A cold shower ran down Alicia's spine. The once peaceful yet dangerous Carnival turns into a terrifying atmosphere.
Blood freezes, the wind stops and the sunny sky is shrouded in dark, gloomy clouds. It looks like it's starting to rain any minute now, yet no rain drops fall from any of those clouds.
Alicia's back shivered while she's standing behind Cuphead and his younger brother and pal Mugman.
The youngest of the group, nervous and scared watched his brother trying out his luck on a Skee-ball machine. Soul Ball pointed one of the many signs to the machine, luring unlucky visitors to their doom.
All the machines on this here carnival had Soul branded in their names. "Whack-A-Soul" instead of Whack-A-Mole, "Soul Fishing" instead of Duckling Fishing.
Most visitors playing at each booth or machine tried their luck, but failed miserably. Although no tickets were lost once a unfortunate victim loses a game, their souls were ripped out of their body, sucked by the very machine in front of them.
Only the gloomy, soulless bodies are left behind, wandering the very carnival, moaning like zombies.
An anthropomorphic telephone, hopping along the carnival noticed the Skee-ball machine as well. Like Cuphead he grabbed a shiny, purple ball and tried his luck on the game. Yet his ball didn't hit the middle hole.
The ball rolled down the lower hole. A red light lights up the light bulb.
"LOSER!" announced the buzzer. The middle hole changed into a mouth, blowing a raspberry before the Telephone's very own soul got sucked into the machine.
The next victim fell to the many soul sucking carnival machines. Joining the others while the young cup scored one point after the other.
"WINNER!" buzzed the machine over and over again. Cuphead laughed happily and sneered.
Each toss landed right in the middle. No matter what kind of trick he does with the ball it always lands in the middle hole announcing him to everyone around the carnival (and with a soul in their body) about his lucky streak.
A large group surrounded the Trio, Alicia was surprised to see how many visitors were there to see Cuphead winning over and over again. "He acts like a clown." She muttered to herself.
Each toss and throw were ridiculous on their own. Sure Cups and Mugs are Cartoon characters unlike Alicia. Yet it's sounds impossible for a ball to hit the middle hole by bumping against booths, flagpoles and an elephant's behind.
The latter turns around in confusion himself before the machine buzzed announcing the Cup a Winner once again.
Much to the crowds enjoyment one person wasn't so happy about the winner streak of the cup. A certain demon known and feared across the Inkwell Isle's spies on the group from the very Underworld he reigns.
"Terrific. Looks like we have a real show-off!" grumbled said demon. His pitchfork, weapon and status allows him to wack havoc, chaos, fear and fireballs. It's other use is for teleportation.
A dark black cloud of smoke remains, leaving behind an empty space where it once stood.
No one, not a single person noticed or heard the thunder in the distance, sneaking onto the carnival like a predator onto a prey.
Their focus and attention are on the lucky cup bouncing the ball like a basketball before it's tossed in the middle hole.
Announced the machine yet again. The crowd cheered "Cuphead! Cuphead! Cuphead!" while Mugsy and their companion Alicia stayed quiet, watching worried and cautious.
The cheering continued until a dark, black smoke cloud appeared in front of the crowd. Their once joyful and glee smiles turned into fearful gasps of horror and terror.
"The Devil!" screamed a frightening Elephant before dashing off into the unknown. The others soon followed.
The Devil. That's the name of said demon, brushes his nails, polishing them. "My fans, they love me." They certainly don't.
He got his attention, his status quo, his enjoyment of others'fear and soon another soul to his collection.
Fixed onto the cups the Devil walks over to the Skee-ball machine, occupied by a lucky red pants wearing cup and his shivering younger blue pants wearing, mug of a brother.
Usually the devil would sneak up on his victim, scare them nearly to death before using his ability to steal his victim's soul right out of their body.
"Oh my... What do we have here~" instead his eyes fell on the lovely young lady standing right next to the cups.
Her black hair, clothing and different eye color, everything looks perfect in the eyes of the Devil. "Oh Mama looks like I got the jackpot!" he winks at the "camera".
The Devil fell in love with this lady, his heart beats stronger than ever before, throbbing against his chest as it wants to escape his body.
Alicia heard the throbbing loud and clear. It's unbearable to not hear it's source is standing right behind her.
He heard the throbbing behind him, yet something else caused him to turn his head around. A shiver down his spine or just a coincidence.
He spotted the Devil standing right behind them, staring and yet terrifying.
The Mug's eyes withdrew and his lips sputtered. Words tried to leave his mouth yet all that's left are gasps for air.
Alicia noticed his feared expression. "Mugsy is everything..." before she noticed what was behind her.
A shiver ran down her spine. A very familiar one.
Just a peak. A small little peak was needed to let her knowwhat caused the mug to sputter in terror. Leaving him speechless.
