Hey, everyone!
Well, I thought it would be a good idea to get the feel for writing Cirque Du Freak fanfiction. I've watched the movie, and am on the third graphic novel. I'll have to order in the regular novels because they don't have them at our school library or public library. D:
It was hard enough trying to maintain a good grade in school without suffering from...well, whatever kept happening.
The whole thing started off simple. She got lethargic and light-headed in class and it happened at least once a week. Then, it happened every other day and eventually, every single day.
When the senior in high school began to vomit profusely, her mother thought it was just the flu. When it started to become tinged with red, she took her into the doctors. No matter how much her mother told them, they simply gave her anti-nausea medicine and dismissed her as if she were a homeless person asking for spare change.
Speaking of change, she began to become a different person when she started on the medication they gave her. She changed both phsyically and mentally. Kind of like puberty, although she had gone through that ages ago. However, it soon grew to the point where her jaw, legs and spine felt like they were being burnt and repeatedly stabbed. She was soon taking up to three ibuprofen and downing half a bottle of Benadryl just to sleep.
Upon the increasing pain and uneasiness, her mother tried to put her daughter in a lockdown of sorts, but her friends always found their way inside. It was a cool, Sunday evening when she saw her closest friend for the first time in weeks. He came right in the front door and up the stairs, scaring her half to death.
Paul Burgandy was the nerd of Weston High. He aced every single test he was given and did both the math and chess club. He had acne that seemed like it would be frustrating, but not life ruining. His hair was curly and brown, often greasy.
"Dude," He laughed and ruffled her hair with a smile. "I thought you died. You wouldn't even answer your phone when I texted you!"
"If I died," Her voice was pretty hoarse. "I would have dragged you down with me."
"Hey, you alright?" His smile faded at the sound of her voice. "You don't sound too good."
"My throat is on fire, man." She grumbled, reaching for the glass on her bedside table.
"Have you tried coughdrops and tea?" His frown grew when she nodded in confirmation. "Honey and garlic? Gargling salt water?"
"I've done it all." She coughed, her fingers barely bumping the glass.
That little bump sent the water-filled cup onto her lap, shattering the glass into large fragments and soaking her in ice water. She yelped and he jumped.
"Thank goodness your mom isn't home, huh?" Paul joked.
"Yeah, she'd have a cow." Her laugh was weak as she sat up more. "Help me get rid of the glass, will you?"
Paul grabbed her waste basket and scooted it over to the edge of the bed. In silence, they worked on wiping the glass into it. Paul suddenly winced and shook his hand. When she looked at him, her gaze locked onto the cut on his finger. It was just large enough to have a bubble of blood appearing on the surface of the skin. She felt the burning in her throat increase and she closed her eyes tightly as a wave of nausea washed over her.
"You alright?" Paul looked at her with a concerned gaze.
"I'm okay." She sighed, opening her eyes and looking only at the waste basket. "Can you take the bag out back and throw it into the dumpster?"
"Sure." He seemed a little thrown off by her attitude.
The second he left, she let out a large breath. She had never been afraid of blood, or even remotely disgusted by it. Trying to block out the thought of the crimson liquid that came from underneath the skin, she got off her bed and shakily bundled the wet blankets. In almost a drunken stagger, she went downstairs and threw them into the dryer. She'd have to make something up when her mother asked why they were in there. After pressing the button, she turned to the sound of the back door opening.
"The band-aids are in the bathroom." That was her greeting as she wobbled off to the kitchen.
The second her hand was on the fridge, her hunger vanished. She was still very lethargic, however. With a rough sigh, she slumped against the cool metal and tried to blink the foginess away from her line of vision.
"I love you," Paul said when he came back with a band-aid wrapped tightly around his cut. "But you need something to cheer you up, and I know just the thing."
He lifted her to her feet, elicting a soft laugh from her. He then shoved a flyer in her face with a grin. She sighed and moved it to a comfortable reading distance.
CIRQUE DU FREAK
One Night Only!
Not for the faint of heart!
Some restrictions apply
"I love the idea of going to see this," She handed the flyer back and looked at him. "But do you really think she'd let me go to this in my condition?"
"I'll convince her." Paul winked and nudged her ribs. "I'm gonna go. Send me a text when she gets home and I'll call her."
"I hope you get your way." She couldn't help but smile.
"I sure to do."
In silence, she watched as he left with a swing in his step. Paul and her had been friends since the third grade, and they let nothing tear them apart. They had never been caught pulling pranks or even sneaking out in the middle of the night. With the image of her best friend grinning in her mind, she went back upstairs and decided to change out of her pajamas. After shedding the white articles of clothing, she glanced in her mirror and realized how terrible she looked. After a warm shower, she felt much better and didn't look half-bad either. She knew that she needed to look convincing for her mom, so she put on her dark gray jeans and a white t-shirt. She didn't need anything else to look like she was getting better.
