A ray of sun peaks through the tiny slat in the blackout curtains, the light daring to assault the area just above my eyes. Blinking, I sit up slowly, being extra careful to protect my sleepy pupils from any further attacks by the orb of fire floating just outside my window.

"Cursed sun," I grumble swinging my feet off of the bed and onto the floor causing Milo, the tabby cat, to let out a yowl before scampering across the wooden boards.

He continues to make a racket until I stumble into the kitchen, pulling open a pouch of tuna and dumping it into a clean looking red bowl that is sitting it in the sink. Milo jumps up onto the counter, happily eating his breakfast.

"Big day Milo, mommy might be getting a job today," I yawn, rubbing my fingers down the cats spine.

Two green eyes blink back at me as if even my cat doesn't believe my feeble lie, "This time for real."

Leaving the kitchen I head towards the back of my small apartment where the bathroom is. The water is on seconds after my shirt hits the floor. I shower quickly, wanting to leave plenty of time to fix my hair and make up for today. If I get this job I'll have nothing to worry about. If not I might have to leave Venice Beach and the only life I've ever know behind.

It's a twenty-minute walk from where I live to the freak show. The sun is hot on my bare shoulders and it will be a miracle if my makeup isn't completely melted off by the time I show up. The first thing I'm buying with the money I make is a car.

All too soon I'm standing at the bottom of wooden steps, eyes set on the curtain that acts as a door for the freak show building. My heartbeat picks up, threatening to pop out of my chest any second.

"Are you gonna go in or are you just gonna stand out here," a soft voice in my ear causes me to jump, my sword bag sliding off my shoulder and onto the concrete.

"So sorry," a pale man says leaning over to retrieve my bag, "my names Morgue."

"Danger," I answer with a soft smile. He must work here.

"Come on in, Todd's waiting for you."

Hoisting the black bag back up onto my shoulder I follow Morgue up the stairs and into the tent looking building.

"Do you like working here?" I question as we walk towards the back of the building where the stage is set up.

"This is my family," Morgue answers as if that's supposed to explain everything.

Nodding, I set my bag on the group coming to stand in front of a balding man, a women with long curly hair, and a younger girl wearing dark eye make-up. Morgue goes and sits next to her as I pull a few swords from my bag.

"Hi, I'm Danger," I announce fiddling with the strings on the end of my samurai sword, "and I am a sword swallower."

Morgue and the girl with dark eye makeup lift their eyebrows, shifting around in their chairs as if I've just become the most interesting person they've ever met. I've never been nervous preforming in front of people but for some reason the dark stare from Morgue makes me uncomfortable.

"Whenever you're ready," the balding man, who I'm assuming is Todd, prompts me.

Nodding, I lick up and down the samurai swords before slowly lowering it into my throat, curving my body ever so slightly so that I do not cut my insides. Time slows down as the cold metal continues to slide downward and then slowly back up.

Once the sword is out, I bow as those sitting in front of me begin to clap.

"I don't think I've ever seen that before," Todd says, coming up to examine the sword. "Morgue, have you ever swallowed one of these before?"

The pale man in front of my shakes his head, a twisted smile forming on his thin lips. The admiration in his eyes makes me smile. It feels amazing to be amongst people who appreciate the kind of work I am capable of doing.

"I can also do fire sword swallowing."

"Can we see?" the girl with dark makeup questions.

"Sure," I answer, pulling out the supplies I need.

Once the sword is lit I tilt it back and let it slide down, pulling it back out after a second.

"That's amazing," the girl says, glancing over at Todd.

I let everyone talk amongst him or herself, trying hard not to here the whispered conversation, as I place my swords back inside the black bag. My eyes travel around the room, the rich fabrics hung along the walls and the old time sideshow posters. It would be better to work here than continue being chased off by the boardwalk cops.

After a few more minutes of shifting my weight from foot to foot and pretending to not be listening to the debate going on right in front of me Todd stands up.

"Well Danger, we've talked it over and we think you'd be a great asset to the Freak show here."

A smile spreads across my face, one that hasn't been there in such a long time, "That's so awesome. Thank you so much."

