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The Grabber-Secrets

This is Ethan's character in The Black Phone, another great movie of his that I like, despite the dark plot.

***

You'd known Albert Shaw, AKA, The Grabber for years, but you didn't know his dirty little secret. You get close to him and find out what he's been hiding all this time. (I've seen this name used in other Grabber fanfics and I guess the movie is based on a short story of the same name.)

Some frightening images.

***

You open the door to the local hardware store and step inside. The scent of fresh paint greets you as you walk in further. You're a little embarrassed as to the nature of your visit here.

Albert Shaw.

You'd developed a bit of a crush on him, although you weren't sure why. The guy was pretty odd and stand offish. You peer around, searching for him but don't see him. Darn.

You start walking through the store, in hopes you'll bump into Albert and possibly strike up a decent conversation with the guy.

Just as you reach the back, Albert appears, looking rumpled and sweaty. He turns, his steel blue eyes widen in surprise. Obviously he didn't expect to see anyone right here.

"Can I help you?" He sounds a little gruff but he doesn't look angry. More..distracted.

"Um.." You wrack your brain, trying to come up with something that doesn't sound totally lame. "Um, paint?"

Albert gestures for you to follow and you do, your pulse and heart rate picking up. Albert leads you to the paint section, asking what exactly type of paint you're looking for.

"Something to paint an old dresser," you reply, deciding that's what you'll do.

"Have you sanded it down first?" Albert is staring at you in a strange way. Like he wants to...eat you up. You swallow.

"Not..yet." You laugh nervously and Albert finally smiles. He looks halfway...handsome when he's smiling.

"You'll need sand paper." Albert nods, as though he's talking more to himself than you. He goes and retrieves some sand paper, handing it to you before you begin discussing what kind of paint you'll need.

Once you make your choice, Albert rings everything up and you pay for your items.

"You know," Albert says pleasantly. "I'd be more than happy to help you with your dresser this weekend."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly ask you..." Your voice trails off.

"You aren't asking me." That gruff tone returns, sending shivers down your spine.

"Ah, well. If..if you want to."

"It'd be no trouble at all." Albert grabs a pad of paper and a pencil. "If you'd just leave me your address, I'll be over Saturday afternoon."

You hesitate. You're not sure this is such a good idea. It's one thing to harbor a harmless crush and go see someone at their work. It's another to have that person come over to your house. Especially with that freak, The Grabber, loose.

"Are you interested in my help?" You look into Albert's eyes. There's something...unsettling there.

"Um. No. Maybe...maybe another time. 'Bye!" You grab your items, almost flying out of the hardware store, shaken up by your own stupidity.

***

Someone is knocking on the front door. You look at your watch. It's nearly eight o'clock at night. Who could possibly be pounding on your door now?

You groan, getting up and shuffling over, peeking through the peep hole in the front door. You gasp. It's...Albert? How did he find you?

Okay. Now you're seriously creeped out. Obviously this guy followed you or something. How else would he know where you lived?

You don't answer the door. Instead you hurry back into your bedroom, slamming the door shut, locking it and hurry over to the phone on your nightstand.

"Hello, 911, what's your emergency?"

"There's a strange man pounding on my front door." You grip the phone receiver tightly in your fingers.

"All right, Y/N. Just give me your address and I'll send someone over right away."

You give the person your address, your heart pounding as you wait for the police to arrive. You frown, cocking your head, listening. You don't hear anything anymore.

Weird.

Hopefully that means Albert has left. But you're still nerved up, afraid he'll return.

***

After the police arrive, they do a search on your property but don't find anything suspicious. They tell you to stay inside the house and keep the all doors and windows locked and to call if anyone shows up.

You thank them and close the door, locking it and going to make sure all the others are locked as well before trying to go to bed.

***

You're out in your garage, working on painting the dresser when..Albert arrives, looking much too friendly.

"Are you stalking me?" You demand.

"Why would I do that?" Albert looks a little hurt. You feel bad. You don't mean to hurt his feelings.

"I dunno. You're kinda...odd." Albert bursts out laughing and you frown.

"Guess a lot of people are odd," Albert comments, circling the dresser, seeing what you've accomplished so far.

"That doesn't make them stalkers."

"No. I suppose it doesn't," you agree. You're starting to warm up to Albert just a little bit.

"Why did you show up at my place the other day, unannounced," you blurt out. Albert looks at you, that same weird look in his eyes as the other day.

"I was worried about you. It's not..safe for you to be out, alone."

"I was inside the house," you say. "I wasn't in any danger."

Albert laughs again. You chuckle. He certainly has a strange affect on you.

"All right! You caught me! I was going to ask you out. If you're interested."

"Yeah, sure. Sounds good. When?"

"How about tonight, say seven?" You think it over.

"Where at?"

"My place."

"Um, isn't that a little..sudden?"

"Fine." Albert's gaze bores into yours. "Here, at your place."

"No thanks. Guess I'll come to yours."

Albert grins. He moves to touch your hand. A shiver goes through you. You can't interpret it.

"Great. We're neighbors, actually." Albert heads out of the garage and points out his place. You nod.

"Cool. I'll see you at seven this evening."

"Wonderful. I'll be looking forward to it."

***

You're actually having a decent time with Albert. He is pretty eccentric but not necessarily a bad guy. His house could use some better decorating, though. But hey, it's not like you're gonna live here.

Albert's not a bad cook, either. He grills up a couple of steaks, along with some baked potatoes and some green beans and a store bought apple pie for dessert.

"This is great," you tell Albert, who's smiling somewhat bashfully.

"It's not much." He shrugs. "But it's edible."

"I wasn't necessarily talking about the food." You smile, reaching across the table to touch Albert's hand. He chuckles softly.

"Guess you don't mind that I'm odd?"

"Nah. I'm getting used to it."

"Good." Albert nods. "Good."

After dessert, you go sit in the living room and just talk. Slowly, though you become..drowsy, leaning against Albert's body. He puts his arms around you as you slowly drift off to sleep.

***

Something has woken you up. You're not sure what. You wipe your eyes, yawning as you stand up. Albert isn't beside you on the couch.

"Albert?" You stand up and start searching for him. It's awfully quiet in here. You head for the kitchen and suddenly freeze.

Albert is standing there, covered in blood, wearing a hideous looking mask. You gasp.

"Oh hey." Albert steps closer to you. "Sorry if I woke you up. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention something: I'm The Grabber."


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