A slow, eerie violin seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once, starting soft before a crescendo that left my hair standing on end. The carousel began to spin, its mirrors creating a kaleidoscope of colors as the lights above started to dance.
Overhead, a halo screen flickered to life, showing several camera angles of the carousel. It was creepy and beautiful, like something plucked straight from a nightmare. No matter whereyou sat in the hall, you could easily see what was happening on the giant screens.
In a blink, a figure appeared on the carousel as it continued its slow revolution. It took only a second for me to realize it was Hallow, dressed in their black suit and matching top hat.
The spinning attraction came to a halt, with the ringleader facing exactly where Bobbitt and I sat. Something told me she’d picked these seats on purpose.
“Distinguished guests, both esteemed and iniquitous.” Hallow’s voice bellowed through the space. “It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Knotty Sideshow. Tonight, while our collective performs the most delectable, harrowing acts you’ve ever seen, I invite you to embrace the darkness, lose yourself to the fantasy, and most of all…”
Hallow lifted their arms out to the sides, palms facing the sky.
“...enjoy the show.”
Bobbitt sighed next to me, and I looked over to find her staring at Hallow with more adoration and awe than any one person should be able to muster.
“Aren’t they incredible?” She batted her eyelashes.
Oh yeah, she had it fucking bad.
I opened my mouth to say something—probably to agree with her—but, all at once, the arena exploded into a whirlwind of lights and color and music. From that moment on, I was glued to my chair, my eyes chasing the performers.
The opening number consisted of aerialists in scarlet-colored silks dropping from the ceiling, and a group of dirt bike stuntmen racing around the arena. The dirtbikes were hardly audible over the creepy circus music playing through the event hall, and my eyes immediately jumped to the leader as the group sped past. White braids whipped along behind him.
Revel.
My heart lurched when he shot up a wooden ramp and did a backflip before landing with ease and speeding off to the other side of the arena. The other stuntmen followed in his wake.
A group of contortionists took to the carousel, which had started spinning again at some point. Their glittered body suits reflected in the many mirrors and made the whole thing shine like a thousand gems. I couldn’t watch them for too long because it was a beautiful mindfuck that made my head swim, but it was impressive all the same.
There were so many flashing lights, bursts of color, and bustling bodies that it was impossible to keep up with everything happening below, especially with the screens overhead showing vibrant bits and pieces of the performance. Troupe members swarmed the area, moving in a fast-paced synchronized dance around the props, while the aerialists continued to flip and twirl overhead.
My eyes locked on Daze’s rainbow hair as he swung on a trapeze between the silk aerialists. He wore a pair of sparkling navy pants and rainbow suspenders, every muscle in his tanned torso flexing with his movements.
“Dazey is a dream up there, ain’t he?” I barely heard Bobbitt ask, but I managed to nod in agreement.
He let go of the bar suddenly, and my heart dropped as I watched him tumble and fall. A second later, another bar appeared out of nowhere, and he grabbed it before swinging off in the opposite direction.
My chest unclenched as he disappeared, and I quietly scolded myself.
Of course he was fine.This is his fucking job, Ari.
Besides, there was a giant net below him if he missed the trapeze.
Embarrassment heated my cheeks.
“What’s the matter?” Bobbitt asked, gently elbowing me.
“Nothing.” I shook my head and adjusted myself in the seat. I glanced over to see that she’d pulled out one of her balloons and blown it up. She was starting to twist it into a shape.
It seemed that anytime Hallow wasn’t center stage, she stopped paying attention. I couldn’t blame her though. She’d probably seen the show a thousand times. For her, all of this was old news.
For me, however, it was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen.
I turned my attention back to the show, quickly losing myself in the performance again. It was so much,toomuch, to memorize, and I quickly gave up trying to take mental notes. I just enjoyed what was happening in front of me.
It was otherworldly. Breathtaking.Mesmerizing.
It was more than I ever could have imagined, and I couldn’t deny the realization slowly working its way through my overloaded brain: I fucking loved the circus.
