Fifty Shades of Clowns

Chapter 2

It was a long drive north. Ana and Jerry were heading for Washington, through dense woods and steep mountains. She had heard rumors that there were vampires and werewolves in those parts, but didn't worry too much. Everyone knows those things don't exist.

Besides, she wasn't going to give up on her dream that easily, not when she had come this far. Ana's clown shoes were safely packed in her suitcase along with the modest outfit she had managed to sew while Christian was away on what he said was business trips. The memory made her scowl as she remembered the silk ties and handcuffs she found in his luggage on multiple occasions. What else was he hiding, she wondered?

"Ana, you're hot." Jerry said out of the blue, looking at her bare knees.

"Jerry?" She asked, slightly creeped out by the comment.

"Sorry, I can't help but say what's on my mind. I guess I'm a bit nervous. I've never had a woman in my clown car before." He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the lucky rabbit's foot on his keychain.

"Right." Ana replied, clearing her throat and looking out the window to avoid him. In retrospect, she thought it might have been better to meet him in person before running away with him in his car. Hindsight is 20/20, she mused uneasily.

After a while of silent driving through the lonely woods, Jerry asked in a strained voice, "Will you sleep with me?"

"What?!" She yelped, jumping in her seat. He was glancing at her, his eyes examining her shapely figure.

"I-I'll think about it… and tell you when we get there." Ana tried her best to smile while inwardly wondering how she attracted so many crazy people to her. He had seemed harmless enough over the internet, but now she wondered if she should have been so trusting.

Jerry nodded and turned his attention back to the road. Crisis averted, she breathed a muted sigh. The brunette let herself relax a bit as the miles went on. By the time they make it to the camp where the circus was, it would be dark out. Audrey was waiting for them, Ana knew, and would have a room ready for her after the long journey. She seemed like a nice person and her skill with balloon sculptures was legendary.

Soon, the sun was setting and dinner time was fast approaching. Ana felt faint. The yogurt she had yesterday just wasn't cutting it. She regretted not getting the kind with fruit at the bottom. But still Ana didn't want to say anything, especially after the odd exchange earlier.

"It looks like rain." Jerry spoke first, brushing the brown hair out of his eyes as he looked at the grey sky. It reminded Ana of Christopher – the sky that is, you know, because it's grey. "We should wait it out and get something to eat. There's a good clown bar off this exit. I'll pull over."

'A clown bar?' Anastasia wondered, unable to recall ever hearing of such a thing.

They pulled into a side street and took a few turns before they arrived at a dank, wood building with a peeling fascade. There were a handful of cars parked outside and some motorcycles as well. What kind of clown drives a motorcycle, Ana wondered as they got out and walked up to the door. A great racket was coming from inside the building. The music was sensuous and pulsating, causing her spine to tingle from the vibrations.

"What is this place?" The brunette asked, hesitating.

Jerry smiled and pushed open the door wide. "You mean to tell me you've never been to a strip club? They've got the best clown knockers in town."

"C-Clown… strippers?" Ana gaped, astonished by what she saw inside.

'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…' She thought, feeling weak at the knees. 'Christian, where are you?'