Freak Show Read Free Page B

back to my face. “Your bones will not break and you will remain as you are, if you swallow that pill and leave on time. However, if you don’t take the pill or run a bit late, whatever you allow to happen to you while inside will have a lasting result. Dead or alive. So I suggest you pop that little pill and stop holding up my line.”
                  I check my watch and carve the time in my brain. Forty-eight hours seems like a long time and I have no doubts we will be leaving in less than five hours but just in case, I do quick math and look back at the older lady. “How long do people usually stay?”
                  “Some never leave my dear and others never step through this gate to find out what’s beyond it. You can still turn back.” She grins at me as I throw my head back and swallow the lifesaving pill without water. Next she grabs my wrist and places a padded black leather cuff around it. The word “Human” is embroidered in white thread into the part of the cuff that covers the underside of my wrist.
                  “You worry too much, Serenity.” Anne calls from the other side of the gate. “It’s a good thing! Come on.”
                  What choice do I have now?
                  I could turn around, leave my friends and wait in the car for no longer than possibly forty eight hours, wondering the entire time what the hell I’m missing out on, but be no worse for the wear. OR step inside and risk my life. I look up at the clear sky and silently pray to whoever is listening to watch over my body and soul.

Three…
     
                  Walking through Freak Show’s gate makes me feel like a toddler who’s been forced to give up her security blanket; as though I was being brave and I’m proud of myself for pushing through my fear and making a choice I’m unsure of. Yet, I’m terrified and in need of a comfort that will no longer be available to me now that I’ve given up the luxury of feeling safe.
                  A gigantic mansion stands several yards before us and effectively blocks the park from view, yet again. I wonder if I’ll ever get to see this damn place with the way they hide it with walls of mist, ancient gates, and now houses bigger than any I’d ever seen. Thick trellises of ivy vines crawl up the cracked brick face of the mansion, giving it an air of primitive grace.
                  Matching men stand on either side of the gravel walkway. Each is wearing a tan vest with nothing under it to cover their perfect chests and those big pants that were popular in the eighties. They look like genies and as we approach them, they turn toward each other and tip their head up.  Their mouths open with a strange noise and long lengths of fire are expelled.
                  I scream in shock and Becca claps her hands. “Wahhooo,” she yells as she walks under the bursts of flames then turns to the man on her right. “Are you fire breathers?” She asks while running her finger down the frazzled edges of his vest.
                  “Some countries of old, have called us that.” His voice reminds me of highlander movies and his accent causes even me to lean closer to his fit body. “But naw Lass, we are dragon shifters.”
                  “Dragon? Shifters?” I gawk and Becca elbows me in the ribs.
                  “Come on ladies!” Anne yells from ahead of us and Becca looks up from her first attempt at a conquest today.
                  “I hope I’ll see you inside, at some point.” She twirls a loose string from his vest around her finger.
                  “I remain here at my post. Lang may yer lum reek.” The shifter leans down and kisses her forehead. Becca batts her eyelashes and then skips off.
                  “What does that mean?” I tip my head and look into his pale blue eyes. I’ve