CHAPTER FIVE
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Viggo helps Kirby up on both feet but Kirby tears away from him like he’s the devil. The rosewood study echoes with their scuffle. He can’t stay here. He staggers towards the exit, attacked with a headache, as the room tilts. Viggo cuts him off, standing between him and the door. Whoa, what were you doing on the floor?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGSqUWcgAM
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Kirby shoves him out of the way, harder than necessary.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2li3rVh201
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You left me in there too long! Kirby seethes, baring teeth. This surprises Viggo. And the longer I’m around you, I got a neon target on my back.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujmxAQsYU2
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His brother stands still, a deer in headlights. The flashbacks to MyHAVEN with his strung up or mangled corpse hurtling in the air didn’t help.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnShBeVGAF
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Kirby stammers, realizing how that sounded horrible. He darkens anyway. Who cares about Viggo Hayes’s feelings? The guy’s never cared for anyone. The car wreck. I know someone tried to kill us because of you. I know about the fight with Taylor. I KNOW that Taylor is alive.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd2P2sLoqt
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His brother laughs. What are you even talking about? Wow, I really did leave you in that pod too long. Just got back from the moon, huh? Viggo spins a globe like it’s only a toy. He isn’t as panicked like he was when he kicked a hole in the wall. Cool as a cucumber. Taylor’s dead. End of your story.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVFeUoF982
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Kirby nods, seeing how it is. Mind games, as always, with Viggo Hayes. This time, it’s different. He’s not a kid; he’s old enough to stand up for himself.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpMhQzfrPG
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He skulked out of his office and walked out of this building. Kirby insists it. I saw the man with my own two eyes.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF00B4zjEL
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People have been known to hallucinate after a VR session.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfopJdWsAXj
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Kirby scoffs incredulously. I don’t believe ...603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5TwMiRf7V
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Me? Viggo raises an eyebrow. He starts signing rougher, as if punching the air. What will they say once they find out you’ve been saying, no how about raving, that you’ve been visited by the ghost of Dom Taylor? A suicide bomber? Kirby wonders about the bombed plane. That they believe you, honey it’s okay? Hell no. They’ll deport you down with a fucking smile.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonPazZa1vH
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What if I tell everyone that Taylor never made it on the plane? That the last time someone saw him was right here with you? Kirby points to his brother.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUcJjuNiSX
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Viggo’s psycho orange eyes widen and bristle like a tiger’s. You’re the least of my worries. The eyes dart, looking out the windows. And shut up, because he’s blown to bits and you’re crazy. Confused! Go back to your dorm, and … you’ll see.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVK9GKfWfs
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Suddenly, Ishmael makes it out of the office and runs barking its head off at the windows. Kirby gives Viggo a glare before leaving. Yeah, we’ll see.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjXA8uldLg
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He peers over his shoulder and sees a dimly lit campus where the winged horses glow. It looks like he is alone. Kirby hates that. He tries to push out the creeping doubts. What if Taylor is dead and you saw someone else? What if you’re dead wrong?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0bXp1zdlF
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He pulls out his phone. 13 worried texts from the anonymous. Kirby blinks. That means Chance really was there in his waking nightmare.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfGB7zFLFY
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Inside the dorm while walking down the empty hall, Kirby texts back that he’s really fine, he guesstimates, and looks up to his room. A hot guy in a grey jumpsuit stands at his doorway, brightening and looking relieved. Kirby rubs his eyes. It is Chance. Kirby’s knees could buckle but he locks them in place.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC9I3N8vcW
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Standing next to him, Kirby realizes that Chance is taller.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GbO25pQu3
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Bzzt. Hi. We obviously need to talk. But first, can I take you out for a date?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyEavzW37v
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Kirby nods. Not eagerly as he thought he’d be, but it was a nod. His hand and Chance’s hand explore each other, knotting their fingers. Their unsure eyes meet and linger with excitement. Okay, Mr. One-In-A-Trillion.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWWF7s0U5H
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Their first date isn’t very far to walk to, seeing how it’s still on campus. They sneak into an occupied studio through the back. Scouting until it’s clear, they climb to the balcony that overlooks the set, a sci-fi film in production. Kirby feels his headache again from trying too hard to not make a sound. Chance leads their way to a corner with enough space where they can crouch and hide.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmup2n65vsW
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Bzzt. This is where I work. Quentin Tarantino was supposed to be here. But since the bombing, he respectfully declined.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX6JggAmxS
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Kirby tries to hush a titter with his fist. Chance points to the nearest celebrity, which happens to be Simone Chaput. She grips her script like a dominatrix, her lips slacking as she recites her lines in attempt to seduce and terrify the camera. “My beautiful creation.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimqtRlqIgR
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There is a futuristic kind of chainsaw she dances around in a spaceship, querying people off set if this thing is on. Simone could claw her own neck apart with her skull studded nails if she so chooses, yet holds back out of deep sadness. She deplores yet she rages. She says her lines, about to fall onto the chainsaw. “My gorgeous solution, and I’m going to kill myself with it.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpPVNeDttc
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Her arms crawl with gooseflesh. She hesitates to check it but like, whatever. It’s just pretend. It’s acting. It’s a job.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X0ZKy90Z5
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The blade’s edge is sharply barbed, but locked in place. Motionless.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5GbMa8xPY
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The director says cut! They go through it again. Simone looks away, frustrated but mostly at herself. She does some image training. Get in that zone. Get your face in there, the chainsaw zone.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zks18Rbuj
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Her phone is on. Skyden security’s not supposed to look at celebrities’ personal effects but hey if you don’t get caught… 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycTNUfol16
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Kirby nods with fascination. Despite film production, he’s about to watch a hacker at work. Chance opens a bulky black laptop, police grade. Looks like it costs quite a dime. It reveals the phones including Kirby’s, tablets, and computers in the building as red hot spots all at once before locking onto Simone’s phone.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IM82o8hgm
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Kirby and Chance could see everything.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCgwam2jMK
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They see unanswered Facebook messages from old friends since high school. They see her sad nude selfies, pouting at a mirror in a spotlight in a dark room. They see all her hot and heavy sexts about cunnilingus to another voluptuous actress on set, a Rachel Craven. Lots of pumpkin pie jokes. Kirby cringes just thinking about it. Simone and Rachel occasionally eye-fuck each other from across the room. They must be thinking of whipped cream. And here Kirby has to swallow all his bubbling laughter.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH33d55bNuR
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Simone’s fingers pluck at the saw. It whirs and stops. She frowns, unsure if that just happened. Never mind. She doesn’t bother to ask anyone if they saw that.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmmUJYRCwp
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Then Chance starts going through Simone Chaput’s search history which is mostly scented candles, necrophilia, and snakes. Kirby quiets down, greatly ashamed for knowing too much, thinking how it’s no longer funny. It chills him actually to be sitting here, watching how invasively Chance digs and combs deep through someone else’s phone. This isn’t how he’d thought the date would go.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaBvsujcui
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Kirby decides to send a text: Did you ever go through my phone?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqphjFsMQD
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Chance pauses at this, just briefly. Yes. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcYEboo3AX
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Stalker alert! Kirby exhales, knocked impressed with his honesty but still can’t bring himself to meet those cold green eyes. Chance nudges into him gently. He looks into them and they are warmer and darker than he expects.
I don’t judge but if I were to compare you to the world, you’re way vanilla. Plus, I’m into the bondage kink too. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEC1ykNToQ
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Kirby blushes. You are shameless! 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MZvJfeObA
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I don’t think truth should be taboo. Chance glances at Kirby’s lips.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeut8bTzYT
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He looks at Chance’s lips too. They lean in.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUbJHwweAD
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“HEYY!!” Simone screams with her perfect pearly white teeth as her hair gets snagged in the revving chainsaw. People scream with her. She’s being eaten. The director shouts for someone to turn off the wailing blade.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAq56dZqtn
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Chance swings his eyes to the crisis, keying in his laptop. Kirby grips his mouth. What the hell? Several of the crew runs up to the machine, arguing about what to do.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1to9CVteIe
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The chainsaw buzzes angrily and yanks her down to one knee. She screams, knowing her neck’s about to be snapped, her head about to be scalped. Her eyes bulge and water. “Nonono someone help me, god help me!!”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfUVLDqFSw
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Dr. Fanfare and Rachel Craven run onto set to her side. They quickly settle on a decision and grind Simone’s hair across the blades while the actress begs her hair be cut free.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzATB3qVeu
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July shouts at her, “Left! Right, harder!”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvOFoalboL
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Kirby shadows as Chance locks onto the chainsaw and profiles it. While Kirby has no idea what the coding meant, it is clear from the warped pinging someone’s remotely controlling it inside this room. Instead of decrypting their identity, Chance looks to commandeer the savage machine back.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVySpcqXpNO
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He keys in a long string of code that abruptly kills the chainsaw dead.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFonVk50Frg
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“Okay, okay, hurry,” Simone feels a lot better as they zigzag.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWQmIfVjV8
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Her hair starts to detach and fray with fringe. It starts coming apart.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa6ikBox0K
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But the chainsaw begins chugging up again, yanking her arching too far back for July’s and Rachel’s hands. They clutch Simone’s dangling fingers. Their eyes dart among each other with absolute horror. Is this it?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEca1ngPdXk
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Chance commandeers the chainsaw again with swift keystrokes. It wails one last time and shuts down with a guttural whine. Simone shrieks with fury again, prying her hair with all she’s got but to no avail. It’s still in there, clamped jaws as fused as a closed zipper. Chance quickly keys in the next code.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23KVOIdK6i
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Come on! Kirby thinks, wondering how fast the other hacker is.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk4Vqm4zVS
