heyy ppl first DSS fic, so go lightly? srry if anyone seems a little OOC I haven't touched the series in a while after reading it for the fourth of fifth time... yeah, so enjoy, and Review! i need to see if it's worth continuing! thnx!
Clover
Chapter 1
"Vanessa, come over here. You have got to see this." Alex called to me.
I came up behind her, and peered over her shoulder. I saw a few tents, and a large table lined up down the middle of the two rows. Farther back I could see some larger ones, and three trailers behind those. In between us and the camp was a large, neat pile of bars and a huge looking black, red and purple tarp. Wooden planks lay in neat piles with smaller tarps covering them, which were too short. Off to the side were rows of bleachers.
"Where's Ali?" I asked.
"No idea. We gotta go find her. She needs to see this. Keep low, we don't want to be caught watching it." Alex said.
"Um, Why? What's the big deal?"
"You don't know what it is. Who knows who lives there?" she replied.
"Ok, true. We need to find Ali, Marky, and Alaric. If we do get caught then we're safer in a group, right?" I asked, turning around to face the wide open space behind me. I could already see the three figures of my friends exploring in the distance.
I cautiously got up, and turned to Alex. She motioned that she was going to stay and watch the encampment of strangers. I started heading slowly towards my friends, and picked up my pace when I felt like I was a safe enough distance away from the camp. I called to them.
"Hey guys! You have got to see this!" I shouted to them.
They reluctantly got up and met me halfway. I turned around and they followed me.
"So what are you showing us?" Alaric asked.
"You'll see." I replied.
"No. You have to tell us or I'm going back. I was comfortable, Nessa." Ali complained.
"I can't explain it. It's a camp. It's just… there. Ok, get down. We don't know who's there or if we're supposed to be here or not, so just be careful and be quiet." I said, giving in and explaining as best I could.
We joined Alex, and ducked down into the tall dry brush. I was at the end, then Marky on my right, Ali, Alaric, and Alex. I felt a little childish, watching this barren camp ground. I mean, I'm 15, and I'm sitting in the dirt spying on an abandoned tent community. On a Saturday. I glanced over at my friends. They were still taking it all in. I could see the mental notes being penned down in their minds, cameras taking pictures like crazy behind their eyes. Marky seemed a little off- set by it. More than the others, at least. We were all off.
"So what is it?" he asked absently. I wasn't sure if it was a rhetorical question and he just said it aloud to say it, or if he actually wanted an answer. I didn't have one for him anyways, so I remained silent. He didn't react from my silence, so I presumed it wasn't something meant for an answer.
"That would be the Cirque."
I jumped, I don't know, maybe three miles? That voice gave me a freaking heart attack. I fell forward, and spun around onto my back to face a boy, only a year or so younger than us, staring down at us with an entertained smirk. Our startled expressions brought him some content amusement. I wiped away my surprised expression to an even, emotionless, guarded look. He offered his hand, and I took it. He pulled me up with what felt like little effort. Everyone was picking themselves up and dusting themselves off. My hand remained locked with the stranger's for a little longer than normal, and I noticed. I felt my mind saying let go, but my hand didn't respond. His hand was extremely cold, like ice. To the point it was burning. Soon I no longer felt it, but I could feel the tension in my muscles becoming visible and my nervous eyes giving away my unease. The boy looked equally unnerved by this, and wrenched his hand back with some force. I took a step away from him, and lowered my eyes to the ground.
"Who are you?" Marky asked.
"… I'm Darren." He replied. I could sense that he was reluctant to answer because of me.
"How do you know what this place is? The... Cirque?" Alaric asked.
"I live and travel with it. I'm a Cirque member." He answered.
"What is it? And why is it here?" Alex asked, stepping up to Darren.
"The Cirque du Freak. Circus of freaks. Freak show." He answered, giving Alex the stone hard stare of blunt truth. "And this is where we stopped. I've only been here a few weeks. Our last show is tonight. Then we move on."
"Aren't freak shows illegal?" Ali asked.
"Yes, but where else have freaks got to go than with other freaks? And what good are their talents if they can't be shown off? Wouldn't you pay for a once in a life time chance?" he asked, stepping closer to her.
"No. Freaks? Eew!" she retorted.
"Ali, shut up! He's in the freak show!" I snapped.
"It's alright. Why don't you join us tonight? I'll supply the tickets, and some of the entertainment. And you'll supply a friendly face to look at?" he asked, staring straight into my eyes. I couldn't look away. He held me there, his prisoner of the mind.
"What time is it at?" I finally managed to ask after clearing some of the fog out of brain that had so suddenly intruded.
"Ten."
"Bring three tickets, could you? I'll see if I can sneak out." I said, finally tearing my eyes away.
"I will be right back."
Darren left us alone, walking with a cool, even, slightly fast step towards the camp. I turned back to my friends. They were staring at me with shocked expressions.
"Why on earth are you going to see that Freak show? By seeing it you're supporting it! Are you insane? Have you absolutely lost your mind? Nessa, you can not see that show! Especially alone!" Ali snapped at me.
"Then come with me." I replied. This enraged her even more.
Alex towed her away to calm her down, leaving me with the two boys. "Either of you doing anything tonight? In for seeing a freak show? A once in a life time opportunity?" I asked, slinging my arms over their shoulders.
"I'm in." Marky said, smiling.
"Count me in too." Alaric said.
"Thanks, guys. Where should we meet?" I asked.
"I would say here but depending on where that tent is that may not be possible. I can run by your house and we can meet you over on the corner." Alaric said, motioning to me then to Marky.
"That should work. No need to meet if we'd just go by each other, right?" Marky asked.
"Yeah." I said.
I saw Darren come running up to us, tickets in hand. He stopped next to me, and handed them over. "Three tickets, as requested. Are these two the lucky ones to join you?"
"Yes. Thanks for the tickets. I'm Vanessa, by the way. That's Alaric and that's Marky." I motioned to the two boys standing on next to me. I handed them the tickets.
"We're gonna go find the other two, Ness. See you tonight. I'll drop by around 9:15, alright?' Alaric asked.
"That'll be perfect. See you guys later" I replied.
"Afterwards, do you think you could steal away to meet me?" Darren asked. "I want you to meet someone."
"Why?"
"Because."
"No, tell me why or else I'll be out before it even ends." I demanded. I was still reeling from the contact before. He glanced around then looked at me seriously.
"This." He took my hand. I felt the ice again, ice that melted into honey and seeped through my skin into my veins and surged gold-specked red honey-sweet emotion throughout my entire body. "This… I need… I think it means something… well… there's someone I need you to meet and talk to and it can only be after the show. Ok? I'll find you then."
He hadn't let go of my hand, in fact he had taken the other, which pushed more frozen honey into my body. I felt dizzy with giddiness and pleasure and power, but I managed a weak nod. I noticed him take a small step forward, and I did the same. He released my hand and tilted my chin up towards him. He examined my eyes, then stepped back.
"I'll see you then."
With that he left, and I slowly head towards home. Where things made sense. Where things were normal. Where things were dull. Where things were the same as they were every day, as they had been for the entirety of my life thus far. I went back, and prepared for something new.
