Welcome to the Greatest Show UnEarthed chapter 2

Two Years Later…

“Gah!”

A cry escaped from his lips as he felt his back connect to the chain linked fence after being shoved harshly.   He shot a glare at his assailant, which only made the latter smirk even more.   If only he would find some way to wipe-no, rip it off of his face completely.   It might be one of the things that he could be capable to pull off, if only that ass-hat wasn’t accompanied by his friends who seemed to share a pitiful IQ level of 20.5 with him.  And seem to get off at other people’s pain and suffering; usually by their own hands so that they can gloat at their work.  

“Alright…what have I done to deserve this for today, huh, Dirk?” he sarcastically asked, still keeping his glare on the other teen.  If he weren’t wearing his green contacts, one of his eyes will be steel grey while the other will be stygian black right now.    However he can’t show them today as usual, for…other reasons.

Dirk still smirked, as his friends snickered behind him, watching with anticipation at his comeback.  

“Just for existing as the representation for the garbage of the universe,” he replied.  “Mainly for your fellow fags everywhere.”

Riley resisted the temptation to roll his eyes, and further give Dirk the reason to beat him up.  

“I would applaud you for little expansion of your sorry excuse for vocabulary,” he said, his tone had a sarcastic bite to it.  Then he smirked tauntingly at him.  “But just so that we’re clear…I am not a British version of a cigarette.   I just happen to like guys.”  It was a nice piece of information that he came across; fag is a British term for cigarette in amongst the English.  Ah, the wonders of internet usage…

His comeback brought amusement to the two stooges before turning their attention to their so-called friend, waiting to see how he reacts to it.  Never failing Riley’s predictions, Dirk was visibly shaking…followed by a growl that is getting louder by the second…and then…

“You…YOU FUCKING FAG!”

This.  He pulled his arm back as he formed his hand into a tight fist.   Everything else went into slow motion for Riley as he narrowed his eyes, just like in the Matrix or the Spider-Man films.  (Though admittedly, Matrix is better).   He set himself into a defensive stance, preparing to catch his arm before counter-attacking him.   But before either one of them had the chance, a feminine voice spoke up.

“Wow, you guys look like you’re having fun!”

He could have laugh at the way that Dirk stopped his arm midway, and almost fail at keeping his balance at the same time.  He and his friends spun around to see the owner of the voice.  Riley craned his neck over to see who it was as well.

There standing before them is a young blonde girl, with her hands behind her back.  She wore what looked like a white sundress, tight around the right places despite looking loose.  Her face was concealed by a wide brim sun hat, but he can see her long wavy hair tied back with a yellow ribbon, creating a cute look on her.   Riley may like the male gender more, but he does appreciate the beauty the girls have.  

When she lifted her head up, it showed that he was right about the girl being cute.   Her complexion was fairly pale, but not pale enough to look like she hasn’t been out of the sun all of her life, and without any form of blemish.   Her ocean blue eyes shone beneath the golden bangs as she gazed at all four boys before her.   A sweet smile gracing her face was enough to bring any strong man to his knees.  At least, that’s how a “normal” heterosexual man would think, no doubt that these so-called examples of decent human beings were staring at her with jaws hanging loose.  

“I never knew that playing in abandoned alley ways is the latest rage these days,” then the girl smiled wider as she balanced on the ball of her feet.   “Or is it just one of those quirks that your town seemed to have?”

Dirk was the first one to snap out of it, before realizing that the girl was asking them about their current situation.  Before Riley could react, the taller teen suddenly wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulls him close to his side.   But to put on a show that says “we’re friends, we’re just playin’ around.”

Sure he liked guys and all, but the likes of Dirk and his cohorts were unappealing to him.   Like the body odor for instance, from what he picked up, the large teen smelled of a foot locker.  It was a miracle that he didn’t vomit in his mouth every time he breathed in that awful scent.  

“Ah, we’re just a bunch of guys messin’ around,” Riley heard him lie through his teeth; he could practically hear that shit-eating grin from how sappy Dirk’s voice sounded.   As if that wasn’t enough, he even gave him a noogie to show how “good friends” really act in public places.  Riley doesn’t mind the fact that his blond hair was getting mussed up.   It was the fact that the knuckles were digging into his scalp a little too harshly as he felt Justin’s arm wrap a bit tighter around his windpipe.

