(Miku's P.O.V.)
Tears slide from my eye and drip from my chin to my lap. My left hand covers the left side of my face, hiding my empty eye socket. After I was discovered with IO, Ringmaster tortured me by pouring acid all over my body. My left eyes burned so badly that it shriveled and fell out of its place in my head, and it still hurts exceedingly. Secured in my right hand is my one reminder to keep fighting: IO's left mutated foot, the last remaining piece of him.
IO. I didn't know him, but I still can't help but cry over his death.
Ringmaster personally dealt with the poor boy. Skinned him, dissected him, and acid treated his organs all while IO was still alive. I was tied to a chair, forced to watch everything. I cried and begged for Ringmaster to stop, but the attempts were futile. It was as if my cries were what encouraged Ringmaster to continue; my pleas were music to "his" ears. IO tried to keep a brave face, but he screamed screams I do not wish to ever hear again. Looking away and averting my eyes was futile, IO's blood curling cries was as painful as if I watched the whole thing with both my eyes wide open.
It took hours, too many hours to count, for IO to finally die. Afterwards Ringmaster cut off IO's left ankle and tossed me the hand, telling me to keep it as a reminder that I killed an innocent man. Then Ringmaster proceeded to torture me until I got to the state I am in now.
I can't say "he" was wrong, IO's hand does act as a reminder. Only the reminder is not one Ringmaster would want me to have.
I don't have to think any of this through. I know my plan and I know how I'm going to execute it. All we need is one last push, and then we might be freed. Though I may not live to see another average day for an average person, perhaps the future will be brighter for some. I don't know what is going to happen, but I know one thing for certain. As sorry as I am for IO's death, I would have rather it be him instead of the twins. If Ringmaster had done such a thing to them . . . It doesn't matter, because "he" will never get the chance to lay a finger on my beloved and my sister again.
The decision is final. I'm going to kill Ringmaster.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Your plan is flawed, Miku," Luka tells me after I discuss my intentions to her.
"We can fake it," I insist, but I'm aware that I'm wasting my time. My plan is flawed, but I'm too eager to simply back down. "Luka, we need to kill 'him.'"
"If you murder Ringmaster before the show there's no way anyone is not going to get suspicious," Luka warns, placing a hand on my shoulder. "What about the God you always talk about? Don't you still have faith that He will deliver you from the Ringmaster's hand?"
"Of course I do," I respond as I violently shake off her touch, "but what if I'm a tool? What if God wants to use me to end Ringmaster's life? Samson killed the Philistines, David killed Goliath, and now Miku will kill Ringmaster. I can do anything through the will of God."
"Are you sure your murdering the Ringmaster is God's plan, or are you just filled with blood lust after witnessing what happened to IO?" Luka cast her eyes down, finding IO's hand still clutched in my grasp. I have not let go of the hand since Ringmaster gave it to me, and Luka knows it.
My hesitation is answer enough for Luka, but she decides against trying to talk me out of my decision. If Ringmaster so much as looked at the twins, I would slit 'his' throat and simultaneously stab 'him' in the chest where a person's heart goes before Ringmaster could so much as lay a finger on my loved ones. Rin and Len are my family. Anyone who dare threatens them will have to go through me, and I promise it won't be pleasant.
"Sorry I took so long," Miki says as she enters the tent Luka and I are in. "I had to burn the needle to make sure it's clean, and naturally I had to let it cool." Behind Miki enters Iroha, a cat-like teenage girl who seems to be frozen in an eleven-year-old's mental state. Her eyes are wide with interest, but it won't be long before she looks away.
"Have you done this before?" I ask as I run my fingers under where my eye once was.
"Never," is her answer.
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want any of my old eyes?" Mayu asks from her cozy corner, sharpening her knife and otherwise ignoring the rest of us. "I think Ringmaster will eventually give you a glass eye to take place of your old eye, but if you have it sown closed the possibility might disappear."
