The Ringmaster's Domain

Irene adjusted her red top hat and surveyed the colorful tents of her freak show. The air smelled like cotton candy and sawdust, but underneath lurked something darker. Her bright green eyes sparkled with pride as performers practiced their acts.

"Morning, boss!" Yuki bounced past, her red and black hair bouncing with each step. The thirteen-year-old's clown makeup was already starting to melt in streaks down her pale cheeks, but her smile never wavered. That constant grin always made Irene's skin crawl a little.

Sam waved from the corner, her green hair catching the morning light. She was practicing voice mimicry, switching between a deep man's voice and a child's giggle. Her arm bent at an impossible angle as she stretched.

"Sophie, stop pulling my hair!" Sally shrieked. The conjoined twins were arguing again, their shared body swaying as they fought.

Oliver towered nearby at seven and a half feet, his blue hair nearly touching the tent ceiling. Mikey seemed to flicker in and out of view beside him, his white hair the only thing making him visible. Flash spat small flames while practicing, his red hair glowing like fire itself.

But Shaggy caught Irene's attention most. His brown hair cascaded behind him like a waterfall, so long it pooled on the ground.

The Day Everyone Dreads

Irene's smile vanished as she spotted the calendar hanging near the entrance. A red circle marked today's date with words that made her stomach drop: "HAIRCUT DAY."

She groaned and pulled her red top hat lower over her eyes. The performers hadn't noticed yet, but they would soon enough. And when they did...

"Boss, what's wrong?" Yuki skipped over, her melting makeup leaving black streaks on her white shirt. "You look like someone stole your favorite whip!"

Before Irene could answer, Sam's voice rang out from across the tent. But it wasn't Sam's voice at all—it was Irene's own voice, reading from the calendar in a dramatic tone.

"Oh no! Today is the dreaded haircut day! Whatever shall we do?"

The tent fell silent. Every performer froze.

Sophie and Sally's shared body went rigid. "You didn't tell us it was today!" Sophie shrieked.

"We're not doing it!" Sally added, pulling their pale pink hair protectively.

Shaggy's brown hair seemed to ripple around him like a protective shield. Flash's red hair sparked with tiny flames. Even Mikey's white hair became more visible as he stepped out of his camouflage.

Irene felt her green eyes beginning to burn red.