Chapter 2: The Circus

The sun was still up when Darrell arrived at the theatre. There were stories of the theatre being haunted by the boy who died. The boy died because he fell off one of the balconies, and ever since then, stories of his manifestement ran all over town

I'll see about that.

Darrell always wanted to see if the ghost boy is real or not, but she never had the chance. The caretaker never let Darrell out unless she had to go to school.

As Darrell approached the theatre, she began to think if the freaks are asleep or roaming the theatre.

Only one way to find out.

Darrell decided not to go through the entrance and went around the theatre. She took quiet steps, not wanting to attract attention. The theatre was not so huge, but Darrell made sure that no one was outside. The sun was still high up so she assumed that circus members were asleep.

I know that this type of circus perform only at night. So they'll probably sleep throughout the day. But what if they have assistances? People to put up booth for souvenirs and stuff?

And she was right. Darrell came to a corner but quickly hid, because she saw a bunch of people setting tents up. There was a couple of vans, but there was a very tall one that caught her attention.

I wonder who lives in that van.

But Darrell didn't let curiosity take over her. She spotted a door nearby her, and Darrell went for her. She hide in the shadows, making sure that the people don't see her. Once she reached the door, Darrell grabbed the doorknob and tried to open the door. She push with all her might and until the door swung open and Darrell fell in. Due to the weight of the door, it swung forward and closed with a loud THUMP.

Darrell was engulf in darkness. Not to mention, it was freezing cold! Darrell opened her backpack and began to search for her oversize hoodie. Darrell quickly put on her hoodie and shivered as she tried to get warm.

Man. why is it so cold in here? It was nice and toasty outside.

As Darrell sat in the darkness, she listen closely for any nearby voices. But the voices she only heard was the ones outside. She could hear a couple of people barking orders while others laugh as they work.

Suddenly, she felt a very, very cold chill run down her spine. The hairs on her neck and arms began to stick up. Darrell slowly turned around and came face to face with a little ghost boy. The two just stared at one another.

The boy was very pale, almost blue. He was very skinny, malnutrition. The fat on his face was gone and Darrell could see his cheek bones. His bags underneath his eyes were very dark, as if he never gotten any sleep.

"Who are you?" The little boy asked. His voice was very shallow and emotionless.

Darrell settled down a bit and gave the boy a small smile. "My name is Darrell Spectre. Do you remember your name?" She asked. Usually, when Darrell meet with ghosts, they don't tend to remember their own names. Either they forgotten it once they died, or that they stayed in purgatory for so long and over time, their forgotten their name.

The boy's eyes widen and his eyebrows knitted, a large frown appearing on his face. "I...I can't...I can't remember." The boy said, both of his hands reaching towards his head.

Darrell frown. He suffered the same face as the others. Poor kid. "Do you remember how you died?" Darrell asked, although she doesn't like asking this question. The ghosts usually begin to freak out as they try to remember and would attack her in their fit of rage.

Surprisingly, the boy nod his head. "I remember...being up so high up...and then..." But the boy didn't finish as tears began to fall down his face. He hunched over and began to scream in horror. It was so loud and ear popping, Darrell had to cover her ears.

He sounds like a banshee! "Kid! It's okay! Nothing bad is going to happen to you! You can stop remembering!" Darrell yelled out through the boy's wailing. But it was no use. The boy kept on screaming. With a big sigh, Darrell uncover her ears and went up to the boy. She softly embraced him, trying to calm him down. "It's okay. Nothing is going to hurt you. The pain has past. You can move on." She said to him as the little boy slowly calmed down. The boy sniffed as he tightly hugged Darrell back. It surprised her, hardly any ghosts wants to make contact with her. And if they did, they usually attack her.

Darrell kept the boy close to her, nothing was said between the two. The boy felt very cold to the touch, as if Darrell was carrying ice with her bare hands. But Darrell felt very warm and welcoming to the boy, enjoyed her presence. "You don't have to be scared anymore. Or alone. You can move on now." Darrell told him. "I know that your death affected you deeply. But there are other kids in the afterlife, waiting for another playmate." Darrell softly pulled away, smiling at the kid. "You are not alone when you cross over."

The boy looked scared. "You've been here for too long. It is time to move on." She continued.

