Cecily the candy cane clown

*This story is underneath my folder titled “Candy cane clowns!”. The main character is from a story of mine called “25 celebratory Christmas tales”, which is under my folder titled “25 Christmas tales!”. The main character is a boy but I thought that Cecily was a nice enough name to give him. Gacha Club character designs are under my forum titled “My character designs<33”. Enjoy!*

Introduction

Sweet. Sticky-sweet. Sickly sweet. That’s how it is with candy canes. People love them, people hate them. They twist and they turn, but can one really eat them? The red and white, are they colors of poison or colors to invite?

Cecily wasn’t human. None of his kind were. They came out only when the candy canes were about, and then, they’d eat them away. His race of candy cane clowns stayed within each other, for why would a human want someone who would only be awake during one season?

But Cecily met someone who tore and tug at his heartstrings so cruelly and kindly that he had to kiss her close, plunging her into the alluring, appetizing world of candy canes.

Tis’ the season for love, light, and longing.

Chapter One

Cecily crawled out from underneath the snow-covered evergreen he was hiding under. It had come. The season had officially begun.

Christmas time.

He grinned as the first snowflake hit his claw. He could feel the joy and hope course through his veins, bringing thoughts of  candy canes and LED lights to his mind.

His kind would come out of the evergreen trees they hid under, from out of the dirt and into the Earth. He and his parents would be free and…and…

Maybe he’d find love.

Cecily bounded through the snowy woods. First thing was first.

He needed candy canes.

Chapter Two

The good thing about being in the city of Nigh Velvet during Christmas was the fact that everyone thought Cecily was a performer for a Christmas show.

He could, in a sense, blend in.

Candy canes, candy canes, candy canes… He thought to himself, searching for the sugar treat.

His foot crunched on something on the ground.

He grinned, looking down to find a crushed candy cane. Though it was on the ground, he wasn’t above following the five-second rule.

Cecily knelt down to pick up the pieces and stuffed it in his pocket. He’d have to eat it an alley, where no one could see.

He scurried off to the nearby alley, for his stomach was beginning to grow into a void within him that almost felt like his organs were being compressed.

He had to eat quickly, or he’d fall asleep again.

Chapter Three

In the comfort of the alley, Cecily ate the candy cane bits greedily, feeling complete and whole.

Only…that special Candy Cane scent rose higher and higher, somewhere in a human’s backyard, and a scent so strong that Cecily could not deny it.

He followed the scent yet again, hiding in the walls of alleyways.

He was complete, but maybe one more bite wouldn’t hurt…

Chapter Four

After much leaping and jumping, Cecily made it to the human’s backyard.

On the clear, white snow, was a single candy cane, with a red bow tied around it, just like a present.

Cecily didn’t think twice about it. He bit into it like he always did, relishing the taste of soft sugar, of the way it melted all worries, at-

Who was that? In the window?

Cecily paused on eating the candy cane. A human sixteen year old girl, his age, was brushing her long, dark hair. Her deep blue eyes glimmered, she wore a light pink nightgown. It was so light that it looked like how snow did when the sun’s rays caught on and gave it another color.

She was so…so…so pretty. He could curl her hair up with his claws…give her all of the candy canes…but did humans like candy canes? Did humans even like clowns? Would she even like him?

No, no. He had to go. Cecily only came to eat, not to find love.

That was all he had to do. Eat.

Cecily stood up and ran away, holding the candy cane in one claw.

But not before he glanced at the girl wistfully.

Chapter Five

Who was that girl? Why was she so pretty? Would she like him if she knew him? Did she see him? Of course not. She was too busy brushing her hair to notice. But what if-

“How was your hunt, Cecily?” Dad asked.

Cecily bristled back to reality. He had made it back to his home, so of course Dad would ask about his hunt. As though he were actually hunting for living things.

“It was good. Yours?” Cecily asked.

