(a/n) thank you to all those that followed and reviewed and all that. It's always the kick I need to get off my butt and tackle my writers block.
hope you enjoy.
Halloween, 1954.
The freaks had settled into their merriment in the centre of the circus grounds, while Avis had begun her Halloween on the edge of the stage.
An array of flowers had been arranged in the centre of the platform around a small framed photo of 'Jelly boy', the flexible child who had died the previous year - found hanging in his van.
Warm yellow light bounced off the tent walls, creating shadows that danced like the candle fire that lit the room.
Avis dangled her legs over the side of the stage, starring at the yellow fabric of her dress skirt as she teased it.
She felt the air around her shift as Charlie appeared next to her, picking up the wine bottle at her side.
"I didn't take you as the drinker, Red." Charlie joked, taking a swig from half empty bottle.
Avis snatched it from his hands with a scowl, setting it on her other side.
"You're too young too drink, Charlie."
"I've known you your entire life, Red, and yet, you still forget how much older I'm am than you," Charlie snickered, "if anything, I should be taking that wine from you." He said, nudging her side playfully.
"Don't you dare." Avis warned, fire burning in her hazel eyes as she looked at her dead friend.
"What's the matter with you?" Charlie asked defensively, shoulders growing tense as he encountered the guard Avis' had placed around herself.
"Just got a lot on my mind," She muttered, balling her skirt in her lap.
"Ya thinkin' about Jelly boy?" Charlie questioned, stealing a glance between the memorial behind him and the red head at his side.
"About Jelly boy, about the man that killed him, about Halloween in general," she replied, "I'm thinking about a lot of things really."
"As hard as you try, Red, you are a terrible liar. You're not here to sit by Jelly boy's tribute and devote your thoughts to him, you're here to sit by the piano and you know it." Charlie said, a level of distaste in his voice as he made the accusation. "Why are you stuck on him, the man with two faces? I mean, you do know he has two faces, right?"
A smile snuck onto Avis' lips at Charlie's inability to take anything seriously. Even when concerned he bantered. Avis took a deep breath, straightening from her slouch as she articulated an answer – as hard of an answer as it was.
"Curiosity, I guess," Avis began, her thoughts accumulating aloud for all to hear instead of within the walls of her mind where she should have kept them, "There was something strange about him –"
"You mean other than his second face?"
"Yes. It's like I was meant to meet him, like there's something more to that fortune. I… I've got to see him again. I have to find out what it is."
"So despite the fortune I gave you, the one that – in case you forgot – told you he would kill you, you still want to see him because of what? Curiosity?" Charlie questioned, "God you're as reckless as I am."
"Yeah, and I could use a decent drinking partner." Avis said, nudging Charlie, provoking a giggle from the flannel clad teen.
As the laughter died and the silence and dancing shadows reclaimed the room, Charlie's voice took the stage, quiet and meek.
"I can't stop you can I? You're going to call him again tonight, aren't you?"
"Yep," Avis replied, "and there isn't a thing you can do about it." She looked at Charlie for the first time that night, seeing the defeated look of worry in his chocolate brown eyes. "You can help me though, and watch over me like you've always done."
"From a distance, I will. But I'll have no part in helping you summon you're killer." He hissed, his voice as cold as the wind that shook the tent.
With that he was gone, and Avis was left with the candles, the dress she had chosen especially for the occasion, and the accusing eyes of Jelly boy.
The piano beckoned her, silently willing her fingers to play, and she gave in to its calls.
Her steps were light as she took her place upon the stage, sitting on the faded leather, fingers looming over ivory, ready to play –to perform. Avis mustered all the courage she could with one big breath – a single phrase sung from her mouth and she couldn't go back. She stood on the edge of a cliff, and all it would take to push her off the edge was a note, a single note.
And she jumped.
Her fingers skimmed awkwardly across the keys and music filled the tent.
"I'm giving you a night call to tell you, how I feel," She sang with the opening notes, "I'm gonna drive through the night, down the hill."