When her mom came home, she practically shoved food down her daughter's throat with a happy smile. At the sound of the phone ringing, her mother rushed into the living room and she hurried into her bedroom. There was low talking and then a laugh. She hoped for the best, and when her mother came to talk to her, she knew he worked his magic. The second her mother left the room, she let out a little squeal and grabbed her favorite bandana. She tied it around her neck and smiled at the crimson color. After adding her gray beanie and some makeup, she staggered downstairs.
"Do you think you'll be able to start going back to school?" Her mother asked when she saw her.
"Let's just see how well I do with tonight, mom." She smiled at the sound of the doorbell. "That's probably Paul."
Just like clockwork, the person at the door grinned like the little troublemaker he was. Dressed in jeans and a Panic! At the Disco t-shirt...and holding a tulip in his hand.
"You have her back here by midnight, you hear me?" Her mother was standing in the background with her arms crossed.
"Yes, ma'am." Paul's eyes glittered with pure amusement, causing the teenage girl to laugh suddenly.
"Bye mom!"
She slipped outside and shut the door. Immeadeately, laughter followed as they walked down the slightly darkened street. He started to beat her with the golden tulip, which turned out to be fake.
"I had to tell her I was taking you on a date." He was dying as they walked to the theater.
"You what?" She gasped, but still had a grin on her face. "Dude, she won't leave me alone now! She'll be like, 'So, when are you gonna go on another date with...what was his name?'"
"'Mom, it's Paul!', you'll whine in complete and utter irritation like the bratty teenager you are." He laughed and then yelped when she kicked him in the shin. "Feeling better, I see."
"For the moment, yeah." She chuckled and finally took the tulip. "Enjoy it while it lasts. My mother forced food down my throat, so by the end of the show, I'll puke it back up again."
"That's healthy." Paul cringed and smiled when they approached the theater.
The place only had another soul near it. A tiny little creature who took Paul's money in exchange for two tickets. She tried not to shriek at the sight of its pretty disfigured face and freakily huge eyes. She knew that little heart attack was just a small fraction of what she was going to see. When they went inside, they both found two unoccupied seats in the front and took them quickly. They had ten minutes until the show started.
"Who's that guy?" Paul pointed to a man just visible beyond the curtain.
She looked at him and something rippled through her heart when his jade eyes met hers. She let out a grunt and scruntched her eyes shut, trying to figure out the source of the pain.
"Whoa, Alice," Her 'boyfriend' gasped and grabbed her arm. "You okay? You look like you're going to have a heart attack."
"I'm fine, I think." She whimpered, pulling at her bandana in a seemingly nervous fashion.
Finally, she glanced up to search for the man again. She spotted him lingering on stage, looking out and toward her. She pulled up the topic of Silent Hill when she swiftly directed her own eyes to Paul. Glad for the distraction, she listened to her friend rant about the brand new game. When the lights dimmed, they both turned their attention to the stage. A very tall man came out, causing people behind them to murmur softly. Chills ran through the two teenagers and they passed each other a grin.
The acts came one after another, and each one was better than the last. It soon came to a beautiful woman that seemed to fill every female in the audience with envy. She went to pick an assistant and ended up with Paul. The red-faced teenager was pulled away from his friend. The beard came as a huge shock to the poor boy, but Alice was laughing along with the rest of the women. The rest of the acts filled everyone with mixed emotions. Especially when it came to the last one. It was the ginger-haired man from before.
"Normally, I would do my act with my loyal partner," He said broad enough for fear to already be hitting the hearts of the audience. "But Madam Octa, my spider, has gone missing. Oh, and she's highly toxic. Just thought you should know."
"This is so not okay." Alice hissed, bringing her legs up to her chest as others frantically searched.
"Alice." Paul's voice was soft and her reached for her hat. "Hold still."
She didn't protest when he removed her hat. Her skin visibly paled at the sight of a rather large and brightly colored spider sitting in her hat. She caught a glimpse of the man and a shiver rocketed down her spine. She honestly couldn't tell if it was the spider or him that made her feel worse. He approached them swiftly and smiled.
"May I please have my spider back?" He looked at both of them.
"Please have her." Paul swiftly outstretched the hat with Madam Octa on it.
"Take the hat, too..." Alice mumbled, but quite a few people laughed when they heard her feeble words.
"Much oblidged."
Alice seemed to be the only one who caught the amused twinkle in his eyes as he retrieved his partner from Paul's grasp, along with her favorite hat.
So, I do hope this is a pretty good start to the fanfiction. I hope Alice doesn't come off mary sue-ish to anyone. :/
Anyway, if you like it, please R&R.