It had been two weeks since the Ninja had come to the circus - a month since the fateful day when Julian had been stolen away, not that Julian had been counting anyways.

When the Ninja showed up in attempt to find out where he was, it had sent a surge of hope throughout Julian. So much so that even when he had left, the Gothic hearted boy still felt a odd feeling of warmth in him. During the first week after the Ninjas visit, Julian had fight in him and was more courageous then usual, which annoyed the Ringmaster. He had even sung at the odd, pale looking thin women who had tried to touch his hair with a long, bony finger.

The second week was when the Ringmaster grew tired of Julian's new found hope and after a few beating it had finally died down. The third was filled with emptiness and starvation, the reasoning being the women having apparently told the Ringmaster about Julian attempting to hit her. The only sign of escape was the Ninja having snuck in, but because of the large cloth that would be draped over Julian's cage at nights, he had never found him. The fourth was when he had sunk back into despair.

Julian had found one possible friend, a old wise women who didn't make him too uncomfortable. Like most of the freaks who worked at the circus, Julian didn't know her name; in fact he only knew the first name of the Ringmaster, Finnian, because of him being introduced during the show as that.

Despite finding a possible friend, he still longed to go home, even the insanity of gym class sounded better then staying in the small, cramped cage for one more hour, listening to the circus go on and on each day.

It was three days later that Julian received dreaded news. "What do you mean we're leaving...?" The pale women shook her head. "We've been ere' for a month. Its time too move on to our next town, where you'll start a new life, Whelp." Her husky, dry voice spat out. She slithered out of the tent, leaving Julian with a lump in his throat. They were leaving Norrisvill in two days. Once they leave he won't ever get back to where he came from. He hugged himself close, shivering violently.

"C-calm down, Julian..." He whispered to himself, curling up on the floor. "J-just go to sleep..." And with that, he shut his eyes and slowly but surely drifted into a dreamless sleep.

It was about 2 AM when Julian was awoken with a start. Someone was in the tent. He held his breath and hoped, prayed that it wasn't the Ringmaster in another drunken state of mind, with intent of giving him a beating. No, the footsteps were to light to be the old man, but Julian wasn't sure until he heard a voice speak. "Aw, I knew I forgot something like a shoob..."

It was hushed, and most likely aimed towards the owner, but someone was there. Someone who's voice he hadn't heard in quite awhile. The Ninja. "H...hello?" Julian said, trying to be loud, but it turning into a mere whisper, due to his throat being dry and sore. "I-is someone there...?" Hands grabbed the dark red cloth draping over the cage and yanked it down. Julian squinted at the moonlight suddenly pouring in, using his hand to cover his eyes.

The Ninja stood there in the light, a surprised expression plastered onto his face. "Julian...?"