The First Fall

**The First Fall** is an InCryptid short story. It is seventh in the Jonathan and Frances Shorts.

## Synopsis

It has been three years since the marriage of Jonathan and Frances Healy; three years since the birth of their son, Daniel, who has been the light of their lives for that entire time. And now, due to circumstances beyond their control, the family has come together to do the one thing that none of them has ever wanted to do.

They have come together to bury Daniel.

Shattered by the death of their little boy, Jonathan and Frances set out to find the Campbell Family Carnival, where Fran's old friend Juniper's talent for talking to ghosts may allow her to believe that her child is truly at rest. Jonathan has no such hopes; he just wants to there's a chance his wife will survive the labyrinth of her grief.

This is not a happy story, and it does not chronicle a happy time in the annals of the Price family. But this is what happened, and when it happened, and it shaped so very much of what came after.

Rest well, Daniel Healy. You never had a chance.

## Plot

The morning of Daniel's funeral, Enid and Jonathan talk with a representative of the mice and lay out the rules for the Aeslin's attendance at the funeral. Fran is taking the death especially hard and has been refusing to acknowledge the colony; Jonathan instructs that they respect that.

The local minister leads the service, though he is confused that the rarely-churchgoing family insists so strongly on consecrated ground and ritual phrasing.

After the funeral, Jonathan treads gingerly around Fran. She snaps out of it long enough to demand that they go visit the carnival, and that he promise they will never bury another child. He agrees, heartbroken.

The couple rides on horseback down to the carnival, which is currently in Ohio. After days of travel, they reach the carnival and are greeted by Juniper Campbell, who tells them about the circus's rebranding after Paul Campbell's death. After settling in to their lodgings, they are given a tour by the carnival's strongman.

Fran continues the tour for Jonathan, leading him manically through the mess hall and the various attractions. While she is distracted by a ride, Juniper asks Jonathan about her behavior. He shares the horrible details of Daniel's death.

She sends Jonathan to his trailer to rest, then confronts Frances. They talk about Daniel, and ghosts, and the costs of living the life Fran has led. Then Juniper assures her that Daniel's spirit has moved on; he does not remain as a ghost.

The next morning, Fran is ready to pack out and head home bright and early. Juniper watches them leave, not telling them that this is the last time she will see Fran alive.

## Characters

* Enid Healy
* Alexander Healy
* Frances Healy
* Jonathan Healy
* Father Wallace, minister
* Railroad (horse)
* Rabbit (horse)
* Juniper Campbell
* Max, a carnie

**Mentioned**

* Daniel Healy
* Max's grandmother, who lives in the permanent boneyard in New Mexico
* Juniper's daughter

## Field Guide

* Aeslin Mice
* Jackalope
* Routewitch

**Mentioned**

* Road Ghost
* Crossroads Ghost
* Bogeyman

## Locations

* Buckley Township, Michigan
* Fields in the heart of Ohio

**Mentioned**

* Carnival boneyard, New Mexico

## Continuity

* Juniper forsees that she will never see Fran again, but that their daughters will one day be best friends.
* The family is determined to learn who hired the boogeyman to kill Daniel.

## Quotes

* "I am so sorry for your loss, baby girl. My daughter hasn't shown up yet - she's three years and a drunken night in Bar Harbor away from here, and I wouldn't hurry her if I could." -Juniper, to Fran
* "That doesn't mean I can't ache for you, and for what you've paid to live the life you've had. You always knew there would be costs." -Juniper
	+ "No one told me they were going to be this high" -Fran
	+ "You get what you pay for." -Juniper
* "Death is what comes when the show finally can't keep going any longer. Some people just get more encores than others." -Juniper
* "My home is where you are, and I'd miss Buckley if I went away forever." -Fran, to Jonathan