"Are you sure...nothing bad is going to happen to me?" The boy asked.

Darrell smiled at him. "I promise." She said as she crossed her heart.

The little ghost boy smiled at her and suddenly, he began to disappear, until he was fully gone. Darrell sighed, still in the sitting position she was in when she encountered the boy.

To be honest, I don't know what happens in the afterlife. But, that kid seems very nice. I bet he lived a good life. And I'm positive that God would take him in, with the other lost children.

Darrell stood up and stretched a bit. The boy may have been freezing cold, but she soon began to feel warm again. She grabbed her backpack and began to look around. The place wasn't so dark anymore because Darrell got use to the darkness. There were several always and she noticed a couple of signs that indicated the bathrooms. Other signs showed where the seats were at or a couple of small restaurants.

I shouldn't go to the main seats just yet. So, where could I stay until the show begins?

Darrell noticed another sign and it said 'balcony view'. She gulped as she shivered a bit. Darrell is not a fan of heights and just encountering a boy who died from the balcony didn't help her either. But she took her chances and decided to stay in the left balcony. Darrell slowly approached the edge and she slowly looked down. Sweat trailed down her face as she saw how high up she was.

Hehe, this ain't too bad. She thought as she looked at the audience. The chairs are empty and no freaks in sight. I wonder where they could be. She thought to herself as she slowly stepped away from the edge. She sat down and fished out a picture from her backpack. The picture was the size of her palm, and the was the only picture she had of her family.

Her mother and father was standing right next to each other, smiling at the camera, while a baby Darrell was cradle in her mother's arms. But Darrell wasn't looking at the camera. Instead, she was looking at something that was at the right hand corner, as though something caught her attention. But Darrell, already knew what it was; it was a ghost. Baby Darrell's face looked as though she was interested at what she was seeing, her lower jaw slightly opened as though she was in awe.

Every time Darrell sees herself in this picture, she would laugh a bit on how silly she looked. But then, Darrell heard footsteps and voices near the stage. She laid on her belly so that if someone were to look up at the balconies, they will not notice her. But curiosity overtook her, and she slowly crawled towards the edge and gazed down. Darrell didn't see anyone until the voices came again and she saw a couple of people coming from the backstage and getting onto the stage.

"So, are we going to have the same performers perform again tonight?" Asked a man, and judging by the way he dressed, Darrell guessed that he was one of the workers.

"Yes, everyone is going to perform. But we are going to had a little twist. The Wolfman would be allow to walk along side the aisles of audiences and we will allow them to stroke him." Said a very, very tall man that when he appeared, Darrell was stun to see such a tall man. But being so high up, Darrell couldn't tell his facial features.

But the man didn't felt comfortable with that suggestion. "I don't know that would be wise, sir. But if you say so, shall he go first or last?"

"First. I want to test the audience." The tall man said. He then glanced up at the balconies, the right one first and then he looked at the left.

Darrell hide away, hoping that the giant man didn't spot her. She stayed quiet, waiting for the two men to continue on whatever they were doing. And they did.

"So Wolfman goes first. I'll tell the others." The worker man said as he walked away. The tall man alway walked away.

Oh man, that was close. Darrell sighed to herself as her body relaxed. Well, time to wait for the show to begin.

Darrell was getting so bored that she just ignore the people flooding into the theatre, preparing themselves for the show. Some were just chit chatting with others, while other people put on makeup. But throughout the whole mummering and chattering, Darrell recognized two voices.

"Look, Steve! Open seats!"

"Chill out, Darren!"

Darrell peaked through the gaps of the railing and spotted Darren and Steve. Darrell grinned as she spotted the two boys sitting down, very excited for the show. Well, mostly Darren. Then the whole audience goes quiet and Darrell knew that the show was starting. As Darrell looked down at the stage through the shadows, she saw that very tall man again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Cirque du Freak, home of the world's most remarkable human beings!" He announced as he took off his top hat and gave the audience a small bow. "I am your host for this evening and the owner of this circus, Mr. Tall at your service."

, huh. Well, that explains a lot.

Mr. Tall then put back on his top hat. "The Cirque du Freak has been in business for over 500 years. Our lineup has changed many times but never our aim, I assure you. We are committed to astounding and terrifying you!" Darrell glanced at the audience and she noticed that a lot of people got a little bit scared. She then looked at Steve and Darren. Darren was sitting at the edge of his seat, a big grin on his face. And Steve was leaning back against his chair, a smile on his face.

