The Circus

I have never been afraid of anything in life. Given the fact, my aunt was a freak when it came to Halloween and haunted houses. Plus she never seemed to fail at being the best spook feast person on the block. Then there was this weird circus that wasn't full of color, but cold and dark. With twisted black and white tents bent and contorted, that by a far looked like limbs sparred about the landscape. Close to the end of September, it would appear out of thin air, bringing along thunderstorms that only circled around the expanse. Killing every living thing in its path, only to vanish completely after Halloween night the same way it appeared, never failing to return around the same time and to leave just the same. The folk here, who were not scared of much, watched the circus acts. Each repeating what they saw. The whole circus was made of freaks, men, and woman alike, too hideous to one's eyes but amusing just the same. As the people would put it, at least it wasn't them. The only people who seem normal was the ring leader Jeckter deVoute and his wife the illusionist Clairesse deVoute. Who loved each other the way any couple should, but Jeckter always seemed far stranger than his wife. Being that he was once a man of science, but quit because he loved death way too much to try to prevent it. His loving wife Clairesse never stayed within the tents her husband called, his masterpiece of misery. She was always escaping to afar, a more beautiful landscape filled with life and color, the things she loved the most. I was never phased to hear her wondering, but my friend Johnny must have since he fancied her by a far. Always ranting my ear off that he was one day going to marry that woman, but I always knocked him down saying she loved Jeckter to much to look twice at what Johnny ever had to offer. Frowning, Johnny soon agreed and stopped when the circus vanished. Only to start up again the moment it appeared, but with a new idea. The idea of joining the circus, as if saying to himself if he couldn't have her he'd settle being around her the rest of his days. When I told him he was crazy, he denied it. On the last day, the circus was in town, he packed his sack and met Jeckter at the ticket booth. Then just like that, they were gone. It's been two years since the day Johnny joined the circus. However, it hasn't returned since and the life that once died there were now reappearing.

Sighing I let my fingers graze over the bark of the oak tree that played a huge role when growing up together and although I didn't care for the prospect of nature. It was the only thing I had left of Johnny. I stood for a little longer than necessary under the oak tree that had been here for years. Looking over the clear lake glimmering in the afternoon sun as it rippled with new life.

When nightfall came I wondered down the bumpy trail back to the street my Aunt's house was, listening to the wind howl as it breezed past me. Glancing up past the tree branches, that now resembled claws, stood a figure. Tall and lanky dressed in a suit, hunched over his cane wearing a tall top hat that shadowed over his stature. The closer I got the more this figure became more human, but the little things I noticed seemed wildly out of portion. Reaching for my flashlight wedged between my belt and jeans. I turned it on, my gaze faltering for a brief moment to make sure it was pointing the right way before looking up. The moment I looked up the figure was gone. Taking a sharp intake of air, I continued my walk home. Ignoring the feeling I was being watched.

The next morning I noticed two things. One it was the beginning of fall and secondly, the birds were quiet. Rising from the bed I looked out the window wondering what was going on. When suddenly a raven stuck my window, nearly cracking it even with the screen protector. Taking a step back watching the raven, which by now should have been dead with rapped attention as it now stood perched on the window seal. Its head tilting to watch me itself. Shaking my head at how ridiculously this sounded in my head, I moved getting ready for the day. Only to halt what I was doing when the raven spoke before flying off, "Beware of Jeckter."

It seemed to take me a moment to remember who Jeckter was but the moment I remembered, I felt my stomach sink. What had the bird meant by those words, was Johnny trapped? I resumed what I was doing shrugging the words off. Feeling I was acting silly for actually hearing a bird speak when in the first place ravens don't speak unless it's in dreams or you're going bonkers.