Page 38 of Circus From Hell

“No, it doesn’t make sense. You’re not going to let me go regardless.”

“Again, that’s true. But we also might not kill you. I bet Kreo would like to have you in his circus. You’d be a good addition. We need more freaks.”

“You want to parade me with that zombie-girl and her pet rat?” I scoff, and his eyes narrow.

“How do you know about Karma?”

I probably shouldn’t have said that. I forgot she was sneaking in here. Will I be getting her in trouble if I tell the clown what she’s been up to? I’d like her to come back.

“Kreo talks about her,” I bluff. That guy doesn’t talk about anything when he’s here. He mutters and does his tests.

Spiral’s lip curls. “Of course he does,” he mutters, the words sour on his tongue like I’ve hit a soft spot. “That’s all he fucking does.” He pushes away from the cage, backwards rolling before jumping to stand. Unnecessarily eccentric. “I still want to see your cock.”

“I said no.”

“I’ll see it one day.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“I’m persistent. And annoying.”

“I can tell.”

He scoffs. “Okay, that’s just rude.” He takes quick steps to the trailer door, grabbing the plate as he goes. “I’ll bring you more chicken later if you show me.” Before I can answer, he rushes out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

I don’t mind being alone in here. I’m used to the silence and the darkness. But it would be nice to stretch my legs at some point and potentially escape. Kreo will go back to force-feeding me fish when he returns, and I’d prefer to be gone by that point.

Maybe if I’m nice enough to Karma, she’ll let me out. Until then, I have to bide my time.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

KARMA

Spiral locks the trailer door and jumps out of his skin when he turns around to see me standing behind him.

“Jesus. Do you have to be so freaky?”

“I’m just ssstanding here,” I argue.

“Yeah, well, you stand like a freak.”

He walks past me, nudging my shoulder as he goes. I think it’s time to make my secret known.

“What is he?”

Spiral stops in his tracks. “What is who?”

“The man in the cage.”

He spins to face me, and my stitched smile pulls wider.

“How the fuck⁠—”

“You ssshould be careful locking up at night.”

He takes quick steps and reaches out to wrap his hands around my throat. Which is pointless, because I don’t need to breathe to survive. It does make it harder to speak, though.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing in there?”