Johnny squints at them. “Yeah. What gives? That’s not the face of a man ready to plan our next night of chaos. That’s the face of a guy about to monologue about change. And I hate change.”
I narrow my eyes. Indie looks calm. But not relaxed. And Lux—he’s never still. But right now, he’s a fucking statue.
Johnny steps forward, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet.
“Alright, fearless leader,” he calls. “Where we off to next? I’ve got half a script in my head and a craving for stage blood. Oh! Can I lead the next show? I’ll call it ‘Johnny’s Carnival of Carnal Horrors.’ We’ll do a clown sacrifice at dawn.”
Lux doesn’t answer right away.
He glances at Indie and they exchange a look.
And that’s when I know.
It’s not just blood he’s shielding. It’s something bigger.
“We’re taking a step back,” Lux says finally, his voice calm but low. Serious.
Johnny blinks. “A step back from what?”
“From this,” Indie adds, her voice steady. “The shows. The road. The killing. All of it.”
There’s a silence, sharp as a snapped bone.
Johnny laughs but there’s no humor in it. “Oh. Good one. Okay, but seriously. Where’re we headed next?”
“We’re not joking,” Lux says. “We’re done. Or… stepping away.”
Johnny’s expression falls like a curtain. “Wait. You’rewhat?”
Lux steps forward, raising a hand. “Johnny?—”
“No. No, no, no. You can’t justleave. This is who we are. This is what wedo. You’re the ringleader. She’s the whip-wielding queen of pain. You two are like—like the skeleton and the spine of this whole fucking freakshow.”
“It’s not about walking away from who we are,” Indie says gently. “It’s about protecting who we’re becoming.”
She places a hand on her stomach.
And just like that?—
Everything stops.
Giselle lets out a tiny gasp. Her hands fly to her mouth, eyes wide and wild. Alaska tilts her head like she doesn’t understand. Johnny blinks once. Then again.
Indie speaks softly. “I’m pregnant.”
The silence is loud.
For a moment, no one moves. The world feels like it’s holding its breath. Even the gods go still.
And then Giselle screams.
“Oh my fuckinggods—Indie!” She launches herself into Indie’s arms, cackling and sobbing all at once. “You’re gonna be amom! Ahot mom! Like a MILF with a whip and a baby carrier!”
Johnny stumbles backward, hand on his heart. “I—What—I’m not emotionally equipped for this! Someone hold me. Alaska, get over here. I need support.”
“Oooh, I love babies,” Alaska says, already hugging him. “Are we gonna throw a party? Do we get to eat the placenta?”
Johnny sobs into her shoulder. “Oh my god, Uncle Johnny? I’m teach it how to juggle knives.”