"Those who are easily scared should leave now. I'm sure there are people who came tonight thinking that our freaks would be people in masks or harmless misfits, this is not so! Every act you see tonight is real!" He shouted at the audience. Then he cleared his throat. "But enough shouting from me. The world's most incredible show will soon begin. You will forgive me for introducing our first act in hushed tones." He then placed his index finger on his lips. "Presenting you, the Wolfman." He said almost as a whispered.

As he finished saying that, he left towards backstage and two ladies entered the stage. One was pulling a large cage and the other was holding a medallion. A lady in the audience slightly screamed a bit. Darrell would had too but she got the message from Mr. Tall when he spoke very quietly. The Wolfman was...well, a man but with a wolf-like appearance. He grab the bars of his cage and began to shake him, trying to get out. He growled and snarled at the audience and at the two ladies.

"You must be quiet." The lady with the medallion told the audience in a hush voice. "The Wolfman will not be able to hurt you as long as we control him." She said as she spun the medallion in front of the Wolfman.

I get it. She's hypnotizing him.

"But a loud sound could wake him up, and then he would be deadly." She said as the two girls lead the Wolfman out of his cage.

It's a good thing I'm up here. But I hope Darren and Steve would be safe.

The audience was allowed to stroke the Wolfman, and Darrell spotted Steve who actually pet the Wolfman. More and more people wanted to pet the Wolfman that they began to push people aside in the chairs. But then, a lady lost her balance and she slammed onto the ground, screaming in surprised. The whole crowd went quiet as the glanced at the woman and then to the Wolfman. And then, the Wolfman turned around, growling.

His head arched back and he let out a loud howl. The whole audience went in a state of panic. Darrell ducked down, hoping that the creature wouldn't see or smell her. The Wolfman charged at the woman who fell. She couldn't escape and then, the Wolfman bit on the woman's left arm and tear it off.

Did that just happened? Darrell asked to herself as she saw Mr. Tall made his way towards the Wolfman. He grabbed the Wolfman, who dropped the arm onto the ground. Bloody hell, that did just happen. Mr. Tall whispered something to the Wolfman, and then the creature went limp. Then a little man in a blue cloak ran up to Mr. Tall, carrying a bag and the woman's arm.

spray some dust onto the woman's arm and wound, he then sew the woman's arm back.

"I-It's moving! I can move my fingers!" The lady announced, astonishing the whole crowd.

But how is that possible?

"PLEASE FOLLOW OUR RULES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" shouted as the Wolfman was locked up into his cage. "THIS IS NOT A NICE, SAFE CIRCUS WERE NOTHING GOES WRONG! WE CANNOT GUARANTEE ANYBODY'S SAFETY! YOU CAN'T ACCEPT THAT, LEAVE! LEAVE NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!" He finished yelling.

Darrell knew that she was safe onto of the balcony but she glanced at Steve and Darren. But they weren't moving an inch. In fact, no one was. Everybody actually stayed to see the rest of the show. And because of the Wolfman incident, the show proceeded without any further problems. The next performer was Rhamus Twobellies, and his last name is no lie. He actually has two stomachs!

Seeing Rhamus gobble up all that food made Darrell sick to her stomach. so he ignore his performance until the next one appeared, which was Alexander Ribs the Rib Man. He was very thin, so thin that Darrell could all of his bones! He was like a skeleton with skin on! Alexander took two drumsticks and took a whack at his ribs, and musical sounds radiated from him. It was very surprising but cool! The next performer, or performers were the Twisted Twins, Sive and Seersa. They were acrobats. It's like their whole body are double-jointed! It was very perplexing.

The next performer was Gertha Teeth, and her teeth was so strong! So strong that her teeth could bite through anything! She even used a chainsaw to try and break her teeth, which didn't work at all! Then there was Hans Hands, a performer who uses his hands to run. With a cigarette between his lips and goggles on his face, he outran-out hand ran-any guest who tried to beat him in a race around the stage. After him was Truska and Darrell has never seen a woman so beautiful in her life! Only weird thing was, she had a beard! announced that if anyone could cut off Truska's beard, they would win a solid gold bar. Sadly, no one was able to cut off her beard. Then was the Snake Boy, and literally, the boy was a snake! Green hair, light green scales for skin, eyes split like a snake. But he was so young!

