Three days. Three days had passed and somehow he and Kevin were still kicking about in a circus of freaks. Still they were getting used to tent life, still the two boys were trying to come to terms with how their life had been flipped upside down and still Avi was using every bit of self control he possessed to not punch Mitch in the face.

As soon as they had arrived back on the night of their not-so-great escape, their three chasers had taken them both straight to Lucian's little man cave. The both of them, mainly Avi, had sat down and explained every last detail of what had gone on, from the moment Avi had begun experiencing feelings of dread during the show up until the point where the others caught up with them.

Lucian had been silent the whole time, his direct gaze the only indication that he was even listening to what Avi was telling him. Only after Avi had finished did the man finally acknowledge what he was hearing. Like Kirstie had predicted he had been grateful for what he'd been informed of, but instead of acting overly concerned in any way he'd asked Avi to keep quiet for now, telling him that he didn't want any unnecessary panic spreading around the circus.

"It's not fucking unnecessary!" Avi had wanted to shout at him, but surprisingly found he had no anger left in his reserves. Maybe this guy was right. I mean nothing actually happened. It was just my messed up senses acting out, senses that I've only had for a day.

At that moment the most logical course of action was to simply rest on it and wait for the next day, hopefully with a clearer outlook in mind. Like Kirstie had made aware to him, there were people he could trust to have his back and at the very least Lucian let them know that he would be keeping close tabs on Eva just in case.

"Try not to worry yourself over it young man," he had said to Avi. "What you should be focusing on now is learning and strengthening your abilities."

And so the next day that is exactly what they had done. And the day after that...and the day after as well. Avi had pushed any thoughts of Eva and her midnight black eyes and hair to the back of his mind and, along with Kevin, spent the whole day trying to learn what the hell was different about him. Their three chasers from the night before also joined them, some more helpful than others, and tried offering tips about exploring their abilities. None of them could assist too much though, for none of them knew quite what he and Kevin were experiencing.

Kirstie and Mitch had both been born with or developed their abilities, like normals kids might develop when they learned to walk or hit puberty, and Scott was an enigma who apparently just woke up one day with this purpose and particular set of skills.

This was not the case for the two newest arrivals. Their abilities were rare. Similar to Scott's, they were not genetic or engineered; they had come from mother nature herself, they were scientific, supernatural even. Or rather Kevin's were.

Avi was not doing as well. And that meant if you defined not as well by totally hopeless. What had been extremely heightened senses on his first day at the circus had diminished to slightly stronger than usual on the second and dulled even further by the third.

And today, the fourth day he had been here, he felt as if he had a cold or something. His head was heavy and his sense of smell was all but gone, his ability to detect voices across the mess hall vanished. At least he hadn't gone blind, his eyes just returning to the standard vision they'd had prior.

Kevin meanwhile had come on in leaps and bounds and while Avi was pleased for his friend, he wasn't quite as pleased with the attraction it was gaining him from a certain someone.

He didn't know if the snake boy was genuinely enamoured by Kevin or just sucking up to his friend to wind Avi up. He was going to go with a little bit of both, for as annoying as the small teen was, Kevin's abilities were proving to be the talk of the freak circus folk, and in the exact opposite to Avi's, they were always improving and strengthening every day.

"Ash!" Mitch cried out excitedly as the oldest boy showed them his newest trick in his ever increasing repertoire.

He, Kirstie and Mitch were all in awe as the oldest boy breathed out a cloud of ash, covering their faces to keep the grey specks from getting in their eyes.

Now that's one hell of a smoke bomb.

This is what Kevin had been practicing all day after he had discovered at last night's meal while coughing that he could conjure up smoke. That had caused a bit of a commotion as some of the performers actually believed someone had been set on fire again. Having got smoke under his belt, Kevin had experimented with his lungs - or whatever was going on - and managed to produce these ash clouds after a few hours.

Kevin coughed some more, clearing his throat. "Kinda tickles your throat a bit," he croaked.

"That is truly one of the most incredible abilities I've come across," Mitch gushed, rushing up to pat the taller boy on the back.

