Run For Your Life

Welcome To The Freak Show

Song: Freak by Lana Del Rey

May 5

"Mom?"

The woman simply smiles before sliding swiftly past her. In one hand she holds a plastic bag and in the other she holds a key. Quickly she opens, allowing Beverly to enter first.

"Forgot your key again? How was the dance? I didn't think you'd be home so early." Her eyes travel to Ben before setting the bag on the messy kitchen counter. "I also didn't know you would have company so you'll have to share your dinner." The woman holds out a hand, which Ben awkwardly takes. "Hi I'm Maggie. Syd's mom."

Maggie takes ahold of the redhead's arm and guides her away from Ben. "Really wish you would've told me you were bringing someone over. The house is a mess. What happened with that Stanley fella? He was a real cutie, right?"

Beverly's eyes squint. "What? How do you know Stanley?"

"I'm your mom. I notice things. Oh wow your hair. Extensions?" Her fingers comb through as she smiles.

Beverly pushes her hand away, obviously unsettled. She's about to speak when she notices something in the background. A photograph of a family of four. Maggie, a man, a boy, and herself. Only it's not herself. The girl from the photograph smiles, both eyes squinted, holding onto the man. Her hair is bright red, but also much shorter.

But it looks so much like her.

"Who is that?"

Maggie turns around. She smiles upon seeing the photograph. "We took those right before your father passed?"

"How do you know he passed?"

"Are you feeling okay?"

Beverly then moves past her and points at the girl who is her, but also not. "Who is that!" She backs away from the photo now, squeezing both eyes shut. She breathes and breathes, but she can't stay calm. Her eyes twitch and so she squeezes even harder. "Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck."

"Sydney-..."

"I-I'm not." Beverly can't control herself. It's not just her eyes that twitch anymore. Sparks fall from her fingertips and so she balls them into fists. Her skin burns bright red. There's no hiding this. She can't do this. Beverly should've never come and intruded on this woman's happy fairytale life. This isn't a place she belongs. This wasn't the right choice. She shouldn't be here. She can't be here.

"Syd."

Beverly moves past her and out a back door. She takes off through a patch of woods, her skin lighting aglow while doing so. At some point she falls to the ground, her body still lit up. She can barely hear footsteps from a distance, but she pays it no mind.

"Bev."

The girl only sobs harder, arms holding herself tightly in place. She screams and the flames grow higher, whipping and crashing and burning just about everything in sight. Why did she come? What was the point? What was she hoping for? A miracle, maybe. A mother.

But what she got was an unbearable weight, which seems to lay heavy in her chest. She hurts. She aches. Beverly sees her smiling face in that photo and thinks of what could've been. A father, a mother, even a little brother. Would things be different?

She can't help but to think things would be way different. A normal life and no powers and a nice set of friends. A nice family. No harm, no horror, no hate.

The forest burns and part of her hopes she doesn't make it out. Though she knows that won't happen. Her skin won't even blister. She's been cursed.

Beverly's tearful eyes finally drift up and watch the sight that surrounds her. She's sat in a ring of fire, no exit to be found. Usually this wouldn't be a problem, but Ben sits inches from her side. A sad smile rests on his lips and she can't help but to offer a small smile in return.

Only that's when she realizes. Ben's flammable.

"Oh fuck. Ben why would you follow me in here? Y-you're gonna die!"

The man only shrugs. "It seemed like the right move at the time."

She stands now, turning in continuous circles. Beverly searches for any kind of way out, but there's none. Her heart rate continues to grow faster. She can't lose him. She can't.

She can't lose him.

The girl repeats these four words and before she can think too much about what she's doing, her red hot lips are on his. And despite the burning sensation, Ben kisses back.

If this is where he dies, then what a beautiful place to do so.

Except it's not where he dies. Not today, at least. Because Beverly didn't get the picture perfect life. She got this life. With a shit head father and a mother who left her behind. But that's doesn't mean she has no family or friends. Her life is far from normal, and she is far from cursed. And hate burns through her more than the flames hugging her flesh.

But the love burns there too. Her heart burns there too.

So who cares if life is normal, she'll welcome the horror with a smile and a wave. And who needs an annoying little brother and a picture perfect life when she has this man by her side.

"You might want to stand back." She smirks, But Ben only tilts his head.

The redhead pulls her hands back, mustering as much strength as possible, before letting go. If she created this maybe she can take it back too. Or at least move it. There's has to be something. She can't just be made to destroy, though that wouldn't be such a bad thing either. It's just that right now is not the time for destruction. Maybe it's time to be a hero.

Beverly stops momentarily and snarls. No, she doesn't find any interest in that title.

She focuses in on the flames in front of her, but nothing seems to happen. She tries again, and still nothing.

The girls takes one last breath, eyes glowing more red than ever. "Welcome to the freak show."

Finally, with one last push, flames burst from her hands, but they now link with the circle. She controls the flames. To some extent, at least.

Beverly laughs after realizing what she's doing. So with another movement, she parts her hands, and the fire connects with her own. It splits in two, creating the perfect pathway, yet Ben doesn't move.

The girl's arms shake and she grows more frustrated by the second. "What are you doing? Go!"

Ben only shakes his head. "I'm not leaving you!"

Beverly grunts, trying her best to keep the fire separated. "Dammit, Ben! My entire body is in flames!"

The man sucks in a breath. "Oh right." He then rushes through. As soon as he's out, Beverly collapses to the ground. Her body feels far too weak. She feels numb. She doesn't feel at all.

At least Ben is safe.