Winston and Rafi jumped into two separate compartments and were soon lifted upwards. Adrian jumped from compartment to compartment, remaining near the top as the wheel spun.

Rafi readied a knife as he made his way upwards around the bend.

"HEADS UP ASSISTANT-BITCH!" Caleb shouted.

Rafi turned just as Caleb was swinging on a pole straight at him. Caleb's gigantic clown shoes collided with Rafi's face and sent him tumbling backwards. He slid down the back of the compartment and landed with a thud in the one below him.

Caleb swung around with glee on the inside workings of the ferris wheel. "Did you see, brother!! Are you proud of me?!?" he yelled up to Adrian.

Adrian looked down at Caleb, smiling and nodding with approval.

As Caleb let go of one poll and grabbed onto the next, he realized this poll was a bit more wet than the rest.

"That's no poll!" Rafi shouted downwards.

Caleb craned his neck upwards and realized he was hanging onto Rafi's massive erect penis. Caleb screamed out and dangled helplessly. Rafi laughed and willed his penis to go limp, lowering Caleb down more and more.

Adrian looked down in horror. Caleb looked back up at him, a single tear wiping away his clown makeup and revealing a sliver of his hideous burns once more. The tear fell from his face and made the long journey to the flames below.

Caleb soon followed. His hands slipped and he went into a free fall.

"HA HA HA!! HAHA-HA-HA!!" Caleb laughed on his way down.

His body crashed against the inner workings of the ferris wheel before landing in the scorching flames below. His broken body burned, but his smile was wider than ever.

Up above, Adrian looked down in horror as the flames overtook his dead brother. He wiped his eyes and stood to his feet in the compartment.

As he turned around, he was stomach-to-face with Winston.

The little man revealed a hidden knife from up his sleeve, slid it into his hand, and dug it into Adrian's gut. Adrian gasped, shocked that Winston got the drop on him.

Winston twisted the knife and slid it sideways, cutting deeper through Adrian's stomach before pulling the knife outwards. Adrian stumbled back and toppled over the railing of the compartment.

Winston leaned forward and grabbed Adrian's hand before he could fall completely. Adrian dangled helplessly as Winston showed off an impressive feat of strength and held him in place.

Adrian took one last look over the vast grounds of Cirque de Joie. It was in ruin, as it had been once before. The Big Top. The Tarot Tent. The concession stands, the rides, the games, the sleeping tents. All were reduced to ash.

"Spare me..." Adrian pleaded. "Spare me and together we'll create the greatest act of all. There's no need for Rafi. No great magician needs an assistant!"

Winston removed one hand and was now holding Adrian with just one. He calmly leaned forward and pulled Adrian's top hat off of his head.

Winston dug inside the hat and reached around, biting his tongue as he searched for something. Adrian looked up at him curiously.

That's when Winston pulled out a white rabbit. Adrian looked puzzled. "How...how did you do that?" he asked.

"Well my friend..." Winston began. "A magician never reveals his secrets."

With that, Winston threw the live rabbit at Adrian's face. Adrian's hand slipped out of Winston's and he toppled down below. The music exploded into its climax as Adrian's body vanished into the smoke and flames below.

"Abracadabra." Winston said as he placed Adrian's top hat onto his own head.

Rafi and Winston stepped off of the ferris wheel and dodged flames on their way out. As they approached the gate, they turned back in time to see the massive ferris wheel come crashing down to the ground. The earth shook beneath their feet as it slammed into the ground.

"How about we get the fuck out of here....partner?" Winston said with a wink.

Rafi stroked his dick and patted Winston on the back. "Let's go get some ass!"

Winston waved his hand over the padlock on the gate, unlocking it and dropping the chains below. The two stepped through the gate and slammed it shut.

A small clown car awaited them on the outside. Despite hardly being large enough for Winston, they fit inside the car with incredible easy.

As they drove away from the massacre and left Cirque de Joie to burn behind them, Winston laid down on the clown car's horn twice.

HONK HONK!

I looked on as Caleb continued balancing on the ball, now on one foot. He taunted the circus goers as he did so.

Ashley obnoxiously screamed to the group, pointing right at me and calling me an imposter. What was she talking about? I hate that bitch.

In the corner of my eye, I saw as Butta Knyf looked down towards the ground. Something caught his eye, and he began to follow it.

"Uh...excuse me young man!" Adrian shouted over the group. "Our greatest trick yet is about to begin!"