"Even if I did believe for a second that 'he' really would give me a new eye," I begin, "my choice would still be the same. I have been through Hell, and I'm ready to put a stop to it. Let my lost eye be another scar, another proof that I survived the Dark Woods Circus. It will be a reminder of the time we fought, and no matter the outcome this scar will remain my favorite." Clutching IO's hand tighter I whisper, "Besides, I'm hideous enough as it is. How much worse can I look with one eye?"
"Good thing I'll never be able to see that," Mayu muses so quietly I'm sure she was not intending for me to hear. I do her a favor and don't address the comment.
"Okay, but this is really going to hurt," Miki warns as she threads the needle.
"Compared to the acid treatment, this should be a walk in the park," I snort.
How wrong I was.
Yes, the acid treatment is far, far worse, but having a needle pierce completely through your eyelid into your empty eye socket only to come out on your upper cheek is its own form of torture. Iroha gives me a bottle of an alcoholic beverage she stole from the guards in order for me to have some sort of relief from the pain. I'm no drinker, but I couldn't injest the drink fast enough, and it was a real shame there wasn't more to drink. Despite my best efforts, my screams could not be restrained. I cried, but I did not once ask Miki to stop. She doesn't stop, not until she finishes. By then I'm in tears, my body shaking madly at the lingering pain.
"Do . . . ," Miki trails off but tries again. "Do you want to take a look in the mirror?"
"I don't think that's a very good idea," Luka says, but I wave her off.
"No," I shake my head, "it's important that I know what I look like. I should see the monster I have become."
With a soft sigh, Luka retrieves her handheld mirror and places it in the palm that is not cradling IO's hand. My fingers wrap around the old handle, and I lift the glass to my face. My right side is only slightly worse than it previously was, but my left is completely raw. My skin is gone, and bright red muscle is in its place. I will have to have skin sown over this side of my face or it will only be a matter of time before an infection kills me. Where my eye once was is thick, black stitches. Blood pours from the wounds. Never will the black thread be removed. IO lost his life because of me, losing an eye is the least that can happen as my punishment.
"What will Len say when he sees me?" I whisper the question I both long and resent knowing the answer to. Len loved me when I was beautiful. Len loved me when I was covered in scars. Will Len love me in this monstrous state? Or have I become the creature that not even a mother could love?
"Len is not going to care," Luka promises as she again rests a hand on my shoulder. This time I do not shake her off.
"No, he will care," I correct, "but in a way that will encourage him to put an end to Ringmaster after all." Laughing without humor I add, "Guess I better finish the job before Len has a chance."
"Miku," Miki says as she takes the mirror from my hands, "this isn't you. Where's the Miku we love? The kind and sweet one who told us about hope and the love of God?"
"She's still here," I say, "but until further notice she has been replaced by something that's going to tear this place apart board by board."
"I just hope you know what you're doing," Luka shakes her head.
"I don't," I admit, "but that's why we're going to begin rehearsal for the show." With a wicked grin I add, "Let's make this a performance they will never forget."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It's about ten minutes until the start of our act. I sit with Luka, Miki, Iroha, Neru, and Haku as we plan out final assault. During hers and IO's phone call, IA said that she would be here yesterday, but she never showed. We can only hope that she will meet up with us today least our act tonight will result in our slow, painful deaths.
"While I distract the audience," I recite the plan aloud one last time, "Miki and Iroha will flee the scene and begin tearing down the tents while Mayu, Neru, and Haku take care of the guards." The five girls nod in agreement with the plan. They could die performing such rebellious acts, but they would rather die than live another day in this circus. If you're going down, why go down without a fight?
"All the while Luka will make sure Ringmaster knows nothing of what's going on," I continue as I shift my gaze towards Luka. She hums in understanding, giving a quick nod of the head. "I hate to say this," I say, "but kill whoever tries to stop you. Spare all the innocent circus goers that you can, but guards, police, and anyone else who looks like they're going to hurt you should be ended immediately. I wish it doesn't have to come down to this, but we are left with no other options."
"We will spare whoever we can," Haku says quietly.
