Carnival

Jude the butcher-mans son

Poppet set her china doll down carefully and approached the window that was covered by the black rose curtains. Her expression stayed lifeless, with no fear or adrenaline running through her body. Why was there a reason for her to be afraid? She accepted the feared, and welcomed death with open arms like the old friend it was. Death and fear were the painful truth to most, to Poppet it was a sweet tune. Whatever was on the roof near her window was just another thing Poppet would accept, it wouldn't bring goosebumps to her skin, it would just be another normal insanity in Poppets mind.

She casually pulled back the curtains. The clattering silenced, and all that greeted Poppet was the moon and stars. Just the familiar night. She lifted the window, with some struggle since it obviously hadn't been open in a while, and sat on the roof to give the lonely night some company.

There was a sudden chuckle, it came from the shadows of the trees. All Poppet could see was a black silhouette. Instead of paying it much attention she just laid back and continued to spot out the stars.

There was more movement, more clattering back on the roof, getting closer and closer to poppet. A chill radiated off it, colder than snow. Still didn't bother Poppet, she loved the snow, she loved the chilly feeling radiating of the thing that blended with the dark.

"Aren't you going to scream?"

It was a few sudden words that made a few bumps form on Poppets legs. The voice was disappointed, and hated that it was being ignored. Poppet somewhat enjoyed that.

"Why would i scream?" she said softly, her voice coming out a rasp like a rusted gate. She hadn't used it in two years. It slightly surprised her that she bothered to use it now. "There's no reason to scream. It would disturb the night and be a complete waste of breath."

There was a small growl. "It wouldn't be a waste if i was slicing open your stomach."

"But you won't." her voice became more smooth.

"But i could."

"But you won't." she looked up to see who the voice matched.

He looked smaller since he was in a crawling position, but Poppet guessed if he stood he would be about six feet tall. His teeth had obviously been filed into two jagged rows of teeth that didn't quite fit together when he grinned. An addition was face paint that made his horrifying smile look bigger. His hair was pitch black and thick, it covered his eyes like curtains over a window. A striped vest covered his buff chest, along with matching pants that had been torn into shorts.

He looks so familiar....to familiar.
It was true. She had been someplace and seen him. She knew the horrific smile all too well. But she just couldn't remember where she had seen him.

"What's your name?" she said trying to be polite and keep a conversation.

"Jude."

"Just Jude?" she sat up and arranged her dress. "Well my name is Poppet."

He smiled again. "I know. I watched you move in, and I've watched you every day."

A small smile grew on Poppets face (though it sort of hurt since she hasn't smiled in five years). "Well thank you for watching me."

"Why doesn't that bother you?" he tilted his head.

"Nothing really bothers me." she shrugged.

He nodded. "Just like me threatening to cut you open."

"Yeah sure."

They talked on and on. He was so dead inside, and everything he spoke of was so dark and what most people would call morbid. He spoke of working for a butcher, and watching the blood splatter and listening to the the squeals and screams nearly every day. Poppet listened with interest. His words filling her with some emotions. He made her feel like she wasn't the only one that was different in this hell of a world. The feeling of getting closer to someone with each breath they took was more amazing than Poppet ever dreamed it would be.

They talked all through the night, until the sun started to come up over the horizon.

"I have to go." he gazed off at the sun.

"will you be back?."

He nodded and leaned forward gently biting Poppets lower lip with his razor teeth. The sensation made her smile slightly, his bite was so soft yet so painful.

Then he left just as quickly as he came.