Rival Dreamer

But that does beg the question, how exactly would a reverse AU work without compromising the charm of the original characters?

(This is mostly like a rough summary idea of this AU but if people like it I might do something with it)

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O Imagine, three estranged brothers coming back to their hometown after 10 years, each of them bearing scars, physical and emotional.

O The brothers barely speak to each other, especially the two oldest. The last they saw of each other was at their parents funerals before they all inevitably left, one by one.

O Vincent is a shut in artist, awkward and keeping to himself in his studio apartment, staying locked up days on end, perfecting his masterpieces of paintings, woodwork and of course sculpting.

O Bo runs his own mechanic shop but he can be pretty brutal on his workers, a strict and no nonsense boss. But the customers love him for his charm, charisma and overall killer good looks.

O Lester works as a trucker, transporting goods and equipment across states for anyone willing to hire him. He’s pretty friendly and has the largest friend group out of the brothers, mostly comprised of other truckers he meets on the road.

O Returning back to their hometown was Lester’s idea, wanting to do something special for the 10 year anniversary of their parents passing.

O Bo and Vincent don’t talk to each other, the twins having a falling out prior to parting and thus have bad blood. They both still keep in touch with Lester, though, neither of them willing to outright ignore or abandon their youngest brother.

O Vincent is dreading this trip, even more so when he pulls up to Ambrose to find Bo already parked on the outskirts of town, leaning against his car, cigarette in hand and casting an indifferent glance his way.

O Lester pulls up, honking his truck horn before he jumps out, pretty much tackling his brothers in a hug. Bo and Vincent, though still holding a grudge against each other, are still willing to put their differences aside for Lester’s sake.

O They explore their old abandoned hometown, visiting their old childhood home, the Wax museum that had been their mother’s life’s work and finally visiting their parent’s gravesite.

O The brothers don’t shed any tears or give any sweet words. As Lester kneels to place a bundle of flowers he picked up, they hear a sound.

O Turns out, they’re not as alone in this town as they once thought. A bunch of college aged kids have taken up residence in the abandoned town.

O Alls fine at first, the group greeting the men and welcoming them, telling them to join the others at the campfire later tonight.

O At the campfire, however, after hours of drinking and playful conversation, old wounds open up. Vincent and Bo began to argue, leading into a physical fight which Lester and the kids had to break up. Bo storms off to cool down, Vincent flipping him off before doing the same.

O Cue Bo getting led away by a flirtatious Carly that’s been making eyes at him the whole night. One steamy make out session leads to Bo getting knocked unconscious and dragged away.

O Vincent makes some startling discoveries of his own. Turns out, these kids haven’t just be squatting in the abandoned down, they’ve been outright abducting and murdering people that drive through the high way, stealing their possessions and using it to maintain their lifestyle.

O Vincent gets Lester, them finding and rescuing Bo before he can be killed.

O Now, it’s a fight for survival as the brothers, even Vincent and Bo putting aside their differences, to work together and go up against a group of psychopathic kids who’ve rigged the whole town with traps.

O One by one, the brothers pick off the kids being surprisingly adapt when it comes to killing.

O It isn’t until the climax that it’s revealed that Trudy Sinclair had actually been the one turning people into wax statues, her and her husband keeping this up for years and even getting the boys involved in the scheme from a young age. But, the Sinclair brothers never turned out bad from this, choosing to try and leave it all behind them. However, they weren’t trying to fix the damage done, only bury it in the past.

O Vincent and Bo go up against Nick and Carly, a final fight in the museum similar to the original movie, except this time, the brothers are able to push the siblings down into the basement as the museum begins to melt away. They watched from above as Nick and Carly scream, being devoured by boiling hot wax.

O Outside, a bloodied and exhausted Lester is dousing the town’s streets in gasoline.

CHAPTERS:

CH1 , CH2

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Madison and Sydney decided that some sightseeing would be good to pass the time, although Sydney did seem rather down that Lester wouldn’t be the one showing them around.

Bo suggested they check out Ambrose’s star attraction; the wax museum which the girls definitely seemed interested in. Although, Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the man.

