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mask-of-the-freak-circus · 1 month ago

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The Freak Circus

Hello again everyone! Here's the second part of the fanfic I wrote since otherwise it would have been a bit too long to read even under a read-more.

So when you get towards the end, you'll see I added two routes: the one where you accept meeting with Pierrot's invitation to return tomorrow, and one where you reject him. Since I have no idea what the next chapter is going to entail and I want to try and push my creativity with horror themes, I've left both options there for myself to reference back to so I can make a decision later. 😅

So notes before we continue: due to the limited information we have on the circus and the staff working there (besides the primary cast we'll be dealing with), I had to be a tiny bit creative based on some comments from the creator and the asks they answered to flesh it out more.

I really had a lot of fun trying to figure out how to write acrobatic scenes and the like, so I hope you guys enjoy!

Warnings: Blood, death, murder, stalking, kidnapping, allusions to cannibalism, non-consensual use of drugs (using the content warnings from the game itself to be on the safe side. If I missed any tags on the post, please let me know so I can adjust it!)

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Chapter 2: Decisions, Decisions at the Circus…

Lauren shot up in bed, heart pounding in her chest as she glanced around the room. Winter birds chirped outside her window, bright light streaming in through the curtains. “…jeez louise. Hadn’t had a nightmare in a while,” she uttered as she flopped back into bed, rubbing her tired eyes as she tried to recall the details. Yet they never came. All she could see was a monstrous shadow with golden eyes looming over her.

…wait…why was it so quiet?

She sat up and looked at her CD player. She’d set it to play the whole CD on loop throughout the night. Did she accidentally turn it off? No…it’s too far away for her to reach unless she sat up. Maybe she forgot to set the loop?

That’s when she noticed something odd. “Why does my mouth taste funny?” she uttered, face scrunching at the strange flavor lingering on her tongue and teeth. She reached for the water to take a drink and rinse her mouth—when she spotted the clock reading 11:00. “Crap! I overslept!!”

It was a mad scramble before she managed to get out of her apartment, all but charging down the street with her purse in hand. By the time she was halfway down the street, she realized she’d forgotten to grab her lunch from the fridge and sighed.

“Guess I’m buying lunch today,” she uttered, pulling her jacket tighter. It felt colder than it had yesterday, her breath starting to come out in puffs. She managed to slow her pace when she realized she was making good time, thinking of what needed to be done today as she finished tying her hair up in a bun. ‘Maybe I can ask Mr. Tucker if I can head out a little early today,’ she thought, looking around at the people looking at the latest set of flyers scattered about. She wondered if she’d see Pierrot again toda-

“Care to visit the circus?” a new, low voice asked as a paper flashed in front of her face, startling her as she jumped back with a squeak. Looking up, she realized this was one of the other performers wearing a green, black, and gold outfit. He looked…sharper than Pierrot did, a snake coming to mind when she looked at his mask. With a grin that looked far pointier than normal, he said, “I bet you’ll be surprised with what you see~! Here, take a flyer!”

“I’m good, thank you,” she said, ducking around him with a polite smile as she continued walking. “I’ve got a ticket already.”

“Oh, wonderful! I’m so glad to hear it,” he replied. Instead of leaving her alone, however, he seemed to follow along, keeping pace with a mischievous glint in his green eyes as he leaned in. “It wouldn’t happen to have been a pink one, would it?”

She stopped, staring at him in confusion as he stood there with a gleeful grin. “I thought the pink ones were fake?” she asked.

“Fake?” he repeated, his mask somehow looking like he was raising an eyebrow. “Who told you that?”

“One of your coworkers,” she said, eyeing him warily.

“I see,” he uttered, tapping a finger to his chin in thought as he moved to stand in front of her—effectively blocking her path. “If it’s not pink or yellow, then what color ticket do you have, madam?”

“…red.”

His eyes grew wide, a mix between a laugh and a scoff escaping as he tilted his head and said, “A red one??”

Not feeling comfortable around him but not understanding what was going on, she said, “Sorry, but I’m in a hurry. I don’t want to be late for work.”

Thankfully he stepped aside, gesturing with a bow for her to proceed. Yet even as she kept walking, he continued following. “A red one, huh,” he said more than asked. “So, that Pierrot gave it to you, then? How interesting.” Tipping his head in a bow, he said, “I am the Harlequin, madam.”

‘Oh, isn’t he the one that Pierrot doesn’t get along with?’ she thought, smiling politely and saying, “Nice to meet you, Harlequin.”

His emerald green eyes brightened, as though struck with brilliance as he said, “Ah, I’ve got an idea! How about we do a little trade? I give you mine-” with a flick of his wrist, he produced a dark green ticket, “and you give me the red one. How does that sound?”

“Is there much of a difference?” she asked, looking between him and the ticket as they stopped at a cross-section.

“But of course. I…” He stopped, looking over her head as his smile faltered in annoyance. She followed his gaze, tilting her head back to see Pierrot hovering behind her like a shadow with a dark expression. “Oh my. Speak of the devil.”

Pierrot leaned over her shoulder and snatched the green ticket out of his hand, looking ready to throttle him as his fist trembled. She could see he wanted to say something, but he refrained in favor of glaring. Yet Harlequin seemed unbothered. In fact, he seemed almost…amused, sighing almost as though he were bored already.

She glanced at them both, realizing that she was almost sandwiched between them save for the slight bit of space giving her breathing room. Had she walked in on some sort of improv act, or was this normal?...did she even have time to deal with this?

“Such a shame you don’t have a voice, huh, Pierrot?” Harlequin said, his tone mocking as he chuckled as she slowly sidestepped away. “Guess you can’t say all those nasty things you’re thinking~!” She kept backing away, taking small steps and barely moving as she faintly heard him say, “Just wait ‘til the Jester hears about this, heh!”

Once she was sure she was a safe distance away, she quickly darted down the street and headed to work. Whatever that was, she didn’t want to be in the middle of it and be even later to work.

/--------/

“Carol didn’t come home last night. Looks like she ran away.”

Lauren stared at Mr. Tucker, stunned to hear the news. Somehow she’d managed to make it to work on time, only to find him speaking with a police officer. At first she thought there’d been a break-in, but to hear it was about a disappearance…with her coworker no less…

“I…I know she had some family issues,” she began, trying to find the words as she thought back on every interaction they’d ever had. “But…she’d never run away! She never showed any signs that she was trying to leave.”

“She may have her reasons,” he said, though he didn’t look too convinced either. “Either way, if she shows up here, we’re supposed to notify the police immediately. Carol’s…probably not in a good state of mind.” Shaking his head, he said, “Until then, I’m going to start looking for a new temp employee to get us through the season. I’ll be in the back doing interviews for a few hours. Can you handle the shop for a while?”

“Oh…sure, I can do that,” she answered. As she started working on her tasks, however, she couldn’t stop her mind from wandering. In the short time she’d known the other woman, she never imagined she’d ever pull a stunt like this…but then again, maybe she didn’t know her as well as she’d thought. ‘She was always so cheerful at work and responsible. She’d told me she really needed this job…she wouldn’t just leave without saying anything…would she?’

Her thoughts scattered to the wind as the door chimed, signaling a new customer had entered.

“Welcome! Oh! Hi, Pierrot!” she said when she realized it was him. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to say hi earlier. Did you want to order something, or did you just want to come say hi?”

He nodded, holding up his hand for a moment before holding out her containers from last night.

“Oh! You finished all the cookies already?” she asked, earning another more enthusiastic nod as she accepted and placed them behind the counter. “Thank you for bringing these back!”

Grinning, he took the drink menu and scanned the page, turning it so she could see as he tapped the pink and brown milkshake picture.

“Kinda cold for a milkshake today. But then again, you are wearing a costume,” she said, smiling as she moved to the freezer for the ice cream. “You guys probably get hot running around in those things all day long. Have a seat and chill for a bit!”

His expression contorted into a crooked smile as he covered his face, and she faintly caught the sound of a muffled wheeze before he turned and walked away. As she dug around the containers to find the strawberry flavor, she felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up to see Mr. Tucker standing there with a serious expression on his face. “Did he buy anything, Lauren?” he asked, subtly motioning his head towards Pierrot sitting across the way.

“Yeah, he ordered a milkshake.”

“Good. I don’t want those guys hanging around here without buying anything. Let him know we don’t allow flyers inside—or outside—the café.”

“Will do.” Digging the scoop into the rock hard ice cream, she managed to scrape out one large chunk to put in the metal cup before turning to get the milkshake cup—and jumping at the sight of Pierrot standing extremely close to her. “Jeez louise! How did you get over here so fast?!”

Her heart jumped as he grabbed her arm, feeling the tips of his clawed gloves digging into her sleeve as he beckoned her closer. “Is he…being mean to you, my lady?” he whispered in her ear when she leaned in.

“Who, Mr. Tucker?” she uttered. “No, he’s not. He’s just reminding me of a few ground rules, that’s all.” Though it wasn’t crowded, she thought it was weird how he was all but leaning over the counter whispering in her ear.

His eyes narrowed, though whether he believed her or not was hard to say with the smile he kept plastered over his face. “Will you…come tonight?”

“To the circus…? Sure.”

His eyes curved upwards in a smile, looking pleased with this response. “That makes me happy, Lauren…will you promise to use my ticket tonight, my lady?”

“I will.” Patting her breast pocket with her free hand, she said, “I’ve got it right here.” The motion itself made his eyes brighten, his hand tightening around her arm as she winced. “…just how sharp are those claws?” she asked, giving them a wary look.

Instead of answering, he simply let go, leaning back and giving her a silly expression. He seemed…apologetic?

“Hm…you know,” she started, grabbing the milkshake glass and preparing it for the mix. “What do the colors of each ticket mean? Is there something special about the red and green ones?” Raising an eyebrow, she added, “Or the fact that your coworker said the pink ones are supposedly valid?”

A dangerous flash flickered in his eyes at the last part, but it vanished the moment the door opened and a little girl squealed. “Auntie La-la!!”

“There’s my sweet girl!!” she squealed the moment it clicked who it was, setting the tools down and rushing around the counter to meet the charging toddler. Instead of scooping her into a hug, however, the two stopped a few feet apart and began jumping in place.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake,” the two sang, hunching down to cover their eyes and peek at each other. Clapping their hands together and shaking their hips, they sang, “Clap your hands and do a little shake~!”

“Up, up, up!” the toddler said, a gap-toothed smile on her face as she bounced on her toes. “Pick me up, Auntie!”

“Uppsie-daisies~!” she said, making a whoosh sound that made the little girl squeal in joy as she clung to her neck. “Oof! You’re getting so big, Zoe! At this rate, you’ll be bigger than me!”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Pierrot placing his hands on his chest, leaning back dramatically before he formed a heart shape with his hands and smiled with a blush.

“I swear, you’re the only one who can ever get her to sit still,” Zoe’s mom said as she approached with a sigh. “Teach me your secrets.”

“Would if I could,” she responded, adjusting her grip so Zoe was on her hip. “But then again, if I did tell you, then I wouldn’t have a reason to visit, right Mrs. Chambers?”

“True! You’ve been such a lifesaver lately.” Taking notice of Pierrot, who was watching curiously, she said, “Oh? Well, who’s this dapper fellow?”

