LJ Idol Season 8: Week 36; Tumbler
That phrase kept replaying through my head as I sobbed my eyes out to a man I’d never met until that day.
"Why do you want to help me, Mr. Dominguez?” I took the tissue he handed to me and dabbed at my red, swollen eyes.
"Because that’s my job. To help people like you who are in trouble.”
"Even though I killed my sister? Even though I have a story no one in their right mind would believe?”
"You’re the perfect candidate for our services, Layla,” he replied, proffering another tissue. "You don’t think you found your way here by accident, now do you?”
The shoes. They said they would help me.
"You probably won’t believe me... But the shoes I killed my sister for? They led me here.” I suddenly realized where I was, and confusion clouded my brain, "In fact... I’m not even sure how I got all the way across the state so fast...”
"That’s precisely my point, dear. You were destined to end up in my office today and I’m the help you’re searching for.”
I fell back into the leather chair, a bit relieved he didn’t think I was crazy. But perhaps I should have thought he was crazy for believing me in the first place?
Listen to him.
"Yes, listen to me... I’m not only going to help clear you of all murder charges so you never see a day in jail. I’m going to give you a different life. You can be famous. I know how much that means to you.”
My eyes widened at that last bit, I wondered... Could he hear my thoughts? Did he look into my dreams? Did he hear the voices too?
"I’d like that all very much.” I twisted my hair around my finger. “But I just don’t know what’s going on...”
"It’s okay, dear. We will work out the details. Of course, it comes with a price.” He started writing down a number with several zeroes attached to it, a number I really couldn’t comprehend.
"I don’t have any money on me.” My stomach growled, reminding me of just how desperate I was for anything at this point. "I have nothing at all.”
"Well that’s a shame my dear, but let me make some adjustments here and see if we can work something out.” He started typing away at his computer and finally a triumphant smile crossed his face, "I think I have the perfect opportunity for you. You’re a dancer, right?”
"Yes. Ballet most of my life.” I wondered what that had to do with anything.
"Flexible too?” Excitement shone in his eyes and was reflected in his voice.
"Of course. I have to be.” I wasn’t sure where this was going, and I felt slightly uncomfortable.
A Cheshire-Cat grin crossed his face as he turned from the computer to look at me, "Well then, I think we have something here.”
The circus. The fucking circus. I really had no choice in the matter, it was either that or go to prison for murdering my baby sister. Mr. Dominguez had convinced me of this opportunity, for me to perform in one of their little side projects. He said I’d finally get my chance at being a star. But this wasn’t what I had in mind.
Circo Animarum. Latin for Circus of the Souls, according to the sign outside the main entrance. A chill overtook my body, and I wasn’t sure if it was the cool night air or something more. Every hair on my body stood on end. It was as if static electricity floated in the air.
Walking hesitantly through the field of roped off tents which held exhibits of all kinds, from the typical reptilian men to acts which sounded more ominous like "Devil Talkers,” the darkness enveloped me as I took in my surroundings. My feet tingled as the shoes led me unerringly on my way. I wasn’t sure if I trusted them anymore, but I also wasn’t sure I had any other choice.
"Who are you?” a voice snarled from out of the shadows.
"I’m Layla... The new acrobat.” I spoke, not exactly sure who or what I was speaking to.
A man about 8 feet tall, his body spindly from his feet to his chin, stepped out from a closed exhibit. His arms hung almost to his knees; he appeared stretched out as if stuck in a funhouse mirror.
"Welcome, my name is Maurice and I’m the master of ceremonies” He smiled, his voice flamboyant and full of life while his face remained dead to the world. "We’ve been waiting patiently for you. Come see your new home.”
He led me past several colorful tents into an area which held a few dozen trailers. I hadn’t seen another soul since arriving. However, upon entering the camp, I noticed hordes of people sitting around a fire in various stages of drunkeness, undress, and debauchery.
"This here? This is your new family.” He pointed in the direction of the group of people. "You might want to get to know them, as they’re the ones who will look after you.”
A man with one eye centered in his forehead glanced over at me. I couldn’t decide if he winked or blinked; it was hard to tell when he had just one eye. He tilted his bottle of whiskey and took a long swig before turning his attention back to the boisterous group in front of him.
A woman with eight breasts sat atop a man, laughing wildly as he fondled her right out in the open.
Amongst the madness, one boy sat alone off to the side, staring blankly at the fire. He spoke to nobody and took no notice of his surroundings. He was simply just there, eyes cold and lifeless.
