"Deep into the forest,
Far far in the back that way
There is a circus
The chairman with the big eyesand ten meters tall
All of the cast is jolly
Their forms are rather strange
But its so fun!
The Dark woods circus"

I finished taking my shower, and I shook myself off in the tub. Now dry, I decided to go look around the house. I saw various knick-nacks: dolls, ceramic figurines, and toys of all sorts. I also spotted something, something odd. Out of all the various items, I saw a poster. It said:

The Dark Woods Circus!

Excitement! Fun! Thrills!

Watch the goofy clowns!

See the daredevil lion tamer stick his head inside the lion's mouth!

Acrobats cross the tightrope. Without a net!

Ringmaster: Gabriel Farrell

Children...Free!

Adults...$2

Seniors...$1

'So that man was a ring leader of a circus. That's nice.' I thought to myself. 'The poster must have been his first show. I wonder if it went well.'

"I see your looking at the old circus poster. What do you think?" I turned around and saw Gabe standing behind me. I really couldn't see his face. It was darkened, somehow.

"I like it. Are you still a ring master?"

"As a matter of fact, I am. I was about to start another show. I trust that you have rested, eaten and showered. Would you like to come with me?" I finally got to see his eyes, they were green, and they had a sparkle in them. Something deep down inside me was trying to tell me not to go with him, but I ignored it. I decided this man was trustworthy, so I went along and joined him.

"I would love to come with you." I said, ready to depart.

"Wonderful! Let's go, then. I'll go grab my hat." He grinned, but his grin had a slightly twisted look to it. I didn't see the red flags that he put up, and went along with it.

We walked down a path that led through some dark trees to the circus. It looked different than it did in the picture, the illustration depicting it bright and cheerful. The circus tent was dark, and had water stains and was bleached to almost whiteness.

"I was just about to set up the tents." Said Gabe. "Would you mind helping me?" There was a darker tone to his cheerful voice.

"I'll help. It's the least I could do to repay you."

"Thanks! First, I need you to pick up the lumber over there. I heard him pick up an item, but I though he just was picking up lumber, also. I walked over to the pile of lumber, and started to fill my arms with it. My back facing him, I wasn't prepared for what he did next.

He walked behind me and hit me over the head with a log, knocking me out.

"...owww..."

I woke up with a lump on my head, and in a large cage. I saw a bone, a rag, and an old blanket. I walked over to the door of the steel cage, and tried to open it. It was chained with a padlock. I was angry now, going full Lycan form, and roaring,

"LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

"Now now, that's not a pretty voice." I heard Gabe chuckle, standing over by the entrance of the tent.

"Let me go, Gabe." I said, my purple eyes glowing in fury.

"Now, now, you don't want to die, do you? If you try to attack me, I'll just punish you. Severely. And we don't wasn't that to happen, do we? Especially not before you first, performance."

"Performance?!" I yelled, loud enough for everyone to hear.