(Author's note: I'm using ChatGPT and Grammarly for grammar in all these chapters because I struggle to accurately convey what happens in the show on this website for some reason. Also, my grammar just sucks in general. Also, this is a bit rush so yeah......)

It was Mortimer to the rescue who came out of nowhere with a motorcycle shooting one of the clowns' knives out of their hands and making them fall to the ground. This made the other clowns start throwing knives at him, but they missed each shot while he drove away from them into another building.

Tara took a deep breath, a sigh of relief escaping her lips, and a smile formed on her face. At that moment, she reconsidered her opinion of Mortimer. He had appeared out of nowhere and saved her and her friends instead of abandoning them, causing her to view him in a new light.

"Wait, was that Mortimer?" Sam asked, his voice filled with disbelief as the group's screams transformed into cheers of joy upon seeing him.

Since Sam didn't know Mortimer well, his act of saving them came as a complete shock. She hadn't interacted with him much before, adding to the surprise of his sudden heroic intervention.

Mortimer brought his motorcycle to a halt inside the building and swiftly removed his helmet. With a surge of pent-up rage from the clowns responsible for his mother's death, he flung the helmet at them, causing them to jump back in surprise. Determination etched on his face, he retrieved the gun he had in his possession and began firing shots at the clowns. Despite missing with each attempt, he persisted, undeterred. The clowns, feeling the pressure of his relentless nature. Mortimer reached for a flare gun and fired it twice in their direction. The bright bursts of light forced the clowns to back up and flee from the scene.

The crowd erupted into cheers once more, relieved to see the clowns vanquished, all thanks to Mortimer's heroic assistance. 

After the adrenaline subsided, Mortimer and Calliope, who had regained their composure after the recent events, began to untie each person on the carousel. They diligently worked their way through, ensuring everyone's freedom. However, amid the group's cheering and hugging, they unintentionally overlooked untying Liv. As the group shared their emotions and experiences from the harrowing situation, Mortimer and Calliope finally reached Liv and released her from her bindings, apologizing for the oversight.

With a rush of emotions, Sam bolted over to Tara, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. She couldn't help but feel guilty for nearly losing her sister, replaying the scenario in her mind over and over again.

Tara eased Sam's worries by reminding her that Mortimer had ensured their safety. Sam clung to her sister, not wanting to feel any worries.

With everyone finally liberated, the group hurriedly made their way inside the arcade. Anika, quick on her feet, spotted the discarded dice left on the ground and instinctively scooped them up, sensing their potential usefulness in the future. She tucked them away safely before joining the rest of the group inside the arcade.

As they rushed through the doors once again, Sam made sure to check on everyone's well-being. She anxiously asked, "Is everybody okay?" The group responded in unison with a chorus of affirmations and nods before grouping up together to show off the clues they had gotten.

Mortimer took the initiative to retrieve the Jack-in-the-box for the group. Meanwhile, Ethan and Chad handed over the key. Liv stepped forward and offered the group the journal or note she, Mindy, and Sam had found. Additionally, Anika contributed by providing the dice she had collected.

Placing the gathered items on a small table, the group directed their attention toward the most significant object—the carnival's master journal. They had recognized its potential to provide valuable insights. After all, it belonged to the creator of the entire carnival, making it a promising resource that could potentially guide them through this convoluted maze of challenges and help them find a way to escape this perplexing ordeal.

As they meticulously examined the pages of the journal, their eyes widened as they stumbled upon a detailed map of the very room they were currently in—the arcade. As they quickly studied the map, searching for clues and identifying the locations of the items they had recently acquired. They began moving and rearranging objects in the room, cross-referencing their positions with the map. The group became a flurry of activity, driven by the hope that deciphering the map's markings would unlock the path.

