This AU story is inspired by a reviewer. You know who are-quasi una fantasia. Sorry, I coughed.
EDIT: So, here 's the predicted re-write of this. I knew it was coming, but I had a bit of free time and when I looked back at this story, I cringed. I was not proud of this. Now I am (sorta). Enjoy.
The room was silent, as Ellison sat at his desk, head in his hands. This was fucked up; he couldn't do this. All the films, all the children; it was getting to him. He gave a bitter laugh, rubbing his eyes. Maybe his wife was right, maybe he was chasing a pipe dream at this point.
The obnoxious Brinnng of the phone echoed through the quiet room, bouncing down the hall. Ellison raised his head slightly, bleary eyes peering at the device. He knew it was Deputy so-and-so; he had been ignoring the calls, too wrapped up in his own grief. This was the third time that the phone had rang. Ellison gave the guy props; he certainly was persistant. Maybe it was important.
Looking down the hall, Ellison sighed. He had best answer it before he woke his family up to leave; after all he had put them through, he owed them that much. He picked up the phone, voice dull and choked. He was having a hard time breathing—panic attack, a little voice in his head murmured—as he held the mobile to his ear.
"Yeah?" He just wanted it to be over; as soon as this phone call was over he would take his family and leave. This hell he had put his family through was going to end, and he would take them home. He would get a real job, a job his family could be proud of. It wasn't meant to be, though.
"Oh thank God you picked up! I found out something; something big-huge, even!" Rustling from the other side of the phone, the deputy sifting through papers on his desk. Ellison stood from his desk, and walked down the hall. Standing in the doorway to his room, he leaned against the door frame, watching his sleeping wife.
"Yeah? Keep it; I'm done with the book. I'm just done. I'm taking my family and we are moving back. I can't do this anymore, deputy." Ellison's voice was muted, as he watched his wife sleep peacefully. He pulled the phone from his ear, ready to end the call. The faint response he heard from the phone stopped him.
"No, that's just it! Every family has lived in the house where the previous murder occurred! They died after they moved out of that house. You can't leave! That's the pattern! That's the MO!" He couldn't breathe, his hand clutching the frame to keep him upright. No.
"What?" Ellison's voice was quiet, disbelief filling his tone. His legs gave out, and he slid to the ground in the door way. The room was blurry. Ellison rubbed his eyes, forcing back the tears. This couldn't be happening; none of this could be happening. No.
"There were reports of stuff before the families moved, but that was just it. Stuff! As soon as they moved, they died. Uh, what this means is you can't leave. The house. Well, I mean, you can leave but you just can't… you know, LEAVE."
Ellison was quiet, his throat sealed and his eyes blinded. This couldn't be happening, not now, not when he was finally going to try and set things right. He could faintly hear the deputy's voice from the phone, as he sat there on the floor. "…Thanks, Deputy." Ellison hung up, ignoring the protests from the other side. He stumbled to his feet, staggering back into his study. Shutting the door, he slid down the wall.
Ellison tried to stifle the sounds of his sobs, desperate not to wake his family. God, what a fool he had been. Blinded by his previous successes and failures, he put his family into death's hands. But what could he do? Could he even fight against Bughuul?
No, Ellison realized, his sobs shaking his frame. He couldn't.
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8/11/13
Mr. Boogie isn't happy. The deputy that Daddy had been talking to made Daddy not move, which means Mr. Boogie won't be able to help me help Daddy! I wanted to help Daddy so much it hurt, but now I can't. Stupid deputy.
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8/16/13
Mr. Boogie calmed down finally. I know because the walls aren't rotting anymore in the attic. I wonder if that means Mr. Boogie will come see me again? I miss him; he was nice.
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8/18/13
Mr. Boogie told me that I could still help Daddy, but that it would take longer. He told me what I would have to do. I'll do it, for Daddy. I'll make Daddy famous again, just like he wanted.
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9/14/13
It's taking a little while to set up Mommy's death; I have to make her leave Daddy. It makes me sad, but this is better for both of them, or at least that's what Mr. Boogie says. Mommy was sitting in the living room, head in her hands. I knew she was crying, but I couldn't do anything about it until later. Then I would make her happy; Mr. Boogie promised me!
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9/16/13
Trevor went to bed early today. He was upset with us moving away from Daddy. He had screamed at Mommy when she had mentioned something called 'divorce papers'. I don't know what they were, but Mommy said it would make sure that her and Daddy weren't together anymore. As sad as that made me, I knew it had to be this way. Mr. Boogie told me so.
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10/29/13
Mommy took us back to the old house. Daddy and her got into a big fight, and he stayed back at Mr. Boogie's house. Now our house is Mr. Boogie's too! Mommy was sitting in the living room. She sat up when I came in. "Hey honey. I'm going to go take a shower and then I can tuck you in, ok?" I nodded, and Mommy gave me a trembly smile.
I waited until I could hear water running, like Mr. Boogie told me to. I pulled out the camera Mr. Boogie gave me. I made sure it was working, and went to the kitchen. I pulled out one of the knives that Mommy had in there; Mr. Boogie said it would work the best with the film.
Opening the door to the bathroom, I walked inside quietly. I didn't want to mess this up, not after all the work Mr. Boogie and I had done to get here. Pulling the camera level with my shoulder, I yanked the shower curtain back. Before Mommy could turn around, I shoved my knife into her neck. The arc of her blood just missed the camera, missing me by almost nothing.
I was a bit sad I couldn't make it prettier, but Mr. Boogie said it would look great anyways. I hope so.
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11/1/13
The police who came thought someone had broken into the house, as Mr. Boogie broke the sliding glass door. He was smart like that. Mr. Boogie said I couldn't tell them it was me, as they wouldn't understand. Like how the deputy didn't understand.
I don't think I like police.
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11/13/13
I got Trevor today; he was pretty easy. The men in suits put me and Trevor in a "foster home" with a bunch of other kids. Now that house is Mr. Boogie's too! He has so many houses now. He says that it will make it easier for him to help other kids like me and Stephanie and the others; I'm glad.
At the new house some of the other boys were pretty mean to me and Trevor, picking on us. Mr. Boogie said they were bad. It was easy to make it look like one of them had done it. Trevor put up a bit of a fight, so I had to beat him to death with one of the boys' baseball bats; it made him really squishy. I took a little of him to paint with; it was a really pretty red! It didn't really show up that well on the camera, which made me a little bit sad. Mr. Boogie said it didn't matter though.
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12/20/13
After Trevor died, Daddy came and took me back. He said he had 'won custody of me', whatever that means. Mr. Boogie said it meant that he had to fight for me against the men in suits. Daddy was so sweet! I'll make sure his is he most spectacular of them all; he deserved it for being so nice.
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12/25/13
I drugged his drink, like me and Mr. Boogie had originally planned. I filmed his death with what Mr. Boogie told me were 'dramatic angles'. I cut off his head with an axe; it made a really pretty spray across the walls, like rainbows. I made sure to film how his head rippled in the fire for Mr. Boogie; he said it was really nice.
I wasn't done though; Mr. Boogie was mad about what that deputy had done. He really was mad that he messed it all up. The deputy had a family now too; Mr. Boogie said it was alright because he messed it up first. Mr. Boogie told me to film it; that he would put it in the extended endings area. That made me happy.
More happy than when I fed him and his kids to his dogs. His wife I stuck in the oven.
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12/30/13
Mr. Boogie told me I did great, and that he loved the picture I made of everyone I killed for him. I used Trevor for the red; it made it that much more special.