He couldn’t tell Dad about the girl. Not yet. If he ever wanted to get to know her, he’d have to come out of the shadows.

Hopefully she was as nice as she looked.

“Good! Me and your Mom picked out quite the treats! Come join us, we’re having a feast!” Dad said heartily.

“Certainly.” Cecily said with a smile.

The next day, he’d get to know the girl a little better. If she liked him, he’d stay. If not, then at least he could imagine scenarios with her.

Either way, it was a win-win.

Chapter Six

THE NEXT DAY

Cecily retraced his steps back to the girl’s house. The feast was the same as every other one they had every winter season. A wooden table covered in bright candy canes  that were gorged away mindlessly.

When he finally made it to her backyard, he glimpsed the girl in her room, in plaid blue and purple pajamas, drawing on an armchair on her sketchbook.

Cecily took a deep breath. It was that or nothing.

He walked up to her window and tapped gently on the glass with his claws, tinkling plink plink noises being heard.

The girl flinched on her chair and recoiled in horror when she saw Cecily at the window.

Cecily jumped out into the ground, for he was clinging onto the windowsill as though it were his last dying hope, and was about to slink back into the darkness, for she had seen him and seemed to not want to see him ever again, but then-

The crack of a window opening. Cecily looked up.

The girl looked down at him, ever so curious. She gestured for him to come inside.

Cecily pointed to himself, just to be sure. Wasn’t she frightened of him? Didn’t she want him to cower away into the cruel snow?

But no. She rolled her eyes as though he were a particularly inept person and gestured for him to come inside again.

So, Cecily found himself climbing back into her room, clinging onto the brick walls for dear life.

She wanted to talk to him. She was interested in talking to him!

Chapter Seven

The girl twirled a strand of her dark brown hair, putting it up to the top of her mouth, like a mustache. The way she fidgeted with it made Cecily think that she did it whenever she was anxious or thinking deeply, like how he himself would play with the candy cane scrapes that were stuck in his pocket.

“What are you? What do you want? What’s your name?” The girl asked.

Her voice had an inquisitive note to it, as though she genuinely wanted to know more about him, but…why?

“Why did you let me in?” Cecily asked.

It wasn’t like he was complaining, but still, it was quite perplexing of her to open the window for him.

“I just want to know about you.” The girl said innocently, as though she only wanted to hear his story.

She sat down on the bed, continuing to play with her hair, eyes looking up at him expectantly.

Cecily took a seat across from her on the bed. The girl wanted to know more about him, which meant that she wasn’t afraid. Fantastic!

But how much to tell? And what would she say back to him?

Only one way to find out.

Chapter Eight

“As you can see, I’m a clown. But I’m a being known as a candy cane clown. I can only come out when there is an abundance of candy canes, which is why I’m only here in the Winter.” Cecily said.

He reached into his pocket and bit into a candy cane. The girl still waited patiently for him to speak, she hadn’t gotten a notion of fear at all.

“I didn’t mean to bother you. I’m sorry about that. I just…I smelled the candy cane in your backyard and wanted to eat it. Again, I’m sorry.” Cecily said.

He got up from the bed, about to crawl back outside, for he was taking far too long talking to the girl, but then, she grabbed his wrist and said:

“It’s fine. You just wanted to eat. I heard about your kind. I’ve read legends about the candy cane clowns, but to see one in person…”

The girl had the eyes of an eager child ready to discover more. Cecily felt his heart swell a little bit, for no human had ever gotten excited about him before.

“Is it alright if I draw you?” The girl asked.

“Certainly.” Cecily said with a small grin. He didn’t want his smile to be too big, or else it would show off his pointed teeth.

He sat on the side of her bed and stood still as she began to sketch him. His parents would think that he was out hunting for candy canes, and that was alright with him.

A human liked him.

“My name is Calantha by the way. My little sister, Leilani, must have left her Candy Cane outside. That’s probably why you found a candy cane in my backyard. Anyway, what’s your name?” Calantha asked.

