Some call it purgatory, others know it as the in-between, but for those poor souls who are trapped there eternally, it is simply The Carnival — a macabre mockery where night is never-ending, and a sadistic creature known as The Fool reigns unchallenged. And The Fool has one rule: No one leaves The Carnival. Ever. Christopher, the latest arrival thrust reluctantly through the gates, is certain that he doesn't belong there, and he's damn sure he's not staying. But if he's to stand any chance of getting out, he's going to have to trust a girl who can't possibly be what she claims. With her help, he must confront not only The Fool, but his own dark past.