New assistant illusionist - part 1-3

Part 1

The empty backstage hallway was filled with the distant echoes of applause. Nick, as usual, was cleaning up after the latest act while the troupe entertained the crowd with dazzling illusions and tricks. A smile appeared on his face when he heard the loud ovation—by the sound of it, this was Jacques' act, the circus's lead illusionist. The audience adored him: mesmerized by his tricks, flashes of light, and dramatic disappearances, they barely kept up with his quick hands and alluring voice. Nick had his own respect for the stage masters, and at times, he might have even envied their popularity and the admiration they commanded.

Carefully sweeping the last corner, he set the broom aside for a moment and stretched his aching back. It was hard not to dream of standing in their place, even just once, during moments like these. But it remained an impossible fantasy—who was he to dream of the stage?

No sooner had Nick finished tidying the corner than the circus manager, Mr. Devereux, strode toward him. Devereux was a stocky, slightly fidgety man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a habit of constantly checking his pocket watch, ensuring he missed nothing.

—Nick, my friend! You’ll help the circus out in a tough moment, right? — Devereux began, jumping straight to the point. His face was slightly tense, and his voice sounded anxious. —We need you now more than ever!

—Me? —Nick looked surprised, not fully understanding what was happening. —Is something wrong?

—Yes, you, —Devereux confirmed, casting a quick glance around, as if checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping. —There’s a problem with Jacques’ act; his assistant didn’t show up. And this act is important, you understand? We need a replacement urgently. Can you manage?

—Wait, wait, Mr. Devereux— Nick took a step back, bewildered. —I’m just a janitor. What kind of assistant would I be?

—Don’t worry, —Devereux waved his hand, as if it were nothing. —All you have to do is get into the box for a couple of minutes and stay still. Jacques will handle the rest. It’s a disappearance act, nothing complicated. You’ll come out, the audience will be surprised, and that’s it. Besides, I’ll pay you well.

At the mention of money, Nick relaxed a little. Thoughts raced through his mind: this was a chance, after all! A small one, maybe, but still a step toward the stage.

—Of course, of course, —he exhaled, trying to steady the slight tremor in his voice. —If you need me, I’ll help.

—Wonderful! —Devereux clapped him on the shoulder enthusiastically and led him to the dressing room, leaving him almost no choice.

In the cramped room filled with mirrors, the makeup artist was already waiting for them. He gave Nick a quick look, and for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossed his face, but then he smirked and handed Nick a simple black suit with wide lapels.

—Put it on, don’t be shy, —said the makeup artist, sizing Nick up with a slight squint and nodding at the suit. —You might not look like a pro, but it’ll do for this act.

Nick took the suit, glanced at his reflection one more time, and sighed. It wasn’t every day a janitor ended up on stage as the assistant to a great illusionist. He slipped into the suit, which was a bit big in the shoulders and too long, but, as the makeup artist said, it would do. With little time to spare, Mr. Devereux practically dragged him toward the backstage area.

Part 2

Jacques was already captivating the audience, expertly playing on their imagination. The stage, bathed in the glow of spotlights, seemed like an entirely different world to Nick, far from the backstage bustle and his usual cleaning duties. As they approached the stage, Devereux whispered hurriedly:

—No complicated tricks, you just need to get into the box and wait for Jacques to open it. Just don’t move or make a sound. When you go on stage, just smile and act like everything is under control, —Devereux whispered, nudging Nick forward. —And remember, it’s only a couple of minutes!

Nick was pushed into the blinding stage lights, where, for a moment, the audience turned into a blur. He squinted, feeling completely out of place. The audience began murmuring, frowning with obvious disappointment—it was clear to everyone that this wasn’t Jacques’ charming assistant, but a guy in an ill-fitting suit who looked more than a little lost.

Jacques, tall, charismatic, and confident, approached Nick with a friendly but visibly strained smile. With a practiced gesture, he put an arm around Nick’s shoulders and, turning him to face the audience, began speaking, quickly adapting to the situation with humor.