"Not me," Mayu snorts. "I've been waiting for this day since I arrived here."
"Which is why your participating in this terrifies me," Luka said. "You might kill an innocent bystander."
"Don't worry," Miki says, "Mayu will be coming with us. Iroha and I need a bodyguard, so why not take the girl who won't miss?"
"Flattery won't take you far," Mayu twists a piece of her cream hair, "but in this case I'm completely sold."
Holding out my hands, I say, "There's so little time left. Let us pray." All of us join hands, and I begin the only way I could think of. "God . . . I don't know what's going to happen tonight. None of us do. But You have already seen the outcome.
"I ask that You will let this be it, let this be the end of the Dark Woods Circus. We know we don't deserve a better life, but we also know that everything You do is for the good of those who love You. No matter the outcome, good or bad, we will praise You. If we succeed, glory be to You. If this fails and we all die, glory be to you. Regardless of how tonight ends, let this night lead the world one step closer to ending these circuses once and for all. We have put our faith and trust in You, and we know that no matter what happens it will be for Your glory. All we ask is that tonight will mean something.
"Thank You for these wonderful girls, hank You for IA, and thank You for the twins. Thank You for this wonderful family. They make life here, no matter how horrible it is, worth living. Thank You. In Jesus name."
"Amen," we all finish together. Giving me a gentle look, Luka says, "There's the Miku I know and love." I smile in return.
"I'm scared," Iroha quietly admits. "I know we can die doing this and I accept that, but . . . ," she trails off.
Smiling softly, I say, "Don't worry about that. Instead worry about your performance. After all, it's show time."
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As the twins are no longer here to be Mayu's victim, it's me who has to stand against the wall as the blind girl shoots an arrow at the apple on the top of my head. I don't flinch as I see the arrow flying towards me. I don't blink at the thud that echoes through the hushed tent as the arrow pierces the apple. I wasn't ever able to watch Mayu shoot at the twins, but me being the one she puts in possible harms way doesn't cause a reaction out of me. Watching the twins get hit would be painful. My getting hit would be a blessing. I can't bear the thought of watching the ones I love die, but dying myself isn't something I'm concerned about. If not in life then perhaps in death I will finally escape this hell.
After Mayu shoots the arrow she approaches me as Ringmaster again introduces the Queen of the Blades. While the crowd 's roaring, Mayu leans towards me as she retrieves her arrow and whispers in my ear, "Knock them dead. If you need me, I will be helping Miki and Iroha screw everything up."
"I just hope Neru and Haku have been handling everything well," I say.
"If we haven't heard anything yet," Mayu replies as she pulls away, "things must be going better than we thought."
Nodding, I say, "Best of luck."
"Not that I need it, but thanks," Mayu smiles before it's her cue to leave the stage. I wonder if I will see her alive again after all this. . . .
I take my place on the stage, the eager faces of the crowd waiting for me to entertain them with my voice, the one thing that has not been damaged by my time in the mental institute or the circus. My voice is the only thing left of me that's beautiful, my only redeeming quality. The crowd will take one look at me and see a monster, but what do they feel when they hear me sing? Do they still think of me as a monster? Or as a prisoner in this hateful world?
I only have one chance left to make them see, to make them understand what life for me is like here.
Gulping down my nerves, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear to signal the start of the song.
Only I won't be singing my arranged song.
Tonight I have something new to sing.
Time is dead and gone,
Show must go on,
It's time for our act.
They all scream at me,
They cannot see,
This curtain hides me.
An amazing gift,
So quick and swift.
You were amazing.
By myself I can't,
They start to chant,
Why are you not here?
Grinning at me,
I lay on my knees.
They want to hear me.
Why can't 'he' see?
I want to see you,
I need to see you,
I have to see you.
What happened to you?
We get up on stage,
They jump to enrage.
Why are you not here?
Why is 'he' so near?
'He' wants me to sing.
I just can not bring-
I say 'he's' not you
What else can I do?
Singing it's silent song of misery.
A monster lies trapped in it's own Nightmare.
