Chapter 24: Terrifier: This is the Real Clown
Inside the diner.
The Clown was not only strangely dressed, but his appearance was also very peculiar.
He wasn't like the red-nosed clowns in a circus meant to amuse the audience. This Clown's attire was only black and white, and he had a mini top hat on his head.
Coupled with his protruding and grotesque features, he looked extremely unsettling even with the black and white clown makeup.
In summary: This was Art the Clown.
There were also a pair of friends, Tara and Dawn, in the diner. The Clown placed his things on a seat and sat down, directly across from Tara.
Tara couldn't help but glance at him a few times.
As soon as the Clown noticed her gaze, he immediately looked back. He propped his elbows on the table, interlaced his fingers to form a small frame, rested his head on his clasped hands with his chin against the back of his hand, his eyes curved, his lips turned up, and he smiled as he looked across.
This eerie scene made Tara quickly avert her gaze. The Clown's bizarre appearance and actions across from her made her uncomfortable.
Fortunately, there were other people in the diner.
Danny sat facing forward and looked back. This time, without a card, he could recognize the entity just by appearance.
Art the Clown from Terrifier, who could hold his own in the horror clown pantheon.
Danny didn't feel scared by the appearance of this thing. Instead, he felt quite intrigued.
After all, Terrifier was a gore film with minimal plot, killing from beginning to end, and Art's performance in it showed he could even be temporarily stopped by an ordinary person.
However, temporarily stopping him was one thing, and his apparent immortality was another.
Moreover, many people don't know that Terrifier actually has mythology behind it.
Art's existence relies on a supernatural element—everyone who was killed seemed to fuel his return.
At first glance, this was reminiscent of other supernatural slashers.
The question was how to contain this type of seemingly immortal monster: kill it, or seal it?
Jennifer followed Danny's gaze and glanced at Art. His ugly and comical appearance instantly made her lose interest, and she withdrew her gaze to order food from the owner.
She was only thinking about how to proceed with the post-meal activities now.
Tara's stare made Dawn look back, and seeing the Clown's comical appearance instantly piqued her interest.
She stumbled over to Art and said.
"Excuse me, may I take a picture with you?"
Dawn finished speaking without waiting for the Clown's consent, then, under Tara and Jennifer's disbelieving eyes, she plopped herself onto the Clown's lap and picked up her phone to take pictures.
After taking them, she even looked at his small top hat, picked it up, and flicked it. The top hat smacked against the Clown's face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, let's take another one."
"Click, click."
Dawn grabbed the Clown's face and took a few more selfies. After finishing, she even said thank you before wobbling back.
Danny saw very clearly that Dawn was drunk and careless. It wasn't that he wanted to look, but it was too obvious she was being reckless.
Her judgment was clearly impaired, not even half as sensible as Jennifer's—one could tell just by observation.
Back in her seat, Dawn was questioned by her friend.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Tara couldn't understand why Dawn would provoke such a strange person whom one should avoid at all costs.
Dawn said dismissively.
"Oh, what, is he going to chop me into pieces or something?"
This cavalier tone left Tara speechless.
Just as the two were bickering, Art stood up, walked in front of Tara, and pulled out a ring. From his manner, he seemed to be quite fond of her.
Tara looked at Art's wide black-painted mouth and didn't dare refuse him directly. She could only reach out her hand, enduring the disgust, and let Art put the ring on her finger—specifically her thumb.
This made her even more certain the Clown in front of her was definitely mentally unstable.
Art was very happy to see the ring on her finger and cheerfully walked into the restroom.
But he was soon kicked out by the owner.
"Holy crap, you sick freak, you smeared shit everywhere! Get out!"
The diner owner held a mop and was hitting Art while chasing him out, even throwing out the black garbage bag after him.
Art's disturbing habit: defecating and then smearing the feces everywhere.
Because of this, Danny lost his appetite. This Art was truly disturbed—after all, very few people or clowns liked to play with excrement.
Setting everything else aside, just hearing about it was revolting.
Danny and Jennifer had just left, and Tara and Dawn also exited the diner.
However, Danny stopped again at the next block.
"What's wrong, babe? Aren't you full?" Jennifer was still very concerned about this issue, as it related to the evening's plans and her satisfaction.
Danny said flatly, "I'm fine. Why did you change how you address me again?"
Jennifer hugged Danny's arm, pressing close with her body: "Didn't I call you that once already? Or should I continue to call you something else?"
In Jennifer's opinion, once a relationship was established, wasn't it perfectly normal to call someone babe, or honey, or even more intimate terms?
Danny tried to pull his arm away but found he couldn't, so he could only say.
"Whatever you want then. I stopped not because I wasn't full, but because I'm going back to check something."
Jennifer was puzzled.
"Why go back and check?"
"Because that Clown is similar to what you encountered in your house." Danny didn't intend to hide it from Jennifer. She would have to face this reality sooner or later.
As expected, as soon as she heard it might be something supernatural, Jennifer got scared. She already had psychological trauma.
Even if her home was still there, she wouldn't want to go back. She would rather shamelessly move into Danny's house, even if it came at a cost.
Jennifer could even accept being dependent on him.
"Dealing with these things is so dangerous. Let's find someone else to do it. How about we go home tonight, babe? You've already dealt with one, there's no need to push yourself so hard."
Jennifer was reluctant for Danny to take risks. Wouldn't it be better for them to pretend nothing happened, go home, and relax together?
Danny explained: "We were noticed by that Clown when we were at that diner. Even if you go home, it will follow you. Instead of that, it's better to deal with it early."
Jennifer had nothing to say. She didn't understand why so many terrifying entities suddenly appeared in Salem.
Sometimes she really wanted to move.
Danny took out a string of keys.
"You go to my house. Didn't you want to see the place?"
Jennifer's eyes lit up, then she said.
"I'm scared to go alone."
"Then call your friend to go with you. You should have at least one friend, right?"
"I think I have one..."
"That's right, call your friend, show off to her, and tell her you're now staying at this place."
"Why not say I live there permanently?"
Because the place had its own protections and history. Of course, Danny didn't tell Jennifer the real reason. She was already nervous, and if he scared her more, she'd probably cling to him.
Other places might not be safe, but his house had protections.
Danny was confident because of what he'd learned about the property's history.
After reassuring Jennifer, Danny called and arranged for her to be picked up.
Jennifer looked at Danny with such admiration. He had everything arranged. Was her boyfriend really that well-off?
After Jennifer was driven away,
Danny returned, ready to test the capabilities of Art the Clown.
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