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Chapter 1 — “Shut up, Jax.”
I hate green.
And for some reason it is basically the only color that surrounds me. Various hues make up the entirety of my room with patterns of white fluffy clouds. Gold accents creeping along the edge of furniture and in-between titles. It was enough to make me nauseous.
MY room..
My new home.
If not for the digital day-night cycle outside my sealed window—trust me, I’ve checked—the concept of time would be lost to me. So far there’s been two full cycles. Meaning I’ve been stuck here for two days with the third dawning upon me. At least it seemed so. Worse case scenario the passage of time was an illusion or... it was true. Time really was in sync with the outside world.
And I had spent two whole days here and was doomed to spend an untold number more.
Actually— now that I’m thinking about it. THAT is worse.
A pit of dread sinks in my stomach, lurching me over on the edge of my bed where I sat. Sheer curtains that made up my canopy bristle from the sudden movement as I fight to will my guts back down.
How the [beep] did I even get here?!?
What IS here?!?
From the chaos that was my arrival here and amongst first day events I’ve gathered it had something to do with a headset and a strange vintage set up involving a computer straight out of the 90s. Which none of it made any sense when these bits of information were being fed to me during an intense laser tag match. Where for some reason the lasers were ACTUAL lasers!
The poor clown had been left without a teammate.
The second day hadn’t been anymore fruitful with answers. The bunny—Jack?— lamented that every newcomer went through these same motions, the same line of questions, I was just the one who didn’t know how I ended up here. And no one was really up to the task of handling the amnesia patient.
Loneliness, combined with the anxiety ridden dread sunk further in. Those nauseatingly green walls began warping and pressing in all around me.
I’m going to die here, I’m going to die in this virtual [beep]hole, surrounded by strangers and colorful grating on my nerves AI characters, that’s if I’m not already dead, oh god, oh GOD IM-
”—cooome on Rags, what's the point? She literally snapped at us to leave her alone last night before bed.” The walls froze, their crushing presents easing slightly as muffled voices pierce through my door. “Nooo— She snapped at YOU to leave her be after you stole her broken halo.”
Ragatha and that annoying bunny stood outside my door arguing. Along with a third presence given away by laughter that sounds nothing like either of them. Clearly amused by the bickering.
A groan escapes me as I rise from my surprisingly soft bed moving to open the door. Life crisis essentially tucked away as I greet the bunch gathered outside. Starting a new day of ‘what has my life come to?’
“Oh! Uh..? Eva! Sorry if we.. disturbed you, you weren’t sleeping or anything? Were you?” Ragatha stammered out first—definitely hadn't expected the door to open before even getting a chance to knock. I eye her for a moment then look at the others. A frog and bunny stood to the side— the latter leaning one arm against the frame of my door. That lazy smile widening, my eyes narrowing in turn. “Hmph, No.”
Ragatha now looks nervous as I cross my arms. I wasn't lying to make her feel better, I hadn’t been asleep— at all really. I spent the whole night watching each star in the sky blink away till the night sky gave way to swirls of orange and purples, then blue.
“Glad to see you got your halo fixed, careful not to break it again.” The bunny muses, Ragatha’s nervous demeanor returns to annoyance as she hisses out. “Jaaax.”
My halo had broken after–and I admit it–rude comment towards Jax during our return to the circus yesterday. To which he let out an abrupt laugh followed by snatching up the broken remains of my halo. It took the frog snatching them back while he was distracted for the halo to be returned.
“It’s alright, Ragatha.” I cut in before the bickering could start back up. “Just tell me what my morning mental breakdown was interrupted for?”
“Newbie already cracking huh?” The frog—Ribbit—comments. A sly smile that rivals Jax’s and causes it to waver with a groan. “Come on Hopps, that was worse than Kaufmo!” Ribbit feigns hurt, bringing a webbed hand to his chest. “Not worse than Kaufmo. Jax, I thought we were friends.”
A porcelain joke. Ha. Because I’m made of porcelain… surprisingly malleable, yet resilient porcelain. Yeah the logic behind it didn’t make sense to me either. Especially with the poor ribbon character breaking her mask so easily. I swear, I haven't seen her smiling mask for more than a few seconds before it shatters.
