Chapter Text
Welcome, welcome!
Let me tell you a story, the story of my chronic bad luck and how it brought me to the most annoying self centred ass clown who is more neon green than a street light. The stupid ass shines brighter than a diamond, and I loathe going out with that sassy clown.
But I digress! I digress…
Dear reader, my name is Scarlet, Scarlet Jones. Twin sister of Carol Jones. Ring a bell yet? Yes, the one girl working at the coffee shop who disappeared. They say she went away because of her family and a supposed lover.
MY SISTER WAS AS SINGLE AS A PRINGLE, but the part of the family is true. Our parents are… difficult.
I worked the opening shift in the same coffee shop, the café, - super original I know- as my sister worked. When she disappeared the boss decided it would be best if I started working the closing shift.
I hated changes in my life, still do, especially the ones that require my whole life to be tumbled around just to solve it. But I knew a girl in that shift, my sister's bestie, Y/N, L/N, so it wasn't that bad. She was fun to be around and I wouldn't want a girl to go home alone at night.
WORST FUCKING IDEA EVER.
The Freak Circus was in town and somehow Y/N had gotten a red ticket. She told me some weirdo had gotten her a pink one, but that a bigger red ass clown had changed it to a red one AND THEN A GREEN LIGHT HAZARD CLOWN was trying to change it to a green one.
"What is this, the rainbow exchange?" I asked her as she told me this. "First pink, then red, then green? What's next? Blue? Purple? Will I get a car if i turn in the seven colours?"
She told me she didn't want to go alone, and that the green dude was a creep so she didn't feel bad stealing the green ticket.
"Why would you need two? The circus doesn't look that good."
"You are coming with me!"
THE HELL I WAS.
I did, because she was a reckless head first person and I did not want to lose another person in my life because of it.
It was weird as hell, I will tell you that. Some big half blue half black looking dude took our tickets and said it was a surprise seeing both coloured tickets being used on the same night, and that we were "special" guests.
I WAS READY TO GO BACK. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO BE SOMEONE'S SPECIAL GUEST, OH HELL TO THE NO.
I was, because Y/N just charged inside as if the place belonged to her.
Well fuck me.
FUCK ME, READER BECAUSE AS SHE IS FLIRTING BACKSTAGE WITH THE 7ft WEIRD LOOKING RED CLOWN, I WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN A SEA OF PINK WEIRD LOOKING JESTERS.
I was leaving the tent to give the weirdos some room, because why not flirt with the weird looking clown that just headshoted someone with a knife?!
I tried to grab her, I did! But the pink jesters swarmed in to take the body away and I got caught between them. ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD LET ME PASS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NORMALITIES?!
I was nearly drowning in a sea of pink, trampled like the father of simba by the gazelles. To think I would die after work. LIKE HOW MORE UNLUCKY CAN I BE, WORK LIKE A DOG JUST TO DIE IN THE END.
"LET ME GET OUT YOU PINK PONY SHITS! LET ME OUT!"
They heard something, of course not me, and changed directions to a black tent. The sharp turn of the tight procession shoved me out into the candy wrap filled ground filled with sticky pieces of caramel.
I looked just like Peter Griffin after a flight of stairs. I was groaning, my whole body hurting, my brown hair a disaster with all the ground shit stuck in it. I think some got into my mouth.
"Goddamnit." I moaned as i tried to get up. By the looks of it, the circus didn't really want me to be a cock blocker or something.
Yes, I use humour to cope, leave me the fuck alone, I just lost my twin sister.
I just stood there, looking down at the ground, vision going blurry.
Great, just great. I took out the green ticket and glared at it.
"Green is supposed to be lucky! Why aren't you doing your job." It was stupid to argue with a piece of paper, but I was tired. So fucking tired.
"But I am lucky."
I screamed, loud and high. Ariana Grande who?
I turned around, because being on all fours was not the way to go. My feet slipped on the grime as i looked up.
There he was, tall, around 6ft, black raven curly hair under a jester hat, green and black with two long points that ended with golden bells. His face was covered with a white porcelain looking mask, one green diamond painting on one eye and a triangle under the other. Too much green was going on.
His cape gave my eyes a pause on the green, the inside of it golden and the outside black. Hearts at the front, golden trimmed edges.
