Harriet cautiously sticks out her right leg, trying desperately to keep her breathing in check. She has managed to make it halfway across the tightrope, with Percy's help and guidance. However, she continues to struggle against the urge to look down. A fact she tries to remedy by silently counting to ten. Percy tightens his hands around Harriet's waist, grateful for the opportunity to touch her. Leaning forward, he whispers encouragingly into Harriet's ear.

  "Carefully...Carefully. Don't rush it. Put one foot in front of the other. You're already halfway across. You are doing very well. Do not worry. I am here. One foot in front of the other. Go slowly. Careful."

  Harriet inhales sharply and carefully plants her foot on the rope. Were she not so distracted, she might have noticed the casual repositioning of Percy's hands. Percy's right hand moves to just above Harriet's navel. His left hand stays planted on her waist, only inching forward a centimeter or two.

  Harriet's breathing is erratic, her chest heaving up and down. Percy stealthily inches his face even closer, sniffing Harriet's hair. Her hair does not smell quite like Alice's hair used to smell. Like a flower petal squished between two fingers. Yet, the scent wafting from Harriet's hair is equally tantalizing. She smells almost good enough to eat. He imagines running his hands through Harriet's hair, and over her body.

  Nearly losing control of his senses, Percy considers kissing the flesh of Harriet's throat. At that moment, Harriet loses her balance. She pinwheels her arms, anticipating a plunge to the tent floor below. She has forgotten the trampoline. She knows only panic. Percy's eyes widen and he shakes his head energetically.

  "No, Harriet...Don't--,"

  Melvin watches in horror as his wife and Percy fall from the tightrope and plummet to the trampoline below. His horror turns to laughter as Harriet and Percy hit the trampoline and bounce up and down several times. Harriet's laughter calms Melvin's soul and he uses two fingers to whistle.

  "Whoo-hoo. Go, Harriet. Hahaha."

  Percy purposely alters his trajectory on the last bounce, landing partially atop Harriet. The unsuspecting woman chuckles and runs a hand through her hair. Harriet's skin is flushed from excitement and her breathing is even more rapid than before. Percy peers down at Harriet's face, wanting only to kiss her. Knowing he doesn't dare.

  "That was...Uh...Fun!" Harriet laughs. "Albeit, a little scary."

  "Yes. But, you made it more than halfway across the ropes. Very few could do that on their first try. You did very well, Harriet."

  "Thank you, Percy!" Harriet exclaims.

  There is an awkward moment of silence as Percy and Harriet stare at each other, unmoving. It is Harriet who looks away first. Percy reaches forward and removes a lock of hair from in front of Harriet's face.

  "Would you like to try again?"

  "No. No, that's enough danger for one night. I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead. Thank you, though."

  "As you wish," Percy says.

  The purple clown climbs to his feet. Harriet allows him to aid her descent from the trampoline. Once her feet hit the floor, Harriet turns to Melvin with a wide grin. Melvin scoops his wife up into his arms and kisses her passionately. Percy looks on with an unattractive scowl.

  "Did you see that, Melvin?" Harriet gushes. "I almost did it. I walked the tightrope!"

  "You did. That was great. I love you, babe. You did good."

  "Thank you," Harriet says boastfully, puckering her lips.

  "Well, there's a lot more to see," the ringmaster says in a loud voice. "Now, it is time to move on to our best act. The Stab Chamber!"

  Melvin fixes the ringmaster with a puzzled look. He maintains his hold on Harriet's midsection. Harriet gazes upon the ringmaster with amusement.

  "Stab chamber? What's that?" Melvin inquires.

  "It will be better if I demonstrate rather than explain. Mrs. Deels, if you will accompany Percy...We can begin. After all, this is your special night."

  "Oh. Okay," Harriet exclaims, pecking Melvin on the cheek. "Be right back."

  Percy leads Harriet to a coffin like box sitting on a small platform. He helps her climb inside, a weak smile on his purple lips. The ringmaster continues to speak.

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  "I'm sure you are both familiar with this trick. It's a very common one. The volunteer climbs into the chamber and the chamber is sealed from the outside. The person wielding the dagger, in this case Percy, stabs into the chamber multiple times. The chamber will then be reopened, revealing a volunteer who is completely unharmed. That is all there is to the trick."

  "Yeah. I've seen this trick before," Melvin exclaims, nodding his head enthusiastically. "Okay. Cool. This ought to be great."

  Percy slowly closes the lid of the stab chamber, staring down at Harriet's face with an odd expression. Harriet only catches a glimpse of Percy's anguished face, but it is enough to set off a subtle mental alarm. Once the lid is shut, Percy secures the outside lock. He raises his eyes toward the ringmaster.

  With a swift motion, the ringmaster raises her cane and sweeps it through the air. Melvin is thrown backward, his back slamming against the center pole of the tent. He falls heavily to the floor, rolling onto his back.