As terrified as she was, Avis kept singing, waiting for that green mist - that was her applause. "I'm gonna tell you something you don't want to hear, I'm gonna show you where it's dumped but have no fear."
As she hit the lower keys, she saw the luminous glow of green creeping between the seats, occupying the space of the audience.
Avis smiled, looking down at the black and white below her fingers with a grin.
"There's something inside you, it's hard to explain." She sang, looking up to see the ghost standing in the seating aisle, mouth agape and confusion on his face. "They're talking about you, boy, but you're still the same."
She faded out the melody, stood, and with a playful smile, took a bow - adding a theatrical flare to the end of her performance.
Edward did not move - his face frozen in a look of bewilderment.
"I know I'm terrible, but you could at least pretend you liked it." Avis quipped.
"Why am I here -" he asked, standing to attention, his hands folded over his cane, "again?"
"I'm guessing you don't often visit the same place more than once?" Avis asked, her yellow skirt swaying at her knees as she walked to the edge of the stage.
"I can't say I ever have, and I find myself in the most horrible position of not knowing what to do with myself." Edward replied, his brows furrowed, "why did you summon me? Did I not already take one of your colleagues?"
"Yes, well..." Avis began, looking to the frame of the dead child, "I had to see you again."
Edward's brow raised in surprise as she looked at him.
"Me? My sweet lady, I'm am not the sort of person people call on out of desire for companionship, are you sure you are not mistaken?"
"Yes I'm sure. Quite sure." She said as she sat on the edge next to her bottle of wine, taking it in her hands, savouring the smooth surface.
Edward stepped forward, stepping from the shadows of the seats into the light of the stage. "Is that so?"
"I needed - well, need - someone to drink with." She said, swirling the wine that shared its colour with her hair.
"You summoned me to this place... To share a drink?" Edward questioned.
"Do you want one or not?" Avis asked, her patience running short.
"It would be impolite to refuse." Edward said as he stepped forward, finding a position on the stage beside her. "Do you have a glass?"
"Just drink from the bottle." Avis said, handing it to him. She laughed as his face twisted with terror.
"Drink from the bottle?" He exclaimed, "Heaven's no!"
"You've never drunk wine from the bottle?"
"No."
"Well, there's a first time for everything." She snickered, nudging the bottle towards him.
Edward lifted the bottle to his mouth unsurely and took a sip, his nose crinkling up as he handed the bottle back to her, shaking his head and forcing himself to swallow.
"First and only time." He said with disgust, "I have never felt less like a gentleman in my entire existence!"
Avis threw her head back an laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because, you, Edward Mordrake, killer of freaks', feel your least gentleman-like act is drinking wind from a bottle." She said as she took a sip, the giddiness of alcohol adding to her amusement.
Edward sat for a moment with a sour look upon his face before his lips curved into a smile. Slowly his smile became a low chuckle and he shook his head at Avis' snide remark.
"It does sound absurd when you remark upon in that tone."
"Also, the face you pulled was pretty funny, too." She added with a titter. "It was like this-" Avis wrinkled her nose, mimicking the look he had given moments before.
Edward attempted composure but failed to suppress his amusement and his cackles filled the tent -contagious and loud.
"More?" Avis offered, ever the generous hostess.
"I'm afraid I must decline, it feels too improper to sip from the bottle."
Avis snorted, "If it's that horrible I can get you a glass?"
"If you don't mind." Edward said timidly.
Avis heaved herself off the edge of the stage, bouncing on her toes, adding a sense of mischief to her demeanour. "Come on then, let's go." She said, nodding towards the exit.
Edward froze, brows furrowing yet again - a re-accuring expression of the evening. "You didn't think I'd leave you, with your reputation, alone in my home, did you?" Avis said playfully.
"Excuse my boldness, but would it not be more plausible to not have me in your company at all?"
Avis rolled her eyes - he was almost as bad as Charlie when it came to complaining. "Come on." She groaned, grabbing his wrist and tugging him from his place leaning against the wood of the platform.
Playlist songs for chapter 3:
"There's something inside you,
It's hard to explain,
There's something inside you, boy,
And your still the same," Nightcall - London Grammar