Uwek.
The boy’s mouth oozed with dark red entrails. It was watery and warm, making him feel sick. He didn’t want to believe that he was the one expelling those disgusting things, but his fangs still remembered the sensation of tearing into goat hide. With the pungent smell of bloody mucus stabbing his nose, he retched again. He couldn’t distinguish whether what was popping out of his throat was entrails, blood, or bile anymore. He kept poking his throat until nothing came out. Exhausted after vomiting everything, the boy had no energy left to stand up. Collapsing beside the filthy vomit, he thought about hunger. One couldn’t eat dinner after consuming goat. It was a rule set by the ringmaster. Maybe Corbin could sneak away a piece of bread, but since they were caught doing that before and punished together, it seemed wiser not to do it this time.
“Sixx, are you okay?”
A familiar voice reached him. Most of the troupe had left for the cleanup after the performance, and amidst the chaos, there were only a couple of people who cared for the boy. This time, it was Andy. Sixx barely managed to sit up to take the water cup she offered. Then, he rinsed out the remnants in his mouth and spat them onto the vomit. It wasn’t a pleasant sight, but Sixx, Andy, and Corbin were comfortable showing each other their lowest points. Sixx grabbed her only remaining hand and stood up. Andy glanced at the mess and clicked her tongue, then whispered as if sharing a secret.
“Cleaning this up is also a job. I told you to hold it in till we get to the restroom.”
“It was too disgusting. If you’re curious, would you like to try eating freshly caught goat entrails?”
“I’ll pass. I’ll ask Corbin to bring a mop and bucket for you to clean up. Just wait. Oh, and…”
Glancing around as if sharing confidential information, she lowered her voice and whispered.
“I’ll sneak a bit for you for dinner tonight, so don’t worry. I won’t let you starve.”
“Andy, we’ve talked about this before. If we get caught again!”
“It’s not like it’s just once or twice, and getting caught means just a few more lashes. Now, be quiet and wait.”
“Hey, Andy…!”
Ignoring Sixx’s objections, she left. Alone again, Sixx squatted on the floor, burying his face in his knees. He felt ashamed of constantly causing trouble for his friends. This was the true nature of the werewolf, frightening the audience into fleeing. An incompetent and pathetic boy. There was no terrifying monster capable of tearing apart dozens of people in an instant. Or was there? He was a monster, but not the kind that inspired both fear and admiration simultaneously.
He had pleaded with the ringmaster several times to stop at the stage where they killed the goat without eating it, but it seemed the ringmaster had no intention of sparing Sixx. Instead, he sat with his legs on the desk, lecturing Sixx. He said Sixx’s role was to imprint shock and fear on the audience.
You have to chew up entrails at least to create a horror atmosphere, right?
He chuckled.
Fear is addictive. It’s not for nothing that horror movies are popular. If we want the audience to come back to our circus, we can’t rely on mediocre acting. Be the monster, Sixx.
Even though it was evident, the ringmaster didn’t seem too pleased with Sixx turning into a wolf. His directive to Sixx was clear: he didn’t want to see any beasts roaming around in his circus, so once off the stage, Sixx was expected to return to being human. However, the stomach of an ordinary human couldn’t properly digest what he had swallowed as a wolf, so after each performance, Sixx would inevitably vomit them out onto the road. He would endure until he could reach the restroom, but on days like today, when he wasn’t feeling well even a bit, he couldn’t hold it in. It was an irrational situation, but the ringmaster didn’t pay any attention to the plight of a mere child.
“Hey, Sixx. Are you okay?”
With a comforting pat on the shoulder, Sixx looked up. Corbin was holding a bucket and mop. Despite grumbling, he always helped Sixx clean up afterward. Nodding, Sixx stood up, but it was clear that Corbin wasn’t in a good state. He seemed to have something to say but couldn’t bring himself to speak, lips trembling. Sensing the unease, Sixx urged Corbin.
“What’s wrong, Corbin? What are you hiding?”
