Subj: The Funhouse mirror (Adult) Pt.1
Date: 7/24/99 8:39:39 PM Central Daylight Time
From: marcos1

The Funhouse mirror makes images appear thin or fat. It distorts our view, things appear strange. This story is about our favorite characters reflected and viewed through that crazy mirror. A graphic comic book, without the pictures.

Location--Collinsport Jail--Interrogation room

Cigarette smoke filled the room. The young man of twenty-five years,looked every bit of fifty. His mouth void of teeth. His hair with touches of gray. Sweat formed on his brow. He was scared.

Carmine held the young man by his neck. "Gummy, I could just break your scrawny neck...when I think about what you did to that lovely girl."

"She was bad," mumbled Gummy.

"What did you say?" Carmine asked, sharply. "Mrs.Collins was one nice lady."

"She was a cunt," the young man said. "Nagging, nagging, nagging. She made Mr.Collin's life a living hell."

There was the sound of a slap and the young man's world went dark.

At the old house, Barnabas nervously paced the floor. He felt a feeling of doom. It cast a darkness upon his mind.

"Barnabas, it will be all right. I'm sure of it. He won't talk."

Barnabas looked up at Willie Loomis, who walked down the stairs. "It had better be...or Willie, I'm going to kill you. But first make you suffer terribly."

Willie spoke in a shaky voice, a tiny drop of spit hanging from his lower lip. "Gummy is a cool guy. He ain't afraid of prison. Why, he grew up in reform school. He won't say anything...."

Barnabas didn't reply. He just sat down looking into the sitting room fireplace. His hand gripping his wolfhead cane, tightly, very tightly.

In the Collin's section of the grave yard, fresh flowers were still near the newest addition, a tall marble marker that read the name Josette duPres Collins--Born 1779 Died December 20, 1979.

At Collinwood, Roger Collins and his sister Elizabeth stood in the foyer. They were having a very 'heated' discussion.

"I don't care if she is my niece...your daughter," Roger growled, "we have to do something. She is causing nothing but problems with her crazy talk."

"She loved Josette," Elizabeth said, "and considering the circumstances of Josette's death...how can we blame her for being so upset? Just give her some time...please."

Roger shook his head. "No, Liz, my decision has already been made. I made the phone call."

Elizabeth started to shake. "No, I won't allow this." She glared at him. "I'll fight you on this."

Roger was silent, looking down at his watch, thinking they should be here soon. He had to do this. Barnabas must be protected.

Inside the drawing room, Vicki Winters Collins spoke into the telephone. "Yes, Sheriff, I'm quite sure about this. Gummy didn't act alone. I believe that Josette's murder was planned and paid for, by her husband Barnabas Collins."

Sheriff Carmine Rossini listened closely, his heart pounding. He had loved Josette. A memory flashed through his mind. That day at the old house, Mr.Collins wasn't home. Carmine had stopped by to collect a donation for the Sheriff's homeless children's fund. From the first moment, he had cast his eyes upon sweet Josette, she had won his heart. Returning to the present moment, he held the phone tightly. "Miss Collins, I believe you. Stay where you are. I'll be at Collinwood in a few minutes."

Vicki rested the phone on the hook. The drawing room doors suddenly flew open. Two men in white walked through, one of them held a needle, the other a strait jacket. Roger stood behind them, his arms crossed. "Don't worry, Vicki, help is here," Roger said softly.

Vicki struggled. "But I'm not crazy...leave me alone...."

"Josette was two hundred years old...murdered by her husband," Roger said, shaking his head. "You have severe problems my dear. They will help you at the institution and then you will be good as new."

To be continued