"Oh um..." Kevin was embarrassed all of a sudden. "Coming from you that means a lot. You really mean it?" he checked hopefully and the snake boy laughed, reaching up high to put a hand on the other boy's shoulder.

"Listen Kevin," he instructed. "Ask anyone here, I speak my own mind," he pointed to his temple, "like there is literally no filter in here."

There's not much of anything in there.

"If I say what you can do is fucking awesome then it's fucking awesome!" Mitch continued to praise, giving Kevin a hug. Avi narrowed his eyes at him.

"Well you're the most awesome," Kevin complimented, putting on a pretend flirting voice.

Mitch played along straight away. "Where've you been all my life?" He gave the boy a sultry look, whispering: "You know if I'd met you before I met my big boy, who knows what might've happened?"

Avi was fed up now. "Hey, I have a really good idea," he called out as the two chuckled amongst themselves. "Why don't the two of you get into your time machine, go back in time, and fuck each other?"

Mitch grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at him. "Who needs a time machine?" he asked cockily. "Looks to me like someone's getting a little bit jealous. Am I right?" he jibed, putting on an even higher pitched voice than normal. "Is the kid jealous he's not as good as Kevin?"

Avi clenched his fists tightly but was stopped from retorting by gentle words being spoken into his ear. "Don't worry," Kirstie told him, trying to keep his spirits up. "You'll get there eventually," she promised.

He huffed. "Who says I'm worried?" he asked, as laid-back as possible.

"Boo!" His previous attitude was made irrelevant as Avi nearly leapt of his skin when Mitch pulled his old sneaking up behind him trick out of the bag. He glared ferociously at the boy while he giggled and clutched at his sides. "You're enhanced senses really have completely gone walkabout!" he cackled.

"Leave him alone Mitch."

"Aww Kirstie, look at you getting all protective over the new kid," the younger boy mocked, teasingly, poking her in the ribs. "What do you see in him that I don't?" he grinned cheekily as he dodged a slap aimed in his direction.

Avi just rolled his eyes. Here we go again. Over the past few days he had been able to build up some level of tolerance for the little snake boy and could keep most desires at wanting to knock him flat on his face at bay. I don't understand how she puts up with him though, he pondered, as Mitch danced around Kirstie like the natural born pest he was.

Distancing himself slightly from the bickering two, Avi took a few steps away and noticed a rather strange sight. Scott had not said a word for a few hours, instead choosing to sit on the dry grass, lost in his own mysterious world. Avi had not paid him much mind but now the blond's actions were catching his eye. He was hopping about, still on the floor, like some kind of nervous wild rabbit; every so often his head would bolt upright and Avi would see a pair of bulging lilac eyes, huge with worry. You could see the boy was skittish to say the least.

Avi slowly walked towards him, away from Kirstie and Mitch who were still throwing teasing taunts at each other, and watched in curiosity as Scott bounded around in a circle on the grass some more before heading off in a particular direction, still crouched down low.

What are you up to?

The blond turned again, alert to some unknown force all of a sudden, and he backed cautiously up against a tree stump, causing it to rock slightly and sending some specks of what Avi assumed were stray bits of ash from Kevin floating into the air. The boy's body frozen now, Avi continued to watch as Scott slowly turned his head towards the stump, eyes still just as wide. The older boy blinked in surprise as he jumped about a foot in the air; a giant wild rabbit that had now spotted a predator, and abruptly spun to look at the seemingly ordinary tree stump in horror.

"Are you alright?" Avi asked uncertainly, creeping forward while the younger boy breathed heavily. "Scott?" There was no reply; the blond deaf to his queries as he nervously scuttled about in a full three sixty degree spin, still not standing up as he finally settled in one direction, head tilted to one side in inquisitiveness.

Okay, now you're seriously freaking me out.

He knew the boy was weird by nature but he assumed this behaviour was not the norm and Avi decided now was a good time to attract the others attention as the blond crawled forward, almost doing a soldier like manoeuvre, to the outside corner of one of the tents, a few steps away from the tree stump. "Guys is he-?"

