Shirley’s origin

*This story is underneath my folder titled “Crimson and Shirley”. Gacha Club character designs are under my forum titled “My character designs<33[2]”. Enjoy!*

Introduction

Shirley would live for many lifetimes, and for many lifetimes more. She wasn’t human, she was a monster clown, as were her parents.

Monster clowns, demons that were made to trick people with their colors and sweets, had to eat humans for their own survival.

Shirley’s parents were not afraid of a little bit of blood, but Shirley…

She never wanted to blindly kill. If she was going to kill to eat, then let it be those that deserved it, not innocents.

Shirley liked to think of herself as good, but sometimes, she wondered if there was such a thing as good…

Chapter One

What year was it? Shirley couldn’t quite keep track. They all melded into each other, a story of many ideas and plots mashing into a symphony of chaos.

She looked at the calendar on her bedroom wall. The year said: “2017”.

Ah. So that was the year. Good to know. She should have done better at remembering.

Shirley looked out her window, at the night sky, devoid of stars and the moon. She waited for her parents to come out of that quiet darkness, bursts of color in an otherwise monochromatic sky.

Every day, she told them not to kill. Every night, they went out and did it anyway.

Which lives did they ruin that time? What tragedy had they caused that day?

Shirley would find out once they got back. Like always, they wouldn’t listen to her.

They never would.

Chapter Two

“What happened back there? Who did you kill?” Shirley asked once they burst through her bedroom window. They burst through different windows, but that night, they chose her room.

“Oh, just some girl’s parents. You should have seen her face, she was too paralyzed to even move!” Dad cackled.

Shirley thought about the girl they left behind, forever traumatized, completely an orphan.

If she was alive, that was.

“We left her alive! Didn’t even erase her memory, she knows what killed her parents! But she’s going to be all alone…just what she deserves!” Mom exclaimed cheerily.

They didn’t erase her memory? If there were witnesses, they’d either kill them or erase their memories. But to do neither?

“This is a new low for you guys.” Shirley said bitterly.

Mom and Dad wrapped their arms around her, ignoring her words.

“It’s okay, Shirley. You’ll understand the glory of murder one day.” Mom beamed.

Shirley wasn’t so certain about that.

Chapter Three

SEVEN YEARS LATER

The night had melded into the day. Shirley was walking down the sidewalk in her human form, which was always that of an adolescent, for there was so much to learn with every new school that was built.

Her parents were asleep back at the abandoned home they called their own, for the daylight was never something that they could handle.

Shirley searched for wherever the nearest school might be, for her form allowed her to go noticed and unnoticed at the same time. She didn’t need permission from her parents like the humans did, because she was careful not to make a scene.

Across from her, she watched as an older girl pressured what looked to be a younger girl to go to a boy in a mask. The little girl took tentative steps towards the boy, who only beckoned her closer.

Once she was face-to-face with the masked boy, he picked her up and spun around with the girl in his arms, to which she cried and kicked her legs.

The older girl only laughed.

What was that strange ritual? What were they doing with her? Why were they bothering her?

Shirley walked towards them, determination boiling with every step she took.

The only other thing she absolutely despised with every fiber of her being other than her parents being murderers was humans hurting one another.

They’d certainly pay.

Chapter Four

“You have no business bothering her like that!” Shirley cried out, pulling the little girl away from the masked boy.

The little girl looked up at her, shocked that Shirley had pulled her away, then quickly scampered off to the older girl, like a mouse surprised that it was saved.

“It’s just a joke. It’s none of your business.” The older girl said, rolling her eyes.

The boy took off his mask and walked off, both hands in his pocket, seemingly disappointed that he was interrupted.

“It is my business if you’re bothering a small child.” Shirley said.

For why was the boy walking away? Was he not loyal to his friend? Or did he simply not want to talk? Why did he even act tough in the first place? He was just a boy, after all.

The older girl sneered at Shirley like an insolent child before stalking off with the little girl.

Shirley watched them go off, dumbfounded that no matter what age humans came to be, they always reduced themselves to the mannerisms of a five year old.

Once they were gone, she walked off to school, wondering if she’d ever see the three of them again.

Perhaps not. She never saw the same faces twice.

Chapter Five

She made it. After three more blocks, Shirley made it to her high school.

Like always, everyone seemed to have friends of their own. All in different groups, all with their “particular crowd”.

Shirley often wondered how humans divided themselves in such ways. How could they decide the right people to link with, the right people to latch themselves onto? Was it intuition? Pure luck?

She walked up the steps, past them all. As much as she wanted her own friend to lurk with, to stay bonded with, she could never let that happen, for her parents were always lingering in the corners, waiting to snatch unsuspecting humans away.

