The Life Thief - Victims 2

A story that’s told about the origin of The Life Thief is this. An entertainer in the Resistance period was famous for playing different roles. He had a vast collection of masks, outfits, and makeup to play as different real and made-up people. One day, he got the great idea to replace the king of his country. He got into the castle while the real king was gone and played it off so well that people thought he was actually the king. Once the real king came back from his vacation, he tried to have the Life Thief expunged from the throne, but no one could tell the difference. The servants and family of the king tested both of them to a stalemate. The Life Thief studied the life of the king in and out, which included some of his secret details. The decision of who was the real king came down to a sword battle, which the Life Thief won since he was so slick. The Life Thief then ruled for years with the king’s family, servants, and country thinking that he is the kind, original king and that the entertainer was the imposter.
During his years as king, The Life Thief visited a witch and made a deal with her that gave him eternal life. The catch was that he had to switch places with a person once he reached the age that people usually die at lest he die and be sent to hell. He agreed and once the time came, he faked his death and took the life of an entertainer. The Life Thief took many different roles throughout his eternal life such as; soldier, politician, scientist, philosopher, pope, president, assassin, and so on. The life of entertainer and ruler were his favorites, but he enjoyed constantly switching roles fun and entertaining. The legend of the Life Thief is this though some don’t know the real story because it is lost to time. People swear they saw the same person during that time, but they saw a false person. They saw…The Life Thief.
It’s the early 1900s and a traveling circus sets up for another grand show not too far from a city. It consists of many veteran performers and newcomers as well all of whom just want to have fun and make people smile.
A female clown, whose name is Dolly, visits the still practicing veterans and says to them, “You old farts are still practicing? We’re going to have guests coming soon!”
They all laugh while one says, “We have to stay in shape. How do you think we’re still in top condition despite our age?”
Another says, “You youngsters better do the same or else we’ll outperform and outlive you!”
A third veteran says, “Let the crowd come and watch us if they see us. We’ll just be making it worth them coming early.”
Dolly decides to train with them especially with a man by the name of Marcus. He’s been her personal trainer for her entire life and is basically her father since her real father disowned her when she chose to pursue the circus.
While practicing, Dolly talks to Marcus and says to him, “You still got it old timer.”
Marcus chuckles a bit then says, “And you’re not bad for a young girl. Are you single?”
“Haha. I am and I might be looking. I’m not so sure about dating cougars like you or what do you call male cougars? Manthers?”
“Whatever they call me, you don’t need to consider me as one of your partners.”
“Of course I can. If you’re still fit and can do this well, then you might be good in-”
“Ah! I don’t want to hear none of that especially since you’re a mother!”
“Hahaha! A single mother. Besides, I just like teasing you.”
“It’s not right to tease an old fart like me. That could do me in faster than old age!”
“Haha, then old age better hurry up because you’re too much fun to mess with.”
“Why don’t you mess with your kids? My mother used to bother me and make me look like a fool when I was a child.”
“I do every now and then. They’ve gotten used to my teasing and aren’t easy to tease, but you, however, are very easy to tease.”
“Please let my old age take me out of this misery.”
“Hahaha!”
After training together, the crew rests a bit before performing. There’s a large crowd that consists of normal people and some wealthy individuals. The circus that this crew is a part of is popular after all and has been going strong for quite some time. Today’s special event is themed after The Life Thief, so everyone is dressed as someone popular or dressed in similar looking ways. Some people are dressed so well that you can’t tell the difference between several of them. During the break, someone notices that their dad went missing during break. They go to security and they line up everyone, but everyone thinks this is part of the event, so they act the part.
“I’m your father! Just look into my eyes and remember me!”
“Would your dad say something that creepy? I’m your real dad!”
“Guys, stop acting for a second as me. It’s weirding my son out.”
Another person goes missing while this is going on and again this event repeats because people don’t take it seriously.
“You didn’t lose me babe! I’m right here!”
“What are you people doing? You can’t steal my wife away from me!”
“Yeah, you should get away from her!”
“You’re a woman! I’m her actual husband!”
