"Do you know why they built the circus, Vex?"
The man's voice was low, almost lost beneath the distant music. He placed a jester's hat onto the boy's head. It slipped immediately, too large, the bells giving a soft, careless jingle as it fell over his eyes.
Vex pushed it up, blinking. "N-no… father."
A cold breeze passed between them, stirring the man's dark hair. He didn't look at the boy at first—his gaze lingered on the glowing entrance ahead, where laughter spilled out into the night.
"For people like them," he said quietly.
Vex followed his eyes.
A child laughed as her father lifted her onto his shoulders. A couple stood by the gate, sharing sweets. No one hesitated. No one looked afraid.
"They look happy…" Vex murmured.
The man crouched in front of him then, his grip settling around the boy's hands—gentle, but firm enough to hold him still.
"They are," he said. "That's the point."
Vex frowned, confused."The… point?"
The man finally met his eyes.
"Some things are easier to hide in the light."
The bells on the hat chimed softly as Vex tilted his head. "H-hide… what?"
For a moment, the man said nothing. The music swelled, bright and welcoming. Somewhere ahead, a voice called out, drawing more people inside.
Then—
"The truth," he said.
Confused, Vex tilted his head slightly as he placed a finger on his lips.
" Yes the truth....The royals, the churches, they're not what they seem they are. You wouldn't want to see them in the light. There are certain monsters..."
" Like the walkers ?"
" Yes yes like the walkers...there are a lot of things you can't know right now but if you follow what I taught you, you'll be fine."
Vex swallowed. His fingers tightening slightly in his father's grasp.
"W-why don't you tell them?"
A faint smile touched the man's lips—but it didn't reach his eyes.
"I tried."
He stood, pulling Vex gently along as they moved with the crowd.
"It's a strange thing," he continued. "People don't mind being fooled… nearly as much as they mind being told they are."
Vex glanced back once more at the laughing families, then up at his father.
"…Are they in danger?"
The man didn't answer right away.
They were close now. Close enough for the lights to swallow them, for the music to drown out the wind, for the world outside to feel distant and small.
"Stay close," he said instead.
The voice came then—loud, bright, and overflowing with joy:
"WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS!!"
The crowd surged forward.
And the two of them stepped inside.