'He' is a tyrant,
It lets out a plea.
Why did she have to leave it all alone?
Bound to sing for us, a worthless monster.
It never sees us,
It despises us.
Lying so useless, we start to holler,
"Hey, get up you worthless Circus Monster!"
I notice how the workers are reacting to my words, but blessedly they are all too stunned to act. Even Ringmaster is frozen in place instead of attempting to stop me from singing my song. It's as if they are in a trance, one that holds them captive no matter how much they try to break free.
Without so much as another thought I continue to sing, letting my words fill the tent walls.
I lay all alone,
I should have known you would have left me.
'He' smiles at me,
I cannot see
Why 'he's' in your place.
They can't tell me why you said good-bye
Right before our act.
Those two young lions
Were always fun~
Why did they leave, too?
Roaring at me.
I lay on my knees.
What is happening?
I can hear you sing.
They will not obey,
They've been lead astray.
Will I still see you?
I have to see you.
I panic and flee,
They both pounce on me,
I fell to the ground,
I can't hear a sound.
I look up and see
You are not with me
Am I all alone?
Singing it's silent song of misery.
A monster lies trapped in it's own Nightmare.
'He' is a tyrant,
It lets out a plea.
Why did she have to leave it all alone?
Bound to sing for us, a worthless monster.
It never sees us,
It despises us.
Lying so useless, we start to holler,
"Hey, get up you worthless Circus Monster!"
I stop and begin pant. I am so tired, so emotionally tired. All I have been desiring to do ever since Rin and Len left is curl up and cry, but until now I have been fighting the urge. Until now I had a battle to fight, but now that I've done all I can there is nothing left for me to do. Regardless of what actions I take now the outcome won't change. Neru and Haku have been handling the guards, and Miki and Iroha are destroying tents and stands as Mayu protects them from anyone wishing to stop them. With such rebellious acts it is inevitable that if we fail we will die. We did all we could. Now everything is out of our hands.
The sudden realization makes me want to collapse and cry every single one of my tears before I am taken away for execution. Why hasn't anyone been warning Ringmaster about what my friends are doing? Does this mean everything is going according to plan, or does this mean Ringmaster has discovered us long ago and has had the group captured before they could even begin? Is no news good news? Or has all of this for nothing?
Right now, all I want is to give up. . . .
Ahh, ah ah ahh
Ahh, ahh, ooo ooo ooo.
Ahh ahh, ah ah ah.
Ooo oo oooo, oooooo.
For a moment I am dumbstruck. I know that voice better than I know my own name, but it's impossible. How . . . ?
"Len," I whisper as I blink away my tears and search for the one I love. As if magnets attracted my gaze to him, my eyes meet Len's.
I don't know how he got in without being caught, and I don't know why nobody has tried to bind him yet especially now that he's made himself known, but it doesn't matter. Len's here, and he's smiling at me. A smile of apology, and a smile of love. Rin, forever by his side, smiles herself as tears she doesn't try to hide trail down her cheeks and stain her face. Despite the risks, they came here tonight. If they can risk their lives like this, why should I give in? I will do everything possible to end this circus. I will sing my song. I will let everyone with ears hear my pain and suffering and misery.
Not that they would care. I am a monster, after all.
Singing it's silent song of misery.
A monster lies trapped in it's own Nightmare.
'He' is a tyrant,
It lets out a plea.
Why did she have to leave it all alone?
Bound to sing for us, a worthless monster.
It never sees us,
It despises us.
Lying so useless, we start to holler,
"Hey, get up you worthless Circus Monster!"
Singing my silent song of misery.
This monster lies trapped in my own Nightmare.
'He' is a tyrant,
I let out a plea.
Why did you have to leave me all alone?
Bound to sing for them, a worthless monster.
I never see them,
I despise them so.
Lying so useless, they start to holler,
"Hey, get up you worthless Circus Monster!"
The music continues to play as I, being the fool that I am, run off the stage and dash towards the twins. Despite my better judgement, which is telling me to keep as much attention off the twins as possible, I run towards the two and shout their names. "Len! Rin!"
