Shawn: The Playground Search
Shawn gave his best description, even going so far as to refer to the missing kid as 'his brother.' As he did so, he could make out a silhouette figure within the truck. The outline of an adult, for sure. An adult that was wearing some kind of baggy outfit or clothing. Ragged hair fell in clumps out from an unkempt head, hanging low just above the shoulders, which were broad. The rough outline of cuffed sleeves that sprouted out at the wrists.
"Kid...you can't fool me so quit tryin." The harsh voice said. "We both know it ain't **cough**..**cough**..your brother."
The voice went from harsh, to a shrill, angry whisper. It was filled with such rage that Shawn could see the outside of the van vibrate.
"I should cut your nose off...for...what...you did....**cough**...to Gaggles." The voice strained in a whisper.
Then the voice cracked. The sound of someone on the verge of a hysterical breakdown. "They got Mr. Pibbles too." The voice said, and now it sounded like it was choking, on the verge of crying. "She got the whole crew..." the voice croaked, and Shawn thought he heard a few sniffles.
"Pibbles an I were good friends...and now he's gone. He ain't comin' back. Not this time. She packed him off with the rest of the souls for the Proprietor to consume. So he's gone. I'd say good for him. But it isn't. It's worse bein' consumed by him. The souls he takes. He makes them a part of him. It's worse then....**cough**...**cough**..**cough**." The voice broke down into a hacking, coughing fit before recovering.
"Worse than bein' cursed by the Circus kid. Much worse. Once you're part of him. Your evil just like us. But you aren't even you anymore. You're somethin' else."
"But it doesn't matter now." The figure in the ice cream truck said, resigned to what was going to happen. "Now she's gonna turn this place into a livin' hell. You watch. I was going to feed the Circus' need from places all around the country. Spread out the misery that we live on. But her? Ha..ha..*cough*..*cough*. She'll do what she always does. She'll make this town into her own personal hell."
"So who ya' lookin' for kid? I'll help you out. And you don't tell no one that I'm hidin' here. Fair?"