The sun had set, now darkness seized the Fair. I could here the footstepsof children and adults coming closer to my tent. I suddenly heard the announcers voice from out side.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please gather around! Ladies and Gentlemen, behind this curtain, at this very instant, a demon sits in its cage. Ladies and Gentlemen, this demon was once known as The Devil's Child! Now…this Devil's child is not a child anymore, he is now…
…The Son of the Devil…!
He pulled the curtain…People gasped and covered their "O" shaped mouths. There eyes widen at the site of my face, some of the most beautiful woman fainted in there partners arms, children screamed and rushed out of the tents. The men just laughed like they did when I was a child. Those laugh that held nothing but coldness. The announcer walked into my cage along with another man, the bald man who knocked the wind out of me just only two days ago. The man tied my hands around my back. He grabbed my forearms from behind me and forced me in front the announcer. He spat in my face, and then punched me in the eye with his right sending me to the ground in a crash; I shut my eyes tight and took in the pain. People began to laugh even harder, their laughs were echoing inside my head over and over. The man grabbed me by the arms and forced me on my feet.
"Listen all! This Demon MUST be punished. My personal bodyguard will bring around this creature from hell! PUNISH him ladies and gentlemen!" said the announcer as he stepped out of the cage.
His so-called bodyguard dragged me out of the cage and continued dragging me to the crowd. The women backed away, but the men took a step forward. The bodyguard dragged me to the first man. All I saw was his fist coming at me, he landed a blow to my jaw; I shut my eyes as I felt the next jab to my face making me bleed from the nose, another swung an uppercut to my stomach making me cry out in pain and bend over. Then another ended up pushing me to the ground where the men began kicking me in the ribs, stomach, and face. They kicked with all their might. Slowly tears began to come, I yelped and growled from the pain, oh the pain! Make it stop! Please! I tried blocking, I tried unraveling my hands but couldn't, I was begging for my life to end now, no more pain, I can't stand the pain! Please just stop!
Then all was silent, I realized everyone had moved out of away up to let someone through. I couldn't look up; it hurt too much. But I saw this person was wearing a black cloak, the black boots where shiny I can almost see myself, and from the looks of it, I was hurt pretty badly. This person had black pants that were tucked in its boots. The rest I could not see. I tried to get up but failed each and every time. But then, the mysterious person bent down to my level. It was a woman.
"Madame? Please for the safety of you and others, punish him!" said the announcer
She shot her head up at the announcer who backed away from her glare. She looked back down at me. She had black leather gloves, similar to the ones I once had. Her top was all black; the whole entire top reminded me of Mme.Giry's usual outfit.
I looked at her face, but all I could see where her lips, for her eyes where covered by the cloak she wore. But her lips, her lips were unforgettable.
She placed her gloved hand under my chin, she lifted my face to her, she seemed to be studying my deformity. I quickly took in her sent: Rosemary and a hint of Jasmine. She titled her head, and then scoffed. My head dropped as her hand left my chin. She stood and made her way out of the tent. I stared at her until she disappeared. After she left people began to leave, they had enough of beating me.
I was thrown back in the cage. I shouted in pain and slowly crawled in the corner of the cold cage. My stomach growled, I hadn't eaten for days and was really yearning for food. I felt sick to the point where I could vomit but then couldn't vomit, the bruises the men gave me were starting to show, and I was bleeding from the simple and deep cuts on my face. I don't think I ever was beaten this badly before ever, not even as a child, and I thought I felt it all. Oh how wrong was I.
After a few hours they cleaned up the Fairgrounds and soon…no one was around. I took in the silence of the night. What have I got myself into? God, why can't I just have one moment of happiness? Why? I ran my hands through my hair but stopped when a sharp pain came from the side of my head. I lightly brushed my hand against it; my eyes were now settled on my hand as I saw all five of my fingers will covered in blood. My attention was taken when I heard Jonnie whisper out to me out of breath.
"Hey! Erik! Wake up!" My eyes spotted Jonnie behind a wagon. He ran toward me and within seconds he was right in front of my cage. His eyes widen as he saw my battered face and body. I could tell that almost twenty questions where going through his head, I gave one answer that answered all questions.
"They beat me, and it wasn't just the owner this time, it was everybody." I said trying to hide the pain in my voice. Jonnie gave a small look saying in his head that he should have been here to help me, and then he turned serious.
"Erik listen, and listen to me good…" He paused only an instant. "In about two minutes someone close to me will come and get me out of this place…I want you to come with me."
I was stunned, yes we had our friendly conversation, but how is it possible? How can he already trust me? He made his way to the front of the cage and began his unlocking. Surprisingly he had it open in only three seconds. Then I noticed he had keys.
"Took them when the owner was asleep, lucky I didn't get trampled by that bodyguard of his." I crawled out of cold, dry cage. Glad to be out. Jonnie took my arm and draped it over his shoulders. I took in a deep breath to avoid the pain. We begun are way out of stench. Then I heard a faint boom…I then remembered what Jonnie said.
"What did you say was going to happen in two…" I was cut off by the loud warning Jonnie was giving me.
"Down! Get down!" We fell to the ground as the cannonball flew streight over us. We covered are heads with are hands. I winced at the pain that shot through my ribs. I bit my bottom lip and held in the cry of pain that just begged to come out. The sound of the explosion thundered all around us, shaking the whole place. No doubt awaking the others.
