Delusions of the Mind

Day 14- Ariella

As the crowd began to flood the area where I was still tugging at the knives that had bitten into Ken’s body. The whispers grew louder, those around us, began speculating that I had been the one to throw them, and only trying to remove them for show. If only these people bothered to find out the truth about everything going on around them, they would learn just how much they are wrong about. The loudest whisper coming from none other than Ariella.

“What did he do this time? Why is he trying to act like the hero?” She whispered to the person standing next to her. It was always her causing doubt to be rippled through our circus, if she could just learn to hold her tongue even for a minute, we would be better off.

“I didn’t do a damn thing this time! Just like the rest of the murders, I am no where around, or seen in a big crowd only moments before it happens, and yet you try to pin them on me! What makes me an easy target?! Is it because I hallucinate? Because I hear people talking who aren’t there?! Tell me what makes it so intriguing for you to place the blame where it doesn’t lie?!” I shout, pulling another blade from Ken’s body, throwing it to the ground. The anger coursing through my body amplifying my strength. This woman was going to stop at nothing to have me removed.

“Calm down! We don’t actually know what happened here.” Came Antonio’s voice, booming through the hushed whispers, as the crowd parted. “Why don’t we actually ask someone who knows what happened? Emilia, do you care to shed some light on the mysterious surroundings?”

“I-I-I- Sure.” Emilia stuttered, trying to find a way out of the conversation. She had never liked to be put on the spot at last minute like this. “Evan and I were trying to warn Ken, we had just been inside of the big top with a lot of these people gathered around us, but apparently Ariella didn’t see us talking to him. Evan has noticed a pattern of things going missing from the game stands, such as small prizes or things of that nature, almost as a taunting gesture of who will be the next target. We had just passed the water gun game that Ken ran for his entire career with us and came to inform him. He slipped out the back of the big top before Evan and I could follow him, to smoke. When Evan and I got through the crowd we found him like this.” Emilia explained, gesturing to the blood-stained area around us.

“So, there’s now a pattern of who’s being targeted?” Antonio questioned.

“Isn’t that what she just explained? I noticed it before Keylan’s death, his stand had a missing stuffed animal, now whoever is taking them is showing us the exact pattern they are following. If we can find the missing items, we can find the perpetrator after all of us, not just certain people. The goal here is for us to survive, if we can’t work together to survive, then whoever started this mess has already won. When are you guys going to realize all, I have been trying to do is help?” I shout, glaring at the crowd.

“It doesn’t matter if you are trying to help or not. The simple fact that you have been the last person in contact with almost everyone who has died, is enough for me to believe that perpetrator is you!” Ariella shouted.

“If I were after all of you, I would have done it the simple way! I wouldn’t be targeting you one at a f*****g time you stupid b***h! Targeting you all one at a time leaves more time for you to figure out it was me! I am not that stupid.” I scream, as I step away from Ken’s body, hearing the sluggish movement as gravity pulled his body away from the target board, sending the last knife ripping through his shoulder leaving a clear cut, as blood oozed from the wound.

The retching sounds coming from the crowd around us, making me raise my eyebrow as I look around. Every one of these people had the weakest stomachs possible. They gathered to look at a man’s dead body but can’t even respect him enough to hold down their dinner while his lifeless body slumped to the ground. The irony of the situation being that everyone who was trying to accuse me of murder, had no idea that this man had wanted to die. They had no clue that Ken had willingly walked out of the big top ignoring my warning, after telling us he was dealing with cancer, none of them had cared enough to stop and ask the one person who made sure everyone else was having a good time, how he was feeling. They never stayed for conversation with him always rushing about the circus claiming they had more important things to do than to appease the loneliness of an old man.

“Did any of you even realize he was dealing with cancer? Emilia and I only found out prior to him choosing to ignore our warning. Did any of you stop to give him the time of day, yet you stand here pretending to be righteous and caring. Concerned for your own safety as a killer is among the group. You never once cared while he was alive, so don’t start pretending to care now, when the only thing you want is to make it out of this area alive yourselves.” I screamed again, tears staining my face as I slumped down beside Ken’s body, anger seeping out through each tear that dropped to the ground leaving me drained of energy.

“No one knew anything about Ken, he always refused to tell anyone anything.” Ariella remarked, trying to stir my anger up again.

Standing leaning against the target board turning to make my way back to the warehouse we were staying in, “Of course not. No one dared to ask Ken anything, had you asked he would have told you.” I retorted, kicking the knives out of my path, “By the way Ariella, you may want to take up a new hobby. Being the only amateur blacksmith in the group puts an enormous target on your back considering each blade that has been used to kill someone isn’t professionally made.”

“What do you mean I should take up a new hobby?! How does anyone even know I am an amateur blacksmith?” Ariella raged.

“We all know you asked Ben and Keylan to teach you blacksmithing and they refused, so you decided to learn it yourself, however the quality of your blades is still too poor to be considered any good, but efficient enough to kill something.” I retort, smirking as I turn the corner out of her line of sight, but still within ear shot of the conversation going on.

“That bastard! How dare he accuse me?! Just because I took up blacksmithing to pass time, doesn’t mean I am the one responsible for the deaths around here!” Ariella shouted.

“He makes a valid point, if you are an amateur blacksmith, it paints a very large target on your back, seeing as everyone knows the quality of the blades being used to kill isn’t professional grade work. You may begin to be the suspect instead of the one who thinks she’s leading the investigation.” Antonio replied, as his footsteps begin to fall in the other direction dying off.