46 & 2 Issue Twenty

What do you believe in?

46 & 2 Issue 20:

By

Zachary Smith

NOTE:

In this issue they are going to see the midnight premiere of the Dark Knight.  I’m trying to do my best to not involve any copyright infringement material.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 1.

RAIN DROPS FALL OUTSIDE.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 2.

WE SEE A LIGHT ON IN A ROOM, RAIN FALLS HARD AGAINST THE WINDOW.  WE THE OUTLINE OF A BODY STANIDN UPRIGHT.

PAGE 1. PANEL 3.

BLONDE GIRL IS 18, ANOTHER 46 & 2 CHILD WHO HAS THE APPEARANCE OF VITILIGO.

A BLONDE GIRL IS PUTTING MAKE UP OVER A SPOT ON HER RIGHT CHEEK IN A MIRROR.  TIGHT SHOT OF THE HAND DOING THIS, WE DON’T SEE ANY OTHER PART OF HER FACE.  HER FINGERS HOLDING THE FOUNDATION APPLICATOR IS THE ONLY THING WE CAN SEE OF HER HAND.  NO DIALOGUE

PAGE 1.  PANEL 4.

WE PULL BACK FURTHER FROM HER FACE, THERE ARE OTHER SPOTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED YET.  SHE IS COVERING ANOTHER SPOT, WE SEE THAT HER ARMS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED BY A THIN GREEN SWEATER, ALL THE WAY TO HER WRIST, AND BEYOND, WITH A STRAP THAT GOES OVER HER THUMB AND FINGERS.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 5.

WE PULL FURTHER BACK AND SEE THAT SHE IS STANDING UP WHILE APPLYING THIS MAKE UP.  SHE HAS SHORTS ON, BUT BLACK TIGHTS THAT COVER UP HER LEGS.  ALSO INCLUDE HER BED, AND NEXT TO IT A TINY BAT, THAT YOU MIGHT GET AT A BASEBALL GAME AS SOUVENIR.

MOM (OFF PANEL):  Honey?  Where are you going?

BLONDE GIRL:  The movies.

MOM (OFF PANEL):  This late? 

BLONDE GIRL:  Midnight showing.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 6.

SHE IS PUTTING HER MAKE UP INTO HER PURSE. AS SHE OPENS THE DOOR.  NEXT TO THE DOOR’S EXIT IS A PICTURE OF A YOUNG MAN.  THE WALLS OF THE ROOM ARE BARE, EXCEPT FOR THE PICTURE OF THE BOY.  THEY LOOK SIMILAR, BECAUSE IT IS HER TWIN BROTHER.

MOM (OFF PANEL):  Make sure to cover up.

DIALOGUE CONT.

BLONDE GIRL:  Don’t worry about that.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 7.

SHE PUTS HER INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGER TO HER LIPS TO KISS THEM.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 1. PANEL 8.

TIGHT SHOT OF HER PLACING HER FINGERS ON THE BOY’S SMILING PICTURE. 

BLONDE GIRL:  It’s been harder since you’ve been gone.  I can’t keep them off. 

     Protect me, please.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 1.

SHO IS DRIVING A CAR DOWN I-5 SOUTH TOWARDS BLACKFIELD.  IT IS EVENING.  CHINO AND SCARLETT ARE IN THE BACK SEAT, SCORPIO IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT READING THE NEWSPAPER.  ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER IS A BLURRY PICTURE OF THE BURNING MAN.  IT IS DARK OUTSIDE, SPRINKLING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS CLOSE TO THE RAIN YET.

SCORPIO:  He’s escalating.  He’s murdered twenty people, that they know of, in L.A. 

                    Mexican Mafia, Crypts, Bloods.  He’s going to have a price on his head

                    soon.

SHO:  We can’t worry about him right now.  We need to leave as soon as we can,

           according to my father, my mother has been gone for three days with no word.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 2.

CHINO LEADS FORWARD BETWEEN THE TWO CAR SEATS. 

CHINO:  Yea, we’re going when we can.  But don’t you think having the American

                Government’s most wanted and a dead man with you might raise some

                suspicion?

SCARLETT:  Chino is right.  He’ll have eyes looking for me, and ears to listen for my

                       footsteps.  We need a more private route.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 3.

SCORPIO LOOKS BACK AT THEM.

SCORPIO:  I still don’t like this plan. 

CHINO:  You don’t like it because we’re asking the Rev for help. 

SCORPIO:  I’m sorry, he tried to save your life, what did he try to do to me again?

SHO:  Forget about the attempted murder and lets concentrate on how we’re getting to

            Japan.  I could go now, but the way he talked about the disappearance, well…I’m

            going to need help.  Monsters appearing out of thin air…

PAGE 2. PANEL 4.