“…I met the ringmaster on the way here. He was looking for you.”
His heart sank. Sixx knew what happened to members called individually to the ringmaster right after the performance. No, he didn’t just know; he knew too well. Was the ringmaster trying to push me back in there again? The vibration that started from his fingertips gradually spread throughout his body. With a flushed face, trembling, Sixx wrapped his arms around Corbin.
“Sixx, tell him you can’t do it. Tell him you can’t do that!”
“…No, Corbin. I’ll go. We can’t avoid it forever…”
Leaving behind a cursing Corbin, Sixx headed towards the ringmaster’s office. Knocking a couple of times and opening the door, he was greeted casually by the ringmaster, who was sitting on the couch sipping coffee. The ringmaster’s coffee always smelled good. But Sixx was too tense to properly appreciate the aroma. As he sat on the opposite chair, the ringmaster generously poured warm tea for Sixx, a treatment he had never received before. The steam rising from the white ceramic teacup blurred Sixx’s vision. The ringmaster cleared his throat as he sipped his coffee.
“I’ve been feeling it quite often lately, time flies so fast. Just seeing you, the youngest among the troupe, growing up to handle the final performance of our circus, is proof enough.”
“…R-Right.”
“I called you here today, Sixx, because there’s something you must do. You must know that I’ve been lenient with you so far. When you caused that accident, I also suffered for a while. Even though it would have been quite a loss to kick you out immediately, considering the trouble you’ve caused, I let it slide because of the bond we’ve had since you were young. But now, the time has come. Go back into the crater.”
The crater. As soon as Sixx heard that word, he felt like he couldn’t breathe. The crater referred to a tent where some selected members, chosen by wealthy guests after the performance, would engage in illicit activities for the night. Though it was essentially prostitution, the ringmaster argued that it was not prostitution but rather one of the duties that members of the circus should fulfill as part of their service. Seeing how there was a dedicated space and even a term coined for it, it was evident that he felt no remorse about exploiting the members. Therefore, a certain number of members were always ordered to go into the crater after each performance. Sixx was no exception, whether he was an adult or not. Since those who came looking for them usually occupied a significant position in the area, even the law turned a blind eye to the crater.
“So, how far are you willing to go with this?”
“Naturally, you should do whatever the guests desire. What’s the question?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“But, Ringmaster, I can’t do that. You know that…”
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“You can’t do it? Who says you can’t! You can’t just avoid what others are doing. Sixx, if you dare to attack this guest again, I’ll rip out every tooth you have. You’re nothing but a pathetic weakling!”
“Ringmaster, it’s not up to me. Really. I’m begging you…!”
“Stop your nonsense. Sixx, do you really want to be treated like a beast? If even a single hair of this guest is harmed, both you and I will lose our lives. Remember that. You’re called here, so you better comply.”
“…I-I’ll die?”
“Yes. La Cosa Nostra. A boss from that organization called for you.”
“La Cosa Nostra?”
“It’s a criminal organization made up of Italian-Americans. And among them, a boss from the family known for controlling Portland has named you. Sixx, this is no joke.”
The ringmaster rose abruptly and approached Sixx. His bony hand dug into Sixx’s shoulder like a claw. Sixx couldn’t digest those cruel words all at once. They hovered in the air like ghosts.
“No one can resist them and live normally. They’re not only the kings of the underground but also the puppeteers who control the surface. Even our circus has to pay its dues while we’re here. In other words, you’re like a ‘protection fee’ that our circus has to pay. So, even for the sake of our circus staying here for a while, you better show proper respect to them. Got it?”
“If he’s such an important figure, then I’m certainly not the right person to accommodate—”
“Carve it into your dense skull. If you don’t satisfy him properly and come back, you and your friends will be done for that day. I’ll even tear off the remaining arm of each of your friends and kick you all out together. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life begging on the streets, do you? Why would I think otherwise? Where else do you monsters think you can go? Do you think there’s a place out there that would welcome creatures like you if it weren’t for this circus? After all the feeding, clothing, and sheltering I’ve provided, repaying debts is a human duty, Sixx!”
