I present to you, a rather dramatic chapter of ODM I don't know when I will update again, perhaps quickly if I get some reviews- I would like to reach at least 10 before I continue. I think it could happen. Happy new year everyone!

WC: 1908

I thought my lungs would burst by the time we finally reached the abandon building the cirque was being held at. It was an old movie theater, due for demolition in a few weeks' time. The ticket booth was empty as far as Steve and I could see, so we set our bikes behind some trash cans and looked around a bit more. There was nothing except a few doors into the building and garbage.

"Sam," Steve suddenly said. I turned my head around and found him staring at me oddly, like he had been for the last few weeks. I gave him a confused look as he continued. "Remember how I told you there was something I wanted to talk to you about?" He stuck his hands into his jean pockets and stared at his beat-up sneakers.

I folded my arms across my chest, "Yes."

"I wanted to tell you... you see…" Steve seemed to be having difficultly saying the words, and removed one of his fisted hands from his pockets. "I really like you. More than I've ever liked any girl, for that matter." Steve sounded so serious and awkward when he said it; it took all I could not to laugh at how adorable he was.

"Steve-" I said lightheartedly, but he cut me off.

"Just hear me out, ok. I know how screwed up this entire situation is- you deserve a lot better than me."

"No, Steve-" I went to tell him he was wrong, and tell Steve he meant a lot to me- as a friend.

"Stop interrupting me!" he almost yelled, I flinched at his tone of voice. This was precisely the reason my parents didn't want me hanging out with Steve-his temper could flare at any moment. "For the longest time, I've had these," he laughed coldly. "feelings. Any normal guy would ask his dad what to do about them- but seeing as my dad is not in the picture, and my mom is too drunk off her ass to help anyone, I had to figure it out on my own." The contempt in his voice was almost enough to send me running as far away as possible.

"Here," Steve said gruffly, and held out something in his hand. The faint light of a streetlamps made the object shine. Carefully, I picked it up and inspected it- a ring, far too big for my finger. A man's ring.

"It was my dad's…he left it for me, and now I want you to have it." Steve's voice was very soft and very gentle, it was the first time he had ever spoken to me- spoken to anyone, in that manner. It was a painful decision, one that would surely come back to haunt me in the future. I smiled up at him; tears pricked the back of my eyes as I put the too big ring back into his hand. Steve needed someone to be there for him; his mother was never home, his father was gone, and no one at school paid him any real attention. I knew deep down if I ever really needed Steve to be there for me, I could count on him to understand. But I couldn't pretend to feel something that wasn't there.

Before I knew what he was doing, he quickly and forcefully pulled me to him. I pushed against his chest, but even being as strong as I was- he was stronger. He crushed his lips to mine, no doubt bruising them in the process.

Gross, I couldn't help but think. My stomach felt like a stormy sea; flipping and crashing and twisting. I felt guilty that I couldn't love Steve back. I wished more than anything that it would feel natural and comfortable to be with him, but it didn't. He was going too far. When he tried to deepen the kiss, I didn't let him. He pinched me, hoping I would let up. When I didn't, he settled for trying to push hishands under my shirt.

"Let go of me!" I yelled, realizing his error Steve released me quickly. His eyes were filled with so much hurt and betrayal that I had to look away.

"I'm sorry Steve," I didn't want to see him like this.

He offered me a shaky smile, "Its fine, I'll be ok."

"Let's just have a good time, Steve." He nodded as a door hidden in the shadows opened revealing an impossibly tall man- so tall in fact he had to stoop over so he didn't hit the doorframe. And his head was abnormally large in size, covered with long dark hair that was tied back from his face.

"Tickets." his deep voice spoke- his mouth was surrounded by a thick black beard, dark as the shadows he hid in. We both handed him our tickets; which he tore, handing us back the stubs, and pocketed the rest somewhere in his dark blue cloak.

"Are you both 21." he asked his tone both jovial and serious, even though it was obvious neither one of us could pass for that age.

"Yes." Steve said confidently.

"Any heart problems or anxiety?"

"Nope," I chimed in. His dark eyes peered down at me, indifference turned to mirth as his face brightened with a grin. The hallway behind him lit up with torches just as he smiled, and I felt like the creepy-ness factor was just about to be raised a few decimals.

"Please, come inside. And enjoy your time at the Cirque Du Freak." He said warmly. With a great sweep of his cloak, he started to lead us down the hallway.