EVERYONE IS SILENT, NOT SURE OF HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NEWS.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 5.

CHINO TALKS, SHO LOOKS AT  SCORPIO.  SCORPIO IS HOLDING THE PAPER UP AS IF ITS ALL THE PROOF HE NEEDS.

DIALOGUE CONT.

CHINO:  Look, I’m not going to say I don’t believe him, because I’ve seen some           

                terrifying stuff recently, but giant tentacle monsters coming out of thin air…

SCORPIO:  Don’t let me sugarcoat my skepticism: She’s been abducted, but not by some

                    monster, it was some asshole.  This is the kind of proof I need to believe. 

                    Pictures and solid facts.  This is the monster we need to worry about.

SHO:  Later.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 6.

SHO IS LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD, DETERMINED, CHINO AND SHO LOOKED COWED BY HIS DETERMINATION.

SHO:  We’re going to Japan, as soon as we can.  I’m going to need your help, I can tell. 

           Please, give me this help.  We’ll get to the burned man later.

SCORPIO:  Okay.  I just don’t like thinking about what he’s doing…

PAGE 3.  PANEL 1.

THE BURNING MAN HOLDS A YOUNG HISPANIC GANGSTER FROM THE EDGE OF A BUILDING. 

CAPTION:  “…In the mean time.”

GANGSTER:  NO!  I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything.

THE BURNING MAN:  I’ve learned everything I can from you.  This was not about

                                        information, it was about sending a message, symbolizing what

                                        is to come.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 2.

THE GANGSTER LAUGHS.

GANGSTER:  What do you think will change if you kill me?  There will be more.  We

                         will never stop!

THE BURNING MAN:  I’m counting on it.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 3.

THE BURNING MAN LETS GO OF THE GANGSTER.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 4.  SPLASH PAGE.

THE GANGSTER TRAILS DOWN THE FAÇADE OF A BUILDING, UNTIL HE CRASHES INTO A CAR AT THE BOTTOM.  THE CAR IS FANCY.  A VALET HAS JUST PARKED THE CAR.  IT IS A BUSY L.A. NIGHT, PEOPLE DRESSED UP, CARS DRIVING BY.  ON LOOKERS ARE SHOCKED AS THE MAN HITS THE CAR. 

CAPTION:  “A symbol…”

PAGE 5.  PANEL 1.

CHI, STEPHAN, ABE, AND FRANKIE ARE PUTTING AWAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS.  THEY ARE AT THE CHURCH, IN THE ROOM FROM ISSUE 1, WHERE THEY HAVE THE MEETINGS WITH EACH OTHER.

STEPHAN:  For what?

Chi:  The band.  It would be something we can put on t-shirts, and on the fliers and stuff. 

         Stickers, all that sort of stuff.  Give people an idea of who we are, or least know

         what they symbol is and associate it with us.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 2.

ABE IS LIGHTING A PIPE TO SMOKE WEED OUT OF.

ABE:  Symbol would be cool.  I’ve always wanted my own t-shirt.

FRANKIE:  Are you guys forgetting the key thing here?  We don’t have a lead singer.

CHINO (OFF PANEL):  That’s too bad.  Does that mean there is an opening?

PAGE 5.  PANEL 3.

THE FOUR BOYS LOOKS DUMBSTRUCK.  CHINO IS SMILING.  IT’S STILL RAINING OUTSIDE, BUT HE DIDN’T GET THAT WET.

CHINO:  No hugs?  That’s okay, you know I hate them.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 3.

ALL OF THEM EMBRACE.  WE’RE LOOKING UP AT THEM, THEY’RE IN A HUDDLE LIKE FORMATION AND WE ARE LOOKING FROM THE BOTTOM.

CHINO:  You don’t know how good it is to see you guys.

ABE:  Was wondering about you.

CHI:  We do spare some thoughts to it, but the Rev said we can’t contact you.

FRANKIE:  Is it true that you’ve been staying with…

PAGE 5.  PANEL 4.

THE FIVE OF THEM TURN AROUND TO ADDRESS THE VOICE THAT IS SPEAKING TO THEM.

SCORPIO:  Where the fuck is the Mick piece of shit?  God, this place stinks of weed,

                    which on second thought, isn’t a bad thing.

DIALOGUE CONT.

STEPH:  Oh man!

PAGE 5.  PANEL 5.

ALL THE BOYS EXCEPT CHINO ARE CIRCLING SCORPIO, WHO IS ALSO A LITTLE DAMP. BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T OUTSIDE THAT LONG.

FRANKIE:  It’s really you.  Oh my god.

CHI:  What are you doing here?

ABE:  Oh shit, I have a mag in my car, you gotta sign it for me.

