Summary

Chandresh Christophe Lefevre throws darts at a recent theatre review pinned to a dartboard. Chandresh is a perfectionist theatre producer angered by the reviewer's assertion that his recent production was "almost transcendent." Although the review is glowing, Chandresh wants to be completely "transcendental" and views anything less as a failure.

In 1897, the Night Circus visits Concord, Massachusetts. Young Bailey plays Truth of Dare with his sister, Caroline, and their friends. Caroline dares Bailey to break into the Night Circus and bring something back with him as proof. Not wanting to look scared in front of Caroline's friends, Bailey accepts the dare and walks bravely toward the Night Circus. It is nearly deserted when Bailey arrives (it is daytime), and he has little trouble wriggling through the perimeter fence. The circus is eerily empty, and Bailey thinks it looks almost...