  The stunned man groans loudly. He looks up in time to see the ringmaster appear beside him. She lifts a high-heeled foot and slams it into the soft flesh beneath Melvin's chin. Stars are the last thing Melvin sees before he loses consciousness.

  ====================================

  Not usually one to be claustrophobic, Harriet finds herself hyperventilating. She glances around the cramped space, heart pounding in her chest. Using a slender hand, she pounds against the interior of the stab chamber.

  "Hello. I don't think this is such a good idea. I'm finding it hard to breathe. I need to come out. Can anyone hear me? Hello."

  Outside the chamber, the ringmaster leans over the closed lid. She taps the wooden box with the golden tip of her cane. Percy looks on with a blank expression.

  "We hear you, Harriet. Now, hear me. We are going to play a little game."

  "A game? What sort of a game? What do you mean? I thought we were doing a magic trick? What's happening? Let me out of here. Where's Melvin? Let me out!"

  "In due time, Ms. Deels. At the moment, your husband is...Preoccupied. I need your word that you will play our game...Without hesitation or reservations. Do I have your word, Harriet?"

  "Yes. Yes. Please. Just let me out. Please."

  "In due time," the ringmaster says with a cruel grin. She leans over and rests her cheek on the chestnut wood stab chamber. "In due time."

  ======================================

  Melvin opens his eyes, forcing them wider in hopes of clearing the mess of memories in his head. To his dismay, Melvin finds himself chained to a metal chair. What the hell is going on? Did the attractive woman in purple really hit him? How did he end up flying through the air? Where is Harriet?

  Looking around, Melvin's gaze falls on the stab chamber. Percy stands like a sentry behind the chamber. The woman in purple reclines provocatively on the lid. She drops her legs and leaps down, moving with calculated steps in Melvin's direction.

  "Good. You're awake. Now, you can join in on the game."

  "Game? What game? Is something wrong with you, lady? You can't go around knocking out your patrons! I can see why your business is failing, if this is how you operate."

  The ringmaster is upon Melvin in a split second. She grabs his head and wrenches it back, the nape of Melvin's neck slamming against the top of the chair. She growls angrily into his right ear.

  "Shut up, Melvin! Your silly humor is not part of the game."

  Across the room, Harriet presses a hand against the lid of the stab chamber and hollers out. What is that cruel woman doing to Melvin?

  "Leave him alone! Melvin? Melvin, I'm sorry. I never should have asked you to pull over. We never should have come here. Melvin? Oh goodness, please...Let me out. Percy...Let me out. Please."

  The ringmaster nods at Percy. Percy is none too happy to comply with her silent command. Yet, he has no choice. Grabbing a dagger from a nearby table, Percy jabs it into a hole in the stab chamber. He is careful to choose a hole which is not over a vital area.

  Harriet yelps as the dagger stabs into her right thigh. Melvin growls deep in his chest and twists his head in the ringmaster's direction.

  "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Melvin roars.

  He receives a backhand from the ringmaster in reply. Melvin gingerly runs his tongue over his lips, tasting the few drops of blood the ringmaster's slap solicited.

  "My patience is running very thin. That is what will happen every time one of you does not comply with my demands. Do you understand?"

  "Yes!" Melvin says in a deep angry voice.

  He wants nothing more than to twist the purple circusmaster's head on her wretched shoulders. But that will have to wait until he is untied and back on his feet.

  "Splendid," the ringmaster sarcastically yells. "It is time that I explain the rules of the game. The game is called...Wishes Undone. We've all had hopes and dreams. They're what make us who we are. We've all also had dreams dashed and torn apart. That is the goal of this game. You will both have three wishes. With each wish, you must undo something of great importance to the love of your life. You must destroy their dreams. If once you have exhausted your wishes...You can both still find it within yourselves to love each other...You are both free to go. If you cannot, the partner which has lost favor with the other must remain with me. You will join my circus. Do you both understand the rules of the game?"

  "You're mad!" Harriet yells from the coffin stab box. "Please, we have a daughter. Please don't do this!"

  The ringmaster sighs and nods to Percy. Percy again stabs the dagger into the chamber, this time jabbing Harriet's left thigh. Harriet whimpers softly from inside the chamber. Melvin squeezes his eyes shut and pretends he is brutally murdering both Percy and his purple master.

  "We understand! We'll play your game, dammit! Won't we, Harriet?"

  "But, Melvin..."

  "Won't we, Harriet?!" Melvin repeats, urgency in his voice.

  "Yes," Harriet replies in a weak voice.

  The ringmaster grins evilly and claps her hands. Percy stares down at the wooden platform. He refuses to look at either Melvin or the ringmaster.

  "Good," the ringmaster exclaims.

  To be continued.....