Carnivals and Camouflage - Chapter One - Part Two

Tom and Zeta trudged along the dusty road, their footsteps crunching on gravel as the distant glow of the carnival lights grew brighter against the night sky. The landscape stretched endlessly around them, with only the twinkling stars above offering any sense of direction.

They had been on foot for hours, leaving the Men in Black’s car several miles back. Roswell was now a fading memory, and the two found themselves on the outskirts of a town called Estrella. A place that had drawn a carnival due to the proximity of other smaller communities.

Zeta’s almond shaped eyes darted around, taking in the flashing lights and vibrant colours with wide-eyed wonder.

For the alien, this was an entirely new experience, and it was evident that they had no frame of reference for what they were seeing. They tilted their head, as if trying to comprehend the spectacle before them.

Suddenly, Tom heard Zeta’s voice in his head. He almost made him jump out of his skin. Yet again. He was still getting use to this mind-link.

"Tom! What is this place? These lights… they remind me of nebulae in deep space. It is beautiful… but also makes me a little sad." Zeta glanced up at the night sky, "I miss home."

Tom smiled at the alien's childlike fascination. It was easy to forget that Zeta, despite his advanced abilities and otherworldly knowledge, was still largely unfamiliar with Earth's ways.

"This is a carnival, Zeta. It's a place where people come to be entertained, to escape from their everyday lives for a little while. There are games, rides, and performances. People pay to see strange and unusual things."

Zeta's brow furrowed slightly as he processed Tom's explanation. "Am I not a strange and unusual thing?"

Tom's smile faded. He gave Zeta a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "How about we keep that cap way down low." He lowered the baseball cap on the alien's head to shield their face, "Wouldn't want to risk anyone noticing you."

Tom handed over the last of his coins. They hadn't made it passed the ticket booth when a voice, smooth and warm, called out to them from a nearby tent, "Welcome to the R.J. Blackwoods' Carnival of Curiosities, travelers. Care to have your fortune read?"

Tom saw a young man standing in front of a tent adorned with a faded, hand-painted sign that read “Leonides’s Fortune Telling.”

The boy looked around Tom's age with dark, curly hair that fell just above his eyes. He wore loose-fitting, colourful clothing—a shirt tucked into well-worn trousers, and a bright scarf around his neck, adding an air of mystery. But it was his eyes that caught Tom's attention—dark and deep, with a glint that suggested he knew more than he let on.

"Fortune telling?" Tom asked, unsure but intrigued. "Look! I don't have any money."

"Did I ask? No! This is...a free reading." Leo smiled, his gaze flickering between Tom and Zeta. "It won't take long. You might find the answers you're looking for. Or at least, some guidance for the road ahead.” His gaze settled for a moment on Zeta. His head tilted to one side as if pondering something he was only privy to. "Huh! How curious!" His smile returned, looking back at Tom, "At least in here you can escape any prying eyes." Tom hesitated, then nodded, allowing Leo to lead them into the dimly lit tent, "I was named Leonides Marquez, but you can call me Leo."

The inside was cozy, with the scent of incense hanging in the air. A small table sat in the center, draped in a cloth that looked as old as the tent itself. Tom took his place while Zeta settled beside him, keeping their cap forward to conceal their face.

Tom looked passed Leo to the back of the tent, where a small, separate space had been curtained off. Inside was a simple bed, a few belongings, and a soft, warm light from a lantern hanging above. A small table held a plate of bread, some cheese, and a jug of water. Suddenly, Tom felt hungry and parched all at once.

Leo pulled out a deck of cards—ordinary playing cards, but with intricate symbols and words etched along the edges, each card unique and worn from use. As he began to shuffle the deck, Leo glanced up at Tom, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

He handed the deck over to Tom and asked him to shuffle the cards than cut the deck into three sections: past, present and future.

"Let’s see what the cards have to say," Leo murmured, flipping over the top card of each pile. The symbols on the cards seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, catching Tom's attention.

As Leo studied the cards, suddenly, he was overwhelmed by a series of vivid visions—Tom's hand sliding across his back, their bodies pressed together in the dim light, the warmth of their shared breath. He saw glimpses of Tom’s lips on his neck, their legs tangled under sheets, the pure, raw sensuality of a connection he had only dared to dream of.

The images were intense, leaving Leo breathless, his heart pounding in his chest. His skin tingling with the ghost of a touch that hadn't yet happened but felt more real than anything he had ever known. His cheeks flushed with a warmth that had nothing to do with the desert heat.