"Mitchy?" Scott called out instead, voice barely above a whisper but clear all the same. He had paused, and had his head stooped low to the ground examining something. "Oh Mitchy, this is where it comes from," he murmured as he scampered frantically back to the others - who were obviously now also aware of the blond's strange antics - almost colliding straight into Avi in his haste to get back.

Mitch crouched down also. "What baby?" he asked softly, running a comforting hand through the older boy's hair.

It didn't have much affect. "I know now," Scott spoke out, nervously hopping around on the grass some more, head facing towards the main area. "A terrible thing is coming," he fretted, voice wobbling. "Look," he told them, body also quivering as he stared at what appeared to be a perfectly fine field to Avi.

"What d'you mean?" Mitch asked, also squinting in the same direction

"The field," he glanced back as if to check they were all watching. "The field, it's covered with blood."

Uhh...

The youngest frowned, not looking nearly as disturbed as Avi felt. "Blood?" he questioned, shaking his head once. "Don't be silly."

Avi actually thought Scott was acting the opposite of silly. The boy was absolutely terrified, his shakes almost looking like convulsions now. Kevin meanwhile had wandered over to the position the blond had bolted from and was now walking back with a small object in his hand.

"Blood, it's creeping forward," Scott continued to whisper. "Twisted limbs, black as night. They're reaching for us." He put both hands over his ears and hid his head in his knees. "There's nothing left," Avi heard him mumble. "Nothing left. It's all gone."

And then he was finally quiet, just a shaking, scared boy on the floor. Avi peered around at the others; no one seemed quite sure how to react. He also leaned over to check what it was Kevin had picked up. It was a small wood carving, a type of bird or mythical winged creature maybe? Whatever it was, it had been partially burnt, it's once light brown colouring now marred a charcoal black.

That is what has him so scared?

"Alright," Mitch eventually stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Alright Scott. It's getting dark, I think we should be getting back to the home tents," he suggested as gently as possible.

"Back to the home tents?" Scott echoed in fright. "It'll come there, don't think it won't. It's all around us!"

"Now stop it Scott."

Avi raised his eyebrows. That was the first time he'd ever heard Mitch sound annoyed at the blond and he wasn't sure if it was justified.

If Scott was upset by it though, he didn't let it show. "We've got to go away from here, all of us," he pleaded, scampering back and forth in front of them, head darting in every direction.

"Go away?" Mitch exasperated. "Everyone?"

"Yes, before it's too late!"

"You're being silly," his boyfriend claimed, face set. "We're fine," he insisted.

"What is he on about?" Avi whispered to Kirstie.

"I have no idea," she replied, eyes like his glued onto the scene before them.

Mitch continued to lecture the blond. "No one's going to pack up and leave just like that."

I might.

"You must listen to me, something very bad is going to happen!" Scott protested, suddenly grabbing onto Mitch's skinny wrist, kneeling in front of the youngest.

Hardly seems fair really, Avi thought to himself. When the others got scared or frightened the boy could always help, but it appeared he couldn't switch those abilities about to work on himself when he needed it most.

But then again sometimes you didn't need any special abilities to calm someone down. Sometimes you just needed one special person.

"Listen to me Scott," Mitch hushed placing his hands on the shaking shoulders. "I don't know what you just saw but it's not here right now, okay? At this very moment you're safe, aren't you?" He cupped the boy's cheek in his hand. "Look at me."

Scott did. He met the younger boy's eyes perfectly, as if his vision was no issue, and for the first time Avi had a glimmer of understanding about what drew the two younger boys so close together. Looking at them both before him, they were no longer Scott and Mitch, they were one being, and from Scott, Avi could see Mitch tense up as the boy's nervousness spilled into him, but he also saw the same thing happening the other way round, with Scott's body relaxing slightly as he drew from Mitch's calm and upbeat demeanour.

And then slowly, like he was afraid the blond might jerk away at any second, Mitch leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on the boy's lips. Avi had to look away as the length they stayed like that made him uncomfortable, but after the lingering moment he heard Mitch speak up.

"I'm taking him to Lucian," Mitch told the rest of them, standing up and lightly tugging at Scott's hand so he would follow. "After what you said and now him..."

He didn't finish the sentence but they could all guess what he was implying. Ha, only now are you starting to take me seriously.

