text: &#x200B; Prologue &#x200B; *Come one, come all! Come to the Circus of Fools!* *Feast your eyes on amusing antics and freaks of nature!* *From towering giants to twins combined!* *See God’s rejects and they will send a shiver!* &#x200B; *Divas and starlets of the stage that will amaze you!* *Magicians and clowns that captures the imagination!* *Behold them all and feel the unholy sensation!* *Fun for everyone and for the whole family!* &#x200B; *After all, the circus family awaits your arrival!* \- A flyer from the circus &#x200B; It was June 15, 1933 on a humid Saturday in the city of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, that the circus came to town. The citizens gathered around the city square to take a peek of the exotic oddities and attractions. &#x200B; Eliza, a little girl of seven, was walking on the city streets. She wore a red pinafore dress and ribbons of the same color, set on her curly brown hair. She had a large swirly lollipop in one hand and a balloon in the other. She came to venture the circus, out of boredom, in hopes of seeing fun and wondrous things. &#x200B; Her parents did not know that, she left the house when no one was looking. &#x200B; It wasn’t long when the streets became flooded with people. They stood by the side of the road as a circus wagon crossed by, followed by a troupe of performers. Tall clowns, colorful harlequins, and other attractions caught the audience’s eye. They were all scattering flyers and confetti to the crowd. &#x200B; However, the ones that stole the spotlight, are the circus freaks. &#x200B; Bearded ladies, tattooed men, deformed bodies and broken minds, captured the attention of every passerby. An old man who is covered in scales like a croc, a diva wearing a blindfold with goat legs like that of a satyr’s, a clown with two painted faces, and many more. The people laughed and mocked the performers, but they didn’t seem to mind the flurry of insults thrown at them. &#x200B; They seem to be... happy? &#x200B; They were smiling amidst the jeering crowd. They looked onward with bright eyes and kept marching on. &#x200B; Eliza was amazed as she picked up a flyer. It was painted in bright colors, bold letters, and fancy designs that pleased the eye. While she was engrossed on it, a performer passed by her field of vision. She immediately looked up and saw a twin-headed blonde, clothed in a yellow and orange diamond-checkered clown attire, beckoning her to follow them. &#x200B; She followed while dropping all the things she was holding in the process. Along the winding roads and streets did she walk, she eventually reached their destination; the Circus of Fools. &#x200B; It’s all colorful and festive. The main tent is painted in bright red and yellow, there are multicolored stalls that sold food in colored paper bags, game booths that gave out wondrous prizes, and sideshow attractions like magic acts and freak shows. &#x200B; It all amazed little Eliza. The splendor of the circus filled her heart with joy. &#x200B; And to the man who was watching her. &#x200B; She peeked into one of the sideshow tents. Inside, she saw the diva from earlier. She stood on a dark, curtain-covered stage with a single spotlight shining on her. She donned a black dress, adorned with dark blue flowers and laced with teal ribbons. A black ornate blindfold covered her eyes, and it appeared to be wet. &#x200B; The diva had a beautiful voice, clear as crystal and pure as a brook, she sung a wonderful song that Eliza nor the audience could understand. But something felt off, Eliza felt it. There was a hint of sadness that can be heard from the singer’s voice. &#x200B; \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* *Je m'appelle Margherita.* *La diva des perdus.* *Écoutez mon récit de malheurs,* *pourquoi mes larmes ont coulé.* &#x200B; *La fille d'un commerçant,* *qui s'est écarté de son chemin,* *un jour, il est venu au cirque.* &#x200B; *Elle a entendu une dame,* *chanter si calmement* *alors qu'elle sentait la pluie brûlante.* &#x200B; *Elle regardait avec horreur,* *alors que les lumières s'affaiblissaient,* *jusqu'à ce qu'il la trouve.* &#x200B; *La potion du maître de cérémonie,* *un mélange de douleur et de feu,* *a été renversé dans ses yeux,* *et cela l'a fait pleurer.* &#x200B; *Il l'a volée,* *fait avec ses jambes,* *a ensuite remplacé celle d'une chèvre.* &#x200B; *Elle va maintenant nous rejoindre,* *la mascarade maudite* *avec le Diable qui l'a laissée mutilée.* &#x200B; *Forcée de chanter,* *forcé à danser,* *avec les pattes crochues d'une bête.* &#x200B; *Voici cette chanson, pour tous ceux qui l'entendent.* *Le plaidoyer d'une âme pitoyable.* *Jusqu'à ce que nous dépérissions,* *nous verrons la lumière du jour.