Page 74 of The Bleak Beginning

My eyes progress further down the list, nearly at the bottom. Club Bedlam? What’s that?

I tuck the paper back into my blazer and figure it couldn’t be any worse than the options I’ve already tried. Might as well give it a shot.

I trek all the way to the farthest corner of campus, and then a little further. I’m so deep in the woods that I start to wonder if this club is even real or just some cruel joke by the Legacies.

Towering pine trees surround me, but I push through their branches until a massive circus tent comes into view.

The colossal tent looms over the landscape, its pointed top reaching toward the sky. At the very top, a flag adorned with an elegant eagle flaps in the wind, proudly signaling its presence.

I nudge the curtain aside and let myself in. “Is anyone here?” I ask, my voice wavering with uncertainty as I scan the room for someone. Anyone.

I’m met with silence. The only sounds are the creaking of thick ropes hanging high above, strung between a set of wooden poles.

“This place is so weird,” I mumble to myself, taking in the new environment.

The tent is ablaze with warm lights, strung up in a haphazard yet mesmerizing way. They dangle and sway gently, casting a soft glow over the entire room. Rows of seats encircle the central area, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement. In the center, an open space awaits, ready to be filled with jaw-dropping acts and heart-stopping stunts.

Suddenly, a boom breaks through the air, accompanied by a cloud of smoke. Alfie drops in front of me, dangling upside down from a rope. He quickly gets into a fight with his cape, pushing it away from his face.

Long seconds tick by.

If you were to ask me, I’m pretty sure the cape won, and his face matches his red hair by the time he manages to mostly get it out of the way.

“Ta-da!” he exclaims with a winded excitement, still spinning from the single rope that holds him above the ground below.

Crickets.

“TA-DA!” he says louder, and he gets the same reaction from me, which is none.

I cannot believe this is happening right now. There is no way I willingly walked my way into this. Maybe the drama Professor will give me another shot if I promise on my hands and knees not to set her stage on fire…again.

“Oh, come on!” Alfie groans, his face falling into a pout as he continues to spin in a slow circle above me. The rope holding him in place by a single, well-placed foot. “That was my grand entrance! You can’t tell me you weren’t impressed!”

I clear my throat, finally finding my voice. “I’m…impressed that you didn’t fall and break your neck?”

Alfie rolls his eyes, which looks particularly odd, given his upside-down position. “You have no appreciation for the art of spectacle,” he huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. The motion causes him to start spinning faster, and he flails his arms, trying to regain control.

“So,” I say, watching him struggle with a mix of amusement and concern, “I take it you’re part of this…circus club?”

“I’m the ringmaster,” he states proudly.

Riiiiight.

“So where’s everyone else?” I ask, gazing around the empty room.

“Uh, would you mind helping me down first?” Alfie asks, his voice strained as he continues to spin. “I’m kind of getting lightheaded.”

I sigh, stepping closer to him. “Fine. How do I do this without dropping you on your head?”

“Just grab my hands and guide me down,” he instructs, reaching out toward me.

I follow his instructions and somehow not only manage to get him upright, but on solid ground. Alfie stumbles a bit, clearly dizzy from his aerial antics, and I reach out to steady him.

“Thanks,” he says, flashing me a toothy grin.

“Don’t mention it,” I mutter, quickly dropping my hands from his shoulders. “Now, about the rest of the…students?” Performers? Acts? I wasn’t sure of the accurate terminology.

Alfie’s grin falters for a moment, but he recovers quickly. “Right! The students. My peers…” He chuckles, but I don’t find it funny. “Well, you see, they’re…um…fashionably late!”

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