Chapter 3
Circus

Laughter broke out among some of them behind her. His followers cackled and snorted as if she had just told the greatest joke in their lives. She backed away as Mr Snively approached her. His long shadow washing over her. She stood her ground and put up her fists ready to fight.

" No. "

" What did you say, brat? " he asked, with shock and outrage to his tone.

" I said no. I am leaving! "

Mr Snively looked surprised and then laughed maniacally. " Escape?! Hah! Quite impossible, my dear. Hmmmmm...perhaps I could put that energy to good use. You can be in tonights show! "

Sally spat at his feet. His smile faded into disgust and then twisted into anger. Everyone around him gasped and backed off. His face went red like a tomato, his eyes bloodshot. He reached behind his back and pulled out a long whip. He flicked a switch with a electric charge running through it.

" You will do what I say " he said speaking slow and careful so she would hear him clearly. " Now get on your feet and lick my shoes, NOW! " he roared cracking the whip. The whip was a sign of power and pain inside the tent. He had broken everyone's spirits with that whip. Some tried to take it from him but they all reached nasty fates.

" Do it " he said in a menacing tone.

Sally stepped back into a fighting stance.

" Make me. "

His face changed color from red to purple and his fists tightened and beads of sweat rolled down his hands. His face twitched violently in rage. Sally charged at him and went to deliver a kick to his face with a force to break his neck but with the flick of a wrist his whip came to life wrapping around her ankle sending horrible shocks of electricity through her. She screamed in pain and he flung her up into the air and watched as she dropped down to the hard ground knocking the wind out of her. He walked down the creaky wooden steps towards her. He lashed out striking her in the face sending another charge into her. She screamed again with tears rolling down her cheeks. She felt the whip come down on her bare legs sending more horrible shocks and a few more on her sides. Smoke rose from her battered body but she refused to give up. Rosie pushed through the crowd and jumped in between them throwing up her arms.

" Please don't hurt her anymore! " she pleaded. " She doesn't know. Please... "

Snively snorted and looked at her contemplating whether to whip her as well.

" Nobody defies me " he stated as an absolute truth.

Sally coughed and rose to her feet. Mr Snively was stunned that she was up so quick after the punishment he gave her. She smiled and wiped the blood off her cheek and laughed.

" What is so funny?! " he screeched.

" Oh I'm just wondering what the Freedom Fighters are going to do to you once this is over! " she said threateningly.

This gave him an exasperated grin. " Hah! Let these " Freedom Fighters " come! I am untouchable. "

" I bet the only reason your so smug is because Robotnik protects you, doesn't he? "

Sally hit a nerve there. When Sally mentioned Robotnik's name she saw a look of fear wash over his him, his face going pale. He flicked off the switch to his whip.

" You know my master...? "

" More than you know " she replied.

His face twisted into a look of puzzlement and shock at the same time. He looked at Rosie who was helping her stand.

" From now on this whore is your responsibility! If she so looks at me the wrong way again...you know what I will do! "

Rosie nodded and put a blanket around her. Mr Snively tucked in his hat and tromped off.

" Ten years I have been here and he seems to become more horrible everyday... " said Rosie holding back her angry tears. " I really hope he gets his one of these days! "

" Don't worry about it, Aunt Rosie...he will...he will... " she said as she blacked out.

When she awoke she was in a warm bed all bandaged up from her wounds. Rosie squeezed a hot towel and placed it over her head.

" You must rest dear. You do not look well " she said kindly.

" So many things have happened...so many questions...and not one answer " she said trailing off.

" Well, tell me your story and I'll do my best to give you answers " she said.

" Well...yesterday I was with my friends at Knothole Village and everything seemed fine and all but I fell asleep and when I woke up it was all different. My friends are gone and the entire world around me has changed. I dont even know what is going on half the time because everything is so...so... "

" Different? "

She smiled. " Yes. "

Rosie poured Sally a bowl of soup and raised it to her lips. " You need food, my dear. I made it myself. Chicken noodle soup! "

Sally gladly accepted the bowl and quickly finished it on no time filling her empty stomach and feeling strength come back to her body.

" Tell me, who are your friends? " she asked curiously. " Are you looking for them. Is that why you were out roaming the desert by yourself? "

She nodded.

" I know they're out there. They have to be. I just have to find them. They are my only hope of getting home. "

" Well I hope you find them dear, and I hope you can find wherever your home might lay. "

Loud voices were heard with Mr Snively's voice along with them cursing. " Where is he! Where is he! Where did that little fox brat get to now " he screamed rushing down the hallway. One of the carnies came to him. " Tails has escaped again, sir. "

" Again?! "

" Don't worry sir,you tied his tails this time. He wont get very far from here. "

'Why is Tails here of all places' Sally thought to herself. Whatever the case, she needed to find him and get out of here.

" I have to go " she said getting up. "Tails is out there. I've gotta find him! "

" Little Tails? He is a resourceful child, but I don't know how long he will last out there all alone " Rosie said. " You would do better staying here. Escape for us is impossible. We've all tried only to be caught him him. And in your condition you would fare now better " she said

" I'll get out of here somehow " Sally said. " And I'll come back and free all of you. I just have to find Tails first. "

Rosie gave her a hug. " You are a brave soul, but you must be patient. Tonight is the big show and you will get spotted. It would be best to wait until everyone leaves and the lights go out. "

" Fine. I'll jump through his hoops for now but he'll get his soon enough " Sally responded, accepting her role to play along with things for now.

