Carnival of Souls

By Jazan Wild

Author, Jazan Wild, hands you a 320 page ticket that takes you back centuries ago to climb aboard the first ever Ferris Wheel. Fasten yourself into the first ever rollercoaster, as you ride through time and help Jexter The Clown, collect the oddest of oddities, the most freakish of freaks, and the grandest performers ever to perform under the big-top! This dark caravan of misfits needs just one thing to complete the show fantastical... YOU!

Enter the Carnival!

Carnival of Souls ® is a Registered Trademark.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CARNIVAL COMICS
• Release date: Apr 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781627768207

Jazan Wild

Jazan Wild is a bestselling author and musician whose Carnival of Souls, Atomic Dreams, Chimes in the Tree, Dandy and Funhouse Of Horrors series are international hits that have been downloaded millions of times around the globe, even gracing Entertainment Weekly's Must List!

Book preview

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Carnival of Souls

A Novel

Created and Written

by Jazan Wild

Editing by Stefan Petrucha

Some Dialogue and Scripting is

from the Carnival of Souls Comic Book

and Graphic Novel Series

Comic Book Series

Created and Written by Jazan Wild

Comic Book Series Scripting by Jazan Wild

and Stefan Petrucha

Novel Cover Art by

Kevin Conrad and Clayton Crain

Chapter Art by

Kevin Conrad and Rudy Vasquez

Text copyright © 2005 and © 2006 Carnival of Souls Comic Book Series and

Text copyright © 2012 Carnival of Souls (The Novel)

Carnival of Souls is a registered Trademark by Jazan Wild / Carnival Comics and Carnival Books. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. 

For information regarding permission, email: 

[e-mail]

Contents

Chapter One

The Riddle of the Skull

Chapter Two

The Clown

Chapter Three

The Fortune Teller

Chapter Four

The Strongman

Chapter Five

The Stilt Walker

Chapter Six

The Ringmaster

Chapter Seven

The Knife Thrower

Chapter Eight

The Bearded Lady

Chapter Nine

The Witch Doctor

Chapter Ten

The Snake Charmer

Chapter Eleven

The High Wire Dazzler

Chapter Twelve

The Fat Lady and Rubberman

Chapter Thirteen

The Amazing Tigerboy

Chapter Fourteen

Raise the Curtain

Chapter Fifteen

You May Enter… You May Never Leave

Chapter Sixteen

The Bizarre

Chapter Seventeen

Home

Chapter Eighteen

The Gates Are Closed

Epilogue

The Show Must Go On

Dedication

This Angel in My Bed

Chapter01

CHAPTER ONE

THE RIDDLE OF THE SKULL

I know what you’re thinking. What’s a painted skull doing here, sitting among priceless heirlooms and relics, buried deep in a lost cave, smiling like a jackal in the midst of ancient ruins? Well come closer, boys and girls. Brush away the cobwebs and take a good look.

Am I valuable? Damn right I am. See those gold coins, those jewels, those tacky vases? Garbage. There’s nothing truly special about them. But me? Come on, come closer. Get near enough and maybe you’ll finally figure out that behind these empty sockets exists the grandest, most spectacular, most stupendous show the world has ever known!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Get it? A head? HA HA HA! I may be a skull, but I’ve still got it! You want to see the show? You do? Ho ho! Adventurous little rubes aren’t you?

You got it.

But first, a question: How do you own a skull that owns you? More a joke than a riddle, but I’ve always been a bit of a clown. Keep that in mind as the curtain slowly rises. And here we go…

Just look into where there once were eyes

Follow me if you want to see a surprise

Now watch your step and hold on tight

Hurry, ‘cause we don’t have all night

We’re running away to join… the Carnival Of Souls!

Here it is: Ancient Egypt, the Fourth Dynasty. See the winding snake wrapped round the pyramids? The first roller coaster! To your left, not yet complete, the original Ferris Wheel, from which all others will spin. Hey, it’s not just a carnival. It’s The Carnival!

Now carnivals, by nature, are of course made of dreams. So what dreamer do we have here?

