FREAK SHOW

Chapter 9: Grateful for the Art in Our Skin

Chapter 9: Grateful for the Art in Our Skin

~"Art will remain the most astonishing activity of mankind born out of struggle between wisdom and madness, between dream and reality in our mind. " ~ (unknown)

            "What?! They made you drink blood?" Marcie shrilled, her nails clutching into Finn's arm. The two sat across from Scarlett in the grass, sitting next to each other, hand-in-hand. They were officially a couple now. And Scarlett couldn't be happier for them; she knew it would've happened eventually. They had already filled her in on all the shenanigans that had happened while she was gone.

            "Are you not listening? She was also beaten! Fucking fell fifty feet!" Noah's voice was even more outraged. Scarlett tugged her head up from its position leaning on his shoulder and she smacked his shoulder lightly, trying to get him to refrain from cursing. "Hah, sorry."

            The breeze tickled at her face, her hair swaying with the tree's leaves they were laying under. Her voice was weak as she spoke, "Not all of them were bad."

            "They sound pretty horrible to me Scarlett, not going to lie," Finn argued gently, "I'm just glad you're back though."

            "No, some were good. Some were bad. Axel was the evil one, truly the devil," she shivered, "He was sadistic. Bruce was his sidekick, arrogant and rough. Irene was my roommate, pretty sure she had bipolar disorder."

Scarlett soon became lost in thought, beginning to list the people she met, "Minerva was Axel's wife, and she was a major kleptomaniac. Archer was cruel, but I don't blame him he was schizophrenic. Ebony was a pyromaniac. Gertrude..was an alcoholic. But they weren't all twisted and messed up. Nia was a really nice mother, she helped me so much, and her daughter Nina was the sweetest thing. And Alexandra was such a cool person, so was Allie, Birdie, and Felicity."

"And...Charlie," her eyes became soft, remembering everything.

Noah warily eyed her; she seemed attached to some of the people. "Scarlett, don't think about them anymore, we are here now."

Scarlett woke up, blinking hard. She was dazed, not even registering the wetness of tears on her cheekbones. Her sleepy eyes just stared at the walls for the next few minutes till they traveled to Irene's sleepy form. Even from under the covers, she could spot Irene's new shiner. The first one she covered up with heavy makeup, this one was significantly worse though. Scarlett had tried repeatedly to tell her not to go back to Axel after he had snapped the first time. It was evidently the first time Irene had ever gotten hurt by the man, but nevertheless, still shaken and lovesick, she went crawling back to her oppressor.

She had still remembered their conversation.

"Irene, I know you love him and I know you think that he's not bad for you, but-"

"But what?" she snapped, holding the bag of ice to her eye. "He loves me and that's better than what most people have done for me."

"Then why is he married to another woman? Look at what he's done to you!" Scarlett finished. Her pale fingertips brushed against her bruised face where he struck her in a fit of rage. "You make him seem like Prince Charming when he's really Satan himself."

Irene smacked her hand away in disgust, anger blazing in her forest eyes. "Scarlett, you don't even know what love is. You've never been in a relationship. I don't think you have a say in this." Scarlett took a deep breath trying to stay calm, her hand flushing a gentle pink where she had slapped her.

"Irene, just because I haven't been in a relationship doesn't mean I haven't fallen in love before."

"Of course it does. You don't have the right to tell me my relationship is unhealthy."