Zoe looked up and gasped, squealing as she said, “Mommy, it’s a clown!”

“He’s called ‘Pierrot’,” Lauren said, giving him a ‘you got lucky’ look that he returned with a wink and a ‘hush’ sign. “He’s not supposed to speak, but he’s really sweet.”

“Mommy! Can we go to the circus?”

“I’m afraid not, honey. This circus isn’t for children. It’ll give you nightmares!”

“But I wanna see Pie-ro…ro…Mr. Pyro do circus things!” Zoe whined. Looking up at her with puppy eyes, Zoe said, “Auntie La-la, will you take me to the circus? Pleeeeease?”

“Sorry, those puppy eyes won’t work on me, Zo-zo,” she replied, raising an eyebrow. “You heard your mom: no circus until you’re older.” When Zoe’s pout intensified, she smiled and said, “You’d better turn that frown upside down, or you-know-what will appear.”

Her eyes widened in confusion, asking, “Who?”

“The…Tickle Monster!”

Childish laughter filled the café as she tickled Zoe, the toddler squealing and giggling as she squirmed in her arms. “Eeeee!! Nooooo, not the tickle monster!!”

“Goochie-goochie-goo! Rawr! The tickle monster demands happy smiles!”

“A-hem!”

Lauren froze, Zoe’s arms wrapping around her neck as they both looked up at an intimidating woman wearing a suit. “Oh, uh…good afternoon, ma’am!”

“Is this the kind of professionalism you exhibit in the work place?” she retorted coldly. “Playing with children instead of serving your customers?”

“We’re customers too, ma’am,” Mrs. Chambers said with a frown. “We were just trying to say hello to our neighbor-”

“Oh, spare me the excuses. Can’t you see I’m standing here waiting to place my order?” Smacking her hand on the counter, she barked out, “Bring me my coffee—no sugar! You stupid lazy girl!”

She frowned before turning to set Zoe down, offering a smile as she said, “Sorry, Zo-zo. I’ve gotta get to work now, but I promise when I have time and your mom’s okay with it, we can go and play at the park. Okay?”

“Okay…”

Turning to face the woman, she said, “Sorry ma’am, but I have to finish another order before I can get to your coffee. I can offer you a brownie for your wait if you’d like?”

Scoffing, the woman said, “Hurry up. I don’t have all day!”

Internally sighing, she put on a fake customer service smile and rushed to complete the milkshake. Thankfully the ice cream had warmed up enough to make it easier to scoop, and in a short time she’d completed the milkshake and slid it over to Pierrot. “Here you go! One strawberry mocha milkshake with extra whipped cream and sprinkles~!” she announced.

He clapped happily, nodding his thanks even as the woman huffed and checked her watch, tapping her foot impatiently.

“Sorry, ma’am! I’ll get right on your order. Coffee, no sugar, right?”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it? Are you deaf too?” she snapped, Lauren fighting every urge in her body to frown yet feeling the corner of her mouth twitch.

Before she could get started, however, Pierrot grabbed her hand and carefully placed the cash in her hand…along with a small chocolate bar. “Oh,” she uttered, holding it up and genuinely smiling at him. “Thank you!”

He nodded, waving goodbye as he took the milkshake and walked away. As she was pouring the coffee and warming the brownie, she couldn’t help but think more about her strange companion. Even though she’d started to enjoy his presence, there was something…odd about him she couldn’t quite place. He had a habit of appearing where she least expected him to, though the way he greeted and brought her gifts like a cat was…charming. Cute almost.

“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, sliding the to-go cup and container with the brownie over to the woman. “Apologies for the wait. Can I get you anything else?” Out of the corner of her eye, she’d noticed that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen. Had he left already? With the dishware??

Before she could begin to question that, the woman made a disgusted sound as she glowered at her drink. “This coffee’s just as awful as the service,” she said, sneering at her as though she were dirt under her heels. “I’m never coming back to this dump!”

“So sorry we couldn’t meet your expectations, ma’am,” she replied, though internally she was hoping this was a promise. “Maybe you can find a coffee place that’s closer to your work so you can make it to all those important meetings that you’ll be late to?”

They stared each other down, the woman’s expression befuddled while Lauren’s smile never wavered, calm as can be as she tilted her head. Finally, the woman turned away with a huff, muttering under her breath.

“Do you have to deal with customers like her every day?” Mrs. Chambers asked as she set Zoe on the bar stool.

“No, not every day. But I’ve dealt with enough of them to know how to deal with the rude ones. Anyway! What can I get you?”

“I’ll take a latte and a small hot chocolate.”

“Hot chocolate!” Zoe cheered, slapping her hands on the counter just as the door jingled.

“Oh! So, this is where you work, madam?”

Her heart dropped the moment she saw Harlequin walk in, mentally cursing herself for not being more careful with her escape earlier. “Good afternoon, Harlequin,” she greeted instead, plastering her normal customer service smile on her face. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Of course! I’ll take an iced coffee.”

“Coming right up! Just let me finish their order real quick.”

“Take your time, dear,” he said, sliding into the seat closest to her.

“Auntie?” Zoe called out, peeking over the edge of the counter as though trying to seem smaller. She seemed to be glancing between her and Harlequin, who was watching her with a curious tilt of his head.

“Yes, hun?”

“Why does Mr. Harley-man talk but not Mr. Pyro?”

“That’s just part of his role, Zo-zo. Think of it as part of a play, like the one you did last year where one of your classmates was dressed like a tree while you were a kitty cat.”

“Oooooh…”

Harlequin chuckled, the sound causing Zoe to duck a little. “Such an adorable little one, aren’t you?” he said, though unlike his previous seductive tone, he sounded pleasant. Casual even. “You’ll have to wait a few years before you can see any of my plays though.”

“Awww…do you get to do lots of cool tricks? Do you juggle? Can you walk on a tightrope??”

Lauren was thankful for Zoe’s rapid-fire questions, only half-listening to his answers as she worked on making the first two drinks. When she’d finished, she slid them across the table and said, “Here you go: one latte and one hot chocolate, extra marshmallow-y goodness. Careful, it’s hot!”

“Thank you. We’ll get out of your hair then,” Mrs. Chambers said as she paid and took the drinks, Zoe hopping down from the stool chanting for her hot chocolate. “Come by for dinner one of these days, alright?”

“I will, Mrs. Chambers. Have a good day!”

Once they were gone, Harlequin looked at her and said, “Oddly formal of you to call your sister by her last name.”

“She’s my neighbor, actually,” she answered, turning to get started on his drink next. “I watch her kid sometimes, and she just started calling me Auntie one day. Kinda stuck after a while, but I don’t mind.”

“I see.” He said nothing for a bit, though she could feel his gaze on her as she worked. When he spoke again, he asked, “Sooooo…are you finally gonna accept my ticket?”

“Sorry, not interested in a trade. I already promised someone I’d use it.”

“You sure? It’d be so much more fun if you used mine,” he said in a sing-song voice.

“How so?”

Winking, he held a finger to his lips and said, “That’s a secret.”

‘I’m not gonna win with either of these two, am I?’ she thought, sliding the drink in front of him with a smile. “Here’s your iced coffee.”

“Alright, alright,” he said, waving his hands in a placating gesture. Yet there was still a mischievous grin on his face as he dug around under his cape, saying, “In that case…a little something for you. I’d love for you to wear it.” It was a small enamel pin, a green heart wrapped in gold that seemed far too small between his fingers. “Here, let me put it on for you.”

Before she could react or back away, he’d already managed to take hold of her shirt collar and began fiddling with the pin. He wasn’t as tall as Pierrot was, but he was still tall enough he had to bend down to reach her. ‘Is gift-giving how they make friends or something?’ she wondered, tilting her head down and staring at the green pin shining in the light.

He tapped a sharp claw against the metal, chuckling under his breath as he said, “I’m going to take you from him.”

“Wait, what??” she stammered, looking up and realizing just how terrifyingly close he was to the point she could smell the strong perfume on him.

“You’ll see,” was all he said as he straightened up. “Anyway, here’s the payment. See you tonight, madam.” With a flourishing bow as he swiped his cup, he said, “Be sure not to miss my show, alright?”

“Hey, wait! What did you mean by-?” she started, only to trail off as he vanished out the door. Slumping with a sigh, she shook her head and grumbled, “What in the world have I just gotten myself into…”

Several hours passed as she continued to work, trying to shake off the weirdness by focusing on serving customers and keeping the café clean. Thankfully it was uneventful, allowing her to keep pace with everything as she multi-tasked.

“Thank you for coming!” she called out as a couple walked out, carrying their sleepy toddler out the door. “Have a good night, and stay safe!”

“Good work today, Lauren,” her boss said as he entered, setting a box on the counter and unpacking a few bags of coffee beans and syrup mixes. “I’ll be keeping the shop open for another hour, so you can head home early today.”

“Are we closing early today?”

“Until we can hire someone new, I’ll have to cut back on the hours a bit. We’re already busy enough with the cold weather, and once our busy season hits? It’ll be too much for just the two of us to handle.”

“Right. That makes se-” Her eyes widened in shock as she asked, “Wait, what happened to your arm?!”

There were three long gashes on his tattooed arm, the sight sending chills down the back of her legs. Yet he seemed unbothered by this as he looked down and said, “Oh, this? Something scratched me out back. Pretty sure it was a huge cat or something.”

“More like a puma,” she commented, eyeing the size of the gashes as she checked it. “Did you at least clean it thoroughly?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing serious.” Giving her a look, he said, “I know you like animals, but trust me, if you’d seen the size of this thing? You wouldn’t think it was weird…or a puma.”

Sighing, she let it go and said, “Well, just make sure to keep it clean, okay? Don’t need you going to the hospital just because it got infected.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” Waving his hand, he said, “Go ahead and finish up before you clock out. I can take it from here.”

“Okay. Guess I’ll have time to make it to the circus tonight!”

“Sounds fun. Tell me how it was later, and maybe I’ll check it out myself at some point.”

“Will do. Thanks!”

/----------/

…how did she let herself get talked into this?

She barely caught herself from stumbling as someone bumped into her, her small frame barely managing to dodge and weave around the crowd of people funneling to the entrance. There were far more people than she anticipated, her ears ringing from the din of people chatting excitedly. ‘Guess they’ve been drawing a pretty big crowd lately,’ she thought, barely able to see the tops of the tents and the lights up ahead. It was a moonless night, the sky devoid of even starlight adding more to the eerie air that surrounded the area.

By the time she’d managed to make it to the entrance, she was greeted by a man wearing a blue and orange suit. He wore a mask like Pierrot and Harlequin, but this one was black and white. “Hello there, visitor!” he greeted, his voice loud yet inviting as he tipped his hat in greeting. “May I punch your ticket?”

“Sure, here you go!”

With a barely audible click amid the din of chattering people going through the line, the ticket taker nodded with an impressed sound as he said, “Oh, a special ticket! Be sure to keep it safe, alright? You’ll need to show it at the attractions before you can see the shows.”

“I will, thank you,” she said, taking it back and tucking it safely in her breast pocket. “But…could you tell me what a special ticket does? I haven’t been able to get a straight answer from anyone.”