The ringmaster snapped. As Sixx, thoroughly dejected, lowered his head, he was scolded openly. Though the threat seemed extreme, in reality, what the ringmaster said wasn’t wrong. He had rescued young Sixx, who had nowhere else to go, and Sixx had managed to survive by performing in the circus ever since. He had never even thought about living among people outside. Even today was the same. The sharp voices calling him a monster and the frightened glances still vividly lingered in his mind. They were right. Sixx was a monster, and he couldn’t survive among humans.
It was also true that the ringmaster had been taking care of Sixx. Visitors who approached the ringmaster after the performance, demanding a night with the circus members, existed in every city they visited. The ringmaster considered it a fair trade and demanded a substantial amount from them in return for providing the members without any conditions. Whether they were called to the crater after the performance depended on whether they were named by the guests. Sixx might not have been a popular choice, but there had never been a single day when he wasn’t called. Sixx clenched his fist. Now, there was no escaping it. He also had to meet the guest.
“Understood, now hurry up and wash yourself and crawl into the crater. It’ll be better for you to behave properly once you’re there.”
***
Sixx couldn’t believe this situation was real. No, perhaps he didn’t want to believe it. However, reality didn’t wait for Sixx. At some point, he found himself washing his dirty body, and when he regained his senses, he was standing at the entrance of the tent wearing clothes provided by the crater keeper. The clothes Sixx received were much cleaner and even emitted a fragrant smell of fruit compared to what he usually wore. Sixx took a deep breath. Only then did all the situations begin to feel real. His teeth chattered against each other as the trembling wind lost control and shook him. Was it because he had washed with icy cold water? Or was it because he was scared of the person who might be waiting for him beyond this door? Or was it because he dreaded the dreadful acts he would have to endure in the future?
Whichever it was, Sixx couldn’t do anything. He was powerless. As he rang the small bell hanging beside the tent, a clear and refreshing sound, unsuited to the harsh reality he faced, rang out. Each crater had a bell hanging outside, and it was customary to ring it as a signal before entering. Even now, somewhere not far away, he heard the same bell ringing from another tent, signaling someone else, perhaps in a similar situation to Sixx.
Sixx entered the tent. And he was surprised. He couldn’t see clearly ahead. When he blinked, the air and cigarette smoke intertwined messily and obscured his view. Only after a moment did he finally catch a glimpse of a figure beyond the blurred vision. Despite already stepping into this space, he couldn’t muster the courage to approach it willingly.
Unlike the steam rising from the cup the ringmaster provided, the smoke carried a strong smell of nicotine. It seemed like someone who smoked very strong tobacco. Even though Sixx, who was used to the smell of tobacco, had smelled it before, the heavily condensed smoke in the enclosed space was hard to bear. As Sixx hesitated, the figure inside the smoke moved slightly. Like a thief caught in the act, Sixx hurriedly pushed through the smoke and moved inward.
And there was a man there.
He was lounging on the sofa, smoking a cigarette leisurely. His sharp, jagged eyes seemed to be lazily sinking, but the unique chilliness underneath, reflected in his icy-blue eyes, remained undiminished. Sixx found himself panting unintentionally. He had never seen someone like this in his life. Perhaps it wasn’t common for someone to exude such intimidation just by sitting and smoking. Sixx had an instinctual feeling that this man had never yielded to anything in his life. The ease and charisma that enveloped his body like a silk shawl confirmed Sixx’s hypothesis. And instinctually, there was one more thing Sixx realized. The man, he might be… dangerous. Yet, for some reason, it wasn’t easy for Sixx to look away from him. He seemed like a man worth facing danger for. A battle waged in Sixx’s mind between wanting to leave this place immediately and wanting to observe the man a little longer. He unconsciously took a step closer to the man, then startled and froze. Contrary to the instinctual behavior prompted by his animalistic instincts, he had acted against them. It was something that had never happened before, so Sixx was secretly dismayed. The man’s gaze shifted to Sixx, who hesitated without knowing what to do.
