Circus De La Freak by Piper (short story to read TXT) 📕

/> “You’re better?” he cried angrily, Xander clenching his fists angrily. “You’re not any better than us! We’re all doing what we have to survive, just like everyone else.” He spat heatedly. “You’re no better than us if we’re no better than you.” He nearly shouted, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“We’re not cheating thieves!” Maxx shot back, glaring spitefully at Xander and Kai.
“We take what we need, nothing more!” defended Xander quickly. Zephyr opened his mouth to fire another insult when there was a clattering from above that silenced him. Xander and Kai tensed, looking worriedly up at the ceiling as they slowly edged back towards a table.
“Everyone get down…” said Xander in a low tone as they crouched underneath the table. We looked around at each other, unsure of what to do.
“You all have five seconds.” Kai said warningly, Piper grabbing Pip and acting as a shield for him. I decided it was best to listen to the two teenagers and crouched down, my hands over my head. Maxx and Zephyr remained standing, obviously suspecting Xander and Kai of a malevolent plot.
“Three…two…one…” Xander counted down quietly.
“It’s gonna blow!” shouted a girl’s voice suddenly from above followed by a deafening explosion. Piper screamed and I yelped in shock as dust filled the air and our lungs, sending us into fits of coughing. There was more shaking and thundering as debris fell from the ceiling. It was ten very nerve wracking minutes before the dust started to clear. The ceiling was now in the middle of the floor and through the haze of dust and rubble, I saw a girl with cropped short red hair on top of the rubble, her arm pinned underneath a part of the wall. Xander and Kai jumped up, cursing under their breath as they rushed to the girl’s side.
“You’re an idiot, Xena!” cried Xander as he pulled the piece of wreckage off her arm and Kai pulled her up.
“We can’t even trust you with some simple sodium carbonite.” Said Kai angrily, dusting her off. Her white lab coat was gray with dirt and dust along with some of what looked like chemical stains. She shook dust particles from her hair and glared at Kai.
“It’s not my fault! All I have is that flimsy equipment that you salvage.” She defended in a high voice, her hazel eyes flashing dangerously as she stood dizzily. Aria’s jaw was open as she stood up, her eyes wide.
“Who are you people…?” gasped Belle, Aria’s expression mimicked on her face as she pulled herself to her feet. Xander glanced over at us with a slight smile.
“I guess you could call us scientists.”
Chapter Ten (Zephyr's POV)