SCORPIO:  Never met any of my adoring public. 

PAGE 5.  PANEL 6.

JOSHUA ENTERS THE ROOM, SHO AND SCARLETT BEHIND HIM.  CHI IS ON HIS CELLPHONE, TEXTING.

JOSHUA:  The adulations will have to wait.  Apparently we have some something to

                   discuss.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 1.

SHO, JOSHUA, AND SCORPIO ARE SITTING AROUND A TABLE TALKING.  THE FIVE BOYS AND SCARLETT LOOK ON FROM THE DOORWAY.

SHO: …travel for all of us.  I need him and the other two, and I’m hoping you have the

          contacts to do this.

CHI (TO CHINO):  Where is it you are going?

CHINO:  Tokyo.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 2.

THE FIVE CONGREGATE WITH EACH OTHER.  SCARLETT STANDS ASIDE.

ABE:  You know, as fucking awesome as that sounds, there is one thing you are leaving

            out.  Who is this girl?

CHINO:  Oh shit, I’m a horrible host.

STEPH:  Just a bit.

SCARLETT:  Hi.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 3.

CHINO INTRODUCES THE GROUP TO EACH OTHER.

CHINO: Scarlett, this is Chi, Abe, Stephan, and Frankie.  My band.

STEPHAN:  YOUR BAND!  Where has your ass been?  I think we need to have a

                      meeting about this.

FRANKIE:  Not to interrupt, but what about tonight?

CHI:  Oh yeah, the movie, I almost forgot.

MALA (OFF PANEL):  I see it but I don’t believe it, cos.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 4.

MALA AND MYUNG ARE STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER.  MALA LOOKS HAPPY, WITH A SMIRK UPON HER FACE.  MYUNG LOOKS AHEAD.

MALA:  Still ugly, you know that.  What do you think, Myung? 

CHINO:  Myung, you weren’t…how?

MYUNG:  Chi.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 5.

MYUNG AND CHINO KISS PASSIONATELY.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 6.

MYUNG SLAPS CHINO.

CHINO:  Wha—

PAGE 7.  PANEL 1.

MYUNG PULLS CHINO TO HER AGAIN, KISSING.  EVERYBODY LOOKS ON.  EVERYONE SMILING, EXCEPT ABE.

ABE:  If no one else is going to say it, I will:  We need to get going to the theatre to get

           good seats.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 2.

THE GROUP IS SITTING IN THE THEATRE.  MOVIE HASN’T STARTED YET.  SHO, SCARLETT, MALA, CHI, ABE, STEPH, FRANKIE, MYUNG AND CHINO.

CHINO:  Thanks for the tickets, Frankie.

FRANKIE:  Work discount.  Just be glad we’re showing it in multiple theatres.

CHINO:  Good man.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 3.

SHO IS AT THE END OF THE ROW WITH SCARLETT.  MYUNG IS MOTIONING TOWARDS THEM.

MYUNG:  They ok?

CHINO:  Sho’s worried about his mom, but Rev says we can’t do anything for a couple

                days.  Scarlett, well, poor girl’s never been in a theatre before, so we’ll see how

                she does. 

STEPH:  Shhh, it’s starting.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 4.

CHINO DISPLAYS A THOUGHT BUBBLE.

CHINO (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  Can you hear me?

MYUNG (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  Yeah, it’s been a while.

CHINO (THOUGHT BUBBLE): I’m going to give you a quick memory dump that Sho

                                                       taught me how to do.  It’ll fill you in on Scarlett and

                                                       Sho.  Did it to the guys earlier.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 5.

MYUNG HOLDS HER HEAD.

MYUNG (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  I feel sick.

CHINO (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  Sorry.  I know it’s a lot at once. 

MYUNG (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  How do you just turn it on and off?

CHINO (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  It’s like flexing a muscle.  You just have to train it. 

                                                        That’s not to say it doesn’t spasm at times, like in

                                                        Coachella.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 6.

WE MOVE AWAY FROM THE GROUP SO THAT THEY ARE JUST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL.  FOCUS IS ON THE BLONDE GIRL, SHE IS HOLDING HER HEAD TOO. 

MYUNG (THOUGHT BUBBLE):  Don’t remind me.

CHINO ( THOUGHT BUBBLE):  Yeah, if that filter weren’t on, it’s just an endless

                                                         array of thoughts and suggestions pouring into you. 

                                                        You begin to lose track of what is you and what is not.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 1.

ABE IS IMITATING A MACHINE GUN BEING FIRED AS THEY STAND OUTSIDE OF THE THEATRE, UNDER AN AWNING AND SMOKE.  PEOPLE WALK AROUND THEM WITH BAT SYMBOL T-SHIRTS OR BLOODY SMILE T-SHIRTS, UMBRELLA’S OUT. 