Gasping, the crowd finally notices the twins as they run with their shared body to meet me halfway. The moment we are within each other's reach, Len pulls me close to him as I pull him and Rin close to me. The contact is painful, but I don't care. I clutch the two close to me so as to never have them separated from me ever again. "Miku," Len whispers my name into my ear. He chokes on his own sob, holding me tighter.
"It's okay," I whisper. "I'm just happy to have you here with me again."
"So am I," Len replies.
"Me as well," Rin says so quietly that I wonder if she meant for me to hear.
With a sudden and sharp gasp, I hear Len yell my name before I'm viciously thrown to the ground. A loud banging echoes throughout the tent, followed by high pitched screams and shouts. My head's surprise contact with the floor has temporarily blinded me, but with a few blinks my eye returns to normal and I can see again.
Then I scream.
The twins waver slightly, a large, red stain growing above their heart. Rin stares at the wound in shock, but Len doesn't appear to be taken aback. He knew what was happening. He knows what's happening.
But why is it happening?
I take my eyes off the twins to find Ringmaster pointing his gun at me. I was his target, but Len pushed me out of the way and took the bullet himself. Ringmaster shifts the pistol so that it's facing me, but before I can do anything Luka, who was the only one of us circus freaks who wasn't sure that killing Ringmaster was the best solution, takes one of Mayu's scattered around swords and swings it at Ringmaster. The head flies in the air as blood sprays. In less than half a second, Ringmaster is dead.
And I hate myself for not killing him sooner.
The seconds that passed as minutes end when Len and Rin collapse to the ground, blood spilling from both of their mouths. The sight makes me forget about Ringmaster's headless body and the audience's screams as they dash for the exit. All I can think about is the large red stain on the twins' shared chest. All I can think about is the last time I watched Mikuo get shot in the chest and how lifeless my brother's body was afterwards. Now . . . now it's happening again.
"NO!" I cry as I catch the two headed body. Tears fall out of my eye as I cradle them both, not wanting to be separated from them both for a third time. "It's okay," I sob, saying the lie more for my own comfort than theirs. "Everything is going to be okay." I lie the twins on their back and rest their heads on my lap. "You're going to be all right," I whisper.
I don't know anything about what's going on around me. Is the crowd still here? Have any guards come to kill us? Did we win? I can't focus. All that matters is Rin and Len. I'm losing them, yet I'm still lying to myself.
"It's okay. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay," I keep repeating over and over, knowing that nothing is ever going to be okay again. The twins look at me with wide eyes, the life reflected in them slowly fading away.
Rin slowly lifts her trembling hand and cups my cheek and wipes away the falling tears. "You're right," she smiles, even laughs. One wouldn't think she suffered a gunshot wound to the heart with how genuine she was smiling, "everything is going to be okay." Coughing up blood, Rin continues, "We're going to move on. Len and I are going to be separated again. We can now finally live in a world without pain."
"But what about me?" I know I'm being selfish by asking such a question. Rin and Len are going to a place with no pain or agony or tears. Never again will they be sad, cold, or lonely. Yet here I am, just breaths away from begging them to not go, to not leave me behind to suffer in this cruel and imperfect world. How selfish do I have to be to not want the ones I love most to go Home?
"You have to live, Miku," Len says as he, too, cups my cheek. "You have to remind the world of the evils the Dark Woods Circus hid behind closed curtains. Without souls such as yours, the circus might be brought back up again."
"What?" I ask, blinking away tears and confusion.
"We did it," Len smiles before having a coughing fit. After recovering Len says, "The public is fighting to end the Dark Woods Circuses. IA made your video go viral yesterday, and after receiving so many views and supports the people are standing against the circuses once and for all. You need to stay alive, to remind the world that something like this can never, ever happen again."
"I can't live without you or Rin by my side," I say through the chocking sobs. "The both of you have become such a big part of me that living without the either of you seems impossible."
"You will live, Miku," Rin assures me. "We have already made sure of that."