He could be my age. Maybe even Darren and Steve. Darrell thought as she watched the Snake Boy bring in an-an anaconda! Darrell freaked out when she saw the size of the snake! But the Snake Boy was in control and nothing bad happened. Darrell liked his performance and silently applauded when he and his anaconda left the stage. I would love to work with him if I join the Cirque Du Freak.

Once the Snake Boy had left the stage, reappeared. "Next up is the world's rarest couple. It'll be a very dangerous stage, so please do not make any loud noise." He said as a man wearing a red cape, with two black stripes. His underclothing mostly resembled a suit. And he worn a top hat that was red with black stripes, circling upward. " and the performing spider, Madam Octa!" said as he quickly left the stage.

Darrell stared at the performer. He looks...very familiar.

"I've been waiting for you!" Darrell heard Darren yell out.

Darrell shakes her head. He kind of broke the silent rule. Oh well, he was pretty excited, mostly for the spider. Darrell noticed Steve, who looked very bored. Then she saw Steve's expression changed, and he looked very shock. His skin went paler than normal. Darren also noticed but Steve shushed him.

What's gotten into him? Darrell wondered as she looked back at the performer. But it was her turn to gasp and go pale. He looks like the man from last night! She saw that his eyes moved from the audience and up at her. Darrell duck even more, but she spotted that he was still looking at that direction. She heard him chuckled and he went up to that little table that had the cage. "Madam Octa is a very rare spider. She has a deadly poison as well as intellect." He said as he unlocked the cage. As he played his flute, one of the female helpers entered the stage with a goat. Suddenly, the spider turned towards the goat, leaped at it, and took a big bite. The goat then fell over.

"This flute is how I control Madam Octa. I've been with Madam for a long time, but she's not my pet. If I didn't had this flute, I would have been dead." He explained. "This goat is paralyzed. I trained her not to kill with her first bite. But death will come. Let's release it from its pain." He said as he began to play his flute. The goat stopped moving, but there was a sudden noise in the front row, causing Madam Octa to hiss at the audience. The audience gasped loudly. "Silence, please!" shout. "Remember your earlier warning; No sudden noises!" He shout before playing his flute. Madam Octa crawled up arm. "There, you are safe now." He said as Madam kept on crawling up to his face.

What is he planning? Darrell thought as the spider finally got right in front of 's face. "But please understand, and don't make any loud noise, or I will be in danger." Madam Octa tend sling down with her web, which was attached to 's tongue. He then quickly arch his head backwards, sending Madam flying upward. He opened his mouth wide and Madam Octa landed on top of his mouth.

Then the two female helpers began to play together with their own flutes and Madam spun a web on 's mouth. As Madam Octa spun her web down towards her cage, ate the web. Once she was in her cage, locked as well, bowed. "Delicious. Nothing tastier than fresh spiderwebs. They are a treat where I come from." He said as the whole audience applauded him. With one more looked up at Darrell, who was still hiding, he put his hat back on and left the stage. Darrell glanced at Darren, who looked very excited and happy. But Steve on the other hand, had a strange look in his eyes. But it quickly changed as it came.

That was weird. Darrell thought before ducking down when reappeared back on stage, with all the performers. Darrell stared at the performers as the audience clapped. But her eyes wandered to . Even though he had his hat on and was facing the audience, she saw his eyes darted towards her. But she didn't duck down this time, because she knew that he was aware of her presence. She stared back at him with her electric blue eyes, before she noticed the Snake Boy giving a small wave towards Darren.

As the performers left the stage, announced that there will be souvenirs and snacks in the hallway, near the entrance. Darrell watched the audience leave the main theatre and enter the hallways. Suddenly, she heard every footsteps behind her. As she turned around, she came face to face with a little creature wearing a blue cloak. It's skin was grey and it had stitches all over it's body. Jagged teeth and big green eyes.