“I guess you could call us scientists.” Said Xander with a tiny smile as he dusted the red haired girl off. I nearly laughed at the thought that these kids were scientists.
“You three? Scientists?” I asked incredulously, getting serious nods from them in return.
“Not professional, but we’re basically your best hope for survival.” Said Kai with a wry smile that I returned with a disbelieving huff of air. Kai shrugged, pushing his green hair out of his eyes.
“You can believe whatever you want, but we’re telling the truth.” Kai said nonchalantly. The red haired girl nodded.
“Now who are you all?” she asked.
“I think I would rather know your name first.” Said Alice conversationally as she too stood up from where she had been crouched on the floor. The red haired girl smirked.
“I’m Xena. Who are you?” she queried in a polite tone.
“I’m Alice.” Alice informed her with a smile.
“Belle.”
“Aria.”
“Piper, and this is my brother Pip.”
“Maxx.”
“And I’m Zephyr.” I growled, still not trusting these people. They could be anyone. Murders, thieves or thugs. Xena smiled friendlily at us, shrugging her lab coat off and dropping it to the floor.
“Well, you all already know us.” She said calmly as she started to grab furniture to barricade the door further.
“What’re you doing that for?” Alice asked bewilderedly, her eyebrows raised. Xena tossed her an edgy smile, Xander and Kai joining her in her attempts to fortify the door from something.
“That explosion was huge. There’ll be marauders here within five minutes.” She said apprehensively. I glanced worriedly over at Maxx, my concerned expression mimicked on his face.
“Kai, get these people into the bunker. Xena and I will finish up here.” Said Xander while he efficiently stacked anything he could grab in front of the door. Kai nodded and glanced over at us.
“Come on you all. Let’s move.” He said sternly, Alice, Belle and Aria the first ones to move towards him. Piper got up a little reluctantly, pulling Pip towards Kai. Maxx glanced apologetically at me before drifting after her. I grumbled mutinously under my breath but joined them, Kai nodding contentedly as he led us out of the room.
He took us to some sort of basement but with a thick steel door. He took a key from around his neck and unlocked the door, pushing it open with a great screeching squeak and we all tromped down the steps and into the dark, dank and damp basement. Piper took one corner for herself and Pip, Belle and Aria huddled together in the corner opposite them while Maxx, Alice and I simply hovered around. I stayed silent, not feeling very conversational while I watched Kai check on supplies.
It was almost exactly five minutes later, and just as Xena had predicted, there was a loud explosion from outside. I heard a Xena’s high pitched scream and Xander’s shouts. Pip squeaked in fear and clung to Piper who in turn held tightly onto him. I tensed as Kai rushed to the door, waiting for his two partners. There were footsteps, more bangs and shouting and then suddenly Xena streaked into the basement and Kai slammed the door shut, plunging all of us into darkness. There were mutters as Xena tried to find the light that was soon followed by a clicking and a dim light bulb turned on and spread light over us. Xena’s short red hair was messed up from running and she was out of breath, gripping her side. But no Xander. Kai instantly noticed this and whirled around to face Xena, his blue eyes wide.
“Xena, where’s Xander?” breathed out Kai, turning pale. Xena’s big brown eyes filled with tears and she looked up mournfully at Kai.
“I’m so sorry, Kai…” she whimpered. “He told me to just go.” She said in a trembling voice. “He said he was right behind me.” She choked out, looking towards the door when there was the sounds of shouting from outside the Kai.
“No…” gasped Kai. “NO!” he shouted louder, turning around and running towards the door. It was completely smooth on this side, no handle to open the door. He pounded on the door, shouting incoherently.
“Xander!” he yelled, throwing his full weight against the door. Xena buried her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. The scene was heartbreakingly familiar…just like when my sister had been killed. Kai continued to pound on the door, shouting Xander’s name. There was suddenly a faint knocking on the other side and Kai perked up.
“Xander? Is that you?” cried Kai, his voice high and shaky.
“I’m so sorry, Kai.” came Xander’s voice from the other side. You could obviously tell he was crying. “Please help me! I’m scared.” He cried, a sob being heard. Aria looked horrified and I turned pale, my legs the supportive equivalent of jelly. Kai took in a shaking breath.
“I can’t open the door.” He said in a trembling voice. “There’s no handle on the inside.” He informed Xander, his voice breaking. A quiet sob was heard on the other side and a faint tapping.
“Please save me, Kai.” Whimpered Xander, his words obviously cutting away at Kai. “Kai, I’m scared!” yelped Xander, his tapping growing into a pounding. There was a loud crashing sound and footsteps resounded through the room. Xander pounded on the door, screaming Kai’s name. Kai threw himself at the door, oblivious to Xena’s pleas for him to stop. We were just spectators to this horrific event. There were deeper voices this time and suddenly Xander’s pounding stopped but Kai continued to hammer against it, desperate to get through.
“Xander!” cried Kai, tears escaping his eyes as he heard Xander shouting for help.
“LET ME GO!” yelled Xander, obviously putting up a fight. “Kai, please save me!” wailed Xander’s terrified voice. “Kai, ple-“ Xander’s final plea was cut off by a cracking sound and he was silenced.
“XANDER!” screamed Kai, his voice loud in the small confined room. There were low mutterings from outside and then they slowly left, sounding as if they were dragging something behind them. Kai fell to his knees in front of the door, his hand still glued to the door. His head hung and his shoulders shook as his tears dripped onto the floor.
“Xander…” he breathed out, a broken sob shaking his body.

Chapter Eleven (Alice's POV)

“Xander…” choked out Kai, his pained expression shaking me to the core. I knew the pain he was feeling right now. I remembered the agonizing pain of having someone you loved ripped out of your life right in front of you. Xena crept up behind Kai and put his arms around him, Kai not even registering her touch.
“Why isn’t there a handle on the inside?” asked Piper bluntly, obviously not feeling much sympathy for Kai. Xena looked over her shoulder to glare at Piper and ignored her, crouching beside Kai and rubbing her hand over his back.
“There’s no door handle because this is a way to barricade ourselves in. Nothing gets in, nothing gets out.” Said Kai after a few moments, his voice thick and heavy.
“What’s the point in that?” piped up Belle, a confused look on her face. Xena glared at her as well.
“Our parents made it. If we ever got into trouble, we were instructed to come down here and shut the door. The room is airtight. No germs, dust or anything can get in or out of here.” She said grimly. Zephyr