DESTINED TO DEATH PART 2

DESTINED TO DEATH PART 2
I stand still, lost in a confusion that takes hold of me as I watch him head toward the cage, his arm raised, calling her. I turn, rubbing my face, feeling my heart race in my chest. I feel strange—nervous and angry, very angry—but it’s anger at myself, for not believing I was hypnotized and drawn into her dance, Selly’s dance, who is practically a child.

"Come, I want to introduce you to someone." Fredo’s voice sounds cheerful, and I turn to face them.

Her posture is shy as she walks beside him, curled in and holding her cap tightly between her fingers. Her long curly hair shines in the sunlight, and I remember even more the autumn leaves.

The turmoil inside me grows stronger, like something devouring me from the inside out, making my heart beat wildly. I can’t take my eyes off her, hypnotized once again by her timid gaze, which lifts and locks onto mine, the corner of her lips caught between her teeth, nibbling shyly.

"Selly, this is Clown," Fredo introduces us, stopping in front of me.

I have to hold my breath, feeling my veins ignite as I inhale the strawberry scent that radiates from her.

"No need to be afraid, dear, he’s a good person and someone I trust." Fredo nods toward me. "Just nosy, and he didn’t mean to scare you last night..."

Her eyes lift to mine, and her hand frees the cap as she pushes a lock of hair behind her ear. I’m lost in her delicate, bashful gestures, so different from the angel who smiled freely in her aerial dance last night. Yet still, she hypnotizes me with her sweet, shy look.

"Clown will be in charge of the house of horrors," Fredo says, laughing at her.

Selly never looks at my scars at any moment, only gazing into my eyes—the purest, sweetest look I’ve received since my life was stolen. I don’t care about the fearful, shocked, or disgusted looks I get for my flayed flesh covering my entire cheek. But she doesn’t look at me like that; there is only innocence in her timid eyes, which captivate me, making me step forward and extend my arm toward her.

"Hello, Selly..." I say softly, inhaling deeply, her perfume invading my lungs and making my cursed heart beat faster.

Her eyes fix on my hand, biting her lips, her chest rising and falling slowly. I feel anxious because I crave her touch, want to feel her delicate hands on me again. She quickly stretches out her arm, squeezing my fingers fast, her eyes glazing over my face as she lifts hers, sending a damn electric current consuming me completely.

"RETALHO..." Dior’s loud shout scares her, making her release my fingers and lower her head. "RETALHO..."

She turns her head to Fredo, who sighs and smiles fondly at her.

"You can go, child..."

Her fingers quickly go to her mouth, she kisses them, then places her palms on Fredo’s head. Then she turns and runs off without looking back at me. And I feel anger at the frightened way she left.

My eyes follow her, watching her go near the barrels, grabbing buckets of water and walking hurriedly. I turn, staying behind the wagon, seeing Dior in the distance near the bear’s cage, smoking a cigarette and yelling at her.

"Fuck, where were you, Retalho?!" He throws the cigarette to the ground and stomps on it. "You should’ve given water to the damn bear by now, stupid girl."

I grit my teeth and clench my fists, crushing my hands as I see him mistreating her.

"He’s a cowardly bastard who only knows how to yell at women and hit animals!" Fredo growls beside me. "I’ve begged her to come stay with me... Sometimes I stay awake all night worried about her inside his wagon..."

I turn to Fredo immediately, staring at him seriously and drawing in a breath, feeling my restless demons.

"Selly lives with him?"

"Yes, but because of Amelia," he says quickly. "Amelia is sick, very sick, and since the end of last year she hasn’t gotten out of bed. She doesn’t speak, barely knows Baba, and Selly takes care of her, just like Amelia took care of Selly when you brought her to the circus. Charles sometimes stays with them, because he doesn’t trust Dior either and fears he might harm the two when he drinks too much."

I growl, feeling my anger swell, looking forward again and seeing that bastard Dior push her shoulder as he opens the cage, making her stumble and almost fall.

"Baba managed to keep Spook in check, but Dior gets even more cruel when he drinks..."

"What do you mean?" I ask Fredo seriously, not taking my eyes off Selly, seeing the bastard Dior walk away from the cage and leave.

"Baba dealt the cards for Spook..." I turn to look at Fredo, attentive to what he says. "Baba had never done that for him before, but she did when she noticed how he looked at Selly. She told him his end would come, just like any other man who dared to touch Selly, because she is destined to die, and death would come to collect from anyone who touched his promised one..."

I turn my face forward, focusing on the bear’s cage, no longer seeing her there.

"Honestly, you know I don’t really believe in tarot," Fredo chuckles softly. "But I believe Baba’s words, as does everyone in the circus. Spook has always been superstitious, which is why he never touched Selly, but he has both eyes locked on the young girl, not hiding his damn greed."

I walk slowly, stepping out from behind the wagon and observing the bear’s cage, stopping my gaze on its paw, which is wrapped in a bandage. But I hadn’t seen that bandage before when I passed by here. Her sweet scent is in the air, and the strange unrest returns to my heart, which races.

"Come, I’ll show you your work now, this morning." Fredo passes by me, tapping my arm.

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, shaking my head side to side, still able to see the delicate angel Selly had become.

"Focus, damn it
!" I grit my teeth, refocusing on what I really came here to do.