The black, green, and gold flyers showed up a month before the new year. Plastered haphazardly on every imaginable surface, they often appeared where you expected and always where you didn't.

Flyers were found in dog bowls and bird's nests and between the pages of dusty, old books. One was even glued tight to the tombstone of Haverhill's old mayor, Mr. Radcliffe, who notoriously hated late-night parties.

The gilded lettering scrawled out little information, listing the time (five hours before midnight) and the place (the entirety of the hill to the north of town), but never the price. Regardless, the residents of Haverhill didn't need the flyers. The carnival's yearly reputation preceded itself, and whispers spread through the town, a fast-flowing river of excitement, wonder, and gossip.

The Aurum Carnival had returned, and everyone counted down the days, even more so than the winter holiday. After 30 days of waiting, the town was abuzz on New Year's Eve.

The tents showed up three days prior. Children and teenagers made games of running up to the buttery gold, green, and black silk tents, daring each other to peek inside. The adults went out of their way on their morning walks and commutes to go by the hill.

Everyone wanted to go, everyone except Beatrice.

"You can't go."

"What? But Beatrice, everyone is going! All my friends from school are going and even—" this part was said with reverence, "Eloise."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow at her younger sister, and Harper blushed.

"I don't care if everyone's going. You're not. You have a school project due in three days which you've procrastinated on all break, and Mom and I are working, plus—"

"Plus, it's not safe. Yes, I know." Harper groaned, slumping back in her chair, sprawling her gangly limbs over the sides. "I'm going to be the joke of the whole school. I'm never going to live this down."

"Yes, well, at least you'll live."

Harper shot Beatrice a glare from her dramatic flop. "I'd be fine if you'd just go with me."

"Maybe," Beatrice acquiesced. "Or maybe you'll disappear like that Simon boy did last year. Or the little girl the year before or Alice—"

"Beatrice, are you lecturing your sister?"

Their mother came into view, eyes tired and circled after another late night shift at the hospital where they both worked. Beatrice shook her head, watching her mother pour a cup of coffee, despite it being 6 PM.

"Mom, you know it's not safe," Beatrice pleaded, glaring at Harper, who cracked a single eyelid to watch the exchange. The thirteen-year-old's mouth spread in a smirk before Beatrice looked back at their mother, trying to shove away her panic. "Please, tell her it's not safe."

"You're right; it's not safe," Beatrice turned to Harper in triumph, "if she goes by herself."

"Mom—"

"Hey, don't 'Mom' me. You've been working so hard in your classes and at work. You could use a break. Trust me, the bedpans will still be there tomorrow."

It was Beatrice's turn to groan, her palms beginning to sweat. "The hospital is already short-handed; you'll be swamped in the ER tonight."

"Maybe, but my point stands. You're 20. You can overwork yourself for the rest of your life. Go have fun with your sister. I'll let your shift leader know. She'll understand; she's been saying you need a break." She put an arm around Beatrice. "Trust me, sweetheart. This time will be different."

They exchanged a knowing look, and she kissed the top of Beatrice's head, grabbed her car keys, and ruffled Harper's short red hair.

"But that doesn't mean you don't have to listen to your sister, Harper. Make sure to mind her words and don't get lost."

Both sisters nodded, and the door slammed behind her, gusts of winter wind coming in. Harper gave a whoop of excitement as Beatrice tried to calm down.

Mom was right-- nothing would happen. Beatrice was older now, and she could keep Harper and herself safe... everything would be fine, right?

*.*:*.*

The line into the carnival snaked up the hill. Beatrice and Harper were almost to the gate lined with hanging iron lanterns and a matching fence so tall it hid all but the tops of the tents beyond it when they found Harper's friends. Harper blushed to her roots when she saw Eloise, and the two gave an awkward side hug, the other girl shyly smiling at the taller Harper.

Beatrice smiled, too, in spite of herself. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad?

The middle schoolers chattered, raising their voices to be heard over the loud music and sounds from the carnival. Red and gold fireworks exploded surprisingly close, filling the air with crackles and bright sparks up ahead.

Beatrice flinched with each crack, a headache starting to settle in.

Her anxiety clawed through her stomach and throat, leaving her skin tight and her body buzzing.

They got to the gates, and a worker dressed in plain black pants, a gold silk shirt, and a porcelain mask, stamping Harper's and her friends' hands first.

