The Midnight Circus

Chapter I

10 Years Earlier Before the Circus...

I think I was around 10 when everything changed, my life taking a sudden detour.

SMASH

The sound of glass breaking into small fragments in my bedroom woke me up. I groggily looked around to see what all the commotion was. Before I could make it to the area I thought I heard the glass breaking I saw a man in front of my bedroom door. He wore a white dress shirt, with a black suit and black dress shoes and he also wore a black top hat. He also held a black cane with a gold top.

The creepy man approached me quickly, forcing me to backstep away from him. I moved closer to my bed before hitting the wall. I was cornered. I wanted to hide in my bed and curl up, screaming for my parents to save me, but I couldn't.

Before I could snap out of my fear and call for help, the man grabbed me by the hair as he stuffed an odd smelling rag against my mouth. I inhaled deeply preparing to scream but my head began to spin wildly and my lungs burned. My body suddenly felt like lead and I couldn't move my arms. My eyes began to slide shut as my legs gave out and I dropped into his waiting arms.

When I woke I was in the back of a large vehicle, I assumed it was a van. Almost as soon as my eyes opened we stopped moving. It was seconds later that the back door opened and someone lifted me out of the van. I thought it was the ringmaster but then he felt different than before.

"Where would you like her boss?" a booming voice said. I thought to myself he was definitely a different man than before.

"Place her into the spiral room." another man ordered. I shivered in fear and my mind was racing.

'What was the spiral room? What's going to happen to me in this strange new place?' I was placed into a chair and shackled as the panic started to set in quicker than before. Before I knew it I could see a bright light and the man from my room took out my gag. I looked at him warily without saying a word.

"Hello my dear, I'm Mr Quinn, the ringmaster, and you will be mine!" He pressed a button and a black and white spiral started spinning. "Repeat after me." His voice was loud and demanding.

"My name is Nyx Polaris Starr." He began then waited for me to reply.

"My name is Nyx Polaris Starr." I had no control, the spiraling wall had my mind spinning and confused. Nothing was real. I couldn't think, only do as I was told.

"You are my daughter and I'll keep you safe"

"I am your daughter and you will keep me safe."

"You are a performer in my Circus"

"I am a performer in your Circus."

This went on for what felt like hours or days. I had no way of knowing. The only things in my mind was what he planted there. He had brainwashed me to believe that the Ringmaster was my father and every time I brought up my mum he just shrugged and said she had passed away when I was born. I never questioned him further, knowing how much he hated the topic and the curious questions I asked here and there.

He was nice enough to let me sleep in the spare bedroom, he took care of me like I was the light in his life, which didn't last long. Once I turned 12 he decided it was time for me to make my keep by performing in his Creepy and Magical Circus.

Becoming one with the stars

I wanted to start crying because the news felt like a slap to the face. My father wanted me to perform in his show with the monsters I was frightened of. Some of the monsters had sharp teeth, fur and claws or a lot of arms. They were like the things that came after bad children who misbehaved and took us away.