Second installment. Please enjoy! And, as always, critique is surely appreciated. Anything to become better at writing. And this story will follow the same basic storyline as the books did. Except, of course, some things will certainly be changed just to fit the story of Annie.


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It was a beautiful day when my life changed.

The seasons were just about to turn from summer to fall, which meant school had just started. I had lots of fun in school. My little group of friends; Amanda, Stacie, Chloe and I were together during classes constantly. Even though most of the time, they stood at the window watching my older brother, Darren Shan, play soccer with the older boys. Sometimes, having an older brother made me look cool, especially to the other grade school kids. Other times, it was very annoying.

"Wow!" Amanda gasped. "Darren is amazing!"

I glanced out the window and sure enough, Darren was zipping down the field in between the other boys. It was hard for anyone to catch up with him. My eyes rolled and I turned back to our English assignment. This was the seventh 'wow' I had heard today over Darren. "I guess."

"You guess?" Amanda whipped to me with gaping eyes. "Your brother is so cool!"

"Then why don't you marry him?" Chloe cooed with a smile.

Amanda sealed her lips and tossed Chloe a mean look.

"… and Darren is friends with Steve Leonard," Stacie sighed heavily with her face nearly pressed against the glass.

"Ew," Chloe sneered. "You like Steve Leonard?"

"He's dreamy," Stacie sighed. Again.

"Dreamy? More like a nightmare!" Amanda hissed. "And you know what I heard?" She leaned even closer. "He's like… a criminal or something."

I smiled and continued to listen.

Amanda glanced around to make sure no one was listening, "I heard, he steals everything he wants. And if he doesn't like you, he'll give you a black eye and take your money!"

"Not Steve!" Stacie frowned.

"Yes!" Amanda gasped.

The bell rang then, and school was over. As I collected my things, Stacie shuffled near my desk and whispered, "Is it true? About Steve?"

I glanced up and smiled. "What do you think, Stacie?"

"Well," Stacie hugged her books tightly to her chest. "I know about the pranks he plays and even though… he's in a lot of trouble he can get out of it. But he's not really a criminal, is he?"

"No," I shook my head. "Steve comes over to my house all the time with Darren. He's pretty fun and treats me pretty nice."

"Oh," Stacie exhaled a sigh of relief as if I just told her the best news she ever heard I her life. "That's good. … Is Steve coming over tonight?"

I laughed and shook my head, "I don't think so. Darren said something about him getting tickets for some kind of show. I guess they're going to go see it tonight." I shrugged my shoulders and began my walk home.

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As I got out of the school, I lifted my heavy red backpack up onto my shoulders, looking for my brother. Usually, Darren waited for me by the streetlight that was near a huge stinky garbage bin—but today, he wasn't there. He was in Junior High and didn't go to the same part of the school as me which was usually the reason it took me a while to find him.

I waited a little bit and finally, when I was through with waiting, I began walking home by myself.

It kind of worried me when I didn't see Darren. He usually was on time when he came to get me from school. We would walk home together and sometimes have a friendly race down the boulevards to see who could get home first. It was weird walking home alone. I never walked home alone.

"Annie!"

I glanced over my shoulder to see Darren racing down the street towards me. I stopped and looked back to him with a glare. "Darren! Where were you?"

He stopped a bit in front of me and doubled over, attempting to catch his breath. He lifted with a wild smile, "I got it, Annie!"

I frowned and began walking again with my brother. "Got what?"

"Huff… huff… the ticket. There… were only two. I got… the ticket." From his pocket he pulled out a little folded up piece of paper. "Cirque… Du Freak… I got the ticket!"

My eyes grew wider. "You're actually going?"

"Yes!" he stood up fully and ran his hands through his mangled hair. He towered a foot or so over me. But then again, he was 15, and I was only 11.

I bit my lip and cradled my books closer to my chest. "But mom and dad said… that the people were tortured there—and made fun of."

"No," Darren said. "That was way back when. They don't really do that anymore. I bet it's just like the circus we saw for your birthday."

