New Year’s Magic

Based on the “Separation Anxiety” image in my faves folder.

As Carlie waited, watching her parents show, she looked around.  Yes, backstage seemed littered with all the usual stuff she was used to from watching her parents perform, and the crowd seemed utterly amazed at the tricks they were watching.

She didn’t blame them.  In all of her 16 years, Carlie had participated in the shows for the last 4, but had never figured out how her parents did it.  Sure, most of the time, she was just helping out pushing out props and stuff, but, this time, they wanted her help with something special.

She’d seen all the “Magic’s Biggest Secrets” specials and knew that a lot of people in the business used that kind of stuff, but she’d never figured out how her parents would do it.  Not once.

Here it was, close to midnight.  Sure, they said they wanted her to wear something special, something that didn’t have too many hiding spots, something that showed a good portion of her skin, but she had no idea why.

 “And now, for a special treat, as we’re approaching the time, we’d like to present Carlie, our daughter, for her first ever time in a magic trick.”

Carlie sat there, stunned, as her dad said this.  She had no preparation, no rehearsal.  Just this sudden announcement.  As Carlie stepped out, nervously waving at the crowd, her mom slipped behind her and wheeled out their Modern Art cabinet.

Carlie’s breath quickened.  She’d seen this so many times before, and knew their usual way of performing it.  Unlike other MA cabinets, this one had no doors, no actual concealment.  Her mom usually got in, her dad ran a scimitar through the front, and then the real strangeness began.

As her mom opened the side, Carlie took her usual spot, but her mom waved her, gesturing in the way of the interior.  Carlie knew it.  It was her time.

She sighed deeply, still nervous about being in front of so many and not knowing how they were going to do it.  As she stepped in, her mom closed the door. “Don’t worry sweetie.  We’ve done this a hundred times.”

Carlie looked around the cramped interior, not sure what she was supposed to do as her dad produced the scimitar.  She almost screamed for him to stop as he slid the blade through the cabinet and she could see its sharp end nearly touching her skin.

Without any warning, he started to slide it towards her.  Her breath quickened as the blade touched her.  After just a brief, sharp pain, there was nothing.  She looked down.  Yes, the blade was in her, definitely, but there was no blood.  There was no pain.  The blade continued on into her and she couldn’t help but smile.

It felt so strange, so good.  But here she was, being cut in half, and it felt paradoxically good.  As the blade reached her spinal chord, Carlie was grinning, even laughing a little.  Having it cut through her spine she nearly moaned as to how good it all was.

All to quick, the procedure was done.  Carlie looked at her dad, anticipating the next part. “You might have thought this was just some elaborate trick, but how do you explain this.”

Her mom whispered. “Hold on sweetie.”

Carlie braced herself as the top half of the cabinet, and her, was removed.  She was in two parts now, two pieces, and everyone could see that.  As they placed her top half down, she touched just at where her torso ended.  It seemed so weird, but so right.

As the countdown began, her dad started to suggest she get herself back together to celebrate, but Carlie had a thought. “Hold on.”

Not knowing if she could, she stepped forward.  The crowd gasped in amazement as her lower half stepped out of the front of the cabinet, walking without the rest of her.  She could feel her feet touching the ground even though her upper body was a couple of feet away.  She stepped in front of her upper half and knelt.

As she did that, she pushed down, lifting her upper half off the ground.  She didn’t know if this would work, just being introduced to magic, but she had to find out.

Walking a couple of feet on her hands, she balanced her upper half over her lower half before softly letting her top down.

As soon as her two halves touched, she felt a rush of intensely good feelings.  She felt her body melt back into one piece as she stood up, just as the countdown reached midnight.

Sure, everyone there shouted “HAPPY NEW YEAR,” but so many were watching her stand up in one piece, still not sure how it was even possible.  To be honest, she wasn’t sure.

She knew three things.

First, that magic was real.  It had to be, otherwise she wouldn’t have survived being bisected like that and be able to get herself back together.

Second, as soon as she could, she had to be able to cut her head or her feet off.  Maybe both.  She’d ask her parents how she could do it herself, not knowing if it was even possible.

Third, there wouldn’t be another time like that, not even for a thousand years.