Red was carrying stacks of boxes when suddenly his feet tripped over something, causing the young red hair to fall down hard. He looked up and glared defiantly at the sniggering clown who caused his fall. Cosimo.
"What's the matter, Red," the clown sneered. "Can't carry bunch of boxes safely?"
Red muttered under his breath as he got back on his feet. As much he wanted to punch the bastard's face, he can't. The circus is his source of food and shelter. He gathered up the fallen boxes and proceeded on his way.
That damn clown. He's just jealous that I attract more attention than him. Red placed the last of the heavy crates down on its destination.
Red lifted his scarred left arm. The red scales covered up his entire left arm. A glowing green cross embedded on the top of his left hand. Red stared at it with disgust on his face. This thing was what caused Red so much misery. He was scorned and mistreated for this handicapped arm. People will occasionally call him a 'monster.' But it was also the very thing that gave him that provided extra money and attracts the attention that Cosimo is jealous of.
Red put down his hand and went to the small tent that the circus has given to him as shelter. Bread and a bowl of stew awaited the boy. This was a good thing. It means Cosimo is in a good mood. No beatings for now. Red sits down and tears into the bread and hungrily devours the stew. If the circus didn't give him the nutrients he needed, Red would steal and pickpocket the people who come to see the the shows.
After he finished, Red returned the bowl to the circus cook. He then returned back to the tent to take a quick nap before the circus's show tonight.
o-O-o0o-O-o
"Red…."
"Who….who are you?"
"Red…."
"Come out, ya' bastard! If ya' don' show yerself up, I'll ignore ya'!"
"Don't…you….must….."
"Wha'? Whaddaya mean? Who th' hell are ya'?"
"I am….the 14th…."
"Oh, yea? And I'm eight."
"No…Noah…."
"Noah? Is that you're name?"
"Neah….."
"Stop confusin' me, ya' turd nugget!"
"Neah…the 14th…..Noah"
"Noah?"
"Beware….of the…..Earl…."
"Huh?! Come back and face me like a man!"
"….."
"Oi! Ya' still there?! Hey! Answer me!"
o-O-o0o-O-o
Red then was violently shaken awake from his dream. Luckily, it was one of the nice members of the circus, the horse trainer.
"Red, it's time…" he said.
Red groaned as he got up to his feet. He re-fixed his messy ponytail, making sure it's at least presentable or he will get pummeled by Cosimo.
"Thanks fo' wakin' me up."
The horse tamer nodded before pulling back his head from Red's tent. Red stepped out to see the circus lights brightening up the night sky. Crowds came as they chattered about what shows they wanted to see. Kids ran around, candied apples in their hands and face painted. Red slinked his way to where the main tent is.
"Go and fetch the knives, Red," Cosimo ordered. "If you don't come back within 3 minutes, I'll kick you until you can't move."
Red was already gone the moment he heard 'knives'. He didn't need to hear the threat that Cosimo had added.
He went inside the tent where all the tools and props for the clowns are located. He snatched up the case that contains the knives and hurried back, only to bump into someone.
"Ow! Watcha' where ya' goin'!" Red sneered, only to see a man in a suit and a top hat. Red frowned. Great. Nobles.
"Oh, excuse me, young lad!" The man looked down at him in surprise. Red got a closer look at his face. It's actually quite silly looking.
Red growled, "Outta mah way, ya' bamhop! I gotta get these to da' ringmasta'!"
The man looked surprised at Red's tone, but nevertheless moved out of the way. Red raced down, sweat covering his forehead, hoping that he'll arrive at time. But little did he know, the man was staring at his back.
He entered the tent and quickly handed Cosimo the case.
"You were almost late!" Cosimo grumbled. "Brat needs a lesson that I don't like waiting!"
He aimed a kick at Red. Red had already braced himself in a defense position as Cosimo abused him.
After one last kick, Cosimo left to greet the audience. Red scurried back up to his feet and retreated back to his tent to nurse his wounds. He stared at the crack mirror than Red found. Dirt and blood covered his face. Bruises began appearing around his body. There were tears and rips on his clothes. Red sighed. At least he managed to pickpocket the man from earlier.
While everybody was focused on the circus, Red went to town to buy new clothes. He got a clean white shirt, a dark brown vest, brown trousers, brown boots, white gloves, and a red scarf. All very cheap. Red happily put on the gloves, covering up the ugly scaly arm. Seeing that there was extra money, he bought another hair tie just in case.
Red wore his new clothes and admired them. Soon, he'll have to dirty the clothes so Cosimo wouldn't notice that he got new clothes by stealing.
"Boy?"
Red jumped and spun around quickly to see the man he bumped into earlier staring at him.
"What da bloody hell are ya' doin' here?! Yer not allowed here! Why aren' ya at da' circus?" Red yelled at the intruder.
"I'm sorry. It's just that I see you got beaten up by the ringmaster, and I can't seem get that out of my mind. Also, you're excused for stealing my wallet."
Red felt his cheeks burn up when he heard that the man knew he stole the wallet.
"But, I'm not here to ask my wallet back. I'm wondering if you would like to leave the circus and come with me back home."
Red froze. Never before had he heard that term 'home.' He narrowed his eyes at the man.
"Stop brin'in' mah hopes up! Who are ya' wha' does yer hankerin' wif me?" Red spat.
The man was taken aback. "I'm not trying to bring your hopes up. I'm serious. I'm asking you if you want to come back home with me. And my name is Adam, but I'm usually known as the Millenium Earl."
Red flashed back to his dream.
"Beware of the Earl…"
Red shook his mind and glared at the man.
"Whats da' catch?"
"Excuse me?"
Red snorted at the man's obliviousness. "Da' catch. Nobody gits ennythin' free in th' wo'ld."
"Become part of my family."
Now this time, Red was confused. "Wha-?"
The man seemed amused at Red.
"Hm, this time I'm not the confused. But forget about that," he said when he saw Red bristled. "I'm asking if you want to come with me."
Red crossed his arms. "Oh yea? Why sh'd ah believe a p'pl like ya'?"
"Well, I allowed you to take my wallet, and I promise not to hurt you."
Red thought for a moment. The offer was tempting. He could live free from poverty. He doesn't need to deal with Cosimo. But can he really trust the man? Finally, Red reached a decision.
"Alrigh' then. I'll take yer wo'd. But if I don' like it, Im'ma outta there."
The man smiled, but Red saw that it didn't quite reach his eyes. He already distrusts the man already.
"Come along then. Let's bring you home."
Red followed the man to a carriage nearby. The man who was handling the carriage had a cold look on his face. Suspicious.
He entered the carriage after the Earl, and the carriage began moving. Red watched the sceneries passed by him through the window as he left his circus life. He felt his eyes droop as the same scenery rewind itself over and over again.