"Sarah come on! It's lunch time. Get down from there!" Her head popped out from the trees like a giant bird in a nest.

"Aww, do I have to Darren? I like it up here"

"I know you do but you only get dinner once a day. You'll be hungry all night if you don't come down" She wined but I knew she couldn't wait to get something to eat, she loves her food but will never admit it. She no longer needs my help to climb up and down now but she does need coaxing from time to time.

"What is for lunch today?"

"Uh…?"

"You don't even know?! Vancha's right about you" What? What's Vancha been spreading about me now? All I could squeeze out of Sarah was: "It's a secret" I'm going to kill Shancus for this. It's all his fault that Sarah likes teasing me so much. Still, I should be glad. She's so confident now. Everyday used to be a worry. Would she cry? Would she get hurt? Would she get lost? Now, it's like having another Shancus. You're always on your feet to make sure that little trio aren't getting into mischief. The other day we thought Madam escaped from her cage, turns out that bunch just swapped the cage for an empty one to freak out Mr Crepsley. I'm the one who got an ear full though. Although I guess it's the side of her I wanted to surface. I'm finally seeing her as the care free, happy kid she should be.

After she picked out the leaves in her hair she looked up and said: " Darren, who's that with Mr Tall?" When I looked over to where she was pointing my stomach clenched. It was Mr Tiny and he looked furious, even from this far away. There were a few Little People there too and they seemed to be the focus of Mr Tiny's rage. I wasn't sure if Sarah could hear them form here but I could.

"What is the meaning of this Hibernius?" He viscously gripped one of the Little People by the coaler of their hood, picked him up and shook him in front of Mr Tall. He then took hold of the sleeve and ripped it to shreds.

"These are my Little People! I name them! No-one else! Now who is responsible?" I'm guessing he's referring to the name tags Sarah gave the Little People. For the last month, which I was completely unaware of until Harkat told me, Sarah was growing really attached to the Little People and they in turn were fond of her. Other than Harkat, everyone makes as little contact with them as possible. However, Harkat told me that they were all talking to Sarah like she was one of them. I've got no idea how she does it but she has a knack for it. Harkat only started speaking because Mr Tiny told him to. The Wolfman was one thing but Little People playing jump rope is a little too much for me to handle. She's grown so fond of them that she even gave them all names. ( She learned embroidery from Truska and hasn't stopped since) Harkat told me that Mr Tiny had given them all names when they were made but they preferred the one's Sarah gave them. Maybe she just treats them more like humans than Little People.

"Darren, what's going on?" I suddenly became aware of Sarah again. This is bad.

"Sarah let's go. Mr Tall will take care of it" I pulled her arm but she wouldn't move.

"Darren, he's hurting them" There was desperation in her voice. This must be bringing back bad memories for her. Mr Tiny tossed the Little Person to the ground. When the others tried to help him up Mr Tiny attacked each one of them. He ripped their robes apart, kicked them to the ground and just shouted at them like worthless dogs. More for Sarah's sake than my own I wanted her away from here but she wouldn't budge.

"Make him stop Darren" She whimpered, the tears climbing into the corners of her eyes. "He's hurting them. Make him stop" Just as I was about to pick her up and carry her away from this torment she escaped my grip and was running straight towards them. Mr Tiny picked up another Little Person but just before he got to do any more damage his attention was quickly caught by Sarah.

"Stop!" She threw her arms straight out in front of her and tackled Mr Tiny. I felt my mouth drop to the ground like a dead weight as Mr Tiny and the Little Person fell to the ground. It think the same thing happened to Mr Tall too. This has never happened before. Hell, no one has barely even raised their voice to Mr Tiny before. In all the confusion I didn't even realise my feet were moving. I saw Mr Tiny pick himself up, adjusting his glasses but strangely he didn't look mad.

"Well, what do we have here?" his calm voice was even more intimidating than him shouting, if that's possible. "Do you have any idea who I am child?"

"I don't care! You were hurting my friends! It's not right to hurt people!" I've never seen her so full of fire and fury but I can't help think it's going to be for nothing. Mr Tiny began dusting himself off.

"But didn't you just hit me? What kind of logic is that?"

"You wouldn't have stopped if I didn't. You're a bad man" It sounds stupid but when Mr Tiny stands up straight he looks really tall. I have a bad feeling in my gut about this.

"I think it's time you were put in your place and that learn the consequences for going against Desmond Tiny" I ran as I saw him extend his arm to grab her. A Little Person got there before me though. He stood in front of Sarah with his arms out wide. "What do you think your doing? I see." I don't like that tone he's using. It can only mean something bad. "Then you'll make a nice ice breaker for my lesson" He reached again and touched the Little Person on the head. He exploded. I was just three feet away when it happened. There was blood, bones, organs and grey skin everywhere. I threw my arms to protect myself. When it stopped I realised Sarah hadn't made a noise. Shouldn't she be screaming or something? I found out why. In the moment of shock Mr Tiny had Sarah by the throat in one hand and his other hand was pressed against her forehead. She was deadly still.

"Desmond please" pleaded Mr Tall "She's just a child she doesn't know any better"

"Exactly. Now she will" He let her fall to the ground. The life returned to her body slowly. Her hands shook as she brought them up to her eyes. She rolled to her side and curled up into a tight ball. I was almost afraid to move until Sarah wailed like she was in terrible pain. I scrambled to the ground pulling her into my arms as she cried her heart out.