There was something off about him… about this whole place…

He really wanted to voice his suspicions to the girls but he knew they would just say he’s overreacting. Again.

And yes, there was the added fact he was perfectly capable of protecting them from any threats.

But damn it! It was better to avoid danger than to walk right into it!

He stewed on his thoughts, Madison definitely taking notice, she and Sydney making their way over to the museum.

“Gabe… please stop,” she sighed.

“I didn’t say anything!”

Gabriel yelled, voice coming from Madison’s phone secured to her belt.

“Wha-? What’s wrong?” Sydney perked up.

“Oh nothing,” Madison shrugged her backpack up higher, “just our brother overreacting.”

“I am not ‘overreacting’! I’m being sensible. You two idiots are too trusting!”

“Gabe sweetie, calm down…” Sydney put a hand on Maddie’s head. She would have parted the hair in order to better see Gabriel but they were still out in the open.

“Listen,” Maddie tried to reason, “I know this whole situation can come off as sketchy, but stopping in this town wasn’t exactly a choice, remember?”

“Yeah,” Sydney agreed, tone gentle like a mother trying to settle an angry toddler, “and even if we wanted to leave right now, where’d we go? Our car’s busted and we’re…ya know…”

She lowered her voice.

“…on the run and all.”

Gabriel grumbled. He hated how right they were…

Sydney stood on her toes, throwing her arms around her siblings as she gave them a hug, making sure to rest the side of her head against Gabriel’s.

Gabriel huffed at the affection but didn’t protest.

“We just gotta believe that everything will turn out okay, Gabe,” Sydney assured him, letting go.

“Fine…” he relented, begrudgingly, “just keep my damn stuff close by…”

Madison patted her backpack. “In here, within reach,” she smirked, “better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Right?”

Gabriel would have smiled if he could, but no doubt Madison felt his amusement as her smile got wider.

The three of them continued walking, Sydney chattering away.

“Don’t worry Gabe, think of this as a chance to unwind for a change. I mean- with all our moving around, we barely have time to enjoy ourselves!”

“Since when exactly was life on the run supposed to be fun?” Gabriel deadpanned.

“It can be!” Sydney argued, tapping her chin, “what exactly would a bunch of criminals do for fun anyway?”

“Murder.”

Madison burst out laughing.

“…yeah, I walked right into that one.”

Walking up the stairs, they stood before the wax museum. It was certainly the most eye catching building in the whole small town. With its distinctive architecture and bold signage, it was practically the first thing they noticed when they arrived.

“Do you we just go in?” Maddie wondered aloud.

“This place…has an…odd scent to it…”

Sydney rested her hand against the wall. “Yeah, it does smell a bit funky- huh?” She turned to her hand, examining the wall under her fingertips.

“What’s wrong, Syd?” Madison asked, coming to stand beside her.

Sydney pulled her hand back, sniffing it before her brows shot up. “No way…” she put her hand back on the wall, “I think-… I think it’s made of wax!”

That surprised Gabriel, him examining the wall closer.

“What? The walls?” Madison also put her hand on the wall.

“Maddie, can you-?”

“Sure Gabe.”

Maddie allowed him control. Gabriel pressed their hand to the wall, scrapping their fingers and feeling the wax build up under their nails.

Gabriel was… honestly, intrigued.

Seeing as the coast was clear, he turned around, peeking through the locks of hair, seeing the building with his own two eyes.

“This is so not what I was expecting,” Sydney said.

“What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know, like- a couple of wax statues? But this is like-…well- this definitely is somethin’ else.”

“I wonder if the whole building’s made out of wax?” Maddie mused.

“If that’s the case, then this place should be an even bigger attraction.”

“How about we stop yapping and actually go inside?” Gabriel butted in impatiently.

“Okay, okay, fine-” Sydney froze, “wait a minute, since when did you care?”

Gabriel stayed silent.

It was then that both his sisters got an evil look in their eyes.

“Oh Gabe~” Maddie teased, “are you actually getting excited?”

“…shut up.”

Both sisters laughed, Sydney giving Gabriel a playful pinch on the cheek, to which he swatted her away before Maddie regained control, their little group entering into the museum.

