Cirque Periculum

Chapter 13

Why did Mr. Summertin think this was a good idea?

Connor walked through the doors of the Swan Theater with an hour left before the show was supposed to start. The prospect of talking to Meridian again had distracted him up to this point, but there was nothing to keep him from his paranoia now that he had entered the theater. Something was bound to go wrong tonight.

"Hurry up everyone! Look lively! We're meeting on the stage in five minutes," Mr. Summertin yelled from just inside the door. He was already in his costume, which included a black top hat and a silky red suit and tie. The dark circles under his eyes had vanished, and he stood with his back straight again.

Someone's feeling better, Connor thought as he walked past him.

The theater was immaculate, Connor had to admit that. Crystal swans floated lazily in the air, clinking softly as they glided. The ticket counter was trimmed in gold and the white carpet had gold swirls. A giant crystal chandelier hung above the main entrance into the theater from the lobby, sending fragments of light every which way.

Connor was guided down a set of stairs and into the men's dressing room, where he changed into an ash gray suit and slacks with a shimmery red button-up shirt and a black bow-tie. He slipped a pair of black dress shoes on and found the door that led backstage.

The stage itself was ginormous. Connor fancied that he could have fit all of Greenview on the stage alone. He gazed out to see thousands of empty seats sitting in darkness, waiting for guests to arrive.

"Connor!" someone shouted. He looked around to see the source and found Kirk waving for him to come over.

"Are you performing tonight Kirk?" Connor asked, noticing that he was still in his shorts and t-shirt.

"No, I still haven't figured out an act I could do. I'll be in the dressing room the whole time."

"That's too bad," Connor said.

Kirk chuckled. "Not really. I usually sneak out of the dressing room and go sit out in the audience to watch the show."

Connor laughed. "Well tell me how I do then."

"Charlotte has been telling me all about her act. She's doing one with her brothers."

"What are they doing?"

A voice interrupted them. "Don't you dare tell him anything! I want it to be a surprise."

Charlotte walked up to Kirk and grabbed his hand, kissing his cheek. He blushed as Connor's eyes widened in surprise.

"Kirk? You guys are dating?"

Kirk opened his mouth, but Charlotte answered, "We were dating when me and my brothers left the circus. We got together and decided we should pick it back up again. Isn't that right Kirky?"

Connor forced back a laugh. "Kirky?"

"I think she means quirky," a rough, deep voice said behind them. One of Charlotte's brothers walked up and the couple instantly split apart.

"Blake, leave him alone," Charlotte said, jutting her lip out.

"What," Blake said, not smiling. "I'm the older brother, aren't I? I have to protect my sister from scum like him."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Give me a break. You were born three minutes earlier than I was. It's probably only because you shoved me out of the way in the womb."

"Seems like something he would do," Gavin said from behind him. "I still think that I was supposed to come before either of you. I'm the responsible one."