Mr Lightmare's Circus

01

Slipknot thrashed in my ears as I watched the dark trees rushing past my window. My girlfriend, Amethyst, sat in the driver's seat of her parents' rusty red van, nodding her head along to the music. Her black dreadlocks gently slapped her shoulders as she did so.

Katy, my six year old sister, was hunched over the game she was playing on her iPad in the back seat. It was easy to tell that she was excited because of the occasional high-pitched squeals that interrupted Corey Taylor's obnoxious vocals. I was excited too - we were about to go to the circus for the first time since I was four. I loved the circus and I especially liked hearing messed up conspiracy theories and rumours about the vast colourful tents.

I slouched back in my seat and shut my eyes, blocking out the wintery night. With my eyes shut, I became more focused on the music; Corey Taylor screaming, the guitars wailing and the drums thrashing in the background.

"Are you sleepy?" Amethyst cooed and my eyelids fluttered open. I grinned at her and sat up straighter; "Nah, I'm good. Just enjoying the music."

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her pink lips, "I've always loved Slipknot. I remember listening to them when I was thirteen, y'know - just sitting on my bed in my art-hoe-type dungarees and headbanging along. Good times."

I chuckled, "You haven't changed a bit then."

"I'll have you know that I haven't worn dungarees since I was sixteen!" Amethyst gasped in mock offence.

"I wanna see what you look like in them,"

"No way," she scoffed.

"Aw, c'mon!" I cried teasingly, "I know you have a pair stuffed in the back of your wardrobe,"

"Wait, what?" she yelled, "When did you go snooping through my wardrobe?"

"The other day when we were running late to catch the train to Bristol for that Finger Eleven concert. You asked me to get you some clothes whilst you had a quick shower."

"Oh, yeah," Amethyst nodded, "That was a mistake. The green skater skirt and burgundy Akumu Ink t-shirt you picked out made me look like a fucking goth Christmas tree."

"But you were a cute goth Christmas tree," I smirked, gently taking her hand in mine. I gazed down at our intertwined fingers; hers were pale and slender with carefully trimmed nails painted matte black, whilst mine were larger and more tanned with short bitten nails.

"I can't wait until Christmas," she mused, "My family are coming over from Norway and they'll get to meet you face-to-face for the first time, instead of over Skype."

"I'm so excited! Your mums seem so cool - I'm really looking forward to properly meeting them."

"You've got to watch out for my mum though, she'll be all over you in fucking seconds," Amethyst laughed fondly, "My step mum won't be as bad, although she doesn't speak as good English as my other mother."

Suddenly, Katy let out a piercing shriek, "The circus! I can see the circus!"

With a start, I scrambled to look out the window. Sure enough, the colourful neon lights pierced the darkness in the distance. I cheered and Amethyst joined in, pumping one of her delicate fists in the air. She accelerated and we sped down the road towards the circus. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I watched the lights flicker between the trees.

I turned around to face my sister and grinned wickedly; "It's almost time to sacrifice you to the demon clowns!"

"Shut up!" Katy squealed and Amethyst lightly punched my arm.