Young Writers Society

*This is the origin of a character from my “Elsdale Circus” stories. This story will be under my folder titled “Elsdale Circus”. Gacha Club character designs are on my wall. Enjoy!*

Introduction

MRS. MARGOT’S HOUSE OF HEALING-ROOM 177

Celia looked out of the hole in the wall, watching the rain droop lazily down. She remembered their parents’ terrified faces when the white light had taken them, how their bodies twisted with blood and bones…

No, she shouldn’t think about it. It was too horrible to lie in her mind.

Her twin sister, Delia, lay next to her in the ruins of an orphanage. The dilapidated walls echoed their sad singing voices. They used to sing with their mother before…before it happened.

Celia closed her eyes. It was going to be a long night.

Best to get some sleep.

Chapter One

The sun shone benignly on the girls, but Celia didn’t feel its warmth. She nudged Delia awake.

“Come now. Off to the outside.” Celia said.

Delia rubbed her eyes. She didn’t want to get up, but knew that she had to.

They had to sing for their lives.

Chapter Two

FLASHBACK

Mom sat on the edge of Celia and Delia’s bed. Dad was downstairs, watching the news in their little TV.

Mom sang softly to them:

“Home, we found a place to stay

Never will we leave

This home behind

This wonderful, beautiful home of ours.”

“Home is whatever you make of it. It doesn’t have to be here, it can be anywhere that feels right and good in your heart.” Mom said.

“But we like it here!” Delia said.

Mom smiled and kissed their foreheads.

“I’m glad that you feel loved here.” Mom said.

Chapter Three

Celia and Delia walked outside, huddled close together as if to keep away from the passerby. Celia knew that singing would make them listen.

So, she found a place to stand and set the hat on the ground and sang the song Mom used to sing, their high voices rising through the still air. Few coins were plinked into the hat, people had places to be.

At night, Delia asked her if they would ever find a place to stay. Celia believed it so and let her know.

Was their thin flesh rotting at their brittle bones? It was. To walk made Celia want to scream, but she couldn’t. She had to sing so they could get money and live somewhere. Wasn’t that how it worked?

“Scram, rats!” A raspy voice yelled.

Chapter Four

Celia and Delia only caught a glimpse of who yelled before they made a run for it.

A woman in makeup and pearls, dressed in a colorful fabrics that seemed to fly as she walked. A picturesque Princess, what the girls could only dream to be.

The wealthy did not like their small voices with hints of tiredness in them. They wanted them to run back to the slums they crawled from.

Hand in hand, the little children ran.

Chapter Five

FLASHBACK

Mom was just about to get off the bed, when, suddenly, with a loud clap, there was a blinding blue light that shot from the window to Mom.

Celia sat up, heart racing.

The light disappeared. So did Mom. Where she was knocked onto the ground was a black spot, smoke rolling to the ceiling.

“No…no…” Celia said. No other words would come out of her choked throat, her eyes welled with tears. What was the light and the spot? Why was it so loud? What…what happened?

Delia threw back the covers and jumped out of bed, running out the door.

“Delia, wait!” Celia said, pushing away the blankets.

Chapter Six

After running for what seemed like hours, they stopped. Cold rain pattered on their skin. Dad used to say that they’d get sick if they didn’t dress appropriately in the rain.

Their tattered nightgowns did little to protect them. With rain-soaked eye lids, Celia saw a small brick building with a wooden sign on the wall that read: “CASPIAN’S OFFICE.”

Celia never saw the building until that moment, but nowhere else would take them.

“This way!” Celia cried out.

As she always did, she took hold of Delia’s hand and ran.

Chapter Seven

Celia walked up to the front door and pushed it open. The room had a single dim light. There was a young man sitting on a chair in front of a desk. She could only see his blond hair and his crisp white cloak.

“Come in. Sit wherever you like.” The man said softly.

So he was letting them in? He wasn’t shooing them away? That was a first.

Delia hesitated at the front door.

“Are you sure that we can trust him?” Delia asked.

Celia nodded. They had to trust him, they had no choice.

Chapter Eight

FLASHBACK

Delia hesitated at the end of the hallway that led to an opening to the living room, seeming to look with frightened eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Celia asked.

Delia didn’t reply. She only froze, staring into the living room.

Celia stepped closer. Why was Delia so scared? Why wasn’t she saying anything? What was going on?

Celia screamed when she saw it.

Dad was on the floor, eyes petrified in helplessness, limbs twisted like a forgotten doll’s. The fading gray specks of smoke circled around his body.

In their bedroom, the only thing left of Mom was a burning spot.

Could it be that the light got to Dad?

