The Carnival

[Victoria]

She didn’t go out on her own, that was something free people did. She stole moments, passing moments, but dared to drink them in every chance she could. This was more than a guilty pleasure for Gamer; it was an escape for Victoria. He didn’t know it, he couldn’t, but she had never had so much fun in her life. Bounty Hunting was not exciting, it was mundane. Her life lay at stake, everything could be lost here, but she couldn’t help but allow her heart to flutter. She soaked it all in like a sponge, and tasted the experience like an exotic drink. Life behind a locked door had made her naïve, and she wanted to change that.

Victoria lost herself in the music, and the crowd. The beats pounded into her, right into her soul, and she closed her eyes against the lights. She raised her hands and drifted with the music. People moved around her, dancing with each other, grinding and pumping with each beat. She felt hands touch her, but she did not recoil, she melted into the mob. Her eyes opened half way, and she weaved her body with the rhythm of the music. She parted her lips, breathing steadily, letting her heart throb heavily against her chest. Nothing could compare to this, dancing was better than she had expected.

Targets spanned all across the continent, in any manner of places. She had broken down many doors, run through enough clubs and bars. Every time she stepped through those places, where young bodies sweat and ground against each other, she stole glances. It was in her blood, to delve into the unknown. She had never had a drink, a drug, or a dance. She could care less now; she could do without Jeremy’s reign. Her life was hers today, in Kill Town. This puppeteer gave her more than a room, he gave her a playground. A slave couldn’t argue.

You’re an idiot. Vic raised her hands to the sides of her face and closed her eyes tightly. She let the thought slip through and taint her imaginary freedom. A disgusting lie. She whipped around as the music changed and watched the blonde woman, Sophia let loose for once, and let the music in. The crowed watched the girl, and Vic crossed her arms. She prodded the her onward, provoked her into giving in, and watched her let the music envelope her. “We have to lie…sometimes, it’s all we can do.” She whispered to herself, cloaked by the noise.

“Nice beat,” Vicky commented and observed the girl, and then the rest of the room. Despite the slower pace, it sent a chill down her spine. Victoria reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone, she flipped the device open and selected an application. She looked up momentarily, and then snapped a shot of the girl dancing with her eyes closed. She looked down at the picture, amused at how the lights lit up the dancer’s body and made her glow hauntingly. She slipped her phone back into her pocket. Doubt it’ll be there if I ever get out of here, but just in case… She mused, and approached Sophia as the song faded to an end.

“Did you have fun?” She asked, her face lit up with bemusement.

“Sort of, yeah.” The girl replied awkwardly. “You have a strange way of dealing with things here, don’t you?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Victoria countered, and looked around quickly. “Hold on, come over here.” She grabbed her by the wrist and they pushed through the crowed towards the bar, the music was not so loud there.

“What I meant was that you don’t seem bothered by what’s going on,” she explained and sidled against the bar. “Our bodies are somewhere else, not here, and we could be killed at any moment. You don’t seem worried.” She eyed Victoria wearily as she spoke.

“I was upset, confused, and angry.” She listed these off her fingers, and then looked up at Sophia. “I realized that if I’m going to be a slave for someone, there’s no use making a fuss until the opportunity arises.” She held up a finger before the blonde could reply. “There’s going to be an opportunity, I told the Lizard Princess that when the time comes, we’ll be able to get our revenge.” She lowered her hand and leaned against the bar.

“So you’re running around having fun, while banking on the assumption that we’re going to get out of here and maybe even get a chance against this Gamer guy? That’s…” Sophia hesitated.

“Silly?” Vic supplied, quirking her head.

“Reckless, maybe.” She almost laughed. “So you just decided to be happy? I don’t see how that would work.” She question Vic, unsure of her strange way.

“Sophia,” Victoria looked away from the confused girl, and leaned both of her arms on the tall bar. She stared down at the counter-top and licked her lips. “I’m not entirely happy, it would be cruel to deny you that information.” She admitted with a somber face. “My thoughts grow dark if I don’t brush them aside, and what good will it do me anyway? If I succumb to my true emotions, can you imagine pushing on in a time like this?” She asked, her face hardened as she looked over at the girl.

“No, but you said bottling up your emotions…” Sophia tried to remember what the hunter had told her exactly.

“You looked like you were going to explode on the Titanic. I imagine you did something, maybe had words with someone, but if you don’t let out some steam you’ll lose your focus. I’m not bottling my emotions, I’m ignoring them. I’m pretending that this is okay, that I’m okay.” Vic hadn’t smiled, but her eyes showed a kindness in them. “I’m a slave here, a puppet in this game. Outside, I’m a slave and a puppet to my masters. My thoughts will only make me give up.” She straightened and rubbed her rose against the back of her hand.

“You said you were going to leave Earth, won’t that make you free?” Sophia countered Victoria’s explanation, and she looked at the pink haired fighter with eager eyes.

“It’s a dream, The Company can track me. I’m going to try, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not going to be naive to the situation.” She shook her head.

“I know what you mean.” Sophia turned to look across the bar, the many bottles against the wall glittered in the flashing lights.

Vic’s hand slapped against the young woman’s back, and startled her. “Cheer up; it’s not the end of the world. This is why we ignore our emotions when on the field. I’m learning so much here, and meeting so many different people. We get out of here, and we make our dreams come true.” She smiled and stuck her thumb up.

“You bounce back quickly.” Sophia let slip a smile, the hunter poked her in the shoulder.

“You should learn to bounce, it’ll do you wonders.” Victoria bobbed her head and winked before bouncing on her feet. “Let’s have a drink, and really, you should tell me your story.” She slapped a hand on the bar and smiled.