Please, take a moment to read this story by Christy Sloat author of The Many Lives of Avery Snow, Ianni and The Brown House and then use the link below to go and give her a vote! She would love and appreciate your help!!!!
It was only 7:15
when Keelie arrived at Graham’s house. The
night was so dark already that
she could barely see her own hand in front of her face. It wasn’t a normal
night without all of the stars looming over their heads. The night was so
unusual and almost scary it made Keelie feel even more excited to attend the
circus with her friends. They went every year the circus came to town, they
made it an annual thing. Keelie, Graham, Carver and Hope. Who knew that they
would all end up dating each other by senior year? Carver and Hope started
dating first. Adam Carver the ultimate ladies’ man, had fallen for Hope. Who
wouldn’t? She was tall, slim and had the tan skin every girl died for. But with
Keelie and Graham it had been much different. They liked each other for years,
but neither had the nerve to ask the other out. Finally last summer as they
walked together on a nightly stroll he asked her out for dinner. That was that.
Now the four did everything together as couples. So that is what made this circus
trip even more exciting. That and the new circus event called, The Illusionist.
Keelie loved magic tricks and anything to do with disappearing acts. She had
once been on a cruise and saw a woman disappear on stage right in front of her.
The magician then had been really good and she hoped for an even better show
tonight.
Graham opened
the door once Keelie reached it. His blue eyes looked her up and down and he
stroked his chin, “Looking very nice tonight Ms. Hayes. I think I may have to
take you upstairs for an impromptu make out session first.”
“No way! We are
not going to be late picking up Carver and Hope,” she admonished. Though Graham
looked pretty hot himself tonight, Keelie had to remember Hope told her to be
on time. She didn’t want to miss the acts and Keelie wanted to see the new
show.
“Fine, but may I
have a little kiss?” Keelie jumped in his arms practically knocking him over
and planted a big kiss on his lips.
“How is that?”
she asked as he set her down.
“Makes me only
want you more.” He grabbed his coat and they got in the car. Luckily Hope lived
a few blocks away. Once they pulled up she noticed Carver and Hope looked upset
with each other. Hope stood with her hands crossed across her chest and Carver sat
on the grass.
“Uh oh I guess
they’re fighting again,” Keelie said.
“Great what a
way to ruin the night,” Graham sighed.
Hope got in the
car and Carver got in a few minutes later looking sullen.
“Is everything
okay?” Graham asked Carver.
“Yeah I suppose.
Someone I knew died today,” he mumbled. “Olivia Grant, she was battling cancer
remember?”
They all knew very well who Olivia was and that she was sick. Carver and Olivia had dated sophomore year. It was a sore subject because Hope was jealous of their closeness. She felt awful for her having cancer, but it seemed Carver spent a lot of time by her hospital bed lately. Keelie knew it wouldn’t be long until she passed once the cancer got to her bones. It wasn’t something any of them hoped would happen but Hope still looked upset. The car ride remained quiet until they reached the circus entrance and the guys got out.
They all knew very well who Olivia was and that she was sick. Carver and Olivia had dated sophomore year. It was a sore subject because Hope was jealous of their closeness. She felt awful for her having cancer, but it seemed Carver spent a lot of time by her hospital bed lately. Keelie knew it wouldn’t be long until she passed once the cancer got to her bones. It wasn’t something any of them hoped would happen but Hope still looked upset. The car ride remained quiet until they reached the circus entrance and the guys got out.
“So what’s wrong
Hope?” Keelie finally asked her. Hope unfolded her arms finally and tears
spilled down her cheeks.
“It’s like life
for him is over now that she’s gone. He acts like I was nothing and she was his
one true love.” Hope wiped her face and sighed. “He said he wants a break after
tonight. That he needs to mourn her loss. Keelie they only dated for six
months.”
Keelie reached across the seat and held her friends hand. She knew Carver was taking this hard, but it was true, Olivia and he only dated for a short time. But then again when someone passes it can be hard to focus on anything else. Keelie knew this all too well. She herself had lost her brother two years ago. He had disappeared seemingly into thin air. And they never found him again. She and her parents knew in their hearts he was dead.