ABE:  And he’s just all ‘HIT ME.  HIT ME.’  Fucking bad ass.  Dude, Ledger fucking

           killed it.

STEPH:  Killed himself you mean.  Everybody’s saying he got too into the roll, became

               too much like the character.

CHI:  Come on, you don’t believe that, do you? 

STEPH:  Our lead singer can lift a car.  I’ll believe anything now. 

PAGE 8.  PANEL 2.

CHINO IS MAKING THE BAT SYMBOL WITH HIS HAND AS THEY TALK.

CHINO:  Thanks.  I don’t know about him offing himself cause he went crazy after the

                role.

MALA:  Don’t you think playing that role, living it, breathing it, everyday would have

               had an affect upon his mind?

CHINO:  Do you see Bale fighting crime on a nightly basis?  It’s how far you allow

                yourself to go.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 3.

THE GROUP IS WALKING TO THEIR CARS, UMBRELLA’S READY.  CHI, MYUNG, CHINO, SHO, AND SCARLETT IN ONE CAR, STEPH, FRANK, ABE IN ANOTHER, MALA, BY HERSELF.  BLONDE GIRL FROM EARLIER IS THROWING UP NEAR A HARLEY MOTOCYCLE.  NO ONE NOTICES, IT’S FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THEM.

SHO:  I think the symbol has more power than you admit Chino.  Remember how you

           told me you broke the door to the room?  Your symbol.

CHINO:  But I gave it power.

SHO:  Just like he may have given power to that chaotic symbol.  Look around you, there

           are just as many shirts with his image on them as there are of the good guy. 

PAGE 8.  PANEL 4.

SOME PEOPLE NEAR THEIR CARS ARE DRESSED UP IN COSTUME.  THE BLODNE GIRL FROM EARLIER HAS STOPPED THROWING UP, AND IS

DESCRIPTION CONT.

CHECKING SOMETHING IN THE MIRRIOR OF THE BIKE.

SHO (CAPTION):  “People identified with this chaos, they are giving it power.”

SCARLETT (CAPTION):  “Sho has a point Chino.  I wasn’t using any sort of telepathy,

                                             but I could feel the thoughts.  It felt toxic.”

PAGE 8.  PANEL 5.

CHINO IS IN THE CAR, PASSENGER SEAT, MYUNG DRIVING.  SHO, SCARLETT, AND CHI SIT IN BACK.

CHINO:  Maybe.  Maybe they were just happy to see a bad ass film, and truly terrifying

                villain.  Though our Human Torch could give him a run for his money.

MYUNG:  Is that the burned guy you showed me?  Ech.  I felt like throwing up when I saw that.

SCARLETT:  Toxic thoughts.

SHO: They spread to others, thought plagues.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 6. 

THE GIRL LOOKS UP, HER MAKE UP IS WASHING OFF OF HER AND WE CAN CLEARLY SEE HER VITILIGO LIKE SPOTS, SHE SMILES, WITH BRIGHT RED LIPS.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 7.

THE BLONDE GIRL HAS BRIGHT RED LIPSTICK ON, HER HOOD PULLED UP TO HIDE HER FACE, AND IS SMILING, BECKONING A BOY, AROUND 12, OVER TO HER.

SHO (CAPTION):  “The idea infects your brain and won’t leave.”

PAGE 9.  PANEL 1.

CHINO IS RUNNING, TEETH, LIPS, AND SMILES ARE AROUND HIM.  LAUGHTER AS WELL.  THERE IS A BLONDE GIRL IN THE BACKGROUND AND THE FOREGROUND.  THEY BOTH ARE BECKONING HIM, HE CONTINUES TO RUN TOWARDS THE FOREGROUND THROUGHOUT ALL THE PANELS.

CAPTION:  “DEAD BABIES”

CAPTION:  “HANDICAPPED SOLDIERS”

CAPTION: “UNQUESTIONED CONTROL”

CAPTION: “ABUSED RAPISTS”

CAPTION:  “CAT AIDS.”

PAGE 9.  PANEL 2.

A MOUTH BEGINS TO SURROUND CHINO, HE IS IN THE CENTER OF THE TEETH, ABOUT TO BITE DOWN ON HIM.

CAPTION:  “RACISM”

CAPTION:  “OBESCITY”

CAPTION:  “DEATH”

CAPTION:  “CRUELTY”

PAGE 9.  PANEL 3.

THE TEETH ARE CLOSING IN ON CHINO, CLOSING TO BITING.

SMALLER IMAGES INSTEAD OF CAPTIONS.