Darrell wanted to scream in shock with it quickly put a index finger over her lips, telling her to be quiet. Darrell quickly shut up and stared at the thing. As quietly as she can, she whispered, "What are you?" The grey gremlin did it's best of a smile, it's green eyes looking sad at her. She stared at it for a minute, until something began to form behind the gremlin. A white mist appeared and Darrell's body shivered, temperatures dropping even more. As she watched the mist form into a shape, she gasped quietly.

The mist formed into an teenage-looking Darren. He had battle scars and burn marks and he looked very sad, but his smile never left. His hairstyle was the same, just a little bit more spikier and thinner. With wide eyes, Darrell stared back at the gremlin. "Darren?" The gremlin nod it's head. "B-but, how is that possible? Darren was just-" But before Darrell could finish, the little gremlin known as Darren, shushed her and grabbed her arm. He pulled her out of the balcony and led her to the roof access. He pointed towards the door, telling her to go. Darrell pushed the heavy door and appeared on the roof. She turned back at Gremlin Darren, who pointed towards the ledge of the roof.

"Are you serious?" She asked him, who nod his head. "Okay. But I'm trusting you." She said as she sat near the ledge. She looked over as she watched people leaving the theatre. Darrell looked back and Gremlin Darren was gone. With an eyebrow raised, she heard a frightful scream down below. She looked and saw Darren, the one she knows and grew up with, running for dear life. He was screaming as he left the theatre, cross the street, back towards home. "What was that all about?" She asked as she turned around, seeing Gremlin Darren walking up to her.

He shrugged as he sat next to her, his jagged smile still on his face. Darrell nervously smiled back, until she noticed that Gremlin Darren's parts were slowly crumbling away. "Hey! You're breaking apart!" She said as she reach towards him. But Gremlin Darren shook his head as he stepped away from her. "You don't want me to help you?" Darrell asked, as Gremlin Darren nod his head. Darrell stood up as Gremlin Darren fully stood up and pointed towards the door. He slowly, yet painfully led the way. She noticed the more he walked, the more small piece crumbled and faded away. Darrell felt bad for the little guy. "Oh bloody hell." She said as she picked up Gremlin Darren, which surprised him. "I'm not going to let you walk on your own as you slowly fade away." Darrell told me. "Now, tell me where do you want to go next."

Gremlin Darren sighed through his mouth, as he pointed back towards the balcony. As she reached the balcony, she set Gremlin Darren down. He softly nudge Darrell towards the edge, making her glance down. As she did, she noticed Steve and . What is Steve doing? She looked back at Gremlin Darren, he nod his head, telling her to watch what's going to happen. Darrell looked back down and watched the pair.

"How may I help you, young man?" Darrell heard asked Steve.

Darrell saw Steve trembling. Was it fear? Nervous? Or was it anxiousness? "I know what you are... . Or should I say...Vur Houston! The vampire!" He shouted as he faced .

V-vampire?

"Please, turn me into a vampire!" He deviously asked .

The two stared at one another. The look on Steve's face was seriously. He was not joking! Which scared Darrell, because Steve is being serious, he means it!

nubbed the temple of his forehead, giving off an annoyed sigh. "If it's surgery you want, might I suggest plastic surgery. Otherwise, seeking a psychiatrist is good." He told Steve.

"Shut up!" Steve shout. "I'm serious about this! You ARE a vampire, aren't you!?"

Darrell then glanced at who tugged at his cape. "What proof do you have?" He questioned.

"I saw it in an old occult book." Steve began to say. "If I can recall, there was a painting from Paris done in 1903. Though there weren't any scars in the painting, I'm sure it was you. Vur Hurston!"

I remember that book. But I never saw any inside the book, let alone the painting. Darrell thought to herself, as chuckled.

"I see. So, this is why you were staring at me so intently throughout the whole show." He said with a smirk on his face. "Oh well, I guess someone would have figured it out eventually. So, what's your motive? The write to publish my story?" He asked sarcastically.

"No! I want to be a vampire! Teach me the vampire ways! I'll be your underling! As long as I can be one!" Steve exclaimed. He looked frantic.

Now there was no smile on 's face. "What makes you even want to be a vampire? It's no fun and games! You're confined to walking around at night! You'll be despised by humans!"

"I don't care." Steve simply put.

looked even more annoyed. "Well, what about your family?! You won't be able to meet them ever again! And your friends! What about the boy you came with tonight?! Won't you miss him at all?!" questioned, trying his best to change Steve's mind. But Darrell knew that it wouldn't work. Once Steve's mind is made up, he won't have a second thought.

