Hearing the loud roar of music, laughter in it's simplest form pure noise exploding from the Big Top tieing my hair up in two ponytails walking towards the noise when I notice a figure standing solitary in the field, Jimmy. He's digging the grave. As I approach I see Jimmy becoming more and frustrated, in raged even digging the grave dangerously aggressive
"Jimmy. Take it easy." I say jogging over to him, standing at the edge of the grave as Jimmy continues ignoring my presence, "Jimmy!" I repeat loudly as Jimmy glares at me cruelly I step back frighten, as he shouts "What!" rudely, breathing in calmly before responding "You're going to injury yourself, if you carrying on like that"
"You do it!" He yells fiercely in face, violently throwing the shovel at my feet blankly before storming away painfully. It seems like everything I'm doing is wrong. Bending down, reaching the shovel clutching the handle tightly beginning to unearth the ground making it big enough for Meep. Glancing up to see Jimmy walking the Big Top, his hands screwing up his hair and kicking the dirt before entering the tent. I really can't do anything right.
Wiping the sweat dripping from my forehead finally finishing, climbing out of the hole brushing dusty dirt and mud from my skirt flattening it before carrying the shovel, joining everyone else in the Big Top. Entering silently as Jimmy's glance lifts to me following me as I gently rest the shovel on the table tip-toeing through the room perching myself in the stage whilst Ethel tells the story of Edward Mordake.
"So, we don't perform on Halloween out of respect?" Bette asks confusingly as Dot watches Jimmy intensely longing for him, I can see it in her eyes. She wants to comfort him be there for him... "Out of fear darling" Paul interrupts as my mind ventures from Jimmy to the legend. Anyone who performs on Halloween awakes the spirit of Edward Morkdrake, who will then return searching for someone to join in the flames of hell. Bette face gasps horrifically as Jimmy bursts asking furiously "Why are you trying to scare them!?" Dot takes her sister's arm reassuring her as she continues to look at Jimmy with that gleam, then smirking at me, I laugh lightly in disbelief meanwhile Jimmy and Ethel argue at the back of the tent before Ethel leaves a bottle in her hand. Standing on the stage instantly sliding my feet into my shoes as my glance connects with Jimmy, he face distressed I freeze for a moment tucking my heal in to my shoes strolling out quietly as everyone else continues as before. Everything I say to him makes him feel worse it seems, so I'm going to just leave it alone.
Entering my tent walking over to my wardrobe opening it crouching down pulling my record player returning to my suitcase opening it carefully retrieving my one and only record, placing it on, listening to the sweet nostalgic feeling as the rhythm takes control of my body swaying softly, replaying the song over and over again. "Angel" Eve calls entering my tent, "It's time." Nodding sorrowfully placing a sheer black scarf over my head following her and Ma Petite to the grave, seeing a small wooden coffin resting at the bottom. Slowly surrounding the edge of the grave, silently my heart aching as Jimmy begins his speech my body dissolves forming tears in my eyes which gradually escape running freely down my cheeks a lump in my throat drying and growing in size as I attempt to resist more tears flowing. As he finishes a small brown paper bag is passed around, opening the bag cautiously as I realise there is multiple severed chicken head laying at the bottom removing one holding it awkwardly before tossing it on top of the coffin.
Bye Meep.
Crossing my arms over my pounding chest holding myself together as I watch them start covering the grave, Paul offers me a tin flask taking it twisting the top gulping the flask feeling the bitterly-strong taste of alcohol over power my palette, squinting at the strength of the drink handing it back to Paul chuckling lightly taking a swig himself. Beginning to wander back into the grounds as an increasingly familiar sound starts racing towards us, a yellow taxi pulls us at the end of the road beside Meep's grave. Curiosity builds up as I watch the driver unloading various bags and suitcase, a thin blonde haired woman exits the vehicle, "The shows closed today" Jimmy announces planting the shovel in the ground leaning on it as the woman replies "I'm looking for a job, My name's Mystic Miss Esmeralda." Jimmy's face instantly lights up grinning, the first time in days. Removing the scarf from my head, folding it in my hands then following Eve back towards the camp whilst Jimmy takes our new arrival's bags leading towards Elsa's tent.
"First time Jimmy's smiled in days" Eve grins lighting a cigarette placing it between her lips as I nod in agreement, "She's pretty" I add as Eve inhales offering me one, "Reason he's smiling" She says holding the cigarette in her teeth whilst I take the cigarette leaning towards her as she sparks up a lighter, inhaling watching the end of the cigarette glow and smoke lightly. The taste of smoke and cigarette replacing the taste of alcohol, coughing softly due to inhaling too deeply as Eve laughs at me tipping the ash into a ashtray. "First time?" She giggles as I nod exhaling seeing a cloud of grey smoke exiting my breath.
"Since when did you smoke?" Paul asks sitting behind me, "Might as well try it while I can breathe" I reply turning around as he takes a gulp from his flask, "The new girl's staying" He says wincing at the alcohol, as my eyes meet Eve's smiling cheekily knowing we were sharing the same thought; Jimmy will love that. Pressing the cigarette in between my lips again inhaling once again, ash falling on to ground stamping it in the grass with the sole of my shoe. "Speak of the devil, here she comes" Eve sniggers lightly stamping her cigarette out on the table as I spin on the bench facing her direction. "Be nice"
"Hello, I'm Angel" I introduce myself as I offer the seat beside me, after a moment she smiles tucking her skirt underneath her bottom before sitting beside me, "Maggie" She breathes shaking my hand friendly, "It's nice meeting you, this is Eve and Paul" I announce pointing towards them as they nod and wave. "What do you do here?" Maggie asks little curious as I lower my cardigan stretch out my wings as she gasps backing away slightly as my wings stretch out further. "Isn't it obvious" Paul says waving his shorten limbs before gulping the alcohol again sharply leaving.
"If you don't mind me asking where is the nearest telephone." Maggie asks shakily, fiddling with her finger nervously, "Nearest telephone?" I ask Eve unsure watching her fingers smiling kindly, what is she doing with her hand? "Nearest one from here is quite away, just outside town." Eve reckons whilst I nod in agreement.
"How far is that to walk?" She questions.
"About an hour maybe two"
"If you need to get into town, I'm sure Jimmy will give you a ride." I suggest smile kindly as Eve nudges my leg under the table smiling also, "Definitely, he would help you" Eve agrees supporting me as Maggie nods thanking us before attempting to find Jimmy, "Better be quick! There's a curfew!" We call in unison as she quickens her pace. "Are we bad people?" I ask as Eve shakes her head "We've match makers" She giggles nudging me again, "Anyway.. It was your idea" She laughs as I stand
"It was you too!" I exclaim pushing her playfully, "I'm going back to my tent. Night" I smile beginning to walk back to my tent whilst Eve follows entering her room.
Perching on a stool looking at my reflection as I take my hair down softly brushing my hair removing tangles as I notice a mysterious glowing green fog sweeping in to my trailer, turning slightly directing my attention to it as a horrible feeling growing in the pit of my stomach as I see the mist surround me coating the ground around my ankles.
"Good evening, madam" My graze swifts suddenly as a voice sounds.
"Edward Mordake"