The museum did look rather old, with a fine layer of dust covering the furniture and faded paint along the walls.

“Hello?” Maddie called out.

No response.

The sisters exchanged a look before they parted, taking in the many wax statues on display.

Light filtered in through the full length windows, casting the room in a shade of yellow. There were various furnishings and sculptures of people fixed in various poses. With no one around, Gabriel was allowed out, approaching two sculptures of a man and woman mid dance. He turned around, tilting his head as he examined them.

“They…look so real…”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it,” Maddie said.

Gabriel fingers raised, carefully caressing the face of the sculpted lady.

A shadow moved out the corner of his eye.

Gabriel spun around, searching wildly.

“Gabe? What’s wrong?”

“I-” Gabe blinked shaking his head, cascade of hair still covering his face, “nothing.”

Okay, maybe the girls were right. He was on edge and now being paranoid and imagining things. He really should take the opportunity and enjoy whatever fun comes his way. And honestly, this little detour was turning out to be more interesting than he’d anticipated.

“Gabe, look over there,” Maddie pointed out.

A dual, soft control was shared between them, Maddie leading them to a wall where framed newspapers were hung.

“‘Trudy Opens House of Wax,’ ‘Trudy’s Wax Carvings Are A Hit At The State Fair,’…” Maddie read the headlines out loud, squinting at the last one, “… ‘Trudy and Husband Expecting First Child’…”

“Well, I guess we know who runs the place,” Gabriel mused, maneuvering them backwards towards a table, the trinkets and knickknacks upon it catching his attention, with smaller carvings of inhuman creatures.

Gabriel picked up a mermaid sculpture, marveling at its slender body and its elongated tail, running their fingers over the carving.

Madison chuckled at his actions.

“You really like these things, huh?”

“It’s…” He hesitated, awkward and uncertain of how to express his feelings,“it’s just-… how can someone create something so…so…”

He struggled. Gabriel wasn’t really one for flowery words of compliments but then again he barely had a reason to use such words. He was always nihilistic. Nihilistic and inexperienced, in the world and in himself. He barely knew his own likes and dislikes. He barely knew himself.

But, there was no denying the fascination he felt at the art around him.

“How can… someone create something from nothing?”

As soon as he said it, Gabriel knew how stupid the question sounded. It was nowhere near what he was feeling.

But Madison didn’t judge, smiling. “Simple. You don’t,” She inclined her head slightly, “I’m no artist but I do know, art take’s a certain kind of passion, emotion. It can be anything really from joy, anger, sadness. It’s what you decide to make with it.”

Gabriel mused over her words, turning the sculpture over in their hands, noticing a name carved on its underside.

“Vincent…”

He whispered.

‘Who were you Vincent…?

What did you feel when you made these…?’

Suddenly, a scream was heard.

Sydney’s scream.

“FUCK!”/“FUCK!”

The May Twins simultaneously cussed, dashing to the sound.

They skidded to a halt into a model kitchen. There was Sydney, terrified and being held, knife to her throat, by a man.

The man was a good build, easily overpowering Sydney as she struggled in vain. He had long dark hair which flowed aggressively with his movements but the most distinct feature about him was the blank faced mask he wore.

The second the twins entered, the man snapped his head towards them, grunting.

He threw his knife at them. Time seemed to slow down as the blade sailed towards their head.

“MADDIE!”

Madison backflipped, the blade soaring by harmlessly, bones cracking and muscles twisting midair as she relinquished full control to Gabriel.

Gabriel landed on their feet, twisting around only to quickly dodge another knife aimed at them, scrambled and janky movements as he quickly ran and threw them over the display couch in the main area, taking cover.

“Shit! Where’s my stuff?!”

“Fuck! I left my bag at the door!”

“ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!”

“MADDIE!” Sydney screamed, desperately, her cries becoming fainter as she was being taken away to who knows where.

“FUCK IT! Just make a run for it!” Maddie screamed.

Gabriel readied himself before dashing out from behind the couch, jumping over furniture and heading to the entrance.

Sydney screamed and kicked as the man dragged her down a flight of stairs, descending into an ominous dark basement.

“LET ME GO YOU SON OF A-!”