“Wellll!” Ragatha said while sending a scowl in the direction of the boys. “I just came to invite you to breakfast with us— before Caine whisk us off for another adventure!”
Breakfast.
They had it yesterday before the adventure started as well. I assume this is a common occurrence to maintain some sort of normalcy despite not even needing to eat. I opted to avoid it then even going as far to ignore Ragatha when she had come along on her own to ask. Something I was about to repeat as I moved to close my door before abruptly halting. Hesitation gripped me as the sensation of the walls behind me crept in, threatening to crush me. I step forward instead, swinging the door shut behind me. Receiving confused stares as I smooth the nonexistent wrinkles of my dress, collecting myself. “I guess I could.”
“Great!” Ragatha chirps before leading the way.
—
The fact we could eat and taste at all would never not [beep] with my head. However, the more I chew the more I wish I couldn't. On the menu this morning was misshapen sunny side eggs, shredded hash browns, and small links of sausage. All pixelated, all terrible.
The texture was awful with no difference between each item on the plate regardless of what I ain't. Taste? Just like every bite held the same texture, it also held the same taste, like… like if someone was attempting to put the concept of how an entire breakfast meal would taste within each bite. Not bad just.. unsettling.
Everyone ate without problem, no doubt already used to the strange nature of the food. All sitting at a long table with the food sat out to serve yourself. Ragatha and Kinger sat on opposite sides of me, Ragatha inquiring on my thoughts regarding food after she finished reintroducing everyone. All I could manage was a strained face. A barely audible crack coming from the halo above my head.
Kaufmo, the clown, Gangle, the ribbon theatre character, Kinger, the chest piece, Jax, the bunny, Ribbit, the frog. Then her, the ragdoll.
I can remember all that, probably.
Ribbit, Jax, and Gangle sat on the side with Ragatha. Kaufmo sat beside Kinger at the opposite head of the table to Ribbit. Mostly I sat in silence watching everyone else talk. Watched as Jax shoveled food from his plate onto Gangle to her dismay while Ribbit talked to Kaufmo across the table. Kinger and Ragatha held a conversation with me between them. A confusing one–on Kinger’s part–that consisted of bug facts that made my digital skin crawl and wondering what adventures Caine had in-store for us.
Ragatha in-turn recounts previous adventures before my time. “One to Atlantis, except if Atlantis had no water and was at the core of a volcano. So, not really Atlantis really.. Oh!-”
“Or that time we went to a zoo with bugs the size of animals and Ragatha nearly jumped out of her own patches at the centipedes.” Ribbit cuts in.
Jax adds on with a laugh, “I swear her button popped right off her face.”
Suddenly the vivid image of a spider the size of a tiger was all I could think about, visibly shuddering. Spiders weren't even bugs were they? I doubt Caine cared enough to get into the technicalities. Most assumed they were after all. I could emphasize with Ragatha on this. I pray THAT adventure never has the chance to return. “Come ooon, don't tell me you're also scared of some little centipedes.” Jax spoke, noticing my shuddering.
My painted lips press together as I send a glare around Ragatha in his direction. “No, I was just noticing how annoyingly grating your voice is the more you talk, you really enjoy hearing yourself speak, huh?” Another crack above my head.
“Ooooo~” He leans forward, planting his elbows on the table, chin in one yellow gloved palm, “Still has her bite. Had me worried there with how awfully quiet you were being.”
“Shut up, Jax.” Stupid purple bunny. Crack.
“Alright let's all calm down, adjusting can be stressful and-” Ragatha attempting to de-escalate the situation as me and this rabbit were stuck in a bitter staring contest.
“DID I HEAR ADVENTURE??” Caine boom from above, drawing all our attention upwards—nearly reflectively and breaking the staring contest. For me. Jax? I could still feel him staring if only for a few seconds more before turning to acknowledge Caine.
We all stare at him, half of us surprised, the other half confused—then there was Kinger who was well.. Kinger. “Uuuh.. yeah like five whole minutes ago, Caine. Kinda late to the punch there buddy.” Kaufmo finally spoke after a long awkward silence.
