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Chapter 10 - Chapter 10 — Final Dusty Nation

The western sky burned orange as the sun dipped low, spilling its final rays over the abandoned amusement park. Six months ago, this place had been filled with shrieks of laughter, neon lights, fried food, and carnival prizes. Now, silence reigned. Rides stood like broken monuments, frozen mid-motion, their frames rusted and sagging. Layers of dust blanketed every surface; each gust of wind lifted it into the air like faint smoke, a reminder of how long it had been forgotten.

The Witch walked ahead, her staff leaving prints in the dust. Ethan followed close, adjusting his camera. The live chat flickered with neon text against the dark interface, excited despite the silence:

[Chat]

dustgamer : Bro this place screams CURSED

midnightowl : is this Silent Hill??

necroFan : rats > ghosts confirmed

ghostchild : oh hell no… amusement parks are NEVER good news

At the far corner, under the rusting arch of the Ferris wheel, two figures stood waiting. They weren't ghosts, nor ghouls, but a young couple—breathing, living, and very real. Their presence seemed almost too normal for such a forsaken setting.

Kaito (21): Lean, sharp-jawed, brown jacket with ripped sleeves. A protective streak burned in his eyes, though a weariness clung to him. He reached constantly for Aya's hand, as if grounding himself.

Aya (21): Petite, dark-haired, with an intensity in her gaze that offset her delicate features. She carried herself with quiet unease, scanning the broken rides as if she already knew what lingered here.

When they noticed the Witch and Ethan, they exchanged a hesitant glance.

Kaito: "You shouldn't be here. No one comes back to this place."

Ethan: (lowering camera slightly) "That's exactly why we came. To find out what happened."

Aya: (quietly) "…You'll regret it."

---

They gathered beneath the collapsed sign of the Tunnel of Love, its lettering broken, hearts cracked in half. The Witch stood silently, letting Ethan press the questions.

Ethan: "You were here on the park's last day, right? Before it shut down?"

Kaito: (nods) "Yeah. We came for the closing fair. I thought it'd be… romantic, you know? One last memory before it was gone."

Aya: (clutching his arm) "But it wasn't romantic. It was… wrong. The air felt rotten. Like the rides were alive."

She shivered, continuing:

Aya: "We were near the Jack-in-the-Box ride when it happened. We heard a snap—steel breaking. Then screaming. The whole ride folded in on itself. Families were trapped inside. We ran, but… everyone else didn't."

Her voice cracked. The wind carried the silence for several seconds. Ethan's camera caught every word, the chat reacting instantly:

[Chat]

fearmongr : holy crap this lore goes deep

dustgamer : WHO TF MAKES A JACK IN THE BOX RIDE

darkstream : girl speaking facts this park's cursed af

jumpscare_luvr : they're dead aren't they… they're already dead 😨

---

A faint groan echoed overhead—the sound of metal shifting. Ethan swung the camera upward, catching the silhouette of a rusted carousel frame, chains dangling. None of them moved, yet the sound persisted.

The Witch's expression hardened.

"Fate lingers where blood was spilled."

Kaito frowned, tugging Aya closer.

"Whatever you're chasing, it's not worth it. This place isn't done with us."

---

Without warning, one of the carousel's chains snapped loose. A massive chunk of iron swung down directly toward Ethan.

He froze—camera still rolling, unable to react in time.

But Kaito lunged. He slammed into Ethan's shoulder, knocking him sprawling just as the chain smashed into the ground where he had stood. Dust exploded into the air. The sound reverberated through the dead park like thunder.

Ethan coughed, heart pounding, his lens capturing the chain's impact mere feet away.

[Chat]

panicPlay : HE WAS ALMOST FINAL DESTINATED

ghostchild : Kaito MVP SAVE

lolwhat77 : cameraman's cheat code strikes again

spookyrat : fate's pissed now…

Ethan stammered:

"You— you saved me…"

Kaito wiped his brow.

