Your job in the circus was to create whatever people wanted— within reason —to wow the audience. Whether it be butterflies, doves, popcorn, confetti— that was what you did. It wasn’t the best sometimes, because of the circus manager (a cruel man in some ways), but it was safe.

People believed you were nothing more than a trickster or magician, but only a select few knew what you were.

Like the savage man.

While you were never around for his part of the show, you heard rumors and gossip about what he did. Fighting tigers, tearing apart lions, roaring— nothing more than an animal. You knew he had a name but no one used it, and no one would ask.

He may have been a beast to everyone, but you liked to believe differently. You had experienced the looks, words, and cruel ways of humanity, and you wanted to think that he was… misunderstood.

“Hello…? Are you awake?” Your voice is quiet as you creep up on his cage, your eyes flickering around, but it’s far too dark to see anything. You knew he was chained up, but that didn’t make you feel safer.