The Circus

Vesna ran through the woods behind her foster parents house full of the joyous energy of the moonlit woods. Tonight was her first night as a werewolf. For weeks the changes coming upon her blinding headaches, agonizing muscle cramps and overwhelming bouts of sensory overload had driven her to the edge. she had thought she was going mad.

Finally the change happened. Her teeth grew into long and sharp fangs and her nails became iron hard claws, Her body altered, muscles hardening and becoming more defined making her faster and stronger as well as giving her unbelievable stamina, The few cuts and scrapes she had acquired in her night time run had all healed in seconds, and best of all her senses had sharpened to an amazing degree, The near total darkness of the wood was as clear to her as if was day light, She could hear and smell the pulse of the forest around her alive and vibrant.

Her now power gave her a sense of confidence and freedom she had never felt before. She ran on for what seemed like hours until finally she stopped at the edge of the trees. Before her was the one story house where she lived with her foster Parents Betty and Bill. She looked around and sniffed the air. No one else was there. She hesitated on the edge of the wilds, tempted to run and never return to this bleak house.

In the year she had stayed with them Betty and Bill seemed inoffensive and safe. A kind-hearted but dull elderly couple who opened their mostly beige colored home home to unruly orphans. Admittedly it was the nicest home Vesna had ever been placed in. But Betty and Bill had been acting strangely of late.

It had started as nothing more than an feeling of growing unease. But the odd silences and forced smiles when she entered the room convinced Vesna something was going on. Finally her sharpening senses allowed her to grab snatches of Betty's hushed conversations with Bill.

Word like "time, moon, change" and "Werewolf."

“Is it safe to stay here? Can I trust them?” Vesna asked herself as she crossed the yard. “Probably not. But where else could I go?” She concluded as she reached the bedroom window she had used to sneak out earlier that night.

"Beside." She reasoned. Opening her hand to examine her claw tipped fingers "They're not the dangerous ones."

Climbing over the sill into her bedroom. She paused taking a deep breath taking in the house’s scent, A heady mix of Bill new age incense and scented candles and Betty coffee’s of the world collection assaulted her nose. The quiet thunder of her foster parent snores across from their bed room filled her ears.

Satisfied all was well she slipped into her room. As she started to prepare for bed she caught a glance of herself in the mirror that hung on the back of the bedroom door. Stopping she took a moment to examine her refection. Something not quite animal not all the way human stared back.

Looking like the wolf-man of the movies it was a wild thing. It's clothes strained to contain its large frame and coiled muscles. Red eyes blazed from a fur covered bestial face as it's lips pulled back into a fanged snarl.

Closing her eyes Vesna took a deep breath and focused on pushing her inner wolf down, When she opened her eyes the figure in the mirror was that of shorter, lankier, normal teenage girl, her blonde hair hanging to her shoulders, only her crimson eyes hinting at her supernatural nature.

As she climbed into bed questions circled her mind. How did she gain this power? Was in hereditary? Was she cursed? Were there other werewolves out there? Could she trust her foster parents?

Vesna snorted at that thought. Betty and Bill had been one of the better sets of foster parents she'd ever had. But recent revelations put their charity in doubt. Maybe they knew more? she considered. After all their clearly hiding something. She resolved to get her answers in the morning.

As she rested her head on the pillow one last question came to mind. What am I going to do now? Closing her eyes to sleep she decided she might like figuring out the answers to that one.

Vesna woke up the next morning feeling something was not right. She lay still in bed soaking in the sounds of the house. she could hear Betty and Bill in the front room of the house talking with someone. This caused Vesna to sit up. They very rarely had guests. Even rarer was for them to invite them in for a chat.

Scrambling out of bed Vesna quickly dressed, Jeans and t-shirt followed by her favorite boots. She grabbed her best hoodie from the closet and slipped it on, Opening her bedroom door she stepped into the hall. It was empty except for her. The house smelled the same as it had last night with a strange sickly sweet popcorn smell, Turning toward the kitchen she saw the living room door was open and voices drifted out into the hall.

Stepping forward she walked slowly towards the open door. Peering through the gap she could see Betty standing just inside with a man wearing a garish red and green suit complete with a bowler hat and cane which he waved around as he talked.

