The Monster's Room - Chapter 57
“Great job today. Let’s see, were you uncomfortable? Were your hands numb?”
The ringmaster carefully examined him, lifting the head and wiping it clean with a cloth, pressing and massaging the hands. The head, seemingly weary, had its eyes closed. When a moth flew into a nearby lantern and died, the head reached out to it.
Tap.
With just a single touch.
Flutter.
The moth twitched and came back to life. This was the trick behind the revival magic that made the circus famous. It was the power of an anomalous being that could turn anything dead into its puppet.
“Finding you was truly fortunate. Who else could understand me over all these years? And what other creature could you relate to?”
The ringmaster gently gathered the head and hands, then removed his makeup. His revealed face was peculiar. His skin was excessively pale, his eyes had almost no whites, and after removing his hat, it was evident that his ears were long like a donkey’s.
“You are my only friend. You have been for 300 years.”
The ringmaster was a monster.
If the SCP Foundation had existed at that time, he would have been classified as an anomalous entity. He treated the head and hands with great care.
“Let’s travel the world and perform shows together. We can be the best partners.”
“…..”
“Who gave you a proper head when all you had were hands and a skull with eyes? If we continue, you might even get a full body. Wouldn’t that be exciting? If you had a body, we could perform together! That would be the best!”
He gazed at those green eyes with an expression of awe.
“Stay with me forever, Boy!”
The Immortal Circus traveled far and wide. The ringmaster kept his promise, gradually finding parts to assemble Boy’s body. However, the body parts were peculiar, making it impossible for Boy to stand or move properly. His spider-like, hard, and oddly flexible body fit perfectly into the ringmaster’s carrying case.
Then, one day, something happened.
While traveling by train, the ringmaster’s most treasured box disappeared. By sheer coincidence, someone mistook it for their own luggage, took it, and opened it.
“Oh my God, what is this?”
The person was a dancer.
* * *
The terrified dancer, having mistaken what was in the box for a person, was shocked and quickly called over his fellow performers. They were all robust and agile, and together they screamed as they tried to pull Boy out of the box.
“Be careful, you might hurt him!”
“My goodness, sir? Or madam? Are you alright?”
“Someone get a carpenter!”
Amidst the chaos, the green eyes in the box rolled around, and then a voice emerged.
“Where is the ringmaster?”
“…Holy.”
Boy’s raw voice was as beautiful as his green eyes. The people stood with slightly bewildered expressions as Boy emerged from the box on his own. With bizarre and horrific sounds that seemed too unnatural to be from a human body, he crawled out, resembling a stray dog or spider more than a human.
“What the heck did you guys pick up?”
Later, the female dancers who came by were equally horrified. They asked Boy all sorts of questions. Having rarely left his box, Boy innocently revealed everything.
“Damn those circus bastards. I’ve hated them for a long time.”
The dancers mistakenly thought Boy was a child kidnapped by the circus.
“Let’s send him back.”
“Back to the place that abuses him?”
“Why not, let’s just keep him ourselves.”
“…”
“…Are you guys crazy?”
Maybe they were captivated by those green eyes. Or perhaps drawn by the dangerous allure of an anomalous being. The dance troupe decided to hide Boy secretly. They concealed him behind the stage and continued their performances.
Thanks to them, Boy saw the dazzling stage for the first time in his life.
It was beautiful.
The dancers moved with more agility than the moth he had revived and with more grace than butterflies. Gradually, light filled Boy’s green eyes.
“…The best show.”
With the glamorous music and sparkling dancers, Boy felt an urge to repay them. The anomalous being, who had never left the circus box, was about to undergo another transformation.
“That’s right. The arms go like this.”
“The waist is crucial. You’re flexible but lack the supporting strength. Watch closely.”
“Good posture. Try walking like this.”
Boy learned everything from the dancers. He walked, talked, ran, and danced. Sometimes, the orchestra members would join in to teach him how to sing.
Someone, moved by his beautiful singing, suggested putting him in a performance, but the dancers refused. They were worried that the circus would come to take him back.
And their fears became a reality.
“Boy!!”
The ringmaster had come looking for him. He was gaunt and cried desperately as he hugged Boy. His sorrowful demeanor left everyone bewildered.
“I’ll be back soon,” Boy said, leaving with the ringmaster. Once they arrived at the circus tent, Boy sat upright and spoke firmly.
“I won’t go back into the box.”
“Then will you join me in the show?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve found something else I want to do.”
The ringmaster’s expression hardened. He stared at Boy for a long time before speaking in a cold voice.
“Then leave your vocal cords behind.”
“Fine.”
“I’ll cut out your tongue.”
“Do it.”
“I’ll sew your mouth shut.”
“Sew it.”
“…..”
Tears welled up in the ringmaster’s eyes.
“You’re truly the worst.”