"Welcome to the Aurum Carnival; may we bring you wonder as you close out the year." Their voice was muffled behind the black and gold painted porcelain, and Beatrice flinched at the iciness of their hands as they took her left hand to press it with the entry stamp.

Memories of the carnival eight years ago flitted through her minds-eye as she looked at the shimmering ink. A small ferris wheel glistened on her hand, and when she glanced up, she caught the eye of the carnival worker.

They looked away first, and Beatrice allowed herself to be pulled forwards with her sister's group of friends, turning back once to see that they had been the last ones admitted to the carnival. The worker had disappeared with the line she could've sworn was behind them. Her head throbbed.

But the wonders of the carnival pulled her in still, urging her in and entrancing her. Fire dancers weaved through the crowd, their hoops of fire arching up into the night sky with each twirl. Colorful rides-- ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds-- peeked between the luminescent tents, and the tents themselves boasted everything from shooting games to fortune tellers, acrobats to magicians, all with their own flair, with their own intrigue.

A magician lured the group in first, dressed in a smart black suit with gold filigree, her tricks spewing cards and light as she moved. Her tight blonde bun reflected the fire from the fire dancers, and, between her hands, sparks flew as she danced around her assistant, both a wave of black and gold fabric, just like the other carnival workers. In a flash, he disappeared, leaving nothing in his place.

The crowd clapped, and Beatrice found herself clapping with them, despite her unease. Harper laughed beside her, pulling on her arm.

"That's amazing!"

"It is!" Beatrice agreed, forcing excitement, but her words were lost in the loud bang as the magician revealed a slithering maroon snake as if from thin air. It hissed and showed its fangs, coiling around her arm. The crowd gasped and jumped back, wary.

Beatrice felt a prickle of fear. This act was familiar. The snake wasn't, but the movements of the magician, the dance, the sparks, her blonde hair-- they rang of a memory or a dream.

The snake swirled around the arm of the magician, bobbing its head as it watched her neck, and Beatrice knew before the rest of the crowd what came next. The snake lunged. One of the children cried out. In a twist, the magician spun, reappearing with blooming roses in all colors between her fingertips. She bowed and presented them to the audience, flinging them into the smoky air.

The crowd rushed for the flowers, and Beatrice startled when she saw Harper catch them before being swallowed by hugs and cheers from her friends. The audience cheered along with them, and the magician gave one last bow, urging them to their next destination.

As the crowd wandered away, Beatrice scanned for her sister, furrowing her brow as she saw the group of friends disperse but without Harper in tow. Looking first to the empty stage, then to the space beside Eloise, Beatrice felt her panic reemerge.

Her sister had disappeared just like the magician's assistant had. Just like Beatrice's best friend, Alice, had eight years before.

"Harper!"

"Harper!" Beatrice's calls were lost in the wall of sound, stifled by the big band music coming from the grand stage in the center of the carnival as well as the crush of the crowd. She whipped around, turning in a circle, her breaths coming fast now.

Breathe in.

"Harper!"

Breathe out.

"Harper, where are you?"

Black spots crept into the corners of her vision, and she took another breath in. A hand tugged at her arm, and she leapt away, startled.

"Beatrice, are you okay? Are you having an asthma attack?" Eloise peered up at her through her glasses, brown curly hair glowing in the firelight. Beatrice struggled to answer, shaking her head when she couldn't. She didn't know which question she was answering.

"It's okay; my Mom has asthma attacks sometimes, and my brother hyperventilates when he's in small spaces. Just count and breathe at the same time."

Beatrice couldn't believe she was listening to her little sister's crush for anxiety advice. She still did as she was told, half-surprised despite her schooling in nursing when it worked.

"Eloise, I can't find Harper," she said as soon as she could gasp it out. Eloise frowned.

"I know, I couldn't find her either. I tried to get the others to stop, but..." she trailed off, gesturing at the crowd vaguely. "I don't know, something about this place pulls people in. Harper especially."

Beatrice looked at her quizzically, her vision clearer now. "What do you mean, Harper especially?"

"Well, she's always talking about it," Eloise explained, fiddling with a frayed edge of her jean jacket. "She says she dreams about it, and I think--," she grimaced, "the whole thing with your secret just drew her in more."

