This week’s shows were even more demanding than before. The acts and events were more fierce than graceful, more action than dance. This ferocity also fell on Markus once it was his turn to perform, his performances were very hard to complete because of their complexity. Leo and Samurai practically fainted after each of their sets of battle and action. Markus brought everyone their water and snacks after each set. Since Markus was so young, he only had to perform once or twice a day but it was still a lot on him. The ringmaster pulled Markus aside, gripping his shoulder tightly.

“Markus” He whispered. “I’m going to need you to do another set.”

Markus tilted his head in confusion. He had already done his sets and there were at least twelve more people that had to go before him.

“Sir” Markus whispered. “I’ve already done my sets for the day, why must I do more?”

“Because” He replied. “Everyone else is tired and they can’t go any longer, you’re the most energetic of the bunch, and I know I can rely on you for this.”

“Sir, I can’t” Markus argued. “I have to start preparing dinner for everyone and if I don’t do that dinner will be really late and everyone will go to bed hungry.” The ringmaster nodded and left. Markus left for the kitchen so that he could prepare dinner. He wasn’t feeling all that creative, and ended up making a sandwich platter, setting the condiments out on different plates and setting them about the table. He had to give each spot a name tag because some people didn’t get along. The ringmaster always sat at the front and Maurine sat at the bottom since she was the second most important at the circus. Markus was third. As he was just putting the finishing touches on the table, everyone started to file into the dining room. Some sat in their respective places, others, not so much. Samurai and Leo sat next to each other, leaving Markus on the end, feeling very excluded. After everyone else had settled down, the ringmaster sat down. He raised his glass and cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention.

“I would like to give a toast.” The ringmaster said, “For everyone’s hard work today. None of you would’ve had so many sets today if I hadn’t oversold the circus today, and I thank you for your cooperation.” Everyone clinked their glasses, drank and then started to fill their plates with sandwiches. It was quiet for a while, and then Markus tugged on Leo’s sleeve.

“Yeah kiddo?” Leo asked sweetly.

“C-Can I sleep with you and Sam tonight? My night terrors have gotten worse.” Markus asked sheepishly.

Leo smiled and ruffled his hair, “Of course sweetheart, you’re always welcome to sleep in our bed.” Samurai must have overheard the conversation because he turned his head and looked towards the two of them

“Markus, you’re seven and a half, you need to learn how to push those scary dreams away or deal with them.” He glanced at Leo, “And your pampering isn’t helping.”

Leo looked hurt. But that quickly changed to anger. “It’s not my fault that I’ve always wanted a child, so why can’t you see that? You’ve practically hated and despised him the moment I started to love him.”

Samurai scoffed, “I hated him for only a short period of time, and it was only recently that you’ve started to take up more of your time to pamper him!”

“I’ve do no such thing!” Leo shouted. He stood up, slammed his chair into the table and stomped away from the kitchen. Samurai groaned, stood up and followed him. A ripple of silence fell over the table as the two left table. Markus shrank into his seat, trying to hide himself within in the table. He quietly left the table, slipped past Leo and Sam’s bedroom and right into the snake den. They surrounded him, as usual, keeping him warm but cool at the same time. Markus always felt at home here. He loved the feeling of their cool scales, sliding against his skin as they slithered around, he didn’t know why, but it always soothed him. Did Sam actually hate him? Why did he hate him? Was it because he was actually taking up time? Markus decided to push those thoughts out of his head; he didn’t want to consider the fact that his only family didn’t even like him. He loved Samurai and he always would, and that means he’ll love him even when Sam doesn’t.

After a few hours in the snake den, he slipped out and went into the sleeping hallway. He found Sam and Leo’s room and silently opened the door, in case they were asleep. The two of them were in the bathroom talking about something, sometimes yelling. Markus slid into their bed and slid under the covers, careful not to make a sound, and fell asleep.

When he awoke, Leo had his arms wrapped around his waist and Samurai had trapped his head in his arms. He found this somewhat uncomfortable and squirmed out of their grasp, falling, getting trapped under the covers. He ripped through the covers, gasped for air then looked back at Leo and Sam. They hadn’t moved an inch. He slipped out of the room and headed straight for the kitchen, he was hungry. Once he reached the kitchen, he threw open the refrigerator door and scanned the shelves, searching for something to eat. His eyes glazed the meat and bread, still searching for something to eat. His eyes landed on the biggest slice of chocolate cake he had ever seen. The cake was chocolate, the icing was chocolate, it had a fudge filling that just seemed to ooze from its cool, moist sides. He licked his lips hungrily and grabbed the slice of cake, closed the fridge and hopped onto the table, ready to dig into the delicious desert. He forgot a fork. He jumped back down, went into the kitchen, grabbed a fork and went back to the cake. Before he even step foot into the room, Sam was already eating the cake. His cake! He had mentally prepared himself to eat that cake and then he just appeared out of nowhere! Where did he even get forks?! Markus was in the kitchen the whole time and didn’t even see him walk in. He stomped out of the kitchen and went straight towards him; he got up on a chair and reached for the cake.