“How much longer do you intend to make me wait?”
His voice was the softest Sixx had ever heard, yet somehow it felt like it nestled deep in his ears. Sixx resisted the urge to scratch his ears furiously to relieve the itching sensation. He couldn’t delay any longer. A sinister sensation, like a blade cutting through, brushed past Sixx’s spine. The man had already waited long enough, he said. Any more hesitation, and something bad was bound to happen. But even knowing what awaited him, it wasn’t easy to throw himself into it willingly.
Can I endure this… Can I properly ‘satisfy’ the guest?
Although it was several years ago, the pain he had felt back then remained etched in his mind as if carved with a knife.
Don’t think about it. There’s nowhere else to retreat now.
With that mantra in his mind, Sixx began to unbutton his shirt with trembling hands. He was desperate. No matter how agonizing it was, he couldn’t afford to lose his sanity. He couldn’t afford to escape from the pain. This time, he would become a monster that harmed people, and he would be rejected by everyone.
Just as Sixx finished undressing his upper body and was about to remove his pants, the man suddenly raised his hand, halting his movements. From the way he squinted one eye, it seemed like something had unsettled him. Sixx’s mind went blank. His lips became dry, and his heart began to beat faster than when he stood on stage. Did I make a mistake? I heard there are people in the world with strange tastes, but did I need to undress differently? Various thoughts clashed in Sixx’s brain like a melee. The man, seeing Sixx frozen in the posture of unzipping his pants, let out a deep sigh.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“Oh, I was just taking off my—”
“I can tell by looking. Why are you taking your clothes off?” he asked.
“Of course, it’s to please you, sir…”
As Sixx tried to justify himself in a crawling voice, the man’s face twisted even more menacingly. It seemed I had done something wrong again. I felt so scared, embarrassingly, tears might come. Sixx remembered that the man was a high-ranking member of the criminal organization that ruled this vast city. The ringmaster’s words must be true. Although he wasn’t sure exactly what kind of group they were, they were probably referred to as a criminal organization because they committed crimes regularly. Perhaps in this man’s eyes, Sixx would be nothing more than an insignificant insect. Even if he were to kill Sixx right here for the offense of defying him, no one would stop him. His breath became increasingly rough. An animal instinct sensing danger was trying to take over his body for self-preservation.
I can’t let that happen!
Sixx gritted his teeth and tried to suppress it, but his efforts were in vain. The sharpened fangs pierced the inside of his mouth like saw blades, and his fingernails turned into long claws, digging into the soft skin of his palm.
It’s all wrong. I can’t stop it. It’s over now. Truly, it’s all over…
“I’m not interested in brats like you. I don’t even know how to deal with you properly.”
As Sixx felt his control slipping away and despaired, the man said so. He felt the shadow of a beast receding rapidly. Unless Sixx misunderstood his words, it seemed the man didn’t summon Sixx here to entertain him. Not knowing English, Sixx stood dumbfounded, and the man laughed openly at his misconception.
“What a ridiculous misunderstanding. Did I seem like a pervert interested in hunting brats?”
“T-then…!”
“Transform into a wolf. If not, why would I have called you here, a presumptuous beast daring to rush at me?”
As he heard these words, there was a scene flashing through Sixx’s mind. Sixx’s performance usually followed a similar pattern unless there was a change in circumstances. When the ringmaster called, he went on stage. He didn’t speak. When the ringmaster spoke, the atmosphere generally broke. And when the moonlight fell on him, he transformed into a wolf. Creating an appropriately frightening atmosphere, he hunted goats. While tearing into the meat, if there was a suitable provocation from the audience, he would leap into the audience and appropriately threaten the spectators sitting in the front row. That was Sixx’s performance routine. Some audience members would be startled and flee, but since Sixx’s stage itself was designed to instill the ‘fear’ the ringmaster so emphasized in the audience, it could be considered a well-executed result as intended.
