Walking through the gates of Phantasma, Dovra held onto Jack's hand the whole way. She didn't want to get lost, not here. Neither knew what lurked behind the lights and music, and neither of them wanted to find out now. They kept walking until they made it to the home and office of the illustrious Mr.Y and stopped at the entrance.
"Are you ready?" Jack asked, looking at the nervous look on Dovra's face. The girl looked up at him.
"What if we're not good enough for him?" She asked, holding his hand tighter. Jack smiled at her, he knew it was too late to second guess, they've made it this far.
"What are you talkin' about, kid? He'll love you, and I'm sure he'll need an extra pair of hands, even if they're missing a few digits." He placed a three fingered hand on her shoulder. "Come on, let's go."
They stepped inside the building and were met with a desk and a young women sat at it, typing diligently on a typewriter. She wore glasses and had strawberry blonde hair tied in a messy up do, she was pretty, even though it looked as if she hadn't slept in a week. She looked up at the pair through her spectacles.
"How can I help you two?"
"We're looking for a new job, we heard this place was hiring." Jack responded, not quite used to this kind of courtesy, he was expecting a 'get out of this building, freaks'.
"A new job?"
"Yes, Miss…"
"Barker. And you'll have to talk to Mr.Y about that job, hopefully he's… available." And not composing with the reek of heartbreak and self-loathing oozing from him. "I'll notify him of your arrival. Miss Fleck! Mr. Squelch! Dr. Gangle!" She called.
Mere moments later, three people appeared before them, dressed in black. Two men and a woman, one tall and lanky, one strongman and one dwarf. "You called?" The woman said, grinning at the two new arrivals.
"Yes, as you can see we have some new arrivals looking for a place here. Can you take them to Mr. Y?" She asked them, looking back down at her typewriter. The three performers looked the two up and down and noted that they were much like them and the others at Phantasma.
"Welcome friends! Welcome to Phantasma!" Mr. Squelch said with much gusto. "Mr.Y will be more than happy to see some new help!" Continued Dr. Gangle as they all shook Jack and Dovra's hands. "You must have traveled far, my dears." Miss Fleck commented, noticing their unkempt hair and raggedy clothes.
"Yes miss, we stowed away on a cargo train!" Dovra responded, giggling. Jack looked at her with bemusement, not believing that she had basically confessed to a crime. But the lead performers simply laughed with her, almost like they did the exact same thing.
"Come, come! He will be pleased to make your acquaintance!" Dr. Gangle said as the lead them away. "Goodbye, Miss Barker!" Dovra chirped as she waved to her, the woman gave a little wave back and continued with her mountains of paperwork.
The duo followed the trio of performers up the stairs, not knowing what to expect, until they finally saw him, the man in the mask himself.
Mister Y.