Keelie reached across the seat and held her friends hand. She knew Carver was taking this hard, but it was true, Olivia and he only dated for a short time. But then again when someone passes it can be hard to focus on anything else. Keelie knew this all too well. She herself had lost her brother two years ago. He had disappeared seemingly into thin air. And they never found him again. She and her parents knew in their hearts he was dead.
“Come on Hope
let’s see if we can’t cheer you both up. The circus is our thing, and it’s the
last time we will be here all together.” It was true they all would be off in
college by fall. Hope and Keelie got out and meet the boys by the entrance to
the tent.
By the end of
the circus show the girls were exhausted from laughter and the boys were ready
to move on. Carver’s mood had gotten a little brighter but not enough to
improve the nights now ruined plans. Keelie wanted to see the illusionist badly
but the others wanted to check out the new Fat Lady show. “Fine,” she said
finally. “I’ll go check his show out and you go see the fat lady then.” She
left them all and walked off. She wasn’t mad at them more disappointed.
Especially with Graham he knew how much she loved that sort of stuff. Sitting
and making fun of an overweight lady wasn’t fun to her.
“Hey Keelie wait
up,” Carver called to her. “I want to go see the magician with you.”
“Really?” She was happy he came along and all, but he didn’t seem like the type to like a show like this.
“Really?” She was happy he came along and all, but he didn’t seem like the type to like a show like this.
“Yeah why not.”
He smiled. They walked across the grounds and looked for the tent. They spotted
it in the far corner finally and made their way to it. Once they got close
enough they noticed it was surrounded by an odd fog. A fog that only lurked
around the tent. Keelie got goose bumps across her arms and Carver pulled his
coat tighter. It wasn’t that cold outside but for some reason they both felt a
chill. No one stood outside to accept tickets nor was there anyone waiting for
the show. They were the only two people there.
“Maybe we missed
it,” Keelie suggested.
“It says the
show starts in ten minutes. Maybe we are just early that’s all.”
Keelie shrugged
and got closer to the entrance hoping to sneak a peek inside. But as she got
closer she noticed a sign in front; What is the real illusion? Come inside to
find the answer.
It was alluring
that was sure, but by the looks of the tent it screamed darkness. Sure she saw
the ones on T.V. who did daring acts that would scare her. But this wasn’t a
freak show it was a family circus in the suburbs. This only made Keelie want a
look inside even more so. She got closer and closer to the opening. Her breath
catching in her throat as she touched the velvet rope holding the curtains
closed. “Stop!” Carver shouted.
She turned to a frightened Carver, “I only want to peek inside Carver calm down.” When she turned back around a woman stood in front of her holding a burning cigarette in her hands ever so delicately. She looked like she came from another time and place. Her hair was glossy black and pulled up on the sides by clips with black roses on them.
She turned to a frightened Carver, “I only want to peek inside Carver calm down.” When she turned back around a woman stood in front of her holding a burning cigarette in her hands ever so delicately. She looked like she came from another time and place. Her hair was glossy black and pulled up on the sides by clips with black roses on them.
“Oh sorry, nice
costume,” Keelie said nervously.
“It is not a
costume. Boy aren’t you pretty, what are you doing here?” The woman asked as
she took a drag.
“I came for the
show,” Keelie answered. What else would she be doing here?
“And you boy,
you came for the show too?” she asked Carver. He nodded and his mouth fell open
when the woman smiled and winked at him. She was beautiful in a gothic sort of
way. Keelie eyed her suspiciously. There was something strange about her for
sure.
“Once you enter
there is no going back the way you once came. I need to make that clear,” the
woman said.
Keelie laughed
and rolled her eyes. She knew this was a trick to scare her and it wasn’t going
to work. She wasn’t some little kid entering a haunted hayride. She knew there
was an exit just like there are ways out everywhere. It was dark and eerie
outside, but she knew this had to be part of the act.
“Do you
understand?” The woman asked again. They both nodded and the velvet rope fell
to the ground and the curtain opened. Keelie strolled in with Carver right
behind her. Once she saw the stage in front of her she was shocked. The inside
was almost as big as the circus show tent. The stage in front of her was lit
dimly by a small light on the center.
The gothic woman
circled them a few times looking them over. Carver stood tall while Keelie
shrunk in her nervousness. There was something about this whole place that
didn’t feel right.
“You know maybe
we can come back to another show, I think we need to find our friends,” Keelie
lied as she grabbed Carver’s arm.