—My friends, —he began, raising his hand in a theatrical gesture, —everything is just fine. My usual assistant has found herself in… an unexpected adventure! Yes, yes! Sometimes even magic needs a few… surprises. Today, I present to you not an ordinary assistant! —He paused, allowing the audience to take in the unexpected twist. —But a real stage vagabond!

The audience chuckled as Jacques continued the joke, poking fun at Nick’s disheveled appearance.

—They say the stage vagabond appears only on a full moon and only on the most magical of nights, ladies and gentlemen! —Jacques addressed the crowd, smirking, —This man can disappear and reappear where you least expect him… usually by the buffet or at the ticket counter!

The audience burst into laughter, catching the hint at Nick’s awkward look. Nick, still embarrassed, stood there, unsure of what to do. Seeing his discomfort, Jacques nudged him toward the box with a playful grin.

—Well, vagabond, your time has come! Get in, —he commanded, giving Nick a theatrical pat on the shoulder. Nick took a deep breath and climbed in, feeling the door of the box slam shut and darkness envelop him.

Meanwhile, Jacques raised his voice theatrically as he spread his arms:

—Prepare yourselves for the great disappearance! Our vagabond will travel to a place where no circus buffet or ticket booth can find him! You are about to witness a mystery steeped in centuries of magical ritual!

The audience fell silent in anticipation, and as Jacques held a dramatic pause, he signaled the lighting crew. The lights dimmed, the stage was draped in darkness, and only flashes of colorful lights created an air of mystery.

In the third row, a woman sat calmly, dressed in an elegant, muted dark green gown, adorned with barely noticeable earrings that sparkled in the spotlight’s glow. Her face looked serene, but a strange glint flickered in her eyes—a mixture of boredom and barely concealed mockery. She watched the stage with a slightly raised eyebrow and a wrinkled nose.

Part 3

—And so, ladies and gentlemen, the stage vagabond vanishes! —Jacques announced grandly, accompanying his words with a wave of his hand. A light fog swirled around the box, obscuring its outline, while beams of light alternated with quick flashes, creating the illusion of magical sparks.

The bored woman in the green dress from the third row tilted her head slightly, chuckled softly, and smirked just a little. Her gaze sparkled from under thick lashes, and her lips moved almost imperceptibly as she murmured:

—An ‘unexpected adventure’ for the assistant, huh?

The spell the witch whispered was barely audible, and a small glowing orb drifted from her hand, shooting toward the box as soon as she finished. Jacques, with an artful slowness, unlocked the box and revealed its empty interior to the audience. He circled around it, showing the crowd that the assistant had vanished, expertly keeping their attention, while Nick, inside, began to feel an odd sensation ripple through his body. Suddenly, the dark space felt tighter, but Nick figured it was just the heat and cramped walls—nothing out of the ordinary.

In the dark confines, Nick noticed a strange tingling spreading over his chest. His shirt seemed to grow tighter, with small pulsations under the fabric becoming more noticeable. Suddenly, his chest was overtaken by warmth, then a pulsing pressure. His chest swelled, pushing forward, his body changing shape as something soft and heavy began to fill out the front of his shirt. It became harder to breathe, as the odd pressure encircled his chest.

He tried to shift to make space for the strange weight and unfamiliar shape on his chest, but any movement only increased the discomfort. His chest pressed against the inner wall of the box, forcing him back.

Then he felt something tickling his shoulders and back—soft, light touches like feathers brushing against him. At first, he didn’t understand what it was until he felt a weight spreading over his back, as if his head were surrounded by long, thick hair. It slid down his neck, brushing his shoulders and grazing every inch of his skin. While Nick tried to understand what was happening and find a comfortable position, his hips began to widen, filling the tight space of the box behind him. He sensed that something thin and tight was wrapping around his legs. His backside felt unexpectedly larger, muscles stretched and compressed, and he suddenly realized his thighs were encased in something that fit like a second skin. 'What… is… happening?' he shouted in his mind.

Then, just below his chest, he felt something pressing firmly against his waist, squeezing it tighter and tighter, until every breath seemed to echo in his ribs, as if an invisible force were pulling in his sides. Strong pressure encased his hips and legs.