Chapter Nine

Celia and Delia sat on the patient’s bed, both watching the man closely. He hadn’t done a single thing except let them in. Their parents had told them long ago not to go near strangers, but it no longer applied after their demise.

“What brings you here?” The man asked. He seemed sweet, like he cared. Celia wanted to believe that he was good, but fear was eating at the corners of her heart.

“A storm. That’s what. We can’t go anywhere else.” Celia said. She hoped that she wasn’t making a mistake, that Delia would be okay.

“Ah. I see.” The man said. He stood up from his chair and turned to face the girls.

His eyes were shining blue, full of love and light. He smiled at them softly, much like Dad did.

“Would you like to see a magic trick?” The man asked.

“A magic trick?” Delia asked. She couldn’t quite believe that he wanted to show them a magic trick, but Celia nodded vigorously.

Of course she wanted to see magic, who wouldn’t?

Chapter Ten

From the man’s face there came the blooming of flowers. Flowers bloomed on his face. Both girl watched with wide eyes, for they had never seen anything like it in their lives.

“I’m a witch, my name is Caspian.” The man said with a soft smile.

Chapter Eleven

FLASHBACK

It had been days after what had happened. The girls were shooed away by people who wanted to “fix the house”.

Celia and Delia stood at the streets, singing like the rest of the dirty children. It worried Celia that there were so many. She didn’t realize how many lost kids were out there.

Celia clasped Delia’s hand tighter, as if to protect her from the outside world.

Chapter Twelve

“You’re a witch? Witches are real?” Celia asked. Her parents told her that witches were monsters made to frighten them and they need not worry.

But if Caspian was a witch…

“You don’t need to be scared. I won’t hurt you, I promise.” Caspian said with a grin.

Chapter Thirteen

“You promise?” Celia asked. Promises could not be broken, that much she knew.

“I promise.” Caspian said.

“If magic is real, then that means you’ll believe us, right?” Celia asked. It had occurred to her that she could tell him what happened, that he wouldn’t shoo them away, because he himself was a witch!

“Certainly. What is it that you want to say?” Caspian asked.

Celia and Delia looked at each other. Never before had they been able to tell the truth without someone shouting horrid words at them, making them both feel like insignificant, scuttling rats.

But Caspian was different. He would understand. He had magical powers and he promised, there was not a thing to worry about!

Chapter Fourteen

“Our house exploded with a blast of light and then our parents died.” Celia said. It sounded so ridiculous when it was said out loud, like she had made it all up.

“You’ve been living in the outside, haven’t you?” Caspian asked.

“Yes.” Celia said. Delia was silent, taking it all in.

“You can stay as long as you want.“ Caspian said.

“Really?” Celia asked with a cracked voice. She tried not to cry, but the tears fell anyway.

“Yes.” Caspian said softly.

Chapter Fifteen

The girls had spent hours playing away in his office, never wanting to leave. They would have to, soon, for there were people waiting for them.

“Why’d you become a doctor?” Delia asked. Celia never thought to ask, but Delia must have been curious.

“I wanted to help people.” Caspian said. It sounded like a normal answer, but Celia caught a certain sadness in his eyes.

Chapter Sixteen

FLASHBACK

Where could they go? They were all alone after what happened to their parents.

Celia spotted a line of children in front of a laundromat. Now, why were they there? What was so great about it?

Celia ran up to them, still clutching Delia’s hand, curious as ever.

“What are you guys doing?” Celia asked.

“Waiting to work.” A boy replied. He seemed tired, like he hadn’t slept in years.

“Kids work?” Delia asked.

“Well, we do!” The boy snapped. Delia buried her head in Celia’s shoulder, her hand was shaking slightly.

Though they were both the same age, Celia was older than her by a few minutes, and she felt the sorrow and love that an older sibling would feel for their younger one.

“Don’t yell at my sister.” Celia said calmly. She didn’t want to get into a fight, but she thought that he should know.

“Yell? What do you mean, she asked a stupid question!” The boy cried out. Celia knew that he was in pain, she could see it from how his hands were dirty, hear from how his voice cracked.

But she ignored him and headed to the back of the line, make sure she didn’t let go of Delia.

“What are you doing?” Delia asked.

“We’re going to work. It’s going to be fine, because I’m here. It’s a place to stay, so it’s worth it.” Celia said.

“What if it’s too much?” Delia asked fearfully.

“Then we’ll leave.”

They would steal if they had to. Anything to keep Delia alive.

Chapter Seventeen

“We’ve got to go now. Goodbye.” Celia said.

Caspian raised an eyebrow.

“Already? But it’s only the afternoon. Where are you going?”