“Hm? It simply means you’ve got front row seats to every show.” Then, with a tilt of his head like he was sharing a secret, he added, “And perhaps a chance to meet with the crew itself. Wouldn’t that be quite the treat!”

“Oh wow, thank you!” she said, thinking it was best to not mention she’d met two of them already. “Have a good night, sir!”

“Enjoy the show, my dear!”

As she entered the thankfully open entrance, she glanced around the area to see what all was there. True to what she’d assumed, there were game stands with prizes and food stalls. Unlike any other circus, however, there was a more macabre vibe to the decorations and music that sent goosebumps down her arms. She could hear screams of delight and fear alike as people were startled by costumed performers, none of them resembling Pierrot or Harlequin. Signs pointed guests towards haunted mazes, where shrieks and haunting laughter could be heard.

FWOOSH!!!

“Eek!” she squeaked as a stream of fire erupted nearby, her eyes wide as she stared up at the performer while other guests nearby screamed and laughed. How was she barely twenty feet from the entrance and already she was getting jumpscared?? ‘Then again, this is a horror circus, so it makes sense to not anticipate when they jump out like that…’

Passing by one of the game stalls, she paused and gasped in delight at the sight of a large stuffed animal hanging from one of the hooks above. It looked like a quilled lion with small black horns, its fur red and black while its eyes were gold-orange buttons. It was oddly adorable for a macabre place, but at the same time she couldn’t help but want to squeeze it tight.

‘No, no…control yourself,’ she thought, thinking about all the other plush toys she had in her room and how these games tend to be rigged. ‘…no matter how much you want it, you don’t exactly have the skill to win something that big and adorable…especially at darts.’

“Dude, this place is so creepy!” someone said nearby. “How did they make the costumes look so realistic?”

“I dunno, man. Let’s check out the food stalls! Bet there’s some good grub we can get over there.”

“Seriously dude, didn’t you see the news? We gotta be careful. Some of these food stalls aren’t part of the carnival and were shut down. We might get food poisoning or something worse!”

‘Really? Huh…well, guess you have opportunistic jerks no matter where you go,’ she thought, looking around at the different stalls and the signs listing show times. Did she have time to play any games before Pierrot’s show? ‘Looks like it,’ she thought, glancing at her watch and realizing that the purple tent had just finished performing earlier. ‘Do I want to play a game until it starts?’ She felt her stomach grumble, frowning when she remembered she’d forgotten her lunch. Yet the thought of eating right now made her feel nauseous, the eerie atmosphere setting her nerves on edge. ‘…maybe I’ll grab something later. There’s a lot going on. Which means…’

Only one other show was about to start, and she mentally sighed as she made her way to the green tent.

By now most of the people had already filtered into the tent, the ticket taker—who suspiciously looked similar to the one at the entrance—gesturing for her to follow him inside. He led her to a row of empty seats near the front, where she could clearly see all around the stage. The lights dimmed just as she sat down, slipping off her coat in the warm space as a familiar green, black, and gold figure appeared in the center.

“Good evening, my dear monsters,” he said, his voice carrying through the tent as he made a grand, sweeping bow. “Thank you all for coming. Please, enjoy the show!”

People clapped and cheered as the lights flicked off, appearing further away where she could clearly see a large stage. How she’d missed that she hadn’t a clue, the art on the background a simple forest. Harlequin stood at the top, and with a wave of his hands several large shadowy cutouts were dropped from the top of the stage. Even without her glasses she could make out faint details, the monstrous shapes unique with the only sign of color being their eyes.

“Long ago, far from where God’s eyes cannot reach, lived the monsters,” Harlequin began, his low, eerie voice silencing the crowd as music began to play. “Lost. Forgotten. Silent. Hungry…” A new cutout—this one blue wearing a distinctly white smiling mask—walked in from off stage, his hand out to the creatures in a kind gesture. From above, a white tent descended, covering the monsters as though to shield them from a storm. “Until one day, a man appeared. He raised a tent upon the dead earth and struck a deal with the monsters: Work for me, you hideous little creatures, and I shall feed you as much as you desire.

“How wonderful, thought the monsters. And so they obeyed, the man bringing large crowds to the tent for the monsters to perform for.” The speakers played circus music, the cutouts moving and dancing across the stage as the sound of people laughing and cheering mixed with the soundtrack. And every night, the man would feed them as promised. But soon the man would bring more men. More, and more, and more…”

The scene changed, the monsters surrounded by smiling and laughing masks from a mass of shadows. The scene was cruel, her heart aching at the sight and echoes of cruel, warped laughter playing from the speakers.

“They laughed at the monsters,” he said, his voice a low hiss that still carried across the crowd and sent chills down her spine. “They applauded their pain, mocked their shame for being no better than obedient dogs. And yet, it seemed not enough for the man. The man wanted more—always more than what the monsters could give. What if I charged others to watch? he mused, seeing how the crowd loved it so. He decided he would feed them less. This way they’ll be weak. Harmless even. He laughed, leaving the monsters in the darkness to rot in their cages.”

This time the man and the crowd were gone, the music fading away to drops of water to signify the squalid condition of the monster’s ‘home’. Even the backdrop had changed to one almost completely black, yet somehow the cutouts stood out clear as day.

“And then the monsters had a thought: What if we became human? one suggested. We could eat as much as we want, another said. No one would hurt us ever again, another said. Such a dream they had, imagining the day they might be free. And on a moonless night, when the sky seemed dead…” The pink-eyed monster moved to the center, spinning around before stopping, soft, gentle music playing now. This time, however, a pair of wings appeared on their back, though they seemed…stitched on. “The monsters realized there was an angel among them!”

‘The monsters realized a sacrifice would be necessary,’ came a stray thought, Lauren blinking and shaking her head when the scene changed from one of calm serenity to the pink-eyed puppet covered in blood, surrounded by all but one of their companions. In an instant the image was gone, leaving her wondering if she’d imagined it. Yet that voice…it didn’t sound like her own thought.

“I can feed you, the angel said. I give you my strength, so you may grow strong enough to become human. To build a home for us.”

‘Please no!’

‘We have no choice…’

‘She is the weakest of us.’

‘You will give us the strength to go on.’

Why…was she hearing something different? Why were the sounds—the thoughts in her mind—warping?

‘PLEASE, HELP ME!’ A flash appeared in her mind, flicking between a crying woman and a bloody corpse surrounded in blood. ‘I DON’T WANT TO DIE!’

A quiet gasp escaped, heart hammering in her chest as she gripped her shirt and looked around. A few people glanced her way, shooting her disapproving glares before turning their attention back to the show. What was that? This…wasn’t part of the show, was it? A sense of dread and unease gripped her chest, yet she couldn’t bring herself to question any further as he continued to speak.

“And then,” Harlequin continued, the pink-eyed monster rising up to the stage rafters with him while the remaining monsters appeared to be crying, “as if she had never existed, she vanished with the wind. Our little miracle…”

‘Our little sacrifice.’

The music changed again as the paper man soon arrived, standing in the middle of the monsters. “The next morning, the man returned to laugh…but the monsters’ eyes had changed.” The paper man quaked in place, as though terrified at the sight of the monsters he once cruelly mocked. The music began to grow darker, eerier and creepier. As though a beast were lurking closer and closer, making her heart race in her chest. “They were free…and they were hungry.”

The lights cut out, several people screaming in panic.

“And that’s the story of how the monsters became human!” The lights faded back in, revealing the monsters looming over a bloody mask where the man had once stood. Yet now the monsters too looked different, still retaining their shapes yet wearing similar smiling masks as the man. “Oh, what happens next, you may be asking? Fret not, my little monsters~! After they gained their newfound freedom, the new humans took their home and began to travel together, searching for a place to build it again and live happily…just as the angel wished.”

When the lights turned on for the whole tent, the crowd began to cheer. Unnerved by the strange experience during the story, Lauren clapped along while trying to see if anyone else had heard the same things she had and found none. Had she simply imagined it all?

“Thank you! Thank you, my little monsters! Be sure to return next time for another story~!”

‘Finally,’ she thought, wanting to get out of the tent as soon as she could and get some fresh air.

Despite being in the front row, however, she was forced to wait as people kept pushing through. She tightened her grip on her jacket as she finally found an opening, keeping her head low as she followed in the back…when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder.

“Ah, there you are!” Harlequin said, chuckling as she jumped and whirled around to face him. “My apologies for the fright, madam. I was simply so glad to see you come to my show! I was hoping you’d be watching.”

“Oh, uh…yeah! That story was…definitely not like anything I’d heard before,” she admitted, not wanting to bring up the strange phantom voice/images that had plagued her during the show. “A little bit gruesome, but considering what the man did to the monsters? I think he got what he deserved.”

There was a strange glint in his eyes for the briefest moment before it vanished, replaced with a casual smile as he said, “Yeah, it’s a pretty old story from the circus. It’s a tradition to tell it on certain nights.”

“A moonless night, right? Like in the story?”

“Indeed…oh!” He leaned in closer, green eyes glinting with something she didn’t recognize as he said, “I see you’re wearing my gift! That makes me so excited!”

Gift? What was he…

‘Crap! Work was so busy I forgot to take the pin off,’ she thought, glancing down at the pin before looking at him. He was leaning in much closer than before, and it became clear to her that they were the only two left in the tent.

“It looks good on you,” he whispered, his low voice sending shivers down her spine. “Almost too…intimate. Did you like it? Or are you trying to tease me?”

Her mind blanked, feeling goosebumps crawl all over her body as she struggled to find the words.

The smile on his face grew sharper, taking an almost predatory look as he hummed softly. “I love that,” he said, voice lower than ever as he stepped closer and closer. Each step forced her to take one back, trying to keep her distance as he loomed over her like a green shadow. “I love seeing my green mark so close to your skin…like a quiet, forbidden kiss.”

‘He’s way too close. I need to-’

Cold cloth met her back as she dropped her jacket in surprise, realizing too late that she’d been backed against the tent’s wall far away from the exit. Before she could react, she gasped as he braced his arms on either side of her, barring her escape and leaning so close she could smell something…coppery on his breath.

“Running away, are we?” he teased, clearly enjoying this game of his. “Scared? Or…” He leaned in close to her ear, whispering in a deep, sultry voice, “perhaps…secretly enjoying it?”

Lauren’s heart hammered in her chest as his words sent more shivers down her spine, hating the fact that her face was burning. That, however, seemed to encourage him, the grin on his face growing wider.

“No need to say a word,” he uttered, claw trailing over her arm and shoulder before using the tip to tilt her chin to face him. “I can read you. Your silent screams…your unspoken desires…” Chuckling, he shook his head and said, “Red doesn’t suit you, darling. That intoxicating green…fits you better.”

‘What is he talking about? Why…why the hell can’t I think straight?!’ she thought, mind swirling like frantic birds as she tried to understand why she was feeling so weak to his voice and that look. She should not be feeling any of this in the first place! This—this has never happened to her before—no one has ever flirted with her to such a degree.

His smile grew smug, as though satisfied in the state of chaos he’d left her heart and mind in before finally stepping away, his strong perfume fading as she shook her head. “I want to give you another gift,” he said, reaching under his cape and presenting a bright red apple on a stick. “What do you say?”

