Eerie Indiana Fanfiction: The Scream

[froodle]

Marilyn could feel the scream, trapped in the dark wet places behind her ribs. She bit down on the horror, clenching her teeth tight and the growing ache in her jaw was a welcome counterpoint to the wail building inside her.

It was his face. Her boy, her Marshall, repeated a hundred times over. No variation save for the places where vat-grown flesh stretched thin over shuddering robot bodies, and there he warped and twisted around metallic skulls that twitched and juddered in a whirring, clanking parody of human speech.

"I brought him back," said Mister Wilson. "You missed him, so I brought him back to you."

His voice took on an almost plaintive tone, and the part of her still mired in her old life wondered at how sophisticated the program Edgar had written for him must be.

"A mother needs her children, you said. You said you needed... need... needed..."

The rest of it was lost in static, or maybe the howling inside her simply drowned it out.

"No," she said, and the word was thick and clotted, forced up through a throat still clogged with her own silent shrieking. "That isn't Marshall. That isn't anythi- can you turn it off?"

Her voice rose at the end, the scream biting at the edge of her words.

Mister Wilson's all-white line of teeth vanished, his default expression of slightly forced bonhomie blinking out. He looked, and for a moment there was no other word for it, heartbroken.

"Yes," he said, and the automatons wearing her dead child's face convulsed once twice, then subsided into blessed stillness.

"Get rid of them," said Marilyn. "Please."

She hid her face in her hands, aware even as she did so that the gesture itself had no meaning, that there wasn't a single human being for miles to see her lose control, and sobbed.

"Please," she asked again, and it was here that the scream escaped, tearing lose and feeling like it took a part of her lungs with it, and echoing around the ruins of the town she'd come to to build a better life for her family.



Ongoing Verse: Teller Family History



First Date by froodle, in which a young Edgar Teller shows off one of his earlier inventions

Breakfast Conversations, in which Syndi and Marshall are very small, and very much themselves

Under the Bed, in which Syndi has a friend over

Popcorn by froodle. Friday night is always movie night in the Teller household.

The Toll, in which a parcel arrives and there is a fee to pay

Charitable, in which there is fundraising for... something?

Door Prizes, in which here is a cake tin

Fountain, in which Marshall has an excuse, and Edgar does not agree

Belt Match, in which Algernon the Invincible saves the world

Volun-Told, in which Marshall takes preparation very seriously

Shears, in which Edgar is concerned for the contents of his garden shed

Parking, in which Marshall makes a hasty exit

The Teller Home for Displaced Youth by froodle, in which Edgar harbours some doubts about his new home town

Lawn by froodle, in which Marilyn Teller contemplaces some yardwork

Back to School, in which Marilyn visits the Eerie Mall

Distractions, in which Simon and Marshall walk home from school

Product Testing, in which Marshall and Syndi have input in the latest Things Incorporated invention

Film Festival, in which there is breakfast at Tiffanys, and much carnage

Cake Day, in which it is Marshall's birthday

Prestidigitation, in which Syndi poses as a fortune teller

Camoflage, in which Fifi has a plan to infiltrate the Teller household

Preventative Measures, in which Syndi and Marshall clash over a facemask

Gallery, in which Syndi and Marshall clash over art

Tornado Day, Revisited by froodle, in which Syndi learns exactly what it means to be Miss Tornado Day

Induction, in which the role of Miss Tornado Day comes with yet another hidden catch

Classes, in which Syndi trains for her new role

Competing Traditions, in which Dash and Marshall wait out the Easter weekend in the Teller's garage

Easter, in which Marshall receives a note

Truth in Advertising, in which Marshall is in trouble, and Radford is confused

Shampoo, in which Syndi is troubled by soapy residue

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

If You See Something, Say Something, in which Marshall is questioned by Sergeant Knight

The Party Fowl, in which Marilyn goes to some lengths to ensure Syndi keeps to curfew

The Party Fowl Cometh, in which the titular beast makes an appearance

Return of the Party Fowl, in which Syndi makes it home safely

Capability, in which there are Bigfoots

Nursemaiding, in which Syndi is much put-upon

Culinary Delights by froodle, in which Syndi's terrible cooking may or may not have been an accident

Confectionary, in which Syndi has been baking again

Pirates, in which there are pirates

Rules of War, in which there is a waterfight

Exterior, Garden, Night, in which there is camping

Camping by froodle, in which Syndi cannot sleep

Co-Defendants, in which Marshall seeks revenge

Artist in the Family by froodle, in which an immortal creature takes a liking to Syndi

Virtual Reality, in which Things Incorporated branches out into the realm of home entertainment

Dressed for the Occasion, in which Syndi's weather goddess duties require a certain look

Without Due Care and Attention by froodle, in which Syndi finally becomes mobile

Road Safety, in which Marshall does not

Typewriter, in which a familiar peacock logo makes an unwelcome reappearence

Golf Course, in which a reseeding does not go well

BBQ, in which the Tellers have a bonfire

Giveaway, in which Marshall buys a milkshake

Spa Day, in which Marshall has a gift for his sister

Prognostication Engine, in which horrorscopes are insufficiently detailed, and Marshall is cross

Hangover, in which Marshall drinks too much and makes a terrible enemy

Castle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Concealment, in which there is a costume party

