Author's Note:Thank you all for reading and supporting this story.
I previously worked as an illustrator, but at the moment I don't have enough time to both draw and write. With the help of a few friends, I've created images to visually accompany certain chapters.
https://bit.ly/45aFmECI hope these illustrations enhance your experience.:
You can find my Facebook page linked below, where I'll share updates whenever new chapters are published.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Their determination lasted… exactly as long as it took for the first roller coaster to start moving.
"Wuaaah…" Evelin groaned, slumped over a nearby bench, discreetly vomiting the remains of fair food into a small plastic bag.
Urano patted her back while glancing into the distance, where Mitch laughed uncontrollably on the spinning teacups, hugging the cursed clown as if nothing in the world was wrong.
That was the moment Urano asked himself, with full sincerity:
How the hell did we end up like this?
A Few Hours Earlier
When they arrived at the fair, the plan was clear.
The idea was simple: let Mitch have fun, lower his guard, and at the right moment guide him to a ride where personal items weren't allowed. Then Evelin would offer the wooden box to "store" CUCU—making the boy himself seal the doll.
Simple.Clean.Consistent with the story.
So they began their fair adventure.
They bought everything—popcorn, hot dogs, chilaquiles, juices, sodas. They started with a small kiddie roller coaster, then bumper cars.
For a brief moment, Urano and Evelin almost forgot everything was part of a strategy…
Until they saw the clown sitting in the passenger seat of Mitch's bumper car, "watching" them from the dented metal frame.
After that, forgetting the objective was impossible.
The afternoon passed between games and prizes. Evelin won Mitch a stuffed monkey at the can-throw booth. Urano got another plush at the Guess the Weight stand.
All of it for Mitch.
The boy was overflowing with happiness.
It was time.
"You really like that plushie, don't you?" Evelin asked casually.
"Yeees!" Mitch replied, hugging the clown tightly. "Ever since I got him, good things keep happening. I don't feel lonely anymore… and I even fixed things with my brother. He's a lucky toy!"
Urano swallowed hard.
A lucky toy.
Mitch's innocent happiness hit him like a weight in his chest.
"Mitch," Urano said carefully, "I know you love him, but we want to go on the new rides—and some of them won't let you get on if you're holding things. We'll need to store him somewhere safe, okay?"
"I don't want to…" Mitch pouted. "He's one of my best friends. And it's dark and ugly in there."
Evelin stepped forward.
"Don't worry. I brought something special," she said, pulling out a finely carved wooden box. "This will be his new home."
At that instant, the clown shuddered.
Its button eyes gleamed with a dark essence—as if it understood what was happening… and hated it.
Only Urano and Evelin noticed.
"But… what if he gets lonely?" Mitch asked, staring at the box.
"He won't be alone," Evelin replied gently. "We can put this one in with him too." She pointed to the plush she had won earlier. "A friend for your friend. Only while we ride. We should make the most of the day, right?"
Mitch hesitated.
He hugged the clown one last time.
Then, breathing deeply, he placed CUCU inside the box.
After that, he added the second plush.
Just before Mitch looked away, Urano and Evelin saw the clown slowly turn its head inside the box—staring straight at them.
A cold shiver ran down their spines.
The lid closed.
Clack.
The latch snapped shut.
It was done.
The seal was complete.
They waited.
Seconds passed.Then minutes.
No system message.No warnings.No narrative correction.
Nothing.
Urano and Evelin exhaled in relief.
Of course, they wanted to destroy the doll immediately—burn it, bury it, throw it into the sea.
But forcing Mitch to discard it would count as a major narrative break. The system would respond.
And CUCU would return.
Maybe worse.
It was safer to leave it sealed.
Forgotten.
Without looking back.
Urano and Evelin split up to enjoy what remained of the day—one buying snacks, the other getting tickets for more rides.
Meanwhile, Mitch carried the box to the bag storage counter.
A man with a calm smile greeted him.
"Want to leave that here, champ?" he asked. "I'll keep it safe."
Mitch hesitated.
Then he opened the latch just a little—barely a crack.
"Just a bit…" he whispered. "So he can breathe."
Satisfied, he closed the box again and handed it over.
What he didn't see was what happened next.
As the man lifted the box toward the storage shelf, one of the latches trembled.
From inside, a small cloth hand slipped out…
and began pushing, millimeter by millimeter, against the remaining lock.