Maledictus

Ch.1 - The Circus

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"THE BLACK MAMBA"

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"Now, for our final act, I present to you - a Maldictus" bellowed a round bellied, rosy cheeked, ringmaster, standing in front of a large cage covered in what looks like a large table cloth. He whips it off and stands back, the applause ringing in his ears.

Standing in the rusty cage is a girl no older than eleven, wearing a long blue dress and her long black hair covering her eyes. She moved her hair slightly, looking out through the bars, watching all the people with there cameras out filming every minute.

"Once found tied up and unwanted, she is the carrier of an unforgivable blood curse. Such Underbeings are destined, through the course of their lives to turn permanently into beasts"

Everybody was watching eagerly, waiting for her to change into her natural form. She was shaking as she has done every night for the last six years while performing at 'Britain's Circus for Oddities'

"But look at her, so beautiful, so desirable, but soon she will be trapped in a completely different body. Every night while she sleeps, she is forced to become one of the most venomous snakes in history. The Black Mamba!"

Gasps were heard from every corner in the big top that night, as she closed her eyes and slowly melted into the black coils of the snake. Men, women, children, all in awe of this girls amazing ability. After the applause had started and everyone began cheering and standing up, the girl was wheeled back to her room, where she would stay until the next performance.

She sat down on the bed, not bothering to change, not bothering to do anything but cry. She had been stuck with this travelling circus for just over seven years. She had been forced to change on command and it left scars after scars. Every night she was left in excruciating pain. It felt at though needles were pricking every pore in her skin.

She was then forced to change while sleeping, and which is the reason she doesn't or hardly ever sleeps.

Her brother had been her only family for the first four years of her life, until he was taken away and she was sent to the circus. He was the only one who knew, the only one who could keep her sane. She was the youngest they had ever had performing and it was making them a fortune. It brought publicity to the circus name, so with the girl gone, the circus would go out of business.

As she headed over to the tall mirror to wipe her eyes and clean her cuts, she noticed a letter on her desk in the corner of the room. She opened it quickly, noticing it was unmistakably her brothers tacky drawing.

There was a picture of a stick man with shaggy hair and a smile. Beside him was the docks.
And the icing on the cake, Your faithful brother Henry was written along the bottom.

It was him.
She knew it was him.

He wanted to meet her at the docks.
This was the first time in seven years she had a chance to escape.
Escape what she described as a living hell.

She rushed to the door and was surprised to find it open, it was usually locked at this time. Looking around each corner before moving any further.

Once she felt the cool night air on her pale and thin face, she began running. She felt like shouting, screaming with joy, but she didn't, she just kept running until she reached the docks.

She could hardly see where she was running since the fog was so thick. She slowed down to a brisk walk, scanning the area for her brother. Out of breath and an awful stitch in her side, she stopped, still looking.

She saw a figure walking towards her, his features not defined as the fog was as thick as ever.

"It's me Alice! Henry! Over here!" she shouted, knowing it was probably her brother and trying to contain her excitement.

As the figure came nearer, she realised that it wasn't him and apologised to the man before walking in the other direction. As she heard his footsteps quicken behind her, she quickened hers.

She did this until a black glove covered her mouth and she blacked out completely.