Page 62 of Circus From Hell

“That sounds really dangerous.”

“Spiral drinks a lot. He will be fassst asleep.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, you’re too loud. Not sneaky enough. Snake and I will go. You wait at the trailer for me.”

Hearing his name and following my command, Snake returns and climbs up my body to sit on my head.

“Are you sure, Karma?”

“I’m sure. You’re just a puppy.” He narrows his eyes, but it only marks my point. “Go. I’ll see you sssoon.”

I watch Arlo’s retreating form, not missing how he looks back numerous times. He’s worried about me. I don’t know why; I’m much stronger than Spiral.

“Come on, Sssnake. Let’s find this key.”

His little hands stay nestled in my hair as I head to Spiral’s tent. The smell of alcohol and weed hits me before I’m inside, and I have to hold my hand over my nose to stop it from overwhelming my sensitive senses.

As I pull back the entrance flap, my eyes land on the sleeping form atop the mattress on the floor. Spiral’s jumpsuit is undone to the waist, revealing his slim, toned torso, and his arm is slung over his forehead. There’s an unlit, half-smoked spliff resting in his mouth, and his other hand holds the neck of a whisky bottle, his grip loose and close to slipping.

I can hear his heart beating slowly. My nose stops twitching the more I get used to the smell.

Snake chitters quietly and jumps onto Spiral’s vanity covered in makeup, spilt alcohol, empty bottles, spliffs, needles, and packets of white powder. He bumps into a bottle, but I’m quick to grab it before it topples over and smashes.

“Careful,” I whisper.

He crawls behind the large mirror and disappears. I see him attempt to retreat with something, but he’s struggling. When I peek behind, I see what he’s trying to do. There’s a necklace made of string hooked on the back of the mirror, and he’s pulling it by the key at the bottom between his teeth.

“Clever boy.”

I use my nail to unhook the string, and Snake releases it, quickly jumping back onto my arm as I examine the rusty key in my hand. Now I’ll be able to free Soren, and he can fuck me all over again. My smile is wide as I think about Arlo joining in. Oh, how perfect.

I hear the footsteps and a second heartbeat before I turn. I’m not surprised to see Moxie standing at the entrance to the tent, her eyes furious. I slip the string over my head and tuck the key between my breasts, out of sight behind my jumpsuit.

“What are you doing in here?” she screeches. I’m quick to shove my hands to her chest and push her outside before she wakes up Spiral. “Get your freaky, dead hands off me.”

Snake jumps to the ground, sensing something’s about to go down. Normally Moxie wouldn’t directly confront me, but she’s also never caught me sneaking around her leader’s room before.

I don’t answer because I owe her nothing, walking past without batting an eye.

She doesn’t accept this.

She grabs my shoulder, forcing me to turn and face her.

“I asked you a question, bitch.”

“Mind your businesssss.”

“Spiral is my business. What are you doing with that key?” She nods to the string dipping into my jumpsuit.

“I jussst told you. It’s none of your business.”

She attempts to snatch it, but I’m too quick. She doesn’t stop, gripping onto my shoulder and lashing out. I’m too strong for her.

I quickly push her back, hunger starting to take over at the threat, and my teeth itch to sink into her dark skin.

Don’t eat the performers.