Tom, oblivious to Leo's internal turmoil, "What do you see?"

Leo swallowed hard, forcing the images to the back of his mind. "I see… I see that you're running…Your name starts with…T…Thomas. No! Tom! You're running from something but also toward something. You and your brother—you're on a journey and it's far from over." Leo's eyes flickered to Zeta, who was studying the cards with intense interest. "Your brother is covered in…stardust." Leo's voice dropped to a whisper. "They are not like others. There's something…otherworldly....Z...Zeta!" Tom's breath caught. Leo hesitated, searching for the right words. "They are part of something much bigger, something that reaches far beyond this world."

Tom's heart pounded in his chest. "How do you know all this?"

Leo's gaze softened; his earlier visions forgotten in the face of the boy's trust. "I'm just someone who sees things—things that haven't happened yet or things that might happen. But sometimes, I see things I don't fully understand. That's why I use these,” he said, gesturing to the cards. "They help me piece together the images and feelings." Tom nodded slowly, absorbing Leo's words. "You have come a long way. You must need food and drink. A place to rest."

Tom hesitated for only a moment before nodding. They followed Leo to the back of the tent to the curtained off separate space.

"This is where I stay," Leo explained. "You can take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor."

"No," Tom protested. "We can't take your bed."

"It's fine. You need it more than I do." Leo glanced at the small figure beside Tom, "Or he does. He is still in a state of healing."

"This human speaks the truth. I will need respite before we continue."

Zeta climbed up onto the bed and curled himself into a ball. There was soft ethereal murmuring coming from under the cap. Almost like a lullaby.

Tom watched as Leo poured some water into a tin cup and handed it to him. "You look like you could use this."

Tom accepted the cup, taking a long drink, water droplets sliding down his chin. Leo briefly imagined licking those water droplets off. He shook his head to rid the erotic thoughts offering bread and cheese instead.

Tom ate hungrily, the simple meal a comfort after the last couple of stressful days.

Leo pointed to a small basin in the corner, filled with water. "There’s a washbasin over there if you want to clean up. I'll fetch you some clothes."

Tom nodded, grateful for the chance to wash away the grime of their journey. He splashed the cool water on his face, feeling it revive him a little. He had just pulled off his shirt, preparing to wash, when the curtain rustled.

He looked up to see Leo standing there, his eyes wide with surprise and something else—an emotion that made Tom's pulse quicken. He had a bundle of clothes in his arms.

"I'm sorry," Leo stammered, his cheeks flushing. "I didn’t mean to—"

"It's okay," Tom said quickly, though his own heart was racing. He caught the way Leo's eyes lingered on his bare chest, and a flicker of understanding passed between them. It was subtle, unspoken, but it was there—a shared secret neither of them dared voice aloud in 1947.

Leo passed the clothes to him before collecting a bar of soap from his belongings. There was a tingle as their fingers touched, briefly, before Tom snatched away the soap, "I, um… I'll just be outside if you need anything."

"Thanks," Tom replied, his mind spinning with the sudden realization that maybe, just maybe, Leo was like him—different in a way that society didn’t accept.

After his wash, and with a fresh set of clothes provided by Leo—a simple shirt and trousers that fit surprisingly well—Tom felt somewhat revived. Leo offered to show Tom around the carnival while Zeta got some sleep.

As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Leo led them through the labyrinth of tents and attractions, the smells of roasted nuts and sweet cotton candy wafting through the night. The carnival was in full swing, with people from the nearby towns drawn to the bright lights and festive atmosphere.

Tom's senses were overwhelmed by the cacophony of sounds and swirling colours. They stopped first at the Fire Eater—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a beard that caught the flickering light—swung flaming torches through the air with an almost hypnotic grace.

His act was a daring ballet of fire and skill, as he gulped down blazing torches and expelled flames in dramatic bursts, eliciting gasps and applause from the crowd. The roaring flames painted his face in eerie, dancing shadows, adding an element of danger and thrill to the performance.

Nearby, they passed the Snake Charmer, a lithe man with a serene expression, sat cross-legged on a plush rug, surrounded by a collection of coiled serpents. His hands moved with a practiced fluidity, guiding the snakes to sway in rhythm with the haunting melody of his flute.

The music seemed to weave a spell over the snakes and the audience, who watched in rapt fascination as the serpents responded to the charmer's every note, their sinuous movements perfectly synchronized with the tune.