I'm about to ask Rin to explain what she means, but Len interrupts by making one last request.
"Miku, will you sing for us?"
Blinking, I look Len in the eyes. I'm at loss for words, but Rin agrees by saying, "Yes, please sing. You have such a beautiful voice. Please sing for us until we fall asleep."
Until we fall asleep.
Of course. Death is never the end. Death is merely falling asleep in this world and waking up in another. Where Rin and Len are going I will soon follow. We will be reunited again, but until that day my mission is here. Until that day I will do whatever it takes to make sure that the Dark Woods Circus stays dead, and when my time in this world ends I will be reunited with the two I love dearly. We will meet again and spend our days together. I will be free to love Len with all my heart and soul, and Rin will remain just as precious to me there as she is now.
This isn't the end, only the beginning of something new.
Taking each of their hands in my own, I sing the one song I believe I can sing in this situation. Nothing else would be acceptable. As with my last song, I want to be able to put my emotions into this one.
Would you know my name
If I saw you in Heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in Heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in Heaven.
Hot tears stream out of my eye as I clutch the hands closer to my chest. My voice is wobbling and cracking, but I don't cease to sing. I keep up with the song, vowing to myself to not give up until my beloved and sister both fall asleep.
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in Heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in Heaven?
I'll find my way
Through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in Heaven.
Rin smiles a soft and gentle smile. The look on her face is that of peace. I let go of her hand in favor of holding her face. I rub my thumb across her cheek, and she leans into the warmth of my palm. She's cold. Too cold. At this point, the words I sing are barely audible, but I don't stop my song.
Time can bring you down,
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart,
Have you begging please, begging please.
Tears land on Rin's face, but still the corners of her lips reach her ears.
Beyond the door,
There's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in Heaven.
I feel it the moment it happens. Rin's breathing comes to a quiet end, and her soul leaves this world. She is gone. Rin . . . Rin is dead.
Ripping my gaze away from her lifeless yet peaceful features, I find Len still alive. I can't take it. There's no way I can watch him die. However, I won't miss this moment. I need to Len know how much I love him, but the words won't come. All I can do is continue to sing.
Would you know my name
If I saw you in Heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in Heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in Heaven.
By now I'm too chocked up to utter another sound. Sensing this, Len makes himself speak with his fading voice. "You are so beautiful. I . . . I can't think of anything more beautiful than your face, and I'm grateful it's you who will be the last I see before I pass on." I swallow my cries and nod. Len still thinks I'm beautiful. Even through the acid treatments and my latest torture Len still looks at me as if there's nothing better to behold. "I love you," he whispers.
"I love you too," I reply. "I love you so so much. No matter what world, no matter what situation, I will always love you, Len Kagamine. There is no universe in all of God's creation in which I will never love you as a part of my own soul. You are a piece of me, and I will never stop loving you."
"Nor I you," Len promises.
Acting in the moment, I lean over and press my lips against Len's. His lips are much too cold for my comfort, but at least Len will die with the memory of my mouth on his. "Goodbye," I whisper after I break the kiss.
"See you soon," Len responds. With his final breath, Len again kisses me. After his breathing ceases and his lifeless hand falls to the floor I lose it. I begin to cry and scream. I neither shake the twins nor beg them to come back. I know they're gone, but it's only temporary.
So why does this pain feel so permanent?
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Six months have passed since that day. Luka later informed me that while I was holding the dying twins in my arms a group of protesters, including the friends of the IA girl, had stormed onto the circus grounds and began to join Miki and Iroha in destroying the place. Neru and Haku were shot, but they both lived. Mayu was struck by a guard with a glass whip. He didn't make it.
When authorities arrived it took nearly an hour afterward to calm everyone down. Many people were taken to jail, circus freaks included. Luka and I were the only monsters to not be arrested, and since Luka was the one who killed Ringmaster I only assumed without asking that she blamed the action on someone else. During the month with nothing going on as the case of the Dark Woods Circus went on in national court, Luka and I, alone and completely unsupervised as we remained in our old tents, lived a free life for the first time. We buried the twins under a large oak, and we dedicated the grounds to all the circus freaks who died before that day. I thought of CUL and prayed that she, Rin, Len, and the girl CUL loved named Lapis were having a great time together, probably having picnics in the Heaven parks.
