Off To Wonderland

Welcome To The Midnight Circus

“Ladies and gentlemen. Children of all age… WELCOME!” he spread out his hands as if he wanted to hug the whole audience. “To the midnight circus!” cheers and whistles sounded again and he bowed again. Amber sat silently taking in the scene. She had never been to a circus before, and all the new sights and sounds had her mesmerized. “Tonight we offer the best in entertainment here. You will see things you never dreamed off. Horrors that will bring you speechless; and beauties that will steal your heart.” Amber leaned on the edge of her seat, curious and excited for what might come next. Her eyes caught the ringleader’s and he held her gaze before smiling.

“Now please. Let me introduce you to a horrible deformity. Cursed by God and made to walk among us.” Two large men pushed a steel cage. Amber squinted to see what was inside but it was too dark. There came a terrifying growl and bark from the cage. Everyone in the audience gazed and jumped in surprise, even Amber. “Do not worry! He is fully controlled…” The ringleaders walked over to the cage were the latch was, “That is… until I open the cage…” with a swift motion he unhooked the latch and a wild man jumped out.

Everyone screamed and a few people ran out of the tent. Amber stayed perfectly still watching the crazy man. He had long black hair that covered his eyes, and his mouth was twisted up into a fearsome snarl, saliva dripped from his lips. He was bound with blue ropes and was trying desperately to get them off. He flipped his head back revealing light blue eyes, almost white and little pin pricks of black for pupils. Anyone could tell that this man was no longer human.

The ringleader walked up behind him and grabbed the back of his neck, swiftly strapping a shock collar to him.

“Now my dear audience, shall we let the real beast free?” he face twisted into a sinister smile as he cut the ropes holding the mad man. As soon as he was free he howled and his bones and body shifted; the sound of bones cracking and bending. Amber watched in horror and awe as the man shifted into a giant wolf. Foam fell from its mouth that held long, sharp white teeth. Its crazed blue eyes shifted side to side looking at all its surroundings. He howled again and tried to run at the crowd, but the ringleader simply pushed a button and electricity exploded through its body bringing it down hard.

“This is your wonderful Wolfman ladies and gentlemen. A man turned beast and lost to insanity,” someone tossed a severed arm to the ringleader and he caught it. “He only eats his meals cold, or his blood thirst will be too great to control.” Amber watched in horror as the ringleader tossed the arm into the air and the Wolfman caught it tearing it to shreds in its jaws. Amber’s lunch threated to come back out. After the wolf was finished eating, the ringleader shocked him again. This time so hard that he shifted back into a human. His naked body was huddled on the floor. Two large men can into the light, picked up the beast and tossed him back into his cage before taking him away as if he had never even been there.

“Now to steal your heart and numb your ears. A woman horribly deformed at birth; a chimaera with a tear jerking voice.” he motioned with his left hand as a young girl walked into view. Black hair with blue streaks fell down her back almost to her feet. Bandages covered her eyes. Then Amber saw her legs and gasped, bring her hands to cover her mouth. The girls legs were twist and misshapen as if they belonged to an animal. The girl began to sing softly in a sad and heart breaking voice. Though Amber couldn’t understand a word she said, she felt that it was a sad song. A song about hurt and pain. She looked at the boy who had brought her and saw that his cheeks were wet.

The song lasted several minutes then the girl stopped. The ringleader placed his hand on the girls back and started to lead her off the stage. A hand wrapped around Amber and she looked to see the boy pointing to the exit.

“Is it time to go already?” she asked. He nodded hurriedly. Amber gave a sigh and followed him out of the tent. They were back in the street and the strange music could be heard again. The boy pulled her along to the next tent where some fancy men and ladies were laughing and peeking into small holes. The boy led her up to one of the holes and pointed. She looked at him confused for a second.

“I’m supposed to look in there?” the boy nodded. “How come I can’t go in?” the boy shrugged then pointed to the hole again. Cautiously she looked into the holes and then pulled back in horror. How can those people enjoy this?! Inside the tent she saw a small boy no more than about five and a large man with a fire poker. The boy was screaming and begging but the man just drove the poker deep into his eye and twisted it laughing. Amber leaned to the side and discharged her lunch.

She looked to the boy who pointed to the next tent. She was frightened when looked in anyways. Each tent was more horrifying then the last. Children being torched; arms pulled off or cut off. Eyes gouged out, and acid tossed in their faces. She had had enough of this disgusting blue world. She turned to leave but the boy held her hand firmly.

“Let go of me!” Amber yelled yanking her hand away. The boy fell and his hair parted from his face. He looked up at her with a twisted grin and Amber shrieked shock. The boys eyes were nothing but deep dark sockets. Amber bolted. She pushed past people in the crowd trying to get away, but there seemed to be too many people and she was swept up in the stream. She decided she would run with the flow. As fast as she could she ran down the street of the circus. She saw children smiling at her next to the tents. Each disfigure or missing a body part of some kind. She tried not to look but her eye kept glancing from left to right.

Finally the tents stopped appearing on either side of her. Amber ran a bit farther before she collapsed onto the blue grass, sobbing in fear.

“Why the hell did I decide to take that damn pill?” she sobbed holding her face in her hands. Soon she heard soft soothing music flowing from a head of her. She looked up but saw no one. The music still hummed away and she sat quietly listening.

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i know this was a quick in and out of the midnight circus but im slowly running out of ideas and i kind of just want to get this story finished. next chaper will be better i promis!

~ Anonymous K.