While engrossed in their attempts to align the room with the map, Anika's keen eye caught a crucial detail: the depiction of dice in the picture within the journal. Realizing that the dice needed to be placed somewhere specific, she swiftly picked up the dice from the table. With a thoughtful gaze, Anika scanned the room, searching for the appropriate location to position the dice blocks.
As Anika continued her search for the ideal spot to place the dice blocks, the rest of the group remained focused on the map and the room itself by scrutinizing the map, meticulously examining every detail, hoping to find hidden markings, symbols, or any indication of a concealed path or clue. Their eyes darted across the room, inspecting every corner, object, and surface, seeking any anomalies or discrepancies that could potentially unlock a hidden solution.
Amidst the group's intense search and analysis, one of the members unintentionally opened the corkboard, exposing a concealed compartment containing a secret case. To their astonishment, the case bore the same distinctive shape as the key Ethan and Chad had discovered earlier. Without hesitation, they retrieved the key and inserted it into the corresponding keyhole on the case, unlocking its contents. As the case swung open, their eyes widened in anticipation. Inside, they discovered a compartment perfectly designed to hold the two dice that Anika had been carrying.

When Anika placed the dice into the case, they heard a sound and realized it was coming from the once-normal refrigerator. As they opened it, they were surprised to discover a secret lounge/hangout hidden inside.

"Tara, this might be our secret sex dungeon," Amber says, amazed by the place, which makes Tara shush her with a laugh as the group gets a little too comfortable, almost forgetting why they were there in the first place.

"OMG, this place is so comfortable," Quinn says, playing in a chair that spins around while giggling to herself.

"Guys, what's that?" Ethan says, pointing at the map before falling onto the soft couch, which grabs the group's attention. It was the map of the town of Everlock, but it looked empty on that map.

"The cleansing of each artifact will reveal more of the map," Mindy reads the first part of the map before guessing their current location. She rips the map off the wall and looks at the back, hoping to find more information or clues. Her intuition is right, and she quickly runs to the middle of the room to place the map on the table, catching everybody's attention. They all rush to the center of the room to hear what the map has to say.

"Even with all of our society's knowledge 

"We were too late. Even with all of our society's knowledge...We didn't understand the carnival master's dark plan. To save Everlock, we froze it in time to give us a chance to stop him, but we were no match for his wrath. Realizing all was lost, I used the last of my life magic to encase him in an amber prison. But the spell has reached its end. At sunrise, the carnival master will be released from his prison and will consume all life in Everlock. There are eight corrupted artifacts which the carnival master draws power from. If they can be gathered and cleansed of evil, the carnival master will be weakened and can be slain. However, the artifacts are protected, and whenever touched, their evil guardian appears. The final act to cleanse each artifact will require voting on two who must undertake a horrifying challenge that only one will survive. By sunrise, if the artifacts have not been cleansed and the carnival master slain, everyone in town, including you, will be destroyed." Mindy reads out the summary on the back of the map that was from the 'Society Against Evil.'

"I thought we were just going to save a town, not ourselves; I'm so confused," Ethan says while the others try to process what they just read also.

"You said we were going to save a town, Sam, not we may die while saving the town!" Amber calls out Sam, who just looks kind of guilty that she still had the stupidest idea of bringing everybody here.

"We haven't even met these people; well, Calliope's a great person. You're phenomenal, Calliope. Thank you so much. But why should we care about the rest of these folks? Not to sound like a jerk, but why?" Chad asks, giving a shoutout to Calliope, who thanks him with a smile. Meanwhile, the others engage in a discussion about the current situation.

(Author's Note: Also, if you are wondering, Mortimer, for no reason, had exited the lounge to the fringe for some reason in this scene...)

Sam then grabs a note hidden under the map, clearing her throat before reading it aloud. "Okay, guys, it says The Jack needs a pleasant song so he's not angry all the time. The clowns have one you can use, but they've taken it to their disco party, where they are guarding it. The proper attire is behind the yellow couch," Sam explains, which makes Amber shimmy at the word disco, causing the group to glance at the yellow couch in anticipation. Just then, Wes discovers a second note and picks it up.

"The spring on the jack has been corrupted with evil and must be replaced. The clowns have hidden it in their giant tent. You'll have to rip the stuffing out to find it," Wes reads aloud, revealing the next crucial piece of information.

