Cirque d'Horreur
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A/N: Jesus! More than a month ago since I've last updated! I'm so sorry, everyone… I don't really have a good excuse, save for the fact that I've got a few personal problems. But that's not really an excuse. –sighs- Sorry that I'm rambling on again, at least I can still write:) Please forgive me for not updating for so long and…. please review? –pleading look- It would make this little author very happy! XD
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- Chapter three: The nightmare that laughed. -
It was blinding him.
Hot flames of indomitable fire grazed his skin, like a burning feather. His limbs twitched inhumanly in order to escape the excruciating pain, but it was ineluctable to wrest himself from the sweltering heat.
The pain…
Oh, the unbearable pain…
He opened his mouth to scream but soft breaths of kindled warmth filled his lungs immediately, suffocating him slowly with fragile hands.
He wanted to die.
His tortured eyes opened for one last time, wanting to catch a glance of the world that he would leave behind him forever.
…And then there was that face again.
It grinned maliciously at him, eyes as red as the flames that surrounded them both.
Lips were moulded into an appalling sneer, the black tongue licking a row of razor-sharp teeth.
"Like what you feel, boy…?"
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His body shot up, bending forwards in a strange way.
The hawking sound of himself throwing up echoed in his ears, while his hands clawed frantically at his arms, his legs and his face, fearfully searching for burnings.
Nothing.
Fingers resting on his cheek, the young man calmed down a little while his ragged breathing slowed steadily.
...Another dream.
Another scrupulously vivid nightmare, bits of it still haunting his mind, clouding his vision with vague images.
He wiped his mouth off with his arm, not caring that he wore expensive clothes; they were messed up anyway. Spitting a few times to exile the bitter taste of bile, the disgusting acid refused to leave his mouth.
Sadistic laughter suddenly echoed in his ears.
He lifted his head so fast that he was certain he would suffer from a whiplash. But before he could adjust to the dark, his vision was once again filled with the sight of fire surrounding him.
He flinched a little; pieces and bits of his chimera returned again, laughing at his fear.
Long nails suddenly dug into his shoulder, roughly putting him onto his two feet.
He glanced around while the smell of sulphur was stronger than ever, attacking all of his senses and sending the bile high up in his throat once again.
And finally he saw them.
Laughing.
Whispering.
Staring.
Sneering.
Mocking him.
He narrowed his eyes to get a better look at the creatures; something he maybe shouldn't have done.
Fear crept up again, slowly…
…slowly.
Strangling him, closing grotesque claws around his neck and squeezing the life out of him.
'…No…
No!
Why were they looking at him?!
WHY?!?'
He whipped his head around, frantically searching for a way out of this nightmare that had come to life. But everywhere he looked, he only saw them.
Predatory countenances baring sharp teeth, looking like they had walked straight out of a morbid fairytale. They seemed to come closer to him each passing second, threateningly nearing while smirking evilly. But when he blinked, they had returned to the shadows again, looking at him from out of the dark while the arms of fire were reflected in their red eyes.
Whispering faces, pointing long and sharp nails at him as if he were some sort of attraction in the zoo.
Laughter and soft whisperings filled his ears.
God.
Oh, God…
He felt naked, so terribly naked… exhibited to a strange and perilous world not his own.
'I have got to get away from this…' Making a move to step away, the claws that had never left his shoulder sunk deeper into his flesh, earning a scowl from the owner.
"I would not do something foolish, boy."
He dared to take a peek to the side.
Dark orbs met with blood red ones, seemingly mocking his pathetic situation once again.
'Pathetic human creature…
Pathetic!
Pathetic!'
The words echoed in his mind, hung around him like flies would do around a corpse. But those words were what made him find himself back again, returning to his body.
He was an Uchiha.
An Uchiha.
An Uchiha!
'I am not pathetic…'
'What was that, boy?' The voice was back again.
'I am not pathetic.'
'I cannot hear you…' He could almost feel the menacing smirk.
"I AM NOT PATHETIC!"
The whispering broke down, sneers faltered a little. Black snake-like tongues licked crusted lips.
The young man glanced around. Maybe it hadn't been the wisest thing to yell out loud here. But he no longer cared. If he were to die, then be it with pride.