Enter Sekani with hands raised high

What a jolly looking lad, one hell of a guy

A good sized belly that shakes when moved to laugh

Fun loving for sure, but don’t awaken his wrath

Brilliant red hair that escapes from under ye crown

Purple garments with skulls dancing round

For he is the one that is known to all

He is the one the crowds all call… Sekani! The Laughing God!

He emerges from the royal box in the center pyramid, waving to the masses, garish red hair, lips and nose, white skin, blue cheeks, face locked in a never-ending smile. When other rulers try to read his true emotions, they all fail miserably. For lack of a better explanation, they think him mad. Does Sekani care about their whispers? No way. He knows why he smiles. He smiles because his dreams told him to. And his dreams show him many things.

Things like…

Dancing colors and joyful sounds

Wooden and metal monsters that spin you round

Smells of sweet sugar and playful fear

Rainbow face jesters that make you laugh until you tear

Rides and games to make all smile

A Kingdom of laughter, a dream worthwhile

Yes… a Carnival!

Sekani was the very first in all the world to ever imagine such things, but it wasn’t exactly a gift. Matter of fact, a few years back, he was so full of visions, he needed to get them out of his skull quickly or he would go mad. So, his thousands of loyal subjects mounted a mighty crusade. A whole peoples joined together for one purpose to complete "The Surprise."

Night and day they toiled, they sweated, they died. And, like their god-king, they never stopped smiling. Not a one of them. Well… one didn’t smile.

Queen Masika. You can see her off to the side of the royal box, glaring. She does not get the joke.

Oh, time was when she laughed at everything Sekani said. All he had to do was a magic trick or two to get a giggle out of her. But you know how time is. Once all the work started, she grew jealous of his obsession.

At first, she only wanted his attention.

Then, she decided she wanted his power.

Now, all she wants is to wipe that damn smile off his face! Listen.

They just pretend to adore you, she whispers in her lover’s ear. But they only want your throne. Be wary my lord.

You worry too much, the god-king answers. Life is a ride. Climb aboard! Throw your hands in the air and enjoy every twist and turn!

Before she answers, he turns and glides away, down the corridor, back to his quarters in the center of the pyramid, followed by his guards. (What’s that you say? The pyramids weren’t a home, they were a tomb? I know that! Yes, Sekani lived in a funeral home. The man had style!)

With each lighthearted step he takes, the Queen grows more enraged. How dare he dismiss me so lightly.

She chases him, grabs his royal robe and spins him ‘round. You say I’m your beloved, but you show me no respect!

His smile never wavers.

"Masika, tomorrow is the unveiling. My people have spent years crafting this special gift. It must not be ruined! I command you to stop this talk now!"

Now she’s an inch from Sekani’s nose, "You command? I’ve stood by you for years as you rambled on about their ridiculous gift! Where is the gift for your faithful Queen?"

A peculiar shadow clouds the Laughing God’s eyes as he replies, Faithful, huh?

He turns to a muscular man on his right.

"Gahiji, tell me, my most trusted guard, has the Queen been faithful?"

The trusted guard stammers, Your Royal Highness, I… I… I would never…

Never what? Sekani asks.

Why ask him? the Queen interjects, a noticeable quiver in her voice.

You think I’m a fool? A joke? Sekani shouts.

The corridor grows eerily quiet, as if awaiting the punch line.

Oh yeah, right. I am.

Gahiji tries to speak, but his king puts a finger to his lips.

Shhhhh! Answer this question, prompts the king. What crawls in the desert crying for days and leaves a clown laughing for years?

When the Queen and her lover don’t answer, Sekani raises an eyebrow and asks, Neither of you know? Really? It’s you! Both of you! You’re hereby banished forever! Guards!!! Remove them from my presence and toss them to the sands.

The Queen and her lover are seized, dragged off.

No one shall ruin the surprise, the Laughing God says to their backs. No one.

Word spreads. Crowds gather to watch the banishment; the queen as hated as the Laughing God loved. Merriment echoes in the streets.

Good riddance!

Be gone!

Poisonous snake!

You won’t ruin our surprise!

Masika never could hide her disdain for them, seeing her subjects’ smiles as insolent, a mockery of her royalty. In other words, she brought everyone’s party down and it was time for her to leave.

The angry throngs take the exiles from the guards, but they don’t kill them, no, no, no. They pass them over their heads, toss them outside the city walls and pelt them with stones and rotten fruit.