However, today was a little different. While most of the audience ran away, there was one man who didn’t move at all and faced Sixx head-on. As Sixx stood frozen in confusion, the man reached into his pocket, and Sixx sensed danger, quickly returning to the stage. His breath choked as if he were standing on a high place, and his legs trembled. Sixx’s instinct was telling him that the shadow of death had come dangerously close. If he had delayed a little longer, he would undoubtedly have been killed or seriously injured. Sixx knew better than anyone about death. He couldn’t have been mistaken. The man had tried to kill Sixx. Although no one but Sixx and the man would have noticed it.
But now that terrifying man was right in front of him. Sixx cursed his past self. Even if he chose the wrong opponent to threaten, he couldn’t have chosen this wrong. This man was someone who had nothing to fear in the world. He had clearly called Sixx here to deal with a beast that dared to rush at him without fear. As the man looked at Sixx as if urging him, his cold gaze made Sixx’s insides churn. His heart was pounding so fast that it felt like it might explode at any moment. But there was no turning back from here. While Sixx couldn’t just leave the man alone, more than anything, he didn’t know what the ringmaster would do to Andy and Corbin. Sixx struggled not to cry as he pulled his pants down. The ringmaster had often expressed annoyance at the sight of Sixx’s crying face. There was no need to upset the man unnecessarily.
“Wait. Stop.”
However, what returned to Sixx was the annoying voice of the man.
“Why are you doing this…?”
“I said I have no intention of dealing with brats. Is it still a trick? Then be honest. If you’re trying to sell that feeble body of yours in any way, it would be better for your sake to just get rid of it now.”
“Oh, no! I can really do it. If I transform into a wolf while wearing clothes, they’ll tear. Just wait a moment. I’ll transform soon.”
The man raised an eyebrow in disbelief, but didn’t say anything more. Sixx quickly threw off his pants and raised his hands above his underwear. It was a little embarrassing, but he couldn’t afford to make the man wait any longer. If he had known, he would have worn his performance robe. Wearing a robe would have made it easy to transform without tearing his clothes, so Sixx usually just wore a large robe and went on stage. As Sixx quickly threw off even his underwear, the man’s gaze wandered somewhere on Sixx’s body. He raised one eyebrow slightly. Sixx couldn’t understand what that meant, but honestly, as long as he didn’t say anything to me, it was okay. As Sixx closed his eyes to prepare for the transformation, he asked a question. Somehow, it had a slightly mocking tone.
“Do you not need to be bathed in moonlight?”
For Sixx, transforming into a wolf under the moonlight was almost like showmanship. Sixx could transform into a wolf anytime, but the ringmaster had ordered it for dramatic effect. When Sixx stood on stage, circus staff would lift the cloth above the tent to illuminate the center of the stage with moonlight, and Sixx would transform in response to that signal. It was the ringmaster’s stage direction that actively reflected the public perception associating the moon with wolves. Sixx wanted to explain it to the man, but he had already started to transform into a wolf, so he couldn’t speak human words anymore. As he completed his transformation into a wolf, the man’s gaze towards Sixx also changed distinctly from before. His blue eyes contained a clear expression of interest as he scrutinized Sixx. In the heavy silence, Sixx shuffled his front paws in anxiety.
What happened might be destiny, after all. The events at the crater were often a topic of discussion among circus members, and naturally, Sixx also overheard them gossiping about the nightlife. Due to the ringmaster’s policies, the members had to accept all guests without discrimination. Basically, unless a member returned in a condition serious enough to prevent them from performing, the crater was left strictly as a lawless zone, and even if a member returned half-dead, as long as the guest paid enough, it didn’t matter much. Because of this, while crazy lunatics with cruel tastes called for them, very generous and forgiving guests also seemed to visit them occasionally. Sixx had heard of a member boasting secretly about receiving jewelry as a gift from a guest. Until just before entering the crater, no one knew what kind of guest they would receive.