Even so, he decided to play along…this girl must be like the others in this damned town.   Oblivious to the obvious idiocy that Dirk represents, and sees him only as one of those town heroes.  However, only difference is that he had never seen her before.  Wait…he just realized this…he never seen her before!    The girl before them just smiled, probably not noticing the overacting on Justin’s “performance”.

“Ok then, I can dig it!” Riley could not help but stare at her with disbelief when he heard her said the last two words.  Who says “dig it” anymore? was the first thing that ran through his head.

“I never seen you around here before…tourist?”

Well, one of the insulting examples of Neanderthals had beaten him to that nagging question.  

“Or maybe just moved in or somethin’?” from the corner of his eye, Riley could see one of Dirk’s mooks trailing his eyes from the girl’s face to her chest area, practically drooling; probably thinking that the prime communication to the latter is through her breasts.  He may be gay, but that is not the way to talk to a woman like that!

The girl seemed to notice and just giggled, sounding like she’s flattered at the attention.  

“Oh, no, I’m not moving here…” then a strange smile grew on her face as she walked a bit closer to the boys, still having still keeping her hands behind her back.  For some odd reason, it unnerved him, like she knew a really juicy secret and she will keep it to herself until they cave in and beg to give them the information.   For a price of course.

“Actually…I heard about this bitchin’ rad circus coming this year.   And rumor has it, that it would be in this town!”

        Again with the long-dead lingo...

Then her sweet smile returned as she pulled back.   “And by the way, it’s invitation only!”

One of Riley’s brows was raised in suspicion at what this girl said.   He had never heard of any mention of a circus anywhere.   Even if there is, this town is practically in a middle of nowhere, save for being rest stop for those who are either lost or refueling both gas tank and stomachs.   And yet here this girl that they have never seen before, probably appeared out of nowhere (for a better lack of word), sprouting something about a secret circus.  Which is “invitation only” nonetheless.

“Invitation…only?” he finally spoke up, getting the girl’s attention.  Riley knew that the next one will be sarcastic, but he’s about to see stars afterwards so what is there to lose? “SO….two questions, if you don’t mind me asking at all.”

The girl just shrugged casually, still smiling.   “Shoot.”

Riley held up one finger. “One…how pray-tell can you get an invitation to some top secret circus?”

Then he held up another finger.  “And B, if you’re here for this so-called secret circus, where is the proof that you’re invited?!”

The girl made a thoughtful expression as she thinks over what he asked.    Probably on purpose because she seemed to be taking a long to time to come up a decent answer! The idiots don’t seem to mind since they find that look cute on her.

“Well, you see…that…” then came the clichéd dramatic pause, Riley had a hard time to resist the urge to roll his eyes.  A mischievous smile split her pretty face.   “…is a secret!”

Reaching into her collar, she pulled out what looked like a ticket out of that film about Willy Wonka and some crazy candy factory.   The only difference is that instead of gold, it was completely black.   The font resembled red rubies as it was shone in the sun’s peeking rays.  Riley could barely see it from the distance, but he managed to see what looked like a cartoonish version of a skull…and the lettering saying…

“Lower…Berth?” then he looked up to her in confusion.  “Weird name…”

The girl just simply smiled.  “You’re a weird name!”

All Riley could do was to stare at her.   Was he supposed to be offended?
“O…kay…”

“Oh and this is proof of course!” she added, before, as if by magic, pulled out more tickets.  “And these are for you boys as well!”

Riley was thankful that Dirk finally released his hold on him as he and his posse gather around the girl to grab their respective tickets.   He glared in disgust as one of them had the gall to cope a feel but surprisingly she didn’t seem to notice.  She was just all smiles and respond to some over the top sugary flattery.   It was official…there was something seriously wrong with this girl…wait, he just noticed that she didn't introduced herself.  And yet, here she is, giving out tickets like they are candy to complete strangers.

“Hold on, who are you anyway?!” he didn’t know if his tone was considered rude or not, but he could care less at the moment.

The girl stared at him, before smiling mysteriously.   Riley couldn’t help but feel the sensation of something cold slithering down his spine, his throat tightening as if there is a snake slowly coiling around it.   It was like she had a wicked scheme in mind, nothing like Dirk and his gang.   Only difference is that they did to him in the past is child’s play…what this girl has in mind might be more sinister than he imagined.

“My name is Melissa…I can’t wait to see you and your friends at the circus tonight.”