James had always found feats of extreme flexibility fascinating. Although he had never been flexible himself, he loved watching gymnastics. In fact, the few times his family had gone to the circus with him as a kid it was always the contortionist acts that were his favorite. Which was why when he saw the glowing yellow sign above a yellow and red tent with the word ‘contortionist’ written across it he knew he had to check it out.
James didn't hesitate to approach the tent. His feet seemed to move on his own. He only looked back briefly to wave his friends on, urging them to pick up the pace before he left them in the dust. He breaks into a slight jog getting closer to the tent.
“James! Slow down.” Loui calls from behind him.
He ignores her excitement flowing through him as he can see that the tent flaps were open. In addition to that, just outside the tent off to the side, there stood a sign reading ‘performance starting in 10 minutes!’ James was nearly giddy with excitement as he slowed, taking in the tent and sign before he entered the tent.
When James stepped into the tent, he found himself surrounded by belchers. On them there were patrons of all kinds, from cute little smiles to towering werewolves and demons. Behind him Loui and Francisca enter a well, slightly out of breath as they had to run to catch up with him.
“Damnit James.” Francisca huffs as she comes to a stop behind him, “Did you really have to run?”
James turns to look back at them nearly bouncing in excitement as he gestured in front of them, “Look!”
Before them all, in the middle of the tent, there was a wooden stage. In the middle of the stage was a star that glowed a soft red color, illuminating the darkened space in a soft red light.
Loui and Francisca look around, taking in the tent. After a moment Loui breaks the silence. “So where are we gonna sit?”
James scans the bleachers looking for the perfect spot to watch the show that wasn’t already taken by someone else.
Francisca speaks up, “There’s some spots open over there.” She points up high where a bench was mostly empty.
While it wasn’t perfect, it was still an excellent spot to watch from, James nods, “Let's go.” He starts that way slipping past the various creatures and monsters. As he walks, he’s forced to lift his sheet up to avoid it getting stepped on. He manages to climb the stairs to the bench without much issue, managing to keep his costume from getting snagged on another patron's spikes or horns. He sits down at the end before sliding over for Loui and Francisca.
“I think this is my first time seeing a contortionist.” Loui whispers to the other two as they settle into their seats.
“Really? This was my favorite part of any circus when I was a kid.”
“Really? Contortionist? I always thought you’d be into the sword swallowers or the lions or something.” Francisca leans over to look at James as she speaks.
“Nope, Contortionist all the way. I always found the way they can twist their bodies to be fascinating.”
“Of course you would.” Loui snorts.
“What’s not supposed to mean?”
“On nothing, nothing.” Despite having a pumpkin over her head James knows she's smirking at him.
“Elaborate--”
“Ladies and Gentlemen!” A deep voice booms from around the tent, cutting James off.
All around him the tent quiets down, hushing up in anticipation.
On stage, smoke swirls, glowing red from the illuminated star in the stage's center. “Welcome!” The smoke begins to dissipate, as a dark figure starts to become visible, “To the Carnival de Morte Contortionists tent!”
Cheers go up around the tent.
The smoke rolls away from the figure enough for James to start making out its features. From where he sat, he could see it wore a stark white, form fitting outfit. Its face had a half dozen eyes and what James had mistaken for a particularly thick patch of smoke was actually hair that flickered and waved in the air.
The figure on stage waited for the tent to quiet down again before he spoke, “If you’ve been here before you know who I am,” He pauses for a moment looking around the ten, “And for those of you who don't I am the one, the only, Briar Thorsten!” He flourishes into a bow, his tailcoat fluttering behind him as the star’s light intensifies all while the crowd’s cheers grow louder.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Briar gestures for the crowd to quiet down again as he straightens up from his bow, “Now we have a very special performance for you all tonight.” He steps forwards closer to the crowd “We, the contortionist of the one and only Carnival de Morte, have prepared a truly spectacular spectacle for you all.” He gestures out towards the crowd.
The crowd seems to lean forwards in interest. Spotlights illuminate two figures as they appear in the same haze of smoke as Briar had just behind him.
“It going to involve excitement!” Briar raises his hands and the crowd Oos, “And danger!” Ahs rings out, “And most importantly!” the crowd goes quiet, “Tricks you’ll never see elsewhere.” A wide smile stretches across his face as the smoke fades.
