OMG O.o

I am sooooooooooooo sorry for not updating!

I've been busy with exams and all, and now that I'm done I forgot to update my stories and all and and and

*takes in deep breath*

I got my results back

Let's just say, I was disappointed in myself.

I just hope I get into the course I want.

I'll try and update more often now, I don't want to become lazy and all.

Dark Woods Circus

Chapter 4 –

Fay woke with a start, sweating and panting before placing attentive hand to her face. She looks to her left and sees Shan sleeping soundly next to her. She breaths a sigh of relief before sitting up and pulling away her side of the curtain. Fay sees Fly sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in one hand as she reads what looks like a newspaper. She looks up at the sound of Fay waking up and smiles briefly towards her before looking back to the paper before her.

"Did you sleep well enough?" She asks Fay as the teen sits opposite the older woman. Fay nods her head as she leans across the table to see what she was reading.

It was, indeed, a newspaper, but not one that was what she assumed to be from the outside world. Fay's memories, the ones she thought were real, gave her a good indication into what a real newspaper should look like, and she could tell that this was not what it was meant to be like.

It had 'Circus Times' written in big, bold letters as the heading above a picture with an article underneath it. Fay tilts her head so that she has a better view of the paper and what the article states. Fly notices this and holds up the paper so that Fay can read what the article indicated. It was about a new birth in the circus, the birth of a healthy young boy that would follow his father in becoming a clown to entertain those who travel to the circus. The picture was a drawing of the boy and his joyful parents. It made Fay's heart sing at seeing such a marvellous thing as the main story of the paper.

"Their trying to act as normal as possible." Fly comments as she places it down and begins to read it again. Fay sits back down before twiddling her thumbs. She looks over to where Viv and Nick are sleeping, sharing only one bed due to their new condition, before standing and waling into the makeshift kitchen.

She opens the fridge to find it practically empty before opening up cupboard after cupboard in search of food to no avail. She finds the coffee and smells it before pulling away and wrinkling up her nose. "This stuff smells horrible." She declares before looking at Fly. "Does it taste that way?"

Fly takes another sip before looking up at Fay and grins. "Yep, it's pretty bad stuff compared to Koo Island." She says before laughing at her joke.

Fay frowns at the comment before pouring herself a mug of pain, hot water. It wasn't much, but at least it was something. She walks towards the table and slowly sips her drink.

Shan had just woken up when the ringmaster walks into the tent. Viv and Nick were still sprawled on their bed, deep in their sleep, as Shan pours himself a cup of coffee and takes a sip, to which he grudgingly swallows. He looks to Fly and Fay who giggle at his disgusted face before pouring his cup into the sink.

Mr. Peak exams those awake with a casual smile before speaking. "How did you find your first night here?" He asks those awake. Fly shrugs her shoulders as she continues to read the paper before her. Shan rinses his cup before answering. "It was nice to sleep in a bed instead of the floor." He comments.

Mr. Peak smiles at him before looking at Fay for some approval. She looks at him and shrugs her shoulders. "To be honest," she begins. "That's the first time I've ever been in a proper bed before. And I have to admit, it wasn't as nice as I thought it would be."

The ringmasters smile fades a little before soaring back to its former glory. "Not to worry, not to worry," he says. "A bed is a bed, nothing really all that special to it." He walks further into the tent to where the table is situated in the centre of the makeshift room.

Fly looks anxiously at him, for once removing her eyes from the paper before her. Shan slowly walks away from the sink to stand behind Fay who looks up at him blankly. Viv and Nick just turn in their bed, comfy and content with their dream.

"I have a few jobs for you to do." He addresses the trio before him. "I would like you to help around the circus, if that wouldn't be too hard to ask for, no?"

"I don't see why not." Shan replies. "After all, you have given us a place to stay. The least we can do is help out when needed."

The ringmaster smiles in agreement. "Good, good, splendid, splendid! I shall assign you all a task to complete right away!"

"You mean, right now?" Fay asks.

Mr. Peak looks at her a little puzzled before nodding his head. "Of course right now. There are jobs to do, things to prepare for. I don't have all day, you know."

Fay looks down before casting a sideways glance towards Fly. A silent communication between the pair occurs to which Fly voices Fay's concern. "What about Viv and Nick?" She says. "I would prefer it if one of us remains here while they sleep."

This statement didn't rest well with the ringmaster as he purses his lips briefly before returning to his trade mark smile. Fay was beginning to think that he had a permanent smile hidden behind hi frowns at all times, ready for any situation. "Fine then," he says to Fly. "I will allow you to remain here until they wake up. As for you two," he returns his gaze to Fay before looking briefly towards Shan whose hand was gently resting on Fay's shoulder. "I will expect you to attend to a few tasks before lunch. Is that clear?"

Fay nods her head as Shan gives the ringmaster a mock salute. "Understood, sir." Shan replies, causing a small laugh from the girl before him and a sly smile for Fly next to him. Mr. Peak was less than amused, although his smile never faded from his face.

"Very well, then." He says before leaving the tent. He pokes his head back in to gaze at Shan. "You're first task is to help Ms. Bell with her flowers, understand?" He says. He left without leaving them the time to answer.

Fay looks up at Shan who grins down at her. "You are quiet mean, you know that right?" She tells him.

He looks at her, puzzled, before leaning down and nipping her ear gently. "Now why do you say that?" He asks her as she giggles in response.

"Come on," she says. Standing up, she strides towards the tent entrance before turning back to look at him. "We have to go and meet Ms. Bell after all."