"Okay, so it seems we may have to split up. Let's divide into groups based on our styles," Sam suggests, explaining the plan. The group going to the disco consists of Amber (obviously), Tara, Chad, Quinn, and Liv With Mortimer. While Sam, Ethan, Anika, Mindy with Calliope, and Wes make up the group heading to the tent.

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The disco group quickly grabs the bag containing their attire and rushes over to the disco where the clowns are having their party. Before entering, they put on their red noses and white gloves. Just as they are about to walk inside, Mortimer, one of the clowns, stops them in their tracks.

"Wait, real quick. Just in case you need to, uh, get something from somebody, this is a strong sedative. It'll knock somebody out in a couple of minutes, alright?" Mortimer says, holding out the sedative to the group.

"Should I use it?" Quinn asks.

"On yourself?" Chad asks, mishearing what Quinn has said.

"No, I'm saying, like, if I have to use it on someone else. I feel like I could do it easily," Quinn clarifies. Her statement raises concerns among the others, as they wonder what she means by being able to administer the sedative "easily."

"I mean, I can manipulate people easily for my reasons, of course," Quinn explains to the group, causing them to hum understanding.

Quinn discreetly hides the sedative as the group prepares to enter the disco. With confident air, they stride into the venue as if they own the place, ready to party and have a great time.

They dance around the disco, searching for clues, while Quinn and Amber make a deliberate effort to become the center of attention and blend in with the partygoers. They sway to the music, showcasing their dance moves and engaging with others to gather any information or hints that may be hidden within the lively atmosphere.

"It kind of looks like they're guarding something important," Tara points out to Quinn while the two of them continue dancing. 

"She has a briefcase, I think," Quinn points out to Tara, drawing her attention to a clown who has a briefcase handcuffed to her hand. The clown is casually sipping a drink while keeping a close eye on the valuable item.

"So, you need to put the sedative in her drink," Tara says to Quinn, who nods in agreement. The two of them resume dancing, blending in with the partygoers while keeping their plan in mind. They wait for the opportune moment to discreetly add the sedative to the clown's drink.

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The tent group is engrossed in the task of tearing apart the stuffed animals, following the instructions from the note. As they meticulously dismantle the toys, Wes makes a fortuitous discovery. Among the torn fabric and fluff, he finds a silver coin hidden inside one of the animals. 

"I just found a coin, guys. Not the spring," Wes informs the group.

"Me too," Sam says.

"Me too," Mindy says in agreement. Just as she finishes speaking, they hear the laughter of one of the clowns, prompting the group to quickly find cover behind various objects in an attempt to avoid being discovered. 

"I just want to bash your head in!" the clown exclaims, her words laced with a chilling threat. She swings her bat with nails hammered in, forcefully striking a wooden bench, causing some members of the group to jump.

"Where are you, little shits?!" The Clown yells.

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The group, seizing the opportunity to distract and disarm the clown, starts dancing and even attempting some twerking moves near the perplexed clown. Their unconventional approach leaves the clown uncertain of how to respond to the unexpected display unfolding before them. 

"Can I sip this?" Tara boldly asks the clown, pointing at the drink in their hand. Surprisingly, the clown agrees and hands over the drink to Tara. She pretends to take a sip while passing it around to the others in the group. When the drink reaches Quinn, she swiftly drops the sedative into it without drawing any attention. With a quick motion, she hands it back to Tara, who continues the charade. 

"Thanks so much!" Tara expresses her gratitude with a cheerful smile before returning the drink to the clown. The clown bids them farewell and walks away, leaving the group to continue their dance as if nothing had happened. 

"Where you guys from, huh?" A random clown appears behind them, asking the group, kind of intrigued but suspicious of them.

"From Clownville, of course," Liv remarks, adding a touch of sarcasm to her comment.

"Clown-o-rama!" Amber joins in with a playful tone, keeping the lighthearted atmosphere alive. She adds to the comedic flair by shimmying her coat on and off, adding an amusing touch to their dancing and clown-inspired antics. 

