Chapter 49 - The puppet spectacle

The stage was alive. The artists who came up to perform were amazingly talented. They contorted their bodies as if they didn't have a spinal column, balancing on unicycles without falling, jumping from the top, spinning in the air and jumping from one side to the other. They managed to do so many things that Giovani could only stare at them without taking his eyes off them.

Once in a while he even let out an "oh" or a "wow" when he was surprised by the aerial somersaults, and even forgot that he was accompanied by the new owner of the place.

However, there was no denying that all his attention had been caught up in that story. The clown boy appeared on stage completely dazzled by the magical world that the masked man presented to him. On the one hand it was sad that it looked like a broken toy box, but the boy played, bringing life back to that place.

A naivety that every child possessed and was capable of spreading throughout the world.

Even with the possibility of having so many other toys at his disposal, the clown boy wanted his puppet and sought it out by any means possible. Even if he repaired the other toys that seemed abandoned in that magical world, he wanted the one that belonged to him. His puppet.

And the moment of the reunion had finally arrived.

The masked man pointed to the curtain that looked like the entrance to a blue tent. The child is afraid to enter, feeling cold and a little afraid, needing a little push to take his first steps. When she finally enters, the curtains open and a giant box is behind her.

The suspenseful music seems to play with the audience's feelings. Giovani was smiling imagining that the surprise box had a present for the boy, but the instant he opened the puppet appeared completely broken.

The instant he saw that trapeze artist come out of the box being held by ropes, Giovani realised that this was his main suspect in the case of the disappearances. He was literally in the front row clapping for the suspect.

Straightening in his chair, he huffed, trying to disguise his excitement at the spectacle, giving Leonardo a corner glance. With his arms crossed, he looked like someone concentrated in the show. But his eyes glazed over the stage made him look as silly as the detective himself.

Giovani even let out a low laugh imagining that the boy still had a cute childish side. However, when he looked to his right side he realised that the person standing there had the same look.

So did the one next to him.

And the next.

The one sitting behind him.

And the next one...

― What the hell...

Either the show was really good... Or there was something weird.

Shivering completely, he realised that the aisles between the rows of chairs were filled with smoke. Could it be that the circus employees were spreading it on purpose?

But it was the icy weather that had made the detective realise it wasn't the smoke used in the show. He hadn't noticed until he felt cold and shrugged his arms in an attempt to warm himself.

It was fog.

A park of that size, so popular and unable to create an appropriate environment? That had to be a joke!

Though annoyed he had gone back to watch the show, where the boy was desperately trying to fix his puppet and crying copiously. An exciting scene even, but for Giovani it was not so interesting. He had lost the focus of his attention.

And then the magic happened again. The puppet came back to life after so many pleas from its owner. The trapeze presentation took place high up, where the toy and its owner had fun in the air. Even other toys would join in, jumping on the safety net and hanging again on floating rods.

However, all the joy was gone with the arrival of another masked fellow in bright, dark robes. All the toys cringed in fear or hid around the set.

― Who's that? ― Giovani asked, becoming immersed in the story again.

Leonardo blinked a few times and answered him, but without taking his eyes off the stage.

― Diablo. A demon that created the toy box and gave life to the dolls. But he's also responsible for their misfortune.

― Ah... right.

Well, it was a magic show. It's OK if you want to talk about angels and demons.

Giovani continued watching the show with extreme attention, especially watching Benjin on the stage. He was an excellent actor and trapeze artist, appearing to be just a young boy who loved his work.

However, the detective could not forget that mark on his eye and the height of the suspect he had seen that night. It matched Benjin exactly, he had even been recognised by another policeman when the portrait was created! Only something didn't match...

Something didn't make sense.

How could he have had time to kidnap a child, if he had strong evidence that at that very moment he was rehearsing at the circus?

Giovani felt he was leaving something out.

Although from that night on, he would have several chances to investigate it properly.

