Page 116 of Circus From Hell

He shakes his head. “Like a creepy little sister. Stepsister.”

The concern in his eyes is the reason I follow him into the clearing, and I’m glad I did.

Dolly is in the middle, her black-painted lips downturned and icy blue eyes scanning the vicinity for help. She’s surrounded by five men, each with various weapons such as great big knives or baseball bats, shouting mockery at the clown.

“Creepy bitch!”

“Go back to wherever the hell you came from!”

“Fucking skank looks like she’s going to cry.”

This isn’t uncommon. People love the circus, but some hate the performers. I’ve never veered from the tent except to hunt in the shadows, so this is my first time encountering true civilian dickheads.

Spiral picks up a rock and throws it at the back of the closest guy’s head.

“Get away from her!”

They all turn slowly to look at us, the one previously attacked rubbing the back of his head and snarling.

“Look. More circus freaks. Another clown and—” The man looks my naked body up and down. “What are you supposed to be? Some freaky zombie-jester?”

The group starts collectively laughing, but I don’t understand why. I’m not a jester. What’s the joke?

Dolly doesn’t move, frozen on the spot between them despite their focus on me and Spiral. They all act tough, but the one furthest on the left can’t control his fear. His heart rate speeds up every time he looks at me until it’s racing a mile a minute. Maybe he’s realised that I’m not wearing makeup or wielding special effects.

The sound and smell of his fear are like a punch to the gut. That savage lack of control I thought I was getting a hold on smashes into me with full force. My long tongue creeps out, saliva dripping from my lips.

“I think she’s got a crush on you!” one of them shouts, but the fearful one is watching me like he knows he’s about to die.

I dart forward, teeth bared, and jump high, barrelling him to the ground. I rip the flesh from his neck, devouring him as the screams and yells of his friends beside me fuel my desperate hunger. Blood sprays to coat my face, and I know he’ll bleed out soon.

Still chewing his flesh, I grab his friend’s leg as he tries to run, tripping him up and crawling over his body. I snatch the machete from his hand and drive it into his back. I catch a glimpse of Spiral impressively managing to shove one man’s head to the ground as he stabs another in the chest.

Four down.

One more.

The leader of the group takes a tentative step back when I look up and make direct eye contact. The baseball bat slips from his hand to the dirt floor, and he twists on his heel to run, but I’m too fast. I land on his back, reaching around to use my dagger-shaped nails. I tear out his eyes and destroy his face as he screams and wails. He falls back, and I wrap my arm around his neck, suffocating him as he scratches and fights.

“I am not a jester,” I spit into his ear, watching as my strong arms cave in his neck, blocking off his airway and severing some vital connections. He goes limp on top of me, and I shove him away into the pile of bodies. All five of them are sprawled on or around each other like a sea of carcasses.

Spiral holds Dolly by the face, his hands covered in blood and smearing across her paper-white skin. Their black and white look is nearly identical.

I don’t want to interrupt what seems like a private moment, so I drag all the bodies into a messy pile and sit on them like a throne. I snap off a finger and nibble it as I listen to their conversation.

“Fuck, Doll, are you sure you’re okay? What are you doing out here?”

She nods once, her black, bow-clad curls bouncing, and opens her palm to reveal a cigarette.

“You know damn well you’re not allowed to smoke, Doll.”

I blurt out an exasperated laugh, and he narrows his eyes on me.

“Ssspiral, you are a hypocrite.”

“Shut that mouth before I shut it for you,” he warns. “Just because you don’t use your voice box doesn’t mean you need to cause yourself any more damage. Promise me you won’t do it again?” Her chest deflates as she huffs and reluctantly nods. “And stay away from Moxie. She’s up to no good at the moment.”

“She’s taking control of the circusss,” I add, but Spiral doesn’t look surprised.