The charmer's eyes were calm, almost trance-like, as he coaxed the snakes into mesmerizing patterns, making it clear that his connection with the creatures went beyond mere performance—it was an art, a dance of life and trust.

Tom watched in awe, the spectacle of the Fire Eater and the Snake Charmer juxtaposed with the underlying tension of their situation. The carnival was a vibrant tapestry of thrills and chills, a dazzling distraction from the more sinister elements that lurked beneath its surface.

"Those two are founding members of this carnival," Leo mentioned as they moved on. "They also get the biggest percentage than any other performers. Some say they have a rather...intimate relationship with the owner."

"Why do you work here?" Tom asked.

Leo shrugged, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "The carnival took me in when I had nowhere else to go. My family... they're gone. This place saved me from the gutter." He nudged Tom's arm, “All the freaks like me find a home here."

Tom followed Leo through the maze of tents and stalls, his unease growing with each step. The deeper they ventured into the carnival, the more the atmosphere shifted from the whimsical to something darker, more insidious. The bright lights that had initially seemed so inviting now cast long, eerie shadows, and the laughter of the crowd took on a more sinister tone.

They finally stopped in front of a large, elaborately decorated tent that stood apart from the others. The sign above the entrance read "R.J. Blackwood's World of Wonders," the bold letters painted in garish colours that seemed to mock the horrors contained within. Tom swallowed hard, a sense of foreboding settling in his gut.

"Wait here," Leo said, glancing back at Tom. "I'll check to make sure they are on an intermission."

A few moments later, the tent flap was pushed aside, and Leo reappeared, beckoning them to enter.

The interior of the tent was dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of tobacco and something else—something musty and damp.

The walls were lined with strange artifacts and trinkets, each more bizarre than the last. Tom's eyes were drawn to a large glass case in the corner, where the preserved remains of some kind of creature floated in a murky liquid. He couldn't tell what it was, but it looked like a cross between a lizard and a fish. Its eyes staring sightlessly into the darkness.

"Ah, Leo! You brought a new friend!" A booming voice broke the silence, and Tom turned to see a man approaching from the back of the tent. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a thick, greying beard and a pair of piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through Tom. He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, a cigar clenched between his teeth, and he exuded an air of confidence and authority. "Another urchin to take under my wing."

"This is Tom Sullivan."

The man extended a hand, which Tom shook cautiously. "R.J. Blackwood, at your service. Welcome to my little slice of the depraved."

"You're the owner!" R.J. Blackwood nodded his head. The image of this man, the fire eater and snake charmer being intimate made Tom smirk. His cheeks rouged, "It's all a little overwhelming."

"Understandable," Blackwood said, taking a puff of his cigar. "But you'll find that my carnival is a safe haven for all sorts of... unusual people. As long as you pull your weight, that is."

Tom nodded, but his mind was racing.

Blackwood gestured for them to follow him deeper into the tent. "Let me show you around, give you a taste of what we do here. You see, my carnival isn't just any ordinary sideshow. It's a place where the strange and the wondrous come together to amaze and terrify. And people will pay good money for that kind of thrill."

As they walked, Blackwood began to boast about his various attractions, his voice filled with pride. "Take the Elephant Man, for example. Poor wretch was rotting away in some asylum before I found him. Now, he's the star of the show! People flock from miles around just to get a glimpse of him. It's not every day you see something like that, is it?"

Tom's stomach churned as they passed by the enclosure for the Elephant Man. He could hear the faint sound of chains rattling and the low, mournful groan of the creature inside. Blackwood's words only fuelled Tom's growing anger, but he forced himself to stay calm.

"And then there's the dwarves," Blackwood continued, oblivious to Tom's discomfort. "They make for quite the spectacle, don't they? People love a bit of humour with their horror. There is nothing funnier than watching a dwarf get knocked down like nine pins, is there?"

Tom gritted his teeth, his fists clenching at his sides. He wanted to say something, to stand up to this man, but he knew he had to be careful. He needed shelter until morning.

They stopped before a large, iron-barred cage that was shrouded in shadow. The cage was simple, almost too plain compared to the other displays, but it was the figure huddled inside that caught Tom’s attention.

In the dim light, he could make out the vague shape of a man—or something that had once been a man. The creature sat in the corner, its body slumped as if weighed down by years of misery, covered in ragged clothing that barely hung together. Over its head was a filthy, frayed hessian sack, tied loosely around its neck.

