Frederick Parrish’s origin

*This is the origin of a character from my story “31 horrific Halloween tales”, which you can find under my folder “31 Halloween tales”. This story is under my folder “The Parrish family”. Gacha Club character designs are under my forum “My character designs<33[2]”. Enjoy!*

Introduction

PAST-BIRTHDAY MAZE

Frederick stared at his mauled legs in shock. No, there wasn’t much of his legs left. Only a bloody mass, a pile of bones and flesh. He couldn’t move from the ground.

He screamed, hating the sound of his raspy, mangled voice. Who was that girl? Why did she hurt him? No, what was she? She just appeared at the party and attacked him.

Frederick was going to die…die…die.

Chapter One

PRESENT DAY-AT THE CARVER CIRCUS

Frederick smiled as the curtains came down. The audience cheered him on, his act was to begin.

He was a clown, he’d fall flat on his face. Everyone thought that it was all a performance, but the legs that the doctors gave him weren’t perfect, and they would slip up every few moments.

At least the audience found it funny…

Chapter Two

Frederick’s legs gave out a while after riding on the unicycle. He bit back a cry of pain as he felt his the bones of his legs breaking away from each other, and off to the ground he felt, dirt slipping into his eyes.

But the audience was happy. The children in the audience, they were happy. Beautiful, free children, their lives full of color. Two of them were his children, who looked at him with such wonder.

Frederick swallowed down his paranoia. There was no time for anything other than joy.

Chapter Three

FLASHBACK

Frederick couldn’t believe it. Lilac invited him to her cousin, Lisbeth’s, sixth birthday party. She wanted him around! She liked him!

Frederick just had to find a hiding place in the maze, a perfect place to stay hidden.

Why a maze? He didn’t know. Maybe Lisbeth liked mazes. They twisted, they turned…

“Frederick.” A voice seethed.

Frederick stopped. No, it was just his imagination.

“Frederick!” The voice said again.

Surely, it wasn’t Drusilla, right? It sounded vaguely like her, but it couldn’t be…

Something pounced on him from behind, tackling him to the ground.

Chapter Four

Much of the crowd was beginning to leave for another show, for his act had finished. Frederick got up from the ground, expecting to simply leave, but then…

He saw Desmaire running towards him, another girl her age in tow.

The other girl, with her ginger hair and honey brown eyes…why on Earth did she look so familiar?

Chapter Five

“Can she stay with us? Please? She has no where else to go!” Desmaire pleaded.

Frederick looked at her, and then to the mysterious girl.

“Do you even know her?” Frederick asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes! She’s my friend! Her name is Lucille!” Desmaire said.

Huh. The desire in Desmaire’s eyes, the fact that she was asking him, made Frederick think that she really wanted Lucille to stay.

Lucille looked at both of them passively, not a care in the world.

“Only one night. That’s it.” Frederick said.

Desmaire beamed, eyes sparkling with joy. Lucille smiled, but it looked strained and artificial.

Surely, it would just be one night, right?

Chapter Six

IN BED

“Doesn’t she look familiar to you?” Lilac asked.

Frederick and Lilac lay side by side in bed, pale moonlight wafting in from their window.

“Who? Lucille?” Frederick asked.

Lilac took a deep breath, tainted with fear.

“Yes, her. It’s eerie, isn’t it? How much she looks like someone we know.” Lilac said.

“Sometimes people have those faces. Desmaire seems to like her.” Frederick said.

He wrapped an arm around Lilac and brought her close to him. He wouldn’t tell her his fear, he wouldn’t tell her his thoughts when he saw Lucille. She didn’t deserve to know that.

“Yes, but what does Desmaire know? What if there’s something going on with her? What if-“

“It’s nothing to worry about, sweetheart. We’re going to be fine.” Frederick said.

They would be fine, because Lucille was just a girl, right?

Chapter Seven

FLASHBACK

“Don’t scream, it will be easier if you comply.” Drusilla’s voice snarled.

Fredrick didn’t get up from the ground. She sat on top of him, her claws breaking his flesh, tearing him apart. He bit down on his bottom lip, swallowing down his screams.

Drusilla wasn’t a monster. Monsters weren’t real. She was just a girl, and she needed to let out her anger. There was a good reason for it. She was his friend, she’d never hurt him without a cause.