“Cecily.” He said.

“Cecily, huh. You know, Cecily is more of a girl’s name.” Calantha commented.

He bristled from her words. He wasn’t aware that the name was mainly for girls, but there wasn’t like there was anything he could do about it. It was the name that he was born with, and the name that he would live with.

“But I like it for you.” She beamed.

Oh. She wasn’t making fun of him. She still wanted him around, and not as a punching bag!

Cecily relished every second of her drawing him, for it was the first time a human had noticed him without screaming in terror.

Without running away.

Chapter Nine

FLASHBACK

Cecily licked his fingers of the candy cane pieces on his claws. Since he was able to walk, he was allowed to actually hunt for candy canes.  Mommy and Daddy told him to hide because people were scared.

But why would they be? All he wanted was candy canes. It wasn’t like he was going to hurt anyone.

Cecily crawled out of the alley and stood up. The sky looked so pretty with the sun mixing with the clouds, the skyscrapers reaching high into the air. Nigh Velvet looked like a ceiling painting, like in those human churches.

Cecily gasped in awe. It was so…so…so lovely…

“What is that?!” A boy cried out.

Cecily jumped. What was he talking about? What was what?

“What’s happening?” Cecily asked, running towards the boy and his friends, another boy and a girl.

But for some reason, all of their eyes widened, and the girl shouted:

“It’s gonna get us!”

What? What? What were they doing? Why were they running? What was going on?

Cecily reached out for one of the boys, but then, he felt a claw pull him away.

“They were running from you, sweetie.” Mom said.

It was Mom. Mom was taking him back home.

But they weren’t really running from him, right?

“Really?”

“Yes. That’s why you have to be careful.”

They were in the alleyway, going back to the forest.

Cecily’s mind swirled with confusion as he pondered why, why, why would they want to run from him?

His heart sank as something clicked within him.

Did the humans really think he was that bad?

Chapter Ten

“What’s your favorite thing about Christmas? I like the candy canes,  but also the lights. The lights are so magical, with how they twinkle to create art…how…how do you humans do it?” Cecily asked.

He blushed, realizing that he sounded quite like a child, but he just couldn’t help himself! The lights during Christmas weren’t like anything he had ever seen before, stringing up a symphony of colors swirling together.

Calantha laughed lightly.

“There’s a lot to like about Christmas, but I like singing in my school chorus class the best. I’m doing a solo this year! It’s my first time doing it! I’m a little nervous…but I’ll be fine!” Calantha said with a smile.

From the way her body slightly shook, Cecily could sense stress palpitating on her.

“Hey. You’re going to do great. Trust me.” Cecily said.

“You’re just saying that. You don’t know if I’ll be okay.” Calantha said, closing her sketchbook.

Cecily bit the bottom of his lip. She didn’t seem very keen on accepting his answer, but he wouldn’t change his mind.

“Maybe I don’t know, but I have a feeling that you’ll do great.” Cecily said.

Calantha let a small grin creep on her gentle face. Cecily imagined candy canes twisting around his heart neatly, like ribbons.

Voices were heard downstairs, rising and falling. They belonged to a man, a woman, and a little girl.

Calantha’s expression changed from one of quiet joy to urgency.

“My family just got back from Leilani’s park trip. Go, don’t let them see you.” She said, ushering him to the window.

Cecily opened the window and ran outside. It was his first real conversation that he ever had with her, but it wouldn’t be the last.

He talked to her, she liked him. He had to get to know her more, know her soul more.

He just had to be more careful to not get caught.

Chapter Eleven

Cecily jumped over backyard fences and slipped in between snow-covered trees, until he was in the forest he called home.

“How was the search for candy canes?” Mom asked, hanging from a tree branch by her legs, her red eyes sparkling with excitement. All candy cane clowns were the colors of, well, candy canes. Red and white.