“I believe I
just told you that you must stay. By the way I am Arianne. Please find your
seats.” Arianne gestured towards the rows of seats that circled the stage. Keelie
let go of Carver and turned to walk away. “I’m out of here something’s not
right. This isn’t the Ringham’s Circus. You are totally fake and I am not
staying here.” Once she turned around to walk out she noticed the curtain they just walked through was gone. All that was
there were velvet walls. She reached out to find the exit and Arianne laughed
wickedly. She searched but couldn’t not find a way out of there.
“What brought
you here? A flyer perhaps? Not a sign on the Ringham Brothers Circus entrance,
am I correct?” Arianne pulled another cigarette out and lit it gracefully.
“Yes a flyer I saw. I don’t even remember where I saw it,” Keelie admitted. “What does that mean? You’re not part of the circus are you?” Arianne’s shook her head and snickered.
“You’re here for a purpose aren’t you my dear? And you boy, you came to find answers about the dead girl you hope to see again. Every breath you take makes you feel guilty about her not being able to do the same.”
“Yes a flyer I saw. I don’t even remember where I saw it,” Keelie admitted. “What does that mean? You’re not part of the circus are you?” Arianne’s shook her head and snickered.
“You’re here for a purpose aren’t you my dear? And you boy, you came to find answers about the dead girl you hope to see again. Every breath you take makes you feel guilty about her not being able to do the same.”
Carver’s eyes
welled up and his fists clamped down. If she wasn’t a girl Keelie was sure he would
have hit her. One thing she knew about him was do not press his buttons.
“How do you know
about Olivia? Who told you?” he spat. Arianne only shrugged and turned towards
Keelie. “And you,” she pointed to Keelie. “You don’t feel bad about the brother
you lost. You may mourn him sure. But you were ignored before he died. No one
cared about you or your accomplishments. Now without him here you get the
college money that was meant for him and the brand new car too.”
“No that’s
wrong. You don’t know that!” Keelie screamed. “This isn’t a magic show this is
something evil.”
“Your right, this is no magic show. The illusionist does not deal with magic. He brings back those we wish we could see once more. He has the power to raise the dead. But you don’t want to see your brother again, right?”
“Your right, this is no magic show. The illusionist does not deal with magic. He brings back those we wish we could see once more. He has the power to raise the dead. But you don’t want to see your brother again, right?”
“I want to
leave,” Keelie cried. Arianne laughed at her expense.
“This isn’t a
show or trick of light. This is real. And you’re here for a reason. Now sit and
wait for the illusionist.” she pointed to the seats in the front row that were
now lit up by light. They watched as a single candle lit itself on the edge of
the stage. Once it was lit several candles ignited themselves all the way
around.
“What sort of
place is this?” Keelie asked Arianne, but when she turned Arianne was gone.
Keelie felt cold and terrified. She had not expected things to turn out this
way. She had only merely been hoping for a good show, not to be scared. She
grabbed onto Carver’s arm and yanked on his sleeve, “We need to get the hell
out of here, now!”
Carver’s now
pale face read no expression. He had heard her but didn’t want to leave. He was
enticed and Keelie could see it. She had no idea her friend was so in love with
Olivia. If she had she would have told Hope to give him time to grieve. Hope!
She remembered that she had her cell and pulled it out of her purse. The phone
lit up once she touched it but read, no service.
“How is that
possible?” she asked herself. She dialed anyway and nothing happened. It was
like she was in the Twilight Zone all of a sudden.
“Cell phone’s won’t
work in here my dear Keelie. And I do not allow them,” a voice from the stage
grabbed her attention. “Be seated and I will let you out of here once you see.”
“See what?”
Carver demanded. But the voice did not answer him. Carver held Keelie’s hand
and led her to the front row. She could feel his hands tremble slightly. He was
scared just like she was, but he was interested, while she was not.
As soon as they
sat a man appeared on the stage. He had a distinguished look about him that
drew Keelie in. His hair was an auburn brown mixture and his eyes were piercing
green. He wore a black velvet coat with tails that he took off and laid over a
chair that she didn’t notice on stage. He had an ivory shirt on now with
suspenders. Keelie noticed he had a European look to him and she liked it. It
settled her mind to be with him and to see he wasn’t scary. He looked kind and
gentle but he still had an edge. He was of course older than Keelie, by far.
