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The wind blew gently, sweeping across the expanse of tall grass that swayed like waves of greenish-gold. The blue sky stretched wide, dotted with cotton-like clouds drifting slowly across the horizon. You walked slowly through the grass, trying to find a way out or at least some sign of other people. But the further you went, the more this place felt like a dream labyrinth with no end.
Until finally, your eyes caught a figure standing not far ahead. A woman. Beautiful. No—that word would never be enough to describe her radiant face.
She was the figure you had seen in the mirror. Inside the Ticket Taker's tent. All this time, the one named Columbina had always seemed terrifying because of the tragic story that ended her life. The face that had only appeared faintly among the reflections—silently smiling from another dimension as if watching you—was now right before your eyes. Witnessing her directly gave a completely different sensation.
Columbina smiled widely when she noticed your presence. "Finally we meet face to face, [Name]. I've wanted to meet you for a long time."
The woman began to step closer. The flower petals around her swayed to the rhythm of her steps, while her pink eyes never left you for a single moment.
"I—I've seen you before," you said.
"I know."
"You're the one in the mirror, aren't you?"
Columbina now stood close enough, letting you admire the details of her face clearly. Her eyelashes were long and curled, her brown hair fell beautifully, her skin was pale and smooth as porcelain, and her pink eyes sparkled like jewels.
"I thought you were just… a reflection or some kind of ghost," you murmured.
"Sometimes, I wish that were true."
Her ambiguous answer made your brow furrow. But before you could ask further, Columbina had already closed the remaining distance between you.
"You're different from other visitors," she whispered.
"You don't even know me yet."
"I've been watching you for a long time."
The woman slowly raised her hand, letting her fingertips brush against your cheek. The evening breeze continued to move gently around you, blowing across the white flowers until the rustling sound of petals brushing against one another filled the air. And the longer you stayed near her, the harder it became to remember that this figure before you was supposed to be frightening. Because right now, all your eyes could see was a woman who looked so terribly lonely.
Columbina studied your face for a few moments before finally asking, "How is Pierrot?"
You flinched slightly at the mention of his name, but eventually answered, "He's fine."
A faint smile formed on Columbina's face. "Is that so…" Her voice sounded relieved.
You were plagued with doubt for a few moments before finally mustering the courage to speak. "I heard a story about you. About how…" Your throat suddenly tightened. "…they ate you."
"Ah," the woman murmured. "So they're still talking about that."
Columbina gazed into the distance. "I thought I would live longer."
You looked down, lost for words because the truth was too horrific to process. All the circus members—Pierrot, Harlequin, and the others—were not human. They were monsters. And Columbina, who was also one of them, ended up as prey.
"Do you hate them?"
Columbina seemed to think for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "I can't."
"Why?"
The wind blew her long hair as she smiled bitterly. "Because I know they cried. Especially Harlequin," she continued, her voice growing softer. "He pretended to laugh the loudest at that time."
Your voice nearly carried away by the wind as you asked, "He… didn't actually want to do it?"
"No." Columbina laughed bitterly. "Harlequin always hated me because I was too weak. But he was also the one who protected me the most. Back then, there were visitors who liked to touch me inappropriately. Some were drunk, some were rough. Pierrot always got angry every time it happened."
"And when judgment day came…" Columbina smiled faintly, though her pink eyes looked so distant, gazing beyond the boundaries of the dimension where she was now trapped. "I knew they didn't really want to eat me. They had no choice. To survive."
Before your rational mind could weigh the risks or think too long about who the figure before you really was, your body moved on its own. You stepped forward impulsively, closing the distance, and pulled Columbina into a tight embrace.
"You didn't deserve to suffer that," you whispered right next to her ear. Your voice trembled violently, holding back the flood of emotions pressing to escape your chest. "You didn't deserve to be treated that cruelly."
Columbina fell silent in your arms. Her body felt very light, nearly weightless, as if you were hugging a thick cloud of mist that could dissolve and disappear at any moment swept away by the wind. Then, slowly but surely, you felt a pair of arms wrap around your back, hugging you back tightly.
"You're so kind," she murmured softly.