Behind Briar two figures that resemble him in a way are revealed. They both have 6 eyes and wore the same form fitting outfit Briar had. They were lanky, and their skin looked almost rubber like. They smile a sharp grin as they twisted backwards, so their backs touched the ground behind them while their hips remained forwards. Their middle was twisted in a way that remind James vaguely of twisler. Their feat of flexibility was something impossible for a human.
The crowd cheers, whooping and clapping. Briar’s smile grew as the two figures untwisted and walked to his side, “Please welcome Jezebel and Joliette, our two lovely contortionists.” The two wave at Briars' side before they bent back until their chests hit the floor again and their shoulders went past their feet, they reached their hands out and waved again.
The cheers grew louder, and with it the music that permeated the air also grew as the performance began. The two contortionist preforming in ways a human never could. During the performance James, Loui, and Francisca leaned forward, intrigued. From where they sat, they could hear crunching bone and twisting rubber. They watch as the contortionist twisted their bodies in ways that would make their skin crawl normally, yet they felt fascination instead of horror. At one point during the show Briar tied the two together, twisting their legs into a bow while they stood on one hand each.
Cheers and shouts of joy and excitement echo through the tent at the scene. The star in the center of the stages seems to grow brighter the louder the cheers grew, illuminating the tent more and more. Meanwhile Briar upped the ante, egging them on as Joliette contorted her body into something that resembled a twistler and used her feet to pull back a bow string with a flaming arrow aimed at the caramel apple atop Jezebel’s head.
“Do you want to see danger!?” Brair faces the crowd with a wide grin on his face, showcasing his sharp teeth, illuminated red by his glowing eyes. The star in the center of the stage grew brighter.
“YEAH!” The crowd cheers.
James, Loui, and Francisca lean forward, anticipation heavy in the air as the star on the stage only seemed to glow brighter, further lighting up the performers. The music all around them seems to up the tempo, becoming nearly erratic as the excitement in the tent only grows.
“Do you want to see fire!?” There’s a short burst of flames behind Briar at his words.
“YEAH!”
“Do you want to see gore!?” Briar’s eyes seem to almost bleed.
“YEAH!”
The trio finds themselves cheering along with the crowds near manic energy. The tent seemed to be in an uproar with excitement. Joliette pulls the arrow back. The cheers grew louder. James can't help but lean forward more, now only a few inches away from the person sitting in front of him now as he watches intently.
The arrow is released, the flaming tip whizzing through the air. James' eyes widen; he can't look away. The arrow hits with a Thunk! The caramel apple explodes, the outer shell cracking away and the inside of it spraying out, coating the nearby audience and performers in a viscous crimson red liquid.
The smell of burnt caramel and copper fills the air as the crowd cheers reach a crescendo. James’s ears seem to ring at the volume. He can’t look away as the performers untwisted themselves and joined Brair’s side. The crimson liquid coating their faces, dripping down their neck and arms, dying their white outfits red. They seem unphased by it all as they link arms. In one smooth motion they bow deep. The crowd continues to cheer, whistling and clapping.
The star in the center of the stage glows brighter than it ever had, turning a crimson red as smoke envelopes the stage much like it had at the beginning of the performance. Before it could fully obscure the performers, however James could see the performer’s bodies shift. They seemed to grow lankier, and their skin grew smoother, rubberier. James was unable to make anything else out before they were completely blocked out by the smoke.
James, Loui, and Francisca clap, bright smiles on their faces. On stage the smoke dissipates and the glow fades revealing an empty stage once more. The music slows down, back into its typical tempo as the crowd begins to get up, heading out to visit the next attraction.
James nearly buzzes with contained energy a wide smile hidden behind his costume spreading across his face. “That was amazing!”
Together the three stand up and start walking towards the exit, following the crowd out of the tent.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that.” Francisca breaths out, “That was... magical.”
Loui nods along as they exit, “I do wonder what Brair and them were though. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Me neither, their bodies seemed rubbery, but it sounded like they had bones?” James tries to think of any myth or legend that described something like that.
Francisca shrugs, “I don’t recognize half the things around here.” They walk away from the tent, further into the carnival.
“That’s fair.” James concedes. “But man, I’m hungry now. That caramel apple looked really good.”
“I feel you; I’m craving some carnival food for sure.” Loui nods in agreement.
“Well, it looks like there’s a food truck just up ahead.” Francisca points to the truck displaying various sugary carnival foods.