Chapter twelve of HCHOF - Let's Start this (Charlie's pov)

Asher was  doing something on my face he learned from Ellie to hide my eye bags since I haven’t slept in a few days. Sprout was doing some last minute costume fixes on Azura’s suit while Ronald did Pali’s face paint. Buffy was sitting with Asu as they looked to the audience outside as Will sold popcorn on the stage. 

‘’How do you even manage this? Going three days without sleep, planning on defeating Tod, and doing the circus all in one?’’ Asher asked

‘’You’re gonna start hallucinating, that isn’t good..’’ Azura commented.

‘’What if the show gets ruined because you see hallucinations?’’ Ronald stated. After him everyone backstage started to worry about me and it was driving me crazy.

‘’Okay! I get it! Let’s just, continue with the show, it’s about to start..’’ I exclaimed, I didn’t want to sound mean but I guess it came out like that since everyone shut up and continued their stuff with worried faces. 

Asher and Azura were up first. They got on stage greeted and proceeded to climb on the tall poles with  a rope connecting them together and a big hoop connected to the ceiling. They were supposed to run on the rope and jump through the hoop. They practiced it tons of times yesterday so it wasn’t a surprise that they nailed it. They bowed and went backstage. It was Buffy’s turn next and she was supposed to get a random person from the stage and read their future or fortune or whatever. Then it would be Ronald and Pali’s turn to make the audience laugh. And at the end Tibbs would make fun of the people who go out, because she’s a jester and that’s what they do, right? My brain is going fifty miles an hour and I keep having hallucinations of my mother and Eliot. Tod’s creepy laugh ringing in my ears. I was sure I would go insane if it wasn't for Will giving me a hug from behind. He must have seen how I was about to pull my hair out so he must have tried to calm me down. He let me go after a while and sat me down as he gave me a cup of water. 

‘’Calm down, maybe you should go to sleep, you’re gonna go insane..’’ He sounded worried.

‘’Yeah, maybe you’re right…’’ 

‘’Finally, he’ll go asleep!’’ Pali interrupted. Will shot him a glare and Pali quickly turned away rolling his eyes. 

‘’The point is, you need to go to sle-’’ Will said, but I was already asleep.

. . .

I woke up a few hours later-which felt like a few minutes, on the couch. I  turned to my left and I saw Eliot sitting next to me with a big smile but the moment I dove in to give her a hug I realized it was a hallucination. I look right and she was there again

‘’You know, it’s all your fault, you’re the reason I’m dead, but I still love you!’’ She said

‘’W-What, no please, it wasn’t my fault it was Tod’s!’’ but she was already gone. Will came up to me with a cup of tea and a worried face ‘’Who are you talking to?’’

‘’E-Eliot, was here, I swear!’’ 

‘’You’re hallucinating again, stop it! You’re scaring everyone, me included.’’ He put the tea down and put his hands on my shoulder ‘’We’ll get her back, and your mother, and Ellie, I swear.’’ I could tell he would cry if I mentioned Ellie one more time so I just sat in silence and drinked the tea he brought.

‘’I swear on river styx we'll get them all back.’’ He said sternly and he left the cottage to Asu. I turned my head to look at what they were doing and Will and Asu were building a small station for Buffy’s fortune telling. 

I walked out through the back door and saw that Buffy and Sprout were talking, which was weird because Sprout was talking like a human when he’s a robot, or at least, human like. The voices were speaking louder, louder than ever, it was to a point it would be better to die, but I can’t let it reach me now. I’m a father, a ringleader, I can’t let it go all down the drain like that. I’m like a father to Will and Asu, a friend to the twins and Buffy and Pali and Ronald. I’ve made up my mind, I would try to kill Tod, I don’t care he’s already dead, he needs to leave us alone. 

‘’You wanna do something you’ll regret later,’’ I heard Tibbs say ‘’I’ve made a deal with Tod before, he’s the son of the literal reaper. You won’t make it.’’ I turned around to look at Tibbs, She had a grin on her face, just like Tod’s. 

‘’We have to find a way to get rid of him, even if it is for a while..’’ I said

‘’There is, but it won’t be easy.’’

‘’Just tell me, anything to get the kid out of my life.’’

She smiled and played with her hair as she leaned on the counter.

‘’He’s only allowed to leave the underworld if he is connected to this one string on his back. That’s like his life line. We just need to cut it off and he’ll be gone.’’ She grinned and looked out the window where Will was with Asu. ‘’But it might be dangerous, so, leave the circus to Asu if something happens to you.’’ She looked back at me. I was getting a bad feeling, but anything to get rid of the boy. 

‘’Heard you loud and clear, I will be the next to lead the circus.’’ Asu said, He got there so quickly and quietly. I’m really losing my hearing I guess.