Markus walked around, looking for Leo and Samurai. He needed to know. He had to know more about where he came from, more importantly, who he was. He looked around for what seemed like hours before finally finding them in the kitchen, eating strawberries. Markus stormed up to them.

“Tell me about my parents.” He demanded. Sam and Leo looked at each other. Sam cleared his throat and sat down.

“Well Markus.” He started. “Your parents were very nice people. You were just a baby when we first met you.” Markus nodded and sat down. Leo grabbed a chair and sat down as well; his face pale and full of sadness.

“You were beautiful.” Leo murmured, “I thought you were the cutest baby in the world.” Markus crossed his arms.

“This doesn’t explain how you met my parents.” Samurai sighed and looked at him.

“Markus this is hard on both of us.” He stated, “We wanted to tell you the moment you could understand but we didn’t have the heart to tell you.”

“We wanted to protect you.” Leo commented, linking his arm with Sam. “We didn’t wan-“

Markus cut him off, “Protect me from what? My parents! You aren’t explaining anything! You just keep stalling and you won’ tell me what I want to know!” He was mad; he thought Leo and Sam would be upfront with him.

Leo took a deep breath, “Your parents left you here because they couldn’t take care of you.” Markus nodded and waited for him to continue.

“They had come to the circus when we were in this city.” Leo continued. “They had somehow gotten backstage, wanting to meet with Sam and me.” He swallowed hard, “I, of course, picked you up immediately, thinking you were so cute.” He chuckled, “I loved you so much.” Sam smiled, shifting in his seat.

“While Leo was worshipping you, I was talking with your parents. Your father was very interested in Leo and I and our fighting techniques.” He shifted again, “Your mother had disappeared somewhere with the ringmaster and that can only mean one thing. “ He looked at Leo. Leo was smiling. “Anyway, your father and I chatted for a while before your father left to talk to Leo.”

“We talked for hours.” Leo interjected, “Having a grand ole time until he asked where the bathroom was, I tell him and he leaves. He never came back.”

Silence.

“T-Th-They left me there?” Markus stuttered. They nodded.

“Leo went to check on them but every stall was empty. They had escaped using the windows and had left you with us.”

“But why!” Markus demanded. “I want to know why!”

“We can’t tell you because we don’t!” Samurai argued, “If we knew we could tell you but we don’t.” Markus started to get tearful, he didn’t understand it. He thought his parents loved him, why would they leave.

“We looked everywhere for them.” Leo continued, “We couldn’t find them for years, so we assume they’re dead.”

“Why would you assume that?!” Markus cried, “You can’t assume they’re dead just because you can’t find them!” He stormed out of the room, ran to his room and packed up his back pack; he was going to find his parents. With or without Sam and Leo. He finished filling his bag and turned to leave. He ran straight into Samurai. Samurai picked up a squirming Markus.

“Put me down!” He squirmed. Samurai shook his head.

“I can’t let you go buddy.” Samurai said, holding him tightly as he sat down on Markus’s bed.

“LET ME GO!” Markus screamed, kicking and moving violently. Samurai kept an iron grip on Markus, he wasn’t going to let him leave the circus. That would be bad parenting and most importantly: Leo wouldn’t let him see the light of day if he did.

“Please Markus.” He pleaded, “Just hear me out and I’ll let you go.” Markus kept on squirming.

“I’ve heard enough! I want my parents! My real parents!” Sam felt his heart break a little. He released Markus, watching him as he grabbed his back pack and his coat.

“I’ll be back before the circus leaves.” Markus stated as he fled room. Samurai didn’t reply. Markus frowned and ran towards the tent entrance, took one last look behind him before running off into the night.

Markus had only been out a good thirty minutes and he already wanted to go home. He had tracked down the Hall of Public Records and looked through the birth certificates, not a single boy named Markus. He checked the nearest hospitals and asked the front desk woman if they had birth certificates. But he needed an adult in order to get that information. He sighed and walked around the city. He had at least a week to find his real parents and he doubted he would be able to find them at the rate he was going. He walked past the shops, ducked through alleys and balanced on the pavement. He had to get somewhere that Leo and Sam wouldn’t find him, he just, didn’t know where to go. This place was big but it wasn’t big enough. He knew that they would find him soon, especially Leo. Leo would have his ass if he found him. He ran to an abandoned building, way on the other side of town. He could set up camp here and if he didn’t find his parents in his week staying here, then he’d go home. He grabbed some loose floorboards and a match, he had seen this in movies countless times. He put the floorboards In a big pile and struck the match. He threw it onto the pile of would.

Worst. Idea. Ever.