"You know" said Mr Tiny in a proud tone. " You look just like her. I bet you'll end up turning out just like she did. So weak and feeble." Her? Her who? Sarah suddenly stopped crying then out of nowhere she broke free from my arms and charged at Desmond. She screamed loud enough to make me cover my own ears. Again she tackled him to the ground only this time she went down with him. She pinned him and screamed bloody murder as she threw her fist wildly at Mr Tiny. I Just sat there. I couldn't move. The shock of the whole thing was too much.

"Take it back!" She roared. "I don't wanna see it! I don't wanna see-"Mr Tiny caught her fist.

"I was wrong. You're more like him" I don't know how but it was the air was growing thicker by the second. As if what ever Sarah was feeling at that second was being amplified and pumped into the air. She crawled off Mr Tiny and slumped on to the grass, ignoring the pieces of carcass around her. I moved and knelt by her side. She was holding her hands in front of her, looking at them like they were some kind of abnormality. It was the look on her face that wounded me though.

"Sarah?" I croaked "Are you ok?" As I leaned in closer she whispered: "No" She said it over and over again getting louder each time until finally she screamed. It was like watching a mirror break. Once a beautiful piece of glass, so fragile and innocent that it tells no lies until, a crack appears. It gets bigger and bigger, as if everything that it's managed to keep away is pushing it's way through. Watching Sarah was like watching a mirror shatter; everything that held it together was falling apart until it's nothing more than broken glass. She ran. "Sarah wait!" Before I could go after her I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. It was Mr Tall and from the look on his face I already knew what he was going to say. So, I steeped aside and watched him walk away, following Sarah's direction.

"You're sick Desmond. What's wrong with you? She was finally happy. What did you do to her?" I could taste the hate in my own voice but I couldn't care.

"I only showed her what she is"

I'm a disgrace. Nothing more and everything less. Why did I just stand there? She needed me and all I did was watch!

"Hibernius!" Evra? He appeared behind me and he looks worried about something. "It's Sarah Hibernius. Have you seen her?"

"Yes" I answered calmly, probably more than I should have. "And now I'm trying to find her. Have you seen her?"

"She's in her tent now. What happened? Urcha came and got me for some reason, he wouldn't tell me because he was so panicky. I thought someone was badly hurt. I followed him and he led me to Sarah. Hibernius, she looked like she'd been throwing up for days. She was as white as a sheet and wouldn't talk when I asked her what was wrong. I had to carry her to her tent because she wouldn't move either" the more Evra talked the more I felt I had really let Sarah down more than ever.

"There's no need for you to worry any more Evra, thank you" I know it seems inconsiderate. He's just concerned for Sarah. He even offered to take her in when I first brought her to the Cirque. I guess he felt the same pain she did back then. I insisted I would look after her though, it was my responsibility and I'm making a fine job of it.

I felt cold all over the closer I got to her tent and everything around it looked so dark and menacing. The inside was even worse. It was as if everything sad and miserable was growing like mould in here. Sarah was curled up inside her hammock, her back facing towards me. I could here these strange scratching noises and when I came close enough to see over her, I noticed it was her paper pad and pencil. What ever Desmond did to her it must be serious it if it's causing her to endure this. I can't see what she's drawing, her body is too hunched over but I can clearly hear her crying. I crouched down and gingerly touched her shoulder. Her muscles are tense, almost rigid.

"Go away" She mumbled. It was directed at me, surely. "Bad pictures. Go away. Bad pictures. Go away"

"Sarah" she gasped. She mustn't have realised I came in. Her face was soaked with tears and Evra was right, she did look she'd been sick. "I'm so sorry sweetie" she raised her arms up slowly looking so desperately scared. I picked her up and sat down with her in my arms, holding her close. I'm sure it's more painful for her than me but I can't bare this.

"I saw mummy. I forgot what she looked like but I saw her. I saw him too. There was blood…mummy was crying and…and.."

Please stop. Please stop Sarah. I can't bare it. I felt her grip my jacket tightly.

"My…Dad" There was so much hate in her voice that it actually scared me. "I saw my nightmare but it wasn't all fuzzy like it is in my sleep" This is torture and I let it happen!

"I…want to make it better but, I don't know how. I thought I took it all away when I found you. I'm useless. But I want you to tell me. I want to know how I can make it better" There was a long silence. I could feel my chest tighten and the lump in my throat was growing larger by the second.

"I just don't wanna think of him as my Dad no more. I don't wanna be like him. I don't wanna hurt my family"

"I'll do it" I said abruptly. "I don't know if I'll be any good at it but I know I'm better than him. If a dad is all you want sweetie then I'll do my best" I don't if it's the right thing to say but it just came out. In a way it was a relief to say it but at the same time I'm terrified. Do I have the right to ask for something like that? I've made such a mess already. Would this make it any better? Am I just being selfish? Suddenly I could hear thunder and moments later lightning struck. Sarah pressed her face into my chest.

"Daddy, I'm cold" I gently rubbed her back to calm her down. She really is scared of storms like this.

"Come on then sweetie. You can sleep in the van with me tonight. It's nice and warm in there"

Dude, this was a long chapter for me. I felt the last one was pretty short so i worked hard to make this one longer. also to make up for the last chapter being short i submitted this and the last chapter at the same time. Hope you enjoy. it might be a while before the next update but if I get new reviews then who knows