The masked subject longs to kill the boy who dares to change his world. The toys protect him, eventually getting hurt and broken again. The final scene of the show takes place with the clash of protagonist and villain, which is interrupted by the puppet who gives his life to save the boy.

Once again the sadness overwhelms the poor child, who gains enough strength to defeat the villain in an acrobatic show.

The end of the story is dramatic as expected. The boy cries holding his plush that could no longer become a human and play with him. Besides, it seems to be torn, symbolising his "death".

And as if by magic, for having saved the toy box from the terrible demon, the masked person who brought the child to that world grants him the wish to bring his beloved puppet back to life.

At that moment Benjin reappears on stage descending from the ceiling on an arch, performing acrobatics. The arch spins above the audience, making everyone euphoric and ecstatic, as the main performer would be just a few feet away from their hands. When the arch finally stopped spinning, he was standing right in front of them extending his hand and looking directly at Leonardo.

Giovani arched an eyebrow as he noticed that the trapeze artist and the university student were trapped in their own world. With that outstretched hand, it seemed like a silent invitation to something secret. And Leonardo had uncrossed his arms about to accept that invitation.

Annoyed, Giovani huffed again, having green eyes glint in his direction before Benjin returned to his presentation.

For a second he thought he felt some hatred being directed at him, which completely creeped him out.

When Giovani looked in the boy's direction, he could see him blushing as he tried to cover it up with his hand on his face. Ah... could it be that he had made him uncomfortable? Giovani scratched the back of his neck and leaned towards the boy.

― You two... by any chance...

― That perverted puppet! Surely he wants to be strangled to do something stupid like that! ― Leonardo mumbled, completely ignoring the detective.

―Yeah, I got it.

The show was soon over, the audience got up and applauded the artists that gathered on the stage to greet and thank them. The band played a lively music until the moment that the curtains surrounded the stage ending the show and the audience started to leave the tent.

― What did you think? It's a masterpiece, isn't it?

Giovani could see Leonardo's excitement. Even though he was a quiet and even thoughtful boy, his eyes shone like a child's. It was definitely his favourite show.

― It was interesting. I can see why you like it so much.

The boy's smile widened at the detective's response.

― 'Don't you? I hope the next show is a success too.

― Are you ready to go back to the mansion?

Vicente's sudden appearance startled Giovani. Where did he come from? And where had he been all this time? Was he some kind of ghost?

― Ah, is that girl here yet?

― Yes, young master.

― Hm... then we'd better go soon, we can't leave a girl waiting alone. Ah, Giovani, did you bring your things?

The detective had stood up from his chair feeling his back was wet with sweat. Come on, he had felt cold during the show. Because of such strangeness, he furrowed his eyebrows while answering Leonardo.

― They're in my car.

― Mr. Monteccello's belongings have already been placed in his room.

Giovani blinked in astonishment at Vincent.

― What is it? But they were in the car...

― I told you that you could park your car in our garage, since you were late to meet the young master, don't you remember? ― questioned Vicente, looking in his coat pocket, and then handing over the keys of his car ― In fact, here they are.

Giovani had taken the keys and looked at them from every angle. He didn't remember asking Vincent to take care of them for him...

― Tiredness does that ― Leonardo comforted him, squeezing the detective's shoulder ― Believe me, it happens to me all the time. All you need is a hot bath and a good night's sleep.

― Hm... right.

Stowing the key in his pocket, the three of them were passing the hallway of the stands about to leave, when a melodious voice called out.

― Leo~!!! Wait for me!!!

Giovani had turned back next to Leonardo, watching the trapeze artist run all fumbled in their direction. He hadn't even changed, Benjin just put on a coat over his costume and threw himself on Leonardo's back.

― You were leaving without me, how mean!

― Oh, you see?

― Ben, you should get changed. It's quite cold out there ― warned Vincent.

― I'll change at home, now we can go.

Vincent shrugged and walked back, as did Leonardo. But Benjin glared at the detective. A fierce look.

― After all, we have an intruder in our toy box.