In other words, it was akin to gambling. In this case, Sixx seemed to have drawn the worst lot among the losers today. He didn’t ask for jewelry as a gift, but isn’t it a bit excessive to have a guest who might kill him anytime?
“Come here.”
The man who had been watching Sixx flicked his hand. As Sixx cautiously approached the sofa, he wondered when and how the man would kill him. What the man was about to pull out from his bosom was probably a gun. Would he shoot Sixx’s head with it again this time? Or maybe he would draw a well-sharpened knife. Sixx had heard that there were people who enjoyed inflicting wounds on others. Perhaps he was one of those types. Come to think of it, the ringmaster often threatened to pull out Sixx’s teeth.
Would this man also want to pull out my teeth?
Sixx lay flat on the ground in front of the expressionless man, looking up at him. There was not a trace of emotion to be read on his face. While during the day his neatly combed hair would have been smoothly falling over his forehead without any disruption, now that it was night, a few strands were swaying down from his even forehead. Although there were many monsters in the circus, Sixx was sure this man was the most dangerous person he had ever encountered.
However, he rather thought that dying by the man’s hands wouldn’t be so bad. It might be better than dying by something else trivial. So, he didn’t really feel like rebelling. What he wished for was that there would be as little pain as possible in the process. It might sound strange to prefer death to life, but to Sixx, death was not such a strange concept. What was always frightening was not death but pain. When there wasn’t a shadow of death hanging over his life, he could count them on one hand.
However, the man didn’t pull out a gun or a knife. Instead, his large hand grasped Sixx’s head firmly and mercilessly exerted immense pressure. In the excruciating pain as if his skull was being crushed, Sixx found himself whimpering without even realizing it. Tears welled up from the pain. On the other hand, the man, seemingly enjoying watching Sixx writhing in agony, chuckled with a brighter voice. What a little puppy. However, even with those words, Sixx didn’t feel any sense of humiliation. Sixx was just a puppy wearing a wolf’s skin, devoid of even a trace of human dignity. He was only feeling hurt, tormented, and in pain. He wasn’t in a position to argue about this, but he didn’t like this way of dying.
To die with his head being smashed. I would rather he just shot me with a gun.
As Sixx, with his eyes moistened with pain, looked up at him pitifully, surprisingly, he felt the pressure that had been crushing his head gradually recede. As Sixx gasped for breath, the man chuckled softly.
“Does it hurt?”
Sixx hurriedly nodded his head. If he could speak, he would have said, “Yes, it hurts, it really hurts,” and begged for mercy.
“Does it?”
The man who spoke so gently then began to stroke Sixx’s head with a much softer touch.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Sixx nodded his head vigorously again. He didn’t know exactly what he did wrong, but Sixx was willing to admit anything as wrong. After Sixx reluctantly agreed, the man lifted one corner of his mouth, seeming quite satisfied. Perhaps he was forgiving me?
From a corner of Sixx’s heart, a small hope lifted its head. Suddenly, memories of swinging on a swing, overcoming Andy and Corbin’s teasing, came to mind. When he first got on the swing, he trembled at the thought of falling and dying, but after waiting a bit, he found himself on the other side of the swing. Perhaps this time too it would be the same. As Sixx obediently lowered his gaze, the man gently stroked Sixx’s fur with his fingers, as if brushing him. It felt good. Although the man was a dangerous person, being petted was always welcome. However, Sixx’s happiness did not last long. The man gestured towards the bed.
“Well… there’s no need to kill you anymore. Good. Get up and lie down.”
There was a bed set up for each crater’s nightlife. The man’s finger pointed directly at that bed. Although Sixx was grateful for the change of heart, he didn’t expect to get on the bed today, so he made a whining, sorrowful sound. However, what came back was not a retraction of the statement but the man’s authoritarian voice.
“Are you defying me?”