I'm pulled into a hug before I can turn it down. Everyone that just watched me preform gather around, cocooning me in a weird group hug. Once they have moved away I see Morgue standing a little way off, a look of admiration on his face. A smirk pulls at the corner of his black painted lips, arms crossed over his chest as if he's trying to hold the emotional shit inside of him.

"Did I suck?" I question, bumping him in the side with one of my elbows, careful to not let my bag hit the ground in the process.

The pale man in front of me closes his eyes into a squint as if he's magically lost his site or I somehow grew a hole in my head.

"No, you were fine."

With that he walks away from me towards the front of the building.

"Don't take it personally," the girl with dark make-up smiles at me, "that's just Morgue. He's a little dark."

"Yeah, I can see that," I answer projecting no emotion in my words. I'm fine with being happy but this girl seems way to eager. I'm not big on the whole being really welcoming, you're part of the family thing.

"Feel free to just hang out, we're all going to dinner later," the girl says with the same cheery smile as before. "I'm Asia by the way, Todd's daughter."

"Great."

Leaving my sword bag in the back corner I head outside. The nicotine high I'd given myself earlier this morning has worn off and life seems bland without the slightly altered frame of mind.

The fire from the end of my lighter licks the end of my cigarette as I head across the street to a bench. Letting myself lie across the bench I shield my eyes from the dastardly sun, the other dangling towards the ground.

As I suck in the smoke, the end of my cigarette crumples up, the paper burning and glowing a bright red. My entire body becomes light, like I'm floating under water. Just as I start to let my eyelids fall shut, a figure above me blocks out the sun.

"Scoot over," a male voice says from above.

I get out of the way just as a butt lands where my head had just been. Glancing over I see Morgue sitting next to me on the bench, a black umbrella shading his slim figure from the sun. I shift just a little closer to the man so that I am covered by the shadow.

"Do you live on the board walk," Morgue questions, pulling out his own cigarette. It's menthol like mine, just a different brand and fancier wrapping. I guess after you start making money you can afford pretty wrapping.

"No," I respond, letting out a small laugh.

Morgue nods, a smile threatening to ruin his solemn, dark exterior. Something tells me he's not nearly as dark as he tries to come off as. Then again what do I know; I've only been around him for maybe a grand total of thirty minutes. That doesn't make me a genius on the subject of Morgue.

"Me either," Morgue says after finishing off his cigarette, "too many people."

"You don't like people?"

"Not really, no. They're ignorant and stupid and conforming and nosy. I prefer to be left alone."

I nod, completely understanding where he is coming from. People look at a girl with tattoos and piercings and instantly feel like it is there right to objectify or ask questions when, in fact, it is not one of their rights. "Do I bother you?"

"No, I find you interesting. Like a puzzle."

"That's an interesting take on it."

Together we stand, heading back inside of the building. It looks as if everyone has cleared out to go about his or her day-to-day lives. For some reason going home just sounds utterly depressing.

"Are you coming to dinner?"

Morgue's inquiry catches me off guard. I honestly was not expecting him to be going. He just doesn't seem like one who would go out and eat food with others…or really be social at all.

"Are you?"

"Wouldn't have asked if I wasn't."

"Then yeah, I'll go."

About that time Asia comes around the corner from the back, her eyes instantly lighting up when she sees that Morgue is still around. The way her body language changes and the way her smile, already large, increases even more in size, lets me know that she likes him. Not just like a child crush but really likes him. In response I turn to focus on Morgue. I can tell he knows but refuses to respond in a way that would encourage any not appropriate for work behavior. His actions do not speak to me one way or another, which in truth is slightly disappointing.

To me reading people is just another art form. Taking their body language and turning it into thoughts and feelings, and sometimes, even words is thrilling. It's like another level of high, one that puts you in power to control the situation as you see fit.

"Danger, are you planning on coming to dinner with us?" Asia asks in an overly excited tone, "my dad is calling in to reserve a table."

"Yeah, I'll be there."

Asia nods aggressively giving Morgue a big smile before disappearing behind the curtain.