I’ll wipe those smirks off your dim-witted faces! the Queen screams. A stone whacks her upside the head. Dazed, short of breath, she whispers, I am still your Queen.

 But even if they heard her, they wouldn’t care.

Covered in scrapes and bruises, the ousted woman feels a consoling hand rest softly on her own.

It will be alright, my love. I will stay right by your side. You can trust me, Gahiji says.

Rising, she pelts him with a handful of sand.

"Get away from me, you worthless vagrant! I am royalty! You wander the desert. I’m going to get my revenge!"

Poor Gahiji. Tall, dark, handsome, yes… but not enough makeup for me. You know, since I’m a skull with makeup! Ha. A hilarious skull, I might add.

She sweeps off, away from her shattered dreams. With every step, it seems as if the grains of sand beneath her feet are snickering at her fall from grace.

But she thinks, and she thinks, what would it take to wipe that smile away?

And then, upon the Queen’s lips, appears a smile of her own.

That night, a cloaked Masika makes her way back inside the walls and at that very moment a wave of dread washes over the sleeping king.

Having had a lot of practice on her midnight jaunts to see Gahiji, she knew every secret passage intimately. Luck is with her as well. Drunk from their celebrations over her departure, the guards aren’t up to par.

Did you hear something? one says.

I hope it’s those honeys from the party, a round one laughs. One more bottle, then bring the ladies! I’m looking better with every gulp!

A girl would have to drink the Nile dry to find your camel face appealing!

Masika gives them a look of disgust before moving on, slipping along like a shadow, finally stopping before a grand mural depicting the face of… you got it… the Laughing God.

She reached up, waves a hand, and mutters an enchantment. The mural slides open, revealing a long winding staircase that leads toward the royal bedroom.

The curtains surrounding Sekani’s bed dance gently in the cool night air. Nearby sits a vase with a dozen perfect roses. At her command, her chambermaids placed them there every morning.

Women usually have had a hard time letting go of a funny guy, you know, one that makes them laugh. Maybe the queen’s no different. Maybe she thinks twice as she hears Sekani chuckle in his sleep. He must have dreamt a good one. Or not. Ho ho ho.

I’ve had enough of your imbecilic jokes. Time to take those lovely powers of yours, then your Kingdom, then the world, she whispers.

She plucks a few petals from the roses, raises them upwards and chants, "Aaaa Maa Kahhh Eee Tra Na Ma."

A thin cloud of smoke rises from the petals, leaving behind a brilliant red powder. Masika presses the debris to her lips, then sits gently beside Sekani. You know, for all the years they were together, she’s never seen him once without that famous smile.

What do you really look like, she wonders? She reaches down and tries to rub the garish paint away. I suppose it doesn’t matter, since the last laugh is on you, but… huh?

She swallows the gasp, lest she wake him. It’s not paint. It’s his skin.

A clown through and through, a clown to the end, she mutters. She gives the white forehead one last kiss. Have it your way dearie. Go out with a joke.

Sekani’s body writhes. Light pours from his eyes, mouth and ears. His very skin melts, falls away, leaving only the bones. But even those bones, that skull, bear the colors of a clown.

That’s right, kiddos. It’s me!!! I’m the Laughing God! Surprise.

When I first felt that last, sweet kiss, I just figured poor Masika was still under my spell, looking for one last get down with the clown. Once you go clown, he’s always around!

And let me tell ya, just because all your skin falls off, doesn’t mean a certain itch goes away. Ho ho… no.

But Masika has something else in mind. She’s happier than I’d ever seen her. She picks up my skull and starts dancing around.

The intensity… the shear unimaginable power! My skin can barely contain it!!! I am invincible!

As the Queen spun me round

There was no laughter from this clown

I saw my bones lying on the floor

To have again never more

What had I done to make her so mean?

Who doesn’t love a carnival? I guess not the Queen!

You’ve made me smile again! And now I’ll give his people an equally special treat!

But a voice echoes through the room, "Ho ho, no one will ruin the surprise."

Masika screeches. The skull tumbles across the floor.

Who speaks? Is it you Sekani, laughing from beyond the grave?

