𝓐re you man enough, are you man enough? / Are you man enough to take the blame for this?    𝜗ৎ.    Placing the Blame by Self.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

✶     ❛𝓦elcome to the Atlantic Island Park! We hope that you enjoy your time here with us! Don't forget to give Wallace the Woodpecker a high five when you see him!❜ It's an announcement that's burned into the newly developed frontal lobes of children who pass through the gates of Maine's beloved amusement park. With its twinkling golden lines illuminating the roller coasters and Ferris wheels, the cheers of children running down the gravel paths, happiness and smiles seemed to be the only things that the park fueled.

Of course, no one thinks to look deep below the surface―beneath the rotting wood of the carnival stalls, the stench of blood underneath good old Chad the Chipmunk's costume that is merely disguised by cheap, strong cologne, and the feeling of being watched, eyes burning in the back of skulls. No one thinks to look closer at the peeling posters on the bulletin boards, the staring eyes of the fortune tellers in boxes, or the staleness in the air.

No one sees, because what fun would that be! The Atlantic Island Park isn't one for gloom, after all. The laughter and smiles overcome―overwhelms―the small voices in the back of people's minds. It's powerful like that. Able to control, to manipulate, but it disguises itself as serotonin. Don't forget to give Wallace the Woodpecker a high five!

PORTLAND, MAINE ― 2003.

There's a discarded newspaper clipping in the bins near the Ferris wheel. It clings to the side, doused in far too sweet soda, the edges now water-damaged. A couple of weeks before the newspaper found its way into the bin, young twelve-year-old Benedict Atwell had been dared by his best friend, his only friend, Abraham, to sneak into the backrooms of Wallace's Wacky World to steal something that belonged to the mascot. Sneaking past the prying eyes of amusement workers, a weak attempt at succeeding, Benedict grabbed the glove of the mascot and sprinted out back outside behind the carnival stalls.

Only to be met with no one. The footprints of where Abraham once stood were the only thing left. Had he run off? A worker's voice called out, and Benedict ran like a coward, dropping the glove onto the grass and up the gravel paths, looking for his best friend to convince him to ride the Octotron for the third time. He left without saying goodbye to Abraham in the car park, thinking his family must have left early.

A couple of days later, the newspaper came out with the front page being decorated by Atlantic Island Park hit with tragedy: Young Boy's life lost. According to what Benedict's mother had tried to tell him, Abraham had stumbled behind some metal fences and onto the rollercoaster tracks, the impact caused by a tester cart. No one had noticed the blood stain on the bottom of the car.

But of course, the Atlantic Island Park isn't a tragic place! No one will remember it in a couple of weeks, just like clockwork.

PORTLAND, MAINE ― 2015.

Benedict never returned to Atlantic Island Park again, not after the accident.

Benedict blamed himself, the guilt embedded in the depths of his bones that creaks when he moves, when he stares at the ceiling before he sleeps, if he sleeps. Though it had been eleven years, guilt followed him like a sin. Begging to be released, to be confessed with clenched, shaky hands. He had never believed the cause of death, no ... because there was something about the park that was unsettling. But no one seems to believe the boy who cries wolf.

Therapy, religion (to his mother's attempts), medication, none of it worked that well. Looking into the mirror, Benedict sees nothing of himself, only the stupid woodpecker mascot costume and the smell of rot. Benedict feels nothing. There is nothing.

Except maybe his little brother, Jamie. Jamie, whose smile is like the rays of the sun, a warmth that Benedict had forgotten how it felt―a meaning. He became the big brother that he had meant to be, holding him tightly so as not to let go, and reading him bedtime stories when his mother couldn't. Stories of faraway lands and castles with daring knights, and the occasional dinosaurs. Jamie's favourite story? Peter Pan.

Benedict Atwell felt like he could breathe again.

Until a bad storm hits Maine one night, and Benedict wakes up with Jamie's bedroom empty, on the anniversary of Abraham's death. Benedict knows what he must do――knows what it wants Benedict to do.

It wants Benedict to come back home. To Atlantic Island Park to get his little brother back, and to confess his guilt. And Benedict will return, but with a vengeance to end this guilt and curse once and for all. He doesn't realise that others are also thinking the same thing.

MICHAEL CIMINO     𖦹.     BENEDICT "BENNY" ATWELL
He/Him  ✶  Bisexual ❪ equal leaning ❫  ✶  BENEVOLET ❪ take too kindly to the grief ❫

#BENEDICT: Fuck.ᐟ What do you mean that malevolent spirits are chasing us through the Hall of Mirrors? It's already difficult enough to walk through this, now we're being chased? Great, great.ᐟ

‧₊˚ ⋅ Additional Casting. ――

꩜ . As Described as Jamie Atwell

꩜ . As Described as Carmen Atwell

꩜ . Ian Foreman as Abraham Clifton ♱

꩜ . As Described as The Ringmaster

✶ TRIGGER WARNINGS ― strong language, general violence (minimal gore and injuries are also mentioned here, it's standard horror procedure), suicide intentions, body horror, mentions of sexual assault (but it is not described whatsoever), weaponry, alcohol and drug use, etc. this book will also explore topics of anxiety, trauma, and panic attacks. if you are not comfortable with anything mentioned above, please read with caution ━ reader's discretion is advised. however, if you wish to keep reading, it is standard of me to put warnings at the beginning of the chapters if they contain something that may be of this situation, regardless!

✶ DEDICATIONS ― dedications goes to these lovely people! my most crucial dedication is to curiosityanddreams, however, as oil has been here since day one <3 they were here for the first version of this book, and overall, is my best friend on this application, truly―a monarch of application fiction, as well!

other dedications goes to these people as well, thank you all for being here and supporting, i love you all equally, and i cannot wait to continue friends with all of you as well, hugs and kisses to all of you! rottensunn sunsetbruise YVESFILMZ ladybvgz motherguts boyhoodrots boyhooddreams saiIorsongs

✶ GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK, BACK AGAIN!! Guys, you've no idea how long it's been since I've been motivated to write again―some of you will know how hard it's been to get updates out for me [sobbing]. I've just been busy getting that degree, teehee! No, but seriously, it's been too long, and I need to return to my roots. Hence, this layout is all fresh and new, and my writing style has also been refreshed, just a touch. And honestly, it's been so refreshing to see application fiction come back into the limelight in the community, because it's wonderful to see what people do with characters and writing, and so on. I knew I had to return to the scene as well.

✶ So, yes, THE PARK THAT HAUNTS used to be published way back in 2023 (wow). However, since then, it's been in my drafts, and I've been refreshing it, gathering new ideas; eventually, I couldn't wait anymore. I knew I needed to bring it back. So it is back, in all of its former glory! The plot has undergone some changes, but the premise remains intact, while Benedict, previously known as Wyatt, has transformed (for the greater good, let's be real).

✶ The plot is somewhat vague, but the main idea is that it's a supernatural horror fiction, and there's something just... off and uncanny about the theme park. Let's just say I'm excited to share the worldbuilding and other details I had in bullet points in my journal for this book.

✶ Benedict is my boy, my boy who has immense guilt that he tried to fix with a lot of things, and only made it worse. He decided that going back is what's going to fix it. Listen ... let him #cook, he might know what he's doing! We'll find out!

✶ Everything you need to know about the application and related topics will be listed in the Application chapter―such as where to put your characters and whatnot! I cannot wait to see what you guys come up with, to put into this wonderful, spooky world of mine <3

© CRYPTIDMINDS. 2025.