Jump City

The day of the first Circus performance

"Hey look! The circus is in town!" Beast Boy said excitedly when a commercial came on TV, "We should go."

"Oh Yes!" exclaimed Starfire, "It looks most wonderful! Robin, may we please go to this 'circus'?"

"You guys can go if you want to, but I'd rather not," Robin stated firmly.

"I'm not going either," Raven said monotonously.

"Awww! Cy, tell me that you're at least going!" Beast Boy nearly begged.

"Sure. Sounds fun." He responded.

"This will be a most glorious outing!" Starfire exclaimed.

Just the word "circus" brought back horrid memories for Robin. How could he possibly set foot near a tent? He, of course, would never let the rest of the team know why he wouldn't go. If they asked he'd just say he wasn't in the mood. That didn't mean they couldn't go and enjoy the show. A part of him wondered, though, what acts and performances they would see.

At the circus the three titans all liked different acts best. However, somehow, they all seemed to notice that one performer seemed to draw all of their attention. A young girl about five foot with long hair as black as night, skin as pale as the moon, and light violet eyes, who had curves in all the right places but was also thin in all the right places. She was doing aerial tricks and also was a dancer in the elephant act as well as the lead in the horse act. She was known as "Little Sparrow". Something about her seemed a little off, but none of the three could put their finger on it. Maybe it was in the way her eyes seemed to lose their light when the ringmaster declared the night's performance over.

At one point Beast Boy thought he heard talk of another show. Two business men were talking about it, but when he got the idea of what it entailed part of him wished Starfire was not there. That part of him quickly changed its mind when he realized that it wasn't just a show.

When they got back to the tower Starfire went into detail of how much she liked the circus and which parts were her favorite. Robin seemed to smile at this, glad that his friends could enjoy the show.

"There's just one thing I don't get though." Beast Boy stated.

"What's that, BB?" Cyborg asked him.

"That girl Sparrow; she seemed happy when she was performing. But when the show was over she seemed almost lifeless." Confusion filled the changeling's voice.

"Yeah I noticed that." Cyborg added.

"I too noticed the light from the Sparrow's eyed disappear." Starfire put in, a bit of sadness evident.

Robin's head perked up at this. His head almost raced to find reasons for this predicament. "Well, sometimes performers get so into their act that they are a little sad when they stop performing," he supplied for everyone. Although he doubted that would make all the happiness retreat from someone's eyes that fast.

"That could be it, but I dunno…this girl seemed a little too sad for that." Beast Boy thought.

The subject seemed to drop after that. Everyone was trying to think of some explanation that would make sense. Inside they all felt that it couldn't be possible for it to just be sadness for not performing again that day. If they had even an inkling of what the true circumstance was, there would be no way they would have just left things the way they were.

*******AVERT YOUR EYES IF YOU WISH******

The other side of the city

Last day of the circus

Sparrow (who was known as Swallow in the adult tent) prepared herself for the late night performance. In this performance she wore a pink wig, a satin pink corset, black satin gloves that reached her upper arms, a matching pink and black g-string thong, big rhinestone costume jewelry (A/N: necklace, earrings, and a bracelet on the left wrist), and a very elegant white satin ankle length dress coat. This act was almost completely on the ground. The only parts not on the ground were when she entered and when she was placed on a table. After the show, her "uncles", the men in the circus would leave her in the tent for anyone who paid well enough. Forced child prostitution is only a crime when the perpetrators are caught. However, once she escaped this nightmare she'd keep it a secret. She would never let anyone know about this shame of hers.

***SHOW***

The crowd of lustful men cheered as the lights in the tent went out. Sparrow was lowered into the center of the tent on an aerial hoop with everything covering her. Her head low and eyes cast downward. There were two spotlights. One of which pointed on her as she was lowered and the music played in the background. The other pointed to a man who seemed to be pacing around the set that was prepared earlier. This performance was not a new one, but at times they would do different ones. This, however, was a crowd favorite.

Sparrow, still being lowered, sang softly in a somber voice the words she had to practice saying, "Hello, how are you today sir?"

"I am not well, today has been hell!" he responded in a rushed manner as he looked up to her.

"I can be your slave, sir," the somber tone still there in her voice, which worked in this performance. She was now on the ground and walking over to him as men reached out to grab at her or slap her ass.

"Are you serious about this?" the man's voice seemed a little shocked and somewhat hopeful. He looked her up and down.

"Take your frustrations out on me--!" she hated this performance. She knew she'd be black and blue at the end of it. However she went on as she was supposed to.

"If this is really for real," he trailed off.

"I can do what you want me to…" She put her arms around his neck and wrapped her leg around his waist so their pelvises cam into direct contact. The whole time she felt dirty and sick.

"You got yourself a deal!" his face lit up and excitement rang true to his tone.

"I will say what you want to hear- let's play!" she started to walk away from him

"Little girl you have no clue," he grabbed her right wrist roughly.

"Throw me on the table and have your way with me--!" he then ripped off her over coat and threw it haphazardly aside. This earned a cheer from the rowdy crowd.

"What you've just got yourself into!" he then picked her up and threw her onto the table before he sauntered over to her like a beast about to devour its helpless prey.