Her eyes search the gloom, but no one is there, just the grinning skull. Magic is one thing, but skulls don’t speak. They’re dead, right? Right?

In here… a voice whispers. The skull wobbles in tune. It doesn’t sound like the king.

Is something trapped in there? she asks.

Overcome with a wild curiosity, she dismisses her fear and crawls across the floorboards.

A shrill cackle comes from the skull, a sound full of sadness and pain.

Get me out of here, says the voice. That’s right. Don’t be shy. Come closer.

Near now, Masika peers inside, her eye pressed tight to the bone.

Who are you? she asks. What lived in my husband’s head? She looks again, and cries:

It’s horrid!

How dare you! the shriveled figure answers, more indignant than even Masika could be. A tiny hand with sharp nails reaches out and slashes across the Queen’s right eye. Never speak ill of Mother Yagga!

A witch!

Knowing she’s in for it now, Masika scurries away, blood dripping between her fingers.

Ever the showman, though dead, I know a cue when I hear one. Time to take the performance to the next level. I spun my skull round and round, until I rose off the ground.

"Whoa, I’m getting dizzy! The room won’t stop spinning. Where is… ah, there you are my Queen."

"The skull is alive? It speaks!!!" Masika cries, unsure of her own senses.

"I do indeed speak, toots! I speak… play spin the skull… kiss with tongues… (If you buy me dinner first) and most of all… I laugh! And by the way, my dear, you were wrong earlier. This laugh’s on you!"

My skull lunges forward in mid-air, stops for a delicious dramatic pause, and then shouts:

"BOOOO!!!"

Masika desperately tries to flee, but I follow, nipping at her heels.

Please skull, show me mercy! Don’t let that witch get me. Please! she cries.

"HA HA HA! You wondered where your gift was? Well, let me give it to you! A present for trying to thwart the surprise. Think it was tough on you? It was murder for me! Hardy-haha!"

A light shines on a cloaked mirror in a corner of the room. Most of the glass is covered. Was it there before? Maybe. Wordless, it calls to the queen. Having no say, she obeys.

All yours, the skull continues, "for trying to undo the dreams I placed in my people’s heads! All yours, for trying to shut down the carnival!"

Before she removes the cloth and looks in, the Queen peers round the side of the eerie object, wondering if it’s a trap.

"What is it? Just look inside. I give you… the truth! Now the whole world will get to see the haggardly old woman in my head! That’s right, my Queen, the witch in my skull has always been… you!"

"NOOOO!!" screams the Queen. The mirror shatters.

The illusion of youth destroyed, Mother Yagga collapses onto the shards of glass.

No? asks the skull. No is right! You’ll never have my powers. You’ll remain trapped in my head for all eternity, and I… in yours.

The floating skull laughs, as it riddles and rattles on, "No way out… unless… well, I do so love fun and games. Want to play one, maybe gain your freedom, maybe not?"

Ever so slightly, the witch nods.

"Good. Then all you have to do is solve the Riddle of the Skull… my Skull! Here it is, drum roll please… How do you own a skull that owns you?"

The skull’s eyes would have been bugging with excitement, had it not had empty sockets.

"Tah Dah!!! There it is, toots. Now here’s a hint. Trust me, you’ll need it. Only my blood can free you from the spell, but sadly my dear, I’m all skin and bones. Unless of course, you’re carrying my child?"

Footsteps approach, the commotion finally alerting the guards. As the door opens, the witch throws her cloak over my skull, takes it and leaps through the window. All my guards find is what’s left of my skeleton.

The embalmer got off easy. The bones were mummified, but there were no organs to store in Canopic jars. No organs to wrap and place at ones feet. No skin to wash and hang to dry. And no brains to pull out through ones nose. No brains? That had been said of me many times before. Now it was true! Still, my subjects fancied me up and laid me to rest. For seven days they lined up to visit my tomb, one by one leaving gifts for their headless pharaoh to carry into the next world.

There was one other thing left. The ashes found near the skeleton contained the remains of my heart, a magical powder that was scattered over the top of… the surprise!

Seven days of mourning, seven years of waiting, until…

The Surprise was set a flame

An offering to the Laughing God’s name

No one had a clue, no one really