Chris followed the crowd, very curious. And indeed it was a strange sight to behold. The orator was not wrong. There was a large stone circle, taller than any man present. It was inscribed with glyphs and a cryptic series of symbols. The writing didn't seem known to man. But it was riddled with little bolts of while, dark blue and violet lightning. They circled the huge stone artefact like ephemeral little snakes. The center did not show the opposite side of the room but instead was pitch black and shimmering, reflecting patches of light green, as if it was composed of water. Dark murky water that could somehow, magically, stand upright. It was also constellated with little waves. Everyone was startled, amazed and wondering what sort of sorcery this was. The orator spoke again.
"Behold! The Mystery Spot! Go across and you will live the most incredible dream! And not just any dream! Your own! Your greatest desires and fantasies will become real! Try it out and you'll see!"
People were of course very impressed and shoved others to see that most extraordinary sight. They pushed by their desires but were also held back by fear. Quite logically. Until a man said he was willing to try and step into the shimmering surface of the sone circle. He was swallowed by it and for a few seconds no one said anything, waiting apprehensively. That is, until this very man arrived from behind the spectators, shouting that had had a wonderful time and that all should try it, that time would seem like days and days but that in the real world, only a few seconds had passed by. At his words, they all rushed forward, all throwing themselves into the stone circle, all under the. satisfied eyes and smile of the orator. He knew what all did not. That first man was not the real one, simply an illusion that vanished. That first victim had never emerged from the stone circle. Like all others, he was sent to another real, a fantasy world, ready to be transformed and picked up by creatures there, happy to have humans as tribute. In exchange, the Carnival was bestowed magic and riches. And Chris, same as the others, stepped into the circle and into another world. Little did he know yet, into his own fate too.