Freaks (Ticci Toby) ((Sequel to Outcasts))

Chapter Seven;

Chapter Seven;

Kerigan

I had noticed how once every other Wednesday, that Grossman guy from the Halloween party would show up and hang out for an hour before leaving. During these times, I was not permitted to leave my room, and I grew extremely resentful of the man.

Another thing I noticed is how everyone had started rationing their medicine. Toby's twitches no longer were under control, and he often would make small squeaks or grumble a curse under his breath as his hands shook and his eye twitched. I winced when his neck would twist so violently you'd think it would break it. Tim became irritable and extremely depressed, especially when he ran out of cigarettes. Brian never talked anymore, and spent most of his days in his room. While there were shops full of weapons and makeup and anything to make it easier to capture and kill humans, not a single pharmacy, or cigarette shop that didn't sell the packs for almost a hundred dollars each, existed down here in the Under Realm.

I pushed my worries down about the boys as we sat around the fire pit. It was me, LJ, Toby, Jeff, EJ, and Ben, all messing around and joking around out here, just like before everything went to shit. EJ had brought some marshmallows, and we roasted them liberally. He had brought several bags from up above, because they are his favorite sweet treat. I peeled the blackened skin off the marshmallow, popping it in my mouth and pushing the goopy insides back towards the fire to be burnt again. Toby smiled beside me, eating just a raw marshmallow, and I took his free hand in mine. He smiled and leaned closer to me on the fold-up lawn couch. You know, like a lawn chair, but two connected like a love seat? I smiled and kissed his cheek, pulling the flaming marshmallow out of the fire. I blew it off and popped the whole parcel in my mouth.

"You guys are sickeningly sweet." EJ grumbled, and I looked over at him. He had his face cast down at the fire, staring at the coals and wood. I frowned deeply in regret. He could see, even though he had no eyes. He could always see, even up top, but he could never get his eyes to appear in human form. He sighed and used a stick to push around the embers.

Trying to change the subject, I turn to LJ. "So, I think I know everyone's story except yours. Toby set his house on fire, Jeff stabbed his whole family, EJ was used as a sacrifice, but all I know about you is you were locked in a box. How did that happen?" He frowned and looked up at me before sighing.

"Well... Before everything happened, I was an orphan. Never knew my parents, but my mom left me on the side of the street. Baba, the ringmaster of a traveling circus, was passing by when he found me, and took me in. The circus became my family. The gypsy, Kreeta, became my sort of adoptive mother. She taught me how to read palms and shuffle tarot cards, and when the time came, watched and cheered me on as I learned how to tumble and perform.

"I was the star of the show: Laughing Jack! The Boy Clown! Come see, see him laugh and make you laugh! I brought the circus fame and fortune and God did I love it! I wore the gaudiest, most brightly colored rainbow outfit I could create, my hair was naturally a fire red color, and I even started sticking a cone of paper onto my nose, that too painted rainbow. By the time I was 16, the whole circus was rich, so rich that we didn't have to perform for the rest of our lives if we didn't want to. But we did. Because we loved it. My mama loved it." He stopped for a moment, an I noticed how everyone was enraptured by his story as he looked down, taking a deep breath.

"Kreeta died when I was 19. Her heart gave out, and she left her fortune to me and the circus. At her funeral, I... I cried. Here I was, a nineteen-year-old man, crying over the loss of his mother. I had to leave, so as not to make a fool of myself. I walked along the railroad tracks, my long red hair pulled into a small pony tail at the back of my neck. I was kicking a rock, trying to stop crying.

"I must've kicked too hard. My foot got lodged underneath the railroad tracks, and I couldn't get it out for the life of me. I screamed and screamed for help, but no one could hear me. Then... The tracks started rattling. A train was coming straight at me, full speed. And I was stuck. I screamed louder and louder as it blew its horn, trying to get me to move. I couldn't. And it couldn't stop. There was a moment of searing pain, and then... Nothing. I was nothing." He whispered, and Jeff quickly pulled his tall frame into his arms awkwardly. LJ stared at his clawed hands. "I woke up in a dark box. I heard a song start to play, and then the top burst open. I was scared for a moment, so I did not climb out until night. I saw a small, sad boy, and I knew for some reason his name was Isaac. I befriended him, but I hated it. I didn't like anything I liked, just what he liked. And he was terrible. He was a disgusting, sadistic piece of shit. He locked me in that box for thirteen years, and the first thing I watched him do when he came back was rape and dismember a woman. I studied his techniques, then started trying to break out. I jumped around in the emptiness, the only light coming from the small keyhole. I screamed until my voice was horse. He never noticed as he murder more and more people. Eventually, the shelf I was on broke, and he turned the song lever. The top popped open.

"I was seeing red. He turned his back, and I emerged from the hell he had kept me trapped in. I... Disembowled him. I hurt him just as badly as he had hurt everyone else. And for once... I liked something for myself. Isaac Grossman and I both arrived in the Under Realm at the same time. He didn't remember me. But he was terrified of me. He still is today. But we somewhat have rekindled our childhood friendship." He finished quietly, and a few moments of silence passed before I jumped up.

"Grossman is the guy who fucked you up?" I yell, and everyone jerks to look at me.

"K-Kerigan, we fucked ourselves up. W-We-" Toby began.

"No, you didn't. Jeff, those bullies fucked you up. EJ, your roommate fucked you up. Toby, your DAD fucked you up. You guys were made, not by choice. This isn't your guys fault. You... You all know that right?" I looked around to see guilty expressions. I took a step forward, going to say something, when my foot caught something in the ground. I fell forward, my eyes widening as I realized that I was falling into the fire.

Oh fuck.