Freak Show Chapter 2

Martin walked quickly behind his master, never meeting any ones eyes. He knew his escape after last nights show would not go unpunished. he was led roughly to the empty big top and thrown to the floor.from his place on the dusty wood shavings he could see the other freaks lined up shackled to the front row."Now worm, crawl to center ring" Martin did so becoming more afraid by the moment. he was to be made an example of, a lesson to the others. His master walked over his quick hard strides breaking the silence. reaching down he produced a ring bolted to the floor.He took the shackles binding Martin's bare feet together and linked them to the ring. Martin's master strode over to the front row, picking up his whip. Martin's fear became alive,"please sir i wont run!" Martin cried shamelessly "please sir I'll be good d-don't whip me please". "Please," Martin whispered up at him "I don't believe you" smiled the ringmaster. "Take off your shirt,and come to my feet on your knees worm" said the Master coming closer. Martin slowly removed his shirt making his black leathery chained wings all the more prominent.Crawling like a worm to his masters feet. The whip whistled through the air, striking. Martin's tears clung to his face as his racked sobs escaped their dwellings. It wasn't the first time this punishment had been given to him, he was his masters whipping boy and scapegoat. Finally it was over, Martin dropped to the floor quivering with sobs. "Take him away" muttered his master. Martin was picked up by two of the carnival workers one under each arm, his legs trailing uselessly behind him.1

They brought him to the freak compound, a large pit in which the freaks were held together.Dropping him down into the pit they walked away. The other freaks crept from the shadows. There were seven,including Martin, each as strange as the last. Dsadi,the fire starter,was 5'3 with a great cloud of bushy red hair. Her blood red eyes and ability to live in and control fire made her performances something to be remembered. Then there was Camiulious his skin could change into the most extraordinary array of colors. He was 6'5 and completely bald, not a hair on him.He was built very muscular, but not outrageously over done. The next in line was Maurice he was no more than five, the top of his face was a splitting image of an hawk. The feathers covered his back ending in a tail, and  on his face was a beak. he had hands and arms but wings still protruded from his back.His small legs and feet attached to ten razor sharp talons in way of toe nails. Next were two identical girls,Saundri and Irily. Both of them were light green in color with webbed feet and hands. They also possessed dark green hair and voices as beautiful as themselves. Last but not least Marqui an aging man with, at first glance, nothing significant. His twelve foot long hair was in essence almost alive, he could control his hair as anyone else controls their arms or legs. He could manipulate one hair or all at once. It was like a giant muscle pulsating with power and knowledge.2

All of them crept from the darkness of the shadows peering down at the motionless Martin."Is he,...dead?" whispered Irily.3

To be continued......  4