In the man’s hand, which could have crushed a potato into mashed potatoes at any moment, Sixx quickly nodded his head and reluctantly climbed onto the bed. The man arrogantly climbed up further and, with his head turned this way, gave detailed instructions such as lying down this way. As a result, Sixx ended up lying flat against the headboard with his head and tail facing outside the bed. Although he still couldn’t understand the man’s intentions, he felt somewhat relieved that he wasn’t asked to jump into the crater. As Sixx watched, the man got up from the sofa, took off the watch and jewelry he had been wearing one by one from the table, then climbed onto the bed and lay down, leaning against Sixx’s side.
Sixx finally realized his role in the unexpected man’s behavior. …That’s right. Sixx was a pillow. The man was leaning on Sixx to rest. The man lying down with his long legs stretched out seemed quite comfortable, muttering something about being comfortable. Because of his posture, Sixx couldn’t see the man’s face very well, but judging by the softer tone of his voice, Sixx quietly thought that he must be quite a decent pillow.
Sixx did his best not to disturb the man’s rest. He resisted scratching his itchy nose and endured the pressure on his side. As a reward for his efforts, the man, who had been gradually changing his posture little by little at first, soon almost stopped moving altogether, and the heartbeat transmitted through Sixx’s side slowed down by a beat. Sixx realized that he had fallen asleep and silently cheered inside. If he continued to sleep like this, there seemed to be no wish. Although tears welled up from forcibly resisting the urge to sneeze, it was much better than dying or having his head explode.
Sixx decided to endure it.
I am a pillow. Pillows never move.
With such words, he brainwashed himself and endured. If the man woke up, Sixx would be the only one to suffer. How many hours passed like this? Someone rang a bell outside. At the sound, the man’s eyes snapped open.
Finally liberated from his role, Sixx freely scratched his nose with his front paws and scrutinized the man’s expression. With a confused look, the man glanced around before suddenly turning his head in Sixx’s direction. Startled, Sixx, who had sprung up, was asked a question.
“Did I fall asleep?”
As Sixx nodded, for some reason the man let out a small sigh. Anxiously looking at him, uncertain of what was wrong, another deep voice was heard from outside along with the bell ringing again.
“Hawk! It’s time to go!”
“For heaven’s sake, I got it, stop ringing that damn thing.”
The outside became as quiet as a grave. The man got up from the bed, put on his jewelry again, even wore a black coat, and left without a word. After their footsteps faded away, Sixx returned to being human again. What was all that about? Putting on the clothes scattered on the floor, Sixx pondered. He was truly a type of human that Sixx had never encountered before.
***
“Sixx! Get up. The boss is calling you!”
Someone shook Sixx awake in the middle of the night. It seemed to be a fellow member sharing the same tent.
“Got it…”
Replying like that, Sixx rubbed his eyes to shake off sleepiness. Seeing the brightness around him, it seemed to be morning already. Yesterday, he had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Stepping down from his bunk, a chill rose through his legs as he touched the ground. Hurriedly putting on the boots that felt snug due to the swollen feet, he dashed to the tent where the boss stayed. About to open the door absentmindedly, sounds of argument came from inside.
“I can’t take it anymore. After all the trouble yesterday, this is all we get? Landon Pierce, you’re barely even human anymore, having lost all sense of conscience! If you were a decent person, this wouldn’t happen!”
“Leticia, because of your arrogant attitude, the guest refused to pay! I suffered losses because of you too! Damn it, what are you doing? How are you going to take responsibility?”
“Why should I take responsibility for that lunatic! Why should I be the one to suffer because of him! I can’t work like this anymore.”
“If you can’t, then leave my circus. Do you think there’s a place outside for someone like you? Do you think you can find a normal job and even save money in the bank?”
It seemed that Leticia was the one fighting with the boss. Like Sixx, she was a member performing in Part 2, known for her flexibility, moving like a contortionist. Watching her perform, bending every joint in her body, Sixx wondered if she really had bones like everyone else. Maybe she could transform into another animal like Sixx could. Just waiting blankly for the fight to end, the door opened with a bang.
Poor Sixx. Thanks for The chapter