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Chance accesses the hardware, changes the password, and adjusts the firewall to triple in encryption. This takes less than ten seconds. Now no one but him can do something with it. Next, he scans the room for the other hacker. He and Kirby hunch in to split up the work of searching. They scroll up, and they scroll left. Come on! There. A ripple in that corner indicates a white dot.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IToeqI6Rj
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It emerges, traveling up behind a red dot labeled Kirby Hayes.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn6HYL5wWL
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They glance at each other for a minute before Chance’s face is stomped in by a dirty black boot. Kirby hyperventilates, staring at the ghost of Dom Taylor.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztqpRJ841J
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He catches the next stomp with his two hands. Kirby hooks his shoe behind Taylor’s standing boot, at the ankle, and trips him.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMsPYdAxNS
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Taylor falls hard onto his back and cries out with pain.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsqgFK4Sr8
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Well, you look very alive! Kirby thinks, clambering on top. He strikes the man hard across the bearded face. That’s for my brother. His hand throbs. Wow, that hurts but feels so good.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTaqIfQJZ6
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He clocks a hard one in the neck, making the old man choke and wheeze for air. That one’s for me! Finally Kirby stands up and stomps him in the face. That’s for Chance! He stomps again and again, and he could hear how much louder each one gets.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfwfwqmd9f
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Chance pulls him back until he finally gives up. “Stop! Stop!” Kirby pants, realizing how badly he’s destroyed Taylor’s face. It’s swollen black, ashen grey, and blue indigo.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fatsK4wH4
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Simone finally frees herself, hugging July and then Rachel in broken sobs. Together, they flock far away from the chainsaw and the gnarled hair that glint in the spotlights.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVdgjLcnBb
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That’s the Spook. The one who caused that car wreck, tortured me, and nearly sawed Simone’s head all in one day. He’s on a warpath. Kirby texts for Chance to read as he tends to Chance’s bleeding cheek.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfCyAlSwJS
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We don’t know that. Help me tie him up.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaavWSWqh8
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Chance points at a heavy scratchy rope for Kirby to retrieve. They bind the man’s ankles, knees, and wrists together in knots. They drag Taylor downstairs for the entire cast and crew to see his face.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46AhuHQ5qS
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Dr. Fanfare clutches her mouth mumbling a prayer, her face going white like she’s seen a ghost. It slowly registers that Taylor’s death was faked.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtKsIOFrF9
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Onlookers spread the word through their phones.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G98uzPdZ8
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Just wait until Viggo hears about this.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mXRkebXJu
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Kirby tries not to watch but it’s just like a train wreck as Simone limps away with Rachel, heading back to her room to recover. Even Dr. Fanfare’s overcome with grief and shock that she leaves as well. Through the heart-pounding scatter, Kirby meets Chance’s feral stare, sighs, and tries not to smile with relief.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jk7hg31NY
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You saved her life. :) Kirby tells him.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas45uTcHkf
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Chance stammers and laughs awkwardly. It’s my job. Oh and listen, don’t tell anyone about the Spook thing. Makes you sound batshit cray cray.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH1d8Pdvow
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Doesn’t it? Kirby could scratch his head.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN5CHXPzsr
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Iris Frisk with her glowing auburn hair rushes in her white dress, holding her video camera and reporting rapidly as she goes, “Oh.. my.. god!! Professor Dominic Taylor, presumed to be dead, strikes again! Hey man wake up!”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYyeXWx9up
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This irks Chance greatly into swearing under bated breath. He gets in her way, jostles her back, and forces her to retreat a few steps.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfybPSqzKv
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Iris sneers and says, “Whoever you are, now’s not the time!”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA5TK0lIoZ
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“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Chance retorts. “Back down.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2aXa6yWle
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“Look black-eyed dude,” Iris turns off the camera and giggles. Her doe eyes bat. “Can you just be cool for a second? Let me get what I came for? Before the police gets here?”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthSVVYvjrr
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Chance laughs sardonically in her face and says, “I am the police.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdI9PILanL
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Kirby’s eyes widen when Chance unbuttons his jumpsuit, reveals a black tanktop, a massive pectoral muscle, and brings out a chained necklace to a cold steel badge.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOve07Pf6Nt
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Iris grits her teeth, “Oh jesus.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor81cv5xTr
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Kirby’s stunned, left with a million questions. The police?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw20Qw25IU
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After all this time, Chance didn’t even mention that part. Kirby assumes it must be for good reason, like for protection. Especially for a corrupt cop, breaking laws he’s supposed to uphold. Of course no one knows that but Kirby. It dawns on him. Ohhh.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw1nyYFZAk
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His eyes gaze upon the gleaming name Skyden Police Officer Chance Gott.