His tears were unnecessary. She told him to comply, so he’d do so. That was the right and good thing to do, after all.

Chapter Eight

AT THE CARVER CARNIVAL

Frederick walked through the carnival, the wires on his legs feeling as though they would break and slip any moment. He limped awkwardly, wishing nothing more than to get to his tent.

Mr. Carver, the man of the circus, was setting up posters on a wall. Posters of the ginger-haired…Lucille?

“Mr. Carver, who is that?” Frederick asked.

“Our new act! Turns out she’s got a lovely singing voice, she’ll be perfect!” Mr. Carver beamed.

“Really? You trust her?” Frederick asked tentatively.

“Ah, don’t get jealous now!” Mr. Carver laughed, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

No, it wasn’t jealousy. It was something else, something more justified.

Right?

Chapter Nine

Time had passed at the carnival. Performances were going to begin. Lucille waved at Frederick, an innocent twinkle in her eyes.

He waved hesitantly back. For a millisecond, he saw a flicker of a looming, clawed shadow behind her, but that was all.

A trick of light, perhaps.

Chapter Ten

Frederick wobbled on his legs as he juggled the balls, the audience clapping simultaneously as he did so.

Was that what they always did? Move all at once, like a machine? Waiting for him to twitch a muscle?

Suppose I bleed out. Would they care?

Frederick brushed off that morbid, no-good thought. No use thinking about blood when one was a clown for a living.

Chapter Eleven

Just as he predicted, Frederick’s legs gave out with a screeching creak noise, the audience screaming with laughter as they clapped over his struggle, his own daughters joining in on the fun.

You’re a nobody, Freddie. A funny lil’ clown for them to all laugh at. Come on and embrace it!

The voice in his head sounded like someone else’s, like another person was speaking to him. But that couldn’t be possible, because that would mean that he was insane, and he certainly wasn’t.

It was only the wind breaking through the tent flaps, tricking Frederick to think that they were words.

Chapter Twelve

Frederick lifted his head up from the dirt. The next show was starting to begin. Lucille’s voice rang throughout the carnival, the people crowded around to see her.

Helen ran up to him, fear in her eyes. What could that child possibly have to worry about?

“Daddy? Can I talk to you? It’s important!” Helen pleaded.

His legs weren’t the most stable. Getting off the ground took Frederick quite the effort. He’d just go home and rest. He’d talk to Helen later.

“Not now, sweetie. When we get home.”

“But-“

“I’m tired, Helen.” Frederick said.

If only his legs didn’t hurt, if only he had more energy, if only he were better, then he could listen to whatever Helen had to say.

But he wasn’t better. He was just Frederick.

Chapter Thirteen

FLASHBACK

Fredrick lay in the hospital bed, trying his best to ignore the prosthetic legs. They felt strange and heavy on him, like blocks were tied to his body.

“Don’t be mad, Freddie. I only wanted to eat.” Drusilla’s voice said.

Fredrick flinched. Her voice was speaking, disembodied, but then, he began to see her form from the wall, like a shadow.

“What are you?” Frederick asked. Was she lying to him his whole life? Was she something else?

“I’m just a little different from you, that’s all.” Drusilla said with a sharp-toothed grin.

No, that didn’t answer anything…

Chapter Fourteen

“Can I come in?” Helen asked.

Frederick was lying down on bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was trying to sleep, but still, it wouldn’t come. He was still in his clown costume, he should have changed into more appropriate clothes. He’d do it soon. He promised himself that he would do it soon.

“Yes, you may.” Frederick said.

Helen creaked open the door and stepped inside. Her brown eyes stared back at him nervously, she twirled a strand of her blond hair.

“I had a nightmare about a shadow person. It was trying to grab me, and it kind of reminded me of Lucille…it was just a dream, right?”

“Yes, it was a bad dream. You have nothing to worry about.” Frederick replied.

Under his watch, she’d never worry about Lucille. She had so much to live for, so much going on for her in the world.

“Are you sure?” Helen asked uncertainly.

Frederick sat up. There wasn’t time to delve into his fears, he had to be a father.

“Do you want a hug?” Frederick asked.

Helen nodded.

He opened his arms out in an embrace and Helen hugged him tightly, almost squeezing his rib cage.

He didn’t say anything, though. If she needed a moment, he’d let her have it.

