#etn3

You inched closer to the opening of the tent, holding your breath as though it’d help. Your foot crunched against the dirt, looking down anxiously at your shoes.

‘The Rock Star doesn’t get scared. I should have seen crowds bigger than these idiots.’ You encouraged, stepping out fully.

‘But they didn’t have knives..’

Your eyes widened when you heard a familiar scream, making your neck snap to the source. Clowns surrounded Mat and Rosanna, who were tugged out from a building.

“OOOOONE MORE!” The short and blue haired clown screamed, eliciting manic laughter from the crowd.

You swallowed your saliva nervously, fixing your grip on your bloodied bat. You approached the main area, brows furrowing when you noticed the glowing carousel in the middle of the town.

You stopped in your tracks meeting Mat’s eyes behind his yellow lenses, tensing at the frantic shake of his head. He went to mouth something to you, but the clown hooking him to the bars shot their head up.

“FOUND THEM!” A voice screamed from behind you, making you shout and alarm. You went to swing, but quickly you were knocked to the floor with a dusty thud.

Screams of concern came from the group filled your ears, but were quickly drowned out as you were torn from the ground. Your scraped jaw ached from the fresh air, making you wince when the blue haired clown neared.

“You’re lucky I don’t gut ya here!” She bellowed, pressing a knife to your chest. Her nose nearly touched yours, before she jumped back to laugh with her posse.

You were pushed ahead, stumbling with a grunt of discomfort. You were guided to a spot beside mat, getting chained a little too tight (you theorized she did it tighter for your difficulty to find), leaning back against the bar.

Your head rested against the surface, bringing mild comfort to the throbbing that ensued from your ambush prior. You closed your eyes with a heavy breath.

“[Name]..? Are you okay?” Mat whispered, leaning towards you as much as he could.

You peeked open an eye, and gave him a weak nod. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?” Mat asked, brows furrowed. The clowns began to yell at Joey, making you let out another tired sigh.

“For not helping.” You grunted, pulling against the handcuffs. “I had a weapon, and I hid.”

“We all hid, [Name]. This is scary, and we’ll be okay. None of this is—“

The carousel began to move, startling you both from conversation. A clown threw up a pair of dice into the air, and it seemed to fall in slow motion.

Just as one landed, a gunshot went off. You looked straight ahead, jolting as you continued to spin.

“Mortimer!” Colleen yelled in excitement, making everyone repeat the name.

You looked to Mat who gave you an encouraging smile, before a loud thud sounded in front of you. A hand grabbed your chin, making you grunt in pain.

“I’m not leaving here without one of you coming down with us!” The clown screamed, stepping back.

They charged up their arm with a knife, and before you could acknowledge any panic..

Your foot raised right to their jaw, sending them flying to the ground with a thud. No movement continued from the ground, allowing you to let out a heavy breath you didn’t know you held.

You glanced to Mat who’s jaw dropped to his feet, eyes blown wide behind his glasses. Despite your fear, you couldn’t help but shoot him a cocky grin.

“Rockstar muscles.”

Mortimer and Calliope ran up, untying everyone to lead them to a building. As soon as Mat was free, he was by your side to lead you in.

“We need to look at your scratch.” Mat muttered, referencing to it on his own face.

“Later.” You shrugged. “We’ve got serious work to do.”

You all moved around the room, and Joey even found celery in a blue fridge. Upon looking at a journal, Mat brightened.

“This is a map!” He exclaimed, showing it tot he group.

“The cork board.” Safiya realized, jogging over with Rosanna and Manny.

“A locked case.” You remarked, peeking over Mat’s shoulder.

“The key!” Rosanna jumped, letting whoever held it through to open the door. Everyone cheered happily, and quickly you slid the dice into the square compartments.

A bright pink light flickered on above the fridge, making the door part open. Your jaw dropped, and quickly your approached.

“Theres a room back here!” You laughed, jumping in immediately. As long as it got you as far from those clowns as possible.

Everyone crowded in, admiring the space in relief. You looked to Mat, who gave you a tense smile. You returned it, before turning to Nikita who began reading a paper.