A ‘SHING!’ sound was heard before the man grunted in pain, stumbling back and releasing his hold on her.

Sydney blinked, noticing a familiar gold blade embedded in the man’s shoulder.

A dark figure filled the entrance of the stairway, black coat flowing and dark hair framing a bloodied face.

A bloodied, absolutely pissed off face.

“GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER YOU PIECE OF SHIT!”

The masked man froze at the sight of Gabriel.

Sydney, smiling in relief, raced up the stairs and got behind him.

Casting a glance to make sure Sydney wasn’t hurt, Gabriel focused his full unfiltered rage on the masked attacker. He clenched their gloved fists, growling. From his vantage point at the top of the stairs, Gabriel looked down on the man like an insignificant insect.

The man seemed to steel his resolve, standing back to his full height, yanking Gabriel’s blade out and seeming to examine it, curiously in fact before tossing it to the ground.

Gabriel jumped, leaping across the rest of the steps, landing before the man in a crouched position.

The man jumped, staggering back and going on the defensive. From his hip holsters, he produced two daggers of his own, holding them at the ready as he watched Gabriel closely.

Gabriel tilted his head, noting how intricately designed the man’s weapons were. He lazily picked up his own dagger and stood, watching the man’s tense movements.

Gabriel chuckled, twirling the dagger around in their hand.

“What? Surprised by my pretty face?”

The man perked up at that before Gabriel lunged at him, blade aimed at his face.

The man immediately reacted, crossing his blades in an X and blocking Gabriel’s attack, kicking him back with a grunt.

Gabriel stumbled back, surprised.

“Huh…”

He threw another attack and another, the man deftly deflecting or dodging them and even came close to landing a hit on Gabriel a few times.

After another failed attack, the pair in a stalemate, Gabriel trying to shove his blade into the man’s throat while the man successfully held him back with his own two weapons.

Their faces were close, Gabriel deliberately getting into the man’s personal space to make him uncomfortable, blood from his face dripping and staining the white mask a stark red.

“Not bad…” Gabriel grunted, fighting to push the blade into the bastards windpipe, “you’re more capable than I gave you credit for asshole.”

This close, Gabriel could make out one eye through the mask, wide and staring at him.

“What are you staring at shitface?”

Gabriel growled, deciding to just say fuck it and headbutt the motherfucker.

A crack was heard, the man stumbling back and desperately trying to hold together his now shattered mask.

Gabriel took this opportunity to grab the man by the back of his sweater, another hand roughly grabbing fistfuls of hair, before he slammed the man’s head against the concrete wall.

The mask shattered completely, falling to the floor.

Gabriel growled, throwing the man down and jumping on him, blade raised and ready to put an end to this.

But he froze.

Looking back up at him, was a face scarred and deformed.

Like a breeze blowing out a candle, Gabriel’s rage vanished.

The left side of the man’s face was completely deformed, one eye clouded over, most likely blind, while the right side was completely unmarred.

The man stared up at Gabriel intensely, chest raising up and down as he panted, a scowl tightening his features.

Gabriel tilted his head, hand reaching out.

The man flinched, making Gabriel pause before moving slower.

His fingers delicately brushed over the scars.

At the soft touch, the man’s features softened, scowl vanishing as he too began to take in Gabriel’s features, not with fear or disgust but with genuine curiosity.

They stayed like that for a moment, Gabriel pinning him down, the man gazing up at him, them both taking in the sight of each other.

“Gabe! Are you okay?!” Sydney yelled from above.

The sound of her voice jolted Gabriel back to his senses, scrambling off of the man and backing away but never once taking his gaze off him.

The man too hurried to his feet, taking cautious steps back as he stared Gabriel down, eye narrowed.

The both of them gazed at each other, tense, waiting for the other to make the next move.

After what felt like an eternity, Gabriel finally spoke.

“Who are you…?”

The man didn’t respond, grabbing his discarded weapons and fleeing down the tunnels. Although, as he ran, he cast a look over his shoulder. What expression he wore, what he felt about the encounter, Gabriel couldn’t tell, too far to read.

Gabriel stayed there, not going after him.