"My father doesn't live with us anymore. My mom rarely notices me. I could be gone and she wouldn't care." Steve began to tell his sob story. "But Darren...yeah, I'll miss him..." He said, a small yet sad smile appeared on his face. "But that doesn't matter! I want to be a vampire more than I care about him! Please!"

Now that is really cold of you, Steve. Darrell grinded her teeth. At least he has a mother, a home that he could call. Family! And me? What the bloody hell do I have? Nothing! It angered Darrell to the core. He's sobbing about his life when Darrell's life is far more worse than his. Only problem is, he know what it feels like to have an actual family member ignores me, not show much kindness. But Darrell knows how it feels like to be rejected by countless of families and beaten nearly to death.

"You've given this a lot of thought. Are you sure of this?" asked, serious and calm now. Steve nod his head. "Come, I must test you first." He said as he cutted Steve's fingertips. Darrell noticed how Steve was shaking, but she could see what was doing. Suddenly, violent shoved Steve away. "What was that for?! What's wrong?!" Steve asked as he slowly stood up.

"You have bad blood!" said, blood dripping from his mouth. "The instinct of a murderer dwells inside you!" He said as he pointed towards Steve. "There is no way I'll allow such a devil into our clan! I'll never allow it!"

"No! You take that back!" Steve cried.

Darrell watched as Steve ran away crying, no hope of becoming a creature of the night. Darrell turned around, now shock and uncomfortable. "Did you knew that this was going to happen?" She asked Gremlin Darren, who nod his head. "And you stopped Darren, the mini one, from watching this. That's why you scared him off. But why make me watch this?" She asked as Gremlin Darren pointed toward , who was now wiping the blood off of his mouth.

quickly turned around, and came eye contact with Darrell. "I knew you were up there the whole time. You and the little person."

Little person? "What do you mean...the whole time?" She asked nervously. Suddenly he was gone in a blur.

"I mean that, since the nightfall." A voice behind her said. Darrell turned around and saw standing a few inches away from her. The Gremlin Darren was long gone. "I knew that the little person was watching you. I noticed you watching me with curiosity. Just like the night before at the orphanage."

Darrell gulped. "It was you. Tell me, are you the man who gives credits to the caretaker every year for me?" She asked.

chuckled. "Yes I am. And heard that you're quite the sly fox when it comes to stealing and running away. But not sly enough."

Darrell grumbled. "What left for me to runaway to? I got no living relatives, and there was no way I was going to put my friend's in danger. I'm not that stupid." She told him.

"Friends. Tell me, where those two boys your friends?" He asked, eyes glued to hers.

Darrell nod. "B-but they're good! They're just...weird. They're into the unknown and slightly ghoulish world. They were the first ones to accept me for who I am!" She said, trying her best to defend Steve and Darren.

"Even so, that boy has evil blood. You are lucky that you didn't encountered his...darker personality." told her. Darrell glared at him, who chuckled at her. "That glare. It reminds me of your father."

Darrell gasped. "You knew my father?"

"But of course! I knew your parents ever since you were still in your mother's womb." exclaimed. "Your father was also interested in the darker side of life. He studied werewolves and vampires, witches and cadejos. Anything that interested the horror side of cinema." He smirked.

"One afternoon, your father found my resting place. From the moment he looked at me, he knew that I was a vampire. He waited till nightfall, for me to wake up. As I did, I saw him holding a pistol straight at me."

Darrell listen to 's story. "I was in not need of blood, so I did not threaten him. Slowly, he lowered his pistol and, surprisingly, the two of us started a conversation. He told me everything about himself, including his family. He got to learn a little bit about me, but not of the vampire clan. As hours gone by, he told me that he countered another vampire beast, but it looked quite different." He said, face turning serious.

"A Vampaneze. Same as vampires, yet a different race. Far more vicious than us. Apparently, he accidently awoken it and killed it with his shotgun. I told him, that the Vampaneze Clan will hunt him down until he's dead."

"What did my father do?" Darrell asked. "Did you protected him?"