“Fantastic! I found a lot of candy canes!” Cecily blurted out a little too quickly. He would eventually tell people about Calantha, but not yet.

“Are you okay? You seem a little preoccupied.” Mom said, raising an eyebrow.

She couldn’t be onto him, could she? But then, why would she ask that? Was she expecting something?

“I’m fine. I’m just really excited to eat candy canes!” Cecily exclaimed.

“Alright. I guess I was a little worried there for a second. But if you say that you’re alright, I’ll stop.” Mom said, untangling her legs from the tree branch.

She landed perfectly on both feet and gave him a pat on the back before cartwheeling away. She didn’t suspect him…yet.

He would tell his parents and the rest of the clowns. Soon. Very soon.

Cecily just needed more time.

Chapter Twelve

A FEW HOURS LATER

Cecily, in the gaping hole of the tree, was carving out a winter scene on a piece of wood with his own claws. The trees caught dazzling crystals in the cold weather, and seeing Calantha draw made him want to draw a little.

“What are you doing?” A voice asked.

Cecily flinched, but then, he calmed down. He knew who the voice belonged to.

It was his older brother, Callan.

Cecily heard Callan’s footsteps draw closer on the snow, and then, he sat next to Cecily on the ground.

Cecily handed him the wood piece, for it was only art. It had nothing to do with Calantha.

“Ah. It’s very detailed. I like how the trees almost touch the sun. Splendid job!” Callan exclaimed.

Cecily blushed a little from the praise, but he didn’t say anything. He was out of words, nothing would come out.

“Are you alright? You haven’t spoken much at dinner.” Callan commented, sliding the artwork over to Cecily.

“I’m okay. I just had a long day.” Cecily replied, cradling the art to his chest. He didn’t know why he felt like holding it close to him, it just felt right.

“You can tell me anything. You know that, right?” Callan asked.

Cecily couldn’t seem him in the dark, but he imagined Callan to have an expression of worry in his eyes.

“I know. I’m fine.” Cecily said.

“Okay then.” Callan said, not sounding convinced in the slightest.

Cecily listened to Callan walk away, his heart relaxing a little every time they were further apart. He would tell them all if they just stopped asking questions. He would tell them when the time was right.

He didn’t want them to prod it out of him.

Chapter Thirteen

THE MORNING

The sunlight hit Cecily’s eyes as he crawled out of the tree. It was early morning, and he wanted to get out before all of the others did.

The scent of candy canes wasn’t even present, but that hardly mattered to him at the moment. All he knew about Calantha was her name and that she liked to sing and draw. Nothing else.

He didn’t know her fully, and she didn’t know much about him, either.

So Cecily scampered in the woods towards the path to Nigh Velvet, the path all candy cane clowns took.

He’d take her around the city. She’d see it from his eyes.

A day out with just the two of them in the glittering, faerie-like snow-capped city.

Chapter Fourteen

Cecily grinned when he found Calantha’s house. He crept towards her window and gently tapped the glass once he was close enough.

He listened as her window was cracked open, as her eyes widened when she saw him and asked:

“What are you doing here?!”

“I’m going to take you out. Don’t you want to get to know me more?” Cecily asked, feigning charisma. Her surprise caught him a little off guard, but he didn’t want her to catch it.

Calantha bit her lip, as if thinking for a bit, and then, she nodded, her eyes glinting with the excitement of a child about to open a Christmas gift.

Without further ado, Cecily pulled her away into a land of Christmas lights and starlit nights.

Chapter Fifteen

“So you only come out when there’s candy canes? Every year?” Calantha asked.

The two of them were walking down the streets of Nigh Velvet, surrounded by the Christmas shops that were teeming with customers and the performers in the local theaters.

Cecily was telling Calantha all about his life, and how he didn’t get to live much of it until Christmas.

“Yup! Every year! Sometimes I wonder what other foods taste like, but then I remind myself that candy canes will always be better!” Cecily boomed proudly.

