The Hollow Wind Carnival – Part 3 of the “A Creepy, Scary Halloween Night Story” series

The Hollow Wind Carnival is a strange carnival that appears in the woods, one that wasn’t there before.

The lights glow, the music floats on the wind, and creepy laughter echoes from the trees. But only those who passed Thistle’s test can enter.

Inside? Twisted games, ghostly rides, and secrets even scarier than before.

Get ready for another spine-tingling chapter in our Halloween adventure series!

The Hollow Wind Carnival – Let’s Read

It had been exactly one year since Thistle’s creepy Halloween game. Sam, Olivia, Leo, and Mira thought it was all behind them. They had returned to school, talked less about that night, and tried to move on.

But as Halloween crept closer… strange things started happening.

First, it was the whispers in the trees. When the wind blew, it didn’t sound like rustling leaves—it sounded like voices. Whispering names. Calling out riddles. Sometimes… laughing.

Then came the flyers.

No one saw where they came from. They weren’t handed out. They just appeared, blowing through the wind like autumn leaves. Each one said:

“One Night Only: The Hollow Wind Carnival – For Those Who Passed the Test”

The strangest part? Only Sam, Olivia, Leo, and Mira could see them. Everyone else just saw plain old paper.

At night, things got even weirder.

When the clock struck midnight, a soft, ghostly tune—a carnival melody — would float through their windows. It was haunting and beautiful, almost like it was calling to them.

They didn’t know where it was coming from…
But deep down, they knew Thistle was back.
And this time, he had something new planned.

The Carnival Appears

A few nights before Halloween, something unbelievable happened.

Sam, Olivia, Leo, and Mira were walking home from school when they saw it—
a glowing carnival deep in the woods. Bright lights. Colourful tents. A giant Ferris wheel spins slowly in the fog.

But here’s the strange part…

That part of the woods had always been empty.
No roads, no buildings, no people.
Now, there was an entire carnival out of nowhere—and it looked like it had been there forever.

They rushed home and told their families.
But when their parents looked?
Nothing. Just trees.
No one else could see it.

That night, they returned together. As they got closer, the air grew chilly. The lights flickered softly. Music played—slow and ghostly. The kind of tune that gives you goosebumps.

Suddenly, a whisper floated out from the trees:

“Only the chosen may enter…”

• The kids looked at each other.
• They were the ones who had passed Thistle’s game last year.
• They were the “chosen.”

Without saying a word, they stepped past the tall iron gate.
And the moment they did…

The woods behind them vanished.

The path was gone.
The world was gone.
They were inside the Hollow Wind Carnival now.

And there was no turning back.

The Games Begin

As the kids stepped further into the heart of the Hollow Wind Carnival, the air thickened, like fog made of secrets.

The rides creaked even though no one rode them. Lights flickered like blinking eyes.

The smell of popcorn and pumpkin spice was there… but somehow wrong, like it had been sitting out for a hundred years.

Then came the voice again. Whispery. Cold.

“Let the trials begin.”

Without touching anything, the ground rumbled beneath their feet, and each child was pulled into a glowing, eerie tent designed just for them.

Each one would now face their creepy challenge.

Sam’s Tent – The Room of Forgotten Toys

Sam found himself in a crooked room lit by a single swinging bulb.

Old shelves lined the walls, filled with dusty, broken toys—jack-in-the-boxes with frozen grins, puppets with tangled strings, and teddy bears with buttons for eyes.

Suddenly, one doll turned its head. Then another.
One by one, they all came to life.

“Play with us…” one squeaked, tilting its head unnaturally.

Then came a strange chant:

“Solve our riddles, brave and true… or we’ll become a part of you.”

Each riddle grew harder.
Each wrong answer made the room colder.
Toys started twitching, crawling closer, dragging their sharp little limbs.

Sam’s heart pounded. He had to stay sharp, listen carefully, and solve fast—or he’d become the newest toy on the shelf.

Olivia’s Tent – The Hall of Never-Ending Mirrors

Olivia stepped into a hallway so shiny it hurt her eyes.
Mirrors lined every inch, reflecting her face a hundred times over.

But something was off…

Some reflections didn’t copy her moves.
One smiled when she frowned.
One waved when she didn’t.

Then they began stepping out of the mirrors—ghostly versions of themselves.

“Come play hide and seek… but only one mirror leads out,” a voice purred behind her.

They whispered lies. Blocked fake doors. One tried to grab her hand.

Olivia had to trust her memory, stay calm, and find the only real exit—or risk being lost in the mirrors forever.

Leo’s Tent – The Rollercoaster of Regret

Leo was buckled into a creaky rollercoaster cart that moved on its own.

The track lit up in glowing red spirals as it launched into the dark.
But instead of fun twists… he was shown memories.
His biggest regrets.

He saw the time he told a lie.
The time he let a friend down.
The time he was too scared to speak up.

With each turn, ghostly faces whispered:

“Would you go back and fix it… If you could?”

Up ahead, the track split. A sign flickered:
“Pull the brake… but only when your heart is ready.”

Too soon, and he’d fall into a loop of his fears.
Too late, and he’d never escape.

Leo gripped the brake handle, heart pounding, and waited for the perfect moment…

Mira’s Tent – The Maze of Whispers

Mira entered complete fog.
So thick, she couldn’t see her hands.