People have fun with the commotion and stage disappearances and act like The Life Thief. During the uproar, a few more people disappear. It isn’t until people start taking things seriously that a firework goes off in the middle of the circus.
Dolly and Marcus say with microphones, “We’ve had you all fooled!”
The people who disappeared enter the circus area from colorful cloud of smoke. Tons of people are relived by the sight of their love ones, but there are still a few people missing. Dolly and Marcus are told the people who went missing and they don’t recall taking those people. Security, Marcus, and Dolly search the perimeter to find the missing people while the other circus clowns keep the crowd entertained and calm.
“I can’t believe some people are taking this act this seriously,” Dolly says.
Marcus chuckles then says, “Me neither. Remind me again why we did an event based on The Life Thief?”
“You thought it was a funny idea especially if something like this would happen.”
“Oh, I forgot.”
“Is that your old age catching up to you?”
“Sort of.”
“What do you mean by sort of? Haha, is it because you’re highly athletic?”
“That and a balanced diet keeps me young.”
Dolly and Marcus walk around the perimeter of the circus a couple times and they don’t find anything.
“How about we check our dressing room?” Marcus suggests.
“Why would anyone be there?”
“It’s a good place to hide and overhear the crowds in case they need to go back.”
“Makes sense. Wait, you aren’t telling me this, so we can be alone together, are you?”
“I swear I’m not.”
“Ok, but I’m keeping my eye on you.”
“Do whatever you want. You’re the only one who thinks I’m going after you.”
“Way to make a girl feel special.”
Dolly and Marcus search the backstage and eventually find several people knockout hidden under a circus tent.
“Now what happened here?” Dolly asks as she looks at the people who are here.
“Maybe they drank too much?”
“Don’t know-”
They find the body of what appears to be another Marcus.
“Wait who’s this? He looks exactly like you Marcus!”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s a fan dressed up as me?”
“I don’t remember seeing any people dressed as me.”
“That’s not important now. We have to find the person who did this.”
“That person is here,” someone says from behind them, “And that person is you!”
Another person who looks exactly like Marcus appears from behind them.
“Imposter! I’m the real Marcus!”
“No, you’re the imposter! You knocked me out and left me here after I the show and impersonated me!”
“Then who’s the other Marcus here?” Dolly asks.
“A fan who you mistook for me! You’re trying to steal my life like the Life Thief!”
“You’re the only one who’s trying to do that!”
“How about this, let’s see who’s the real Marcus from your performances! I know the way my Marcus moves, I’m always watching him.”
“If there was one thing that I’d give to my imposter, it’d be your overly flirting personality Dolly.”
“I need a restraining order after this is done.”
“Your performances as Marcus so far is excellent.”
Dolly tells the audience that their loved ones are backstage and they should go back there to pick them up. This next event, she tells them, is to prove who the real Marcus is. Both perform admirably, but one overperforms. Thinking it’s just Marcus showing off, Dolly determines that this is the winner. The imposter is sent off to jail and the rest of the event goes off without a hitch. The circus won’t meet up again until next week, so everybody goes their separate ways for now.
After the event, Dolly goes up to Marcus and says, “You mind if we train together for next week?”
“Are you honestly taking advantage of my single status?”
“Come on. It’s not like you have anybody at home.”
“Fine.”
“Yes! I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I hope you do.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
As they were together for a week, Marcus and Dolly got close together to the point where they became a couple. They got married, had a special circus wedding, and had two children. Once the Marcus that was imprisoned get out and revisits the circus, he confronts Marcus and Dolly.
“Dolly, what did this Marcus do to you?”
“Aren’t you the fake Marcus?”
“No, I’m the real one I swear! I won’t marry you or have sex with you.”
“That’s a lie. The Marcus I know was just playing hard to get with me. I don’t care if he’s a bit older than I am. He’s the man I love.”
“That’s not right! I never loved you that way!”
“Security, get this loon out of here.”
“You’re making a mistake! That isn’t the real Marcus, I am! That’s the Life Thief!”
Security takes away Marcus and the other one comes to Dolly.
“What’s going on here sugar?” he says.
“Just some crazy bastard saying that you’re not really my Marcus.”
“What a fake. Come on, let’s get ready before the show starts.”
“Are you going to dress me?”
“You bet.”

The Life Thief is a sly man who continues to replace people and live in their shoes. He perfectly replicates their personality and looks to the point where not even the closest friends and relatives can’t tell the difference between the fake and the original. Such is the way of The Life Thief.

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