There is no doubt my time at the Freak Show will definitely be interesting.

Later

The dress I have chosen to wear to dinner billows in the warm summer wind, the sun, a golden orb hanging just above the buildings, slowly sinks as I wait for Morgue outside of the restaurant that was chosen for us to eat at.

The people that pass gawk and mutter things under their breath as if they've never seen a girl wearing all black before. Tuning them out is easy; I hear what I want to hear of their judgmental conversations and snide comments. It's the stares that get to me, the looks of utter horror and sympathy as if my life is so much harder or different from theirs. It's bullshit but then again that's human nature I guess.

Just as I am about to get lost in the dark world of my own thoughts Morgue appears almost out of nowhere. His white hair looks like a bed of snow falling from under his black hat and onto the shoulders of his suite jacket. I'm glad I dressed up more I would have looked very out of place in the ripped jeans and black tank top that I had worn earlier.

"Come on in, creature and a few others are already inside," Morgue announces as he holds the glass door open for me.

As we reach the table a man with face piercings and a very small lady wave to us. Although I've never seen them before I assume they are people I will be working with and try my best to be friendly. New people make me nervous.

Morgue pulls the seat next to him out allowing me to sit down. Two glasses of red whine are ordered and quickly delivered. I am not introduced nor do the others sitting at the table attempt to make small talk. This is comfortable and normal. I actually like the company of others if it's going to be like this.

Finally, the midget women speaks up, "I'm Ali."

A small hand is thrusts my way and I have no other choice than to take it and introduce myself. "Danger."

"I'm Creature," the man with the pierced face chimes in waving at me from his seat.

I nod in his direction, glancing over at Morgue to see his reaction to all this. He is straight faced, staring at the illuminated screen of his phone.

As more people join us the same introduction is said over and over, new names and faces flooding my memory.

"So are you a friend of Morgue's," Brianna, the "Invincible Women" asks.

"No."

"I was just wondering," she responds with a smile, "you both are…." She motions to us, her pointed finger switching between Morgue and myself.

"Dark," I offer up, leaving my lips slightly parted, eyes set on Brianna's face. Is she really going to discriminate amongst her fellow freaks?

Before Brianna has time to say more Todd walks in, "Jessa arrived! The bearded lady is here!"

Everyone at the table erupts with cheers and applause.

"I just can't believe I'm here. I'm meeting all you guys and I'm like oh my God, cause ya'll are the celebrities I'm just some chick with a beard," Jessa says as she takes the chair next to Todd.

It's odd to me that this incredible women feels like the rest of us, most of us just normal people who have modified our body or can do amazing things, are so much better than she is. We are all on the same level; none of us are better, or freakier than any other. It's mind blowing.

Todd interrupts my train of thought, "To the bearded lady and the tallest man in America!"

Everyone raises their glasses, cheering for these new people that just entered into this odd family structure.

"Are you preforming tomorrow?" Morgue asks in a soft, velvety whisper, pulling my attention away from the other conversations that are going on around me.

"Yeah, but I'm sure you already knew that," I answer with a smirk as I pour myself another glass of wine.

"I might have."

My eyes focus on Morgue's lips. The way the corners tug up and then are yanked back down when they don't actually want to smile, how the edges are a light tint of grey as if the hand cleaning off the black got lazy and gave up. How his top lip sits perfectly on his bottom, both pushed out into a small pout. They're fascinating and different but perfect all at the same time.

"Here," a phone is pushed into my hand, "incase you ever wanna rehearse together."

Instinctively I put my number in the phone, handing over mine to get his. I watch the black painted nails fly across the phone screen, finding it funny how the smallest things about this man fascinate me.

"Tomorrow is the event, we've got the two-headed bearded dragon, the bearded lady," Todd's voice cuts through the intensity of the stare Morgue and I were sharing. Will you join us tomorrow?"

George, the tallest man in American, to whom Todd was addressing the question looks around at all of us, "I would love to be there tomorrow."

Another cheer goes up around the table, people clanking their glasses with silverware.

At this Todd stands, raising his glass high in the air, "Here's to the Freak Show! May we live like this till the day we die!"