Only sound could guide her now.
But the voices weren’t exactly friendly.

“Straight ahead…”

“No—turn left…”

“We lied…”

The whispers echoed from all directions—soft, sinister, and even laughing.

Every turn led to either a path… or a trap.
Once, she almost stepped into a pit of spinning gears. Another time, she heard footsteps behind her… but saw nothing.

She closed her eyes. Took a breath.
She remembered what Thistle once said:

“Not all answers are loud. Some are inside you.”

Mira slowed down, trusted her gut, and followed the faintest whisper that felt right.

And it led her to the exit.

All four friends had survived their tents.

Each one was shaken, but stronger.
Each one had faced their fear—and won.

But as they reunited in the heart of the carnival…
Something darker stirred beneath the Ferris wheel.

The real game had only just begun.

The Heart of the Carnival – Where the Real Game Begins

Sam, Olivia, Leo, and Mira reunited under the flickering glow of the Ferris wheel, each one pale, breathless, and eyes wide from their haunted challenge.

They didn’t even have to speak.
They knew something had changed in them.

Suddenly, the ground trembled… just a little.

A ripple of laughter echoed—soft at first, then louder.

Out of the shadows stepped… Thistle.

But this time, he wasn’t wearing his usual tattered jester costume.

This time, he was dressed like a carnival ringmaster—hat, cane, and all. But his eyes? Still glowing. Still creepy.

“Bravo! You survived the tents,” he grinned, clapping slowly.
“But… the main attraction still awaits.”

Behind him, a giant tent rose from the earth like it had been sleeping underground all along.
Black and red stripes. Golden skulls on the entrance.

Above it, a sign sparked to life:

“The Final Act.”

Thistle turned and opened his arms wide.

“If you want to leave this carnival… You must play one last game.”

The four friends exchanged nervous glances.

They’d come this far. There was no going back now.

What’s Inside “The Final Act” Tent?

Inside the giant tent, the rules changed.
The lights dimmed. Time slowed.
Everything felt like a dream—or a nightmare.

There were no clear paths. No instructions.

Instead, strange challenges appeared one by one:

• A spinning room where everything was upside-down.
• A room filled with clocks, all ticking out of sync.
• A floating hallway made of smoke and whispers.
• Each room tested their teamwork, trust, and courage.

One challenge had them solve a giant riddle together, each holding a piece of the answer.

Another had them walk a narrow beam where only one could see, and the others had to guide them with words.

Thistle’s voice echoed in every corner:

“You can’t win this alone. Only together can you break the spell.”

The Final Twist

Just when it felt like they were about to give up—when their legs ached, and their minds were spinning—they stepped through the last door…

And found themselves back outside.

The carnival was gone.
Like it had never existed.

But clutched in each of their hands… was a golden ticket.
And written on each one:

“You passed the test. You’ll be needed again.”

No one else remembered the carnival.

No one else ever saw it.

But Sam, Olivia, Leo, and Mira knew the truth.

The Hollow Wind Carnival was real.

And someday… it might come back.

Carnival of Creepy Riddles

Dare to solve them all?

Riddle 1: The Swing of Shadows

I hang in the dark and swing in the breeze,
You’ll hear me creak but never see my knees.
Once full of joy, now silent and still,
Ride me if you dare—but only if you will.

What am I?

Answer: An old carnival swing

Riddle 2: The Mirror’s Secret

I show you yourself, but not as you are,
Sometimes I smile, sometimes I scar.
I trick your mind and twist your sight,
Find the truth and step into the light.

What am I?

Answer: A haunted mirror

Riddle 3: The Ghost Ride

I twist and turn, scream and dive,
You’re boarding me, hoping you’ll survive. But shadows ride in every seat,
And cold winds whisper at your feet.

What am I?

Answer: A haunted rollercoaster

Riddle 4: The Whispering Tent

I speak with no mouth, and guide with no hands,
I led some to safety, others to the sands.I’m heard in the dark, but never in the day,
If you follow for too long, you might lose your way.

What am I?

Answer: A whispering voice

Riddle 5: The Carnival Keeper

My eyes glow bright, but I’m not alive,
I grin and twist as games arrive.
I make the rules and vanish at dawn,
But break them once, and you’ll be gone.

Who am I?

Answer: Thistle the Trickster

What Is a Carnival? Little info for Kids

A carnival is like a big, fun party with many exciting rides, games, and tasty treats! You might see colourful tents, bright lights, and hear cheerful music everywhere.

People come to a carnival to play games, ride rollercoasters, eat yummy snacks like cotton candy, and watch cool shows.

But in a spooky story like The Hollow Wind Carnival, the carnival can be a little different — mysterious, magical, and sometimes a bit creepy!

It’s a place full of surprises, where anything can happen… so you must be brave to explore it!

Fun Facts About Carnivals for Kids

• Carnivals have existed for hundreds of years. People used to celebrate with fairs and festivals long ago, just like today’s carnivals.
• The Ferris wheel was invented for a big fair in 1893 and named after its creator, George Ferris.
• Carnivals often feature fun games like ring toss, balloon darts, and duck fishing, in which participants can win prizes like stuffed animals.
• Cotton candy was first made at a carnival! It was invented in 1897 and is sometimes called “fairy floss.”
• Some carnivals travel from town to town! They pack up all their rides and tents and move on to the next place, bringing fun everywhere.