crack_van | A Vision In Scarlet by Speranza (PG)

Fandom: THE DEAD ZONE
Pairing: None
Author on LJ:

cesperanza
Author Website: Speranza's Fiction
Why this must be read:

It's a truism about the series that you can't take Johnny anywhere without him stumbling into some kind of vision-induced drama. In this fic, a simple visit to an exhibition pulls both Johnny and Bruce into a vision over a hundred years in the past, to discover the truth about one murder victim, save another before it's too late... and maybe rewrite a little history along the way. The story exploits several aspects of Johnny's visions in an imaginative way, and features a sort-of crossover with the Great Detective himself. The interplay between Johnny and Bruce is entertaining and true to the characters, complete with affectionate needling.

"Wow, whoa, holy shit!" Johnny exclaimed, grabbing Bruce by the arm. "Get a load of this!" At the top of the manuscript was written, in a cramped and slanted hand: "A Study In Scarlet."

"Yo, what?" Bruce asked, but then he saw. "Hey, is that what I think it is?"

"I think so," Johnny said in a hushed voice. He bent to study it more closely.

"What's a Sherlock Holmes story doing at a--"

--The little girl is screaming, arms flailing. There are white ribbons in her dark hair, ribbons threaded into the sleeves of her nightgown. Screaming, shrieking, but not anymore, because the heavy velvet pillow is being pushed against her face. He is pushing it--harder--harder!--god, let it be quick!--smothering her with the plum-colored velvet--

"John. John?" Johnny became aware of Bruce's steadying grip on his arm. "You all right?

"Yeah." He squeezed his eyes shut; god, his head hurt.

"You have a vision?"

"Yeah." It was like the little girl's screams were stabbing into his brain; Jesus, someone had killed her. He'd killed her--or at least, that's what it had felt like.

A Vision In Scarlet