside and came back out holding a first aid kit.

He bent down and took off her shoe. She didn’t move, looking at him strangely. He applied ointment to her sprained ankle and bandaged her leg.

Without saying anything, he put the kit back in its place and sat across from her in the armchair, drinking his tea.

Madalen sat confused, not knowing what to say.

"Why did you help me?" she finally asked.

He looked at her, fixing his hawk-like gaze on hers.

"Let's just say I want you alive."

“Why me in particular, while you kill everyone else? And why do you kill people? For fun? And why..."

"We exist?" he interrupted her. "No matter how hard you try to get answers, it's not going to happen. None will satisfy you."

"I want to understand!"

"Yes, I know. But you can't."

"Don't underestimate me!" she said tensely.

Jio laughed.

"I'm not underestimating you, but you're not in a position to understand yet."

"So you won't kill me?"

"No, I need you."

"Why?"

"That's all you need to know."

Madalen couldn't understand him. What did he want from her? Why was she there?

"Of course, I can't guarantee your safety forever..."

"I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place," she commented, interrupting him.

"Yes, exactly. The decision is yours on what to do from here on. Besides, you can't leave."

"I don't think I have much choice," she quipped in her embarrassment. She finally decided to go along with it, after Jio had reassured her that he didn’t want to kill her—at least not yet—like those unfortunate people at the circus. So she felt a little safer, but not that she trusted him. If she had to play their game to live and get out of that awful place, then she would.

She sighed deeply.

"Okay then," Jio said, "it's decided, you're staying with us," he smiled at her strangely.

   Feeling that there was nothing more to say to Jio, Madalen went to the room he had made for her to rest and think. She lay down on the double bed with the sheer curtains and closed her eyes, wishing that when she opened them, all this would be a bad dream. But when she opened them after a while, she saw the harsh reality. She was still there, trapped with all these crazy people.

At that moment, she felt a strong sense of regret. She missed her family. Was her brother okay? Were her parents looking for her? But there was no point in thinking about that. She was sure that even if they looked for her, they would not find her in this strange place. She was alone.

She got up; she couldn't sleep.

Since I can't leave here, at least let's explore the place…