The Thin Man
A Horror Story
Violshire is an industrial hub, with factories looming over my neighbourhood. Dad works in one of these factories, a cog in the machine. My family were housed with the rest of the working men from the factory at the end of the street, packed tight into rows of terraced houses. We were in a difficult cycle each day, working to survive and surviving to work, with no prospect of integrating with high society.
Even myself, at eleven years old, was put to work. I have always been an outcast in my own family and I think my parents wanted me out of their sight as much as they needed the extra money. The cleaning work brought me some respite from the endless berating I would get for my peculiar appearance. The only one who didn't recoil from me was my two-year-old sister, who also seemed to have inherited the same protruding jaw as me, and would likely develop the ugly big teeth that I unfortunately have.
‘You!’ Dad snapped on this frigid evening. ‘That bucket isn’t going to take itself out.’
‘I will take it,’ I said with reluctance. Shivering in the cold, I dragged the heavy bucket into the back alley and tipped the slop out for the pigs. The nights were drawing in now and the moonlight barely penetrated the clouds of industry. However, I spied a thin man standing in the shadows a few houses down, his emaciated frame clad in a moth-eaten suit and a bowler hat perched atop his head. The only other light was the eerie glow from the bowl of his pipe as he took a slow, pondering puff.
My heart raced when I noticed him. I let out a piercing scream that echoed through the alley, and without looking back, I fled inside to tell my parents.
Mum and Dad rushed outside, lanterns in hand, but no one was there when they arrived at the spot where the man had stood. My father took a handful of my hair and, through gritted teeth, said, ‘Listen, girl, I am running out of patience with you. Get back in that house. I don’t even want to hear you for the rest of the night.’ He released me and I hurried to my bed, somehow holding back the tears until my head was under the covers.
On my way home from running an errand the following day, thoughts of the thin man racing through my mind, a woman walked briskly past me on the street. Her eyes met mine for just a moment before they widened in horror. She recoiled, her expression twisting into one of disgust as she quickened her pace, almost tripping over her skirts in her haste to get away. My cheeks burned with shame, and I kept my head down, counting the uneven cobblestones beneath my feet. Ahead, a small group of well-dressed people strolled towards me, their laughing and joking ringing through the air. Not wanting to endure more stares or cruel whispers, I hurried across the street.
It was then that I noticed the posters. They were plastered on every lamp post, announcing the arrival of The Carnival of Shadows with a sideshow, the first performance just days away. I paused in front of one of the posters, reading the bold, garish letters, trying to imagine the strange wonders that might await inside. As I was lost in thought, something small and hard struck the back of my head, followed by a few more painful hits. I spun around just in time to see a group of children, stones in hand, their faces twisted with cruel glee. ‘Freak!’ one of them shouted, before they all ran off, their mocking laughter echoing down the street. I stood there, trembling with a mix of anger and humiliation, the words of the poster blurring in my tear-filled eyes.
As I wiped my tears away and could see clearly again, I saw the thin man once more, leaning casually against a lamp post, his pipe billowing smoke into the cold air. His skin was deathly pale and teeth nicotine-stained. He sauntered across the road, weaving between hansom cabs and extended a bony hand towards me. ‘Fancy a visit to the Carnival of Shadows?’ he asked, his voice silky and beckoning.
Curiosity and a strange compulsion to agree flooded through me, but sensibility prevailed and I backed away. ‘I have to get home, Sir.’ I hurried away but could not escape the knowledge that the thin man watched me the whole way. Nor could I move beyond how kind and persuasive he was.
I thought more and more about his invitation, even throughout my shift at work. When I left work I was drawn in the direction of the thin man and the Carnival of Shadows. Perhaps I could go and check it out and tell my parents that I had to finish work later than usual.
I ventured through the city until I arrived at the carnivals perimeter fence. Several dark, foreboding tents had been erected to house the performers and equipment, and the main tent for spectators loomed like the factory at the end of my street. Once inside the perimeter fence, I witnessed three massive strongmen, their bald heads gleaming under the dim light, one with a scar marring the back of his skull.
