27 A Foreboding Feeling of Euphoria (1/2)

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't leave the spot I'm standing in at all.

I mean, I could totally do all of those, but... if I do that... then... that means...

”Oh my, it seems that little Mr. Timothy here is drooling quite a bit, isn't he?” The Ringmaster spoke in a rather sinister whisper that was loud enough for everyone to hear for some reason. ”He's even sticking his tongue out. Oops! I think he's about to faint, ladies and gentlemen! Look at his eyes!” He then pulled me towards him and wrapped his other hand around my waist before facing me towards everyone who was looking at us. The ring then feels like a stone stage while the masked watchers all look down upon us in the upper box. ”Look at it, ladies and gentlemen! His eyes are slowly moving upwards!” I could hear the laugh of all the surrounding people.

I can move. I can speak. I can leave the spot I'm standing in.

However...

... If I do all of those... then that means he would take his hands off me and push me away.

”Ywuuu shmell shoo goood.” I mumbled as much as I can with his hands still grabbing my jaw.

He then touched his cheek on mine before whispering, ”Then you better take one good whiff.” I did. I inhaled as hard as I can as if my life depends on it which elicit a thundering laugh from the audience.

”Ladies and gentlemen, we all know Thomas! He's been with us for a long time! Longer than most of you! We can then say with great confidence that our brother, our dear friend Thomas right here is an exemplary member of our most sophisticated group of connoisseurs such as yourselves! Am I right, Thomas?”

”Yesh, Ringmashter.” I mumbled while panting as I heard his question flowing from my ear down to every nook and cranny of my body.

”Very good answer.” The Ringmaster whispered to my ear still with his face glued on my cheeks which tickled the side of my head in such a maddening fashion that I thought I was convulsing while I trembled with my eyes wide open. ”We can all agree that there is no problem with Thomas as a part of our fellowship!” He then diverted his gaze at me while I feel his bloodshot eyes at me although his mask covers the entirety of the upper part of his face. ”I'm just disappointed with his...” Before he finished his statement, he tightened the grip of his arm around my waist as he slides the palm of his other hand from my jaws down to my torso. ”... performance.”

While the Ringmaster speaks with the same fervent enthusiasm he always has, I gaze at the people peering at us from high above the ivory balcony up ahead. I could see that although they're looking at us with the same admiration, they're only doing so because the Ringmaster is speaking. However, I could see with the way their eyes twitch and how their faces form a subtle scowl that they are all somehow mad. They are angry, crazy to bludgeon someone to death. That deranged wrath of theirs were all directed at me. Not because of what the Ringmaster is pointing out regarding my recent performance which had been inarguably lacking for the past few years. No, that reason is not petty enough. They're jealous of me.

Something I totally understand, not gonna lie.