A HEARTBREAKING

A KNIFE IN SOMEONE’S BACK

A MUSCULAR PERSON, WITH SHRUNKEN GENITELIA.

FAKE BREASTS

PAGE 9.  PANEL 4.

THE GIRL IS SMILING AS SHE CONTINUES TO BECKON CHINO, REDLIPSTICK STILL APPLIED.

DIALOGUE CONT.

BLONDE GIRL:  “You know I’m right.  You want this.”

PAGE 9.  PANEL 5.

THE TEETH CLOSE DOWN ON CHINO.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 1.

MYUNG IS WAKING UP, TURNING THE LIGHT ON, THERE IS THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER NEAR HER.  WE DON’T SEE WHERE THE LAUGHTER IS COMING FROM.  THE CLOCK READS 4:00

PAGE 10.  PANEL 2.

MYUNG IS PROPPING UP ON HER ELBOW, LOOKING AT CHINO HYSTERICALLY LAUGHING. 

MYUNG:  CHINO!

PAGE 10.  PANEL 3.

MYUNG SLAPS CHINO.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 4.

CHINO CONTINUES TO LAUGH.

CHINO:  Don’t hurt the head, then…

PAGE 10.  PANEL 5.

MYUNG SLAPS CHINO AGAIN.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 6.

CHINO HOLDS HIS FACE AGAIN.

CHINO:  What’d you do that for?

MYUNG:  Hnnhhh.  We need to call the Rev, but at a decent hour.  Are you able to                        

                  sleep?

CHINO:  I don’t think so.  I’m going to go watch T.V.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 7.

MYUNG KISSES CHINO ON THE CHEEK.

MYUNG:  I’ve barely gotten any sleep because of the movie…

CHINO:  Stay here, I can manage.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 1.

CHINO IS WATCHING TELEVISION.  IT READS 6:00 ON THE CABLE BOX

NEWSCASTER:  In local news, a young boy has been reported missing by his mother

                              this morning.  According to her he never came over after he attended

                              the midnight premier of the new movie…

MYUNG (OFF PANEL):  That’s horrible. 

PAGE 11.  PANEL 2.

MYUNG HAS HANDED CHINO A CUP OF COFFEE.

CHINO:  Yeah.  I can’t believe you’re going to work. 

MYUNG:  Have to, poor boy.

CHINO: …

MYUNG:  Don’t take it to heart.  If the government were trying to kidnap me, I don’t

                  think I’d be going to work either.  Have you told your parents you’re back

                  yet?

CHINO:  No.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 3.

MYUNG HAS PUT HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER.

MYUNG:  I’m really glad you’re back.

CHINO:  Me too.  Look, about what I said…I’m an asshole.  I was trying to push you

                away—

MYUNG:  To save me, I know.  Rev and I talked about it the whole 4 hours home. 

                  Believe me, I’m still mad, but I understand why you did it.  You’re worried

                  about me.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 4.

MYUNG HOLDS THE PALM OF HER HAND AGAINST CHINO’S CHEEK.

MYUNG:  You’ll be gone again in a couple days, and I just want this to be a special time

                   between us.

CHINO:  I’m really sorry you can’t come with us.

MYUNG:  Me too, I’d love to see Tokyo.  Just don’t fall for some other Asian girl.

DIALOGUE CONT.

CHINO:  Never.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 5.

THEY KISS.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 6.

MYUNG GET’S UP, CHECKING HER WATCH.

MYUNG:  I need to get to work.

CHINO:  I need to talk to the Rev about that laughing fit.

MYUNG:  Yeah, that was a little odd.

CHINO:  Maybe residuals from tonight.  I know my filter has been off since Coachella,

                but Sho has been helping me improve it.  Without it that could have been a lot

                worse.

MYUNG:  Maybe call him too.  Ready?

PAGE 12.  PANEL 1.

THE BLONDE GIRL SITS IN THE CORNER OF A GARAGE, FACE COVERED BY HAIR, KNEES BENT UP WITH THE FEET ON THE GROUND.  BLOOD  IS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE KNIFE THAT SHE HAS CLUTCHED IN HER RIGHT HAND.  THE LEFT ARM CROSSES ACROSS BOTH KNEES.  SHE NO LONGER HAS THE SWEATER ON, WE CAN SEE THE VITILIGO LIKE SPOTS ON HER ARMS.

BLONDE GIRL:  This week last year, my twin brother killed himself.  We always went

                              to movies together.  We were so close.  They say twins have a sort of

                              telepathy.  We could actually talk without moving our mouths.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 2.

WE  PULL AWAY FROM HER, THE BOYS HEAD COMES INTO FOCUS, BUT ALL WE SEE IS THE BACK OF IT.

