A/N: Okay, so this is really bad. Apparently, I lost the edited version of this (which was much better) and didn't realize until now, when I'm already late uploading it, and I don't remember what I changed and just I'm sorry. But anyways yeah. This was written MONTHS ago for Halloween when I was listening to Dark Woods Circus and I just forgot about it until now. So. Yeah. Happy late Halloween. Hope you enjoy c:
"Oh come on, let's go see the circus, Fiyero!" Galinda cried, grabbing her boyfriend's hand and dragging him through the city streets. Fiyero struggled to keep up, wondering how Galinda managed to run so fast in her heels. "It's in the forest – we should be fine if we stick together!"
The blonde came to a stop outside a forest and turned to read a sign. Fiyero tried to catch his breath, waiting for Galinda to start walking again.
"Come on!" the blonde ordered. Instead of running off like Fiyero expected, she walked slowly into the forest, tugging him along behind her.
The path was obviously unused, there was grass growing in the ground and you could barely see the dirt road that was supposed to lead you to the circus. Fiyero didn't like the idea of going to some circus that he had never heard of and seemed like no one went to see, but Galinda was too childish to pass up a chance to see a circus. And he couldn't refuse her a night of fun and laughter.
After what felt like an eternity of walking – the sun had gone down and been replaced by the moon – Fiyero finally decided to stop and ask Galinda if they were lost.
"No, silly," Galinda giggled, "we're not lost. Just come on!"
Fiyero followed Galinda in silence, wondering how the blond even knew where they were going or how she knew that they weren't lost if she'd never been to this circus – or any circus for that matter.
It didn't take much longer for them to find the colorful tents. Fiyero looked around while Galinda stared in awe. There was nobody around, except for a one person that was most likely in charge of running the so-called 'circus'.
There were few tents – three small ones and one large one. And there seemed to be no entrance to anyone.
Fiyero quickly understood why nobody came to this circus. There were no normal people to converse with, and there was nothing of interest to do, since the tents couldn't be entered to watch anything.
A short, older man walked up to Fiyero and Galinda, bowing slightly in greeting. "Hello," he said. His voice was higher pitched than they expected, but they ignored it.
"Hi!" Galinda replied with her normal cheery smile. "We're here to see the circus – but it seems there isno circus…"
"Oh! This is the circus, my fine dear!" the man said, gesturing to the four tents.
"Really?" Galinda asked, failing to hide her disappointment. The man frowned but quickly caught it and smiled again.
Creepy, Fiyero thought.
"How are we supposed to watch things? How are we supposed to enjoy our visit? The tents are closed – there's no way to look inside," Galinda said.
"Follow me," the man said. He turned around and began walking away. Fiyero wanted to turn and run, but Galinda followed the man, pulling Fiyero behind her. So he followed. The man stopped by the tent and Fiyero noticed a small hole – just big enough to see inside – cut into the fabric.
Galinda let go of Fiyero's hand and clapped excitedly. The man grinned and cleared his throat. Fiyero didn't like this situation one bit.
"There is a wondrous woman in this tent – a magnificent freak," the man announced. "She has the skin of a vegetable!"
"Really?!" Galinda cried. She leaned down and peered into the hole. A few moments passed, Fiyero's eyes locked on the older man, before Galinda stood back up and stepped back, all the color gone from her face. She was still smiling though. Her smile never faltered. She looked at Fiyero.
"Oh, Fiyero! The woman is beautiful! You must see her!" she said, forcing Fiyero towards the tent. "You will be surprised! Please look, darling!"
"Yes, she is quite beautiful," the man said, clearing his throat once more. "Now, my dear lady, if you would accompany me to another tent, you can see another freak."
"That would be lovely!" Galinda giggled. Before Fiyero could protest, she left with the man. Fiyero had no choice but to look at the woman that had obviously intrigued Galinda. He bent down far enough to see in the hole.
On the other side was a woman, as the man and Galinda had said. She was green and was wearing a magnificent white dress, similar to a wedding dress. Her long raven hair was straight and shiny – she was the definition of beauty.
She stood with her back towards Fiyero, not moving at all. She was like a doll - she was so still.
Finally, she turned her head and looked towards Fiyero. Fiyero saw her face and wanted to leave immediately. Her face, which Fiyero had imagined to be beautiful, was horribly disfigured – burned and scarred by something Fiyero could not place. She stared at him with dark brown eyes, her thin gray lips curved into a smile. The corners of her mouth had been cut upwards to simulate a smile. A chill ran down his spine when he realized this.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't look away. The woman was so interesting.
She stared at him blankly, never blinking or looking away. She never moved, not once to breathe or to move her hair out of her face. She simply stared without emotion.
Finally, she spoke. Her voice was weak and soft.
"Help," was all she said.
Someone poked Fiyero and he jumped back, screaming loudly.
"Calm down, Fiyero," Galinda said. He turned around and hugged Galinda. "Let go of me." The blonde roughly shoved Fiyero away. "This is the best circus ever."
"What makes you say that?" Fiyero asked.
"The freaks are so wonderful!" Galinda answered, giggling. "They seem so happy. They're always smiling – though they stare quite a bit and it's quite unnerving."
"Freaks?" Fiyero questioned. Galinda nodded, smiling and staring at him creepily. "Where is that man?"
"He said he needed to do something," Galinda answered.
"Galinda, we need to leave. This place…the vibe is weird. We should go," Fiyero said as reached out to grab Galinda's arm. Galinda huffed and stepped back.
"I'm not leaving!" she shouted. "This place is wonderful, Fiyero! It's so fun! You should see the other freaks!"
"They're not freaks!" Fiyero shouted back at Galinda. Galinda frowned for a split second before smiling again. She shrugged and turned around.
"Your loss," she murmured, skipping towards another tent. Fiyero let out a heavy sigh and turned to look in the tent again.
The woman was on the ground, holding her face and shaking. It was the first time Fiyero saw her move other than when she turned around and he didn't like it.
She looked at him. Half of her face was burned – recently burned – and she looked like she was in agony.
"Help," she whispered again. "Please."
A loud scream ripped Fiyero from the tent and the woman on the other side. He recognized the scream immediately and began to run toward it. He stopped at the smallest tent, where the screaming had been originating from. Nobody was there.
"Galinda?!" he shouted. "Galinda!"
Nobody responded. The screaming stopped. It was replaced by eerie silence. Fiyero definitely didn't like this circus. He turned to leave, trying not to cry over Galinda's disappearance, but someone – no, something– grabbed him. He screamed, but nobody heard. Whatever grabbed him dragged him away into one of the tents.
"It's so fun."