“A…candy apple?”

“Yes. We call it a ‘Love Apple’, or ‘Maçã do amor’. But don’t get the wrong idea—it’s still just an apple.”

“…well…” She’d never had one before, and while she didn’t know what to think about him anymore…it’s not like he’d actually hurt her or anything. Just some…a lot…of flirtatious teasing.

Just as she reached for the stick, a flash of silver shot through the air before striking the apple. Harlequin’s face contorted to one of nervous annoyance, his eyes darting to the side. Following his gaze, she caught sight of a shadowy figure wielding knives standing near the tent flap before vanishing.

“What the hell was that?!” she sputtered as he straightened up, looking between him and where the shadow had been.

“Hah…always so dramatic,” he muttered under his breath, her ears barely catching the words before he shrugged and said, “I guess someone around here really hates apples.”

“…does…this kind of thing happen often around here?” she asked, trying to look at the knife.

Immediately he yanked it out and tossed the apple aside, giving a playful bow as she glimpsed him sliding it under his cape. “No need to worry, madam,” he said reassuringly, sweeping up her fallen jacket and holding it open for her. “I’m sure it was just a little joke. Looks like I’ll have to wait to give you a new one then.”

“…right,” she uttered, still shaken as she reluctantly slipped her arms through and shrugged the coat on.

She squeaked when he gripped her shoulders, his breath hot against her ear as he hissed, “Come visit again after his show…and I’ll show you the exclusive parts of the circus.”

Face burning and heart hammering, she quickly pulled away and turned, a nervous smile on her face as she said, “I-I should get going then! Lots to see, lots to do, you know how it is, right? Gotta go, bye!”

“Have fun, madam,” he called out after her as she all but ran out of the tent.

Never had she felt relieved to be surrounded by people, grateful for the cold night air chilling her heated face. “That…was a little too intense,” she uttered, focusing on her breathing to calm her heart.

First Pierrot set her heart aflutter yesterday, now Harlequin? What was going on? She’d rarely gotten this much flirtatious attention from her first boyfriend in college, now she had circus clowns flirting with her?!

‘This is crazy,’ she thought, shivering as she looked around the grounds as she mulled over his words. They were effectively strangers, yet he locked on to her as though she were some prize to win. ‘He said he’d take me from him…and he mentioned the color red just now. So why……’

She froze mid-step, staring at the red tent up ahead. He only seemed invested in her right after hearing about her having a red ticket, kept trying to trade it with his own. Tickets that she hadn’t seen or heard anyone else attending the circus having. The ticket taker had said they meant she had front row seats and could meet with the cast. But…if that were the case, why would it matter which one she used unless…unless…

‘……wait…was he saying……’ she thought, a sense of dawning realization hitting her.‘Pierrot…likes me???’

The more she thought about it, the more things started to click. Him bringing her gifts, appearing seemingly out of nowhere to snatch Harlequin’s ticket away, and offering her something that no one else seemed to have? As strange as it was in her mind for someone to like her so quickly when they’d only met just yesterday, she didn’t have any other explanation.

‘…I think I need to talk to him about this,�� she thought, glancing at her watch and noticing that the next show was going to start soon. As she made her way to the tent, part of her hoped it was just a big misunderstanding and he was simply repaying her kindness.

Just like before, the staff member led her to a seat in the front row. The crowd was abuzz with activity as she sat, many whispering and chatting with one another in anticipation. She kept her jacket in her lap, looking around for any sign of Pierrot just as the lights dimmed.

A spotlight appeared, sweeping across the ground before rising up into the air, haunting circus music playing on the speakers. Looking up, her eyes grew wide as she saw Pierrot standing on a platform high above the crowd. Arms stretched above his head, the audience gasped in shock and terror as he launched himself forward, the music rising in tempo as he caught a bar hanging from near-invisible wires. She felt her heart skip a beat as he swung through the air, flipping and spinning high above the ring. Mid-swing towards the center, he let go—a cry of panic escaping her as she and the audience watched in horror as he spun in the air to a crescendo of drums.

And yet, he somehow landed in the center with barely a sound, rising up with arms outstretched and a grin on his face. The audience erupted into applause, the tent filled with noise as he bowed. ‘Oh my gosh, that was terrifying,’ she thought, smiling in relief as she clapped along.

The music changed, an eerie orchestra erupting as he shifted into a more menacing pose. His smile—the one she’d grown so familiar with—had changed, looking sharper and more sinister than she’d ever imagined. He began to dance, unable to tear her eyes away from the hypnotic movements in the dim lighting. With each step it looked as though his shadow was dancing with him, strangely moving in the opposite direction of his body with each twist and turn. He looked nothing like the man she knew, as though the stage had transformed him into some otherworldly figure.

Lights flicked and pulsed like a heartbeat, and on the second pulse a tall wooden board appeared in the center. A woman wearing a mask and dressed in a pink dress was tied to the frame, Pierrot gesturing to her with both arms. She knew how tall he was compared to her, but to see him standing next to the woman, it became all too clear that he was massive.

A glint caught her eye as something sharp appeared in his hands, a wickedly gleeful smile on his face as she realized they were knives. The woman’s movements were sluggish, looking like she was trying to lift herself up while Pierrot sprang away to the other side of the ring and aimed.

Thunk!

One by one the knives began to appear on the board, flashing through the air faster than she could blink as they narrowly avoided hitting the assistant.

“Hit her!” someone in the crowd called out.

“Aim lower!”

“No, aim higher!” someone near her shouted, making her frown as others voiced their agreements.

‘It’s okay…it’s all just an act,’ she thought, unable to bring herself to look away. ‘Just an act and some really crazy people here…’

Thunk!

‘Those knives are getting closer…he might-’

Shink!

Her hands shot up to cover her mouth, her heart sinking as the woman’s head—knife jutting from her forehead—slumped forward. As though it were in slow motion, half of the mask cracked, slipping away to reveal the woman’s face…

And the blood trailing from the knife.

Yet instead of screams of terror, the crowd erupted into cheers as they stood. Her eyes darted around, horrified at the fact that no one seemed the least bit concerned. This wasn’t real…this couldn’t be real. It was all just an act! It had to be an act! There was no way that there was actual…blood…that the woman hadn’t…slumped like a…a…

Corpse.

‘I need to get out,’ she thought, feeling her lungs struggle to gasp for air. Somehow, she’d managed to slip through the audience, fighting the panic gripping her chest as she stumbled out of one of the exits as she stumbled over to a bench. ‘Air…I need air!’

The smell of food made her feel nauseous, her stomach doing flips as she became aware of the night chill without her jacket.

“Just a show…it’s just a horror show,” she whispered, not sure if she was shaking from the cold or from nerves. “You’re overthinking things. They keep the lights low for a reason—to scare you. Make you feel that rush…there’s nothing to be scared of. Nothing at a-”

A heavy hand landed on her shoulder, a startled screech escaping as she whirled around.

Pierrot stood there, his expression looking just as panicked as hers as he held his hands up in a placating gesture.

“Oh jeez, it’s just you,” she said, a wave of relief crashing over her as she braced herself on the bench’s arm. He smiled, looking just like he had this morning instead of the terrifying performer a few minutes ago. “Jeez louise, how are you so damn quiet wearing all those bells?”

He made a giggling motion, winking at her—before his expression turned menacing.

“P…Pierrot? What are you…?” she stammered, feeling her blood run cold as he leaned in close with a blank expression. He raised his hand, hesitating for a moment before he touched the tip of his claw to the pin on her collar. He looked…furious, but not at her. “Oh…that…your um…friend…Harlequin? He…gave it to me shortly after you left the café.”

She could feel his hand tighten around her collar, feeling the heat radiating from him as he leaned in closer than ever.

“…Pierrot?” He didn’t respond. Then…he smiled, looking cheerful once more as she heard his claw click against something metal. Looking down, Lauren spotted a new gold star pin sitting just above the green heart. “Oh…thank you?” Wrapping her arms around her, she shivered as the full weight of the cold air began to seep in. “Jeez it’s cold…I think I dropped my jacket in there.”

With a tilt of his head, he stepped back and held out his hands. He waved them around, pretending to open his sleeves as though performing a magic trick before flicking his hands—and holding her violet jacket between his fingers.

“My jacket! You found it!” she said, gratefully sliding her arms through it as he helped her shrug it on again. Sighing in content, she smiled up at him and said, “Thank you. But…how’d you even know this was mine in the first place?”

He made the ‘shh’ gesture—just as he always did when he didn’t want to reveal his secrets. Then, he leaned in and whispered, “Did you like my show?”

Remembering what had happened, she gave a nervous smile and said, “Uh, y…yeah, it was…kinda terrifying if I’m being honest. Between the acrobatics, the dancing—which was really cool by the way—and the knife throwing? It was…intense! And the part with the assistant…it looked so real.” Flashes of the woman’s blood-covered face flickered through her mind as she shivered, tucking her face into her coat collar. “How’d you manage to do that? Make it look like she’d…died?”

Once more he made the same gesture, another secret he wasn’t willing to share. Then, he whispered, “Why don’t you stay a little longer? I could show you the rest of the circus.”

“…actually, I’d better head home. It’s getting late, and I’d rather not be wandering the streets this late at night.”

There was a subtle shift in his expression, a look that seemed all too eager. “Shall I escort you, my lady? If you’re frightened, I can ensure you reach safety.”

“That’s okay, I appreciate it! I wouldn’t want to bother you while you’re still working.”

“Then may I see you again tomorrow?”

((Route 1: Accept))

She hesitated, looking at his golden eyes that seemed to burrow deep into her soul. She wanted to say no—to listen to the voice in the back of her mind screaming at her to run away as far as she can and never look back. Yet the hopeful, almost pleading tone in his voice…

“I…think I can work with that,” she relented, offering a small yet tired smile. “It’d be nice to see you again.”

As though she’d just said the magic words, his eyes grew so wide and bright that they looked like mini suns. She yelped when he grabbed her hands, threading their fingers together as he swung her around in a playful dance. It was so unexpected and goofy that she couldn’t help the snort and laughter that escaped. “I look forward to it, my lady,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Giggling, she said, “Sounds good. See you tomorrow morning maybe?”

“Of course!” he said. Then, as though remembering something, he made a ‘wait’ gesture and hurried over to a nearby stand. When he returned, his arms were holding something large behind his back. “I have but one more gift for you—a little something to end the night perfectly, my lady.”

“What is it?” she asked. When he pulled it out, a sharp gasp escaped. “It’s the plushie from the dart game!”

“Indeed, it is!” he said, beaming with pride as he pressed the red and black monster plush into her arms. It was the size of her torso, its fur softer than anything she’d imagined and body firm yet huggable as she squeezed it with all her might. “Since it was your first time at the circus, I wanted you to have a little something to…remember it by.”

“He’s adorable! I love him!” she said, nuzzling her face against the monster’s cheek. Setting it on the bench for a moment, she reached up to give Pierrot a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

She could feel him tense for a brief moment before returning the hug. “I’m so glad you’re happy with my gifts.” Just as she pulled away, he held her hands and leaned down, her face growing warm as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Until tomorrow, Lauren,” he said, forehead pressed against her own, “my dearest lady.”

