THE INCINERATION
"Our audience grows with every show, and more and more aristocrats braces the fact that this is not some mediocre entertainment show, but just might be the next step towards accepting we live in a world where we should embrace our differences," Phillip Carlyle blabbled as he led Paulina through the vociferous circus of entertainer's, celebrating yet another successful show.
"You believe that?" Paulina questioned, not meeting people with the same perspective often. "That we can live in a world with room enough for everyone?"
Although it was not a question that needed much thinking, the thought of Anne crossed his mind and his heart began racing. "From my heart, I sincerely hope so," he said proudly, hand on chest and head high.
From the corner of his eye, Phillip spotted one of the aerialists strolling away. Yelling out a name and waving his hand to gain the acrobatic performer's attention, the look on the woman's face was not one showing the same joyful look as the one on stage. However, when seen he was accompanied by another female, her expression contorted into something else and then a sweet smile.
The young woman dressed in purple made her way towards the two, although she would rather not speak with Phillip.
"Mrs. Benter here is a writer for the Bridgeport Telegraph," Phillip paused to look at Paulina for assurance and went on when he had received a nod. "She wanted to know more about the stars of the show and my mind immediately ran to you. I was thinking perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing a little story with her."
The writer stretched out her hand, taking the lead. "Paulina Benter, pleased to meet you. I saw you performing a little while ago and may I just say, wow!" she squealed with bewilderment and Anne immediately clicked with the visitor.
"The pleasure is all mine, name's Anne Wheeler," she greeted, shaking the writers hand.
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Anne's mind was constantly reminding her of the uncomfortable situation she had been in with Phillip the other day in the theater, however she could not ignore the fact that Phillip had thought of her, to speak on the behalf of the circus.
The entertainer enjoyed speaking with the writer as they shared laughs as they walked around the circus. It was not until an hour or so later that evening, they became interrupted by someone that was not part of the circus. When yelling and screaming erupted from the platform, their smiles faltered. Anne recognized some of the voices as her coworkers. She then became worried.
"What's going on out there?" she mumbled and lifted her skirt and went nearer the scene.
At first Paulina stayed put in her seat, but when a loud gasp escaped Anne, she hurried to her side. Her eyebrows furrowed and her hands covered her mouth. "Oh my God."
Witnessing the sight of many of the people she had earlier had the pleasure to be presented to, taking on a group of protestors she had noticed in the crowd, Paulina felt her pulse increase.
"W.D!" the frantic voice of the performer sounded from beside Paulina, as she watched her brother get beaten on.
Astonished and disgusted by the fight, the two women slowly backed away, only to be even more shocked when a man came flying through the air. His body tore through the curtain, landing with a thump into a heap of sandbags.
"We should get help before this escalates even more," Paulina hurried tugging at Anne's sleeve.
Her unsettled mind did not need to think about the suggestion for more than a second. "No, there ain't no use in that, the street cops are not exactly fond of what we are doing here."
Paulina refused to believe so. "We have to do something!" she stressed, her eyebrows knitted in a sad expression.
"You go, I'll see if I can do anything here!" Anne told her, pushing the writer towards the exit, before she took off.
And so Paulina took off, speeding out of the wracking circus to find a street cop who could help them out of the scrape.
Inside the circus a small fire had began sprouting flames, when a protestor had thrown a lamp to the ground. Quickly and easily, the fire got hold of anything possible, wrestling material to smoke and ashes, and curling the wood beneath it.
Had the vandalizing arson been noticed earlier, it might of not been too late, but alas--the moment the flames caught onto the curtains, it went all too fast.
By the time Paulina found a street cop in the dark night, someone yelled fire and people started screaming when they caught glimpse of the collapsing circus. Plagued by panic and dread, bodies bumped into one another and children screamed and cried.
Paulina felt more useless than ever, when she could do nothing but watch the tragedy from behind the policemen that held citizens at a great distance. In the far distance, wailing sirens sounded but the rescue was no help for the building that started crumbling from the inside.
