Firebird

Chapter 9- When Things Go Wrong

   “It happens to everyone-“

   “No. You’ve never messed up.”

   She met my eyes for a minute just before Hyun ran back over with an ice pack. He held it on for her but there was no sympathy in his expression. “You can’t perform like this.” He muttered.

   Ryo flexed her ankle slowly and painfully. “I’ll be fine by tonight.”

   “Better be.”   

   I watched him storm away before turning back to her. “Why do you let him treat you like that?”

   “Some people are just that way. I can’t stop him. Now help me up.”

   I pulled her to her feet and held her up a minute before letting go of her arm. She held her breath for a second but was fine after. Or at least, she pretended. “Alright. You’re turn. I’ll watch from over there.”

   She limped over to the stands outside of the ring. I still didn’t want to practice but knew I had to. I had to perform that night. Then the next… or maybe not tomorrow. Maybe we leave tomorrow… I don’t know. I keep losing track of days. I never thought it would be so easy to let time slip.

   A day is forever, forever is a day. That was the only way to describe it.

   I wrapped my wrists in the ribbon and pulled up. It was getting much easier to do but my arms would still get sore if I practiced too long. I was about two-thirds up then let myself hand upside-down. I watched everyone else practice their routines or run around madly chasing each other for reasons unknown to me.

   As I lifted up again, there was a huge crash behind me. Screams shot out from all who saw what happened. I whipped around.

   The Death Wheel had come apart from it’s swinging base. Some of the huge pieces still stood but most had fallen into a pile. A few people ran into it, searching. Someone was buried in it.

   Horrified, I leapt down and ran to the crowd that had gathered around. Most helped lift the pieces away. Everyone was panicking, talking fervently to rid of the anxious silence.

   The ones who searched called for the victim but there was no answer. It was Barnabus (one of the Strong Man performers) who found him. The others rushed over to help him get Pheller out.

   I felt a cold breeze beside me and as I turned, I saw Chalavar shoving his way through. His face was red with rage and his manner more foul than usual. Everyone silenced as he passed.

   Barnabus easily scooped Pheller into his hulking arms. He looked dreadful. He was scraped and bloody. His arm was twisted in an impossible angle. He was awake but said nothing. He wriggled in pain in Barnabus’s arms.

   Barnabus gently lay him on the dirt floor. Fargus, Astley and the others who had helped stood or knelt beside him. It was all they could do for the moment. Just until Chalavar left.