/------------/

By the time she finally managed to make it home, Lauren all but slumped against her door in exhaustion. “Well…guess I got an answer to the question I forgot to ask him,” she uttered, the plush toy dangling from her arms. What would she have said if he had answered her? Would he have accepted if she hadn’t returned his feelings?

It was hard to say for sure as her feet dragged across the floor, barely mustering the energy to make herself a slice of peanut butter bread to quell her empty stomach. She could barely see straight now, stumbling to bed after changing and curling up around her new plush companion.

“Guess I’ll have more time to think about it tomorrow,” she uttered, staring into the toy’s button eyes. The covers were barely over her feet, though sleep weighed down on her limbs to even pull them up as her eyes slowly fluttered shut in the darkness. With a tired sigh, she finally drifted off to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The room was silent and still, her breathing slow and steady. A faint thunk hit the sliding glass door, a hand print trailing down before the tall figure leaned in. The lock—broken since yesterday—easily gave way as the intruder slowly slid the door open, the security bar leaning against the wall hidden by the curtain. Golden eyes fell on her slumbering form, a grin spreading slowly across his face.

“We can take it slow then, my lady,” he whispered softly, voice warm and tender as he silently approached. He raised her arm off of the plush toy, letting it fall to the floor as he carefully slid into its place. She shivered from the cold, unconsciously huddling closer to his warm body until he pulled the covers over them. Her trembling eased, her head tucked under his chin as he wrapped his arms around her small frame. “I can be patient…I can smile at you and pretend I’m not burning inside.”

Without the music she’d played last night, he could clearly hear her soft breaths. The quiet snores so soft and adorable he’d almost missed it the first time. Her hand clutched at his tulle, his heart pounding in his chest as he carefully rubbed circles into the small of her back.

“I can pretend…I’m not imagining you breathless,” he uttered, eyes narrowing into slits, “trembling beneath my touch…just look at what you’re doing to me…this love…it’s growing. Twisting. Taking shapes that might scare you if I showed you now.”

Her face contorted into one of discomfort, a soft whimper escaping as she trembled in his arms. A bad dream, perhaps? Oh no, this wouldn’t do. He couldn’t have her waking up so soon.

Raising his hand to her head, he gently raked the tips of his claws over her scalp, combing her thick straight hair that had waves from the bun she’d kept it in. Slowly but surely the whimpers ceased, her expression growing calm and peaceful now.

“But that’s alright,” he uttered in a sweet voice, a slight edge in his voice as he continued the motion. “I can keep it hidden…for now.”

They lay there in silence, his golden eyes watching over her like the silent protector he swore he’d become for her. He would always step in to protect her—whether it was from Harlequin or from awful people like the woman at the café. Anyone who would dare take away even a fraction of her smile for a second…

“…that sweet demeanor,” he whispered. “That gaze that teases me without even knowing it…as if you weren’t aware that you were poisoning me with love in every gesture. But that’s all right, my lady…because when I have you, it won’t be gentle. I want it to be…but I know it won’t. I’ll leave my mark on you…from the inside out. Until your body knows my name better than it knows your own.” His eyes grew wider, an almost wild, manic intensity to them. “Until your skin burns at the touch of anyone who isn’t me. You’ll cry, tremble, beg…but not from pain…” He paused for a moment, a hint of playfulness in his tone as he uttered, “Well…unless that’s what you want~!”

His arms tightened around her body, all but trapping her against his own yet not constricting her movements.

“I’ll always be here for you—hungry—yet gentle. That’s how you like it, isn’t it? But if it’s not…I can change. I can move to your rhythm, in whatever way you desire. In whatever way makes you mine. I can remake myself for you. Shape myself to fit the image you hold of me. Do you want me gentle? Affectionate? Shy? Or perhaps…bold? Do you want a hunter, chasing you with relentless passion? Do you want me rough? It’s alright. I’ll learn what takes your breath away. I’ll learn the intensity that makes your soul—and your body—tremble for me. Because I love you, my dear lady.”

Just as he had earlier, he pressed a gentle, tender kiss to her forehead.

“And for you…I can be everything.”

((Route 2: Rejection)) (WARNING: Non-Consensual Drugging and Kidnapping in this scene!)

She hesitated, thinking back to everything that’s happened so far and realizing…she didn’t feel safe. Everything that she’d seen in the circus so far, how terrifyingly real everything felt…none of it felt safe. None of it felt right. If she didn’t stop this right now…

“I…think it’s better if I don’t.”

Pierrot’s face fell, his eyes growing wide and smile gone as he straightened up. “B…but…why?” he stammered, voice wavering. “Did I do something wrong, my lady?”

“I’m just…not so sure about all this,” she told him, barely managing to stop herself from taking a step back o seeing the terrifying face on his mask. “I’m just a little overwhelmed right now…t-too much happening all at once.”

He was silent, his eyes pinpricks of gold as he stared at her with such intensity, she couldn’t stop the sense of unease gripping her chest.

Finally, she took a step back, wanting to get out of there as soon as she could. “Sorry, Pierrot…but I can’t stay. Have a good night…”

“Wait!” he started, a nervous smile on his face as he held his hands out. “S-since I won’t get to see you tomorrow…may I give you one last gift?”

“I really shouldn’t-”

“You must be starving!” he interrupted, clasping his hands together with a nervous yet desperate look in his eyes. “You haven’t eaten anything all day, have you, my lady?”

‘How did he-?’ she thought, but at the mention of food her stomach gave a loud growl of betrayal. Dammit…why didn’t she eat anything before leaving the café when she forgot her lunch? “…I guess,” she finally admitted aloud. “But I’ve got food back home.”

“But it’s certainly a ways away! It’ll be too late by the time you get home to make anything, won’t it?” he said, holding his hands up in a ‘wait’ gesture. Whether it was curiosity or politeness, she waited, watching him rush over to one of the nearby stalls. He returned with a slice of cake on a plate, holding it out as though it were a fragile piece of glass. “I made this earlier, just for you. Please…try it and tell me if you like it.”

The cake was pink, a mix of red jelly and white icing layered on it with a smiling heart peering up at her. “You…made this for me?” she repeated.

He nodded, smiling as he said, “For the milkshake. It was the best I’d tasted…so I wished to make you a delicious treat in return.”

Part of her knew she should turn him down, but the other part…the other part felt guilty seeing the dismay on his face. Outside of the circus performances, he had been polite to her…had been sweet. She hadn’t felt unsafe around him before tonight, and he wouldn’t do something that would compromise the circus…would he?

“I…guess a bite wouldn’t hurt,” she finally said, accepting the offering and sitting on the bench. There was a brief flash of relief on his mask before Pierrot smiled, sitting next to her but keeping just enough distance to not make her uncomfortable. ‘Huh…he used strawberry cake mix. I love strawberry,’ she thought, taking a bite of the rich, sweet cake. Before she knew it, she’d taken another bite. And another.

Her hunger got the better of her, a slight hum escaping as she started feeling satisfied. A quick glance up at Pierrot though, and she noticed him watching her closely, strangely calm compared to earlier. Did he really just want to give her a sweet treat? It seemed too…convenient. Though she couldn’t place why.

Once she’d finished every last bite, she accepted the napkin he offered her and smiled. “Thank you. That was delicious, Pierrot,” she said. “I…”

……something was wrong.

“What is it?” he asked, though his voice sounded off as it took a second for her to realize he’d leaned in uncomfortably close. “Are you thirsty?”

“Y…yes. No…? I…” Why was it getting so hard to think? Why…was her vision swimming? Why was there a pink…fuzziness? “Something’s wrong…I don’t feel so…”

The plate slipped from her hand as her world tipped sideways, feeling someone’s arms catch her before she could fall far. Her body felt weightless, her mind faintly registering the sway of movement and the sensation of something warm and soft pressing against the side of her head.

“T-that was close…”

Pierrot…?

“I almost…almost lost you, my lady.” His voice was nervous, almost terrified. “I saw it in your eyes…you were going to leave me…weren’t you?” He took a deep, shuddering breath, the sensation sending vibrations through her head. “For a second…I thought I’d have to…”

Through the pink haze in her mind she tried to cling to his voice, fighting to remain conscious as she forced her eyes to open. Pierrot’s face was overhead, his mask devoid of anything as he stared at an unseen goal ahead.

“N-no…it’s all right now,” he uttered, though whether to himself or to her she couldn’t tell. “Everything’s fine. You just needed…to stop fighting me. M-maybe this was all a little game of pretend? Maybe you wanted me to chase you?”

Pretend? Chase?

His voice softened now, sounding uncertain as he uttered, “Or…maybe I moved too fast. You said you were overwhelmed…too much happened too soon. I should’ve been more patient…more gentle. I…I scared you, didn’t I?”

It was getting harder and harder for her to keep her eyes open, her eyes closing for a brief second before she forced them open. What greeted her next was his eye looking down at her, a wicked sharp-toothed grin stretching unnaturally wide across his face.

“No matter then. I’ll take good care of you. I promise,” he said, his voice low. “Even if you try to run again…even if you look at me like that again…I’ll gently remind you that you need me. With kindness, patience…” The grin seemed to grow even wider than ever, sharp teeth gleaming in the darkness around them as he whispered, “or with another dose.”

She knew she should be terrified, should be fighting tooth and nail to get away from him. Yet her body refused to cooperate, her arms and legs dangling uselessly. A faint sound reached her ears, only to realize it was her own voice whimpering.

“Shhhh…it’ll be all right, my lady,” he said, turning to face her with wide, almost manic eyes as he pulled her closer to him. “Because I love you.” She wanted to recoil the moment he leaned his head in to touch their foreheads together, but her body refused to move. “My sweet angel…” Then, in a voice that sounded inhuman, he said, “Don’t make me devour you too.”

‘No…l…let me…go…’ Her thoughts were sluggish as her eyes finally closed, barely clinging to the last bits of consciousness as she felt him lay her on a soft surface. The last thing she heard was the clinking of metal pieces and a loud click…and she knew no more.

#the freak circus vn #the freak circus pierrot #the freak circus harlequin #tfc pierrot #tfc harlequin #tfc visual novel #yandere vn #the freak circus fanfic #tw // blood #tw // suggestive #tw // death #tw // drug use

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mask-of-the-freak-circus · 1 month ago

Text

The Freak Circus

Hello everyone! So about a week ago or so, I got hooked on this wonderful game by @nekoboydreams called "The Freak Circus", and...well, let's just say this has been the biggest and most elaborate creative endeavor I've been able to write.

Seriously, I managed to get the first draft written in three days and just today managed to get the final draft rewritten and edited. In total? 28 pages worth of fanfic written in a week. That's insane for me! Have to break it into two parts because otherwise it'll be too long to read on Tumblr and AO3. 😅

Just a couple of notes before we begin:

May do scenario/skit/short story requests writing wise if there is interest!

This is indeed a self-insert fic, and I have no shame about it. 😘

The boss in the game wasn't ever given a name, and for the ease of flow in the story, I gave him the temporary placeholder name "Mr. Tucker". If he's ever given a proper name, I'll change it, I just feel awkward addressing someone as "boss" all the time even in fanfics! 😣

While a lot of the events from the game itself are in this, I added a lot more details to explore more of the characters personalities and behavior or movements. Had a lot of fun with this, so I hope you guys do too!

