Circus of Screams

Chapter 7

- 7 -

Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right.

"And wa-la! This beautiful girl; sawed it half!" The host shouts into the microphone.

I peer down at my fake cut-in-half body. The audience gasps.

"Now, put her back together!" The host calls.

C moves the two parts of my fake chopped in half body back together. Then he opens the box so the crowd can see my body is back together.

"There we have it folks!" The host says. The crowd clap and cheer like no tomorrow.

"Thank you for coming and goodnight!" The host waves and the big red curtains shut.

C lifts me out of the box and whispers in my ear.

"Good job back there."

"You too." I smile.

"Everyone! Back to your rooms!" I male voice calls out from backstage.

"Come on. I have to show you where your room is." C tells me.

"Room?! I don't want to stay here for any longer! This is traumatic!" I half-whisper.

"Shhh. I'm getting you out of here tomorrow. Please just last one more day?"

"What about Brayden?" I ask.

"He's coming with us, don't worry."

"Us?" I question.

"This place is a maze. You'll need some help getting out."

"Mhm. Now, my room?"

"Oh, yes! Right this way." C points to a black door.

I walk through the black door to see more black doors.

"Room 109." C hands me a key with the numbers '109' printed on it.

"You name isn't really Cornelius, is it?" I ask behind my shoulder.

"Of course not. No offence to anyone or anything." C, or whoever he is, answers.

"What's your real name then?" I ask.

"You'll find out soon."

"What? So I can't even know your name now?" I act offended, unlocking the door.

"Sweetheart, no more questions." He finishes, then pushes me against the wall and kisses me.

"What are you doing?" I manage to breathe out before he can continue.

"Sorry, that was a mistake..." He begins.

"No. Just... Get out of my room." Then C walks out without another word.

I fall onto the couch, lost for words. What just happened? I mean, I was certain I was falling for Brayden...

I need to find Brayden.

I run out of my room, not bothering to lock it or even shut it.

"Brayden?!" I shout, my voice echoing down the halls.

"Hilary?" I finally get a response. I spot Brayden at the end of the hall. I jump into his arms and hug him.

"What happened?" Brayden asks. "Are you okay?" He asks, worried and concerned.

"I'm fine. Can you kiss me?" I ask, hoping I can forget about C.

"Um, sure?" He says in response, confused just as much as I am.

I lean in and kiss him. Roughly and passionately.

"Hilary, slow down." Brayden says, out of breath.

"Sorry." I apologise. He laughs.

"Where are you sleeping tonight?" He asks.

"In a bed-less room." I sigh.

"Do you want to sleep in my room?" He offers.

"Okay." I nod. "Will we ever get out?" I ask.

"I hope so." He answers truthfully. He hopes so? So is that a yes or what?

I feel tears prick my eyes.

"Hilary? Are you okay?" Brayden notices my eyes tearing up.

"Brayden... My world is slowly falling apart around me. I've lost pretty much everyone... My family is probably worried as hell, and... and..." I lose myself in tears.

"Hil, I know this life isn't easy, but we will escape." Brayden hugs me.

"I can't hold myself together anymore. I murdered my friends!" I choke out.

"It's okay Hil. After this, we can escape. Go somewhere relaxing. Think about that." He assures me.

"If we escape." I whisper.

"Is she okay?" C asks from behind me.

"It isn't a good time to-" Brayden starts.

"F*ck off." I spit at C.

"Sorry for interrupting... this." C ignores my comment.

"Just leave me alone..." I barely whisper.

~~~~~~~~~

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