Frederick may have hugged hundreds of kids, but his favorites would always be Desmaire and Helen, without a doubt.

Chapter Fifteen

A picture perfect family scene. Lilac was making dinner, Helen was coloring in her coloring book, and Frederick had stepped out of their room, makeup all washed off, clown costume replaced with the clothes of a human.

But on the living room couch sat Desmaire and Lucille, Desmaire talking animatedly, Lucille listening intently.

Her eyes, why did they seem to glance at Frederick as though he were a monster? A creature?

Or was his imagination getting the best of him?

Chapter Sixteen

I know what you’re doing. It’s not going to work. Lucille said.

Only, she didn’t say it. She didn’t move her mouth at all. Yet, he heard her voice, clear and loud in his head.

I’ll see myself out. Lucille said, a grin on her face.

She got up from the couch and walked out the door, ginger curls bouncing innocently as she ran off.

Chapter Seventeen

“This is going to sound crazy, but I had a dream about Lucille. She had sharp teeth and such blaring white eyes…” Lilac trailed off.

They were at the dinner table when Lilac suddenly brought it up. She was having nightmares about Lucille, but Frederick couldn’t let her know.

“It was just a nightmare, honey. Don’t worry about it.” Fredrick said.

Maybe the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree. Maybe Lucille was just like Drusilla.

Or maybe he just needed to stop.

Chapter Eighteen

FLASHBACK

The girl sat all by herself outside. It was their lunch period, they all ate lunch out in the garden.

As she bit into her sandwich, her teeth seemed sharp enough to cut through glass, a thing of the shadows.

But Frederick wouldn’t let her eat alone. He wouldn’t let her drown in her own thoughts, or let the loneliness consume her.

He joined her at her spot and asked her name.

The girl looked up in surprise, her brown eyes wide.

“Drusilla. Are you sure you want to sit next to me? I might…hurt you.” She said.

“Hurt me? Why would you say that? That’s ridiculous. You couldn’t hurt me. Look at you, you’re just a girl.” Fredrick said with a smile.

Drusilla shifted uncomfortably. What? He was only telling the truth. Wouldn’t she feel better?

“Excuse me, but I’m not “just a girl”. I’m more than that.” Drusilla said.

“Whatever you may wish to believe.” Frederick said with a shrug.

“But it’s true.” Drusilla replied.

“Yes, and I, Frederick, am just a clown. A silly little zany clown.” Frederick said with a smile, propping a hand over his chest in a zealous manner.

“You’re nothing but a clown, Freddie!” Drusilla giggled.

And that he was.

Chapter Nineteen

The day Lucille came had passed, it was another day of performance for Fredrick.

Weirdly enough, he didn’t see Lucille at the circus.

Perhaps she’s late. She’s late, and that’s why she’s not here.

But Drusilla didn’t mean to hurt. She was only different, and the ridicule got to her.

But no, Lucille was different…right?

Chapter Twenty

FLASHBACK

“I live in the shadows

I cannot be free

To stay would be more of a death for you

Than me

So please, run off

I’m just no good

Go away

I cannot stay”

Frederick stopped. Drusilla was singing in the backyard garden at his house. But why was she hiding? What was wrong?

He walked past the tall blades of grass and covered his mouth when he saw it.

Drusilla, crouched over the mangled body of a boy, her mouth covered in deep rouge blood.

Drusilla looked up, her brown eyes full of fright.

“Freddie, please! Don’t go! I didn’t mean to! I never wanted this…” Drusilla trailed.

What was she? Why did she lie to him? How could he trust a bloody face like hers?

………………………………………………………

Had Frederick failed Drusilla? Should he have stayed instead of ran? She didn’t mean to be a monster, it was hereditary.

Well, the day at the circus had passed. Frederick was standing right in front of his front door.

Only a turn of the knob would tell him.

Epilogue

Lucille had done it. She had taken the one thing that mattered in Frederick’s life, and that was his family.

Yet the blame was all put on him. Ol’ Freddie, doomed to insanity. First blaming Drusilla for his lost legs, then blaming Lucille for his lost family. Oh, only a death sentence would do.

And Lucille still lurked, laughing at the Parrish family for thinking that they could ever survive, that they even had a chance.

Thoughts of what could have been swarmed Frederick’s head…