Freak
Legacy Name: Freak

At a young age, he found himself a 'home'. It was a dark, secluded den, sheltered from the elements, and more importantly, away from people. He spent all day in there, avoiding any contact with the outside world. At night he would sneak out and hunt for food - insects, small rats, anything he could catch. To anyone with a heart, it was a miserable existence. But the freak knew nothing else.

Jackson sat at his desk, talking to an acquaintence on the telephone. "I need a new one, Carter. My show is not drawing the crowds, and I need the money. Do some research, talk to the locals. Find me a new one, okay?" He hung up and poured himself a shot of whisky. Feet up on the desk, he asked himself, for the hundreth time, why he had ended up in this business. Freaks were becoming less popular, thanks to the new-found morality of the general public. He knew however, if he could find something astounding, something so shocking, that the people would come. Morals or not, they all had curiosity. And curiosity made him money.

A few weeks later, Jackson was once again in conversation with a very excited Carter. He told his employer he had heard tales of a creature, something so hideous that people were terrified of it. He had spoken to a few people who lived in the neighbourhood, and they remembered this creature before it had disappeared. They told Carter there were rumours the freak was still alive, and hiding out in the scrubs a few miles away. But no-one had ever been brave enough to try to find it. Jackson was a little sceptical, he had heard stories like this before. He told Carter to investigate further - if anything came of the story, he would travel to take a look for himself.

The freak waited for nightfall. He was hungry. Very hungry. His hunts had been unsuccessful the last few nights, and he knew he must find something soon. He sniffed the air, and decided it was safe enough to leave and venture outside. Carefully, slowly, he crept around, on the hunt for something good to eat. A beetle scuttled past his foot, but he was too slow and clumsy to catch it. A little further on, it seemed his prayers had been answered - a dead mouse lay half sticking out from a thorn bush. He quickly grabbed it, and shuffled back to his den. The mouse was barely a meal, however. the freak knew he needed more, but was afraid the light would be coming soon. His hunger overtook his fear, and he ventured out once more. Not long after, he stopped in his tracks. Crouched down at the side of the grass verge, a man waited. He held meat in his hand. Fresh meat. He smelled it long before he saw it. Shaking uncontrollably, he drew a little closer. He heard the man breathing heavily. Suddenly, the man threw the meat onto the ground, startling the freak. It smelled so good, he couldn't resist. He grabbed it, and shuffled back to his den, fully expecting something terrible to happen at any moment.

Nothing happened. He was stunned. As he ate, he wondered what had just happened. No-one had ever showed him any kindness, and he was a little unsure about the whole experience. His stomach felt full though. And it felt good. The freak slept, and dreamed.

The next night, the freak left his den again, and to his amazement, the man was there again. With more fresh meat. It was a dream come true for him. He gratefully took the meat, and headed home again. This time, the man followed him, from a distance. The man was careful not to frighten the creature, and as he approached its lair, he simply sat and waited. The freak was inside, eating with delight. He was unaware the man was so close. Although there was nothing he could have done, even if he had realised. Shortly after eating the meat, he passed out. Carter heard the thud and immediately called to Jackson. "It's safe now, come and get it".

Jackson appeared from behind a crumbling wall, carrying a large net and an animal transporter. Carter produced a torch, and they both entered the freak's den. As they approached, Jackson prodded him with a stick. No movement. "That, my dear Carter, is our ticket to a rich life. People will come from all over to see this freak of nature. You did well, very well!" Carter chuckled a little as he envisaged the money this 'thing' would bring them. They loaded the animal transporter onto Jackson's truck, and drove to the other waiting trucks and trailers, just a few miles away. The trucks were painted with a billboard: 'Freaks Of The World'. The newest sideshow member was slung inside the back of one of the trucks, and Jackson climbed in to drive.

The freak awoke, feeling groggy and very sick. He vaguely remembered the events from that night, but was unsure where he was, or what was happening. After what seemed an eternity, the trucks stopped, and he was pulled from the truck, still inside the transporter. Jackson opened the door of the transporter and looked inside. "Still breathing, perfect". He threw the freak into a small trailer and locked the door. Hours later, he was still waiting to find out what was going to happen to him, when the trailer door opened and a man stepped inside. He put something to his mouth and aimed at the freak, blowing hard. A sharp jab hit him in the side, and he tried to make a sound of displeasure - but of course, nothing come out. He keeled over, and the man prodded him a few times to be sure he was unconscious. While he was 'out', the man fixed a large chain collar to his neck, along with a long heavy link-chain. When the freak awoke, he could barely lift his head.

A few days passed, and it was obvious to the freak he was in a very bad situation. All the men he came into contact with hit him with sticks, poked his ribs, and kicked him from time to time. As the days turned into weeks, he understood he was to stand on a wooden platform with a curtain around him. The curtain would be pulled down, and lots of people would gasp and stare. Sometimes they laughed at him. And the men he lived with; they beat him. The weeks turned into months, the months into years. Jackson had become rich from travelling with him and the other 'freaks' he owned. He treated them all as badly. The freak was becoming weak, and tired. He knew he wanted the situation to end. He wanted his life of torture to end.

Saturday night, 'Freak Show' night. The freak was chained to a wooden post, waiting for Jackson to kick him into position. The collar had dug into his neck over the years, he had many scabs and open sores. It often bled, but he had long grown used to the pain. It hardly bothered him at all anymore. And he was still unable to make a sound, to make anyone aware of the discomfort he was in anyway. While he waited for Jackson, he became aware of a young man, crawling on the ground towards him. The freak stiffened a little, so used was he to man's unkindness. He watched nervously as the young man used a large pair of pliers on the link-chain that tied him to the wooden post. The young man spoke in a kind voice to him. But he had no understanding of what he said. He just knew he wanted to hear more of that soft tone. He strained his head towards the young man, his fear overridden by desire for human kindness, after all these years. The young man reached out and touched the freak on the top of his head, stroking him gently. He suddenly felt at peace with himself, completely at peace.

A noise disturbed the young man, and he quickly fled. Jackson approached, and kicked the freak a few times in the side. "You better do your job, freak", he snapped, "Go out there and make me some damn money". He yanked the chain and dragged him to the wooden platform. For the first time in his many years of captivity, he resisted. This enraged Jackson, and he kicked his prized possession several more times. "I'm the boss" he hissed - "don't you ever forget it, you ugly, pathetic FREAK!" Jackson kicked him one more time into position, just as the curtain was lifted. People gasped and pointed at the creature before them. Jackson strode around the platform, delivering his usual speech about the incredible 'monstrosity' they were all looking at. He was however, still enraged at the freak's resistance from earlier, and Jackson leaned in close to him and whispered "You'll regret that later, freak. You wait and see."

As Jackson walked to the other side of the platform, the freak finally snapped. With all his strength, he leapt up and pulled against the chain. It gave way, and in seconds, he lunged at Jackson. He sunk his teeth into Jackson's neck, making him squeal like the pig he was. Blood spurted out, and he bit more into Jackson's body, his legs, his arms. Suddenly, he felt an intense pain, like nothing he had felt before. People were screaming and many had already fled. The freak was loose, they were sure he would rip them all to shreds. But the freak only had one person in mind. Jackson was screaming, Carter had run up on the wooden platform and stabbed the freak in the neck with a long, spear-like weapon.

He collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily. The pain was strong, but he felt no fear. He felt peace. He felt happy to be leaving this world, he knew the end was coming fast for him. With every ounce of strength he had left in his deformed body, he took a huge breath in, and then, for the first time ever in his life - he let out a long, loud, piercing howl. As the howl faded to a whimper, The freak closed his eyes, and let the end take him.