Haly's Circus ~ Jerome x reader

19: Knock Knock

Y/n pov:

Luna stares at me intently. "You know, the one with the red hair." She makes an 'oooh' sound like she finally knows who I'm talking about. "I have seen him around, but have never spoken to him. It was said that he used to kill cats that were living around the circus." I nod and try to put on my lipstick normally. It scares me. It's not Jerome's fault that he ended up like this. "Oh." Comes out of my mouth.
"He broke out of Arkham Asylum." she continues. "No one knows yet who is behind the outbreak." Again I nod slowly.

She makes a vomiting sound. "What a dirty guy isn't he? Imagine you would kill innocent cats." Unbeknownst to Luna, she makes me angry. Very angry. But I have to keep my mouth shut.
"Yeah really weird." I close my locker and check my phone. No new messages. No messages from Jerome. Or either from mum. Maybe they're still planning the break-in at the police station. This time I'm glad I'm not there. Jerome promised me he wouldn't hurt my father. But he said nothing about the rest. So now I don't know whether they have Edward or Harvey in mind, or maybe Essen.

"Finished?" Luna holds out her hand to me, and I clamp mine in hers. "Ready, set, go." It's quite early in the morning, the perfect time to practice ring swinging and dancing on a sunday. The other acrobats come running after me. Charles is also there. I have to make a dangerous jump with him, he has to help me. Why have we been grouped again?

He comes running towards me. "Hey hey y/n!" Very sensible too. Everyone knows what Charles is like, a real creep. And now everyone knows that we will make leaps together. "Hi." I hope he realizes that he has to keep his distance. Unfortunately, he comes too close again. I shout: "You already smell like sweat, step back and don't even think I will let you grab me." But I said that in my head so no one could hear. His white teeth shine in the lamps of the hall. I'm disgusted. When will a whore come and entertain him?

Are those creepy letters and texts maybe from him? Mystery solved. I put a fake smile on my face when the ringmaster arrives. "Today, John Grayson will be the overseer, especially with you." He winks at me, Luna, Clara, Alice, Floyd, Andy and Charles. My short skirt dances up in the wind blowing from the broken piece of the wall. "How cold," I scream, luckily Luna keeps my skirt down because I didn't realize it at first. Charles had pointed his eyes at my ass again. Something Jerome would never do, he doesn't care what I wear. Even if I wear the shortest shorts or top in town, he wouldn't say a word about it. He'll protect me, that's his job. That doesn't mean I can't protect myself though.

Once I climbed up I take a few deep breaths in and out. We are more than five meters above the ground floor, on a small platform. I hold myself tight to the railings. Charles is behind me, close behind me. I feel his breath on my neck and it irritates me. I squeeze the railings a little harder, somehow thinking he might push me off at any moment, but he's doing the opposite. He gently slides his hands onto my hips. I feel every little bit. Nobody notices. I can't make a scene right now. "Stop," I say. "With what?" I want to scream and kick him in the crotch but I won't do anything, yet. I wait for John to swing the trapeze at me, but they seem busy in concert on the other side of the stadium.

Oh please, throw that thing over here, I think. Charles squeezes my butt, and that was it. I turn a quarter and kick his lower leg. Not just a little bit, because he moans and sits very exaggeratedly. I roll my eyes, and the moment I turn around the trapeze flies in my direction. Shit, do I have to catch it now? Because of all this shit, I didn't pay attention to the others at all. Yes. I throw myself forward and grab the bar as tight as I can, pull myself up and somersault to the other trapeze. Howls from below ring in my ears. It feels like I can fly, but if I make a mistake now it's super embarrassing. Even though there is no audience this time.

"Great job, y/n. Without your talent, we would have half as many visitors." John overhears, and I give him a high-five. "Thank you thank you." I make a classy bow. Everyone claps, including Charles. He seems to have forgotten what just happened.