I didn't believe him.

"Take me with you," I said. "I want to see bearded ladies, and performing spiders and… and wolf boys with you!"

"I can't, Annie, they wouldn't let a little girl like you in."

My face twisted in anger. "They're letting you in!"

"Probably because I'm not a brat," he snapped. It didn't take him long to realize what he said was mean and he walked faster after me. "Annie… I'm sorry. I just… I don't know if I'll be able to get there or even if they'll let me in."

We walked in silence for a little while. "… I've got a makeup kit," I offered. "We can draw wrinkles on you and give you a beard to make you look older."

Darren smiled warmly. "Thanks Annie, but I'm just going to try my luck."

"Bring me something back then, okay?" I begged.

"Alright, Annie, I'll see what I can do." Darren laughed.

We walked in silence a little longer. "…are you sure I can't go?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I doubt they'll let me in, let alone you. Anyways," he unfolded the ticket and smiled at the little writing etched into its surface. "This is the last ticket they gave out."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the ticket. It was blacker than anything I ever saw. Writing that I couldn't understand was scribbled across the front. The writing was pretty and of the colors red and green… just like an apple.

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Darren was going to leave after dinner to go to Steve's. Darren told my parents that he was just spending the night there, but I knew the truth. All night, I watched as Darren walked around with the ticket folded in his pant's pocket. His hand protected it as if it were the most delicate of treasures. For most of the night, I sat in my room with my dolls. I arranged them on the bed and pretended to have my own little circus. I was the ringleader and made them perform for me. It was fun, until I realized that Darren was actually going to the circus. He was going to actually see people that could do amazing things and boys who were wolves! Out of anger, I tossed my dolls across the room and watched as they hit the wall and disappeared behind my dresser.

It didn't take dad long to hear my fit and check in on me. "…Annie," he called as he cracked my door, "Are you alright, sweetie?"

I forced a smile and laughed. "Yeah, dad, just playing with my dolls."

He smiled back, "Alright." He glanced down to his watch and whistled. "It's almost time for bed, little lady."

I sighed and leapt off my bed. I made my way to the bathroom and on the way saw Darren in his room, packing a bag for the night. I shook in anger and closed the bathroom door to take my shower, muttering curses.

Ccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

I listened to the water as it hit me. Trying to forget about the stupid Cirque Du Freak. It wasn't fair. Why did Darren get to go? Because he was older? Because he and stupid Steve found the stupid flier? They got to go to a circus in the middle of the night while I had to be tucked into bed before eight o'clock. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.

I washed my hair furiously and whispered to myself, "Darren doesn't even like circuses. I love circuses."

I finished and put on my magenta robe and brushed my hair. Looking into the foggy mirror, I saw just how little I really was. My robe seem gianormus on me. My strawberry blonde hair curled slightly as it fell into my face. I looked so much like a really little girl. I wanted to look older-- like Darren! I wasn't even a teenager yet. Darren has been a teenager for two years! He was in Junior High. He had all the cool older friends and I was stuck in Grade school, listening to girls fawn over my older brother when really—he wasn't all that great!

"Annie, hurry up! I need to have a shower before I go to Steve's!" I heard Darren's muffled voice shout on the other side of the door.

I stormed out of the bathroom and past Darren. I could be cool, too. I could go to the circus and be just like Darren. He can't stop me from going—I can sneak in. I can wait until no one is looking and get in. He can't make me go home.

… or what if he could? What if he told the circus people and they made me go home? –ugh if only Darren didn't go to the circus!

I stopped in front of Darren's room.

… you have to have ticket to get into the Cirque Du Freak. Darren said he had the last ticket. With curious eyes, I looked into his room. Sure enough, lying upon his bedside table was that ticket darker than midnight. My lips rolled together and without thought, I ran into Darren's room and realized what it was I had to do:

I had to steal the Cirque Du Freak ticket.

I have yet to see the Cirque Du Freak movie. I'm almost a little afraid to. I know I'll experience some form of disappointment. =C