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The movie had been good at first. Peter had only heard it briefly from a friend in the past who said they watched it as part of their health classes "stranger danger" lesson but no further details were given. When he saw it in a discount movie bin, he gave in to temptation and bought it. He and Frank had these movie nights every six or eight months so Peter tried to get something new each time.
The older man hadn't seen it before so he was game and popped popcorn for them to eat. It was slow, with Peter finding himself wondering what exactly about this screamed a lesson to be taught to a group of fifth graders. He frowned as the main character went alone with her neighbor and listened to Frank comment about how back in his day kids basically ran wild without much supervision.
It was only when the neighbor began to make comments that the arachnid felt his stomach drop and his mind go back in time. To a place he tried not to visit, much less acknowledge as real whenever he could. His palms got sweaty and he chewed on his nails as the exchange between the pair got odd. The main character was nervous, looking around the strange place the older man brought her to hang out.
Frank noticed his sudden quietness and spared him a glance. "Peter?"
Peter wasn't listening as his hearing became fuzzy, a high-pitched noise echoing in his head. With it, he felt those hands touch his body and force him to do things no child should even know the name of. He wanted to turn the movie off, to look away but he couldn't as the main character fled the man and called for help. Just like how he had called for help back then. Those hands had grabbed him like he was a doll and covered his mouth. He cried. He screamed but nobody heard him.
Just like how nobody heard the girl on the screen as she seemingly disappeared. The man doubled over and threw up the popcorn he ate right onto Frank's carpet and his own sneakers. He sniffled, snot clogging his nose as the man turned off the movie and rubbed his back. He felt so stupid for choosing the movie without looking up the plot. He was so weak now. The bastard was dead and he was still scared.
"It's okay. I'm here." Frank muttered with a strained tone.
Peter coughed up some mucus and whined. "Your carpet. I ruined it and the movie."
"Fuck the movie and this carpet already has rat holes in it." Frank said as they sat here, the stink of vomit filling the room as Peter grieved a person, a place that didn't exist anymore. "Don't worry about any of that. Just let it all out."
His body trembled as he used his hoodie sleeve to clean up his face and he groaned in pain. "Frank. I'm sorry I thought–I thought." He lost his voice, shuddering.
Thankfully, years of dealing with these memories had led Frank to understand the way his mind twisted about that man and he didn't judge him for his breakdown. "Don't ever fix your mouth to apologize to me. Okay?"
He swallowed the sour spit in his mouth and nodded. "Alright."