I haven't written anything involving yandere before (or at least, not to this degree), so this is an interesting challenge for me!

Yes, I will continue writing even more stuff for this as I've been struck with all kinds of ideas, so this will tide me over until the next chapter is released and we get more details.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head for right now! As Harlequin said: Enjoy the show!

Warnings: Yandere themes and stalking behavior, some blood mentioned. If I need to tag this any other way, please let me know!

Chapter 1: Fateful Encounter

---------------------------------------------

Beep! Beep! Beep! Bee-!

Click!

A tired groan escaped as her hand slid off the alarm clock, Lauren blinking at the time before glancing at the sliver of dull gray sky peeking from behind the curtain. “’s too early,” she mumbled, flopping her head down with a sigh. Work wasn’t until twelve o’clock, yet she forgot she’d set her alarm for eight and had stayed up late by accident. “Jus…five mor’ minutes…”

Bwoop! Bwoop! Bwoop! Bwoo-!

“Okay, okay, I’m up!” she yelped, smacking the off button to silence the obnoxious noise. “Ugh…better get dress then…” Stretching, she remembered she needed to pick up a few groceries and sighed. “Maybe I should’ve waited until the weekend to make this recipe…”

Five months had passed since she moved to the city for job opportunities after her twenty-sixth birthday, and for the most part it was…decent. Not perfect by any means with some of the buildings showing wear and tear, but it was safe enough. Between finding a reasonably priced apartment on the third floor within walking distance of her job at the café, she was living comfortably without having to touch her savings. A busy life for sure, but it’s not like she went out partying—the most excitement she had being finding a new book or nice stationary.

“Ah, nothing beats a good breakfast cookie in the morning,” she said, pulling out a cranberry oatmeal cookie from the batch she’d made last night. “Let’s see…keys? Check. Purse? Check. Apron and name tag are at work. Hair is tied up in a bun. Aaaaand…some homemade cookies for Carol and Mr. Tucker!” Snatching the bag containing the small Tupperware boxes of treats, she nodded to herself and said, “That’s everything. Just gotta head to the store, then it’s time for work.”

The moment she stepped out, however, she ducked back inside with a squeak. Seconds later she emerged, wearing a soft violet jacket and muttering under her breath about the cold. Crowds of people were already up and about by the time she reached street level, catching bits and pieces of conversation filtering through the air as she trotted along. The noise was a bit much at times, but she’d learned to tune it out as she took in the sights.

Or rather, the waves upon waves of flyers and posters scattered about.

“The Freak Show of Horrors,” she read aloud as she passed by a large poster plastered on the cracked wall of an abandoned shop. From what she’d heard, the traveling circus had arrived a few days ago, passing out flyers all day or performing stunts on the streets to draw a crowd. ‘It sounds interesting,’ she thought, continuing her walk. ‘But I don’t know…I love horror games and movies, but this doesn’t feel like it’ll be scary at all. Plus, the tickets are expensive…’

“Get out of here, ya weirdo!”

Thwack!

Lauren gasped as a figure collapsed to the ground, papers scattering about. She realized a second later that it was one of the performers, his jester-like outfit a mix of red and black with gold accents while his white mask gave her the impression of a kicked puppy. A man stood over him with a dark scowl, cracking his knuckles as he said, “Ever since you guys showed up, people have been disappearing left and right. Go back to whatever hellhole you monsters crawled out of!”

She watched in dismay as the performer sat up, keeping his head low and refusing to look the man in the eye. It was almost like he was…resigned, like he’d experienced this before as he slowly started gathering the papers up. He flinched when the man kicked the papers closest to him into his face, but still he never retaliated—physically or verbally.

“Got nothing to say?” the man growled, growing annoyed when the clown didn’t respond. “I’m talking to you, you freak!” With another swift kick, he knocked the papers out of the performers hands and shouted, “Get out of our town!!”

“Leave him alone!!”

She didn’t know what shocked her more: the speed at which she ran to get between them, or the sheer volume and force of her own words. Either way, she glowered up at the man, knowing her tiny 5’1” frame wasn’t very intimidating but refusing the back down. “What the hell are you doing, kid?” he demanded. “Get away from that freak, or-”

“Or what?” she hissed, tilting her head to the side. “You’ll hit me too?”

“This is none of your business, princess.”

“You made it my business when you started harassing someone just for doing their job!”

“Working for the devil maybe. Move aside, or I’ll move you myself!”

“The hell is your problem?!” she snapped, catching more attention from passersby. “Do you even have any proof, or are you just accusing the circus because of how they look? Are you going after anyone who looks different, or are you just being an ass?”

“Screw that and wake up!” Jabbing a finger into her face, he snarled, “Open your eyes, little girl, or they’ll take you too.”

“And what about you?” she retorted, feeling a cold fury bubbling in her chest as adrenaline rushed through her veins. “You’re acting so high and mighty, yet you’re not acting like a vigilante. How do I know you’re not the one doing what you’re accusing them of?”

The man’s face turned a terrifying shade of red and violet, but as he raised his fist to strike—he stopped. He finally seemed to realize the multiple sets of eyes leering at him, whispering to one another while some moved closer, ready to intervene. With a huff, he said, “You’ll regret sticking your neck out for these freaks. Mark my words…” With that, he stormed off, digging his heel into a flyer before disappearing around the corner.

‘Good riddance,’ she thought, taking a moment to breathe as she realized how much she was shaking. She’d never stood up to someone like that before, but…she couldn’t just stand by and watch. Turning to face the performer, she grew concerned at the sight of the large red mark forming on his face and held out her hand. “Are you okay? Here…let me help you up.”

He looked dumbfounded, tiny gold points where his irises should be staring up at her as though he were dreaming before his hand wrapped around hers. She could feel the claw-like tips of his gloves graze her skin as she pulled, hauling his larger frame off the ground until he was standing at his full 6’6” height.

‘Oh wow…he’s so tall!’ she thought, surprised to see his mask change to a wide smile as he watched her. Turning her attention to the fallen papers, she set her bag down and started gathering them in her arms as she said, “Sorry you had to deal with that jerk. He doesn’t speak for everyone. But please be careful while you guys are here, okay?” A few people who stuck around came up, handing her the papers they’d gathered before leaving. “There you go! Most of them should still be good, just out of order.”

The jingle of his bells rang sweetly in the air as he nodded, accepting the stack and giving a low, graceful bow. Still, he never said a word even as he straightened up.

“Can you talk?” she asked curiously. He held a finger up to his mask, winking as though it were a secret. “Oh, I think I get it. That’s okay! I never really talked much back in high school either. Some people thought I was mute just because they’d never heard me talk!” She giggled at the memory, the clown putting his fingertips to his mouth as he ‘giggled’ silently along. When she calmed down, she grew concerned as she stared up at the mark on his face. “Oh jeez…he really got you good, didn’t he? Hang on, I think I’ve got a bandaid somewhere.”

Pulling out a small pink bandaid from her purse, she made a mental note to pick up some more at the store.

“Here. It’s not much, but I keep a few on hand whenever I have to watch my neighbor’s kid,” she said, gesturing for him to bend down. He obliged, standing still as she fiddled with the bandage until it was somewhat covering a portion of the injury. “There. If it still hurts later, please go to the doctor, okay?”

To her surprise, a blush appeared on his face as he nodded, placing his hand over the bandage as though it were a precious treasure.

‘What kind of mask does that?’ she wondered, though she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “Good. I’ve gotta get going now. Need to take care of a few errands before work.” Just as she picked up her bag, she paused before rummaging around inside and pulling out a gingersnap. “Here. A little something to make the day a little sweeter! Freshly baked last night~!”

Somehow his smile grew even wider, golden eyes bright with pure glee as he gratefully accepted the cookie. Maybe he had a sweet tooth? Still, it made her feel good knowing she was able to cheer him up as she waved and continued on her way.

/--------/

“Ah good. You’re right on time, Lauren!”

“Hi, Mr. Tucker,” she greeted, waving to her boss as she swung around the counter to clock in. “I brought some cookies I made last night!”

“Great! Leave them in the back and get started as soon as you can,” he replied, pouring what looked like a cappuccino. “Thanks to the cold, it’s busier than usual. Carol’s running late, so I’ve been covering her shift.”

She paused mid-motion from putting on her apron, staring for a second before asking, “She’s never been this late before. Is she okay?”

“I couldn’t reach her,” he answered, sliding another order onto the counter. “Maybe she’s not feeling well. Anyway, orders are already on the counter, so please take them to their respective tables. I need to take out the trash before it overflows.”

“Got it.” Grabbing a tray, she loaded it up with the first order and carried it to the table closest to the door. “Good afternoon! One coffee with a cheese bread, and a cappuccino with a brownie.”

“Thanks!” the first customer said, eagerly taking his plate and drink.

“Hey, miss,” the second customer started as he poured sugar and creamer into his coffee, “did you see the news?”

“Not yet. Did something happen?”

Leaning in as though about to reveal a secret, he said, “They’re still talking about the one who disappeared the other day.”

“The one who…? You mean the one people say ran away with their lover or something?”

“No one really knows for sure,” the first customer chimed in, chewing on his brownie. “This whole thing has been weirdly creepy lately. Like we’re in some sort of horror movie and we don’t even know it yet.”

Rolling his eyes at his partner’s comment, he said, “You need to stop watching those things late at night. Anyway, I just wanted to say…be careful if you’re leaving late today. Okay? I know this place closes pretty late at night, so just…stay alert, alright?”

Touched by his concern, Lauren nodded and said, “Will do. Thank you for the heads up, and enjoy your coffee!” As she moved to retrieve the next set of orders, she made a mental note to remember to start carrying an umbrella with her for extra protection. She caught the faintest sight of a dark shape in the window before it vanished, shaking it off as she smiled and said, “Good afternoon! Here’s your espresso and macchiato. Can I get you anything else?”

“Thanks. I was dying for some coffee.” Taking a sip, the woman breathed a sigh of content. “Ah, it’s seeping into my bones…”

“You really need to have a better work-life balance,” her buddy said, glancing at the flyers on the seat next to her. “Sure are a lot of flyers around here.”

“Yeah, it’s weird, right?” Taking another sip of her espresso, the woman said, “It’s been ages since a traveling circus came to town.”

“And the clowns are so creepy…”

Remembering the performer from earlier, Lauren thought he’d looked rather cute in a strange sort of way. Especially once he’d received a cookie from her.

“Considering the name, it’s probably good for their marketing.” Mid-sip of their drink, they realized she was still there and jumped as they said, “Oh, sorry! Yeah, we’re all set. We don’t need anything else right now.”

“Sure thing! Just call if you need anything.”

As she turned around, she caught sight of what looked like fog on the window. Before she could make out the strange shapes in the middle, however, they faded away without a trace. Shrugging, she turned to retrieve the last order.

“Ouchie! Hot, hot, hot, hot!” she hissed, carefully yet quickly walking over to the last table and setting it in front of them. “Here you go! One hot chocolate, extra whipped cream!”

“Thanks!” Breathing in the warm steam, the customer sighed deeply as they clasped the mug in their gloved hands. “Today’s been so cold, I’ve been really craving something warm.”