But Keelie didn’t mind. She shook her head trying to think of anything else but
wanting to kiss the man on stage. Her thoughts of him consumed her momentarily
but she would have to get a hold of herself. It was easy to get lost in your
thoughts in a place like this. The red velvet walls held the reflection of the
candles and made a soft glow about the room. It helped to make her feel at
ease.
“I am Holden
Dexter, the illusionist. The igniter of flames and deliverer of souls. I will
play your mind and win its bet. I will show you how the illusions are met. Are you
an illusion? One will find out, the other will stay and live in their
doubt.” Once he was done Keelie was
stunned and shocked. She didn’t understand. One will stay, one will leave? If
that is what he was saying she couldn’t believe it to be true. Holden held his
pose on the stage waiting for them to reply it seemed. Keelie clapped and
Carver joined in, although neither one knew why they did.
Holden bowed
slightly then the room went completely dark. Keelie let a slight scream and the
candles relit themselves and instead of Holden in the middle of the stage,
there sat a fair haired girl with doe eyes. She wore a white nightdress and
slippers. She looked terrified until she saw Carver. Once she saw him her smile
rose and her eyes twinkled.
“Oliva?” Carver
asked stunned. Olivia smiled and waved but did not move from her spot on stage.
Holden joined her and held her hand. It was impossible for Keelie to believe
what she was seeing in front of her very eyes. But it in fact was Olivia. Keelie
didn’t understand how Holden had done it but then she thought of his rhyme,
deliverer of souls. Did he bring back the dead? Arianne had mentioned it
earlier.
“Now she is
someone you know correct Mr. Carver?” Holden asked. Carver nodded vehemently.
“She is yours to have. You know you love her. Come on stage and claim her.”
Carver stood and Keelie grabbed his arm. “Carver, she’s dead. What are you
doing?”
“She may be dead Keelie but that’s her right there. I love her. I always have.”
“What about Hope? Do you not love her? She’s alive and Olivia, well she’s not.” Keelie was desperate. She didn’t want to see her friend make a mistake and get his hopes up. Once he went on stage it wouldn’t be Olivia, it would be a mirage.
“I am not in
love with Hope. Not like I am with Olivia. If there is a way for me to be with
her, I will.” He yanked his arm from her grasp and walked onto the stage. Olivia
reached out for him and he reached for her. Once their hands met they
disappeared altogether. Keelie shouted and Holden held his hands to his lips
motioning for silence. Keelie was shocked. Where did they go?
“Do not despair
my dear Keelie. They are not gone forever. He will return shortly, hopefully.” Keelie
was angry now. What the hell did all this mean? She grabbed her hair and
pulled. She was upset with herself for bringing this on to her friend. How did
this happen?
“Why are you
talking in riddles and where is my friend?” she screamed. Holden held his hand
up and stopped her mid scream.
“I am not
talking in riddles my dear, I am only trying to assure you that your friend is
not gone, he is merely, not here at the present time.” A grin spread across his
handsome face.
“That is the
same thing!” Keelie raked her hands through her hair and felt the frustration
flood her body. She knew something wasn’t totally right with this situation.
Alarms had gone off in her head at the entrance of this tent, and now they were
screaming at her, ‘Get out now’.
“I want to
leave, now. And I want my friend back,” she said boldly. Holden came down from
the stage slowly and before she knew it he was standing in front of her. His
hand reached out and softly touched her cheek. Strange as it was she let him.
There was something very comforting about his touch.
“Keelie, before
you can leave you must answer the riddle. One must stay here and the other can
go. I played your mind; do you have what it takes to play back?”
His voice was
velvety and thick. She felt entranced in his gaze, but the buzz in her pocket
snapped her out suddenly. Her phone was ringing. She had to get to it, but how?
It seemed like she was not allowed to be part of the outside, since she was
trapped here in this lair.
“I have to
think, give me a moment?” she said as sweet as she could. In a breath he was
gone and she was alone. She sighed heavily and ducked down in the dark to
answer.
“Hello.”
“Keelie where are
you?” It was Hope.
“Hope I am in
this terrible scary tent. It’s at the edge of the grounds. It was supposed to
be the illusionist tent, but I think there’s something wrong,” she said in a
rush.