“Somewhere.” Celia said. She tried grabbing Delia’s hand, but Delia yanked away from her.

“I want to stay!” Delia cried out.

“I’m sorry, but we have to go! Remember?” Celia asked. She hated to frighten her sister, but it was the only thing to make her leave.

Delia’s eyes went wide with fear. She took Celia’s hand and out they ran into the world beyond.

Chapter Eighteen

As they ran to the factory, Celia’s eyes caught a distant glow.

A million strings of light were shining through the fogged rain. A sight that Celia had never seen, but couldn’t stay long to watch.

They were waiting.

Chapter Nineteen

“About time! Get to work!” The man shouted. They couldn’t see him in the factory, through all of the machinery, but they could hear his voice, clear with frustration.

Celia got to the thread machine and began with threading the textiles. She promised Delia that they would leave, but they were pulled back, locked away.

Still, the lights shined.

Chapter Twenty

IN THE NIGHT

A day of work had passed. The kids either slept in the factory or out in the streets. Delia was asleep on the cement ground of the factory, but Celia was still awake, staring at the lights that still shined.

How fascinating, that the lights shined through the darkest of night. They were brighter than any stars that Celia had seen. Music did a jaunty jig from the place of lights, a song her Mom used to play on the piano before…before it happened.

Was the place of lights a place to stay?

Chapter Twenty-One

Morning had come. Celia was frantically shaking Delia awake, needing her to open her eyes.

“W…what?” Delia asked, tiredness still in her voice.

“We’re leaving! Hurry!” Celia said. Everyone was working, the man hadn’t seen them yet.

With a grin on her face, Delia got up and took Celia’s hand.

Running again, but right then and there, to safety.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Celia and Delia were running to Caspian’s office, the little brown brick building waiting for them.

If they were to go into the land of lights, then Caspian should come as well.

It was only fair.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Time had passed since the girls have arrived in Caspian’s office. They were talking to each other in eagerness, the two sisters.

But then, Celia remembered why they came in the first place and asked Caspian:

“What is that?”

“What is what?” Caspian asked. He blinked his eyes, but why?

“Over there!” Celia said, pointing to the window.

He was an adult and adults knew everything.

“It’s Elsdale circus. They travel around town with different shows. There are people who do things that you can’t do. Kind of like me. The way I heal you, most people can’t do that.”

He healed their scars on days the man got really mad and decided to hit them.

They were lucky the other day. Celia wasn’t so sure they would be lucky ever again.

“Really?” Celia asked, wide-eyed.

“Yes, really. There are people who can do extraordinary things. Sometimes, they have animals. Not all circuses have animals, but I think that this one does.”

“They have animals?” Delia asked. Delia loved animals. She used to always ask Mom and Dad for a pet, but they always said it was too much work.

Celia rolled her eyes. Animals were stupid and dirty, why did Delia want one so much?

“Yes, they do.” Caspian said.

The lights were quite pretty from where Caspian was looking. Celia and Delia got up from the bed, taking a hand of his.

They had to get up close and personal to the show.

“Do the animals and people live in the circus?” Delia asked.

Ugh, again with the animals! There were more important things to talk about!

“Sometimes. Depends on what the circus is. If it travels, like this one, then I think they do. If it stays in one place, they live in their own houses. It also depends on the situation of the performers. If they can afford their own place, they have their own homes. If not, they live in the circus. I don’t know everything, you would have to ask the ringmaster.”

“What’s a ringmaster?” Celia asked, furrowing her brows. She had never heard of such a term before. Were ringmasters Masters with lots of rings?

“The man who leads the circus. He’s the leader. The ringmaster. The entire act of a circus usually takes place in one big ring. It is the center of the circus, just as the ringmaster is the leader of the circus.”

“Can we join the circus?” Celia asked.

Despite all of the disgusting animals, a circus sounded like a much more wonderful place to stay than the factory.

“Yes, can we? Can we all go live in the circus? It sounds wonderful!” Delia agreed.

“No. The circus is not as wonderful as it seems. I lived there. I know it.” Caspian said.

“You lived there? Tell us everything!” Celia said. She wanted to know what it was like, what kind of people he met, what kind of friends he made!

“It’s not important. Now, what games do you and Delia like to play?” Caspian asked.

Delia began to tell Caspian of the games they played, but Celia looked out the window, staring at the magical lights.

It wasn’t fair. Why did Caspian say no? They were told no all the time by mean adults. Caspian wasn’t mean, so why would he say that?

All three of them had to live there one day. Celia couldn’t endure another moment wearing ratty shoes that felt the burning floor of the factory…

Chapter Twenty-Four

EIGHT HOURS LATER

The sun was just beginning to set. Celia took a deep breath, holding the hand of Delia’s extra tightly.