It explained how the town was trapped in time, and how a sorceress failed to stop the evil ring master. The spell trapping him reached an end, and he was set to break free by sunrise. The way to stop him, was by sacrificing two members of the group to tale part in challenges for the corrupte artifacts. Only one would make it out.

“Jesus.” You breathed out, breaking the silent.

“Okay.. I thought we were gonna save a town, and now we gotta save ourselves.” Rosanna huffed, getting words of agreement from everyone else.

“Eight artifacts?” You questioned. “Joey, you never said we’d..”

You trailed off, mouth going dry. No one filled the silence, afraid to address the elephant in the room.

“Die.” Colleen completed finally, glaring at a now nervous Joey.

“I didn’t come to sacrifice myself—And [Name]? They almost died, trying to protect us!” Mat exclaimed. “And I hardy know anyone here— Calliope you’re amazing.”

The woman smiled in understanding.

“But we didn’t sign up to die here.” Bretman said firmly.

“Okay! Okay! Arguing will get us no where.” Teela decided, spreading her arms out to catching everyone’s attention.

You all went quiet, turning to Joey. “We need to fix the music box.” He decided.

Everyone split up, taking the tasks. Before you could run off again, Mat grabbed your arm and pulled you back.

“Calliope found a first aid kid for you.” He said softly, brushing his thumb gently over your chin. You flinched, glancing at the older woman who held a small smirk.

“Alright.” You nodded, accepting the offer. You knew Mat wouldn’t be able to sleep eight otherwise.

And maybe you liked the attention from him—

“We’ll catch up!” Mat exclaimed, getting knowing looks from everyone else.

He sat you down on a chair carefully, pulling one up across from you. He set the med kit down on his lap, digging in it carefully.

“You said you were sorry.” Mat mumbled, shaking a bottle of antiseptic next to his ear. “Why?”

You looked down. “I told you why.” You muttered, frowning now.

“Not fully. You were busy handing that clown’s ass to themself.” He chuckled, a weak attempt at humor.

You smiled before inhaling through your teeth, chin stinging from the antiseptic. He gave you an apologetic look, wiping it gently with a rag.

“I shouldn’t be scared.” You breathed out, trying your hardest not to look into his eyes.

“You were all split up, and I was alone. I tried looking for you and Ro, but then I saw you get taken by Calliope.”

“And then one of them grabbed me, he had that bat around my neck and I panicked. I couldn’t even yell out for you, and I was so scared.” You whispered tearfully. Mat stopped wiping, lowering his head to catch your stare.

“I was scared that no one would notice I was gone, scared I’d die alone..” You rambled, wiping at your eyes. “So I head but him. He fell, and i took the bat and hit him and hit him and then he just.. Passed out.”

“I..” You trailed off, tears falling into your freshly cleaned cut. “I’m sorry because I managed to live then, but I still almost died. I was stuck on that carousel.”

Mat let out a breath, and lowered the med kit to the floor. “Hey.”

He gently took your hands in his, brushing his thumbs over the tops. “Everyone got caught, and we worked hard regardless.”

At your unconvinced look, he took your cheek gently to guide your eyes to his. Wiping at a stray tear, he smiled.

“You are strong. Strong to stay, strong to be here with us.. With me.” Mat soothed softly.

“I would have done the same. At least you tried, its the thought that counts.” Mat smiled. “I got too scared to even throw a stuffed animal.”

At the thought you let our a teary chuckle, sniffling as you leaned into his hand.

“That seems in character for you, detective.” You teased, wiping your eyes on your shoulder.

“Hey, in my defense.. The clown was buff.” He laughed, reaching down for a bandage.

He put it on gently, and his hands lingered briefly before he pulled away. His cheeks went rosy and you stood with a smile.

“Thanks, Mat.”

“Of course. I’m glad to have someone I can trust.” He said, relief flooding his tone. He stood up, taking your hand in his.

“I uh—“ He stuttered, pulling at his collar. “We should catch up with the others.”

“Probably. I’m sure they miss us, detective.” You grinned, satisfied when his cheeks flushed red.

“R-Right.. Lets get going.” Mat breathed out, leading you through the flapping doors.

You paid your hands little mind in favor of walking with him to your destination, enjoying your last moments of content before diving into the eye of the storm.

-

a/n