It was something that was repeated to him throughout childhood, and he didn’t think much about it. To him, it was a given fact.

“You know that snow isn’t around every year, right?” Calantha asked.

“It isn’t?” Cecily asked, turning his head towards her.

To imagine Nigh Velvet not covered in snow, well…that was like a life without candy canes.

“It’s not. Come here, I’ll show you.” Calantha said.

She took out her cell phone and showed him photographs of Nigh Velvet…except there was no snow. There was strange green stuff all around. Colorful stuff, too. Stuff that looked like the creation of aliens.

“What’s that?” Cecily asked, pointing at the odd stuff.

“Oh, that? The stuff on the tree branches are leaves, and the stuff growing around the trees are grass and flowers. We have little plots of land growing with the trees in the warmer season, for better air. The city is still polluted though.” Calantha said, laughing a little at her own words, as though it was better for her to laugh than to complain.

“It’s lovely, but not as lovely as snow.” Cecily said.

That wasn’t entirely the truth. He just couldn’t imagine a life without snow.

“Anyway, what are we talking over here for? I should be showing you the main attractions of Nigh Velvet!” Calantha beamed.

She grabbed hold of Cecily’s claw, his heart racing with ecstasy. Most people thought that he was a performer, but what if someone caught his true nature?

Relax, Cecily. No one is paying attention but Calantha. He thought to himself, taking a minute to breathe.

Nobody but Calantha was looking at him.

Chapter Sixteen

“Over here is the Christmas tree, the biggest one ever, and over there is the annual ice sculpture, and right over there is…is the stage.” Calantha stopped.

Cecily caught sight of the twinkling evergreen, the ice sculpture of a man and a woman in a waltz, and a wooden stage. It appeared that they were at the main center, and that the shops and attractions seemed to multiply.

“Is there where you’ll perform?” Cecily asked, pointing to the stage.

“Yes.” Calantha said without much enthusiasm, her eyes downcast.

“Do you like singing? Because that determines everything.” Cecily said.

If she liked it, then why should she worry?

“I do, but it feels like people are just rushing me to do this solo. It’s a big deal over here. It’s not like I’m shy or anything, I just don’t want to be told that I’m going to be “the best singer ever” because that feels like my fate is already sealed.” Calantha said glumly.

“Don’t think about it. Just sing. That’s what I do when I’m searching for candy canes. I don’t think. I find.” Cecily said.

But he did understand a bit of what Calantha was saying. She didn’t want to be pressured. He himself was told to never talk to humans, or else he’d get hurt.

So much of that drilled into him, but did it mean anything?

“I try to! But then it comes boiling back up again!” Calantha cried out defensively.

He didn’t criticize her for it. She probably felt like she was being told her whole life how to be, and was only trying to protect herself from being wrongly perceived. He could sense it in the energy surrounding her, in how there was a slight notion of pain in her voice.

“Sing for me. I’ll tell you what I think.” Cecily said, sitting himself down on a nearby bench.

“Really?” Calantha asked nervously, as though she were afraid to let out her all.

“Yes. Sing like you’ve never done before. Like nobody is watching.” Cecily said, hoping that nobody was watching him.

Calantha took a deep breath, composing herself. Why she was frightened at all was beyond Cecily’s understanding.

From the moment he laid eyes on her, he could sense something infectious about her. Something incredibly sugary, more potent than….

Than candy canes..

Chapter Seventeen

Calantha began her song:

“As trees become doused in white

And light trickles into the night

I take your hand

Flow into the colors of a magic land

For no glass of hot cocoa

Compares to your kiss

And no knitted blanket

Can amount to your arms

For I wait every year for you to come

And I only get bitter cold

For Christmas, I want to share with you

My joys, my sorrows

My dreams and my fears

For Christmas, I want to give you my blooming, blossoming love

Forevermore”

Calantha blushed, as though she were embarrassed of the words that flowed from her mouth. Cecily had a fleeting thought that the song was for him, but quickly corrected himself. After all, it was a song that already had lyrics. Nobody was capable of making that up on the spot. She must have already worked on it before he came along.