In a few hours the circus came to life. The lights were up and the smell of stale food lifted. She could hear the noisy chatter of voices but she couldn't see anything. It was all too dark to see their faces. Boink slithered up behind her careful not to make a noise. Sally didn't notice him until she felt his hot sour breath on the back of her neck. She turned around and jumped and threw up her arms. He stood there grinning in a daze standing still like a statue.

" W-what is it? "

He looked at her and then suddenly remembered why he came over to her. He reached behind his back and put down a bag that had a uniform. She looked at the bag and at him and waited for him to leave. He backed off after staring at her blankly for two minutes and went off to poke sticks at the animals. She opened the bag and pulled out the uniform. It stunk horrible of rot and old sweat. It had holes all through it looking like a dirty potato sack. When she put it on it felt like death. A smell that would probably never wash off.

She saw a spotlight hit the center ring and the crowd hidden in the blanket of blackness around the ring hushed. The curtains drew back and Mr Snively came walking out sticking his chest out looking tough. He twirled his cane in one hand and over his back and threw it high up into the air and caught it performing a small eye trick for the audience.

" Ladies and Gentlemen...children of all ages...welcome to the Circus of Pain! The greatest show in all of Mobius! "

Rosie came up beside Sally in uniform as well. She looked at Sally with a deep sad look. Behind her were the sideshow freaks. They all were dressed for the occasion and all seemed very miserable. One of them looked at her and then at the ground getting ready to entertain the cruel masses.

" Behold, the freaks of Mobius! " Mr Snively rang out and the spotlight shifted to them.

Sally leaned to the wall and watched as they came out with grim sad faces. She didn't lift the curtains again to see what they were doing. Rosie huddled in the corner looking sick.

" Aunt Rosie? Are you alright? "

She clutched her heart and breathed heavily coughing. Sally went over to check her to see if she was fine but then Mr Snively came out from the curtains looking mad.

" Why aren't you on?! Are you going to give me a hard time? " he snarled at Rosie. She couldn't answer but only shuddered and nodded picking up her heavy bones and dragging herself out. Sally balled up her fists shaking in anger at him. He shot her a glance.

" Hmph. Your lucky the crowd is small tonight. I may not be needing you after all. Now get out of my sight, brat! "

He quickly turned away and went back into center stage as the freaks were done doing their thing and scurried away backstage. He came out with Rosie who didn't look well. He smiled at her.

" Well? Come on! "

" I-I..I don't want to... " she whimpered.

" You've been doing this for ten years you stupid hag! "

" B-but...it hurts so much...and I... "

" This is going to hurt alot more if you don't do what your told, now do it! " he roared motioning to pull out his whip.

" Monster.. " Sally said to herself.

Rosie did what he said and she began to shake violently and coughed up blood. Sally gasped and put her hand to her face as she watched in horror as what was happening to her. Blood oozed out of her mouth and then a large pink sack flopped out of her mouth that was her stomach. She barfed again and out came her large intestines and liver hanging out of her mouth for all to behold. And then in a final gut thrust she puked out the rest of her organs and then her skin twisted and folded inside transforming herself inside out. She stood there bleeding severely shaking trying not to faint or collapse showing her bare deteriorated muscles and parts of bone. The crowd roared in applause and Mr Snively took a bow. Rosie scooped them back up and swallowed them back inside and pressed as hard as she could slowly pushing the skin back huffed and wheezed and walked off stage crying to herself clutching her body in pain. Sally was just shocked beyond words.

" This is not right...this is not right " she said to herself.

When the show was over she rushed to Rosie's aid who was back in her tiny little room gasping for air and in pain. Sally could only imagine how horrible she felt and felt helpless to take it away. She sipped some water and looked up at her kindly.

" Its actually worse than it feels, my dear.I..I was hoping you would not have watched that. I don't like doing it " she said weakly, giving a smile to the young girl.

" Rosie, your not well. This place is not all wrong! I'm going to get you out of here! "

" Do not worry about me, child. I've had a long life. Go and escape and find your friends. "

" No way Rosie! I will not abandon you here! "

She lied down breathing heavily and slowly. "You haven't. You've made me happier than I have been in so long. You are special, child. Do not forget that " she said lovingly rubbing her face like a mother would. Sally held her hand and put a few gray blankets over top of her as she was shivering.

" Forgive me child I...I must be sleepy. It's late now.I think now would be a good time to leave. "

As hard as it was Sally had to leave her here. She would only slow her down. But she was the first friend she's made ever since she came to this place. She saw her eyelids flutter and she backed out of the room quietly hoping not to disturb her. But then Rosie called out.

" Sally... "

" Yes Rosie? "

" Forgive me but...do you think you could be a dear and sit with me just until I fall asleep? "

Tears rolled down her cheeks. " Of course I would! " she cried.

And so she did. She held Rosie close wrapped like a babe in her blankets feeling her chest heave up and down slowly until after a few minutes when her eyes finally shut she got up and left. That was the last time Sally would ever see Rosie alive.