Sideshow Freak
Chapter 9: The Day The Circus Came To Town
Today was the day. After days of planning things down to the last nanosecond everything was finally falling into place. The circus had arrived in town that morning and spent all day setting up. By the time dark had set in and the moon had risen, bathing the circus grounds in her soft golden light the circus tents had all been set up. A tall skinny man with one green eye and one blue stood at the front entrance, selling tickets and directing people to the correct tent.
"How many?" he asked the Titans when they approached.
"Five," Beast Boy replied, placing the money on the counter.
The man's eyes widened and he gaped at the green changeling. "Beast Boy?" he gasped in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"It's good to see you too, Frank," Beast Boy said.
Frank stopped gaping and smiled. "We've all missed you, Beast Boy," he said affectionately. "Especially Maria and Lugia."
"How are they?" Beast Boy asked, making no attempt to hide the eagerness in his voice.
"Okay," Frank tore off five tickets and extended them towards Beast Boy but drew his hand back at the last minute. "If Gottleman sees you, you know what he'll do to you. And to them," he inclined his head towards the Titans.
"I know," Beast Boy looked somberly at Frank who shook his head and sighed before handing the tickets to Beast Boy.
"Good luck and have fun," Frank told them before turning his attention towards the next customers. "And how many tickets will you be needing, ma'am?"
"Who was that?" Cyborg asked as they walked towards the main tent.
"Frank," Beast Boy said. "He's the two-eyed man."
"But don't all humans have two eyes?" a confused Starfire asked.
Beast Boy heaved a sigh and replied, "Yes, Starfire, but due to his unique eye coloring Gottleman billed him as the two-eyed man. That's the reason why he's the ticket seller; it lets the crowd get a sneak preview of one of the freaks without getting to see the whole show."
"Oh," Starfire nodded. "It all makes sense now."
"I'm glad," Raven muttered, drawing her cloak closer to her slender body. "I'm going to have hay all over this by the time we get home," she sighed.
"What about me?" Cyborg demanded. "I'm going to be picking out of my circuits for weeks!"
"Don't forget me," Robin chimed in. "This hay is sticking to my hair gel! It's going to be difficult to get it out."
"Maybe we could cut it out," Cyborg suggested with a wicked gleam in his human eye.
"Don't even think about it!" Robin threatened, pulling out a birdarang.
"Stop arguing," Beast Boy said. "We have more important things to worry about than hay."
"Yes like this delicious stuff called cotton candy," Starfire smiled brightly at the pink fluffy stuff in her hand.
Beast Boy groaned. "And I thought you guys could help me, how?"
"We're sorry," Robin apologized as an air of sobriety fell over the small group.
"Yes we truly are," Starfire smiled at Beast Boy apologetically.
Beast Boy gave them a brief smile then proceeded to ignore their apologies as they neared the tent. Outside the tent flaps he paused for a moment. He couldn't believe that he really was coming back to this place and willingly at that. Robin seemed to sense his discomfort for he placed a gloved hand on Beast Boy's shoulder and offered him a sympathetic look. Taking a deep breath Beast Boy pushed aside the flap and entered.
Inside the tent it looked like any normal circus did. Hay covered the dirt, offering a sort of protection from the dust that swirled in the air as the horses galloped in the middle of the ring that was surrounded by metal folding chairs filled with townspeople who cheered the performers on. Beast Boy quickly found them seats that provided a good view of the arena, snagging a bag of pretzels from the voluptuous black haired beauty with ivy tattoos framing her pale face. She almost passed when she saw Beast Boy but quickly recovered and sped off in the opposite direction.
"You seem to be very popular here," Raven said sarcastically as one of the horseback riders fell off after glancing in their direction.
Beast Boy was quiet for a minute then he said, "I'm the only one that ever escaped from this place. For that reason alone they don't want to be anywhere near me when Gottleman discovers that I'm here."
"Makes sense," Cyborg nodded. "My scanners are picking some very high energy readings and they're coming from all around us."
Beast Boy frowned then his jaw tightened. "Look at the performers," he said.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Robin eyed the three skimpily dressed girls standing on the back of the horses.
"Ahum," Starfire cleared her throat and gave Robin a particularly venomous glare, causing him to shrink back in his seat.
"Their necks," Beast Boy pointed.
Cyborg squinted and enhanced his vision. "They all have on the same collar; a black one with colored strips of velvet on them."
"They're not collars," Beast Boy quietly. "They're shock collars."
Starfire gasped in horror. "Did this evil 'Gottleman' do that to them?" she demanded, righteous fury filling her voice.
Beast Boy nodded. "Yeah it's one of his ways to control the freaks," his voice sounded bitter and angry.
"Did he…ever put one on you?" Raven asked hesitantly.
"Of course. I was his star performer; he had to ensure that I would stay and not escape. I guessed he learned his lesson after I did manage to escape."
The Titans exchanged glances; determination to shut down Gottleman shining on their faces. Even the stoic Raven looked furious which was saying something.
"Do not worry, Friend Beast Boy," Starfire whispered into one of the pointed green ears. "We shall take down this 'Gottleman' and make him pay for what he has done to you."
Beast Boy smiled wanly at the Tamaranean girl. "Thanks, Star," he whispered back. "That means a lot."
A/N: I promise that the next chapter WILL definitely have more action in it! I promise! Please review and let me know what you think! If you have any questions please feel free to ask away!