“Come one come all! Make sure to stock up on the snackies, this show’s about to be a good one folks!” the peculiar man conducted the crowd’s attention through the venue entrance. As the line to the ticket booth dwindled, and the food trucks’ stock was running scarce, stampedes of people piled inside the tent.

Music hummed in the background, hiding beneath the murmurs of conversation, growing in volume, everyone settling, voices hushed.

“Welcome!” the peculiar man now stood on a podium in the center of the circular arena, spinning as he spoke to direct the attention of the masses surrounding him. “Thank you all for coming tonight to our show! We have been working very hard to perfect this performance for you tonight, and we hope our skills are to your satisfaction!” he chuckled to himself, the tone almost malicious.

The lights flickered out the moment the ringleader fell silent, only for the tent to be filled by what seemed to be the squeak of improperly greased wheels, an odd honking, and an array of giggles and chuckles.

As the music accompanying this “performance” began to drown out noise of the vulgar scene which followed, a single earsplitting shriek rung out into the dark night surrounding the chaos that ensued.