I barely survived the past night in this cage; more pointing, more laughter, more pain. I honestly cannot remember the last time my master decided to feed me. I've even forgotten my surname, but thankfully I can remember my first. It's been nine years since anyone other than myself has used that name, I'm always called by some foul profanity now. Nine years since I was taken from my parents, nine years since everything in my life slipped and collided with the bottom of a mountain. Now I sit here, another pitiful display in MacMillan's Freak Show. I have never even seen my own reflection, so I am not aware of what I am doing here in the first place. I can't be that different. I don't remember my parents ever shunning me, or try to hide me, so why am I here?
I stared outside my cage through a small window. I sighed. There was nothing outside of this Hell that I haven't been looking at for the past several years.
"What in blazes are you looking at, you filthy pig!?" MacMillan, the ringmaster, howled. He was a disgusting man. He was always drinking, smoking, and doing things I would never dare speak of. MacMillan cracked his whip, hardly missing my head. I flinched. Then, I curled up in the nearest corner and waited for his next move.
"Why can't I just collapse and perish?" I thought. "I am even lower than a slave, according to the master! There is no point in my being here." The whip cracked again. I looked up for a brief moment to see how the others were faring before I covered my head. They were all asleep.
"You keep this up I won't feed you tomorrow," MacMillan snarled, showing his decaying, yellow teeth. He thankfully returned his attention to that foul cigar that he always carried with him. Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves neared.
"He scheduled another show this early!? That fiend!" I nearly burst into tears as the horse-drawn carriage came to a stop.
"What now?" the master growled impatiently while he stormed away to see what the newcomers wanted.
"Nobles," I growled and spit on the floor of my cage. The ringmaster would always put me through more pain whenever nobles came along to squeeze extra money out of them. Of course, they cooperated without a second thought. MacMillan was talking to a middle-aged, well-dressed man. The carriage the nobleman had come out of was a deep emerald green with wheels and a frame the color of gold. Gold was the ringmaster's favorite thing other than my screams of pain…
A handsome, young man soon stepped out of the carriage and stood next to the man that looked like he would be his father. He was followed by a middle-aged woman dressed in a violet gown with white trimmings. I crawled closer to the window to get a better look at them. The young man, who honestly couldn't be much older than me, looked exactly like the boy who had stumbled upon the last show accidentally. I stared, horrified as the four of them drew nearer.
The young man had shoulder-length ebony hair,a fair face, tall, slender figure, and ironically kind amber eyes that somehow calmed me. He wore a black tail coat, with a vest and white shirt underneath. The older man was blond with green eyes, in similar clothing to the younger man standing beside him. The woman with them had long, dark hair that was neatly arranged in a braid, and amber eyes.
"Are you positive that is the same boy, Adrian?" she whispered to the young man.
"Yes Mother, there is no way anyone can forget those eyes," he answered calmly. His mother nodded.
"So, what exactly are you here for?" my master pressed impatiently. Adrian laughed. All four of them stopped in front of me, my master smirking. I stared at them, backing away, nearly quaking.
"How much do you want for him?" Adrian asked my master. My eyes widened and I stared at the young man. The blonde man raised an eyebrow. "Father, if you saw what I did last night, you would do the same," I barely made out what Adrian whispered. His father nodded subtly.
"Well, he's pretty dull. He just lies in his cage, talks to himself…" my master grunted. "One hundred pounds, just get him off my hands," he growled. I saw him take the keys to my cage from his trouser pocket. Adrian's father was counting the money he needed. He obviously assumed he would have needed more than a hundred pounds. I looked back at Adrian, who was smiling at me. I allowed myself to smile back, despite the still-lingering apprehension.
"Here it is, sir. One hundred pounds," the older man handed the money to my master. MacMillan took the money, tossed the keys carelessly, and walked away. Adrian triumphantly snatched the keys out of midair. I stared, thoroughly impressed. Most nobles I have seen were not capable of doing such a thing. Adrian cast a glance at my old master, who was drinking scotch straight from the bottle. The young man rolled his eyes and unlocked my cage.
"Adrian, be careful," his mother told him. He opened the cage door, his father watching quietly.
"Can you stand on your own?" he asked softly. I swallowed hard. I struggled to my feet, only to stagger forward, and collapse. I felt two steady hands catch me. I stood again, with their support. I looked up to see Adrian frowning.
"I've displeased him already…" I thought anxiously. Adrian and his father assisted me out of my cage and to the carriage, Adrian's mother close behind.
"Do you have a name?" Adrian murmured once I was seated on the red velvet seats of the carriage.
"E-Ezekiel…" I stuttered.
"Welcome to the Taylor house," he smiled.
I slept most of the ride to the manor. In my old life, sleep had been a rare delicacy that hopefully came twice a week. I spent most nights talking to myself, with horrific memories flashing before me. I felt a hand gently shake me awake.
"Ezekiel, wake up," a soft, gentle voice murmured.
"Father..?" I mumbled in confusion. I opened my eyes to see Adrian and his mother leaning over me, concerned. "What happened?" I mumbled, half-concious.
"You started shaking uncontrollably," Adrian's mother whispered.
"Oh… The nightmares came back," I explained in a whisper. They both frowned, Adrian's eyes lighting up with sympathy.
"Come along now, Ezekiel" his father said, holding out his hand to assist me. I stood, my legs as shaky as a newborn foal's, and allowed the Taylors to help me out of the carriage.
The manor was an enormous white house with a green roof that sat on top of the three-story building. There were gorgeous trees and flowers surrounding the building, spaced perfectly to avoid obscuring the view of the manor. There was even a small lake to the left of it. The inside of the house was just as marvelous as the front. There was a huge, crystal chandelier in the entrance. There were family portraits on the nearest walls, and a pale, blue wallpaper. A red Persian rug decorated the dark, wooden floors.
I had never seen such an elegant home, so it was impossible for me to conceal my shock. A woman dressed like a maid with blonde hair tied back in a bun and blue eyes greeted us.
"Oh my! He's a mess!" she exclaimed. Adrian put a hand on my shoulder to keep me from tensing. "I'll take him upstairs, and clean the poor boy up," she suggested. Master Taylor nodded. I hesitantly separated from Adrian and followed the maid upstairs to an elegant bathroom. "My name is Sarah," she said kindly. "You have a name, don't you?" I nodded.
"Ezekiel," I murmured anxiously.
"That is a wonderful name! You are blessed not to have a name as average as mine," her expression saddened.
"I like your name…" I said shyly. Sarah smiled.
"Let's get you cleaned up," she was smiling again. Sarah turned the faucet for a large, porcelain bathtub and filled it with warm water. My eyes widened. There was something strangely familiar about this… Suddenly, I felt my torn, filthy rags being taken from me. I nearly shrieked.
After the bath, I stared in shock at the pale, glowing skin that belonged to me. Now I saw why I was put into the freak show. It was my pure, white hair, two different-colored eyes, and the faint glow emanating from my skin. I dismissed the thought, instead focusing on the new clothes and room I was given by these wonderful people. The Taylors even allowed me to eat with them. For the first time, I actually felt like a human being rather than an animal.
I lie in bed, half asleep. I take in my surroundings one last time, before being engulfed by a peaceful sleep.