* \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* &#x200B; This song did she sing, captivated them all. The audience, enthralled by the voice of the dame, never cared for the words but cheered as she disappeared from the stage. Eliza was about to leave when the twin-headed blonde popped their heads underneath the velvet curtains. &#x200B; She could see them clearly now under the spotlight. One head is that of a girl’s, grinning mischievously; the other is a boy’s, frowning in sorrow. &#x200B; “C’mere with us, luv,” the girl beckoned. “Come with us if you want to see more what we have to offer. You might even want to stay.” &#x200B; “Don’t listen to her,” spoke the boy. “Leave us and return to your loved ones before he finds you.” &#x200B; The sister clobbered her twin on the head, silencing him. Before the brother could speak again, they vanished underneath the heavy curtains. &#x200B; Curious of what the twins have said, she followed them as she did before. Pushing through the velvet, she found herself outside the tent. Confused on where they’ve gone, Eliza aimlessly wandered the circus grounds. It was already dusk, where the last rays of the sun are slowly waning and the full moon is steadily shining. &#x200B; She stumbled upon another tent. It seems to be closed. &#x200B; But that didn’t stop her from looking at the hole. There was a hole in the tent’s canvas, enough for her to squeeze in. &#x200B; She crawled in... &#x200B; And was met with a horrifying sight. A corpse was hanging from the rafters with a rope rung around its neck. A stool was inches away from the body as if it was kicked off and an empty bottle of acid was found under it. The tent reeked of burnt flesh and hair, it clung on to the rough cloth of the tent and the clothes of the clown. &#x200B; Before she could even do anything, a pair of gloved heavy hands sprouted from the dark. One hand had a rag that was doused in chloroform and pressed it against her nose while the other hand held her body tightly. &#x200B; Before her vision fades, she saw her captor. A large man dressed like a ringmaster, grinning at her with malicious intent. Then everything went dark. &#x200B; \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* &#x200B; A week passed by ever since that fateful night. &#x200B; There was a new attraction that was to be unveiled in the circus. The posters of the upcoming event obscured a missing person’s flyer and the shouts of the performers drowned out the worries of two people. &#x200B; Hundreds of curious watchers gathered in front of the new sideshow’s tent. The twin-headed clown was selling tickets out the front while the people clamored for seats. The show was about to begin. &#x200B; The ringmaster, a stout man in a red suit and black top hat with a gold monocle in his eye, made his entrance. &#x200B; “Ladies and gentlemen!” he announced. “We have a new show for you all tonight! Avert your eyes if you can’t handle the horror, I give you...” &#x200B; Drumroll plays as the audience held their breath. &#x200B; “No Face!” &#x200B; The curtains were drawn as they all cheered. It revealed a man with dark hair. However, his face was literally blank. His face is pale as the moon, he had no eyes nor eyelids and his nose gone aside from the two nostrils like a snake’s. The only thing left untouched was his mouth, and it was grinning. &#x200B; While the audience was watching, a couple could be seen wandering in the circus grounds. Weary and heartsick for their daughter, they decided to search the circus. They have turned the town upside down to find her, but they found not a trace. &#x200B; The twins caught sight of them. The brother tried walking to them, but the sister stopped him. This time, he fought back and punched his sister’s head. That was enough to knock her out of cold. &#x200B; He approached the couple. “Excuse me, sir and ma’am.” &#x200B; The couple turned around. The husband was the first to speak. “Yes?” &#x200B; “Are you,” the blonde awkwardly asked. “I mean, do you have a daughter by chance?” &#x200B; “Yes,” the wife immediately replied. “Have you seen our Eliza?” she asked hastily. &#x200B; “We have, but please forgive me and my sister. We didn’t want to, but we had to. If we don’t, he’ll slaughter us too.” &#x200B; The twin-headed clown urged them to follow him. The parents could only hope that their precious girl is all and well. &#x200B; But it was all in vain. &#x200B; A little girl is singing an upbeat tune of circuses and flowers. Her short brown hair barely covering her face, revealing a large burnt scar on the right side. In her left hand was a pouch full of colored dust and a bouquet of white mums and red lycoris. &#x200B; Their daughter is gone. &#x200B; (Have a happy Halloween everyone, it is time for scares.