"It's like downtown, you know, just across on the other side of Wowville," Amber remarks, acknowledging the group's struggle to come up with convincingly fake and "serious" names for imaginary locations. 

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"Come out, you sons of bitches!" the clown exclaims, their frustration evident as they grow tired of the group's antics. The playful diversion has tested the clown's patience, and their anger begins to surface. 

"Damn it!" the clown yells out in frustration, their anger reaching a boiling point. Overwhelmed by their emotions, the clown begins to have a breakdown, repeatedly striking their bat against a random table in a display of frustration and distress.

"I'm coming to find you! Mama's coming!" the clown chuckles menacingly before finally exiting the tent, leaving the group to breathe a sigh of relief. They swiftly emerge from their hiding spots and resume tearing apart the stuffed animals, determined to uncover any hidden clues or objects. In their search, they come across a total of four quarters. Recognizing their significance, they place the coins inside a random box that conveniently has four holes, fitting each coin perfectly into its designated slot.

When they place the four quarters in their respective slots, the box opens with a soft click, revealing.....

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As the other group continues dancing, they keep a watchful eye on the clown, who eventually takes a sip from the drink containing the sedative. Unexpectedly, the effects of the sedative begin to kick in earlier than anticipated, causing the clown to display signs of disorientation and imbalance. The group quickly realizes this and approaches the clown to ensure their safety while maintaining her upright posture, preventing her from falling.

"I need some air," the clown says, expressing a need for fresh air. "Concerned" for her well-being, the group escorts her outside, pretending to be considerate and attentive. They carefully guide her to a more secluded area.

"Right over here. It's over here," the clown says, guiding the group towards a set of stairs. 

"Yeah, this spot has the perfect air," Liv goes along with the clown's comment, keeping up the pretense. As the clown attempts to walk up the stairs, however, they suddenly collapse, losing consciousness and hitting the floor. 

"She didn't need to do all of that," Amber comments, looking down at the unconscious clown. The group gathers around the clown, their attention shifting to the briefcase that had been guarded so closely. With the clown incapacitated, they take the opportunity to examine the briefcase, which has a code on it.

As the group examines the briefcase, their attention is drawn to an image of arrows pointing toward pink dots. Below the image, a message reads, "Watch the clowns dance high to low." Realizing that this clue meant that they had to go back into the disco and look around where the clowns were dancing to find the answer.

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"Find Zero G-Men and find his dilemma," Sam reads aloud, sharing the next set of instructions with the group. Intrigued, they turn their attention to the open box, discovering a collection of deflated balloons and cartoons featuring Zero G-Man. The cartoons depict Zero G-Man as a once-flying superhero who has lost the ability to soar through the skies, leaving him feeling sad and dejected.
"So, I'm guessing these balloons are supposed to help Zero G-Man fly," Wes speculates, contemplating the purpose of the deflated balloons. The group considers his idea, realizing that inflating the balloons might be the key to helping Zero G-Man regain his ability to fly.

Ethan says, 'For somebody named Zero G-Man, he doesn't deserve to fly."

Wes points out, 'Wait, go back to the comic. I think I saw something earlier.'"

We then go back to the comic and read out what he had seen earlier, saying, "I can't be a hero. I can't fly. Mayday, Mayday, we're going down. Please call Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man, Zero G-Man." Anika tries to call him out, but nothing happens.

Sam suggests, 'Let's all try saying it six times and see if it works.'"

They all say it six times, and finally, the box opens. Half of the group rushes to the box and fills up the balloons while the others divide and conquer.

Anika and Ethan go over to fill the helium in the empty balloons. As they were doing so, the process created loud noises that distracted both of them and the others from their work. They hoped the clowns couldn't hear them. While filling another balloon, one of them accidentally fills it with too much air, causing it to pop and making Anika scream and jump. The loud noise attracts the attention of the clown, who starts heading back to the tent. Everyone tries to hide from the clown in a state of panic.

"Come out and play little chickens! Knock! Knock!" the clown, attempting to find and tease the group while also trying to sense their fear.

