Page 58 of Insane Obsession

“Finn!”

My flower peers across the corner, crooked glasses and all. “Yes?”

“Meat or fish?”

“Uhm, meat?”

“Lake or city?”

“Uhm, city?”

“Historical or modern?”

“Historical.” At least he’s sure of that one. And I might just have the perfect place in mind. A place to celebrate some changes and show Finn he is part of us now. For once and for fucking all.

Pressing my phone against my ear, I make arrangements. This is going to be fun.

17

RINGO

“We’re here,” Castor announces.

Glaring outside through the empty, dark street, I frown. “There’s nothing here except for this old, dark building. What is that anyway, a church?”

“It looks like an abandoned building from the 19th century.” Finn shivers. “I’m not going in there; we’ve just come out of one.”

“Guys, guys, guys.” Castor ushers us out of the car. “Don’t be such spoilsports.” Pulling his jacket straight, he leads the way.

“I—” Finn hesitates, his pretty eyes wide with trepidation. “Do we have to?”.

I pull on his arm. “Come on, flower, don’t be so skittish. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Except for some monster lurking in the darkness. Or two monsters lurking in a basement. I chuckle to myself.

“What are you smirking about?” Castor frowns at me.

My smile widens. “Nothing.” Everything.

He rolls his lips as if he wants to say something, then huffs instead and gestures for us to follow him to the front of the building.

A torch is placed next to a huge oak dorm that opens as we head up the stairs. An older man, wearing a black suit welcomes us with a bow and a practiced speech that introduces himself as the butler. “Welcome to the Private Institute of Development, otherwise known as The Bell.” We make our way inside. “This place used to be a boarding school for boys. Opened in the early eighteenth century, it closed its doors in 1930. From that day on, it serves as a center of research.”

“I hope the school didn’t close because of some sinister massacre,” I joke. The butler gives me an awkward smile. I doubt he knows about our grandmother’s little outburst. Still, it’s always fun to bring it up.

Finn’s gray gaze is everywhere as he takes in the colossal ceiling and the windows framed by thick velvet curtains. Colourful carpets have been rolled over the wooden flooring, creaking the further we enter.

“Follow me, gentlemen.” The butler walks us to a smaller, more intimate room. The sound of crackling fire welcomes us. A table has been set for three, and we place ourselves while waiting for him to return with water and wine.

“Why are we here, Castor?” I ask. “Finn’s right. We could have stayed in if you wanted to spend an evening between old walls.”

“Perhaps. But I wanted to leave the house and have some fun. And you, flower, needed to get some rules set straight, so I figured we could have both. Starting with some questions.” My brother cocks his head my way. “Who are you, Fernando?”

I chuckle at him using my real name. “What do you mean, who am I?”

“Tell Finn.”

“Tell Finn what?”

“Whatever he’d like to know about the real you.”

---