Chapter Seven

A tense silence lingered between them, sharp and cold as a blade poised to strike. Then, without warning, the Ringmaster broke the stillness with a laugh, his voice echoing through the room.

"Capture you?" He mocked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"I wouldn’t stoop so low. And besides," he added, his tone darkening, "if you were truly my target... you'd probably be with your brother by now."

Lia gritted her teeth in irritation, refusing to let the man see just how much his words shook her up. Keeping her composure, she allowed a new thought to creep in, ‘Maybe I should play along for now,’ she thought, her mind working quickly in exchange for everything that was being offered to her both willingly and unwillingly.

Lia devised a plan to play safe and as smartly as she could, all the while thinking, ‘After all, he did mention he'd be lenient if I joined him for tea. I'll just... drink it for now. And if it turns out to be anything suspicious, I'll spit it out—or better yet, throw it all up later.’

Once she settled on a course of action, Lia cleared her throat and picked up the fancy teacup. As she took a sip, she was taken aback by the unspoken flavor. It was an ordinary tea, yet it held an extraordinary richness that made it taste wonderful even without sugar.

Lia felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her, but she kept it to herself, refusing to let her emotions take control. After sipping the tea, she set the cup back on its saucer and gazed into the slightly sparkling surface, her reflection staring back at her.

"Who are you people?" She questioned, her voice steady.

"Are you merely simple murderers or kidnappers with tricks up your sleeves, or is there something more to you than I can ever fathom?" Lia asked boldly.

The young Ringmaster responded with a smile, his demeanor disarming, "Lia, we're not murderers or kidnappers by any means. We’re simply… survivors."

Lia furrowed her brow, her confusion deepening as she looked up at the Ringmaster.

"Survivors?" She repeated, her voice laced with disbelief, while she added, "You kidnap children... to survive? How can that even be possible unless… you’re lying to me?"

The Ringmaster reached for a sugary cookie before responding, "Yes. We aren’t your typical survivors. We don’t belong to your world."

He paused; a hint of surprise in his voice before continuing, "I'm amazed you haven't realized that, especially since... you’re quite clever for your age."

Lia turned her gaze back to her reflection in the tea, her brow furrowed as she replied, "I’m not clever enough to be on your level. It’s just that... I’m asking the right questions. Being ordinary clouds my judgment, no matter how much reality shifts into fantasy."

The Ringmaster remarked, "At least you’re willing to admit that what you’re facing is far from reality." he paused to take a bite while his gaze remained fixed on her.

"That alone brings you one step closer to grasping what we truly are." Ringmaster’s words hung in the air as Lia's eyes widened in sheer shock.

Lia hadn’t anticipated his answer, and it left her momentarily speechless. She swallowed hard before asking, her voice uncertain, "So, you mean that none of you are… human? But something… something out of a fantasy world we humans believe in?"

Lia clutched her forehead, a nervous tension building in her as she muttered, "Ha... the idea of you being part of some fantasy is… plainly ridiculous."

The Ringmaster chuckled without any amusement, taking his time to enjoy the cookie before speaking, “We won’t call it fantasy, though if that makes it easier for you to grasp, then so be it," he said with a sly smile.

"Now that you’ve learned the truth, it would be wise for you to return home and live your life to the fullest while you still can. Because, in all honesty, a child like you could never truly understand us. And if you dare to challenge us… know this, you'd be already lost… before even starting.” The Ringmaster tried to reason with Lia, and she couldn’t help but wonder… why?

Lia couldn’t even believe what she was hearing.

Her ears buzzed with a persistent ringing, as her thoughts raced both aimlessly and purposefully.

‘How did it come to this?’

‘He was right... someone like me could never defeat him.’ The thought weighed heavily on her mind.

‘Should I... should I tell Mom and Dad?’ Lia hesitated, her heart racing.

‘No, wait... there might still be a chance if I can understand them better. I won’t go back empty-handed, not after coming this far.’ Her resolve grew as she considered those she cared about.

‘Nate, April, Leo, Danny, and the others... they’re all waiting to be saved.’ Her eyes lingered on the sorrowful reflection of herself in the tea before her, and at that moment, she knew exactly what she needed to do.

"You could be right," Lia simply stated, her voice calm yet edged with defiance, "but that doesn't change the fact that I still want to challenge you."

A small grin tugged at the corner of her lips as her eyes gleamed with courage and determination while she continued to add, "Let's make it a little interesting—let's play a game. After all, what harm could it possibly do to you? Especially when you already know I'm bound to lose."

The Ringmaster's brow furrowed in thought for a moment before a sly smirk spread across his face. With a hint of amusement in his voice, he asked, “Well, why not? We're bored, after all. Tell me, little Missy, what kind of game do you have in mind?"

