It's been a week since I woke up inside the cage; I want to say I've gotten used to cage life, but I know I certainly haven't. I knew there was still much to get used to, like the cold, always being hungry, wild animals coming into the circus at night to scavenge for food, and of course, TomCat stopping by in a drunken stupor raving about his problems. He makes me uncomfortable when he's drunk; he's touchier than usual and continuously makes comments about how I look.
I still haven't gotten the key for my chains, but I'm confident I'll be able to achieve it on one of Tom's numerous drunken visits. Despite my discomfort when he's around, my main goal is that key.
Some good news regarding the circus; TomCat purchased two new tigers in replacement of Hercules and BeastCat was instantly over the loss of her beloved lion. TomCat also put FatCat in charge again while he went away to find recruits and while he was gone, FatCat hired another high-wire artist named Steven (I don't know his full name); the day before Tom returned, the circus saw the face of a new clown, Gilbert.
TomCat, on the other hand, shocked everyone by returning with four new recruits... all composed of freaks and people with strange abilities. The oldest was a gipsy looking for a job after being laid off from a Barnum and Bailey circus, the next one was a man with multiple arms, the third was a poor dwarf in a desperate search for money, and the last was a snake-handler who was just as talented at swallowing swords as she was handling a snake bite.
I do admit, Tom certainly has a keen eye for potential stars. It seems that everyone with a strange disadvantage or advantage glows like a light bulb to him.
I'm curious now to see what kind of names he'll give them.
...
The day after Tom had returned with the new recruits, I was awoken suddenly early in the morning by chatter right outside the cage. I groaned wearily and stretched and the second I did so, the hushed chatter ceased and I was forced to look up and figure out for myself who was outside my cage.
I was surprised to see all four new recruits accompanied by the two previous freaks hovering close by the bars of the cage. I pulled myself into a sitting position and scooted away from the strangers; I had no clue what they wanted and I was too shy to ask.
"See what you've done, Lawrence! You woke her up with your incessant chatter!" a short plump woman in brightly-coloured clothing exclaimed. The dwarf grumbled angrily.
"I didn't wake her up! You woke her up, what with your talk of crystal balls and 'spirits'!" he shot back.
A tall, thin woman standing behind them shushed them harshly, "Will you two quit it! You both woke her up!" The woman and the dwarf rolled their eyes; meanwhile, the recruit with the multiple arms chuckled quietly to himself and turned to WolfCat, who stood behind the group as if she were a tour guide.
"Ms Wolf, did you say this dear girl had been here for several years?" he wondered.
WolfCat nodded, her thick brown locks shaking with her head movements, "Oh yes, but not in the cage, no. The cage is only a new change."
"Interesting," The man responded.
"She don't look dangerous enough to be in a cage," The dwarf commented.
"That's because all you see are the wheels," the woman next to him retorted. Despite my surprise that these quirky characters had huddled around me as a guest would when viewing the freakshow, I managed a small giggle at their banter. They certainly were made to be circus-folk; providing entertainment and comedy even behind the scenes.
"Well, she certainly was how the boss described her; 'prettier than the prettiest of flowers' and I can't agree more. She really is such a small delicate thing, isn't she?" the tall woman smiled at me and I felt my face flush with embarrassment. The dwarf scoffed.
"She'd be prettier if she had hair," he said and I frowned.
"Lawrence!" The woman next to him gasped, "I think she's absolutely wonderful with that hair! Besides, you're one to talk! You're balding at thirty-five!" The dwarf stammered for a comeback but he soon failed and grumbled angrily, turning away from her in defeat. The multiple limbed man chuckled once again.
"Don't feel too hurt, Larry, that's just what you get for insulting women," he assured. With those simple words, all the faces of the women present lit up with awe and gratitude towards the man with four arms.
"Oh, dear sir, you forever have my respect!" The tall woman was beaming and WolfCat nodded in agreement. The man with four arms smiled and bowed his head respectfully.
"Well! With that being said," the woman in bright colours announced before turning to me, "It was lovely seeing you in person and we look forward to working with you in the future... er..." the lady paused and looked up at the top of my cage, where a small banner had been hung displaying my insulting stage name, "... Demon..."
The freaks said their goodbyes and I was left to feel strangely empty after that ordeal. They had never thought to even ask me questions; it was as if they had assumed I was too much of an animal to comprehend speech. The tall woman had said that TomCat called me "pretty", but what exactly had he said to make even the other freaks dehumanise me?