"That kid over there? He’s your partner. Not very good company, that one. But he's a hell of a performer. That’s why we keep him around.” Maurice snorted as if there was a joke I just wasn’t getting.
Was I having some sort of nightmare? This couldn’t be real.
"Oh, but sweetheart, this is all very real.” He winked at me.
How did he....?
"I can hear all your thoughts, feel all your emotions. Your fear gives me strength, so perhaps you should monitor yourself a little better there, girl.”
Looking at the people around me, I wondered if I hadn’t stumbled into Hell by accident.
"You could call it that... I prefer to call it home.” He took a seat next to the one-eyed man and pulled a flask from his pocket, "Care to join in on some good old family bonding before your first night as a star?”
Standing outside the tent, preparing for my first performance in front of a crowd, I glanced inside. Children with cotton candy sat on their parent's laps, eyes-wide, some of them hiding their faces in fright as the creepy man with the snaggle-toothed grin spoke before them. With the spotlight on him, I could see Maurice in his shining glory. His skin almost green, but still with a hint of something human. Hair down to his waist and shiny black and perfectly flat. No tall shoes, no stilts, he was really 8 feet tall.
"Ladies and Gentlemen...” He started speaking to the audience in his boisterous, yet eerie, ringmaster voice.
Organ music filled the arena. Clowns came running from all entrances, bouncing and frolicking around the main ring. A few walked up to screaming kids, handing them dead flowers which squirted something green and slimy in their faces. When the clowns turned to face me, I could see why the kids were frightened.
The clown's grins were almost predatory, black makeup making their eyes appear like malevolent dark holes in their faces. A shudder passed through me when one of them met my gaze from across the circus tent.
Next they gathered in the center, and one of them pulling out a fake gun. Another clown ran toward him, getting shot in the chest. What I hoped was fake blood spewed from his chest and splattered the front row of the audience. The clown with the gun shrugged with an “oops” look across his face.
I soon realized this was not your typical circus. I looked over at my partner for any sign that he felt what I felt, and I saw nothing. His eyes stayed fixated on the ground in front him. I’d tried to make conversation earlier, asking is name, but he never responded or appeared to hear a word I’d said.
I continued to watch. After the clowns, what appeared to be a lion tamer took the stage with a creature I could only describe as cat-like. Larger than any lion I’d ever seen, more the size of a small elephant, it had teeth as big as the tamer who stood next to it. I watched as the man stuck his head in the creature’s mouth, but instead of pulling himself out unscathed, his headless body stumbled out, spraying even more blood upon the audience.
I wondered to myself,what is keeping the audience members in their seats? They sat as if in a trance, mesmerized by the gory spectacle unfolding before them. I glanced through the stands and noticed Maurice working his way down the aisles. Placing his hand atop their heads, the people would shake violently. I couldn’t tell if it was the lights or my eyes deceiving me, but something shimmery white appeared to be drawn out of them and collected into his top hat. Maurice grinned wildly before moving on to the next guest.
The tamer stood up, headless and seemingly unaffected, and bowed before the politely applauding audience. Gathering his slightly chewed head from the mouth of the beast, he settled it back on his neck before bouncing out of the arena with his creature in tow.
The butterflies in my stomach got violent as I realized what was going to happen next.
Maurice took to the center ring and announced to the crowd that the "Amazing Enzo and Layla” were about to perform. So that’s his name, I thought to myself.
Without a practice under my belt, I was unprepared for what was about to happen. I had been told the shoes would guide me. After watching the acts before mine, I was terrified of what ghoulish performance they had in store for me.
Making my way to the center, I walked hand-in-hand with the now smiling Enzo. He bowed down before the audience, taking me down with him. Standing up, with arms spread wide and excitement showing on his face, he winked at me and said, "It’s show-time!”
Enzo’s hand guided me toward a seemingly innocuous obstacle course. For a brief moment, I felt relief. As Enzo took his first leap, fire sprang to life amongst the rings and heavy blades started swinging in his path.
With my feet tingling, the shoes moved forward against my will. The crowd around me went wild.
Maurice called to me across the tent, his voice booming and full of life, "Look Layla! You’re a star!”
(This is my fourth entry out of six for Week 36 in
therealljidol. This one not only connects with the ones before it, it also continues a piece I wrote a couple weeks ago. It's linked above if you care to read it. As always, thanks for reading!)