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When the group returns to the disco, they resume dancing. However, they quickly notice the dots on the platforms and dance their way over to them. Upon closer inspection, they realize there are four platforms in total. While they were discussing their findings, they suddenly became aware that the suspicious clown from before had appeared behind them once again.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" the clown asks curiously.

"Dancing, of course!" Amber says confidently while the group slowly attempts to dance away, hoping to create some distance from the clown.

"No, I don't think you are," the clown points out, casting a suspicious gaze at the group. Despite their denial, the clown remains unconvinced. At that moment, Amber has an idea that might make the clown go away and believe them.

Amber gets on one of the platforms and starts dancing, seemingly carefree. She pulls Tara with her, and the two of them dance together, causing the clown to eventually go away. However, their dancing becomes increasingly flirtatious and suggestive, crossing boundaries that make the rest of the group uncomfortable. Realizing the situation, the group intervenes and separates Amber and Tara, putting an end to the inappropriate display before it escalates further.

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"Hello? Come out and play!" the clown calls out, moving all around the tent in an attempt to find the group. However, the group quickly disperses and hides in various spots and places, doing their best to avoid being caught. They remain silent and still as the clown searches everywhere.

As Sam was crawling around, she almost slipped on a piece of rubber from a popped balloon. Her near mishap caught the clown's attention, and for a moment, it seemed like the clown would turn toward her. However, fortunately, the clown had second thoughts and decided against approaching her. Sam breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she had narrowly avoided detection.

"I just have to tell her they're not here! They're not here!" the clown yells in frustration before cackling away out of the tent once again. The group breathes a collective sigh of relief, grateful that the clown didn't find them. 

They all cautiously emerge from their hiding spots, their focus now on completing the task of making Zero G-man fly. They gather the remaining balloons and start placing them on Zero G-man, carefully and silently. Anika, filled with excitement, cheers on the group and even whispers words of encouragement to Zero G-man for reasons known only to her. 

To their surprise, as they finish placing the balloons on Zero G-man, a random box in the room suddenly clicks open. Curiosity piqued, they approached the box to see what they had got.

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As Quinn skillfully distracts the clowns, finding herself entangled in a playful interaction with a trio of clown ladies, she secretly enjoys the thrill. Meanwhile, the rest of the group focuses on deciphering the hint they received. Tara, realizing the true meaning behind the dots, swiftly solves the math problem embedded within the hint. With the puzzle solved, they gather Quinn, and together they make a swift escape, rushing towards the location where they need to open the briefcase.

Tara's proficiency in math proves to be extremely helpful as she effortlessly solves the mathematical puzzle on the briefcase's locks. With precision, she enters the numbers 410 and 55 into the first two locks, and to their amazement, the briefcase clicks open. As they eagerly retrieve the recovered song piece, resembling a bullet in appearance, the group quickly gathers their belongings and makes their way back to the lounge, their hearts filled with anticipation for what lies ahead. The puzzle pieces slowly start coming together as their adventure progresses.

(Author's Note: If these scenes seem rushed, it's because they skip over the additional details of solving the clues. Or additional words said by the characters. I don't want to type out all of that, so the descriptions are kept short.)

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The box reveals a screw and a note. Ethan picks up the note and attempts to read it aloud, "This artifact requires one more piece to be replaced—" Before he can finish, the clown interrupts, reappearing in the tent from a different side, her laughter filling the air.

"Here's Sally!" the clown yells, causing Sam and the rest of the group to quickly gather themselves and flee. "Run!" Sam shouts, and the group sprints out of the tent through the opposite side, desperate to escape the clown's grasp. 

"Having a party without me? You little bitches!" Sally yells angrily, her voice echoing behind the retreating group as they swiftly make their way back to the lounge to meet the other group.

(Author's Note: I'm posting this earlier for you guys today because I felt like it. Also, the last part of this 1st to 2nd episode involves the death challenge. Who do you think might be voted in it? Who do you think will survive? Who do you think might perish? Who do you believe is the strongest team member? And who do you think is the weakest?  Share your thoughts here!)