The wood lit almost immediately, flaming up so much that it started to burn the wooden beams above. The fire was getting out of control and Markus was too stunned to move, he watched as the fire burned a hole through the floor and fell down to the next level, swallowing it in flames. Markus ran for the exit but there was a large hole where it used to be. He looked out of the window, he looked down. A dumpster was just below him, only problem was: It was empty. He looked or his pack only to realize it had been eaten by the fire. He looked back out the window; he could hear the fire engine coming. He had to leave quickly. He took a deep breath, throwing his legs over the edge of the window. He looked down at the empty dumpster; he took a few deep breaths, inching himself a little further off the edge of the windowsill.

He jumped.

He fell into the dumpster feet first. He screamed as pain shot through his left leg, he couldn’t tell if he broke it or if it was sprained. He laid down in the dumpster, crying in agony. He wanted to go home. He wanted Leo’s hugs, he missed his snakes, he missed his bear, and he missed Sam. He curled up in ball, wincing as he moved his leg. He cried hard. He heard the fire engine stop at the building and felt the water trickle down his face as they sprayed the fire out. He knew Leo and Sam were probably out and about looking for him, they probably think he’s dead. He waited for everyone to leave the building before trying to get out of the dumpster. He winced once his foot hit the ground, falling onto his face. He started to limp around the town, checking out more and more places to see if he could find his parents. He had to hide on multiple occasions from the police and a few of the people that were from the circus. His ankle had swollen and was aching in pain. At least he knew he didn’t break anything. He looked around for a couple of more hours before searching for a good place to sleep. He looked down an alleyway, hoping someone had discarded an old mattress. He found one and draped his coat over himself, shivering as the wind started to pick up. He tossed and turned, he couldn’t get comfortable. He stayed for most of the night.

In the morning Markus went to the nearest soup kitchen to get some breakfast. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday and to him, that was a long time to wait for food. He reached for a plate, grabbed one and waited in line. He got a little bit of everything from the line and took his meal outside. He ate it quickly but stuffed some of it into his pocket. He limped around to the other hospitals; he started to ask people if they had seen his parents. Most said no, other asked for a description and Markus couldn’t give them one. He wondered around all day and started to give up. He walked back to the circus. Leo was gonna kill him, Sam was going to kill him, the ringmaster was gonna eat him; he had so many things to be afraid of if he went back. But he had no choice, he couldn’t do this alone. He didn’t want to do it. What was even going through his head at that moment? He should’ve listened to Sam; he should’ve listened to them. But then again, what seven and half year old listens to their parents. That was unheard of. He reached the entrance to the tent; he took a few deep breaths and limped in. It was completely silent, which was to be expected at this time, work didn’t start till later in the day day so he had enough time to get clean-

“Markus? Is that you?” questioned a familiar voice. He looked around, it was Samurai. Markus swallowed the air, he slowly waved.

“Hi.” He mumbled. Sam picked him up. Markus winced.

“What’s wrong kiddo?” He asked, looking at him up and down.

“I think I sprained my ankle.” He whispered. Samurai nodded and kissed his cheek.

“We were so worried about you Markus.” Sam said, “If you ever do that again I’m going to feed you to the lions.” Markus nodded and clung to same, shedding silent tears. Sam took his to the infirmary; he cleaned and bandaged his ankle.

“The ringmaster isn’t going to be happy with you Markus.” Sam warned, “You’re his shining star.” Markus nodded and kept his head down. Samurai sighed and sat down in front of him, picked him up and placed him onto his lap.

“Listen Markus, I know how you’re feeling right now. You feel bad and that’s good, but you shouldn’t have done what did. Running away like that? What were you thinking?”

Markus shrugged and hid his face in Sam’s chest. Sam chuckled.

“I love Markus, I really do, and so does Leo. It broke my heart when you said I wasn’t your real parent. I’ve raised you for so long that I felt as if you were mine, and you are mine.” He kissed the top of his head. Markus cried loudly into Sam’s chest.

“I’m sorry!” He wailed. Sam held him close and rocked him back and forth, shushing him. Markus kept on crying. “I didn’t mean what I said! I’m sorry!” he wailed again.

“It’s okay bud, calm down.” He shushed him, rocking him back and forth. “I know you didn’t mean it buddy and it’s okay.” Markus kept on wailing, practically soaking Samurai’s shirt. He cried until he couldn’t cry anymore, he whimpered and sniffled. Gripping Sam’s arm.

“Are you okay now?” Markus nodded and stayed in Sam’s chest. Sam chuckled and held him close, rubbing his back. Markus breathed deeply, still trying to calm down. He was so happy to be home.