"Yes. Him and his newly formed family." answered. "He pleaded with me, and I took pity on him. As I protected him from harm, he gave me blood once every two weeks." Then he look grim. "But he knew that it wouldn't last long. With his last requested, he said 'When the time is right, take my daughter as your assistant.' And with that following night, I rescued you from the Vampaneze's attack and took you to the orphanage."

"But why did you take me with you? Why put me in the hell whole?" Darrell hands balled into fists. "You didn't kept my father's word! I snuck out of the orphanage so that I could join the circus! You never came for me! You only left that fucktard credits so that she could keep me longer! I saved myself!" Darrell snapped at him. Here is his, telling her the story on how her father and met. Yet he never actually returned for her. Only supported her through money.

sighed. "I couldn't take you that same night, because you were far too young. You would have not survive a day with me. You needed to grow more before I could take you under my wing." He said, but that didn't calm Darrell down. "But things are different now. We both are here, and it is time I fulfill your father's last wish. I will make you as my assistant. Oh, but not right away. I must teach you, train you, so that you will be ready when the day to blood you."

Darrell shook her head. "What if I don't want to be a vampire? I'm already a freak! I talk to dead people every single day! People make fun of me! Some are even scared of me!" Darrell snapped. "What's good about making me a vampire, when people don't even like me now!?"

"That is because you shall be a member of the Cirque du Freak." answered. Darrell's expression went from anger to confusion. "I shall be staying with the circus, so that you can be around with...freaks like yourself. That way, you can feel at home and I would teach you in an easy and calm pace." He grinned at her. "Doesn't that sound like a good idea?" He asked.

Darrell gulped. "Yeah...but..." Things were happening so fast. First the little person who was the older version of Darren. He knew what was going on the whole time. But how though? Then there was Steve. The thought of him being evil send shivers down her spine. And now encountering the man who knew her before she was born and finding out that he's a vampire. Which means that vampires are real! It startled Darrell and she didn't know how to react to all this.

placed a hand on her shoulder. "There is nothing left for you here. Only the circus and I. That's all you really need." He said in a calmer voice. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with loneliness and shock. "I am sorry for not taking you with me sooner. I just wanted to make sure that you were ready to make this decision."

"Are you serious?" Darrell nervously laughed, finally making up her mind. "Doesn't matter if you're a vampire, I'm still going. I finally found a home where I belong!" Tears trailing down her face. "I waited to moment for so long." She chock on her words, suddenly embracing . tensed up, but awkwardly embraced her back. "I'm finally home!"

"So, this is the one you spoke of. She is young." said towards .

"She may be young, but she does have a gift. The gift to see the undead. Not only that, she told me that she could interact with them. Touch them, speak to them, even help them cross over to Paradise." explained.

Darrell was nervous. was inspecting her, seeing if she was worthy of putting her as a performer. I hope I get the cut.

"Well, I can tell you this; she will not be performing any time soon." explained. "I have to see what she's made of and see if we can do anything with her 'gift'. Until then, she's with you until we reach our next destination." finished and dismissed the two.

As the two walked down a secret corridor, Darrell looked up towards . "Does that mean I'm a worker?"

"Only for the moment. But until then, you also need to focus on your powers." said as he removed her cape and hat, placing it next to his coffin. Everyone else has already gone to sleep, and and Darrell were the only ones awake. "I shall be resting in my coffin. You may use my cape as a quilt, and my hat as a pillow." He said as he quietly opened his coffin door. He stepped in and before he could fully close the lid, he bid Darrell good night and close the lid. Darrell grabbed the cape and hat, set them right next to the coffin, got comfortable, and drifted into a deep slumber.

So sorry if I took a while to upload the second chapter.

[DO NOT READ THIS PART UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY FINISHED ALL 12 BOOKS OF CIRQUE DU FREAK!]

Anyways, as you guys who actually finished the whole series, at the end of the 12th book, Darren becomes a Little Person so that he could stop his past self on spying on Steve and . That way, Darren won't feel scared around Steve or stolen the spider and give up his humanity to save Steve. But that doesn't mean the that altered the present Darren's past. Once his job was completed, he went on to Paradise.

[OKAY, YOU MAY PROCEED READING HERE!]

Well, sorry if I ruined the last book for you. And I also apologize if the ending part of this chapter felt rushed. I did rush a bit because I just wanted to finish this chapter.

Anyways, on to the next chapter!