Fanatic ⇒ Only Murders In The Building

09 → Fan Fiction

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'Fan Fiction'
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Callum groaned at the pounding headache that spread throughout his head from hitting it on something after ruffly being thrown into the back of a van. He slid off his blind fold, squinting in pain at the increase in light.

"What is that smell?" Mabel called out from opposite him.

"Jeez, I don't know. It-it...smells like formaldehyde. You know, they use that to preserve corpses," Oliver rushed out an explanation.

"Corpses?"

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Callum announced, bringing his tied hands to his lips, feeling acid rise up his throat.

"Do you know that I was the first director to use a real cadaver on stage?" Oliver began to ramble. For once in the time he knew the man, Callum was thankful for the temporary distraction. "In Tuesdays at Bernie's. It was my dual adaption of Tuesdays With Morrie and Weekend At Bernie's."

"What?"

Suddenly, the van came to a sharp stop, Oliver apologised the younger man for bumping into him just as the doors opened.

"Theo, Theo, Theo. Listen to me. I- Oh, I'm sorry," Oliver panicked as Theo dragged him out of the van. "I know that was insensitive. It's a touchy subject. I-Ow!" Theo punched the older man in the gut.

"Now, now, Theo. These are friends." Callum's eyes snapped to the man as he suddenly appeared. "Apologies for my son. He hates the theatre but he's very dramatic," Teddy joked as Theo dragged Mabel and Callum into the open space, cutting the duct tape from their wrists.

Callum wobbled slightly, the pounding in his head not subduing. "T-Teddy, this is all just a m-mis...why are we at a dump?" Oliver stuttered out as he came to the realisation.

"Are you gonna leave these bodies here?" Mabel accused sharply, Callum breath hitching in his throat, worried for Teddy's reaction.

The man laughed. "I like you. You ask interesting questions," he told Mabel before turning to Callum. "And you look a bit pale. Let me give you a lift home," Teddy said, gently leading the young pair to his car while Oliver was dragged behind by Theo.

The young pair took a seat next to each other while Oliver sat opposite Callum, shrinking next to Teddy. "I like this seat. Theo can't read my lips or see me in the rear-view, which is nice. Because it's not good for a son to hear, or see, his father say certain things," Teddy began to explain, his tone causing Callum to grab ahold of Mabel's coat sleeve. "For a long time, I felt ashamed to have a deaf son. It ended my marriage, actually. That and, you know, all the whores. But then I grew to appreciate Theo's perspective. I learned ASL, which many parents of deaf children do not do. Did you know that?"

"Is that right?"

"Yeah, I heard that," Mabel commented. Callum nodded along, but regretting the action as a small wave of dizziness rolled over him, causing him to grasp at Mabel's sleeve a bit tighter. The woman putting her hand over his in support.

"Through Theo, I realised the beauty of silence. It makes for beautiful friendships and partnerships when those who may know certain things about you can act as if they never heard those things."

Callum didn't appreciate the threat but it wasn't the worst one he ever got.

"We hear you loud and clear, Teddy. Or we don't. I don- I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about what you've heard and seen about me. My side jewellery interests," Teddy explained.

"Intrests," Callum muttered under his breath, disagreeing with the choice of wording but immediately shut up as Teddy looked at him.