I opened my eyes.
The ceiling of my room stared back at me in complete silence.
I slowly got up, stretching lazily. Everything was calm.
Too calm.
I walked to the bathroom.
The reflection in the mirror watched me without blinking.
It's been a few days since Trenton lit up with fireworks… and blood.
I sighed.
—Nothing.
Nothing supernatural had appeared yet.
I expected more. Much more.
I rested my hands on the sink. Cold water ran through my fingers.
—Morris County… Sussex County… Mercer County.
Three territories.
I smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach my eyes.
—I don't care what happens there… yet.
But I will.
Eventually.
I took a shower.
Hot water hit my skin as the words of the original clown echoed in my mind.
"The real supernatural entities are awakening…"
I closed my eyes.
—Heh…
A low chuckle escaped my throat.
—Interesting.
Very interesting.
I stepped out, got dressed, and sat on the edge of the bed.
—So… bigger things are coming.
I tilted my head, feeling something stir inside me.
It wasn't hunger for food.
It was hunger for something else.
—Perfect.
My eyes darkened slightly.
—I'll be ready.
In Vivian's house…
The four girls were gathered in the living room.
Vivian, Brittany, Madeleine, and Ana.
Four girls in one place, yet the atmosphere felt heavy.
Tense.
Unsettling.
—I'm glad you could come —Vivian said with a small smile—. I thought you wouldn't make it.
Madeleine shook her head.
—Don't say that. When you called me that night… talking about "fireworks"… I thought you had lost it.
Ana let out a brief, nervous laugh.
—Me too.
She looked at Brittany.
—But then she called me to confirm it…
Brittany shrugged slightly, though her expression remained serious.
—It wasn't something we could ignore.
Vivian looked at all of them. Her voice lowered.
—There's something we need to talk about.
The others fell silent.
—A few days ago —Vivian continued— Brittany and I went to Sussex County to see Ana.
Ana nodded slowly.
—We went to a café… and talked about him.
—The clown —Madeleine murmured quietly.
Vivian nodded.
—He appeared out of nowhere. Left us a letter.
Madeleine tensed.
—When we were leaving… at the bus stop… balloons appeared.
Brittany spoke, her voice low:
—They formed a message.
—"Morris County and Sussex County are my territories. If you go beyond them… I don't know what might happen to you."
Ana frowned.
—That means…
—There's a third one —Brittany said—. Mercer County.
Madeleine went pale.
—Are you saying… those three counties belong to him now?
Heavy silence.
—Seems like it —Vivian replied.
Madeleine looked at them, clearly worried.
—Tell me you haven't left those places.
—No —Brittany said—. We've only moved within those three.
Madeleine looked down.
The forest still haunted her.
The skinless creatures.
The chase.
Vivian noticed.
She stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
—It's okay… we're safe.
Madeleine took a moment to respond.
—I think that clown… is going to expand —Vivian continued.
Ana looked up.
—Why do you think that?
Vivian hesitated, then spoke calmly:
—Because he's never hurt us.
The others looked at her.
—He only targets criminals… or those things.
Brittany crossed her arms.
—And he always warns us.
—Exactly —Vivian said—. He always warns us.
Ana shook her head slightly.
—He's still dangerous.
—He is —Vivian admitted—. But we can't do anything against him.
Silence.
No one argued.
It was the truth.
Then—
A soft bark.
All of them turned toward the window.
A balloon.
Shaped like a dog.
Madeleine and Ana froze.
Brittany… not so much.
Vivian slowly stood up.
She walked to the window.
Opened it.
The balloon jumped inside.
It rubbed against her, seeking affection, as if it were alive.
Vivian didn't pull away.
She just let it.
The "dog" jumped onto the bed.
It inflated.
And—
Pop.
A soft explosion.
A letter appeared on the sheets.
The four of them stared at it in silence.
Vivian walked over.
Picked it up.
Looked at the others.
They understood.
They moved closer.
Vivian opened the letter and read aloud, her voice slightly trembling:
—"Hello, girls…"
Silence.
—"I hope you're doing well… though it doesn't matter."
Brittany pressed her lips together.
—"The real supernatural entities are awakening."
All four tensed.
—"Prepare yourselves… because this will be dangerous."
Madeleine clenched her fists.
—"Remember what I told you… but now I'll update it."
Vivian continued:
—"Morris County, Sussex County… and Mercer County are my territory."
Ana swallowed.
—"You'll be safe within these three."
Absolute silence.
—"If you leave them…"
A long pause.
—"…good luck."
The letter slowly dissolved into red particles that floated briefly before disappearing.
No one spoke for nearly a minute.
Fear filled the room.
But something else was there too.
A quiet resignation.
An unspoken acceptance.
That, for now…
they lived under the rules of a clown.
Somewhere far away…
Low, dark laughter echoed through the night.
A man was digging.
Dirt fell heavily with each shovel strike.
Eventually, the hole was deep enough.
He dragged a large chest.
Threw it inside.
It moved.
From the inside.
Desperate banging.
The man said nothing.
He simply buried it.
Covered everything with dirt.
Wiped his hands.
Got into his car.
Started the engine.
—Alright…
He smiled in the darkness.
—Which group of girls should I ruin next?
The car drove off.
Destination: Morris County.