They were hauling huge amounts of equipment, unpacking and preparing for opening night. The one with the scar carried a giant wooden chest under each arm, and perched on the back of one of the chests unbeknownst to the strongman, was a bearded dwarf holding a cup of beer. He locked eyes with me for a second, and before they disappeared into a tent, he gave me a wink. I was alone and felt comfortable smiling at what I saw, nobody was around to mock my smile. I quickly mopped the drool that often escapes when I open my mouth and moved deeper into the Carnival of Shadows.
There was a tent with the sound of animals ahead of me. The closer I got to it, the more the smell of wet dog filled my nostrils. When I entered the tent I saw a cage in the centre. Inside the cage was a massive stone with six thick chains fixed to it. The end of each chain was attached to a heavy collar around the necks of six beastly creatures. My scent carried through the tent and they all became aware of my intrusion.
It was truly unnerving to witness monsters, standing on their hind legs, shackled with heavy chains connected to a massive stone. These were real monsters, unlike anything I had ever imagined. I saw movement to my right. One of the monsters had escaped and was only several feet away. It closed the gap between us and clamped a hand around my arm. ‘Who let you back here?’ it said.
‘You sssspeak?’ I said, trembling.
The creature lifted its spare hand and began to peel away its face.
There was no blood.
It took me a while before I realised that it was a mask.
‘Of course I speak,’ said the man. ‘It isn’t safe to be snooping around,’ he said, ushering me out of the tent. He took a tentative glance back at the cage before returning his attention to me. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I was looking for a man. He invited me here.’
‘What man?’ he quizzed.
I realised that I had no idea who he was, what his name was. ‘The thin man.’
The man in the costume tilted his head, studying me. ‘All right,’ he said eventually. ‘Follow me.’
As we walked, I couldn’t shake the thought of those creatures. Were they truly real? It seemed absurd to chain the performers to a stone inside a cage. This man must be part of the act, his costume meant to distract and entertain, to keep the audience from probing too deeply into the areas my mind was wandering now.
‘We’re here.’
I put the thought of caged monsters out of my mind and followed the man who was wearing the mask. We entered a small tent. It had a desk and papers like it was used for administration. The thin man sat at the desk on a rickety wooden chair, smoking his pipe, and his eyes locked onto mine. He gave me such a warm smile, something I wasn’t used to. It made me feel accepted despite my physical disadvantage.
‘Hello again,’ he said from behind his pipe. ‘I didn’t get your name.’
‘Daisy.’
‘Well Daisy, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. You are welcome here, at The Carnival of Shadows.’
‘Thank you, Sir.’
‘What is it that you want from life, Daisy?’ He struck a match and dropped it into his pipe.
 To begin with, his question seemed odd. But when he spoke he had a way of convincing me to listen. I thought about what I wanted for a moment. I’d always known the answer to that question but never had to articulate it. Until now. ‘I want to fit in.’
‘Do you not fit in at work? At home?’
‘People laugh at me. Why wouldn’t they? Look at me.’
‘We all fit in at the carnival. Why not join us?’
‘My father would not approve.’
‘To hell with him!’ the thin man spoke louder now. ‘He doesn’t approve of you now.’
I backed away, my pulse quickening under his gaze. The thin man’s presence was both magnetic and intimidating, his piercing eyes seeming to see through me. ‘I should leave,’ I stammered, feeling a sudden urge to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the tent. ‘Thank you, Sir.’
He didn’t move from his seat but nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth curling into a knowing smile. ‘You know where to find us if you change your mind,’ he said, his voice smooth and assured. With that, he turned his attention back to the papers on his desk. The air around him thickened with the pungent smoke from his pipe, and he gradually disappeared from view, obscured by the swirling tendrils.
I hesitated for a moment longer, the warmth of his words lingering even as my instinct urged me to flee. As I finally stepped out of the tent, the cold night air hit me, a stark contrast to the warmth inside. I hurried through the carnival grounds, my thoughts racing. I had always been cautious, careful not to dream too far beyond the bleak confines of my life, but his offer had stirred something deep within me.