Four weeks after the incident the people won and the Dark Woods Circus was ended once and for all. Monsters like Luka and I have been interviewed countless times, but the one everybody loves is me. The story Len and I share moved and continues to move everyone who hears it, and having both Rin and Len die in my arms only makes the story all the more heartbreaking. Did the twins know that if they died this result would come about? Or did they only think of seeing me again and never once stop to consider what could happen now that they were no longer in hiding?
IA and her friends gave us a home until we could find our place in this new world. Mayu, being completely normal other than her blindness, fit in with absolute ease. With her amazing talent she's been on television multiple times, amazing people with her way of never missing despite not being able to aim. Last I heard, she was touring Asia.
Miki and Piko fell in love with each other at first sight and are now engaged. Iroha met another circus freak, one by the title of LUC the Leopard, and has been going out with him for three weeks now. Haku and Neru have been going through multiple surgeries to undo what was done to them. They currently stand at seven feet tall now, and it is hoped that this last surgery will remove another foot. After that they will be left to live with whatever height they have been stuck with.
As for me, when I'm not getting interviewed or asked to make an appearance on something - which happens a lot which is surprising since one would think nobody would care about the ex-circus by now - I spend my days living in the old headquarters. Luka, like me, came to live her and stayed, and IA, Merli, and Nero never left. We lead very simple lives. Our days have long ago fallen into normal, uneventful patterns. It's wonderful.
I press my lips together as I type on the keyboard. Just a month and a half ago a publishing company offered me a large sum of money to write a book based off the experience, and I agreed under the condition that Luka co-writes it. I'm not in this for the money, regardless of what some might say, but to have our story out there for till the end of time. I don't want anyone to ever forget about the horrors of Dark Woods Circus, and more than anything I don't want the boy who shared a body with his sister and loved a monster above all else forgotten. Len was of a rare soul, he deserves to never be forgotten.
Luka also types on her own keyboard, telling her own story in her own words. Our novel is to be told in alternating chapters, each installment telling our own story. Tears trickle down Luka's face as she writes about Meiko, the person I had always referred to as "her." Apparently Luka loved Meiko, something I now know. It was a strong, flawless love that you can never be good enough to deserve, yet Luka loved Meiko in such a way without desiring anything in return. It's enough to make me regret hating Meiko until long after she killed herself. Being a circus monster is one thing, but being the Ringmaster's daughter had to have been another Hell entirely.
"Hey girls," IA calls as she and Nero stand by the door. "We're going out for lunch, want to join?"
"Merli is starting up the car right now," Nero adds. "We're going to the nice sea food place by the lake."
"I'm in," Luka smiles as she saves her document and closes her laptop. She's halfway to her sister before she turns around and asks, "Miku, are you coming?"
I shake my head. "Go without me," I answer. "I'm on such a role with this chapter that I don't want to stop now and come back with no inspiration."
Luka nods in understatement instead of speaking, but Nero gives me a knowing look. When I first came to live here, Nero showed me something that is kept as a heavy guarded secret. I have since become addicted to it, and Nero knows. However, he doesn't stop me. Nero lets me do this to myself all the time, never once attempting to talk me out of it. He's a good friend that way, even if this thing never ceases to hurt me.
When the group is gone I open a secret file and enter the twenty character password. I then search for a particular entry, and once I find it I double click. Before they risked and lost their lives sneaking back into the circus, Rin and Len, with Nero's help, filmed a video meant for my eyes only. Nobody else knows that this video exists.
"Is it on? Is it on?" Len asks, his large blue eyes blinking.
"Nero, are you sure this is going to work?" Rin asked, her lips pursed. It's so good to see them alive again, even if this is a piece of the past.