Her secrets were too veiled with terror and fright to ever be revealed to the mortal world.

Chapter Six

Shirley stepped through the entrance of the building, careful not to get in anyone’s way. She would pick and choose her classes, as she didn’t have a schedule of her own.

Everyone had friends, everyone had someone, except…

Except for one black-haired, red-streaked girl. There was misery in her eyes and hate in her stride. She pushed past people and seemed to have an air of growing rage at the world around her.

Yet Shirley could sense a slight loneliness within her, a cry for help deep inside.

All the girl needed was a friend.

Chapter Seven

Shirley followed the miserable girl to her next class, where she sat right behind her.

Humans always began conversations by introducing themselves, so perhaps that was the way to go with the girl.

Shirley tapped the girl’s desk to get her attention.

The girl turned around, eyes clogged with irritation. Perhaps talking would fix that up!

“I’m Shirley! What’s your name?” Shirley chirped.

The girl gave off such a disgusted expression that Shirley felt like crawling into her own skin, but she waited patiently, for everyone responded to conversation differently.

“Did you pull that outfit out of your Grandma’s closet?” The girl asked.

Shirley felt her face go red with embarrassment. The girl turned around, attempting to look as though she were satisfied, but Shirley knew that deep down, she didn’t know what to say. The girl gave off an air as though she would default into a response that would get other humans repelled from her.

It was certainly a good thing that Shirley wasn’t human.

Chapter Eight

A day had passed by at the school. Shirley was walking home, trying to think of what to give the girl, when suddenly, she noticed a little girl waving to her.

It was the same little girl from before, the one who was being carried by the masked boy.

Shirley waved back, grinning at the girl. It was nice to see that she was doing alright, that she was okay.

The girl began skipping towards her, holding something in her fist. Shirley watched and waited, curious as to what the girl would give her.

No human had ever approached her before.

Chapter Nine

When the girl got up to Shirley, she extended her palm to reveal a pink-beaded bracelet.

“It’s a friendship bracelet! I hope you like it. I’m very glad that you helped me out.” The girl said.

Shirley gingerly took the bracelet from the girl’s palm and slipped it on her wrist. She never wore anything like it before, but the thought that someone wanted to give her something made her heart melt a little.

“Thanks so much! I’m going to keep this forever.” Shirley gushed.

The girl smiled, her eyes lighting up with joy. Shirley never saw a child smile before, but it was certainly that she never wanted to stop seeing.

A smile looked right on the girl.

“CASSIA! Inside, now!” A wretched, hate-ridden voice called out. It sounded in between young and old.

Cassia’s smile faltered, and she ran back towards her home.

Shirley frowned. Whatever could make such a girl sad, and why would anyone want to make Cassia feel such a way?

She’d find out for herself later. Her parents were waiting, and they didn’t like to wait for long.

Chapter Ten

Shirley walked up to the front door of her house and turned open the knob. It was only the afternoon, but perhaps her parents would tolerate her waking them up. After all, night would come soon.

“Mom! Dad! I’m home!” Shirley called out.

For a few seconds, there was nothing but the empty house.

But then-

“HIYA SHIRLEY-GIRLY!” High-pitched, yet raspy voices screeched.

Shirley jumped. They always tried to jump-scare her, but she never knew just where they would appear.

They were on either side of her, gripping her shoulders tightly, straining, sharp-toothed grins on their faces that looked more like flashes of teeth than actual smiles.

Shirley took a deep breath. There was no need to be afraid. They were only her parents.

Besides, it wasn’t like they would attack her. She was the only child they loved, after all.

Chapter Eleven

“How was school? Did you find anyone to kill?” Mom asked eagerly.

Shirley sighed. She’d have to explain to her yet again.

“I’m not killing anyone. I don’t kill.” Shirley said pointedly, brushing away from her parents.

“You say that now, but you will one day!” Dad exclaimed.

“You’re more than welcome to join us on our murders!” Mom said with a broad grin.

“No thanks.” Shirley said politely. It was best not to upset them, she didn’t want either to go into a rage.

“Suit yourself.” Mom said with a shrug.

She watched as her parents headed off to the basement to rehearse how they’d kill. They’d make such a racket when she was trying to do her homework, but that was alright.

If they left each other alone, they’d all be just fine.

Chapter Twelve

IN HER ROOM

Shirley winced when she heard Mom cackling in the basement as Dad revved up a chainsaw. As murderous clowns, they were never quiet. Regular clowns were loud, but clowns that were murderous seemed to go a pitch higher from the sheer circus colors and saccharine insanity.

The loose leaf paper stared up at Shirley mockingly, still blank. She was supposed to write a history essay, but how could she focus when her parents were acting like hyenas?