“You’re hurting me!” Delia cried out, yanking her hand away from Celia’s.

“S-sorry.” Celia stuttered.

Right in front of them was the looming factory, black clouds of smoke rising into the fogged sky.

They had been in Caspian’s office for a long time. Celia almost forgot that they had to get back to the factory, but when she saw that the sky was getting slightly dimmer, she knew that they had to leave.

Perhaps the man wouldn’t notice that they were out for too long.

Celia stepped into the factory, Delia following close behind.

……………………………………………………

The other children took no notice to their arrival, so focused in the world of work. The man wasn’t around, it was completely quiet, save for the machines and the screams from injured kids.

“You’re out late, aren’t you?” A familiar, jagged voice said behind them.

Celia swallowed hard, her eyes went wide. She didn’t want to turn around, didn’t want to face the man.

But the man roughly grabbed Celia’s arm and turned her to face him.

“You will listen to what I say! I control your future! I am the adult! You’re just children, so you’ll respect me!” He yelled.

Everyone looked up.

Sure, the man raised his voice, but he never shouted before. Celia squeezed her eyes shut, knowing what would come next.

A fine-structured hand struck across her left cheek. Celia’s left cheek burned with the hot, fiery red blow of the smack. She held back her tears, though. It was the last straw.

“No!” Celia yelled, opening her eyes. They were a tad blurry from her tears, but she could still see perfectly well.

Celia grabbed Delia’s hand, running away from the whispers of the children and the man who chased them.

He wouldn’t get very far. They’d turn a corner down a dark alley and he’d think them too weak to survive.

The time to wait was over. The circus was waiting. Caspian was waiting.

Life in the factory was done.

Chapter Twenty-Five

BACK AT CASPIAN’S OFFICE

The girls sat on the patient bed, going over what to say. All of their thoughts were racing, colliding together.

Caspian didn’t like the circus, so how would it be brought up?

“Say, what if we did leave for the circus? Right now?” Caspian asked.

Caspian wanted to go to the circus?

“Do you mean it?” Celia asked, just to be sure

“Yes, I do. Do you want to leave?” Caspian asked.

Celia and Delia exchanged smiles and then joined him at the window.

“Yes!” They said in unison.

Happiness was possible after all!

Chapter Twenty-Six

A FEW MINUTES LATER

Celia stared at the many people attending the circus. There were happy, clean children holding cotton candy or lollipop sticks in their hands, unlike the skeletal-faced children they worked with.

The air was filled with laughter, high and sweet. Everyone seemed to be having one big celebration, caring not for what the world thought.

Though there were no animals and a small amount of performers, there was a single ballerina on the wooden stage. She spun in a perfect circle, just like Celia’s old music box.

Just like her music box…

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Celia’s eyes caught on the ballerina on the wooden stage, twirling in her iridescent pink tutu, her blue eyes sparkling brightly.

She tugged on Caspian’s hand, pointing to the ballerina.

“Do you want to watch her?” Caspian asked.

Both girls nodded simultaneously.

“Alright then. Let’s go.” Caspian said in a voice that sounded detached from his body.

He took their hands and led them to the dancing, shining ballerina.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Why was Caspian so scared? There was nothing to be afraid of at the circus!

As Celia watched the ballerina twirl in sparkling majesty, she couldn’t imagine a better place than the circus.

Maybe he just needed some time.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

After what seemed like a hundred centuries, the ballerina’s performance had ended. Celia didn’t want to return to the hell outside, but would they even be accepted? It was a thought that had not surfaced in her mind until then.

“Caspian! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” A booming, excited voice said behind them.

Celia and Delia turned around.

The voice had belonged to a brown-haired man in a black velvet suit, like what had adorned the chairs of their home, smiling from ear to ear.

“You should stay the night, Caspian.” The man said.

Both girls, synced with each other since birth, jumped up and down with pure elation.

They would stay! They were wanted!

They were going to be circus performers!

Chapter Thirty

The man had introduced himself to them as Mr. Shapcott. Apparently, he knew Caspian!

At the moment, Celia, Delia, and Caspian were locked in a trailer for protection. They would begin performing the next day.

At least we’re safe. Celia thought happily.

Safety was all she wanted, all she asked for, and all she ever needed.

Epilogue

The circus was not what Celia expected it to be. Sometimes, it felt like she and Delia were dying.

But it was a million times better than the factory, even though their hearts stopped briefly, their vision would often get blurred, and their throats went sore from holding a note too long at the demands of Mr. Shapcott.

A million times better…