BLONDE GIRL:  He couldn’t take the pressure of being called gay.  Over and over,

                             ridiculed at school and online.  He couldn’t take the pressure anymore. 

                             He couldn’t turn off the thoughts.

PAGE 12. PANEL 3.

WE PULL FURTHER BACK, THE GIRL IS STILL IN THE CORNER.  MORE OF THE BOY IS EXPOSED.

BLONDE GIRL:  He tried and tried, but we felt everything that was directed at him.  I

                              never learned how to turn off his voice in my head.  Chaotic ramblings

                              when he’d get high to try to shut out the pain and thoughts.

PAGE 12. PANEL 4.

BLOOD SPILLS OUT FROM THE BOY’S ARM.  SHE SPINS THE KNIFE WITH HER HAND.

BLONDE GIRL:  He didn’t know that it was just as bad for me too.  He’d try dating, but

                              nothing worked out.  You know what the funniest part is?

PAGE 12. PANEL 5.

THE KNIFE CONTINUES TO SPIN, HER HAND OVER IT.  BLOOD IS TRAILING TOWARDS THE KNIFE.

BLONDE GIRL:  He wasn’t gay.

PAGE 13.  PANEL 1.

CHINO AND JOSHUA ARE SMOKING OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.

JOSHUA:  That bastard is tearing L.A. up.  Cops aren’t in much a hurry to stop him,

                   doing their job for them.

CHINO:  I was a little incapacitated at the time or else…

JOSHUA:  Don’t have to make up tales for me son.  He’s a tough bastard.  How do you

                  feel after?

PAGE 13.  PANEL 2.

CHINO RUBS THE AREA OF HIS HEAD WHERE THE BULLET IS, JOSHUA HAS TOSSED THE CIGARETTE INTO THE ASH TRAY BY THE DOOR AND IS OPENING THE DOOR INTO THE CHURCH.

CHINO:  Like shit.  I…well.  I told him about us.

JOSHUA:  Urge to confess.  I get it.  You thought you were going to die.

CHINO:  I died though.  I actually fucking died.

PAGE 13.  PANEL 3.

THE TWO OF THEM ENTER THE LUNCH AREA, SHO IS MAKING COFFEE.

SHO:  Are you talking about what happened?  Chino, there is more in your head than you

           realize.  I could sense it.

CHINO:  I know.  Alien races, gods, people talking to me.  I just can’t remember it

                clearly.

SHO:  We can help you with that.

PAGE 13.  PANEL 4.

JOSHUA HOLDS THE BACK OF A CHAIR WHILE CHINO IS HOLDING HIS HEAD AND YAWNING.

SHO:  No sleep?

CHINO:  I had some freaky ass dream.  Maybe the movie last night. 

JOSHUA:  Maybe.  Sho, did you pick up anything last night?

SHO:  Everyone was emitting some sign of toxicity.  I couldn’t focus my mind enough to

           really track anything.

DIALOGUE CONT.

CHINO:  I could see a blonde girl in my dream.  That’s all that was really clear from them.

PAGE 13.  PANEL 5.

SHO HOLDS HIS HEAD. JOSHUA AND CHINO STARE AT HIM, GETTING UP TO BRACE HIM.

SHO:  AH!

PAGE 13.  PANEL 6.

SHO HOLDS HIS ARM, THERE IS A RED LACERATION ON IT.

JOSHUA:  The fuck was that?

SHO:  I took the image from his head, scanned the minds of the city for something

           similar, then was hit by this wave of chaos.    She’s done something.

SCORPIO (OFF PANEL):  That’s for sure.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 1.

HOLDEN HAS ENTERED THE OFFICE, HE AND JOSHUA ARE STARING AT EACH OTHER, PRETTY CLOSELY, A BIT OF HOSTILITY BETWEEN THE TWO.

JOSHUA:  Officer Sullivan.

HOLDEN:  Reverend.

SCORPIO:  Now boys, I hope this posturing isn’t for me, because I don’t give a shit. 

                    More important stuff right now.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 2.

SCORPIO INTRODUCES HOLDEN TO CHINO.

SCORPIO:  Sho you know, this is our new boy.  Fei.

CHINO:  Call me Chino.

HOLDEN:  Nice to meet you.  I hear your one of the reasons for the noise up north.

CHINO:  Yeah, I guess I am why he came out there.

SCORPIO:  Get those files out.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 3.

HOLDEN HAS SPREAD SOME PICTURES ON THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE TO LOOK AT.  THERE IS A PICTURE OF A BOY, THE ONE KIDNAPPED BY THE BLONDE GIRL, ON A SOCCER TEAM, IN A SCHOOL PICTURE FOR THE YEARBOOK, AND ONE WITH HIS MOM AND DAD. 