“Your voice is fantastic! So soft and sweet, akin to the church bells! I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t like you.” Cecily beamed.

He decided it would be best not to comment on the song at all, as he didn’t want to embarrass her.

But he could sense Callan getting close. He’d have to leave soon.

“It’s almost time for me to go home. Mind if I take you to yours?” Cecily asked.

Calantha blinked, as though brought back from deep thoughts, and then, she grinned.

Without a second of hesitation, Cecily scooped Calantha up in his arms and carried her off towards her home.

Chapter Eighteen

Cecily leapt to the many walls of the structures. Every once in a while, the humans would gasp at his movements, for they thought of him as a stunt performer.

Why didn’t they think that when he was younger?

Calantha held on to him like a lifeline, the wind whipping them both with bursts of cold.

They were further from Callan, reaching towards her home.

So close to the Christmas lights, so far from his family.

The church bells began to ring in time with the Christmas carols.

Chapter Nineteen

Cecily opened Calantha’s window up and gently placed her inside, then crawled off into the forest.

“Who is that girl?” Callan’s voice asked.

Cecily shot right up. He was still crawling in the forest, he didn’t expect Callan to follow him.

“A friend of mine!” Cecily said shortly, wanting to end the conversation. It still wasn’t the right time.

“Seems like she was more than a friend.” Callan said with a grin.

Cecily felt his face flush into deep burgundy, Callan’s words hitting him in the heart.

“We’re not there yet. She’s just a friend.” Cecily repeated, as though he could somehow make the words a reality.

“Well, whatever she is to you, I hope that she brings you joy.” Callan beamed.

And though Cecily didn’t say her name, he felt the veins and bones intertwine in his body, as though Calantha were cuddling close to him.

Chapter Twenty

Once Cecily and Callan got to their home, Cecily had the foolish thought that Callan wouldn’t say anything about Calantha, that he’d keep quiet.

And as soon as they stepped foot into their home, Callan hollered:

“Cecily likes a girl! CECILY LIKES A GIRL!”

Not only did their parents come crawling in, but the rest of the riff-raff that was their family, relatives that somehow knew everything about Cecily even though Cecily didn’t know anything about them.

“You like a girl? What’s her name?”

“Where does she live?”

“Can we see her? Is she nice? How is she like?”

“I don’t want to talk about it now!” Cecily cried out, irritated that Callan had even spoken about Calantha.

He ignored all of their questions and stormed off to his tree, to where Calantha’s special gift awaited.

He’d give it to her…very soon.

Chapter Twenty-One

FLASHBACK

Cecily climbed atop a tall, spiraling building that glimmered from the light of the sun. He was going to be up so high! He was going to see everything!

“What is that?!” A voice screamed.

Cecily looked down.

All around the building, humans young and old had gathered to watch him. They were all snapping pictures, screeching in terror, and…and pointing at him.

Why was there so much attention? Why did they care so much?

Cecily tried his best to hold on, but there was so many people…so many people…

He slipped off the building, the wind pushing him to the ground.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Cecily pulled the winter wood carving out of the hole of the tree and sprinkled peppermint pieces all over it. The little flecks of peppermint would make it shine more.

“Is there any way that we can meet this girl?” Dad’s voice asked.

Cecily jumped. Why did his family always feel inclined to sneak up behind him? It was getting really bothersome, getting jump-scared all the time.

“Not right now.” Cecily said hurriedly.

“Is that so? Will we ever meet her? Is she a good person?” Dad asked.

He just wouldn’t leave Cecily alone, would he? He just had to keep asking the questions, didn’t he?

“She is, and you’ll meet her. Soon.” Cecily said.

He felt Dad’s presence linger in the back for a bit, but then, he walked away.