"Meet the Scarecrow Man," Blackwood said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's one of our star attractions. You see, people will pay for a glimpse of what is under that sack. Morbid curiosity is a powerful thing."

Tom felt a chill run down his spine. The creature's stillness, the eerie silence that surrounded it, was deeply unsettling. "What's under there?" he asked, his voice low, dreading the answer even as he spoke.

Blackwood grinned, his teeth flashing in the dim light. "Consider it a little preview. A taste of what you'll be helping to showcase."

"I'm not staying! I just need a bed for the night."

"We can't have lay abouts! You must work to earn your keep. No matter how long you stay with us."

Before Tom could protest, Blackwood reached through the bars and grabbed the knot at the back of the sack. The creature flinched at his touch, a low, pained whimper escaping from beneath the coarse fabric. Tom's heart lurched in his chest, a surge of pity overwhelming him.

With a practiced tug, Blackwood loosened the knot and slowly pulled the sack away. Tom's breath caught in his throat as the creature's face was revealed.

The Scarecrow Man was a grotesque mockery of humanity. His skin was an unnatural shade of gray, pulled tight over sharp, angular bones. His eyes were wide and hollow, staring out from deep sockets with a mixture of fear and resignation. The skin around his mouth was cracked and dry, as if he hadn’t had a drink in days, and his lips were twisted into a permanent grimace of pain.

But it was the scars that horrified Tom the most. Thick, jagged lines crisscrossed the Scarecrow Man’s face, evidence of some terrible abuse. The creature was barely recognizable as human, more a living nightmare than a man.

Tom felt bile rise in his throat as he forced himself to look away. "Jesus," he muttered, his voice trembling with revulsion. "How can you... How can you do this to him?"

Blackwood chuckled, letting the sack fall back over the creature's head. "It's not about what he is, lad. It's about what people think he is. They see that sack, and their minds start to wonder. They imagine all sorts of horrors. It's good business."

Tom clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "He's suffering," he said, barely able to keep his voice steady. "He's a living being, not some... some sideshow freak."

Blackwood's grin widened, but there was a hard edge to it now. "And what do you think life is for someone like him outside of this place? You think he'd be better off roaming the streets, being hunted down by a mob, or locked up in some asylum? Here, he has food, shelter, and he serves a purpose. That's more than most of his kind get."

Tom was speechless, torn between anger and helplessness. He wanted to argue, to lash out, but he knew it would only draw more attention to himself and Leo.

As they walked away from the cage, Tom glanced back at the Scarecrow Man, his heart heavy with pity and guilt. He couldn't shake the image of those haunted eyes, the broken spirit trapped in that tortured body.

Blackwood might see him as nothing more than a freak to exploit, but Tom saw something different—a fellow creature who had been beaten down by a cruel world, someone who deserved compassion, not mockery.

As they left the tent, Blackwood clapped Tom on the back, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "You’ll get used to it, lad. This is the world we live in, and it pays to know how to survive in it. Stick with me, and you'll do just fine."

Tom forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding in agreement. For now, though, Tom had to keep his head down, protect Zeta, and wait for the right moment to escape this hell hole.

As Tom and Leo wandered through the carnival, enjoying the evening festivities, Zeta remained in Leo's tent. Their curiosity piqued by the tantalizing smells wafting through the air. Their eyes opened at the sensation. Unable to resist the temptation any longer, they ventured outside in search of the source of the sweet, sugary aroma.

Drawn by the colourful, spinning contraptions of the cotton candy stall, Zeta approached the vendor with a mixture of fascination and hunger. The vendor, busy attending to a group of children, didn’t notice Zeta’s approach until it was too late. Zeta grabbed a large, fluffy cone of cotton candy and began to devour it with a mix of delight and urgency. The cotton candy was unlike anything they had encountered before, and they eagerly consumed more, oblivious to the growing commotion around them.

The vendor, finally noticing Zeta's actions, grabbed for the creature who hadn't paid, "Hey! What are you..." Zeta's cap was knocked off.

The surrounding crowd turned, their eyes widening in astonishment. Zeta, their otherworldly features now visible under the carnival lights, stood out starkly against the vibrant backdrop of the fair. Whispers of disbelief spread quickly through the crowd.

Before Zeta could react, the carnival’s security team—alerted by the vendor's cries—closed in on them. They worked quickly to ensnare the alien in a large, heavy net, the mesh tightening around them as they struggled to escape.