“What tent, Keelie?
We walked the whole place and we can’t find anything. Carver said maybe you
would come find us, so we are waiting by the car.” Carver? Keelie didn’t
understand. How could Carver have told her that while he was here? Maybe he got
out and he wasn’t trapped after all.
“When did you see him?” Keelie asked. “Is he safe?”
“When did you see him?” Keelie asked. “Is he safe?”
“What do you
mean is he safe, Keelie? He has been here with us the whole time,” Hope said.
“I am really worried about you now.”
The phone went dead suddenly and left Keelie
scrambling for her friend to save her. But one thing Keelie knew was Carver
wasn’t with her. Then who was with her?
This whole thing
was an act! It was an illusion. She thought of the rhyme Holden had told her;
‘The igniter of
flames and deliverer of souls. I will play your mind and win its bet. I will
show you how the illusions are met. Are you an illusion? One will find
out, the other will stay and live in their doubt.’
He was an
igniter of flames that was how the candles were lit on their own. Either that
or he was the igniter of her flame, he made her feel helpless with desire. As far as the deliverer of souls, maybe it was
really Olivia standing on stage. She shuddered at the thought that he was able
to bring the dead back. She kept thinking trying to solve the puzzle. If Carver
wasn’t with her, then who was? An illusion no doubt, but how did Holden know so
much about Keelie? He knew of her brother as well. Things she never told
anyone. Was she an illusion? He had asked the question hadn’t he? Was she even
real? That couldn’t be, he had her doubting things now. Things that were not
real.
One thing she
knew in her heart, if she didn’t answer the question soon she would be stuck
here. Forever maybe.
“Time is slowly
draining my dear, do you have an answer for me?” Holden asked as he was
standing on stage, now accompanied by Carver and Olivia once more.
“I do,” she said
with ease. “You’re not an illusionist, which is clear. You are more than that.
You said you’re the deliverer of souls, so you are either dead yourself or you
have awesome power.” He nodded and a small smile spread on his lips. “But the
question was am I an illusion. The answer is no, I am not, but Carver is. He is
not the one standing on the stage with Olivia.” Holden applauded her and
Carver’s shape started to turn. Keelie watched in awe as Carver turned into
another boy, her brother Kevin.Keelie could not believe her eyes.
“Why play this
mean trick on me? I only came here to see a magic show. Why is my brother
acting like Carver? Why is my brother even here?” she asked Holden.
“You are very
smart Keelie, I admire you for that. I really do. Your brother is here with me
to do my bidding. You see I need more stagehands and my dear Arianne felt so
alone. She saw your brother here two years ago and had to have him for her
own.” Keelie watched as Arianne joined Kevin on stage and held his hand. “I
feel alone too. I saw you on the street and I just had to have you for my own.
I learned about you, over the last few days. Kevin told me all about you. I
reeled you into my tent, so that I may have you for my own.” He trailed down
the stage and meet Keelie as her knees grew weak. He held her by her shoulders tightly.
“You have answered the question, but you cheated.”
“No I didn’t! How could I possibly cheat?” she asked feeling sick to her stomach. There was no way out now. He gripped her shoulders tighter and his sweet breathe grew hot on her face.
“No I didn’t! How could I possibly cheat?” she asked feeling sick to her stomach. There was no way out now. He gripped her shoulders tighter and his sweet breathe grew hot on her face.
“You got a phone
call. Phones are not allowed in the show. If your friends didn’t tell you he
was with them you wouldn’t have known. So without their help you would not have
answered correctly. One will find out Keelie, the other will live in doubt. You
found out the answer now your friend Hope will forever live in doubt of what
really happened to you.” She could throw up, she was terrified. The thought of
Hope never really knowing what happened to her hurt more than anything. Her
family, her friends they would all be looking for her. Keelie knew they would
never find her. “No…I can’t stay here. Please…” she begged him now. But his
eyes transfixed her and she fell silent. There was something about him that did
that to her. Something magical in his stare.
“But you must,
you entered knowing once you did you may not leave the way you came. You will
be leaving Keelie, but with me. We will travel the world my love, and you will
love every second of it.” And as he said it, he took her in his arms and she
fell into the darkness with Holden Dexter, The Illusionist.