One side of the suit was alternating between black and green stripes, the other divided in gold at the top and green under. His mask had a slit for his mouth and two for the eyes black as night. And those neon eyes—shining straight down at me like I look down at a well cooked steak.
"Who the fuck dressed you?" I stammered, as I dragged myself back. "You look like a cheap glow stick who doesn't know if it wants to be rich or a cheerleader of Sporting."
THE MOUTH CLOSED, THE FUCKING MOUTH CLOSED WHAT THE HELLING FUCK! IS IT NOT A MASK?! THE MOUTH JUST DISAPPEARED!?
Oh never mind, it came back.
"Now, dear, that's just rude." His voice was rich, smooth even. Nothing of the weird raspiness I was expecting. I lie, I wasn't expecting anything, this is hella weird.
"I- I-"
"I-I-" He mocked me. The big shit. "Why do you have my ticket? HOW did you get my ticket?"
He started walking to me. Now I saw the boots he was wearing, slightly elevated by a heel with golden details. damn, at least whoever dressed him hit jackpot with the boots. Shit's fire.
I quickly dragged myself back like a crab running from the pot, but he just smirked wide. This is karma, because I did the same yesterday with the poor crab.
See what I mean by bad luck?
"Y-yours? It's mine!" I choked on my own saliva, and maybe some of the dirt that got on my mouth. "I was gifted it!"
He gave me the stink eye, placing one hand on his hip as he eyed me top to bottom and then to the crunched green ticket on my hand.
Rude.
"My darling, that ticket is gifted by me. There is no other way to get it." He had a stride as big as him because in two steps he had one heel on either side of my torso. Suddenly I was mid air, dangling as he held me up by my hoodie's neck. "Where. Did. You. Get. It?" His voice was deep and unsettling, just a pitch under the normal deepness of human tones, his eyes shaking rapidly as he glared down at me, mouth wide, showing me a row of super sharp teeth.
Oh I was so about to piss myself.
I felt tears fall down my eyes as I sniffled. God I was so pathetic, crying instead of kicking the shins out of him. But he was horrifying up close.
"Tears won't take you anywhere." He snarled, starting to open his mouth, wide and sharp. Oh he will bite my face off.
"Y/NSTOLEITFROMYOU" I shrieked loud, making him flinch before tilting his head.
He closed his mouth, making a slurping sound as he licked the drool from his lips. At least when Pennywise opened his mouth he had the decency to have some lights at the end. This one had the void.
"Who?"
Just kill me, I hate drum rolls before the demise. The green is really making my eyes dry and I'm sure my bra is showing, because I'm melting down the hoodie. I hold onto his wrists, but he doesn't even waver. damn, for a stick-bug looking thing he sure is strong.
He held me higher now, lifting me way over his head. It was scarier being this high up, AND I'M STILL SURE MY DAMN BRA IS SHOWING.
I was a pathetic whining mess, tears falling down my eyes.
"S-she told me you wanted to change her red one by a green of yours and that you were mean to some weird red dude and that she didn't like it so she stole it from your pocket." It was impossible to look as suspicious as him, if side eyes killed, I would be happily dead. "She gave it to me so she didn't come alone."
He looked at me intensely, tilting his head sideways before looking down. I had taken one hand from his wrist to pull down my hoodie. He smirked as he looked at me, full of snickering mirth.
I had my fair share of perverts, so I kicked hard. My heel clicking into his face with ease.
HOLY SHIT I WAS SO DEAD.
He changed hands, lifting me with one hand as the other came down to his jaw. He looked up, amused as he licked the blood from his lips. He had bitten down when I kicked him.
Serves him right. Close your putrid mouth first.
"Hmm, that's a fun way to get-" He didn't finish his phrase, looking to the side as a merry smile danced on his bloody lips. "I see. Well, since you already punched the ticket, you are my responsibility. Ticket taker is already sniffing around me because of that."
He was talking to himself as he lowered me, too slow for such a horrifying thing.
I start sneaking away as he is distracted, but before I can get far he pulls me back, as if I'm nothing, dragging me along with him.
"Well, if it is who I think it is, they must be in his tent."
"I can walk on my own, thank you very much." I grunt, trying to take my hoodie's hood from his talons.
"Are you sure? You looked so pathetic that I wondered if a pacifier would help."
I manage to snatch it away from him grumbling.
"Filho da puta." I am way more confident on my native language, knowing damn well it's near impossible he knows portuguese.