“I gotta hand it to you guys, you’ve got a real knack for this kind of long term investment, It’s what makes you the best.”

" Thank you Mr Travesura.” Betty replied from the sofa “To be honest we had our doubts about the strength of this particular stock.”

Vesna furrowed her brow. Were they discussing money? She was pretty sure her foster parents stashed their money somewhere in the house, they were not the sort to trust banks. Who was this man?

The stranger chuckled ” Nobody’s perfect my dear.” He paused his cane dropping the point to the floor and resting both of his hands on the hilt before continuing “We are sure she has sufficiently matured? ”

" We know our trade Travesura!” Bill growled, Standing to face the other man directly, “Vesna has been showing signs for weeks. Tonight is the first full moon, She will likely make her first change then.”

Vesna’s eyes went wide at what she heard.

“Now does your damned circus want her or not!”

Covering her mouth to muffle a shocked gasp Vesna backed away from the doorway, Her mind what she had just heard sent her thoughts into chaos, Betty and Bill were selling her to a circus! As her mind reeled from this revelation one thought cut through the rest, RUN!

A plan immediately formed in her mind, Room, my stuff, window, woods. If I get to the woods they'll never catch me.Spinning on her heel she moved to escape the trap the house had become.

And slammed straight into a clown that had somehow appeared behind her knocking her on her ass,

“Fuck!” the curse leaving before she could stop it. The clown blocking her path then crouched down bringing it’s painted face level with hers as if to check on her, Vesna eyes widened at the sight of what had to be the evilest looking clown she had ever seen.

“Oh fuck!”

The monstrous looking clown let out a deeply unsettling chuckle as Vesna sat on the floor frozen in shock. She watched numbly as it reached out and wrapped it’s comically over sized hand around her left ankle the sickly sweet popcorn from before filling the air.

“Vesna was that you?” Betty’s voice cut through the clowns spell, releasing Vesna from her paralysis. The wolf surged into her faster than it had the night before filling her with power as she lashed out. The clowns nose made an almost comical “Honk” as Vesna’s right foot slammed into it’s face with a sickening crunch. The force of the blow snapped the clown head back and it tumbled to the ground in a boneless heap.

Renewed Vesna leaped to her feet and ignoring the increasingly alarmed calls from the living surged down the hall to her door and escape. Her hopes were dashed when the second clown exited her room. The clown almost seemed to unfold itself from the doorway filling the hall with it’s gangely bulk blocking the path forward.

Vesna was unable to slow her rush as the clown slid forward and snarling in frustration leaped forward in an attempt to push past her foe. They collided with a crash, the clown managing to grab the front of Vesna’s hoodie and pivot her into the wall hard enough to break the plaster in an burst of dust.

Pinning her to the wall the clown cackled in Vesna’s face its rancid sweet breath causing her to gag as she clawed wildly at her opponents head. Her blow landed and with a feeling like pushing through cake topping her claws parted the clowns face it’s horrifying scream sounding like a deflating balloon, as it released her to clutch it’s maimed face Vesna pushed the clown into the opposite wall where it slid to the floor making disturbing noises the whole time.

The popcorn stench was overpowering now. Vesna felt sick When she raised her and to wipe her face she noticed her hand was covered with the clown’s viscera a black treacle like substance, some patched of bone white skin and and a bright red ball nose. Her stomach clenched and she vomited onto the carpet.

“Vesna! You are making such a mess.” Betty scolded in a far too mild tone. “Why do you have to be such a bother?”

Vesna turned. Betty and Bill stood by the living room door both looking at her with mild disappointment, Like she’d not done her chores. The stranger, Mr Travesura stood beside them his cane resting on his shoulder, His Jade eyes studying Vesna in a way that made ice run up her spine. Between the trio and Vesna the first clown crouched it’s flattened nose dripping black ichor as it giggled to it self.

“Fuck! You!” Vesna exploded. “You’re selling me! To a circus! You sick fucks!”

“Of course. It’s why we took you in after all. A newly turned werewolf is worth a lot after all” The bluntness of Betty’s confession left Vesna speechless.