But Butta Knyf ignored him and did a poor attempt at a crip walk straight out of the Big Top. What did he find? My curiosity was piqued. The rest of the group filed out, following behind him. I stayed at the back of the pack.

We were led straight between two tents. Butta was bent down and lifted something up. It was Q's battered glasses. If they had lenses, they would surely be broken. Butta pointed at the trail of blood leading straight to them.

That's when I realized where we were. The blood led to two tents. One was full of gadgets and tools. William's tent. I looked over at the other one and gulped. It was my own.

I took a giant step backwards as the group parted and their heads turned to face me.

"OH NO." I screamed out. It was the only thing I could think to say. I took another step back.

"I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT SINCE DAY ONE, HE LEFT THE THREAD!! HE LEFT THE THREEEEEEEEADD!" Ashley shouted. What? What was she talking about?

I saw many heads turn and look at Ashley in disgust and annoyance. They were tired of her antics. I knew I could capitalize, so I laid it all out on the table. "I can take Ashleigh out on a Vertical kill tonight. OH YES."

I saw several circus goers shrug. "Not a bad trade really!" someone said. But the rest weren't happy. They approached me, arms outstretched and ready to grab me. There was only one thing left to do.

I turned and ran. My long legs were no match for them. I sprinted across the mud back towards the Big Top. I looked through the large doors and saw Adrian and Caleb, waving me over.

"Come now!" Come meet your fate!"

What was with these guys? They found me. Pulled me from the darkness. Gave me a purpose. But now they were ready to end my life, just because I failed them? They would see me end up dead like the rest of their participants?

I looked backwards. The crowd was closing in. I looked to the left and right. There was no safety out there in the darkness. No where to hide.

"No where to go....but up."

I eyed the Big Top before me. It was gorgeous. A tremendous structure. A work of art, really. Its highest point was taller than the nearby ferris wheel. The Big Top was the highest point at the entire circus.

Then, I jumped. I flew through the air and landed six feet up, right on the base of the upwards slope of the tent. I clung to the canvas and yelled out a victory cry.

"OH MY. Not today!"

I rose to my feet and ran up the side. The slope got steeper and steeper, but I was in incredible physical form. This was no match for me.

I looked behind me. The crowd slowed their run to a stop. Butta Knyf threw his bandanna into the mud out of frustration.

That's when I reached the highest point. A metal flag pole stuck out from the center of the top point. A red and white flag blew gently in the wind. I put an arm against the pole and twirled around it in glee.

I was safe up here. If I could wait out the rest of the night, they were completely unable to reach me. I was home free.

"OH YES! OH YES!! You think you can stop me?" I screamed to the circus goers below. Rain began to fall down and wipe my white makeup away. "I am Count Vertical! This circus doesn't stop until I say it stops!"

The rain was now hammering down on me. Water ran down the sides of the slope and poured on the miserable group below as thunder roared in the background. I stretched my hands outwards and began to laugh uncontrollably.

The moon was high in the sky. To the pathetic lot below, I imagined them seeing my beautiful, vertical figure silhouetted against the full moon. I must have looked beautiful. Like a legend. Like a god.

"OH YES...THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN, MY FRIENDS! THE NIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING!"

I closed my eyes and looked upwards. The rain splashed onto my face. I felt reborn. Chancellor Vertical had a nice ring to it.

I laughed manically and stretched my long arms outwards. "OH YES....OHHHH YE--"


















































































































Count Vertical, The Ringleader (Mafia), has been lynched.

Every night, you can select a member of your team to send out for a kill. You are also impervious to night attacks. You may also hand select any three players to join your mafia, the rest will be chosen for you. You must do this before Act I begins.

And Then There Were 25.


Count Vertical likely never felt the lighting. Standing at the highest point of the circus, holding onto a metal pole while soaked in water, was likely not the brightest idea.

The bolt struck him square in the center of the forehead as he was opening his eyes. The powerful bolt sent electricity coursing through his elongated form. It crashed downwards quickly, carrying Count Vertical with it as it ripped another hole through the center of the Big Top.

Count Vertical's corpse was thrust down into the center of the ring. The group poured into the Big Top once more, as Adrian and Caleb looked down at their ringleader's scorched body.

"...a minor setback!" said Adrian as he coldly walked away. Caleb stood on one foot atop Count Vertical's crispy head, balancing the best he could.