主妇丈夫倡导的户外生活

Chief Lance Fieldings' eyes bugged out, as if he couldn't believe himself that he was inside this bar. He then raised his gun, waving it at every single patron.

Everyone in the Circus Cabaret just watched him in amusement, like he was some interesting display in the museum.

Ivan Ivanovich simply tilted his head to the side and asked almost too politely to the point of sarcastic:

"Why are you here, Mr. Policeman?"

Harker, Roland and Artea were being covered by the bodies of the patrons. It was so well-covered that he thought it might as well have been deliberate. But he could still spot Chief Fieldings, and his body language seemed very tense. His hand that held the gun shook a little.

"I don't want no trouble here, you freaky fuckers. I just want what's mine." He said, and began describing the people he was in pursuit with.

"Three newcomers, two boys, one girl. The girl and one of the boys are colored, the other white and blond. Hand 'em over and I'll be on my way. Don't wanna be staying here with you lot anyway."

Ivan Ivanovich jumped down the stage, still holding the microphone. 

"Well, I think I did see some people that fit your description. I saw them pass by our fine establishment and go over to the Faraday Club just three blocks away." He smiled. 

Chief Fieldings narrowed his eyes, to the point that his bushy eyebrows covered them.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Ivan Ivanovich simply answered. 

He drew back his gun. "If they ain't there, just remember that you're breakin' our agreement here. You better be ready, commie freak."

"Oh yes. Our valuable little agreement." Ivan leaned on his cane. "I sure worry about that the most, Mr. Policeman. For I do not want trouble as well, I do not like blood. I only like fun. Unlike your people."

Chief Fieldings gritted his teeth, and turned to leave while cursing vehemently. 

The people seemed to go back to their usual activities, just like members in an orchestra taking their positions. Their conductor was this strange eccentric man, who went to approach the trio that they just covered up for. 

All three of them looked confused. Harker most especially, since something in the back of his head was bothering him about this Ivan. 

The ringmaster just tipped his hat at them. "Follow me to the Fun Room, please."

They had no idea where that Fun Room was and what awaits there. But they had no other choice but to follow him. He led them to a very dark hallway where they could barely see anything. 

The only lights were embedded on the walls and the floors in an array of colors. They were circles of all sizes, and even as artificial lights, they seemed so… unnatural. 

Their dim glow was barely enough to light anything a few inches beyond their edges. Harker instinctively took a grip on Roland's hand and blocked him protectively in case anything happened. 

Meanwhile, Artea seemed to be drawn to these lights. It didn't seem like the usual curiosity. 

There was something deeper as her eyes sparkled in awe at them, almost like a…. sense of familiarity. 

"Please take a seat." Ivan Ivanovich said at the end of the passageway. 

It led to this room full of posters, displays, and chairs made of animal fur. They seemed to be real and taxidermied. A bear was fashioned into a chair, in which Ivan took his seat in its lap. 

The rest had to sit on this baby elephant that was turned into a long sofa. 

Artea seemed to frown in distaste at these furniture, but didn't say anything. She simply held the police lights now, her body language guarded but not as nervous as the chief of police had been. She was simply reacting the same way an outsider would, as no one in their right mind would be relaxed in this situation.

"Harker, can you introduce me to your friends before we begin?" Ivan asked. 

Roland gave Harker a look. "You told him your real name?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Harker asked. "He's on our side anyway. He drove that police chief away."

He added in a whisper. "Plus I can make him forget about everything once we get the information we wanted. So there's nothing to worry about."

Roland shivered at this reminder, and shifted a little away from Harker. That's when Harker learned he made the wrong move, and regretted saying anything besides that Ivan was on their side. Probably.

"Oh, I am on your side, friends. I am never on the police side. They do not like me very much." Ivan said. "I personally like everyone, but they are my least favorite."

"How so?" Artea asked. 

"You hear about our agreement. Actually, the police and I go way back. We chose not to interfere with each other's business, and we keep peace." He explained.

Roland frowned. "What kind of business are you not allowed to interfere with, exactly? Does it involve this?"

He showed the police light to Ivan, and there seemed to be a change in his usually smiling reaction. His face became blank, but Harker could tell there's still something in his eyes.

It was pure hatred. So much that it looked like he was ready to break the lights at this moment.

"That is a…. What do you call it? Bear trap." He said. 

"Bear trap?" Roland asked. 

"Yes….. It is very bad trap that hurt people." 

Harker narrowed his eyes. "Your people? Are you involved with the murder cases too?"

Ivan turned to him. "No, not me. I only like fun, not blood." 

But Harker noticed he didn't answer his first question. His doubts about Ivan increased, but he could tell that he wasn't lying either when he said he wasn't involved. Not him.

The rest, however…. Those in the Circus Cabaret…..

He was sure now that they were not human. 

"How about this? You want help to save poor boy that got in jail, right?" Ivan then gave a sort of card to them. 

"This is a card for the Show Room. You pick one of you to go there. If you win, you get a prize from me. I say you chose the best fighter." He smiled. "I think I know who that is. But you can still pick. I just want to have some fun, and to see what you all are capable of compared to my friends."

Roland and Harker gave each other a look, and nodded. Artea just raised an eyebrow at this. 

"What? Who is he talking about?" She asked. "And what exactly will we be fighting? Is it going to be an illegal fight or—"

"Stay here, you two." Harker stood up from the elephant sofa. "Actually, Ms. Holmwood should go home. It's going to get late soon, I'm sure her family must not like her hanging around in shady bars and clubs like this."

Artea seemed to lose her patience from Harker's snarky behavior. "I am staying here if I want to, Mr. Jones."

"Maybe ask your fiance first if he wants you to stay. You're just a plus one anyway, you weren't supposed to be involved." Harker said, as he went to follow Ivan in this 'Show Room'.

Artea gave Roland a look, and he did sigh. 

"You…. You really should go. It was a mistake bringing you here."

She made an incredulous face, and could only raise her hand in the air. 

"Fine. But if he does something to make you hurt again, whether physically or emotionally, don't come back crying to me. You didn't have to be involved either in his business, Roland. It was your choice to do so, and you can still go back."

As she left with the sound of her heels clacking off into the distance, Roland shook his head. 

"No.... It's too late to back out now. I've been involved since the start... Ever since I was born."