Published September 24, 2026
*This fanfic is under my folder “Are you afraid of the dark? (Season 1 2019 fanfics). Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/topic/117842-my-character-designs-lt-33-3?start=225. This is my AU of the antagonist of season 1 of the 2019 show “Are you afraid of the dark?”. Enjoy!*
Marcus walked outside his yard. The kids were at school, Ruth was attending a social event with her family.
He was all alone, so what better way to spend his time than a stroll outside?
Marcus liked the way the grass sparkled with the early morning rain. It was sweet, innocent, and true.
What was that black thing in the grass? The thing that was crawling in it?
Marcus peered down to get a better look at it.
He had seen those bugs before, because they were such a big part of his childhood. He didn’t know how it got to Argento, Oregon, but it did.
Perhaps it was the same one from his boyhood, who knew?
Marcus scooped up the little scorpion in his hands. It couldn’t survive out in the world, where other birds could come and eat it.
It would live with him and his family, in the warmth of their home.
As it should.
……………………………………………
……………………………………………
Marcus waited outside the theater line with his family, the scorpion moving about in his coat pocket. He shouldn’t have brought it with him, but he couldn’t imagine leaving it in the house, all alone.
It went with him everywhere. In a way, it comforted Marcus. It let him know that his father was still around, watching over him.
He looked at Ruth and the kids, both undoubtedly hot whilst standing in a long line. They had probably never seen a scorpion before.
Why not show them?
Marcus tapped Ruth’s shoulder.
“What is it?” She asked.
“I want to show you and the kids something.” Marcus said.
“Come on kids, turn around. Daddy wants to show you something.” Ruth said.
The children turned around to face him, eagerness in their eyes.
Marcus bent down to their level. He reached in his coat pocket for the scorpion.
“Now, this may shock you, but don’t be afraid.”
He showed them the scorpion in his hand.
“What is that?” Callie asked.
“It’s a scorpion. Isn’t it interesting?”
“Can I touch it?” She asked.
“No, but you can look at it.”
Callie and Ansel studied the scorpion eagerly, while Ruth held a hand to her mouth, looking back at the crowd every now and then, anxiousness in her eyes.
It wasn’t long before the rest of the people began to notice and shriek:
“That man has a scorpion!”
“I heard that their stingers can kill!”
“He has it among children!”
“What kind of man is he?”
“He’s not a man, he’s a monster!”
Marcus dropped the scorpion, startled. All around him, people were looking, people were judging. It felt as though the whole world was mad at him, the coldness of their gazes seeping into his skin.
“Why did you bring it here? Where did you find it?” Ruth asked.
“I-I found it outside. I wanted to bring it here because I liked it, because I wanted to show you and the children. There wasn’t enough time to show you on other days, so I decided to…I didn’t know…”
He had to keep reminding himself that Argento wasn’t Idaho. It was the city, where everyone lived, where everyone had their own opinions.
Ruth led Marcus and the kids away from the madness.
“It’s okay, you didn’t know.” She said.
It didn’t feel alright at all.
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141,491 Literary Works • 674,525 Reviews
Hi Creeper, hope you are well today. I enjoyed this short piece, having read a few of the previous ones. I love the idea of Marcus finding the scorpion and it reminding him of the past, since scorpions can sting and perhaps his past also stung. The scene with the kids is nice too, but it lacks a little bit of detail that would make it feel more realistic!
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What a lovely description! It really sets the scene here.
I like the way this uses rhetorical questions, but a better sense of movement and time before Marcus spots it might help build up suspense here. Why did he spot it? Was he looking at the ground as he walked or did he see it in the corner of his eye? That sort of detail could build the scene up a little more.
There's no need for a comma here
Aw how nice of him, I would be too scared to touch it! I wonder why he thinks it might be the same one!
Remember, it should be a comma, not a period, if it comes before a dialogue tag!
I'd love a little more detail in the kid's description here, like what they are wearing, how old they are here etc
Oh man, what a strange reaction! I get they can be poisonous, but it is strange they would call him a monster over that
Hmm i know he's been startled, but it doesn't seem in his nature to drop the scorpion and not immediately pick it up again.
This is a little too vague, I think. People also lived and had opinions in Argento, I'm sure! I understand the sentiment though: that the city is more judgmental because it's more mainstream; you have to fit into the vibe there; there might be a better way to convey this.
Nice ending, but I guess i'm not quite sure what doesn't feel right to him? The fact that people didn't like his scorpion, or living in the city? Maybe a little clarification would help!
<3