Could I truly belong here, among the outcasts and oddities? The thought of leaving my family, of stepping away from the constant ridicule and scorn terrified and excited me. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine a life where I wasn't the object of mockery, where I could be accepted for who I was, where perhaps even my sister could escape the same cruel fate that awaited her.
But then, doubts crept in. What would it mean to join The Carnival of Shadows? Would I be trading one form of captivity for another? The thin man had been kind, almost too kind, and his words lingered in my mind like a spell. As I made my way through the darkened streets of Violshire, the fog thickening around me, I couldn’t help but weigh the possibilities. A life away from the torment I endured every day, or the unknown that lay ahead if I accepted his offer.
As I crept to my bed that night, the memory of Dad’s harsh hand and Mum’s cold indifference still fresh, the thought of the carnival followed me, its allure wrapping around my mind like the smoke from the thin man’s pipe, whispering that perhaps, just perhaps, I could find a place where I truly belonged.
The house settled into its usual uneasy quiet, and I lay awake, staring at the cracked ceiling. Harsh words from Mum and Dad echoed in my mind, mingling with the thin man's smooth, persuasive voice.
The endless days of cleaning, the sneers and taunts of strangers, the cold indifference of my family, that was the life that awaited me if I stayed. But what lay beyond the carnival's gates was a mystery, a world full of possibilities and dangers I couldn’t yet comprehend. I hesitated, torn between the familiarity of my suffering and the unknown that beckoned.
The decision came to me in the dark, in a quiet moment when the weight of my life pressed too heavily on my chest. I couldn’t stay. Not here, not with them. The thin man's offer had planted a seed of hope in me — a chance to escape, to find a place where I might fit in. Where I could be more than just a freak with a protruding jaw and oversized teeth.
I slipped from my bed and moved silently through the house. I knew the creaky floorboards and avoided them as I made my way to the small cupboard where I kept my few belongings. My hands trembled as I stuffed a spare dress, some undergarments, and the little bit of money I’d managed to save into a worn cloth bag.Â
Just as I turned to leave, I hesitated. The moonlight filtered through the threadbare curtains, casting a pale glow over my sister’s sleeping form. She lay there, her little chest rising and falling with each breath, blissfully unaware of the harsh world that awaited her as she grew older.
I couldn’t leave her behind. Not to face the same ridicule, the same cruelty that had been my burden. I stepped softly into the room, my heart pounding as I gently lifted her from the bed. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her tiny fingers curling around a lock of my hair as I cradled her in my arms. The weight of her small body felt like a promise, one that I couldn’t break.
With my sister held close and my bag slung over my shoulder, I crept out of the house, the cool night air biting at my cheeks. I walked quickly through the darkened streets, my pulse quickening with each step.
I didn’t look back.
I couldn’t look back.
The thin man’s offer was all that filled my mind, his words a lifeline.
As we neared the carnival grounds, the shadows seemed to shift and dance, the fog swirling around us as if guiding our way. And then, there he was. The thin man stood under the flickering light of a lamp post, his pipe glowing softly in the night. His tall and skeletal frame was comforting and unnerving as if he had been expecting us all along.
‘Welcome back, Daisy,’ he said, his voice as smooth as ever. His eyes fell on my sister, and a faint smile touched his lips. ‘And you’ve brought a guest. A wise choice.’
I nodded.
‘Come,’ he said, turning towards the entrance of the carnival. ‘There’s much to be done, and the night is still young.’
I followed him, the fog thickening around us as we entered the Carnival of Shadows. The gates closed behind us with a soft, final click, and for the first time in my life, I felt the pain of my old life begin to lift.
Chains rattled in the tent where the monsters were. The three strongmen heaved equipment in the distance. The bearded dwarf peered around the flap of a tent, sloshed some beer onto his shoes, and slipped back inside the tent. A piercing cackle issued from somewhere.
What lay ahead was unknown, but as I walked deeper into the carnival, the thin man leading the way, I felt a strange sense of belonging settle over me. This was my path now, and with my sister by my side, I would face whatever came next.