“It got really chilly this morning, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, the weather’s been all over the place. You leave the house with a jacket and umbrella, the next minute you’re sweating at the end of the day.”

“Just leaves room for ice cream at the end of the day, doesn’t it?” she retorted with a smile.

Grinning, the customer pointed at her and said, “I like the way you think.”

“Can’t have a good day if you don’t treat yourself with something tasty!” Setting down a couple of napkins from her apron, she said, “If you need anything else, just let me know, okay?”

“Perfect!”

As she set about cleaning the workspace, she spotted her boss coming in from the front door with wads of crumpled paper in his hands. “I’m getting sick of ripping these flyers off the windows,” he grumbled, tossing them into the trash can with a little more force than necessary before turning to face her. “If you see anyone come in here trying to pass them out, you need to tell to leave.”

“Oh…okay,” she said, surprised by how firm he was being about it as she looked at the trash can and realizing they were for the circus. “They’re really trying hard to draw a crowd, huh?”

“Yeah, well, the store isn’t a billboard for them to advertise on,” he uttered with a sigh. “When you have a minute, go around and pick up the ones scattered around the tables.”

“Got it.” Thinking back to earlier, she asked, “Don’t you think everyone’s being a little rude to them? They’re only visiting for a little while…”

“The way they act freaks people out. You’d be freaked out too if someone not in costume did the same things as them, wouldn’t you?”

“I guess…”

“Best keep them away from here if we can help it. Bad for business.” Jabbing his thumb behind him, he said, “We just got a shipment in. I’ll be in the back if you need anything.”

“Okay. Call if you need me to help with anything!” It wasn’t until she’d started that she realized there were far more papers scattered about than she initially saw. “Seriously, why don’t they just throw it in the trash if they don’t want it?” she grumbled as she reached under the table to grab a sheet that slid under the table leg.

Clink! Ting-ting-ting~!

“Hel-” BANG! “Ow! Hello!” she greeted loudly, rubbing the top of her head as she quickly stood up from under the table. Turning to smile at the customer, she grabbed the papers she’d collected so far and said, “Have a seat wherever you like and I’ll be with you in a sec!”

“Take your time, miss,” the man said, a polite and amused smile on his face as he sat at the table closest to the door as she hurried to put the papers on the counter and wash her hands.

“Sorry for the wait,” she apologized, pulling out a pad and pen. “What can I get for you today?”

“I’d like a strong, hot coffee.”

“Coming right up! Anything else you’d like to try? We’ve got the best cinnamon rolls in town~!”

He smiled, though for some reason it didn’t seem to reach his eyes as he said, “That sounds lovely, though I’m not much in the mood for sweets today.”

“No problem! If you change your mind, we have savory treats as well,” she said, walking over to begin preparing his drink. “Sugar and creamer is on your right if you want any, and ice water is free.”

“Quite the salesman, aren’t you?” he commented as she brought out his drink, though the comment wasn’t unkind.

Shrugging, she said, “Par for the course when you work any form of customer service.”

“Fair enough.” He peered around her and asked, “What’s with the flyers?”

“Hm? Oh, the circus folks have been passing them around lately, and people keep leaving them on the tables and floor. I was just about to throw them away.” Noticing a page that had somehow escaped her notice, she quickly snatched it and said with a sigh, “Once I get all of them, of course.”

“How rude to do that in a place of business.”

“Well, it’s not like we’re their parents telling them to clean up their rooms, though it’d be nice if they didn’t do that.”

“If you want, I could take them off your hands. I was already gathering paper for recycling anyway, so it’s not a big deal.”

“Really? Thank you! That’s so nice of you.”

“No problem, dear,” he said, accepting the neat stack as she handed them to him.

“If you need anything else-”

“Do you like the circus?”

Caught off guard by the interruption, it took her a second to register what he’d asked before she shrugged. “I, uh…might be too old to be going to the circus,” she finally managed, picturing the colorful clowns with rainbow wigs and squeaky noses.

“Nonsense! You’re not too old for this one,” he said, his smile growing wider. “This circus isn’t for kids—adults only.” With a sly smile, he added, “They’ve got some pretty creepy stuff there—things you’ve never seen before. A truly unique experience few dare to imagine.”

“Oh! You meant the circus that came to town. I take it you’ve gone already?”

“Of course. After all, how often does one get to see a traveling circus?” He gave her a sly wink, digging around in his coat pocket before pulling out a slip of pink paper. “Here: take this.”

“A…ticket?” she asked, examining the pattern on it. There didn’t seem to be a number on it, the words ‘The Freak Circus Ticket’ displayed prominently in gold on black with a circus tent at the end.

“Go on and check it out,” he said, his smile somehow taking on an eerie grin. “See if it doesn’t give you thrills and chills.”

“I-I really appreciate it, sir, but I can’t accept this,” she said, quickly setting it back on the table. “You already paid for it, so it’s yours!”

Waving a hand dismissively, he said, “Don’t worry. I already went yesterday. I was thinking of going again, but I’m afraid I won’t have much time since I’ll be leaving town soon.” Sliding it back towards her, he said, “Keep it. Or if you want, you can sell it to someone else. It’s your choice.”

Lauren hesitated, torn between her unease with accepting gifts from strangers and being polite. Something didn’t feel right…but what, she couldn’t place. Finally, she gave a quiet sigh and picked it up. “Thank you,” she said, offering a genuine smile. “I’ll try and make some time to go soon.”

“I’ll be glad knowing someone is using my ticket to have fun,” he said, a more pleasant smile on his face now. Taking a sip of his coffee, he said, “Thank you for your time. I’ll let you get back to work.”

“Okay. Let me know if you need anything else!” she said, nodding her head before hurrying to greet the new customers that entered.

/-------/

Hours passed by faster than she realized, customers coming in and out like a revolving door for hot drinks and snacks. Strangely enough the man who gifted her the ticket stuck around, nursing his coffee and accepting the hot sandwich she made as thanks for the ticket. Work was more chaotic than usual for her as she rushed around to keep the place clean and maintain good customer service, though thankfully her boss would come out and help when she called for assistance.

Three hours before closing, however, he approached with a set of keys and said, “As soon as the last customer leaves, close everything up and clean the place. We’re closing early today.”

“Did something happen?”

“I have an unexpected appointment to attend to. And since you’ll be working alone, I’d rather you didn’t leave too late.” Checking the clock, he frowned and said, “I’ve gotta go now. Can you take care of everything?”

“Sure, no problem!” she said, gesturing to the clean counter. “Aside from cleaning a few spots and refilling the sugar caddies, it won’t take me too long to clean up now that things are calming down.”

“Good. Call me if anything comes up.”

“Will do. See ya!” As he left the store, her smile fell as she realized she hadn’t heard a single word on Carol’s whereabouts or condition. “I really hope Carol’s okay…”

There was a clatter of coins as she turned, seeing the man laying money on the counter. “Here’s the payment for the coffee, miss,” he said. “I’m heading out. Have a good night, and thank you for the sandwich.”

“Of course! Thank you for the ticket,” she replied, waving at him as he left. “Have a good night, sir!” Once he was gone, she was alone in the store with only the soft music to fill the void. Flipping the sign to ‘Closed’, she removed her apron and said, “Okay, time to close up and finish getting everything rea-”

Ting!

“Sorry, we’re…closed?” she began, her voice trailing off as she looked towards the door and saw no one there. She hadn’t imagined hearing that bell, had she? Or…wait…that…hadn’t sounded like the front door bell. It sounded different…didn’t it? “…hello?”

In that moment, the lights and music shut off.

‘Okay, I’m definitely not imagining this!’ she thought, feeling her body tense as she quickly blinked to see through the gloom. ‘Did someone sneak in and turn off the lights?’ She could faintly make out the shapes of the switches on the wall, realizing they were still in the up position. “Mr. Tucker? Sir? If this is a joke, it’s not funny.”

Silence. Nothing but the sound of blood rushing through her ears, feeling as though the void itself were closing in around her. Her heart raced in her chest, feeling as though every shadow and familiar shape were replaced by creatures…watching her. Faintly, she swore she heard what sounded like something scraping against the wall, slow and deliberate, but couldn’t pinpoint the source.

‘Calm down,’ she thought, taking a few breaths to calm her beating heart as she listened closely. ‘You’re just being paranoid. It’s probably just the breaker box acting up…again. The building’s old, so, it’s probably malfunctioning…right?’

Ting!

There it was again! The bell!

‘Fuck! Gotta move fast!’ she thought, hunching low and rushing behind the counter. She had to move quickly—had to get the lights on! With a click, the lights flared to life and music crackled through the speakers before starting up again. Turning to scan the room, she all but sagged against the counter with a sigh of relief when she saw it was empty. “He really needs to get the lights checked,” she grumbled, glaring at the breaker. “One of these days the store is going to catch on fire.”

Clink! Ting-ting-ting~!

‘Crap, I forgot to lock the door!’ she thought, turning to face the entrance and saying, “Sorry, we’re clo-oh! It’s you again!”

The performer from this morning stood in the doorway, waving at her with the same wide smile. He looked chipper as he stepped closer, the only color on his white mask being the pink bandage on his cheek and—

Blood?!

“Oh my gosh, what happened to you?!” she gasped, heart leaping into her chest as she rushed over to him. Her fingers barely managed to reach his face as she stood on the tips of her toes, trying to get a better look at the wound on his forehead and the fresh-looking blood coating the top of his mask. “Oh no…you poor thing.”

His smile fell into one of surprise, clearly not expecting this reaction before he grinned, bending down so she didn’t have to stretch up so high.

“I can’t make out much with the blood in your hair,” she said, letting him go and taking a step back. “I need to get the med kit and…” She paused, startled to see him pull out a red paper flower, its petals freshly painted and damp. “Oh…is…is this for me?” she asked. “Is it for what happened earlier?” He shook his head, raising a hand up to tap the bandage. “Oh! For the bandaid!”

He nodded, turning his head bashfully yet still peeking at her.

“Aw, thank you,” she said, accepting the gift and holding it to her face. There was a strange scent to it, though she couldn’t quite place what. “That’s so thoughtful.” Gesturing to the counter, she said, “Have a seat. I need to get the med kit and some water to clean up the blood and see if you need stitches.”

The bells on his outfit jingled as he jumped, looking pleased as he obliged and slid onto a bar stool. He was compliant as she gently cleaned the mask of blood, resting his chin in his hands to keep his head steady as she worked. She couldn’t help but marvel at the texture, wondering if this was a malleable mask or an insane amount of caked on makeup…though the latter she had a hard time imagining since it didn’t seem to crack or wipe away with the water.

‘Maybe it’s some new costume material?’ she wondered, gently parting his silver hair and dabbing at the area with a damp cotton ball. He’d closed his eyes by now, his body relaxed as he tilted his head into her touch. There was a gash, but it was small—too small to produce this much blood. “Looks like you don’t need stitches, which is good,” she said aloud, digging around for some medical tape and gauze. Somehow, she managed to get it covered without messing with the mask, his hair mostly concealing it as she stepped back and examined her work. “Please make sure to keep it clean, okay? I don’t want it getting infected.”

