"Amazing! That was a wonderful act you put on!” an ethereal-like high-pitched call accompanied by rhythmic claps turned the trio's attention from each other to a figure stationed on a small stage in vibrant shades of red, clashing with the dead hues of the surrounding circus. It was such a clashing contrast that each wondered how they didn't noticed it before.

The giant plush snakes hissed at the newcomer and arched their body, more like big, cornered cats.

Valen looked at them and let go of Cavalier, who had just enough strength and focus left to remain standing while supporting himself against the wall.

Everyone now had their attention turned to the staged person. Just a shadow of a human figure, with the added shape of a top hat added to its head. It stepped down, and red cloth began to weave around the body, tailoring a red coat, a red strip on the hat, shoes and gloves; the shape of the legs changed as well, hinting of tailored, black pants.

Wherever he stepped, the pavement regained its lustrous, red color from years ago; the tails of his coat waved behind him, and seemingly stretched forever, beyond the corner of one's eye.

His face remained a featureless, black shadow, with just a glowing, white mouth.

"I've been waiting for you.” He chuckled and stood in front of the trio, leaving a crimson trail in his wake.

Valen was the first to approach him, with Ponte and Vecchio slithering behind him, jaws clicking and quivering in suspicion the closer they came to the strangely dressed figure.

"Who are you?” Valen demanded to know.

"Me?” he looked around, almost offended at the question directed at him. “Why, I am the one in charge here! The Ringleader, if you will.”

"Impossible.” Stitches immediately dismissed the idea, instinctively drawing out his weapon despite it being empty. “This place never had a ringleader. It never existed enough to need one.”

"Why is it, my faceless friend, that you are talking in the past tense?” the Ringleader wondered and stretched one arm down, sliding down a long, black cane with a reddish-metal handle. “After all, this place is still alive and well! Although, 'alive' may not be the most accurate term to use.” he laughed again, much to the dismay of the trio, who failed to see what was so funny.

The Ringleader looked between each one of them, letting out a disappointed hum as they didn't seem to share his sense of humor. He gently tapped his cane on the pavement several times, amused to see the trio tense up, thinking something is going to follow that action.

"You lot certainly lack a good sense of humor,” Stitches tensed again and looked back, shocked to find the Ringleader standing behind him. “Especially Mr. Blank-Slate here.” this time Valen and Cavalier also turned around, certain that they were still seeing him in front of them, just off the stage, but as soon as they turned around he dissipated into thin air.

"I'm surprised you're not laughing.” the voice came out darker this time as he popped up behind Cavalier, almost from within the wall he was leaning against. Cavalier jumped and turned around, the swift movement almost making him stumble over and fall. “What's the matter, head's spinning too much to catch the joke?” he was clearly amused by the killer's unstable stance. “I remember you laughing quite a lot the last time you were here.”

"Who are you?” Valen asked again, unappreciative of being ignored, but mostly curious following the Ringleader's words. Cavalier isn't the kind of person you'd meet and live to laugh about.

"Aren't you persistent?” Valen felt a few light taps on his head even before he could realize the shadow-man was reforming behind him. “But if memory serves, I have told you exactly who I am.”

Valen knew how betraying memories could be. “Sounds more like an answer to 'what are you'.” the Ringleader's dispersing presence didn't give him any rest, much less to Ponte and Vecchio. “And it also sounds like you know a little too much about who we are-”

"Ah-ah.” the Ringleader stopped him. “What you are, to be exact.”  his smile stretched almost to the corners of his face.

"Exactly.” this time Valen didn't fall to his games. “You know us, and admitted to be waiting for us.”

"Silly child, you feel like you're a big boy now, but I think you fail to realize that this fact doesn't change what I just told you.” the Ringleader snickered, appearing back on the colorful stage, twirling his cane in his hand.

"So perhaps this is the wrong question. Allow me to rephrase.” Valen put one hand on Vecchio's head, as he was starting to hiss again. “Who were you?”

The Ringleader's smile grew brighter and even wider, almost to a comical extent, and opened to reveal a red interior. A roaring laughter rolled out of his facial cavity, this time sounding like an amalgamate of people laughing – men, women and children altogether – like the circus has been brought back to life in its entirety.

"Oh, no one, really. Just a face in the crowd.” the rolling laughter continued as he talked. He tapped the vibrant stage, and this time more shadows emerged from underneath it, gaining a form fitting to the laughing voices as a mass of barely distinguishable silhouettes. Their wide eyes and mouths gaping in laughter were glowing white, giving them a manic expression. “Only I had no intention of giving into death's embrace.” his voice lowered and turned serious as he looked back as the giggling mass. “In my last breath, I swore not to become just another trapped soul in this crimson field of carnage. I rebuilt the circus with my own two hands for those souls who got lost in their afterlife, but...” he fell silent and turned back to the trio, who stood mesmerized be the shadowy mass, cackling in a chilling harmony. “Something is still missing.”

"You said you were waiting for us.” Stitches was the first to return to his senses and put the details back together. “And by the sound of things, it appears that you know we were responsible for this...'Crimson Circus Incident', as media referred to it. And responsible to your own death, as a result.” He went over the conclusion aloud, but something didn't quite add up.

"Are you looking for revenge?” Cavalier recovered just enough to bring up what Stitches was missing, a word who's meaning he knew best.

"Revenge? Oh, no.” the Ringleader shook his head, chuckling. “I had plenty of time to pass here, coming to the conclusion that revenge will be pointless.” he reappeared again right in front of the trio without them noticing he even moved. “I have an offer, instead.”

"An offer?” Valen was intrigued. Despite the newly discovered information, the Ringleader was still shrouded in mystery to him, which drew him in even more.

"Join me.” the Ringleader offered, simply. His smile widened again, just a tad. “What do you have with this world, anyway? All three of you, either your time has passed or you weren't meant for it in the first place. Expired, disposable tools. How much longer can you run from your pursuers?”

The three looked at each other, sharing a silent mutual agreement. Seeing their purpose was to just kill one another, with the last survivor eventually being captured or collapsing.

"So what's in for us, in this circus you're running?” Valen wondered just how much better the Ringleader's offer would be compared to their current situation.

"Anything you'd like.” his voice gained an excited tone. “You'll have an eternity to chase, play with and study the lost and stray souls that arrive in the Circus.” the Ringleader gestured to the still giggling mass of shadows. “You'll be more than you are now, more than than you could ever be here. You'll have the tools you require to make the best of your potential.”

Valen turned to look a Stitches and Cavalier, and for the first time in their creation, the all seemed to have a mutual agreement.

"Welcome, gentlemen...to the Crimson Circus.”