Zeta's attempts to wriggle free only caused the net to constrict further. Their wide, frightened eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a way out, but their struggles were in vain.

Tom and Leo were heading back to the tent when they noticed a commotion.

The carnival's crew, under the direction of the Fire Eater and the Snake Charmer, had already begun transporting Zeta to a makeshift holding area behind the main tent. Both men, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events, saw an opportunity to add to their percentages.

Tom, realizing the gravity of the situation, dashed after Zeta. He managed to push through the crowd and caught sight of Blackwood’s men dragging Zeta toward the back of the carnival. "Stop! He's just my kid brother!" Tom shouted, but his pleas went unheeded.

Leo, catching up with Tom, explained quickly. "You must be silent! No one will be free to save the little guy." Tom nodded, his mind racing with plans. "Let's get back to the tent and figure out how to help him."

The carnival's vibrant façade masked a darker reality, and Tom and Leo would have to navigate this treacherous world with caution and courage to free the alien.

As they prepared to rescue Zeta from the holding area, there came the sounds of panic and confusion. The once vibrant atmosphere had turned chaotic.

"What’s happening?" Leo asked, his eyes wide with concern.

Tom's face went pale as he spotted the two Men in Black. They emerged from the shadows, their dark suits and sunglasses stark against the flashing lights and colourful tents. They carried futuristic weapons, their sleek designs and ominous hums a stark contrast to the carnival's gaiety.

Tom's eyes widened as he recognized them. "It's the Men in Black. They've tracked us to the carnival."

"Who are these Men in Black?"

Tom’s eyes widened in horror as he saw the Men in Black aiming their energy weapons at the attractions. The beams cut through the night with a high-pitched whine, scorching the carnival’s bright banners and exploding in showers of sparks. Panic ensued as carnival-goers screamed and scattered, trying to escape the rampage.

Tom pulled Leo closer as they crouched behind a stack of crates. "These guys are after Zeta and me. They're not afraid to cause collateral damage to get to us." Tom's face hardened with resolve. "We need to move fast. Is there another way into the holding area?"

Leo, still reeling from the surreal experience, led Tom around the chaos. They darted through the carnival, avoiding the beams of energy that continued to wreak havoc. The noise was deafening, with carnival-goers shouting in panic and the Men in Black barking orders as they searched for their quarry.

As they reached the holding area, Tom and Leo found Zeta standing in a cage, the door wide open.

“These inferior locks are juvenile to a specie like me.”

Just then, the Fire Eater and the Snake Charmer arrived, their expressions grim with determination. The Fire Eater’s eyes glowed with a fierce intensity as he ignited a torch, the flames dancing dangerously close to his face.

The Snake Charmer, moving with a sinister grace, grabbed several baskets from the corner and tipped them over, releasing a wave of writhing snakes onto the floor.

Tom and Leo backed up against the side of the tent, hearts pounding as the serpents slithered toward them, their forked tongues flickering.

They could feel the heat from the Fire Eater’s torch, which was now being twirled skillfully, casting ominous shadows across the room.

The Snake Charmer hissed an eerie tune under his breath, directing the serpents toward the trapped men. Panic surged through Tom and Leo as the snakes closed in, their escape route blocked by the living carpet of scales.

Just as one of the larger snakes reared its head, preparing to strike, Zeta stepped forward. An ethereal muttering came from the alien that seemed to sooth the snake. The creature settled back down once more.

Tom and Leo watched as the snakes seemed to change direction. The Fire Eater's torch seemed to wither and die, plunging the room into a tense, smoldering darkness. In the chaos, the snakes turned on their masters, slithering toward the Fire Eater and the Snake Charmer.

Tom and Leo seized the moment, reaching down for the bottom flap of the tent wall, and hauling it up. Zeta slipped under the gap followed by the two men.

Breathless and covered in dirt, Tom glanced back at the chaos they left behind. "We need to get as far away as possible."

Leo nodded. "There's a railway station not too far from here. We can catch a train. There is always one stopping to take on water."

"But I don't have any money?"

"Stick with me kid! I'll show you train travel by a different method."

As they sprinted away, the carnival's lights flickered behind them, casting an eerie glow over the chaos that had unfolded.

Tom, Leo, and Zeta made their way toward the railway station, their minds set on finding a new sanctuary. The night had been a harrowing ordeal, but it had forged new bonds and revealed deeper truths about their adversaries.

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