Color Coded -ToH-

A cold air was settling in from the north, stirring the trees and making the branches rattle like bones. The sun finally rose up from the darkness on that morning and the corpses were moved away into storage so as not to frighten the awakening competitors. Some parts were already being hauled off to the Doctor's private office for further inspection but the smell of rot and the stains of blood could not be washed clean. She worried that it might frighten off any potential spectators. Hopefully the stench of ash would overpower it.
The day started slowly as if crawling out from the night; there was no need to rush things. After all of the excitement from the first round, they could afford to let their guests sleep in. Hopefully they would have enough time to discard any bandages and replace them with clean gauze. Infections would only make the place smell worse.
So let them take their time, it was no matter. Inevitably they would all wander into the main tent, there was no where else to go. Light still filtered in from above where blackened holes remained, the smoke having snaked its way out long before. However the gaps were slowly growing smaller, threads branching across as the tent seemed to be mending itself.
One by one they filled the ring, the tired and the aching, the eager and the frightened. Some perhaps hiding back grins from their anticipated excitement while others dreaded the next match, wondering what kind of mess they had stumbled into.
The spotlights from above suddenly flickered on, focusing on the huddled lot of competitors. A shadowed figure moved from beyond the darkness where the light did not reach before eventually emerging into the brightness. The opossum lady gave a toothy smile, hiding something wicked in her smirk.
She clapped her pink hands together, congratulating the sixteen competitors who still remained; whittled from the former eighteen.
"Such bright and shining faces. I hope we have everyone here? Good. Alright boys and girls, welcome to Round Two. I hope your don't mind if you get your hands a little bloody, things start to get serious from here.
"Turn to your left, and turn to your right. If you don't see someone here that you did before, there's a good possibility that they might be dead. And you'd better be ready to join them because nothing is guaranteed here, not even life. Now boys and girls if you will, please stand in a nice neat line."
She popped her hat from her head with a fluid motion of the wrist, checking it once over to make sure there was nothing inside.
"I believe by now you're all familiar with this little game. But we're changing the pace a little, keeping you all on your toes. Please reach in and pull out one of the little capsules from inside. Don't be shy now, it doesn't usually bite so you should be fine."
Individually, Elly went to each of the competitors, extending her hat to them as she passed. It was peculiar having to crouch down for the smaller competitors to reach in, and she was wary that when they peeked over the rim that they didn't fall inside. That could end badly.
Once the hat had been emptied of the contents Elly flicked it back atop her grey patched head and smiled. Some of the competitors looked at the capsule quite perplexed; the were about an inch long, resembling a standard liquid pill. From within the thin external coating, the fluid-like substance swirled around, its contents cloudy but brightly colored.
"I suggest taking those with food or water. It is required that you each swallow your given pill; refusal to do so may result in disqualification and confiscation of property. These are a special home brew of mine; they will change the color of your eyes to a certain color depending on whichever you grabbed. It should wear off in a day or so, and it does take a little time after consumption for it to kick in.
"Now, I've mixed two of each color. Red, blue, yellow, purple, green, orange, black, and pink. The challenge is to find the competitor who matches your color. Of course you'll first have to find a way of checking your own color after the drug has set in. For those of you without functional mouths, or lacking eyes, just smash it on your forehead I suppose. It's either that or we dye you to match. And the dye is permanent. Take your pick.
"I should mention that I didn't have the time to properly test these for any ill side effects, and admittedly I may have accidentally mixed up some bottles, but I'm mostly sure you'll be fine. I just can't guarantee that you won't have any sort of, complications or physical altercations. It may or may not happen; we are not liable. But any symptoms should wear off too. Generally.
"So with that being said, I would like to wish you all the best of luck."
She bowed with her head tilted to bid them farewell and send them on their way. Yet something stuck in the back of her head, a little tug that told her there was something she was forgetting.
Immediately Elly straightened herself back up and held up her hands, signaling for them not to leave.
"There was something I wanted to inform you all of. You've all been through some pretty traumatic events that have probably played hard on your little brains. Plus this atmosphere isn't helping much. Do remember that minds play tricks. Sometimes you think you see things that aren't really there. Don't be surprised if you think you see a deceased competitor walking on the circus grounds. It's all in your head.
"So once again, I would like to wish you all the best of luck."