He peeks from up his shoulder, amused as fuck.
"Mal educada do caralho."
My jaw is somewhere in hell, because what the fuck. My legs are shaking and I am tented to ask him to drag me by my hood again.
We pass by all the other tents, people all around, laughing and snickering at the pink jester looking people. A big red tent shines the brighter in the distance and I recognise it fast.
The blue and black man is punching tickets still, but he looks sideways in our direction and I get goosebumps all over.
This place is weird as fuck. I shake my head as I recall the knife throwing act of the dude Y/N was with.
I truly hope that girl is safe, I don't want to lose her too to whatever this is.
"Do you, do you… hmm… have like a hmm" I drag, looking at his back. "Do you have murdering acts?"
He stops, making me bump against his back. A wall of bricks would be softer. And he turns around slowly, one of his big ass talons running up my neck, tilting my face upwards.
"A what, darling?"
Oh stopping was much worse than being dragged, so I kept walking to the big tent. He pulled me up by my hood, like a cat. What's his shit with pulling people up.
"I asked you a question." That horrifying tone came back.
"I saw the red clown headshot a pink jester with a knife. I want to know if it was real." I look at him in the eye. I should at least die with a good tale of bravery. "It was too realistic for my taste."
He arched a brow, or whatever that thin black line above the opening of his eyes was.
"We are the freak circus. It's supposed to be eerie and weird, dear." He hummed. But I wasn't convinced. "And those are fools, not jesters. There is only one Jester and he is purple."
"Fools?" I asked, looking up at him. "Weird name, why not Jester or Harlequins? If you are all about the theatrics vibe."
That seemed to hit a nerve, because he held me high again with a contempt smile.
"There is only one Harlequin and that's me, dear, they are just fools who go around on errands. Little minions."
"Okay geez, you don't have to get your panties in a twist over it." I groan, kicking the air. "It was a fair question."
He bursted out laughing. Loud and obnoxious, just how he looked.
"I like you." He snickered.
For someone who was supposed to be responsible for me, he sure was leaving me behind. I had to run to keep up with him. We ran around the circus tent, stopping behind it and sneaking inside, under the heavy cloth.
"I can't see shit." I groaned behind him. Of course he didn't care, waving me to shut it.
HE SHUT IT.
There was a heavy wooden wall securing the cloth, far too tall for me to see anything, but not to tall for the green glowstick to peek. I hear, a whimper of pain, Y/N's voice!
I walk back, to take a run wide enough to jump on his back, feet on his thighs to take impulse up the wall.
"Cara- Sai fora!" He hissed, my boots scratching his face as I wiggle myself up the wooden wall.
"You coming or not?" I hiss, looking down at him, his little green pupils burning in my direction. "Here, come on!" I stretched my arm down at him.
Do not mistake my intentions. If the big red dude is like the Harlequin then better to bring him and let them resolve whatever shit they have going on. The way Harlequin was more interested in him than the missing ticket that somehow wasn't supposed to be in my hands was suspicious.
Speaking off, he was staring at my hand as if it was poisoned.
"Are you coming or not? Hurry your ass up!"
He took it, amused for some reason. He didn't need my hand, the stupid prick jumped high as hell, my hand in his only an accessory. The claws caressing the back of my hand making me jump out my skin.
We sneaked around under the spectator benches that circled the stage in the middle. He stopped and I climbed his back, only our heads peeking as Y/N was backed against the wooden target, between the giant's arms as they spoke in hushed tones.
"So he does talk~" Harlequin snickered.
Then she wiggled herself out of his grasp and ran out. She sure had a dramatic way to go, hands close to the chest, hopping in her step.
"No, this is wrong." She whined on her way out.
Is this a soap opera or something? He ran behind her and Harlequin quickly straightened and jumped in pursuit. I guess he forgot I was on his back because I got tossed back way faster than a backpack at the start of summer vacation.
"PUTA!" I screeched as my back hit the uneven wood panels. Dizzy for a moment, taking in my surroundings.
It was a big tent indee, higher up than anything I have ever seen. The chairs reserved for the public were polished and built from sturdy wood, red cushions making it look more regal.
Wait... no, they were not red. Was it only this one the red one? The rest of them was a vivid red.
I looked down. When I reached to touch my leg I brushed my hand against something soft and spongy.
