Trapped in Freak Show Chapter 9
The death curse of the carnival stuck again. The sound Pepper's cries woke up the carnies in the nearby tents. Elsa and Amy quickly woke up and rushed over to Pepper. They for for themselves that Pepper's husband was dead.
Pepper sat in her tent sobbing for the next few days. Amy came by to bring her food but Pepper didn't touch it.
Amy brought over Hannah in an attempt to cheer up the widowed Pepper.
"Hey Pepper," Hannah said. "I was Uh, wondering if maybe you wanted to help me plan my wedding?" She paused, hoping for a reaction.
"We were thinking of going to town to buy or dress or maybe making one. You could help us with that." Amy added.
Pepper stared at the ground quietly.
"You could help decorate the cake." Amy added.
"Or help us plan games for the reception." Hannah said. "We were thinking limbo with some music. Elsa said she'll let us use her radio."
Amy folded her lips and leaned over to Hannah. "This isn't working."
Hannah sighed. "If you change your mind, we'll be in the camper." She said to Pepper.
Kate used her earnings from the carnival to get a taxi ride to the county jail. She walked over to Jimmy's cell and peeked into the small window in his room. "Jimmy."
Jimmy quickly got up off the bed and walked over to the window. "Kate? What are you doing here?"
"Visiting you of course." Kate said.
"You shouldn't be here." He put his hand on the vertical bars on the window.
Kate sighed. "Stop with the pity party. It sucks that you're in jail but you won't be convicted."
"How could you possibly know that?"
Kate shrugged her shoulders. "There's a lot of things I know that you wouldn't believe."
Jimmy tilted his head at her.
She put her hand over his. "Don't sell your hands."
Jimmy shifted his head the other way. "What are you talking about?"
"A man of going to offer you money to sell your hands to get a good lawyer. It's a lie. He's going to keep the money. You don't need a lawyer anyway. You'll be freed." Kate said.
"That's a nice idea but I don't think it will happen."
Kate huffed. "Oh for goodness sake, what will it take to get you to listen?"
"I appreciate you coming to visit. But I think you should go."
"Ugh. I'm so done with these characters." Kate declared.
When Kate returned to the carnival, she visited Pepper in her tent. She still sat on that chair, staring down at the ground.
"Hey Pepper..." Kate said as she walked in. "I may be the only person in this carnival who knows what you're going through."
Pepper looked up at Kate. "L-Luke."
Kate nodded. "He's gone... And now I'm alone in my tent..." Kate pulled up a chair and sat next to Pepper. Kate's empathy got Pepper talking... minimally.
A few days later, Elsa packed up Pepper's things and put them in a taxi.
Kate ran after them. "Wait!"
Elsa opened up the car door for Pepper.
"You don't have to do this Elsa," Kate said. She stood by the open car door.
"It's already been decided. Pepper get in the car." Elsa said.
"We're her family," Kate said. "Not that sister of hers. She won't love her. She'll use her until she can get rid of her and send her off to an asylum." She began to weep.
Elsa sighed, "Don't be so dramatic."
"Don't take her away." Kate said firmly. She stood in front of Elsa.
"So now you're a fortune teller?" Elsa said. She bumped Kate out of the way. Elsa eases Pepper into the car before getting in too and shutting the door.
Kate pounded on the window. "Don't do this Elsa. She's not better off with her. She should stay with us!"
The car engine turned on but Kate continued. "We're all grieving. She needs us!"
The car drove off and Kate cried, "Nooo!" She walked out into the road as the car got further and further away. A tear fell down her face as she watched the car get smaller with every passing second.
Kate wiped her tear and stomped her foot. "Damn it."