HOLDEN:  Steven Pike, twelve years-old.  Went missing after he went out to the late

                    showing last night, hasn’t been heard from since. 

SHO:  Do you think it was the girl we saw?

SCORPIO:  It’d be a decently educated guess, if his mind is full of blood and murder.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 4.

FOCUS ON HOLDEN, STANDING LOOKING DOWN ON THE PICTURES.

HOLDEN:  Do you think you can find her?

SHO:  I don’t know the town that well.  I can’t access her mind either without being

           knocked out.  I can try locating using the same technique as finding her.  See

           where people have seen her…

PAGE 14.  PANEL 5.

THE BLONDE GIRL IS STRINGING UP THE BOY IN HER GARAGE.  WE ONLY SEE THE BODY, NOT THE FACE, THAT WILL BE REVEALED ON THE LAST PAGE.

BLONDE GIRL:  I don’t know what that was earlier, but I think it means someone is

                              coming.  We’ll leave you here to greet them.  Along with a couple

                              more surprises.

CAPTION:  “…hanging around.”

PAGE 15.  PANEL 1.

CHINO, SHO, SCORPIO, AND HOLDEN ARE WALKING ONTO THE COLLEGE CAMPUS FROM ISSUE 2.  THINK B.C.

SHO:  Find the Science building. 

CHINO:  This way.  How are we going to find her though?  It’s not like we have a name

                or picture.

HOLDEN:  We’ll question then from there find someone who knows her.  If this is the

                    strongest hit Sho got, then somebody will know who we are talking about.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 2.

HOLDEN TALKS TO A STUDENT, SHO IS WITH HIM.  CHINO AND SCORPIO TALK IN THE BACKGROUND.

SCORPIO:  What’d you feel when it hit you?

CHINO:  Chaos, but… a lot of fear as well.  This person is drowning, maybe they were

                before this happened, and now it’s even worse.  Could be one of us.

SCORPIO:  Sho didn’t feel…

CHINO:  Sho and Scarlett will be the first to admit that they couldn’t get a read from that

                craziness, too much feed back.

ABE (OFF PANEL):  YO, CHINO!

PAGE 15.  PANEL 3.

ABE AND CHI HAVE WALKED UP.  SCORPIO WATCHES HOLDEN AND SHO, UNDISTURBED.

ABE:  Hey man, you didn’t tell me you’d be on campus today. 

CHI:  Yeah, what’s up?  If you’re here to check on your grades, I think they’ve failed

          you.

CHINO:  No, nothing like that.  We’re trying to find this missing kid, Sho and I got a

                read from the abductor here, and now we’re trying to locate her.

ABE:  Is she hot?

PAGE 15.  PANEL 4.

CHI IS LAUGHING, CHINO HAS A STRAIGHT FACE.

CHINO:  Fuck off Abe, it’s not the time for that.

DIALOGUE CONT.

ABE:  I was just joking.

CHINO:  Well grow up then.  I don’t have time for this kid shit right now.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 5.

ABE WALKS OFF MAD, CHI STANDS BEHIND, CONFUSED.  SHO AND HOLDEN ENTER, FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANEL.  HOLDEN THROWS A PIECE OF PAPER, NOT TRASH, INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A TRASH CAN.  IT SAYS PAPER W.A.S.T.E. ON IT.

ABE:  Fuck you too.  Just ‘cause I don’t have some freaky mind powers, can’t be a part

           of your club.

CHI:  Chino, he was just playing.

CHINO:  And it’s not funny.  A kid’s life is in danger, and we’re trying to help, and all

                you guys are doing is getting in the way.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 6.

SHO STANDS NEXT TO CHINO.  CHI JUST LOOKS AT THEM, APART FROM THE GROUP, FEELING LEFT OUT.

CHI:  Yeah, sorry about that.  I’ll clear out of here.

CHINO:  …Chi…

SHO:  We have good news.  Her mental health professor knew who were talking about,

           I believe we can find her address at the admissions and records office.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 1.

HOLDEN IS DRIVING THE CAR, SCORPIO RIDES SHOTGUN, SMOKING, SHO AND CHINO ARE IN THE BACK.

SHO:  Was your friend okay, he seemed sad.

CHINO:  Yeah, I think he feels bad because I didn’t include him.  I just…I guess I didn’t

                think about it.  This place feels like a life time ago, and like I don’t belong here

                anymore.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 2.

EVERYONE IS STEPPING OUT OF THE CAR.

SHO:  Never forget where you come from, or the people you love.  They have not

           forgotten you.

CHINO:  Sorry to be shit talking my home when all you want to do is head back to yours.

SHO:  No problem.  The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can make plans to leave. 

          How come we did not go to the admissions center?

SCORPIO:  No need to.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 3.