Cassia wasn’t treated too kindly by the boy and girl. Who was to say that they wouldn’t bother her again? What if they went so far as to actually harm her?

Shirley set the pencil down. For so long, she sat and watched as her parents committed their evil deeds.

But what if she was to take a stand for Cassia? Stop her from getting hurt…for good?

Chapter Thirteen

AT NIGHT

Her parents had left to commit their nightly murders. The time had come.

Shirley crawled out of the front window and ran across the street to Cassia’s house.

Once in front of her house, she opened the window a crack and slipped inside.

She could smell it. The sick, disease-riddled scent of the older girl who made fun of her. The older girl who faintly smelled like Cassia, but didn’t smell far too old.

The older girl was Cassia’s sister. She smelled related to her, but with a rancid stench.

Shirley slinked through the halls, towards where the scent of the older girl was.

She wasn’t bad. She was just going to teach the girl a lesson. She was only going to help Cassia. That was all.

She was nothing like her parents.

Chapter Fourteen

Shirley opened the door of where the older girl slept. Once inside, she got a whiff of the girl’s scent and a glimmer of her name:

The older girl’s name was Letitia.

Letitia saw Cassia as a nuisance, a screaming, bothersome thing who took all the attention, always grasping and wanting something, always crying for anything.

Cassia was a mere child, the world was a confusing and odd place for her to navigate. Shirley still saw flickers of memories from her age-old childhood.

She grew into her true height, her human form slipping away.

Ah, for the first time in her life, Letitia would know what it felt like to be a small, helpless thing.

Chapter Fifteen

Shirley didn’t falter one bit. She leapt towards Letitia’s bed and began to slash through her body, blood decorating her colorful clown garb, leaving ruby-colored polka dots on her pink shirt and glitter tutu.

Letitia woke up, screaming for help, clawing for freedom from Shirley’s grasp. Her eyes were wide with fear, but no, Shirley wouldn’t let go.

Letitia’s delicious, decadent screams filled the air, like a many-layered chocolate lava cake. She needed to learn her lesson. Her blood spatters tasted like salted French Fries, one bite was never enough.

Nobody was ever going to hurt Cassia again. Ever.

Chapter Sixteen

THE NEXT MORNING

Shirley woke up the next morning, refreshed and renewed. She had eaten Letitia, so that Cassia wouldn’t find her body.

She had eaten Letitia when she swore to never become her parents.

But Letitia deserved it, didn’t she? Because she was bullying Cassia, because she was harming an innocent child.

No matter. Shirley wouldn’t tell her parents about it. They didn’t have to know.

She turned around to look at the bracelet that Cassia had given her, propped up neatly on her nightstand.

“It’s a friendship bracelet! I hope you like it. I’m very glad that you helped me out.”

There was still time for Shirley to make things right with the girl at school. Maybe nothing was lost, maybe they could still be friends.

She wouldn’t know unless she tried.

Chapter Seventeen

AT SCHOOL

Shirley had been to many high schools over the years, but before 2017, she never found a high school that still had recess.

It was the first high school she went to that gave their students time to unwind outside.

The girl sat on a bench, looking pessimistic as per usual.

Shirley took a deep breath and reached into the mind of the girl. If the girl wouldn’t tell her, then she would learn herself.

Crimson. The girl’s name was Crimson. She heard it in attendance but just wasn’t paying attention then. Reading her mind brought it all back.

Shirley walked briskly towards Crimson, gripping the colorful beaded bracelet in one sweaty hand. She spent the morning making a friendship bracelet that would have all of the colors for Crimson.

In one wrist, Shirley wore Cassia’s friendship bracelet. It was hidden with her gray frilled sleeve, but with it on, she felt safe.

Hopefully Crimson would feel the same.

“Hi Crimson! I feel like we started off at the wrong foot!” Shirley said with a smile, sitting next to Crimson on the bench.

“You think that you can just sit next to me? We’re not friends. Leave me alone.” Crimson said pointedly, her glare sharpened like a dagger.

“I made you a friendship bracelet!” Shirley squeaked.

Before Crimson could leave, she grabbed her wrist and slipped the friendship bracelet on.

Crimson still looked at her with displeasure, but at least she had a friendship bracelet. That was something, right?

“You spent time making a friendship bracelet for a stranger? Please, get a life.” Crimson said.

Humans were good Humans were good Humans were good Humans were good Humans were good Humans were good Humans were good Humans were good

Shirley just had to keep reminding herself.

“This is my life! Making new friends! Enjoy the bracelet!” Shirley said in a shrill voice.

And because Crimson was starting to glare at her too much, Shirley got out of the bench and skipped away, in an attempt at feigning happiness.

Crimson would like her. Eventually.

Right? She had to. Shirley made a bracelet just for her. She’d like it, right?