"My secret?"

"Yeah."

They both trailed off, and Beatrice was twelve-years-old again, distracted by a tray of jewels as she and Alice explored the carnival. She'd never told Harper what happened to Alice-- Harper would've been too young to remember her, and Beatrice was too young then to have the words.

"We have to find her," Beatrice said, pulling herself together. Eloise nodded. "Where did you last see her?"

"The magician's tent."

The pair hurried to the magician's tent, stopping short when they found the tent flaps closed. Beatrice surged ahead, drawing aside the silk with little effort. The magician sprung from her seat on the small stage where she sat with her assistant, face shadowed by the dim lantern light.

"What are you doing in here? You're not supposed to--"

"I'm looking for my sister. About this tall, red hair; caught your bouquet?" Beatrice motioned to where Harper's height would've been, just below her slim shoulder. Her urgency brought the magician up short.

"I--" she paused, "I'm sorry, I haven't seen her, and I do that act every ten minutes, a single bouquet..." she shrugged apologetically. Her assistant watched the exchange, his blonde brow furrowing above green eyes. Beatrice realized they could be twins, for as much as he mirrored the magician.

"I remember her. The one in the front. She had freckles and long earrings."

"Yes, that's her; did you see where she went?"

He shook his head. "No, but I may know where you can find her."

He leapt off the stage, landing gracefully in his black leather boots and was half out the tent when his sister called after him.

"Dimitri, the time--"

"I know; I'll be back."

Beatrice checked her own watch, keeping one eye on him. It was an hour until midnight. How had time moved so quickly?

She grabbed Eloise's hand, both girls jogging to keep up with Dimitri. His long hair was tied back by a leather cord, eye-level with Beatrice as they darted through the carnival, passing vendors and food stalls with sugary sweets and savory pies. Eloise slowed, but Beatrice urged her on.

The carnival went on forever, the steps ahead of them taking up less and less space on the well-beaten footpath.

She was sweating, her brow wet and her breaths heavy. Her head felt light again, and she was getting dizzy from snapping it back and forth to look for Harper. Beatrice let go of Eloise's hand to wipe her forehead, and reached down to catch it again, straightening when she grabbed a much larger one.

Dimitri looked back at her, expressionless, but squeezed her hand. Beatrice blushed, dropping it and grabbing Eloise's arm instead.

She stumbled into Dimitri when he stopped, pulling Eloise with her. They stood beside him, looking up at the sign above the tent.

"Madame Reverie?"

"Yes."

He charged in, and they followed, eyes adjusting to the violet light. Beatrice rushed forward, lurching into her sister. Harper sat with her palm open on the circular table, gazing emptily into space.

She hugged Harper, pulling her away from the maroon-draped table.

"Harper! Where have you been? We've been looking--" She trailed off as she realized the tent was silent. A woman draped in shawls and masked in a porcelain mask like the gate worker's stared back at her and then glared at Dimitri.

"You're interrupting a session."

"Yes, I'm sure we are," Dimitri drawled. They glared at each other, but he turned back to Beatrice and Harper, the latter which was eerily quiet. "You three need to get going."

"But we just got here," Harper protested, murmuring.

"You need to leave," Dimitri urged again. Pushing them out of the tent. A cannon went off as they left the tent, followed quickly by another. "Quickly."

He grabbed Beatrice's upper arm that wrapped around Harper, dragging the group. He reached into his other pocket, pulling forth a handful of gold dust.

"What is that? No, no, no more magic!" She tried to stop him before he threw it over them but couldn't, instead shielding Harper and Eloise the best she could. Her eyes shut of their own accord, and her stomach churned as if on a rocking boat. She heard Harper and Eloise call out, but she couldn't open her eyes. She felt herself falling to the ground but couldn't stop.

The spinning stopped abruptly, and she sat up slowly. Harper and Eloise lay on the snow patched grass beside her. The cold moon shown above them, and the carnival was nowhere to be found.

She flopped backwards, breathing a sigh of relief.

Beatrice ignored the burning of her hand, missing as the ferris wheel morphed. The outer rim smoothed, and the inner circle segmented, becoming a final shape. A snake circled a shining eye, eating its own tail and sneering, the gold ink matching the note she hadn't felt slipped into her pocket.

In her mind, the Aurum Carnival would never return.