“Now now girl.” Travesura interjected “You are interrupting delicate negotiations that will decide your value to my operation.”

“Oh go fuc..aargh!” A stabbing pain in her thigh interrupted Vesna response. She looked down at her leg to see a midget clown giggling as it pushed the plunger on the huge syringe it had just stabbed into her leg. “How do they keep sneaking up on me?” Vesna muttered as she slapped her smaller foe away.

She got no answer as the first clown sprung down the hall towards her. Infuriated by the conversation Vesna charged to meet it ignoring the numbness spreading through her leg. They collided into a vicious melee, slamming into the floor and walls as they struggled, The clown buffeting Vesna with its huge fists while Vesna slashed and tore with her claws. Vesna’s world became fuzzy and out of focus as the drug that now flowed in her blood slowed her down and clouded her senses. Despite this she soon found sitting on top of the clown as black ooze leaked from a multitude of cuts.

Unsteady Vesna rises to her feet, swaying as her world spins, Her hands and face now drip with black the colour staining her clothes and hair. The hall is now a mess the wall smashed and carpet torn even the ceiling has not been spared marred by a series of errant strikes. Struggling to focus Vesna fixes her gaze on her foster parents and their guest, She pauses a opens her mouth to speak.

The second clown tackled her from behind. They burst into the kitchen slamming into the heavy wooden countertop that occupied the center of the room. The edge of the counter counter punching Vesna in her stomach drove the air from her lungs causing her to gasp desperately. Taking the opening she’d left, The clown pushed its whole weight down on Vesna forcing her chin down pinning her bent at a right angle into the countertop.

The drugs haze meant it too a few seconds for Vesna to rally her remaining strength. Placing her palms flat on the counter she began to push up. Snarling with effort she began to force the clown to give ground. Inch by inch she moved her self up off the counter breaking her pin. Then just as she felt the clown begin to fail the third smaller clown appeared at her side. Occupied by its larger brethren Vesna could do nothing as the clown leapt upon the counter seized her left wrist and closed a metal manacle around it.

Vesna screamed in shock and pain. The metal was freezing cold, worse than any thing she had ever experienced before, It was almost a kind of pain radiating from her wrist outwards. Worse her inner wolf seemed to flee from the cold retreating deep inside her taking her strength with it. Robbed of her power Vesna was quickly overcome and is once again pinned. The clowns wasted no time in twisting her arms behind her back so her right wrist could join the left in an icy prison.

“Aargh! G-g-get your fuuucking hands off me! Let meee go you f-f-fuckers!” Vesna cried the effects of the drugs clouding her mind worsening now as she kicked out with her still free legs. Her words were as ineffective as her blows. Robbed of her supernatural strength the larger clown had no trouble keeping her pinned over the counter laughing obnoxiously at her struggles.

The smaller clown danced and capered on the worktop as it pulled a brightly colored bag from its pocket and pulled open its drawstring. Vesna watched dully as it reached in far deeper than the bag should have allowed and removed first some rolls of ribbon and tape, bags of white powder, handfuls of tack pins, then a coil of rope, finally a serious looking gag. Vesna’s drugged fogged mind began to panic as the giggling little menace approached.

“N-n-no s-stay back. D-d-don’t come a-any C-c-closer..Please.” Vesna tearfully pleaded with the clown as it gabbed her hair and pulled her head back forcing her to stare into its soulless black eyes. “Please don..Mmmph” the clown forced the gag into her mouth and quickly closed the heavy straps around her head. Her protests reduced to fearful whimper the clowns wasted no time in wrapping rope around her arms and legs folding her up till she lay on the counter trussed up like a prize ham.

“Well now that was exciting.” Travesura’s voice filled the room, “Good thing we brought the silver or she might have done more damage.”

Bill harrumphed as Travesura circled the counter Vesna was displayed on. As the brightly dressed man walked into her line of sight Vesna got her first good look at him. He was a doughy bronze skinned man his colorful waist coat straining to hold his bulk, A mass of curly black and grey hair framing his jowly toad like, His green-gold eyes resting above the huge styled mustache that dominated his appearance. Vesna tried to glare defiantly at him through her tears Seeing this his round face split into a grin.