IT WAS A DEAD FUCKING BODY. IT WAS THE DEAD BODY OF THE PINK FOOL OR WHATEVER IT WAS CALLED. THE ONE WHO GOT HEADSHOTED WITH A KNIFE. It was a human under the mask, eyes wide and bloodshot, mouth so open it looked dislodged, a big putrid hole on her forehead.
I gagged, scared to move and touch more of her. What the fuck was this place? I felt my anxiety rise, wrap it's tallong around my stomach and neck, making me nearly pass out.
I had to get out, out, out, OUT!
I limped out of the tent, none of them in sight.
"Fuck me." I wheezed to myself. "I am going home, fuck this."
I held my shit together until a black tent, it was the only place where there were no people. I leaned against the black cloth and vomited all the shit I had that day on the ground, my legs quivering like leaves under me as I fought the blackout.
"Are you lost?" A male voice rung behind me.
FUCK THIS SHIT ALREADY, GOD.
Please... Just let me go home...
I kept emptying my stomach as the person stopped right in front of me, a loud tsk sound making me look up.
It was the ticket taker from before, his half black half white mask looming over her, a white pupil trembling as it looked down at her.
"What the fuck is this p-"
A large hand covered her mouth tightly, and as she looked down she saw the green heart on the glove. Was she schrewd? Did she say the wrong thing?
Would she be the next?
"There you are, I wondered why you stayed behind." His voice was sickening sweet above her.
"Harlequin." The ticket taker straightened up, looking slightly down to meet the green clown's eyes. "Why was she around the restricted area?"
Harlequin's hand shook slightly against my mouth and wondered why.
"She wandered of to…" He hissed as something sticky glued his heel to the ground, the burger I had for lunch in crumbles and bile under his foot. "Throw up. I guess she didn't want to do so in front of us."
The taller one loomed over Harlequin, his blue jacket right in my face.
"And why did she had the need to vomit, Harlequin?" His voice was suspicious, as if looking for something.
The clown shut his mouth for a while, and the ticket taker looked down at me.
"Can you not speak?"
Harlequin took his hand out of my mouth quickly, his hands still on my shoulders.
"I got lost, I just had to vomit and didn't know where I was going. The movement of the circus was too much for me."
It too all of my willpower not to start crying and lie right into whatever he was, face.
"So sorry to hear that, my lady." His voice was softer. He handed me a blue ticket. "I don't want you to miss out on the fun just because of the crowd. This ticket will make it easier for you. You will come back tomorrow won't you?"
The thought of coming back made me whimper in fear, enough to make him perk up, look up to glare at Harlequin.
"She will, Ticket Taker. Won't you, darling?" He loomed over me, making me shrink down, my face pathetic with terror. I didn't, I wouldn't.
"Give her your ticket, Harlequin, or I will give her mine." For some reason it sounded a lot like a threat.
A green ticket flourished inside her hand.
AS IF SHIT WASN'T TERRIFYING ENOUGH.
RELEASE ME FUCK!
"See you tomorrow, Green ticket guest." He smiled down at me, that hellish white pupil nearly popping out to bite me.
As soon as he walked away my knees gave out. The green shit didn't even care to hold me up, just let me down on my own.
He looked bored.
"Wh-where is Y/N?" I whimpered. "What was- what is-"
"Home, Pierrot took her there." He yawned.
"Who the fuck is Pierrot?"
I held my face in my hands. I had to get out, this was all a dream, all a dream.
"The one you call red clown. Now, time for you to go too." His voice was casual, super bored even. "And be sure to come back tomorrow."
"I won't!" I screeched up at him.
"Yes you will, or I will go there myself and drag your pretty ass here. Ticket taker will have my ass on a platter if you don't come." He pulled me up by my hood again. "Come back with Y/N, I'm sure you will be safer with Pierrot."
Something told me he wanted me to go with her to bother Pierrot, his little simper smile gave him away instantly.
"Please, please don't make me come here again. Please." My voice was a gurgling whimper, I bearly bursted out crying as I clutched his cape.
He knelt in front of me, eyeing me. Surely he could sense I saw something... wrong.
"Come here tomorrow, or they will get suspicious. And if they get suspicious, whatever you saw back there will be you." His voice was quiet, his eyes shaking again. "Go home, little thing. And. Come. Back. Tomorrow."
And so home I went, called a taxi and as soon as I entered my apartment I blacked out on the floor.