The moon was as bright as the flame that burned inside of him. Around eleven days ago the young man, Rival, was walking down the street. A simple man not much sense to his young mind. He was always known as somewhat a friendly man in his small district. He walked the streets of Detroit and saw many of things. The young boy was a boxer all his years growing up and loved to train in the gym. It was his favorite of things. Soon after he realized he needed more money to provide his passion for fighting. So he started hustling, he began robbing people in daylight. He had no cares about any of this. No one opposed him either. He stood tall and he stood alone in his quest.

Later the night grew dark and the winds began to rush violently and the cool air froze his tough skin. His knuckles began to bleed from the frigid weather. He pulled his coat tight and looked for a close cozzy spot to warm up for the while. He walked two blocks not finding a thing until around midnight a giant tent appeared to him with flames coming from the corners. Many were gathered and it seemed everyone was enjoying themselves. He walked over to the oversized camping tent and creeped inside.

Men on poles, Women the size of bears, animals that have never been seen to the human eye (or at least his own) Clowns ran around juggling what would appear to be white bowling pins and a FOX of a woman waving at the crowd in the very center of it all standing on a ball. A crowd of wealthy people sat watching laughing enjoying the midnight viewing of the specatcle.

No doubt now what would begin to unfold. The youngster started pickpocketing people left and right. He stole bags of purses from old ladies. The care of the people was not to their belongings but to their very own invisble world they held in their eyes. Show after show performer after performer would equal dollar after dollar. Feeling the crowd would soon be done watching the boy crept out of the tent and headed on his way home which was still a few more blocks down. He slept good that night there was no doubt.

The next night he awoke in a rickity machine of some sort. He couldnt tell because he was blindfolded. He still had the sense of feel cause his head was in pain from the blunt strike he took while he was kidnapped. His mouth was forced open and a gun had entered. The noise of a pistol loading up brought the young man to concern. COULD THIS BE IT? He thought to himself and realized they wanted something for him. He lifted his finger in approach to speak but was cut off from words from another.

We Want Nothing From YOU Boy!

His finger fell back into the hand and the hand fell back to the side. If they didnt want anything from him then why did they have him. The gun was removed from his mouth and the moving vehicle came to a stop. He was dragged to what sounded like water. His head was dunked underwater and lifted back up and dunked in again.

Yep that is most definitely water.

He was then sat on the edge of a dock and the blind fold was taken off. He saw a few stand before him. Who they were he could not tell. He continued to cough and choke from the almost to be drowning that took place. Finally his eyes witnissed a woman that stood infront of him. She stared at him and he stared back. The staring was long and intense. Finally she growled and he screamed.

WHO ARE YOU? She asked with the most intense face.

They Call me...Mr. awesome. This was no time for cute little jokes as his face was forced to the ground by a man that looked dead but appearantly he was immortal. Well, If you want to be serious I have no given name. I..well i use to be a boxer and i had a nick name. Rival it was. They called me that bec...

His words were finished with a knee to his chest. A nice woman who gave him credit for being able to have his sense of humor in a time of near death. She tipped her hat to him and continued to tip it. He watched her as if she was frozen tipping her hat at him. He laughed for a moment and then looked at the woman talking. He then realized she was a circus performer.

Are you not the circus ring master or such an such? Why are you here attacking me, for i did nothing to you, did i? The gathered performers who looked more like freaks began to laugh and she shut them up. She approached him and the staring began again. This time he would win the intense contest. However he blinked. Wait, Lets try that again I blinked. She then growled at him.

DO YOU KNOW YOU STOLE FROM MY CUSTOMERS!? DO YOU KNOW YOU ROBBED MY PEOPLE BLIND!? THERE IS ONLY ONE RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE!

The young mans head rose in an awkward position. He stared and smiled and squinted his eyes.

A staring contest of epic proportions is what you want isnt it?

She held out her hand and helped him to stand. She looked at him and then to her gathered friends from the circus. She curtsied and they bowed she then asked him a question he was never asked prior to now.

Why not join us? You would make an impeccable addition to our family. The way you move without people seeing and the fearlessness you show even against people much bigger than yourself.

He smiled and waved at them all then started to walk around staring at the tall ugly one he began to reject the offer.

It is most unfortunate really, you see i have to fly back to chicago and join back up with my circus family there. I really do appreciate the offer Ms....Umm hmmm He drew a blank and stared for about two or three seconds then continued on But good luck on your endeavors and i will be off now.

The gun shot fired and the young man, Rival, Jumped in fear. There seemed to be no other option. He was either to join the detroit freaks or die.

Well, You can either join the Freaks of detroit or die.

It was almost as if she read his mind. He turned back around and bowed holding out his hand.

It would be the highest honor i have ever recieved to join the freaks. Now, what kind of family is this really and where could i be of any service?

The RingMaster seemed happy that this man had changed his mind but now he was to actually work for someone else instead of himself. His love for the gym was put on hold as he was struggling to figure out how to become a proper earner for this new Family. He started by doing what he knew best, robbing people in the day. He was now a freak or at least an associate to the Freaks. He wore his dark mask so no one would recognize him and identify him, for if they did that he surely would die and he knew that. His plan was to make enough money and soon depart this so-called family.

NEXT TIME: Adventures with alessio part 1 of 2

[In memory of the Fallen from LA, especially Godfather Drexler and Sir Frank Martin.]