Freak Show {The Pack and Friends}

• Part 3 •

Lachlan's Perspective

"Welcome to the Cirque!"
I looked around, eyeing the empty outcrop of trees where we were standing. Mitch and Rob looked about as confused as I did.

"Umm... Excuse me?"
"Vikram. But, my friends here call me Vikk."
"Okay, Vikk..."
I liked his name, it was simple and unique at the same time, just like him.

"Where is the Cirque exactly?"
Vikk tucked his hands in his pockets, walking towards the only building within, what I assumed, a ten mile radius.
It was an abandoned church, white paint stripped and peeling from the outside. The broken door was hanging off its hinges, and judging from the paint, it had been a light blue. The steeple pierced the sky, big windows shattered by rocks and sticks. The ground littered with cigarette buts and empty beer cans.
Vikk ducked under the door, moving it only slightly to accommodate for his short stature.

His eyes met mine as he smiled in my direction, waving a hand. I looked back at Mitch, eyes wide at the building.

It was serial, I couldn't look away from him. His soft skin present under his snug shirt, the long black eyelashes framing those wide, innocent looking red eyes...

"Lachlan!"

Rob grabbed my shoulder, pulling me towards him. He shook my arms, breaking me out of the small trance I had fallen.
"Lachlan, what are you doing? You looked like a zombie. What? What was he doing to you? What if he's a murderer?"

I blinked a few times, my mind blank. What had happened? Where was I?
"Rob. Where am I?"

"Guys... You need to see this."

Rob glanced over at Mitch, leaning down in front of the broken door. He crawled inside, pulling on the busted wood so Rob and I, who were significantly taller, could enter.

The sanctuary of the abandoned church was spotless, which was strange given the state of the exterior. Stage lights paired with the different beams of sunlight, lighting the room.

In the center, surrounded by the moved pews and hung curtains, sat a makeshift stage. Another man was standing on it, yelling orders out to the few workers present. As we approached I heard his voice, an accent strangely similar to mine.
This guy was Australian.

"Hey Jay!"

Vikk made his way over to the guy, starting to use his hands to communicate.
I didn't hear any words between them, the entirety of their conversation made up of hand movements and small glances towards me. I tucked my hands behind my back, self conscious of where I was.

"Okay guys..."
The brunette turned back to me, nodding.
"Just take your seats, the show will be starting soon."

Vikk grabbed my hand, small jolts of electricity traveling up and down my arm.
I sat down on one of the wooden pews, creaking under my weight. Mitch and Rob slid in next to me.

"See you guys when the show starts."
Vikk ran behind one of the curtains, the fabric ruffling around him.

"So... Lachlan. The vampire eh?"

I felt my face heat up. Rob and Mitch smirking at me.
"Umm... Yeah. He's just so -I don't know- perfect."

"Do you like him?"
"No Rob. He totally wasn't getting talked up the entire walk here."

Mitch laughed as he spoke, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Screw off. Can you even blame me? He's a freaking vampire. I've loved everything about vampires since I was a kid."

"Who are you talking about?"
I jumped slightly with the voice, turning around to see the kid who had given us the tickets. He had dropped the sunglasses, a soft pair of blue eyes watching me.

"Hey, aren't you the one who gave us those tickets."
The guy, Brandon? Stuck out his hand, shaking mine.

"Yep that's me. Brandon Hutt at your service. So, who were you talking about? I heard vampire... Might you mean, Count Vikram?"

I sighed, rubbing my hand over the back of my neck.
"Yeah..."

Brandon turned around, people starting to enter the theater.
"Well boys. I've gotta go welcome to crowd. But, I will see you all after the show right?"

He headed to the door, ushering people into the pews. A few girls snuck in next to us, black shorts and band t-shirts, eyeing Mitch up and down.
The Canadian was subtly oblivious to the attention, winking at one particular girl.

"Red hair remember... There's your dream girl Mitch."
-

The church was full of people, a multitude of different voices and accents, all combining to white noise. The lights above the stage were all lit, the draping of a dark purple fabric surrounding the front. I heard a cleared throat, the people around us quieting down. The guy Vikk was talking to earlier stepped out from behind the curtain.

He was tall, like me, with dark brown hair and that familiar Australian accent. He was wearing a grey silk suit topped with a green bowtie.

"Hello everyone. My name is Jay, I have been apart of this show for almost 400 years. Traveling across the globe to find the best acts for your personal entertainment."

He winked to the girl sitting next to me, with her quietly squealing and nudging her friend.
"So... I welcome you... People one and all... To the Cirque du Freak."