Cross stepped outside of the tent. He was immediately met with a chaos of performers rushing around in different outfits, carrying around different props.

"It's always the same chaos," Reaper hummed, floating next to him. "Everyone is running around looking for their missing props and outfit pieces while Ink, Blue and Lust are trying their best to make sure they have them," he explained, gesturing towards everyone.

"The audience will be here soon and everyone wants to look professional when they arrive. The Ringmaster wants it like that, no exceptions," Reaper continued.

"What happens next?" Cross asked. He wasn't expecting the chaos to continue outside whole the audience got inside the area.

"The chaos moves backstage. That's where everyone stresses the most. Then they get released in the Ring for everyone to see and everything usually goes smoothly," Reaper grinned. He had clearly witnessed this multiple times before.

"But what if it doesn't go smoothly?" Cross found himself asking.

"About that," Reaper sighed, expression darkening, "If it's a prop fail, then the performer is supposed to handle it naturally, make it a part of the performance. But let's say a performer gets injured mid-performance, the show goes on. It goes on as if nothing happened. If someone falls from the trapeze, no one is allowed to go make sure they're alright. The show goes on no matter what happens
Only once the show is over can people go see what happened." Cross could feel himself paling. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but it definitely wasn't this.

"Hey, how about we go stalk the queue outside? That's always a fun thing to do!" Reaper suggested, changing the subject.

"Sure," Cross hummed with a shrug. He was actually kinda curious to see what kind of people were here to see this nightmare of a circus in action.

-----

     Cross and Reaper stopped by the fence that had been put up around the circus for the performance to stop the audience from trying to enter the rest of the circus.

There was a long like of difference humans and monsters waiting outside, queue going deep into the forest.

"Soon the gates will open and everyone will flood in. Alter will be selling them their tickets and then moving to the tent with you. There's a section in front of the sound booth that's only for performances and other staff. And obviously you won't be needing a ticket for this, performers get free passes to each show when they're not performing in the Ring," Reaper explained as the two of them watched the people in queue.

Cross' eyelights landed on a girl. He sucked in a shaky breath, shocked. The girl was young, on her early twenties. She had long brown hair and kind chocolate brown eyes. She was laughing at something another girl who Cross recognised as well, but didn't know that well.

-----

     "Will you be alright by yourself?" he asked from the human girl.

"Don't worry! I have done this before, I'll be fine!" the teenager assured him, a kind smile resting on her lips.

"Thank you Alyssa, I trust you with them," he nodded at her. "Call me if anything happens," he added.

"I will, I will, everything will be fine, just go do what you have to do and I'll make sure they'll be safe." She was energetic, positive and kind, which reminded him of who he was looking for. He knew that they would get along with her.

-----

     "Hey, do you need me to come today?" her cheerful voice rang through the phone that had fallen from his hands. There was dust on the floor. He couldn't answer her question.

"Hello? Is everything alright J–" She sounded worried, but he tuned her off. He was too busy starting at the dust.

She called out his name, worry now clear, but he didn't answer. He couldn't bring himself to speak, the reality was just starting to settle in.

There was a man in a black cloak floating in front of him, watching him slowly sink deeper and deeper into the sorrow and grief.

"I'm coming over," she decided before hanging up.

He didn't care. They weren't at home anyways. She wouldn't find him, and it definitely was better that way. She didn't need to get herself involved in anything.

He blocked her number. There was no need for her in his life anymore. There was no reason for him to know her. She didn't need to know what happened.

-----

     "Ah, so that's who was worrying about you that day. What's her name again? Alyssa, and she's a human." Reaper watched her curiously.

"Let's go.." Cross mumbled. He couldn't look at her. She reminded him of the past too much, and if she saw him, she would definitely start asking questions. The last thing he wanted was for people to find out his secrets just because someone he used to know found him.

"That reminds me," Reaper started carefully as he followed Cross back to the depths of the circus. "There's something I've been curious about. Their last–" he couldn't finish as a knife scraped against his neck. He didn't even flinch, just accepted this with a raised browbone.

"I don't want to speak of the past." Cross had to force the words out of his mouth. They were a bit bittersweet. "I have a feeling that I know what you're meaning to ask, and the answer is no. There's no connection between them and this place."

Reaper looked thoughtful for a few seconds before sighing. "I actually don't know what you're referring with that. Why would they have something to do with this place?" He tilted his head, curios about the unexplained answer.

"They don't, and I don't want you bringing them up at all.." Cross snapped. He was tensed, looking around to see if anyone was listening to them. No one was around.

