"Wait, Sam! I need to ask you something!" Darren shouted after him, but he was already out of earshot. "Crap." He finished.

And so Darren was left alone, very puzzled. He thought that maybe Sam did know something strange about Whisper, and was avoiding him. He dismissed any thoughts of Whisper, shook his head, and headed off towards Sam.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Many of you may have come to this show thinking it was a scam; a hoax. You may all think that the performers are simply men and women in costumes." Came Mr. Tall's booming voice. It was that start of the show, the night after Whisper came. "But they are not! I assure you all, the performers are authentic, and none of them harmless! I cannot guarantee your safety, although a mishap is extremely unlikely. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Cirque Du Freak!" He finished with a flourish.

Backstage, Darren was hurriedly preparing for the show. He ran back into Mr. Creplsey's van to wake him, and to fetch Madam Octa. They had been having late nights recently, so Mr. Crepsley had taken to sleeping until the show actually started, which was okay because they had plenty of time after the show started until their act began.

Darren banged on the front of Mr. Crepsley's van door.

"OY! MR. CREPSLEY! GET YOUR LAZY BACKSIDE OUT HERE! THE SHOW-"

"Yes, Darren?" Mr. Crepsley said coolly, opening the door with one hand, and straightening his pendant with the other. He had obviously amused by Darren's franticness, and had been up and getting ready for some time. It had become Darren's routing to come and get Mr. Crepsley in this manner.

"Has…already started." Darren finished weakly.

"I am well aware of that, and you sufficiently, if unnecessarily, reminded me of that when you attempted to break my van door down. Now, young master Shan, shall we?" He said handing Darren Madam Octa's cage.

"Do you always have to be one step ahead? It gets annoying." Said Darren resentfully as they walked towards the old auditorium in which they were playing.

"I do if you are going to continue to be as slow as you are." He replied tartly.

When they reached the back door or the old, dusty building, they opened it and stepped into the back stage area. Alexander Ribs was currently onstage (They could tell from the resounding musical notes coming from the stage), and backstage Darren could see Evra, Cormac Limbs, Truska, Rhamus, and Gertha Teeth. The Wolfman, and Sive and Seersa had already performed, and were waiting in another area, where the performers went after they went onstage, which was usually back to heir vans (or cages; in the Wolfman's case) to go to bed.

Darren could hear the roar of the audience. Alexander's act was clearly over.

"Break a leg…or a few metal bars!" Darren called to Gertha, who was currently walking towards the stage. She gave him a wink and a thumbs up in response.

"Darren – hey - DARREN!" Evra whispered. He was beckoning for Darren to join him next to a stack of old boards. He had his snake wrapped carelessly around his neck and was leaning against a wall.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Darren asked urgently.

"Nothing really huge. Sam came along for the show tonight. He said he might bring someone." Said Evra.

"So what are you so worked up about?" Darren asked. People often brought others along for the show, it was nothing new.

"Well you know how Sam can be a bit stupid sometimes………I'm just worried that that little prat might have brought someone along who's not...The going to see a freak show type…like someone close to the police or something…" Evra stated. Darren's insides were ice. Evra had a point. Sam was their friend, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that he was really naïve, and wouldn't know who not to bring along.

"Crap. Well he probably just brought along a friend from school or something, don't get your panties in a bunch." Said Darren, slapping on a weak smile. He knew very well that he was making a fool's point.

Just the Gertha came back from the stage.

"You're on Crepsley…Shan." She whispered gruffly, gesturing to Mr. Crepsley and Darren.

"Okay. Mr. Tall?" Darren said, indicating to Mr. Tall that he should go out and warn the audience to shut up. But, he was already out there.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Our next act is very unique, but also very dangerous. I must ask you to stay as quiet as you can, and also not to make any sudden movements. Nothing should go wrong if you do both of these things. Enjoy."

Mr. Crepsley and Darren walked out on stage. He still got a flutter every time he went up there, and those hot lights instantly hit his face. The nervousness was even greater tonight, thanks to Evra. He quickly surveyed the audience, looking for Sam and who he might've brought with him. Darren didn't see him.

"Hello. I am Mr. Crepsley, and this is my lovely arachnid friend, Madam Octa. The monk who sold her to me……" and he continued, but Darren wasn't listening. He was running his eyes frantically over the audience, looking forhisy friend and his…guest. He found him, and saw who he had brought with him.

It was Whisper.

And the look on her face was sickening him.