“She’s a fearsome one isn’t she?” her reached down to stroke Vesna’s cheek, She flinched at his clammy touch and tried to twist her head away. Laughing he grabbed her hair pulled her head up forcing Vesna to twist her neck at an unnatural angle. As Travesura looked down at her tear stained face his eyes robbing his grin of any friendliness, Vesna felt fear becoming a cold terror that settled in her guts.

“Seems our little werewolf started her change already. Looks like you estimate was a little off. Wouldn’t you say Bill?”

“It happens sometimes. Makes no difference, she won’t complete the change till the full moon ” Bill muttered from somewhere behind Vesna where she couldn’t see.

“That’s quite the deadline. Literally” Travesura laughed “It’ll be messy if you get things wrong again”

“We’re not wrong about this. Until then you’re silver will keep the beast suppressed and slowing the change for a time.” Betty explained from beside Bill. “Those cuffs will last until night midnight at the latest, anything longer will require more extreme measures.”

“Excellent!” Travesura declared releasing Vesna’s hair, “Shall we retire to the other room to discuss price?” As he moved out of sight he called.

“Stretch! you and Fatso keep an eye on our newest act.” The taller clown nodded enthusiastically.

" Tac! once you’ve fixed these idiots up, bring the van round.” The smaller clown preformed an elaborate bow. “No games! I want everyone in top condition for tonight.” With that they were gone.

The clowns Stretch and Tac giggled and capered as Vesna struggled fruitlessly with her bonds trying to ease there unnatural position. Unable to get any slack from her restraints and with the collected discomforts of, her limbs and jaw staring to ache, the fogginess her head and the burning cold of the silver cuffs Vesna was forced to admit defeat and sank her head down on the counter. Dully she slumped as they were joined by Fatso the clown from the hall, It’s nose still squashed flat from Vesna’s kick, She looked on as the Tac was picked up by Stretch and so it could reach ruined face. Vesna’s eyes widened as Stretch’s features were wiped away by its Tac’s attentions the flesh deforming and warping as if it was clay. Horrified she watched as damage she’d inflicted was erased and the Stretch appearance returned to it’s original disturbing spectacle. Tac then moved to Fatso and by sticking his finger in Fatso ear and blowing on his thumb reinflated his nose like a disturbing cartoon.

His repairs completed Tac hopped down and scuttled off on his next task leaving Vesna alone with Stretch and Fatso. Vesna felt the sick feeling in her stomach begin to grow as the clowns snickering stopped and they focused there attention on her. Her muffled cry’s for help went completely unheeded and she could do nothing as they descended. They started small tickling and poking her to get a reaction. This soon gave way to painful pinches and hair pulling. Vesna ignored this as best she could but she couldn’t help but yelp into her gag when Fatso slapped her hard. This brought a fresh round of laughter as they began to rain blow after blow down on her.

Vesna squeezed her eyes shut to block out the pain and humiliation of her situation, shame and terror swirling around her insides along with the first embers of anger. With every passing moment of torment stoked these ember in to a burning rage. A rage that grew until it consumed all the pain and terror till it was all that was left. Filled with rage Vesna felt it. Despite the clowns assault, the pain of restraints, the drug induced haze and the supernatural chill of the silver cuffs. Vesna felt her wolf begin to stir and rouse.

At that moment Stretch bored of Vesna ignoring his slaps decided to pinch her nose shut. Unable breath through her gag Vesna’s eye’s flew open in a panic as her air was cut off. Desperately she tried to shake free of Stretch’s grip causing the clown to burst into a fit of giggles as he held tight. Panic drowned her rage causing Vesna to lose her wolf as she struggle to take a breath. Black spots danced in her vision as she desperately looked up at Stretch silently pleading for mercy. The clowns laughing face was the last thing she saw as blackness swallowed her.

The world consciousness returned Vesna to was cramped and dark the only source of light the air hole cut into the side of the metal crate she had been stuffed inside. Vesna could feel the vibration of the van as it traveled along the road. She tried her best to swallow her fear as each moment took her closer to her unwanted fate. In the sky above Vesna felt the full moon began to rise her inner wolf stirring to answer it’s primal beacon.