"Ladies and gentleman!" A male voice echoed throughout the orange and yellow stripped tent. You could feel the excitement and mystery rise in the air as a man stepped out of the mist that seemed to wrap itself around the audience. He wore a long, red tailcoat, a dark purple button-up shirt that was tucked in his sleek black trousers, black dress shoes, purple and black stripped top hat, and in his right palm he held a long gold staff that at the top held a purple transparent ball.
"Welcome to Cirque De Les Secrets! My name is Martin and I will be your guide this evening." He chuckled darkly as he said the word guide, adding more mystery to the air. "Now, remember that one you enter, you can not leave- not until the show is over." His voice bellowed, a slight Spanish accent audible. "Now, let the show," he stepped back into the heavy mist," begin."
My name is Angela. Angela Monaè. I'm an acrobat in the most famous circus known on earth- Cirque De Les Secrets. Translation: Circus of Secrets. A show full of wonder, mystery, and excitement. If only they knew what lies beyond those black curtains. Beyond that façade, is a deadly way of what we call life. Its a place where everyone has a secret that could get you killed. My secret? I'm cursed. The only person who knows is Martin- the ringmaster. And he never lets me forget it. But I have a plan- one that will rid me of that burden and set me free. But... I can't do it alone. In order for my plan to work, I'll either have to earn the trust and support from everyone else in the circus or I will have to blackmail them.
And that is a very deadly game I will have to play.
Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option.
*****
Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her...
Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault.
[[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]