Lacy Blesk tightened her grip on the lantern's stem, its glow reflecting in the painted skull across her face. The music of the carousel spun faster, each revolution drawing the spectral dancers closer. They swayed with an unnatural grace, their hollow eyes fixed on her. A chill wind whipped through the square, carrying whispers from the darkened buildings. Lacy raised the "Carnival Shadows" flag higher, a silent command to the gathering spirits. Tonight, the city belonged to them, and she was their conductor. The carousel’s horses began to move faster, blurring into a dizzying whirl of shadow and light as the dancers closed in.