"I do not know why I am here, but I demand that you… creatures release me." His head was lifted in a haughty manner, coal black eyes looking around without blinking once, daring the silhouettes to come and get him.
But his display of pride didn't last for long. The claws left his shoulders, but came back with inhuman force at the back of his neck.
A crack was heard.
The Uchiha fell, lips parted in a pained groan. Before his world went black, he could hear that voice again.
"Yes! You have seen it with your own eyes. Humans are still the proud and arrogant creatures as always…"
That voice…
He recognized it suddenly. It had already haunted him for so long…
'…So long…'
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'Pathetic…
…Pathetic…
…Pathetic...'
Lips formed a trembling pout. "I'm not pathetic!" The young boy shouted towards the silhouette that hided in the shadows. Only the red eyes were visible in the dark.
Red eyes that were directed towards him.
He shrunk back even more, back pressed into the head of his bed.
Why was the monster always coming to him?
Staring and mocking, every single night?
The eight-year-old did not understand it at all. It had been going on for several years now. That creature would come, scolding his weakness and sometimes letting out a sadistic laughter.
Why?
He had been asking himself that for a long time. He never dared to ask the dreadful question out loud, though. Afraid for the answer, scared for what the monster might do to him. When he asked his big brother if a scary monster would come and visit him at night too, he had laughed. Laughed and ticked his forehead, assuring the younger Uchiha that what he had seen was nothing more than a very lively nightmare, created by his own, childish fear and overactive imagination.
Sasuke had believed those wise words of his big brother, and finally dared to go back to his bedroom again.
But when the monster returned again, staring at him with those eyes, his trust was swept away in mere seconds.
Just like now.
He was so, SO scared…
Afraid of the big monster.
'It is merely created out of your own imagination, Sasuke. Do not be foolish and do not feel scared. You are an Uchiha. Grow up and behave like one.' The scolding words of his brother echoed in his mind, and little Sasuke suddenly realized it.
He was an Uchiha.
And an Uchiha was never scared.
So, with that in mind, the child opened its mouth.
"Why are you here?" Maybe the monster would go away if he spoke up to him.
But the red eyes never disappeared. And the answer never came.
'Pathetic…
Pathetic…
Pathetic…'
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Soft fingers rested on his forehead. They were cold.
Cold, but he liked the feeling of them.
Cracking his eyes open, his dark ones met with a worried white gaze.
"S-Sasuke?"
He didn't answer her, just tried to sit up. The fingers left their place.
Damn.
It seemed that this was gradually becoming a common happening.
Soft hands supported him while he sat, his body shivering a little. He didn't know if that was due to an empty stomach or still from that horrible nightmare.
"You should not have s-shouted at them…"
Dark eyes narrowed in a scowl. "Yes, or so it seems. I quite felt it when that thing hit me in the neck."
A sigh. "Well, it seems I am not wanted here. I should be goi…"
"No. Wait."
Pale eyes stared at him in what seemed like a mix of irritation and fascination. "All right…?"
It looked like she expected an apology this time. The scowl deepened. "I am sorry for… for being rude." She better be grateful for this. He wasn't one to excuse very quickly.
The young Uchiha heard her smile. "A-Apology accepted."
Sasuke looked up again. "Could you please tell me now where we are?"
Pearl eyes were downcast. "You have s-seen them, right?"
"Hn."
"Well, t-take a guess then…"
"I am asking you, woman."
She looked up again, straight in his eyes. "I thought you would be intelligent enough to have it figured o-out by now…"
"Well, no. Sorry for not being able to recognize this hellhole."
"There, you have already said it…"
-End of chapter three -
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Well, shit. Not writing for a long time, and then trying to make up for it with such a short chapter! –sheepish look- Tee hee… Well, hope it was good enough. I know I've promised to clear up some things, but it didn't turn out that way. Next chapter, then! –points finger in the air- And goddamnit, I'm going to update faster now! Well, not in the next two weeks, I'm on vacation then… But at least I have a lot of time to think of a good fourth chapter in those days! Shit, I think I shouldn't promise anything, anymore. In case it turns out to be a lot of nothing… Sorry, everyone! If you want to flame me, go for it. I think I deserved it… TT
Till next time, folks:)