He nodded, though it seemed distracted as he sat there with a blissful smile and a bright blush on his face. It was adorable, though she still wondered what sort of mask allowed him to do that.

“…so…I know I asked this earlier,” she started, putting away the unused medical supplies as he opened one eye to look at her. “But are you actually mute, or is this just a part of your character?”

Glancing around the shop, he stood and leaned in closer. “I can’t be seen talking,” he said, the mask’s mouth moving just like any other to the words.

“Ah, so it is just part of the act!”

“Yes, my lady. But I wished to express my appreciation for all your help,” he said, stepping to the side and giving a graceful bow. “I am the Pierrot. A pleasure to meet you!”

Giggling, Lauren returned the bow and said, “Nice to meet you too, Pierrot. I’m Lauren.” (“I know...”) “I’ll be honest, you don’t really look like a normal circus clow—wait, what?”

“I suppose you could say that,” he said quickly. “We don’t exactly look like common depictions of our roles. We were required to…modernize my attire. But, my role remains unchanged.”

“Huh…gonna have to look it up when I get home,” she uttered, not having realized that there were actual roles for these performers. “Still, I don’t exactly understand why everyone’s been treating you guys so badly since you got here. You’re just performing in the circus, right?”

Tilting his head, the bells jingled slightly as he said, “I suppose we may appear a touch…uncanny for their tastes. Our costumes and act tend to unsettle people.”

Looking him up and down, she tilted her own head in confusion. “You don’t look scary to me,” she admitted. “I mean…sure, you’re taller than me, but then again, who isn’t?”

Pierrot chuckled, the sound warm and inviting as he said, “Thank you, my lady. It’s wonderful to know my appearance hadn’t frightened you so.”

“So, what about the others? Are there any other Pierrots like you?”

“The circus has but a small cast. Though, I must say, I am the only Pierrot, my lady. The others are Jesters and…” His expression darkened, rolling his eyes with a scowl as he ground out, “Harlequins…”

“Guess you don’t exactly get along with everyone, huh?” she commented, resulting in a snort of annoyance from him. “Got it. So, do the others have silent roles like you?”

Like a switch had been flipped, he was back to smiling. “I am the only one who remains silent.” Giving a playful wink and using the ‘shh’ gesture, he said, “Though I do make an exception when it’s just the two of us.”

Realizing what he meant, she nodded and made a zipping motion across her lips, repeating the gesture as she said, “Your secret’s safe with me~!” Noticing something off, she straightened up and said, “Oh, the bandaid I gave you earlier is coming off. Let me just…” He bent down a bit, allowing her to peel it off and reveal no trace of the bruise on his mask. “There we go.”

“Thank you, my lady,” he said, looking pleased. “That reminds me: I’ve brought you another small token of appreciation.”

When he pulled out a familiar shape, she blinked in surprise. “You got me a ticket?” Unlike the pink one, this ticket was red and black just like his costume. Did each performer have their own unique tickets? “That’s really nice of you, but…I don’t think I can accept it. Someone already gave me one earlier.”

He paused, an unreadable expression on his face. “You…obtained a ticket?” She nodded. “May I see it, my lady?”

“Sure.” Digging around in her pocket, she offered it to him.

In an instant there was a…change. His expression grew darker than before, his eyes locked onto the ticket in her hand as though it had personally offended him. Before she could ask, he snatched the ticket from her hand and held it up. With his free hand, he swiped it down—and the pink one vanished, replaced with the red one.

“Cool!” she said, clapping her hands as he bowed his head. “But…why? What was wrong with the pink one?”

“It was incorrect,” he answered simply, placing the ticket in her palm and wrapping his hands around it as though to protect it. “You wouldn’t be allowed in with it. Please, take mine instead.”

“So…that guy gave me a fake one…?”

“Indeed. A counterfeit.” He looked sad now as he said, “Do not accept tickets from strangers, my lady. I would not want you to encounter trouble at the entrance.”

“…thank you. I appreciate it.” Though her smile was small, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d avoided a trick somehow. Why had the man given her a fake ticket? Was he…someone taking advantage of the potential circus attendees to lure victims away? Or…

She refused to finish that thought.

As though sensing what she was thinking, he gave her a pleasant smile and said, “Not to worry, my lady. I promise you will be safe at our circus.” Turning her hand around, he raised it to his lips and gave it a kiss, giving her a playful look as he added, “I’ll make you smile during my performance.”

Her face burned, a nervous smile fluttering across her lips. No one had ever flirted with her like this before, let alone given her the time of day since she looked younger than she was. “Are you always this charming, or am I just lucky?”

“For you? Always,” he said, winking up at her in a way that made her heart flutter and face burn even hotter before he straightened up. “I do hope you’ll come visit?”

“S-sure.” Noticing the time, she gave him an apologetic look and said, “Sorry, but…my boss told me to close early today. We can’t really stay much longer.”

“I completely understand. I had hoped to arrive earlier, but I did not wish to cause you any distress, my lady.”

“It’s okay. If anything, I’m glad we got to talk a little bit!” Smiling, she said, “It feels a little more special knowing you wanted to talk to me too.”

“That’s true~!” he said in a cheerful voice, looking pleased now as he bowed. “Have a good night, my lady.”

“Good night, Pierrot!” She turned to finish cleaning up, only to pause and turn back. “Wait.”

He stopped, turning to give her a curious look. “Something wrong, my lady?”

“Wait right there for a second, I’ll be right back.” Quickly hurrying into the back, she pulled out the containers of cookies she’d brought and noticed they’d hardly been touched—which was expected given how busy they were today. “Here,” she said, holding them out to him when she returned. “I brought these for my coworkers, but we were so busy today we didn’t have a chance to eat them.”

“Oh! Are these the same ones from earlier?” he asked, his eyes brightening.

“Yup! Gingersnaps and cranberry oatmeal cookies. I have more at home, but I figured you could share with your coworkers or something. I just don’t want them to go to waste.”

“You’re too kind, my lady,” he said, accepting the two containers. “The gingersnap you gave me earlier was scrumptious! I’ll be sure to savor every last bite of the others.”

“Aww, thanks! That makes me happy. Good night!”

/--------/

By the time she’d made it home, it was dark and the streets were sparce. Normally it was busy this time of night, though she wondered if maybe they were all out enjoying the circus. “Well, they didn’t exactly advertise an end date for their visit,” she muttered to herself, shutting the door and setting the groceries she’d picked up earlier on the table. “Still, I guess they’ve got plenty of routines to keep everyone coming.”

As she cooked dinner with the sliding glass door ajar to air out the room, she took a bit of time to look up the roles Pierrot had mentioned earlier and find out more about their history. According to the resources, Pierrot’s role was a performance of comedic behavior and a lovesick attitude towards the female lead character. Unlike the historical role though, this Pierrot didn’t seem like a “sad clown” version at all—rather, he seemed happy-go-lucky around her. Maybe since they were a horror circus, they adapted his role as well as his outfit?

‘I wonder what the others look like,’ she thought as she finished her meal, flipping to the next page she’d printed off earlier as she moved to close the glass door. ‘Guess I’ll find out tomorrow. Need to take a shower before I do anything else tonight though. I hate smelling like coffee…’

---

“…didn’t I close you?” she uttered as she exited the bathroom, frowning at the sight of the glass door ajar and the cold wind blowing through. She could swear she’d closed it…hadn’t she? ‘Maybe it’s just been a long day and I forgot,’ she thought, shutting the door and moving the wooden pole into the slot to keep it from being opened again. “There. Let’s see…got my outfit ready for tomorrow, got my lunch ready to grab, and hair is nice and dry. Just need to get to bed early.” Sighing, she uttered, “I’ve gotta stop staying up so late, or I’m not gonna survive another day like today.”

Digging around for her CD player, she fiddled around with her disks before finding one involving Zen music. The soft, melodic flutes mixed with bubbling water relaxing her as she settled under the covers with a soft plush toy in her arms. Slowly but surely her mind began to quiet, occasionally thinking of her encounter today and seeing Pierrot’s smiles and blushes.

“I hope he made it home safely,” she mumbled quietly, exhaustion finally weighing her down as she breathed a deep sigh. ‘I hope…Carol is…safe……’

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The room was still, the only signs of life being the steady rise and fall of Lauren’s sides as she slept soundly. A shadow moved near the front door, eerily silent with each step as he stopped in the center of the room. The space was decorated with rows upon rows of books, stuffed animals and creatures he didn’t recognize arranged in piles on chairs and a small chest near the television.

On the table lay the red paper flower, a sticky note on the stem saying ‘Find small vase to display properly’. Gold eyes examined the rest of the items, claw tips shifting through the papers she’d left earlier. An eerily wide smile crossed the shadow’s face before he turned, approaching the bed and cautiously leaning in.

Pierrot eyed her long dark blonde hair, lightly running his fingers through the soft, thick strands while being mindful not to touch her head or back. Tilting his head as he moved to the other side of the bed, he stood frozen for the briefest moment as he stared at her slumbering face. His eyes seemed to take on a heart-shaped appearance as sharp, pointed teeth gleamed in the darkness.

“Ah, my lady. You…you are even more beautiful in your sleep,” he whispered, leaning in closer. His clawed hand reached up, gingerly brushing away the few strands of hair covering her face. “So fragile…so defenseless…”

He slid down to his knees, resting his head in his arms as though he were lying beside her. So close was he that he could smell the strawberry and peach fragrance of her hair and body wash, the scent soft with a hint of coffee lingering on her skin.

“…you do not know me…but I know everything about you.” His voice was low, a quiet whisper that could barely be heard yet still carried every ounce of his feelings in every word. “Every step you take, your routines, your preferences…even the way your brow furrows when you are confused…or afraid.” He breathed a quiet, breathy sigh, eyes soft as he thought back to her reaction when the lights went out in the store. “Utterly adorable.”

She sighed in her sleep, her grip on the plush toy growing lax. Carefully pulling it away, he looped his arm under hers and threaded their fingers together—smiling wider at how perfectly her hand fit in his. Oh, how he wished he could hold her hand while she was awake, but he couldn’t…no, not yet. Even though the thought of how adorably small her hand was in his made his heart swell, he had to wait…but he could dream. He could dream of this moment, walking hand in hand with that sweet smile and kind eyes gazing up at him.

“I knew the moment I saw you,” he began, cheeks a bright pink as he leaned in closer. “…today…it was just a glance, but…something in me ignited. And now…there is no turning back. There is nowhere left to run.” In a softer, quieter voice, he—almost desperately—uttered, “I needed to see you with my own eyes…to be certain that you were real. And you are.”

His fingers tightened around her hand, the tips of his claws grazing the back yet stopping short of piercing the skin. She stirred, Pierrot freezing as he watched her stretch—a low, warbling trill escaping that immediately made him think of a cat before she curled up, her hand tightening around his unconsciously as she brought his arm closer to her chest. It took him biting the inside of his cheek to stop from making a sound, the lovestruck smile wide on his face as he felt her heartbeat.

“You must be mine,” he uttered in conviction. His free hand slid under her cheek, cupping her face in his palm as he brushed his thumb over her forehead just like she had for him. Leaning in until their lips were barely touching, he hissed, “You will be mine…”

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