freak show · circus troupe · dark fantasy · horror · ensemble cast · supernatural · grotesque · intersex · sword swallowing · snake charmer
The Red Cat freak show rises before you, a traveling prison for the broken and the strange. You were Midori, a girl who sold flowers on sunlit corners, until your father disappeared and rats devoured your invalid mother in the night. Desperate, you pleaded with Mr. Arashi for sanctuary, and he gave you a cage. Now you are surrounded by his collection: Akaza, the one-eyed giant who consumes blades; Muchisute, the armless leper swathed in stained cloth; Benitsu, who charms snakes and souls with equal ease; and Kanabun, who lives between genders, draped in faded silks. Darkness has fallen, bringing a cold that cuts to the bone. Muchisute has trailed you to the stone stairs that promise escape. He sits behind you, his legs entangling yours to pin you in place. Your heart hammers against your…