"I'll join you," Kevin put in before hesitating. "I mean, if that's okay..." He was still at the stage where he didn't want to be stepping on anyone's toes but Mitch merely shrugged and beckoned for the oldest boy to walk with him. Kevin did so, passing the carving onto Kirstie as he went past.

The blond was obedient in walking after them, still being directed by the younger teen pulling on his arm. When they walked through the main field however, where most of the freaks were working, practicing or relaxing he halted, sending out a warning to everyone.

"We've got to all runaway from here!" He told them, ignoring Mitch as the boy yanked at him and tried to push him into moving. "As soon as possible!" he told them urgently.

"Runaway?" One of the performers asked.

"Yes! Before it's too late!" Scott continued, before he was eventually dragged away by Mitch with some extra help from Kevin.

"Is there something wrong?" Murmurings began echoing around the field, their resident seer having stirred everyone up. "What's he on about?" an older man questioned. "Is there danger?" a slightly younger man asked. Finding no answers amongst themselves, one young woman stood up and beckoned to the rest. "C'mon let's find out what's happening," she encouraged, leading a group of them off after the three boys.

That was probably the last thing Mitch wanted.

Ironic really, considering out of the five the youngest had been the one constantly warning Avi to keep his mouth shut so as not to unnerve anyone, and now his boyfriend had gone and done the job anyway.

"That was different."

He turned to Kirstie, who had a wary expression on her face. "I'd assumed that was just what he was like."

"Well yeah but..." She shuddered slightly, "I've never seen him so scared before, I mean I've only been here for a year but I could tell by the way Mitch was acting that he was unnerved by his behaviour too."

Avi nodded seriously and pointed to the little wooden carving still in her hand. "So that thing must be something bad."

The girl shrugged and bit at her lip. "He's always been right before," she disclosed, running her finger across the little bird before holding it out to him.

"You take a look," she suggested, passing it over. "Anything?"

Avi turned it over in his own hands for a few seconds, seeing if anything came to him, any strange sensations or warnings like that previous night; but no, there was nothing. "It's just a piece of burnt wood," he sighed, attempting to hand it back.

"That's not what I mean." She refused to take the carving from him, making strange gestures at the older teen. "Is there anything...else?"

"I don't know," Avi insisted, trying once again to engage his now dead senses. "There's nothing."

"C'mon Avi, you must be able to get something from it," she repeated.

"It's all gone Kirstie! I've been trying all day, and yesterday, and the day before," he complained. "Maybe whatever abilities I had have just worn off!" He winced, knowing those words came out harsher than he meant them to.

Kirstie was quiet, her eyebrows lowered a little bit in thought. "Maybe," she muttered before frowning even more and staring at him in defiance. "No."

"No?" Avi balked as two dainty hands were placed on either side of his face. "W-what are you doing?" he stuttered, as Kirstie lightly held onto his head.

The girl smiled softly at him. "Just concentrate, close your eyes, block everything else out," she hushed. "You need to relax, just...focus on my voice for now, it's just the two of us."

Despite his natural instincts telling him to pull away, Avi felt compelled to do as he was told, a rarity for him indeed. Shutting his eyes, he focused until the girl's sweet melodic tones were the only sound he could hear. It was almost like music to him.

"Now let my voice fade away also, travel to the deepest part of your mind, have no conscious thoughts..."

Entering a state of meditation he had never experienced before, something was reawakened inside of him. Kirstie's voice was still there, guiding him and keeping him grounded, but now there was also another being, another version of him; the primal entity that had already caused him so much trouble. But this time it was going to do as it was told.

Avi took a deep breath in, taking in the smells of the drying grass, the scents of various foods wafting from the mess hall and also...a foul odour wafting into his nose from very nearby. Avi took another deep breath and focused on that stench, the smell that was coming from the little innocent wooden carving in his hand.

Bad, came the simple reflex reaction from his subconscious.

And then something else...the smell triggering his mind into action, unlocking a very recent memory.

From deep inside his chest, Avi let out a low growl. Eva.

Wow. I updated quickly. For me anyway. Well done me.

XD