The town had been painted red. Marvelous red that seemed to glow and enhance the suspicion that grew every moment. Red that splattered over the brick walls in alleyways. Thick, flowing red that left a bloody path. The same red that was associated with the playing cards depicting a smiling joker. It mocked the townspeople, it's macrebe smile inviting death. Week after week, someone would find the mutilated body, a vital organ replaced with the tell-tale playing card. Week after week, suspects were tried. Yet week after week, they were all innocent. Until one night, the killer had been mighty sloppy with their work. The townsfolk gladly followed the red trail. It led them to an abandoned carnival. More specifically, the house of mirrors. Cautiously, they filed in and followed bloody prints to the center room. A woman up front screamed. In the room, hanging from the ceiling, were the grizzly remains of the murdered victim's organs. A small girl sat on a throne of gnarled bones, piles of playing cards at her feet. Her body was saturated in the same red that colored the town. She turns to face the shocked town, a mischievous joker in her hand. Her hair disheveled and a grotesque, red smile painted on her lips, she giggled. Then, finally snapping under the weight of her own insanity, she cackled. Her ear-grinding laughter ricocheted off the mirrors. Finally, with her hair falling into her face, she looked the mayor directly in his eyes and exclaimed.
Why so serious...?
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