*This fanfic chapter is underneath my folder titled “The monster within…” Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=117842&start=75. What is this a fanfic of? The R.L. Stine movie, “Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls”. It takes place a year after the events of this movie. There is clown lore in this chapter that is taken from an episode of the R.L. Stine show “The Haunting Hour” called “Afraid of clowns”. So you could say that is an R.L. Stine crossover fic. The witch lore is something I made up. Anyway, enjoy!*
LUKE
I can’t believe my parents just agreed to invite Nicole and her parents over. It just doesn’t seem right. Why would they do that?
Yet here we are, at the dinner table together. We’re all finished eating, but our parents are still talking to each other. It’s weird. They’re so calm, like they’re at a family gathering and two kids aren’t missing from the table.
Nicole pinches my hand and signals with her head to get out of the room. I nod. We both get up, about to go to my room-
“Luke, you stay here. Nicole, you can go upstairs.” My Dad says.
“But-“
“Nicole, listen to Mr. Brody. You’re a guest.” Mrs. Lee says.
Nicole looks at me, helpless. She wants to argue, I can tell, but she just sighs and goes upstairs, to the guest room. She’s been here before, with Beth and Kellen. She knows where it is.
Unlike me. I don’t have a clue on why I was told to stay here.
Mr and Mrs. Lee leave for upstairs too. Now it’s just me and my parents.
“Okay, what’s going on?”
Seriously, I need to know.
My Dad sighs. What’s with all the sighing?
“You’re not human, Luke. You’re a clown.”
“Obviously. What took you so long?”
Finally, my family is speaking my language!
“No Luke, I’m serious. You’re a clown.”
“What?” I ask. I don’t understand. Why do they look so…upset? What’s wrong? I like being a clown, it’s wonderful!
It’s no reason for anyone to have long faces.
Speaking of which, why are my parents reaching for their faces? Why are they pulling back their skin? Oh dear…oh me…oh my…oh golly gosh…
They’re in full clown makeup. They were wearing human masks to hide their real faces.
They’re clowns.
“Did you really think that we were doing “computer work”?” Mom asks.
“I…I don’t know what to think! You lied to me for years! Why?”
I can’t believe this. My parents lied to me and Leah about who-what-we are and for what?
So we could be “normal”?
There was no point, I’m just not…normal.
“You were supposed to shed your human skin on your thirteenth birthday, but-“
“Hold on, “shed my human skin”?”
“But you were a late bloomer.” Dad finishes his sentence.
Mom is pursuing her lips, like she wants to say more. What else is there to say? We’re all clown creatures. That’s it.
Right?
“We wanted to tell you, but there was never enough time. Whenever a kid with the clown genes turned thirteen, we’d have to help them transition. It never happened to you…until…” Mom trails off. She doesn’t want to talk, but I need to know.
“Until what?”
“Until Dr. Hysteria came to Danville.”
“What?”
What does that creep have to do with me?
“He sped up the process. But speeding it makes someone…”
“Evil?”
“Yes. It makes them evil. It takes their soul. It turns them into something they’re not. Without Beth’s quick thinking, we would have lost you, Luke.”
I still don’t get it. If this was meant to happen to me, then what about that book Beth found about viruses? Is this or is this not a virus?
“He knew you would start searching for answers eventually, so he wrote a fake book to distract you. To make you think that this was a virus, something to be feared. But it’s not. It’s natural.” Mom says.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lee are our friends. The four of us used to perform at Dr. Hysteria’s circus, but then we all went to this time period after…after some problems. The Lees are witches, they can travel through time and space. In fact, they’re telling Nicole the truth right now.” Dad says.
“They are?” I ask.
Both nod in confirmation, my clown-faced parents.
I don’t know what to think. They’ve lied to me about everything. Everything. Who I am. Who they are. Were they ever going to tell me?
I need to talk to Nicole.
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I agree with what Tikaya said in their review; why is this an odd thing? I think just one sentence would help clarify that! It should also be 'agreed to invite' rather than inviting
oo this is very intriguing. Why are they so calm? I would have loved a scene where they sat around and we saw this odd calmness in action before being told, but I love the idea of it.
I get that later one we learn that Mr and Mrs Lee are old friends and are also telling their daughter, but why not tell them all together, or just in their own houses? Seems easier lol!
omg this idea is so creepy and twisted, i hate the image i'm picturing right now
this is such a betrayal! What a horrifying truth to be told at your friends' parents dining room! I think Luke might be a bit angrier here, whether it be outloud to his parents, or internally.
Good note to end it on. He definitely needs to talk to Nicole!
Another fun little chapter, excited for more
Good morning creeper!
I wish we would get a quick info on why it is unusual that the parents invite each other?
….innnteresting that Nicole, the guest, can just go where she pleases while the one who’s room is probably upstairs needs to stay back, huh?
And it is also rly creepy that the guest parents are also just… leaving. At least in the way it is written. I’m getting anxious here!
I think the reveal of the clown thing is done really…. Underwhelmingly? We get only a line from Luke, no other things—no physical reactions, no thoughts (other than your typical repeat in narration what was JUST said in dialogue) so I am left more frowning than surprised.
No real information on what it MEANS that they are clowns? No denial no… anything?
Hmm the rest is better handled. At least the dialogue works for me.
I think you pull up on the right information from previous chapters (and probably also from the original?)
Tho I feel like Lee should have had a stronger reaction to casual mention of time travel?
Also idk why the families couldn't have had this reveal together...
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