HOLDEN APPROCHES THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE.

SCORPIO:  Holden is the locater of our little outfit.  He can find anything.  Last one died

                    in this town, and Holden was recruited by Eddy, the murderer, fill the void. 

                    Of course, I recommended.

HOLDEN:  More interesting than just being on the police force and getting drunk on

                    whiskey every night, now I have something to occupy my time.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 4.

HOLDEN IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.

HOLDEN:  Hennh.  No one home.  Guess I’ll have to kick rocks.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 5.

WE ARE SEEING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE DARK HOUSE.  HOLDEN HAS KICKED IN THE DOOR.  WE ARE SEEING SHO’S AND CHINO’S FACE AS THIS IS HAPPENING.  THEY ARE CLOSE TO THE HOUSE, BUT HOLDEN IS THE CLOSEST.  SHO IS DIRECTLY BEHIND HOLDEN.

DIALOGUE CONT.

SHO:  NO!

PAGE 17.  SPLASH PAGE.

SHO IS FLINGING HOLDENT OUT OF THE WAY WITH HIS POWERS, BUT HE CAN’T DIVERT THEM FAST ENOUGH TO STOP THE BULLET THAT IS FIRED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HITS HIM RIGHT THROUGH HIS GUT, EXITING OUT OF HIS BACK, THROUGH THE VERTEBRATE.  CHINO IS HORRIFIED, SCORPIO, IS COVERING HIS EARS.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 1.

CHINO RUNS OVER TO SHO, SCORPIO IS GETTING BACK UP, HOLDEN IS REMOVING HIS PISTOL FROM HIS HOLSTER.

HOLDEN:  MOTHER FUCKER!

CHINO:  No, Sho.

SCORPIO:  Help him, Chino!

PAGE 18.  PANEL 2.

CHINO TRIES TO POSITION HIMSELF.  HOLDEN FIRES HIS GUN BACK INTO THE HOUSE.

CHINO:  I…I can’t just turn it on.

SCORPIO:  Concentrate damn it.  Think about losing him, feel it.  Feel the empathy.

HOLDEN:  I see ‘em.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 3.

A BODY STUMBLES OUT OF THE HOUSE, BLACK CLOTHES, WIG, COVERED FACE.

CHINO IS STILL TRYING TO HELP SHO.  SCORPIO IS TRYING TO COACH CHINO.

HOLDEN:  I got you, bitch.

SCORPIO:  Don’t let him die.  He helped you, now help him.

CHINO:  I’m trying, fuck!

PAGE 18.  PANEL 4.

HOLDEN IS RUNNING OVER TO THE BODY.

CHINO:  Okay, okay.  I think I’m there.  I can feel it.  I just need to concentrate, and it’ll all be—

HOLDEN:  Fuck.  Get over here.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 5.

THE BLONDE GIRL’S MOTHER HAS BEEN REVEALED UNDER THE MASK, DUCK TAPE WITH A RED KISS ON THE FRONT, TEARS STREAMIND DOWN THE WOMAN’S MASCARA SOAKED FACE. 

CHINO:  I can’t do both.

DIALOGUE CONT.

SCORPIO:  He’s right.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 1.

SCORPIO DRAGS CHINO AWAY FROM SHO.

SCORPIO:  Help her. 

CHINO:  But—

SCORPIO:  Do it.  You guys can heal yourselves, maybe even unconsciously.  She can’t, she needs your help.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 2.

CHINO LOOKS AT SHO, BLOODY AND PASSED OUT.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 3.

SCORPIO HITS CHINO

SCORPIO:  DO IT!

CHINO:  Ahhhhhhh.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 4.

CHINO LEANS OVER THE WOMAN, HOLDEN HAS STUMBLED OFF, CLOSER TO THE GARAGE, IT IS OPENING UP.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 5.

HOLDEN HAS HIS GUN DRAWN AT THE OPEN GARAGE.

HOLDEN:  HANDS UP!  NO FUNNY SHIT!

PAGE 19.  PANEL 6.

HOLDEN HAS LOWERED HIS GUN, HIS FACE IS SAD, AS THE REALIZATION OF FAILURE WASHES OVER HIM.

PAGE 20.  SPLASH PAGE.

THE BOY HANGS FROM THE ROOF, HIS LIPS, AND CHEEKS HAVE BEEN CUT INTO THE SHAPE OF A MUTILATED SMILE, WE CAN SEE THE BACK ROW OF HIS TEETH, THAT IS HOW FAR BACK THE CUTS GO.  THERE IS A SIGN HANGING FROM THE BOY, IT SAYS:  WELCOME TO MY FUN HOUSE.

HOLDEN LEANS AGAINST THE GARAGE IN FAILURE.

THE END