Episode 14 Continued - The Freak Show
The midnight wind blew my hair across my face as I stared up at this dark mansion, watching the moonlight reflect off the broken windows, and the blackened siding crumble and decay.
A haunted house look. Great.
I just glanced over at Sebastian, finding him staring up as well with a dark look on his face, and Scarlet as well as Maddox stood behind him, watching me with their hair blowing as well.
"Do you sense something?" I questioned.
"The teenagers," he said then, gazing down at me with dark eyes, "all of them are here."
I then sighed and started forward, and they all followed behind me.
My stomach twisted, but I shoved it down as I always did, replacing the cold with boiling hatred.
I then stopped at the front door, and my lashes lowered.
Sebastian walked past me and knocked three times—the sound echoing through the entire blackened neighborhood—stepping backward to stand by my side.
After a second, the door creaked open, the screech from the hinges making me wince.
But when we gazed up, that man, Sam, stood at the entrance, holding a lantern that looked very similar to Sebastian's. The light reflected off his features, casting shadows that made him look more menacing than Satan himself.
"Yumi?" he said then, voice dark. "What brings you here?"
My lashes lowered.
He stared at me for a moment, and his eyes narrowed. "Why are you dressed like that? And Sebastian looks like a butler still. And there are servants behind you?"
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He just blinked and gazed down at me, eyes widening.
Two shadows stepped out from behind him, Clarice and James, and they walked forward and stopped beside Sam.
"Why is the carnival child here?" Clarice said then, brows drawing together. "I thought father said Lord Phantomhive would be paying a visit. Because he was onto us."
Sam's eyes darkened immediately, and he chuckled as he gazed down at me. "My, my... I would've never expected you to be so little. Someone as dangerous as yourself. But I guess I shouldn't judge people on their appearances, should I?"
Clarice just blinked. "Sam? What are you talking about?"
"She knows what I'm talking about," Sam said, looking down at me. "Don't you, Lord Phantomhive?"
My glare sharpened as Clarice and James stiffened.
"I would've never expected it was you," Sam continued. "A small little girl. And, I do admit, father talks a lot about you, but he never mentioned your name or your gender... let alone your age. You're a very smart girl, aren't you?"
I just gritted my teeth. "Stop with the small talk and get to the point. I'm here for a reason, and you know why."
He just chuckled and bowed, stepping backwards to let me in. "Of course, my lord."
We stepped in after him, and Sam closed the door behind Scarlet and Maddox, who just remained silent and narrowed their eyes at him.
My eyes widened when I gazed around.
The front entrance was covered in cobwebs and blackened walls, although there were clown masks covering the windowsills and tapestries. The walls and floors were covered in old, worn carpet that tore at the edges, and some of the wallpaper looked as if it were made from that hallucinatory swirl.
What... was this place?
It looked as if it was some kind of clown house and there was a fire decades ago, and no one repaired this place. It made it look ten times more horrifying.
"Father!" Sam called then, and Clarice as well as James's expression masked with anger. "Your guest of honor is here!"
We just remained in place as the room remained silent, just the wind howling against the walls of this horrific place.
But a sudden creaking sound filled the air, and my eyes narrowed.
I swallowed down something hard, ignored the fear rising inside me, and kept my stance straightened.
But a figure came out from the hallway upstairs, walking casually forward as if with a sudden confidence.
He then stepped over to top the staircase and leaned on the banister, smile spreading across his face when the light finally showed his features.
I immediately stilled, and Sebastian's stance stiffened.
"Hello, Lord Phantomhive!" he said, voice oddly chipper and masked with insanity. "I haven't seen you for some time now!"
I just glared. "You were too kind and childish for your age. I knew something was off about you," my eyes sharpened, "Taylor."
