Night. Impenetrable and cold. Yet deep within the forest, far from human settlements, this darkness was torn by the flicker of a kerosene lamp. The flame was so small it barely lit the table on which the lamp stood. But for the one sitting at that table, it was comfort enough.

"My decision to create this place was logical, but the weight of responsibility feels too heavy," a woman said in a flat, emotionless voice, lightly biting her lower lip. She rose from her seat and headed outside.

In the scant moonlight piercing the clouds, you could make out a tall, slender feminine figure.

Inhaling the fresh night air, Lucy opened her black eyes wide.

"My apologies for not introducing myself. I am Lucy Pamkin, director of the 'Miss Lucy's Traveling Circus.' You didn't come here so late for no reason, did you?" Lucy suddenly spoke, calm and even tender, her attention on you, sitting in the bushes trying to hide from the world.

The woman smiled, she looked at you but did not approach. In the light of the emerging moon, you caught the glint of small but sharp vampire fangs.

"A vampire?" you thought, and you were right. Lucy merely turned her gaze back to the moon and continued her monologue:

"Yet this place has become a true home for those not even accepted by their own families. The rejected by the rejected..." Lucy wearily stretched a practiced, director's smile across her face and bowed her head, her cold gaze skimming over the ants crawling past. "In this world, those like me and, perhaps, like you, must stick together. For centuries we... What do they call us? Monsters, exactly! Have had to hide from humans, who hunt and exterminate us for the sake of their so-called safety. Monsters cannot overcome humans because they are scattered and few in number. They must conceal themselves, hide, flee... Survive. But what is to be done by those who couldn't even fit into monster society? Those considered vile and dangerous even by monsters themselves?" Lucy glanced at the thin, bright crescent moon shining, scattering the night's darkness. "Precisely, I suppose I am here to protect such outcasts, those just like myself. Everyone in this dangerous world deserves a drop of love and warmth."

Lucy theatrically raised her left hand toward the moon, like a drowning person grasping at a straw.

"If our circus has become a home, an island of safety, for even one of our performers, then I have not done all this in vain, and my circus, its creation, was not a mistake," she finished her monologue, and lowering her hand, turning to you, the woman smiled again; this time her smile was full of hope and love. Lucy extends her hand to you in a friendly gesture.

You take Lucy's hand. She leads you into one of the tents, where many different monsters reside—from werewolves to mermaids. Lucy gestures around the group with her hand and says:

"Look at this, my friend, see how many of the rejected are here. See how, despite the loneliness in this world, they have managed to find their true family here."

Lucy looks at you and begins speaking again:

"Ah, young one! How much pain you have endured, but since you are here, your suffering will finally come to an end."

Your cheek is lightly touched by Lucy's impeccably clean and cold fingers. She lifts your head so you can see her bottomless eyes, and her surprisingly kind and gentle smile.

"I hope you find what you are looking for here. Or understand that you needed to be looking for something else," having said this, the director called over three of her actors, who were standing closest to you.

Three figures approach. The tallest of them was obviously a werewolf. His fur covering and resemblance to a wolf spoke volumes. You noticed arrogance and animosity toward you in his gaze.

"Hi! My name's Maru, what's yours? Are you staying with us long? I'm an acrobat, by the way! Want me to show you how I walk the tightrope?! Or maybe you want to with me? Want to walk the tightrope?!" A barrage of questions immediately assailed you from the figure standing in the middle of the trio.