The street carnival was overflowing with music, dancers, and people in masks. Sarah had brought her young nephew, Ben, but she kept getting distracted by performers, food stalls, and her phone. One moment Ben was beside her. The next, he was gone. What started as mild concern quickly became terror as she searched every corner of the carnival.
Three hours passed. Sarah ran through crowded streets calling Ben's name until her voice became hoarse. Nobody had seen him. The colorful carnival that had seemed so cheerful now felt like a nightmare. Just as she was about to call the police, she noticed a woman standing perfectly still among the moving crowd.
The woman wore a strange black and white knee length dress and an old mask that looked decades older than every other costume at the carnival. Her hand gripped Ben's shoulder tightly. Sarah rushed toward them in relief. Before letting go of the boy, the masked woman bent close and whispered,
"Keep your eyes on him closely... or next time I'll take your eyes."
Sarah grabbed Ben and hugged him tightly. She looked down for only a second to check if he was hurt. When she looked back up, the woman had vanished into the sea of masks and lights. Ben was safe, but from that night on, Sarah never lost sight of him again. Sometimes, in crowded places, she swore she could see a black-and-white figure watching from far away.