Lia raised her gaze to meet the Ringmaster's, a smirk playing on her lips while she spoke her mind, “Not so fast there,” she replied, her tone playful yet firm.

“To be able to play a fair game, we need to be on the same page. You still owe me an explanation of how you chose your victims. And I need to know if they're all fine for now. After all, I'm in this game for every child you've captured.”

“HAHAHA!”

“HEHEHE!”

“HAHAHA!”

“HEHEHE!”

“HAHAHA!”

The raucous laughter of the circus members echoed around them, filling the air with a chaotic energy.

The Ringmaster, arms crossed and a smirk on his face, looked at Lia with a glint of mischief in his eyes as he voiced out his thoughts, “Are you really sure about that? Because we currently have more than 300 children captured, and we plan to take even more tonight.”

Lia flinched at his words, but her resolve remained unshaken.

“Yes, I’m sure,” she replied with her voice steady and armed with determination.

“And I want you to play a fair game with me—one where you won’t deceive me and won’t use your lunatics against me. After all, I’m just one mortal player facing six of you, each with abilities that far exceed my own.” Lia reasoned without any hesitation.

The Joker and the Aerialist erupted in fury, hissing and shouting, “WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING LUNATICS—” But before they could go on, the Ringmaster raised a hand, silencing them instantly. With a begrudging respect, they bowed their heads to him and retreated behind the Ringmaster, all silently.

"That might be a bit challenging," the Ringmaster mused with a playful glint swirling in his eyes.

"After all, what's the fun in a game without any danger?" He leaned in, patiently awaiting Lia's response, but she remained fixed on him, not sparing even a single glance at the circus behind him, even when they lashed out at her, yet she remained unfazed and unafraid.

Lia took a deliberate sip of her tea, a silent signal to the Ringmaster that her interest in the game remained intact and that she was all up to come to terms with a mutual agreement.

The Ringmaster let out a sigh before posing another question, “Then wouldn’t it be unfair for us if we’re not allowed to intervene in your actions against us?”

Lia furrowed her brow, considering his words before responding with a question of her own, “Why would it be unfair? And if you’re being this cautious, does that imply there’s a chance out there for you… to be defeated?”

The Ringmaster shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips as he replied, “Absolutely not. That only confirms my belief that you’ll end up wasting your time. As for your earlier questions, yes, everyone is fine for now, but that won’t be the case after midnight tonight. And you wanted to know how we choose our victims. What do you think? What could your brother have done that you haven’t? Here’s a hint: that very thing is in this room.”

Lia took a sip of her tea while she immersed herself in a deep thought.

‘What could it be? Playing with me? How am I supposed to know? Wait, if that thing is in this tent, then all I can see is the circus and… sugary… what?!’ She turned her gaze sharply to the Ringmaster after a certain realization hit her, and so, she questioned him, but her answer, hanging in the air, turned out to be a statement.

“Cotton candy.”

The Ringmaster erupted in laughter, clapping his hands together as he exclaimed in utter joy.

“BINGO!”

Lia clenched her teeth at the absurdity of it all, and the Ringmaster, his curiosity piqued, leaned in to ask, “Now, I’m intrigued. Every child loves cotton candy, and we had so many flavors available… so what made you skip it?”

Lia let out a wry laugh before responding, “Because… I’m allergic to sugar.”

She wasn’t sure if it was sheer luck or merely a coincidence, but for the first time, she felt grateful for her sugar allergy.

“Ohhh!” The Ringmaster teased, in a playful banter, “What a shame. But perhaps it’s for the best—you might have tasted bitter.”

‘Hold on,’ Lia thought, a wave of anxiety washing over her as she asked, “I’ve been wondering… what do you plan to do with all of the children, or even more if you capture any additional ones… if I lose the game?”

The Ringmaster's eyes darkened, a ravenous gleam flickering within them, while his smile stretched into something disturbingly wide and sinister. Drool glistened at the corners of his mouth as he spoke, his voice thick with anticipation.

"Feast on their yummy, innocent souls."

Lia blinked, quickly tucking her trembling hands beneath the table, trying to steady herself. Her thoughts raced, sharp and biting as she thought in disgust, ‘What a paranormal pig.’

"But what’s the deal with the cotton candy? Why does it hold a bigger picture in this ordeal? And how did you even figure out which child had eaten it and which hadn’t?" Lia asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.

"Oh, it's no ordinary cotton candy," he explained with a sly grin.

"It's crafted using the abilities of our brilliant 'Illusionist.' Once consumed, it preserves the soul for a longer period. And since it’s made by our Illusionist, he’ll always know exactly which child has eaten it." The Ringmaster elaborated for her.