We had to move fast, no exceptions. Jonnie leaped up and quickly and painfully got me to my feet. We dashed out of the tent and made are way to the docks, I was practically limping the whole way, clinging on to him tight.
I was hurting, I was hurting really bad, but I didn't care, I didn't want to die in that distorted place, there was nothing for me there except death. Indeed I did want to die, but not there, not in Paris. Jonnie was going faster and faster I felt as if I could not go on, I stumbled on a rock the size of my foot and fell face first on the dirt. That was it…I couldn't go on.
"Stop Jonnie! I need to stop! My legs can't carry me anymore!" I said in between breaths, it was true, after all the beating that took place earlier, I felt as if I couldn't do anything.
I fell on my hands and knees. The fast breathing was impossible to stop. The pain was striking my ribs and stomach like lightning. I had to stop I couldn't go on. I didn't want to die here, but it looks like God will not allow me to get what I want as usual. Though Jonnie thought differently, he wouldn't give up so easily. He quickly began to pull my arm. He wouldn't give up; he wanted his freedom more then anything! But then…maybe he wanted his love, Jennie I believe her name is.
"No! No! Come on mate were almost there!" He said pointing ahead, indeed we were, we were only fifty yards away from the docks. But to me it seemed miles away.
"No Jonnie I can't! Just leave me! You have something to go home to! I have nothing! I lost EVERYTHINGI Jonnie!" I said shouting making my body ach.
"No! Erik you come with me now and you can start over! Have a new life!" I quickly interrupted Jonnie's vision of greatness.
"How can I start over? How can I start a new life when the only things standing in my way is my face and past?" I said looking at him, trying to hold back the tears.
"Well first off! You got to stand on your own two feet." He said full of confidence. He held out his hand. I just stared at him. Can I? Can I really start over? I shut my eyes, and when I did, I was back in my lair and Christine was there. Tears began to poor. I don't want this anymore; to cry over something I wish I had. Christine's gone she will never come back; she will be happily married to her prince.
I opened my eyes and looked up at Jonnie who still kept his look of confidence, but started to show a bit of impenitentness. The flowing tears stopped. Christine made her choice, time to make mine. I took Jonnie's hand and began to pull myself up. Successfully I was on my feet. Jonnie grabbed my arm and began to pull me to the docks.
The ache in my body increased with each step I took, I winced and growled with each striking twinge that hit me. I gave a quick glimpse behind me; my eyes slowly widen, I saw that almost twenty people were chasing after us. They were all from the fair. It was the owner and his bodyguard that were leading the angry crowd. Each and every one of them was carrying weapons, some were holding swords, and others had daggers. We're lucky none of them had pistols.
I quickly told Jonnie the situation behind us. He quickly looked back and cursed, causing me to give a horrible shout of pain.
"Sorry mate! God Damn It! I specifically told her NO cannons! What does she do? She fires cannons! Waking the whole damn place up!" he said in an annoyed tone. Jonnie was panicking massively.
"She?" I said looking up at him confused. True, out of everything Jonnie said all I heard was "she".
The crowed was coming closer, once Jonnie noticed he began to yank me toward the docks, but it was too late, they already reached us. They formed a perfect circle around us, leaving Jonnie and I nowhere to go. We were back to back; I looked at all the tired, angry people. They were all the men who did nothing but clean, collect money, and announce shows. They wanted nothing but to see my blood on their weapons, they wanted me dead, the wanted The Son of the Devil dead!
They all just stared at us for only an instant, and then finally, one man began to make his way towards us. But before he even took a step, a figure in black knocked him over the head sending him to the ground unconscious. The men focused their attention at the dirty man on the ground, and then they looked up at the dark figure in black. The figure had a black cloak on, the rest was unknown, his hood was up, and he wore a mask, wasn't really a mask it seemed more like a black rag covering the bottom of his face leaving his nose and eyes to see. The man lifted his eyebrows and put out his hands as if saying, "who's next?".
Then all the men made their way to the masked form. Then from out of nowhere people came running toward the men, swords drawn they all began to fight. The ones who just came were dressed similar to the first man we saw, though they wore no cloak, nor did they have a similar mask, there's just covered there eyes. Each man in black knew the way of the sword well, but I would spot them cheating when they hit there challenger in the face and send them flying to the ground, and making sure they wouldn't get up they would hit them again.
"Pirate's" I whispered. Jonnie took action; he grabbed me and forced me away from the sword fighting. We made are way to the ship.
I want to thank Erik'sAngelofMusic and Mlle.Fox
Thank you so much for your reviews, I understand completley about the spelling and misplacing certain words, I understand I needed to put more detail into it, I'm really good at that but for some reason I'm horrible at it when I know someone's going to read it. And about doing research, yes indeed I know. Just imagine the chapter when I'm describing a little village I'm inventing in New Orleans...lol...its going to be a complete disaster! I tried looking up names and what villages looked like back then but nothing came! So I have to describe a village that doesn't exist! So please I'm saying that there is a small village in New Orleans that not many no about and that uh, well yeah you'll see. Well next chapter will probably start having other people's point of view, if not then the one after that one. Hoped you enjoyed Chapter 4!
Crystal A.