Chapter 13

After everyone hopped off the ride Caine apologized profusely to you about disappearing.

"So sorry I had to greet our newest member earlier darling!" He held your hand and looked into your eyes apologetically. His gloved hands found their way to the sides of your face. You melt into his touch and sigh, gazing up at the man who'd somehow found his way into your mind and heart. You still weren't sure of what you felt, but you wanted to see where this new found relationship would go.

"It's okay" you smiled reassuring him. "I know as ring master you've probably got a lot to plan—wait what" The gears in your head slowly turned.

Pomni overhearing joined in, "Did he just say there's a new circus member?"

Caine felt his jaw clench slightly annoyed at the interest slowly shifting to the new member. Jealousy bubbled below in the pit of his chest. However, his voice didn't reflect this as he projected his usual warm comforting tone, "Why yes!!! There is a new member indeed. We can introduce them after this adventure my dear budding adventurers! For now you've got adventures to ...." He trailed off momentarily "adventure on."

Everyone side eyed him as he trailed off. Jax leaned against a nearby tree in the park as NPCs screamed on the ride you just got off. "So why not add them to the adventure now?" Caine felt himself getting annoyed, "I've got to do their introduction I'll be back!!"

And just like that he was gone again. You were left there confused and slightly sad he was gone again. Already missing his presence your hand reaches up to where his once was just seconds before. You look off into the sea of rides and contemplate which ones to hold off on riding until he got back.

As the day went on your group slowly rejoined. You all begin exchanging thoughts on the rides and which ones you loved or hated. Zooble and Jax seemed to enjoy the more extreme ones while Kinger liked the calm ones. Then you, Ragatha, and Pomni seemed to enjoy the middle of the road rides. The ones that were exciting, but not exactly the type to make anyone pass out.

You all have fun throwing darts at balloons attempting to earn a prize. Everyone seemed to be losing hope on getting a giant plushie until you stepped up to the counter. You effortlessly popped every balloon in sight. Kinger left the stand carrying the giant bee plushie that you won. You figured giving it to him was better than it collecting dust in your room. Besides you already had dozens of plushies and he seemed to really like insects.

Everyone was now waiting in line for the Ferris wheel. You leaned onto the metal railing copying Jax. He shifted to one position, and you shifted to the same one. You kept it up until you and Pomni began to giggled and burst into laughter as Jax yelled at you to stop. The successful rage baiting made the line blow by and before you knew it everyone was boarding. You sit in a bucket on the Ferris wheel by yourself. The cold metal greeting your hot skin with a shiver.

Then sun didn't reach this section of the park as it was covered in trees and greenery. So the metal was fairly cool to the touch compared to everything else so far.

Meanwhile back in the circus...

Caine was pulling his newest guest from the pits of the hellish landscape below. The unconscious individual was plopped on the ground. Slowly he woke up and took in his surroundings before his eyes focused on Caine.

"Why hello there newest adventurer!!!"He proudly puffed out his chest. "I see you seem to already be well acquainted with my lovely y/n"

The man before Caine freezes. His green eyes studying the floating jaw and eyes carefully. Wondering why this strange ring leader seemed to be unhappy about him knowing y/n "Yes..I am. How do you know her?"

The new member spat his words defiantly at Caine. The man that cowered before Caine did not appreciate his possessive tone when it came to y/n.

"Why she's my love of course! My little light! My cupcake." He cheerfully and possessively stated with a sing song matter of fact tone. As if it was obvious to this stranger what y/n was to him.

"Hah. She finally got a boyfriend huh?" He smirked half annoyed. Back in the real world he had pined after y/n for months. They had worked together before y/n disappeared suddenly. No one knew where she'd gone. No one but him at least.

"She disappeared from (insert job name) one day. We used to work together. So I figured when she disappeared it wasn't on purpose. She might hate her job, but she loves her coworkers. Too much to just up and leave like that. So once police gave up I took it upon myself finding her. And it led me here. She had these strange vlogs on her YouTube channel of some abandoned office building. C&A also known as Caine and Abel."

Caine patiently listened to what he had to say much to his own disdain. If he had it his way he'd lock this man away and throw out the key. Deep down Caine knew that wasn't an option and you'd eventually begin asking questions about where the newest member disappeared to. "What's your name"

Caine flatly stated, the question sounded more like a statement than a genuine ask. Caine's mismatched blue and green eyes looked the strange man up and down.

"I— don't remember it."

The man began to look distressed. He pulled at the hair on his head as his eyes went wide. "Wait. Why don't I remember anything???"

He seemingly forgot everything he mentioned moments before about y/n. The cartoonish looking character pulled at his new form. Caine called over to him, "Well why don't we make a new one!!

A large colorful gambling machine with letters popped up out of nowhere. Caine forcefully pushed down on the lever and the tiles began spinning rapidly before landing on 'LSPCC'

"What do you think of that one?" Caine excitedly stated. Verging on manic.

The new member shifted uncomfortably about to speak. "I —"

Caine rolled his eyes before interrupting his guest, "Terrible, right, let's try again"

Once more the tiles spun before landing on the name 'David'

David shrugged his shoulders, "sounds good to me. Definitely better than LSPCC" Caine eyed David once more before showing him around the circus grounds. Purposely placing David's room as far from y/n's as possible.

"Welp have fun and don't tear the place up!!! The others will be back soon."

And just like that the ring master had disappeared. Leaving David to explore on his own once more.

1156 words. ❤️