In the distance, she heard beads sprinkle to the ground.

With a heavy heart, Shirley realized that Crimson broke the bracelet.

Crimson hated her.

Chapter Eighteen

WALKING BACK HOME

Shirley thought of the beads click-clacking as they hit the ground, separating and becoming unbound. All that work, all that love, gone. Completely whisked away.

Or perhaps…she could bring the bracelet back. Salvage it from the dirt of the Earth.

Shirley envisioned the colored beads coming together to create a rainbow bracelet, perfect to rest upon Crimson’s wrist. It would rise from the ground, float through the streets, and finally lay on Crimson’s bed.

Safe and sound. Right where it belonged.

A smile formed on Shirley’s face. She was going to get a real friend, no matter the cost.

It was just what she deserved, after all.

Chapter Nineteen

THE NEXT DAY-AT THE CIRCUS

The town had an abandoned circus. Why it did was beyond Shirley’s understanding.

Earlier that day, Crimson accepted her invitation to the circus. The day before, Shirley had given Crimson the fixed bracelet.

In the distance, Shirley could make out Crimson getting closer.

Her friend was coming back!

Chapter Twenty

“What’s going on? What do you want?” Crimson asked, her eyes riddled with frustration and…and fear?

Shirley blinked back the tears in her eyes. The night of seven years filtered in her mind. Seven years ago, her parents took the lives of another little girl’s parents.

When Crimson was right in front of her, Shirley could sense the loneliness and resentment that would only be present in someone robbed of their parents. She felt it throughout many years from the lives of many humans that her parents affected.

“Crimson, it was my parents who killed yours. They were murderous clowns, but I sought not to be anything like them. I sought not to hurt innocent people.” Shirley said.

Crimson’s eyes were swirling between disbelief and rage. Something about her eyes made Shirley think that Crimson already knew about her parents, but didn’t want it to be true.

“But you don’t want to be my friend. You ignore everyone around you. You have so much anger in your heart…you’re such a bully!” Shirley shrieked.

Crimson flinched as if taken aback, but Shirley had to say it. Every day, Crimson wanted to ignore those that wanted to speak to her. Every day, she acted as though she wanted everyone to fall. She didn’t even speak to the teachers.

Shirley contorted and mutated her body. What use would there be in hiding? The hunger was growing throughout her, and if Crimson was going to have a sour attitude, then Shirley would fix it.

Just like how she fixed Letitia.

“What in the world?! You’re a…A FREAKING FREAK! A DEMON CLOWN!” Crimson cried out, pointing at her.

“Yes…I am a demon clown. A 489 year old demon clown.” Shirley said, a proud grin forming on her face.

Was she really 489 years old? She wasn’t sure. The centuries molded together. Shirley wasn’t certain of her real age.

But she was certain of the growing, overwhelming hunger within her.

“You’re 489 years old?! How?!” Crimson asked.

Out of all of the questions Crimson could have asked, and she chose to ask that one?

“I look good for my age, I know. I don’t look a day over 276. Those were the good old days…but let’s get to the chase. I’m going to EAT YOU and you have nowhere to run!” Shirley cackled.

Why did she ever think that being completely human was an option? She could still be friends with Cassia. She didn’t have to tell Crimson anything.

She wanted Crimson to be her friend, but Crimson didn’t want the same thing.

“Why me? Why not eat any other weirdos from school?” Crimson asked.

Ah, so she put down her fellow classmates! There was a part of Shirley that mourned the loss of Crimson’s parents, but…

But Crimson didn’t have to hate everyone. She could have been kind. She could have had friends.

Her loss wasn’t an excuse to be shut off from the world.

“Because you’re a bully! You see, humans who are bullies have extra salt in their blood and I like salt! Lots of it! So, I’m going to eat you, because you’ll taste good!” Shirley exclaimed.

The taste of Letitia’s flesh almost brought drool from her mouth, but she swallowed it down.

She couldn’t spoil her own food.

“Fine. Whatever. Let’s just get this dumb thing over with.” Crimson said, already relenting to death.

Shirley picked Crimson up by her ankle and brought her foot into her mouth. There were too many humans who didn’t care, too many humans who only brought misery.

Her parents were right. Who could deny the savory, salted meat of human flesh?

Epilogue

Crimson had become another adolescent who disappeared into darkness. Nobody knew what became of her, only Shirley did.

Shirley wasn’t entirely like her parents, though. She was better. She only killed bad people. Crimson deserved it. Cassia didn’t have to know anything. Cassia didn’t have to know that she killed Letitia the sister, Elias the masked boy, and Crimson the rude one.

No, no, no. Shirley was good. Shirley deserved to eat.

Just as well as they deserved to die.