What the Morning Brings | #NaNoWriMo2018

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ORI

It was eerie how deserted the circus was now that the show had begun. Flecks of glitter floated through the air like fireflies. Stray gems, intermixed with the gravel, plinked against each other as he walked. A spotlight lit the sky, depicting a small bird spreading its wings.

From inside the tent came the muted sounds of laughter and joy punctuated with shrieks and cheers. Even though it had only been a day ago, he couldn't believe he had once sat inside that tent, laughing blithely. His eyes had been opened, and something new had lodged itself in his heart. Distrust. Part of his innocence had slipped away, never to return.

He circled the tent, searching for a way up.

A performer emerged, pushing away the silky striped curtain to reveal almond eyes framed by long, curling lashes set in a porcelain-smooth face. Their eyes met his, and they stared at him, as if they were deciphering words written across his skin.

He held his breath.

They broke their trance with a blink. Giving Ori one last look, they glided past, their gauzy dress trailing over his toes. Like Woe, the performer disappeared into the shadows like a ghost.

Ori gave himself a moment to mentally regroup before springing back into action. Usually, that mere interaction would have sent him spiraling into anxiety, but he had a mission to accomplish.

The stars called to him, but first he needed to find a way to get to the tent's roof.

He kept walking around the circumference of the tent until he found it: a ladder.

Coruscated and creaky, it didn't give him much confidence, but it was the best option he had.

Ori inhaled, summoning all of his meager courage. This was different than climbing out his window and onto the roof to watch the rising sun. He was going to climb to the top of the circus.

He needed something to remind him of home, something to reassure him that he wasn't completely alone in this new world.

Moments later, Ori found himself flat on his back, the gravel digging into his skin. He stared up at the sky, his eyes instinctively searching for Orion. He let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding before slowly sitting up, finding himself face to face with his attacker.

It was Woe.

She stood over him, her small frame large from this angle. With her crossed arms and furrowed brows, she was the spitting image of Leo, the lion constellation.

"What are you doing?" she hissed, dragging him away from the circus tent and into the shadows of an alleyway.

Ori tried to wrench himself free, but her grip was as strong as Blithe's.

Woe glared at him sternly, waiting for a response. Ori didn't know how to defend himself when he didn't even know what he was being accused of.

"I was trying to see the stars?" he tried, but she didn't approve of his answer.

Woe scoffed, rolling her eyes toward the sky.

"Why am I always the one saving you from your mistakes?" she muttered to herself.

Ori swallowed his protest. Woe didn't seem in the mood for arguing.

She stiffened as two performers with intertwined arms strolled by, their laughs ringing out in the emptiness.

She relaxed as soon as they had passed, turning the full force of her attention back toward him.

Ori gulped.