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Meanwhile, back in MyHAVEN, the Spook dangles 65 feet off the floor on a scaffold that’s held into place by brackets connected to a wall. Humming a sad tune, the wooden two-faced mask with stained tears scrutinizes every detail of the frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The nine scenes of Genesis. The beginning of mankind. The many depictions of naked men and shadows of their internal organs. The second coming of Christ, who judges mankind.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmCGLPcT4p
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The Spook takes everything in and faces to the right towards the blessed, those anointed for a glorious Heaven. Facing left, the Spook sniffles and sees the damned, those exiled to a heartless Hell. Being in the middle down to the line, the Spook lies out flat, humming and dangling, unjudged. “This is my life.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTVL2Qobaz
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“Nose pressed to the ceiling for four years …” comes the mutter. “Mold. Poverty. Deteriorated vision. Weight of the world and the pope. All these can birth a masterpiece. But ooh, at such a high cost.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfSlVNs5iv
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“Only after the climb to Heaven have I found rest.” The Spook sighs heavily.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8TuxWYeBJ
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“Words, words, words! I should kill myself.” The Spook groans. “I should, shouldn’t I?” The Spook grabs the mask and spins it around and around. Smile, frown, upside down. “How much longer do I have to suck at serial killing before I throw in the towel?”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOy5GrFoit
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The Spook hyperventilates until the breathing finally calms down. “There’s no Haven for me. I am no one. I’ve failed to killed the Hayes brothers. Damn them.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrmcmEcERv
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The mask shakes hysterically. “I’ve failed to killed Chaput. How mortifying is that. And now it turns out I’ve failed to kill Taylor too? F! M! L! I can’t go on.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCO19woWHt
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“Now, now, I surely must have rushed.” The Spook rambles on with gloved hands soothingly. “I’ve been too eager, too greedy, I know that. No need to freak out. Every forty seconds, someone dies from suicide, you know, and I’m certainly not that person.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3pr9SYNje
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Aha, the Spook looks back to the left where the demons live and raises a finger. “But they can be! Suicide. How simplistic, how classic. Should’ve thought of this before.” The Spook wonders now. “But who’s the first to choke?”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWbGLuC9as
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The frescoed ceiling glows bright neon with a map of Skyden. The Spook scries it. Millions of red hot spots burn and float, labeled with well-known names of celebrities, directors, and everybody mobile or at home. Simone Chaput and Rachel Craven are in a dorm room at Pegasus Studios. Lucky trollop.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi02CYn6qnz
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The Spook searches for Taylor, but the name is gone. Off-grid, but guaranteed to be arrested and taken down to the police station.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN5uuhrzTt
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Next, the Spook locates Kirby Hayes traveling through the heart of the city. It seems he is alone, but the Spook is sure that’s not always true. The Spook remembers Anonymous, who ruined the whole fun thing twice already.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34MO1aBloW
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But Kirby Hayes saw me.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygk5TIMb1c
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That is a loose end, the Spook decides. That is rather vexing.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyp1enNmEb
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Another groan echoes throughout the Sistine Chapel. “This is going to be so depressing. I hope I do it right … no bawling this time. Steel up, you hear me? This has to be done. The plan has to be carried out, there’s no other way. It’s going to be so sad … once you’ve finished.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzrqias2f2
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“Yes, you.” A gloved finger presses upon Kirby’s pinging red dot.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3rSOOh7jU
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“You will unknowingly kill yourself. I’ll help ...”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZSf8fb1oM
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THE SPOOK IS SAD603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItsTI5ZtJd
Jack Steele Adams603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d0CiGuxDt
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