The wood carving was perfect for Calantha, he was sure of it.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Cecily stalked through the forest, holding the wood carving in one claw, enthusiastic about giving it to Calantha. She was going to love it, it was perfect for her, it was-

Snap.

Cecily flinched. He heard that sound before. It was the snap of a picture being taken, a sign that there were humans around.

He slunk further into the forest. Someone was there, watching him. Maybe they brought friends. Maybe they were only going to snap pictures or…or maybe they were trying to kill him.

Cecily never dealt with violent humans, but his parents always warned him and Callan that some people would see them as monsters and try to murder them. He used to laugh at them, but what if that was a possibility?

He took off running as the camera snaps got louder, as the snow crunched underneath his boots.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Closer and closer, he ran faster and faster…

“There he is! The Christmas clown!” A boy’s excited voice cried out.

Snap snap snap flash flash flash

Bright lights flickered around him, cameras flashed in the air. Cecily dropped the wood carving in the snow, his heart racing with terror.

How was he supposed to see when he was in a void of cell phones? His night vision was getting all messed up from the artificial lighting.

How would he give his gift to Calantha?

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Leave him alone!” Callan’s voice cried out.

Cecily watched as the people began to fall to the ground, as they were snatched away by Callan, their parents, and the rest of the clowns.

Cameras clattered to the snow, joining the wood carving. Cecily knelt to the ground and grabbed the wood carving, running as fast as he could.

He was so close.

Chapter Twenty-Six

There! Her house, her room! The lights in her room were on, all he had to do was break her window!

Cecily leapt across the snow and kicked her window open, clattering to the hardwood floor.

But where was she? Was she gone…already? Was it the night of her recital?

For there was nothing but the stillness of her room.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

On Calantha’s desk was but a single sheet of paper and a few spiral notebooks. Her lamp was on, casting a light on the paper.

Cecily walked up to the desk to get a better look.

There, in pencil strokes and watercolors, was a painting of himself. Cecily didn’t expect her to paint the portrait, but it nonetheless made his red and white colors swirl together beautifully, just like the candy canes he searched for every December.

Cecily put one claw on its surface. The painting was completely dry, ready for him to take.

He gently lifted it off the desk, as though he were holding Calantha, and bounded out of the window, wood carving in one claw, portrait in the other.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Cecily took care not to jump on buildings, as he was holding things in both of his claws.

He had made it to the city of Nigh Velvet, the Christmas string lights blinking above, a children’s choir rising and falling in the snow-streaked air.

Calantha, Calantha, Calantha. Cecily thought as he made his way closer and closer.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

He was right in front of the stage, his eyes caught sight of Calantha in an angel costume, singing the same song she sung to him a few days ago.

At the front of the audience, he could see a man, a woman, and a little girl cheering her on.

They must be her family. Cecily thought to himself with a smile.

He waited until Calantha stopped singing. Until her eyes fell upon his.

Then, he made his move.

Chapter Thirty

Calantha paused, eyes wide in shock. Cecily extended the wood carving to her, bowing a little.

“Talking to you has been better than any candy cane that I’ve ever eaten. You do more than listen: You take in every word that I say straight to your soul. You treat me as an equal, and with my own claws, I made you this winter scene carving.” Cecily said.

Calantha beamed as she gently took the wood carving from his hand, her eyes brighter than the string lights.

Cecily waited for her to say something, to fill the silence, to bridge the gaps.

Nothing…nothing…and then…

Calantha gave him a tender kiss on the lips.

Epilogue

Some people saw the candy cane clowns as human performers dressed up for the season. Others saw them as pure monsters.

But whenever Calantha held up a wood carving to her heart, she thought of Cecily as nothing more than her beloved sweetheart.

Cecily’s own parents believed Calantha to be a clown herself for a while because her name started with a C, but they learned to accept the idea that she was human.

For although Cecily and Calantha can only link claw and hand together during one season, they both make that one season count.