"Don't thank me yet."

---

The carousel groaned again, louder this time. All heads snapped upward. Above them, the massive clown face sign, once bolted to the ride, hung by a single rusted beam. Its painted smile mocked them.

Aya gasped.

"Kaito—!"

He turned, shoving Aya aside just as the beam gave way. Time seemed to slow:

Dust swirling midair.

The clown's grin twisting in descent.

Kaito's eyes widening, realization dawning.

The massive sign crashed down onto him with a deafening CRUNCH. A spray of blood splattered across the dusty pavement. The weight pinned him, body crumpled instantly beneath it.

Ethan screamed, camera trembling. Aya shrieked, falling to her knees beside the ruin, clawing at the sign. Her voice tore the silence:

"KAITO! NOOO!"

The Witch closed her eyes, whispering:

"Cheating fate always demands payment."

[Chat]

blackmirror : no no no nooo not like this

dustgamer : bro just saved cameraman and got rekt

crybaby33 : 😭😭😭

fateDealer : it begins…

---

Aya's sobs broke off abruptly. She froze, her pupils dilating. She grabbed Ethan's wrist with bloodied fingers.

Aya: "It's not over. Something else—it's coming for you. For him!" (pointing at Ethan)

Ethan paled. The Witch only watched, silent, as if she already knew.

---

A metallic groan erupted behind them. The half-collapsed swing ride tilted forward, its support beam breaking free. It hurtled toward Ethan with lethal momentum.

He didn't move. Couldn't move.

But fate tripped over itself: the beam collided with a rusted stall roof just before striking him, bouncing off and slamming into the ground harmlessly.

Ethan stumbled back, gasping.

Aya stared, horrified.

[Chat]

miracleMode : HOW THE HELL DID HE LIVE AGAIN

deathTimer : dude's got infinite plot armor

ghostchild : SHE WARNED HIM AND STILL LUCKED OUT WTF

bloodfunhouse : fate's MAD

---

The Misfire Leads Elsewhere

A stack of forgotten prizes toppled nearby, scattering teddy bears into the dust. From within, a sharp metal trophy flung free, slicing through the air toward Ethan's throat.

At the last instant, he ducked instinctively—completely by accident. The trophy missed, embedding itself instead into an old control panel. Sparks shot out. Wires lit like snakes of fire.

The energy raced along the old circuits, crackling toward the swing ride's broken motor.

---

Aya turned, eyes widening.

"No…"

The motor exploded. Electricity surged, ripping through the corroded frame. In a burst of sparks and molten metal, the ride detonated outward.

Aya was caught at its center.

Time fractured. Ethan's camera captured every horrific frame in slow motion:

Her body arching backward, mouth open in a silent scream.

Metal shards ripping through her skin like paper.

A jet of pressure tearing her limbs apart, bones snapping like twigs.

Blood suspended midair in globules, catching the orange twilight like jewels.

Her torso twisting before exploding outward—viscera scattering like a shattered engine block.

When the shockwave subsided, nothing remained but mangled remains smoking in the dust.

Ethan staggered, bile rising in his throat. He dropped to his knees, trembling violently.

The Witch approached slowly, voice carrying no sympathy.

"The pattern is set. Luck delays, but never denies."

---

The camera still streamed. Chat was a mess of horror and disbelief:

[Chat]

screamAddict : i'm literally shaking

voidling : SHE EXPLODED WHAT THE HELL

darkstream : cameraman cursed forever confirmed

finalEcho : Fate won't stop here…

Ethan raised the lens with trembling hands, capturing his own reflection in the cracked glass of the control panel. His face looked hollow, ghost-pale, eyes wide and rimmed with red.

Ethan: (whispering) "Why… why me?"

The Witch stood behind him, shadow long against the ruined rides.

"Because you still breathe."

The park lay silent once more. Rats scurried among the wreckage. The dust settled. And the sun finally dipped beneath the horizon, leaving the amusement park in darkness.

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