“Well let’s fix that shall we!!!” With the snap of his fingers our table and chairs pull from underneath us by an unseen force. Everyone lands on their bottom, besides Gangle. Who lands on her face, shattering the comedy mask upon impact. Making me cringe, god that thing really was brittle.
Gangle let out a small sob as Caine continues on, “The adventure today is…” unseen drums play, “A trip to The Wild North-West!”
“Caine, do you mean just the Wild West..?” Ragatha politely corrected as we all rose from the ground.
When I first saw Caine upon my arrival I thought he was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen. The type of monster only your kid brain could’ve come up with late at night. When your nightlight just wasn’t enough and you were too scared to get out of bed to shut the closet door. How is a set of teeth with eyes between them suppose to be fun?
"Not at all my dear! For this adventure is called The Wild-North West! You lot will be taking a trip to the isolated frontier snowy town of Lost Trails! Let's show them Bubbles!" Caine announced, voice echoing through the circus tent. While a large bubble with a pointy smile slips from underneath his hat. A large tongue unraveling from Bubbles mouth, a remote stuck to the end of it.
Caine reached for it, salvia dripping from the remote. “Bubble….. why..”
“Mmm tasty.”
He shook the saliva off the remote as a screen dropped down onto the stage nearby. Clicking a button the giant screen came to life. What began to play was a slide show that Caine clicked through with the—slightly less—salvia covered remote.
“Today’s adventure consists of deduction and deception. You all will be secretly assigned roles within the town! The overall goal? To figure out which two of you are the Outlaws!”
The slide changes to an image of a cartoon figurine sculpture dressed as an overly rough and tough cowboy. Outlaw written in large colorful letters beneath it. “Every night while the Townsfolk of Lost Trails sleep, the Outlaws will pick someone to do away with! The next morning it is everyone’s job to figure out who did it and vote them out! However you can only vote one candidate at a time and you must figure out who the Outlaws are in time. As once the number of Townsfolk equals the numbers of playing outlaws, it is game over!”
“I’m sorry, Caine— we’ll be uh.. killing.. each other?” Ragatha asked, unable to hide her nerves while glancing around at us.
“Heavens NO! What do you take me for?! A madman?!?” Almost to prove his own accusation correct Caine began laughing exactly like that—a madman. “The Outlaws are not allowed to target fellow Circus members. Wouldn’t want to sow discourse amongst you all, now would we?—” I side eye Jax. Too late. “—Anyone who isn’t an Outlaw will be a Townsfolk with special roles.”
Another slide, this one a simple list.
• Sheriff
• Doctor
• Bartender
• Vigilante
• Imposter
“What do these roles do?! Let’s skip to the adventure and find out!”
The ground beneath us vanishes.
Everything spins, my stomach and heart collide as I plummet in a freefall. The others' screams are muffled by the howling wind.
That exact wind is knocked out of me as I crash face first into an outrageous amount of soft, fluffy, bitterly cold snow. And everything was still spinning—like my brain was doing cartwheels in my head. Taking every ounce of strength and focus not to vomit into the formerly perfect snow, shifting onto my elbow then palms.
I should’ve stayed in my room.
At least I would be nauseous in peace.
Finally as the spinning eases I shift onto my knees and freeze—my clothing is different. Not just different but no longer porcelain. Replacing it was thick, warm cloth making up my plaid green skirt. A hooded shawl draped over my shoulders with a bow to hold it shut in the front. No doubt all of this was to combat the frost already nipping my finger tips and wings.
If I had been kept in porcelain clothes on top of being made out of the stuff? I’d be in serious trouble right now.
I wouldn’t freeze to death, but it would certainly feel like it.
Taking a look around I spot… no one. Great. Instead I am greeted with a beautiful winter wonderland. I can’t complain there. It’s like if someone took an old Wild West town you see in those black and white pictures… then plopped it into a Christmas movie. Just as Caine said it would be, his interpretation of ‘North-West’. It was beautiful, and a little jarring.
An envelope flutters down from the sky, landing a lot more gracefully than I had in the snow before me. With a huff I snatch it up and break the wax sealing it.
‘Outlaw’
“Yay..”