"It's on," Nero answers from behind the camera, "now hurry up and say what you need to say. The others will be back soon so unless you want to explain to IA why you're doing this you better spit it out."
Deciding against wasting another second, Len looks into the camera and says, "Miku, if you're seeing this, then that means we're dead. I really wish that you never have to see this, but precautions have to be made.
"As much as we know we should stay behind, Rin and I are going to sneak into the circus with IA and the rest of the group. Tonight is going to bring about so many changes, and even though I know that Rin and I should stay here and wait for you to be brought to us neither can wait any longer. We have to see you, Miku, and it can't wait until the conditions are safe. We know we might die, but it's a risk worth taking if it means we can see you."
"In case you're wondering," Rin adds in, "I feel the same. You're my sister, Miku, and I left you. I've been filled with regret ever since. I really need to see you. I need to know if you ever truly forgave me." Looking away, Rin sighs before facing my way again. "As reckless as this is, neither of us can bear to be apart from you any longer. It's painful. Really, really painful. That's why we are coming tonight, and no matter what happens we won't regret this decision. We need to be there for you, even if only for a moment. I love you, Miku, and I won't stand for this hurt any longer."
"I love you too," I whisper despite knowing that Rin can't hear me. I wish I could go back in time to when this was filmed. Then Rin and Len wouldn't have gone to the circus, then they would be alive.
But then I would be dead.
I'm alive today because Len pushed me out of the way before Ringmaster's gun went off. Had the twins not been there it would have been me who died. At least this way I got the chance to say goodbye.
"Anyway, we're having this filmed because there's something I need to tell you," Len continues. "You are the most amazing person I have ever met, Miku, and I'm lucky to have gotten to know you and fall in love with you. No matter what happens tonight, I want you to never give up. You have a role in this world, and I want you to fulfill it. Please don't let our death destroy you, let it motivate you to keep fighting for what you believe in. Rin and I have no future as we are forever bound in this way, but you have so much to live for. You once said that sometimes God lets some of us die for a purpose, so make sure our death has a purpose. Live, love, and smile. This goodbye won't be forever. It's not even goodbye, really. This is more like 'Good night' and 'See you in the morning.' We will meet again, and we will be together. I swear it on my life."
"I believe you," I whisper. "I know we will meet again."
"See you later, Miku," Len says.
"We will see you again soon," Rin smiles.
Tears fall from my and drip off my chin. This isn't forever. We will meet again in another world, and in that world we will live and love. This isn't the end.
This is only the beginning.
It's time for Rin and Len to say they're line in unison, and like every time since I've first watched this video I have said it with them.
"I love you."
Author's Note: Finally finished this! Took me long enough. . . . Anyway, I tried to make this ending as satisfactory as possible despite the fate of the twins, but I'm not quite feeling it. Oh well, at least I finally concluded this after God knows how freaking long. Now on to my other long forgotten fanfics!
A big, big, big thank you to those of you who patiently awaited the conclusion of this fanfic. I know a good deal of you waited well over a year, but your sticking with this story means a lot to me. You guys are amazing! :D
Now for some shameless self advertising for those of you who might be interested in some other fanfics I'm working on.
One I recently began publishing is The Mortal Blade. This is sort of a high fantasy/paranormal MikuXLen fanfic that I have been working on for a while now so I hope those of you who check it out really enjoy it as much as I do. :)
Next is a collaboration fanfic between me and Kate-Chan of The Super Twins, my bestest Internet friend in the entire world. The fanfic is titled Welcome to the Monster Club! and it is on her profile, and you can either find it by going to her account from my Favorite Authors page or click on the direct link to the fanfic on my Bio. :) She and I are having a blast writing this and we have a lot of crazy stuff planned so if you like flirt boys, snarky girls, and paranormal creatures in a high school setting then this is something for you. :3
Again, a massive thank you to all my readers! To those who followers and favorite, you guys are awesome. To those who reviewed, thank you for having such wonderful things to say; you guys don't know how much every nice thing you guys said means to me. I love you all. :)
-Ray