"Alright then. Well, I'll have to go see the performers. You can go to Alter's tent," Reaper informed, glancing towards the Big Top where the performers were starting to rush.

-----

     "The gates will open in just two minutes. Then everyone will rush here to buy tickets," Alter hummed, glancing towards the flap next to him. It led to a small box with a window for selling tickets.

"What do they do after buying the tickets?" Cross inquired. "Just walk into the Big Top and find their seat?"

"Yes, and that's why I have a favour to ask you for now," Alter nodded. "Could you stand outside and make sure no one tries to sneak anywhere they're not supposed to?" he asked.

"Alright, I can do that," the monochrome skeleton answered.

Alter thanked him before going to sell the tickets. Cross leaped outside of the tent and backed to the shadows from where he could see everyone, but they probably wouldn't notice him.

The people walked into the Big Top chatting with each other, wondering what kind of show it would be, but there was one person who separated from the group. Cross immediately rushed through the crowd and followed the human girl to where she was walking.

"Hey you! Stop! You aren't allowed here!" he called out. She turned around, raising an eyebrow. There was a cigarette in her hand.

"Chill out dude! I'm just going out for a smoke," she scoffed, but the cigarette was knocked out of her hand before she could light it. "What the hell?" she snarled.

"Smoking isn't allowed on the circus grounds," he warned her, keeping his tone cold.

Cross took a better look at her. She had short, brown hair that was tied up messily and emerald green eyes. He froze the moment he recognised her. She seemed to recognise him as well.

"Wait, you're that one guy! What was your name again? Cross–"

"Enough!" Cross cut her off before she could continue to his last name. She raised an eyebrow.

"You really hurt Alyssa's feelings, you know. She really liked her job, yet you fired her when she most needed the money without even telling her. A real asshole move," she snapped, glaring at him.

"I won't be dealing with you. Get back to the line and keep your mouth shut," Cross snapped back. He knew that she had always been suspicious of him, never liked letting Alyssa stay in his house even when he wasn't there by himself.

"I'm telling Alyssa that you're here!" she informed before rushing off to the queue. Cross couldn't run after her. He wasn't about to cause a scene and instead backed away to the shadows to keep guarding the line.

A soft voice called out his name. Not his first name, no. It called out his last name. He froze, slowly turning to face the familiar human girl next to him. She was looking at him with her brows furrowed and worry in her eyes.

"Hello Alyssa," he managed to answer, trying to keep his voice cold. "Please do not call me that."

"You blocked me.. Why.?" she asked hesitatedly. He could tell that she was really hurt by it. "They liked me and all.. Did I do something wrong..? Can I see them again?"

"Alyssa, go to the Big Top," Cross ordered coldly, turning away from her.

"J–" she started, but one death stare from Cross had her stumbling back.

"Don't," he warned, tone cold as ice. "Get. Back. In. The. Line. You aren't allowed here, this area is only for performers." He could feel her fear.

Footsteps in the snow caught them both off guard. "He's right, you're on performer-only grounds, please return to the queue," Lust said as he approached them.

Alyssa mumbled something under her breath before retreating back to the queue to her friend, who was staring at Cross coldly.

"What happened?" Lust asked, furrowing his browbones. Cross noticed that Lust was now wearing a black cloak that covered his outfit.

"She used to work for me before I came here. I kinda fired her without telling her and now she's a bit upset," Cross answered with a sigh. "But technically it wasn't a job that she was tied to, just one where she would come every time I called her, so firing her wasn't a big deal," he explained quickly.

"I see," Lust hummed. "The show will be starting soon. We're all waiting for you to see it," he smiled.

"I'm looking forward to it," Cross nodded, smiling back to the designer.

"I have to go now. You should return to Alter's tent as well," Lust said, looking at the shortening queue outside. Almost everyone was already inside the Big Top.

"Will do," Cross nodded to him before they parted ways.

The show wasn't what he was nervous about, no. It was the after show that made his nonexistent stomach turn. There were so many things that could go wrong and he couldn't stop thinking about it. His time was ticking and soon the timer would run out. Then he would have to face the Ringmaster by himself in his tent, and this time to not just speak.

Words: 1859

[31.12.2022]

The last chapter of 2022!

Anyways, the two humans don't matter much, their only purpose is to reveal the past a bit. I think there are a few details that can give off something important.

Also, I think I'll be starting another Sanscest story next year because I have a few ideas for that.

Oh, and if someone wants to come speak with me, my Discord is Smiling_Paradox#9366

Well, happy New Year everyone!