"My name is Mr. Tall, and I manage the Cirque." He stated with pride.

"It must fun!" I added trying to make polite conversation.

"All these acts are real right? I'm an expert on the occult, I'll know if it's fake..." Steve interjected.

We rounded a corner and were suddenly standing in the threshold of a large theater, a makeshift stage underneath the projection screen.

"To answer your question Mr. Leonard, yes- all the acts are indeed real. And if you wish to see another showing of the Cirque, you will be wise not to question the validity of any one of these performers." Mr. Tall's voice held an icy edge while addressing Steve. "I hope you and Miss Shan have a nice time this evening."

Steve looked at me, anger etched in his face, but just as he turned back to challenge Mr. Tall he stopped short. He was gone.

"H-How did he know our names?" I asked shakily.

"No clue," Steve said uneasily. " Let's go grab some seats in the front row." he smiled, and even though it didn't reach his eyes- I followed, believing that he had gotten over my rejection of him and come to his senses.

After ten minutes of awkward silence between Steve and me, the large crowd that had gathered finally settled down and the lights dimmed. Mr. Tall appeared on stage and the room erupted into applause. I vaguely recalled my nightmare from the other night, a shiver running down my spine.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you. Tonight we bring you astonishing and startling acts from across the seas. At this time we ask all electronic devices be shut off and put away for everyone's convenience." When he had finished speaking, two beautiful, yet identical, women walked on stage They were dressed in matching nondescript black leotards with bare feet, sleek blonde hair pulled back into tight buns.

"The twisting twins: contortionist's Sira and Seera," Mr. Tall announced. The two girls began an acrobatic performance that consisted of twisting and turning their bodies together in impossible manners. Members of the crowd and I let out a gasps of amazement and wonder as they moved in sync. Too soon, it was over. And the fantastic twisting sisters smiled and waved, eerily at the same time, and walked off stage.

"Alexander Ribs, the skinniest man alive!" An extremely thin man stepped onto the stage, high-fiving the sisters. He pulled off his t-shirt revealing his unearthly small frame; I could see every rib and organ in his body. He poked at his spleen and stomach, and I could feel myself turning green. And according to the noises the audience members were making; I wasn't alone. I can't say I wasn't happy to see him go after such a short amount of time.

"I bet you he eats like a cow." Steve whispered in my ear. The joke itself wasn't very funny, but I snickered lightly anyways; I didn't want to damage our friendship any farther.

"Gertha Teeth, ladies and gentleman. She can bite through anything-even steel." Mr. Tall stood next to a young lady with bright red corkscrew curls, and abnormally large and shiny white teeth. He held out a metal shovel, not unlike the ones my father uses for gardening. Her mouth fit right over the handle and she bit down, a metallic screech filled the air. One half remained in Mr. Tall's hands, another clattered to the ground.

The audience erupted into more applause. The next three acts preceded in a similar way, Rhamus Two-bellies; a portly man that could eat anything, which he showed us by devouring metal and even fire! Next was Madam Truska, an extremely beautiful and exotic woman who danced around enticing all the men, including Steve. The boys hollered at her until she started growing a beard- a beard so strong nothing could cut through it.

"She has better luck with facial hair than you," I whispered to Steve, who shot me an unamused look

Last, but certainly by no stroke of the means least, was the wolfman. Steve sat up in his seat, alert, as they rolled a huge brassy cage onto the stage. The smell was the first thing to hit me-putrid and foul. A mixture of body odor and feces. I stifled back a retch. The beast stood up; his body was of a man, but his face was wolf-like, and he was covered in matted brown hair from head to toe.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you be extremely silent and make no sudden movements. As long as you remain calm, no harm will come to you." The warning hung in the air like a fog that casted a silent veil over the audience. Slowly, no doubt to increase the atmosphere, Mr. Tall unlatched the lock. The wolfman walked forward slowly, the cage shaking and glinting in the light as his weight was transferred onto the stage. He walked around the first few rows-all the way on the other side of us, but slowly creeping our way.

"He's just your type." Steve teases. But there was something in his voice that made the hairs on the back of neck stand up; cruelty.

My hands began to sweat and I wiped them on my shorts. Before I knew what was going on I heard a growl. The movement had caught the beasts attention-he was running straight towards me. So I did when any normal person would do- I screamed