"Just always ignore my pleas of mercy…" she was looking out into the audience with emotionless eyes. This was the part she made herself blank out in. It wasn't rehearsed or planned. It was all real and that made it scary as all hell.

*****End****YOU CAN LOOK NOW!******

At about 4 a.m. Sparrow popped her head out of her trailer door and looked around cautiously. Slowly she slipped out and closed the door gently. Clad only in black jeans, a black hoodie, and black socks she darted away from the tents and her living nightmare. Once a good distance away from the chain-linked fence that protected the circus while it was there she walked slowly.

To the horizon in the faint light of dawn she saw a giant T. I wonder what that is. She thought to herself. I'll have more time to wonder after they leave though. I'd better find some shelter to stay in. at least until they're gone. With that thought she went down a secluded dark ally and squeezed herself between a dumpster and the corner of the ally. She'd stay there until the sun started to set. They had to leave by then to keep on schedule and be in the next town.

A few times she heard people walk by and she stiffened in fear, but they'd continue walking and when they were gone she felt herself let go of a breath she didn't always know she was holding. Every so often she would feel herself slipping into the sleeping world but she focused hard and did everything she could to wake herself up. I can't fall asleep now. If they catch me I'll never be free. Please, for the love of Atlantis, let me stay awake!

The day went by uneventful for the titans. Cyborg and Beast Boy played video games all day. Starfire cheered them on. Raven read and meditated and Robin did whatever it is Robin does on the slow days. It seemed like the villains were giving them a pretty easy time since the circus came, though none of them were complaining. Their relaxing was interrupted at about 9:27 p.m. when the radar went off. A swarm of squid people seemed to be causing chaos in the city.

When the titans arrived at the scene of attack only one squid person was left. Somehow all the others were defeated and unconscious on the ground.

"Where is the daughter of Lucinda?" the squid person demanded.

"Look, pal. I dunno who you're lookin' for, but-" Beast Boy started to say but was cut off by a voice coming from the darkness.

"I am here, Trigionos. What do you wish of me?"

"By order of the Hierarchy of-"

"Cut the crap! Tell me what you were sent for!" the female voice yelled.

"You are to return to Atlantis." he stated matter-of-factly.

"And if I refuse?" she challenged. At this point all of the titans were watching and listening intently. "You cannot force me. I defeated your army singlehandedly. Do you think I could not defeat you?"

"You MUST fulfill your destiny!" Trigonos demanded.

"And should the fates call for it, I will! Do not doubt that! Tell the hierarchy that and leave me be!" she dismissed him. He bowed with understanding and left; his army being moved by his telepathy. She then addressed the titans, "I apologize for that."

"What was that all about?" Robin asked.

"Yeah, and who are you?" Beast Boy voiced curiously.

"That was just the leaders of my planet making sure I didn't forget why I was born." She explained as her memory searched frantically for her given name. "My name is Sorano," she stated when she recalled it.

"So you are from another planet as well?" Starfire questioned.

"Yes, but somehow when I was seven I was transported here. I've been here for nearly ten years, traveling the world." The voice answered.

"Would you mind stepping out of the darkness so we can see you?" Robin asked.

"Oh! Please forgive me!" she stated as she stepped into the light. Her hoodie was torn significantly as was her jeans. Dirt and her own blood covered her as well as the bruises from the previous night.

"Man, you should see a medic!" Cyborg exclaimed.

"I suppose I should at some point." She answered him.

"Not at some point, now! You look pretty beat up," he told her.

"Don't worry I'll be fine. I've been through worse with no medical attention."

"Dude! You really should see a doctor!" Beast Boy almost pleaded.

"Would you go to a regular doctor?" she asked him directly.

"Well, uh, no. But that's because they wouldn't know how to treat me!" he explained

"They wouldn't be able to treat her either, beast boy," Raven stated, "She's not human. If I am correct, I sense she's similar to me."

"If that's true, then could you not treat her, Cyborg?" Starfire inquired.

"I mean, it's possible, star," he said a bit unsure of himself.

"Then, you are an empath too?" Sorano asked Raven.

"Yes. Although, I am not Atlantean."

"Oh, I know that. I would be able to tell if you were." Her voice was almost chipper.

"Okay! Enough of this chit chat, Ms. Sorano, you're making me really nervous. Will you come back with us so I can try to treat you?" Cyborg sounded a bit worried.

"I suppose. I mean, if you insist." Her voice held uncertainty.

"Oh, I insist alright," he affirmed.

"Alrighty then Dr. Spock, lead the way!" she giggled out. She didn't realize that slowly she was losing control of her emotions.


Me: Alrighty! There's chapter two! ^_^

Cyborg: DUDE!!!!!!!! WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG TO POST IT?!?!?!!!

Beast Boy: Yeah Dude! Don't you know that SOME people might ACTUALLY WANNA READ THIS?!!

Me: -Cries- I'm SO SORRY! I was waiting for reviews! And then I lost the file! I got upset because I thought it gotted eated by my computer and I didn't want to rewrite it! But now I found it! Doesn't that count for something?

Robin: Chill guys. She was just a little stressed out. Everyone goes through something similar at some point.

Me: -glomps Robin- THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING!!!

A/N: See so that's why I didn't update. Sorry it took this long. Please don't let this effect my reviews! I posted it as soon as I found it!