Party Guests, in which a costume party is attended

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Harmonic Resonance, in which Syndi's craft table is disturbed

Spoiled, in which the Tellers are menaced

Postal, in which there is gunfire, and letters

Drive, in which Edgar has a convertible, and is filled with fear

Food Aggression, in which Lisa-Marie comes to visit, and the Tellers sibling dynamics have not changed

Statistically Possible, in which Marshall has the figures

Misdirection, in which Syndi is a cunning and treacherous foe

Targeted Marketing, in which here are illuminated signs on taxis

Rare Appearance, in which there are egg rolls, and also ghosts

Brunch by froodle, in which Marilyn does not appreciate Edgar's help in the kitchen

Winter Picnic, in which there is snuggling

Corn Critters 7: Rise of the Super Crop, in which Marshall makes a grave mistake

Advent Calendar, in which Marilyn prepares for Christmas

Weaponised, in which Simon, Syndi and Marshall prepare for Christmas

Handmade by froodle, in which the Tellers receive a Christmas package from Marilyn's mother

Window Paint, in which Harley helps Eerie Elementary decorate for the season

Pantomime, in which the Tellers enjoy some traditional Christmas entertainment

Decorative, in which Eerie's wildlife get into the spirit, and Marshall is worried

Dinner Conversation, in which Marshall and Syndi revive an old argument

Poor Life Choices by froodle, in which Syndi loves her brother anyway

Public Spaces, in which there is a vampire, and Mayor Chisel appreciates municipal art

Lillian by froodle, in which Marilyn's mother has concerns

Visitor by froodle, in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Nap by froodle, in which Marshall has a quiet moment in the Secret Spot

Underwater, in which Lillian travels to another timeline, and has a much-overdue conversation

Cygnet, in which Lillian and Harley visit the lake

Auction, in which a clear-out is happening

Hand Me Down/Keepsake, in which the clear-out continues

Administrative, in which Things Incorporated's latest invention is very sad

Sickbed, in which Marshall has an upset stomach

War Zone, in which Marshall is sad, and Syndi is a good big sister

Salvage Rights, in which Lillian and Harley return to the lake

Housekeeping, in which there is a cult, and things get awkward

Hostage, in which Syndi is captured, and is very displeased

Hometown by froodle, in which Mars and Syndi visit New Jersey

Deterrent, in which there are pigeon spikes

Crafting, in which Syndi is about to graduate from college

Mixed Media Messages, in which there is glitter

Fresh Sheets by froodle

Product Testing, in which Things Incorporated's newest beverage is... something.

Tradition by froodle, in which Dash and Marshall decorate a Christmas tree

Civic Duty, in which the Ladies Society for the Beautification of Eerie take up their posts

The Craft, in which the Ladies encounter the all-female wolf pack from Trick 'r Treat

A Time for Giving, in which it is Christmas, and Danielle comes back

Eww... in which Simon is making bad relationship choices

Freelancing, in which Sara Sue does graphic design

At the Dinner Table, in which an invitation is extended, and Dash is suspicious

Presentation, in which the Mayor has an edict, and Simon has a plan



Ongoing Verse: The Children



Preparations by froodle. Winston Chisel, the morning he became Mayor.

Landmark, in which we visit the Eerie Woods

Eventide by froodle, in which the sun goes down, and Eerie's lost children gather

The Storm, in which MAyor Chisel has a very specific job for Eerie's resident weatherman

LTI, in which the Eerie Dairy has some bad news

Populace, in which we see just another regular day in Eerie

Whistle by froodle, in which Steve Konkalewski is unhappy about the way things turned out...

Dentin, in which Steve tries to get a message to the other side

Communication Difficulties, in which Steve finally makes contact, and is disappointed

Playground, in which Simon and Harley should maybe go to a different park

Advisor, in which Harley talks to a bird, and then to a ghost

Marys by froodle, in which Mary C. Carter takes on her new role

Milk by froodle, in which Marshall develops a completely cromulent fear of milk trucks

A Story About Devon Wilde by froodle. Devon Wilde walked through the Eerie Cemetery, and his feet made no sound on the gravel pathways.

Already Decided, in which Melanie has her own encounter in the cemetery.

The Listener, in which Devon has some things to share with Melanie

Disguises by froodle, in which Marshall goes to visit Devon Wilde

Three by froodle, in which Marshall and Devon discuss video games

The Arcade, in which Marshall just wanted to play some video games

A Different Approach, in which Marshall changes tack regarding Eerie

Heartless, in which Devon isn't the only one to leave a piece of himself behind

Lillian by froodle, in which Marilyn's mother has concerns

Cygnet, in which Lillian and Harley go to the lake

Similar Interests, in which Tod has a couple of strange encounters at the World o' Stuff

Dessert, in which Tod eats ice-cream

Hobbies, in which Bert and Ernie make up for lost time

Hereditary, in which the Bob brothers conduct an experiment

Email, in which Marshall is 29, and Eerie is never as far away as you think

Comments

[friendof_dorothy]

Marilyn is screaming?? Bruh im fucking screaming!!

[froodle]

mwahahah my work here is done

[evilinsanemonkey]

holy fuck

this is

disturbing and heartbreaking and amazing

[froodle]

thank you!!