Now, Lia was left with no choice but to summon every ounce of strength she had to save everyone.

"Well, it’s a shame your Illusionist’s cotton candy or whatever he uses… won’t have any effect on me," Lia declared, her voice steady as a flicker of sanity snapped within her.

"I’ve lost all faith in his capabilities and this circus. And, I have to say, it’s quite amusing—your little tricks only work on children if they still believe in you." Lia commented without giving it much thought.

The Ringmaster hesitated, momentarily caught off guard, before humming thoughtfully. His smile curled with a newfound interest as he replied, "I'm genuinely surprised that a little girl like you could even think so far to come to this. Are you really twelve, or is it just the baby face and short stature? Whatever the case..." He leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with interest as he continued, "You’ve piqued my interest enough to make me want to join this game with my full attention."

Lia stared at him with feigned disinterest, though her mind raced nervously, ‘Wow... I had no idea,’ she thought. ‘I was just testing him, and he walked right into my trap, confirming it all for me. This circus doesn’t have any extraordinary power that could actually harm me. Sure, they might win at a game of tag since it’s me against all of them, and with my short legs, I’d be like a mouse being chased by hungry cats. But now that I’ve uncovered this new bit of information, I’ll keep it to myself and play along, pretending to beg for their mercy while knowing they can’t do anything beyond the ordinary.’

Lia couldn’t help but also think, ‘Though the cotton candy still remains a mystery to me. If their powers are that limited, maybe—just maybe—there’s some foul play involved in the case of cotton candy. It could be tied to something scientific... or maybe even… black magic.’

Something about this was deeply wrong.

This madness had to be stopped, no matter the cost, for the sake of a safer future.

She tried to steady herself, but her heartbeat only grew more erratic. Desperate, she decided to divert the attention of the ravenous crowd around her. To Lia, they all looked like starving bulldogs, unable to contain their hunger after being deprived for so many years.

Lia cleared her throat once more before speaking, "I believe it's time we talk about the rules of our game."

The Ringmaster dabbed his mouth with a napkin, chuckling as he replied, "By all means, go ahead. I'm all ears, sweetie."

Lia swallowed hard, glancing around before fixing her gaze on the Ringmaster. With a deep sigh, she announced, "This game is called 'Finding the key.' In it, I will search for a soul and bring it to you. That soul will act as the key to release all of the souls you’ve captured so far."

The Ringmaster crossed his arms once more and inquired, "A soul? Alright, what's next?"

Lia hummed thoughtfully before elaborating, “It will be a soul worth thousands of souls."

As those words slipped from her lips, the entire circus gasped, while the Ringmaster remained unfazed, his focus solely on what Lia would say next.

She continued, "Once I bring it to you, you’ll release all the children you’ve captured. As you mentioned, the children won’t be safe after midnight, so I’ll take the entire day to search for this particular soul and meet you here before the clock strikes twelve. The timer won’t begin until I give the word, ensuring I have time to answer all your questions.”

The Ringmaster stared at Lia in silence, his eyes wide with curiosity, before he asked, "Which soul are you referring to? Because, as far as I recall, there isn’t a soul I’d be interested in feeding on except for children’s souls. So, which one are you talking about?"

Lia swallowed hard and shrugged before responding, “I don’t know. There could be a soul out there that’s more precious or delectable than a child’s soul. The world is full of wonders… so I believe there might be a possibility of finding one. You should at least try giving it a taste if it truly exists. In the end… if I manage to find one, there wouldn’t be any harm for you in it; it would be a win-win situation on both sides.”

The Ringmaster abruptly leaned forward, his hands pressing against the table as he exclaimed with wide eyes that screamed ‘crazy’, “Oh my god, child! How can this possibly be a win-win situation if I were to lose 300 plus souls for our grand dinner?”

Lia furrowed her brow and replied calmly, “I told you so. It will be a soul worth thousands of souls. 300 souls can’t even match its worth. A perfect soul for the grand dinner. Now, isn’t it?”

The circus members behind the Ringmaster murmured quietly among themselves as he smirked ear to ear and leaned back in his chair.

"I accept this game," he declared.

"I won’t interfere with your hunt, sweetie. Now, I’m genuinely excited to see this soul you speak of. If you bring it to me, you can have all the children back. But if your game turns out to be a deception—if there’s no such soul or if you fail to obtain it—then you’ll be the first one we feast upon... along with the others." The Ringmaster concluded.

Lia hummed softly as she stood up, extending her arm toward the Ringmaster for a handshake.

When he also rose and clasped her smaller hand in his, both of them spoke a single word in unison, their voices brimming with eagerness.

“DEAL!”