Samurai moved the cake, “You can’t eat desert for breakfast.” He said, shoving a piece of cake in his mouth. “It’s unhealthy.”

Markus crossed his arms, “And you can? That’s not fair.”

“Well life isn’t fair shorty so get used to eat.”

Markus sighed and jumped down from his chair; walking back into the kitchen, grabbed a soda from the fridge and went back to the dining room. He cracked open the can and only took a sip before Leo walked in and grabbed his soda.

“You can’t drink a soda for breakfast.” He walked over and grabbed the cake from Samurai. “And you don’t get to cake for breakfast. You’re being a terrible role model.” He took them back to the kitchen, putting them in the fridge. Markus smiled and stuck his tongue out at him. Samurai did the same. They made funny faces at each other for a while before Sam got up and went into the kitchen. Markus followed and sat on the counter. Sam walked behind Leo and wrapped his arms around his waist. Leo chuckled and kept on making breakfast.

“Samurai, you should go get our stuff ready for the day. We have a few private parties coming and they’ll be here soon.” Leo said, as he flipped a pancake.

Samurai sighed, “But I want breakfast.” He whined, tightening his grip around Leo’s waist.

“I don’t care Sam.” Leo snapped. He put some food on a plate and handed it to Markus, “Now you eat up and get dressed to, you’re the main event for each of these acts.” He kissed his forehead before leaving the kitchen, pulling a grumpy Samurai with him. Markus ate his breakfast happily, thinking about what he just witnessed. He liked Leo more than Sam because Leo treated him like a son and Sam didn’t even like him. Markus still understand why and he doubted he would ever learn. He sighed and left the kitchen, going to his room. Since the shows were bound to start he needed to hurry. He went through his clothes and settled for a large t-shirt and sweatpants. He knew he was most likely going to get scolded at by the ringmaster and Leo but he didn’t care nor feel like changing afterwards just because they wouldn’t agree with his outfit. He ran out of his room and towards the arena, he was late and knew he was now going to be the final act in the first show. He took a deep breath and walked through the doors.

“Markus!” Someone yelled. Markus turn towards the sound. Samurai was sitting on a crate, polishing his sword, Leo sitting next to him. Samurai waved to him, beckoning him over to them. Markus ran over to them, standing in front of Sam.

“Me and Leo were wondering if you wanted to explore the city.” Sam began. “We think that you might want a souvenir or a new toy.” Markus pondered this, he did like to go out and explore every time they traveled to a new place and he did enjoy toys.

Markus nodded, “I want to go out and explore.” He hugged Leo’s waist, “Can we go get ice cream as well?” He asked. Leo rolled his eyes and smiled, “Sure” he chuckled, “Maybe we can even go out to eat again.” Markus cheered and skipped to his snake cage, but first he made a quick stop at the kitchen and grabbed the largest amount of meat he could find, giving it to his snakes.

“I’ll be back late everyone.” He beamed, “I’m going exploring with Sam and Leo.” The snakes tried to argue with him but he was already out of the room and walking back down the hall. Markus hid once he heard the mumbled voices of Sam and Leo, he was going to scare them. He heard their voices become clearer as they walked closer, he giggled and waited for them to walk by but they stopped next to his hiding place and continued talking.

“Do you honestly think this is a good idea?” Leo questioned, he sounded very worried. Markus heard Sam’s exasperated sigh.

“Yes it’s a good idea!” Sam hissed, “I mean, he should at least know that they existed at one point in time.” He should at least know who existed? Markus thought, he kept on listening.

“I know that but what if he wants to stay in the city? We’ll never see him again.” Leo said worriedly.

“I know it’s hard.” Sam reassured, “But he needs to know about his real parents.” They stopped talking and started to walk again. Markus’s heart had stopped beating, he could no longer breathe. His real parents? But Sam and Leo are his parents, at least, he had thought so up until now. He sat down in his hiding spot, pulled his knees to his chest and hid his face. How did Sam and Leo know his parents? Were they friends? He had so many questions that he didn’t want answers to. He ran back to his room and slammed the door, he wasn’t going out, he wasn’t going anywhere, he didn’t want the truth, he was happier without it. He liked his life in the circus. He went into his closest and hid, trying to grasp everything.