CHAPTER TWO
What Viggo calls a private residence is really a smart mansion instead, and it knows that they’re here. The lights outside and inside turn on, a blazing golden in walls of stucco white. The garage door opens folding at their arrival. The black sleek muscle car with the darkest tinted windows growls and takes its sweet time, rolling in.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJrEUIzgXO
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98ZSH3XUSj
Glad to get out of the car in one piece, Kirby grips his tattered jeans in the finest garage he’s ever seen. Viggo has already demanded in the car to return the tux. Viggo’s so wealthy, so filthy rich, that the rest of his garage lights up one at a time, illuminating a spectacular car show with silent fanfare.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaiHJE8J8H
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE8qNbKABY
His brother tells him that he’s been shitting cash. You are so disgusting, Kirby almost says as a joke. The garage door closes behind them. The castle is now secured. It isn’t the normal modern home you would see in a magazine. He takes a stroll, realizing this the moment he sees the white opaque glass door. It has no knob or handle.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxrlWcMSG7
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkHicWRr1h
There’s one way to open it, one way to close it. Viggo presses both his palms onto the white glass. His psycho orange eyes gaze into the mini camera three times and averts his eyes looking to the left, the right, and then directly. The door slides open, receding into the wall.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaOkSLoeIi
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyFZxWXhBl
Kirby hesitates at the entrance. A house under my brother’s complete control. My arms get sore from just thinking about it. Still, psychosomatic. All in my head.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVdOKmqm7e
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBc8zMImbR
Don’t worry. No cameras here. Viggo says spinning his keys and enters the foyer.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXflX9VPfNf
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19XuIHU8iW
Kirby’s eyes are glued to the striped skylights that bathe the foyer in white earth glow. So surreal. Plants rustle at the chilly vents, trying to be familiar and earthly. The door remains open behind him as they enter the house. He walks so silently that Viggo notices.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1zHKbH3Dl
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3aktycAuA
Why are you sneaking? Get in. Viggo guffaws and sneers, shaking his head. He kicks off his shoes. Barefoot he struts along the cold red stone floor. I forgot how bad your anxiety can get.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCDEYMjGxP
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m6xWWdEnn
Kirby goes pink in the face. He drops his luggage, freeing up his hands.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVjjNSuz9A
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHOr0la1IP
I walk … the way I walk.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaxziruviX
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx64JKe2ot
Viggo’s orange eyes close as he refrains from an eye-roll, “Oh.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUcIQ2RreR
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MitfIato7
That’s the hallway to my study. Off-limits.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQOWncWx1h
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDsZRO7Yth
Kirby gets tense at that phrase. It seems a boring, unpainted, distant area anyway. I bet that’s where he works and keeps all his creative projects and twenty-year plans. Probably a man cave to impress his friends.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsCYNW2igD
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBHZXuEDd1
Kirby and Viggo move on to the enormous red room stocked with white furniture and black electronics. Tons of video game consoles and collections. It’s like an entertainment room or a ballroom?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvUJ0GpZgT
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyZrFsPnbZ
Club room, says Viggo. Off-limits.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8THlY2yZLl
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTwCjZsYi1
Kirby sees a shrine to a movie poster on one wall. It’s not what made Viggo a break-out writer ten years ago but it’s his greatest achievement, almost. It’s Milton, Oscar-nominated but not worthy. It was a phenomenal biopic about the man behind Skyden, Garth Milton the one and only with his large iconic ears, played by Will Smith. And having his brother Viggo Hayes be the screenwriter and co-director nominated for the Oscars? That’s huge. By now, half the world knows the Hayes name.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq2jl4bXZj
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwXHJ0vnfx
He swells with pride. He remembers exactly how Viggo sat at the edge of his seat the whole time at the Oscars that night. The anticipation. He also feels sharp pain when Viggo learned on live television that applause and the trophy went to someone else.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NOMi8imgb
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4JPylBqP5
They point to the bar in the nearest corner and share a look. Nothing more needs to be said about that but Viggo adds, Off-limits. Kirby swallows his pride. He has got to be joking! They travel into the open kitchen.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gjedVJzGI
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUdPYs0Y3s
Before his brother could start, Kirby rifles through the empty cupboards. They’re stocked with nothing. That’s odd? Feeling watched, he matches Viggo’s unblinking stare. Viggo goes pink in the face too.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHtxRB8RnQ
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMXbm0LYYv
I do eat. It’s a habit of ordering take-out. What the hell do you want? Mexican, Italian, Mongolian, or Greek?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TFohLIPkX
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiyulqOzRo
Anything. I’m starving. Kirby approaches the windows, drawn to the backlit aquamarine pool. It even steams. Silhouettes of the palm trees rustle like a small jungle. What shatters the illusion of normalcy is the roaring cloud tapestry for a sky. He stops breathing each time he looks at it.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwrmnuPJCu
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDaYNDjNVg
The other side of the sky.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaEfStaI8g
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnAcb5dqwl
Kirby sees Viggo on a call. He obsesses on the glaring fact that if he weren’t deaf, he could listen to the kind of man his brother is right now. Even if it is just for something as ordinary as dinner. But he’ll have to find out through other means. He’s accepted that. Charades can be fun, sometimes.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDhqbU3oBv
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0MkrUO3bp
Viggo opens up his laptop as well, to his surprise. He looks too busy and restless or hasn’t yet lost his need for control. He looks like he’s working!697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7b5F1bkTi
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjyFK6Y4be
Kirby squints. I see now. Is this my competition?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevDAjNZpM2
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVwWIA17Wn
But I don’t want him to be competition.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklnyvwqYYD
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiVmlmq7FT
Kirby snaps out of it and his face lights up. He waits for Viggo to end his call and asks him: Hey, do you remember? We had to be what, like seven and eleven, back in the cornfields of good ol’ Iowa. We made popcorn at the concessions that summer. Man, it was so hot from the sweltering sun and the punishing zings from boiling oil and burning kernels from hell… 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj15lqCFOS
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCoKrlHvss
Why remind me? Viggo pinches the bridge of his nose.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXUTG7t6zQ
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfujWnCJRW
Let me finish. So you remember. Kirby scowls. You should also remember this. We went to the train tracks even after our mom and pop said not to…697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8gFF8e6M1
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP2acBqhQ6
Viggo’s face goes blank so Kirby hurries. But of course, along comes a train.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKt5tHtgIw
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWawr93w3CR
An enormous, wailing black train. A dragon of midnight fury leaving behind a mountainous trail of volcanic smoke. Pebbles leap up. The tracks rattle.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx72T190dRg
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYxM58EzVl
I didn’t hear it, but you did. And I was too far across the bridge too busy gazing down at the river beneath the wooden planks. We were so high up. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukJcWvoi0n
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2r28ztjea
The river was too far down and too shallow that a jump would mean fatal.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvBYw0PrWO
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDmhYkiCQN
I was just lucky to look your way. You weren’t good at sign language. In fact you sucked! They laugh as Viggo starts to clap hands.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwgvUhZXkq
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0flmwbEvxw
I was trying to say “Train!” Viggo pounds the counter several times. “Train!”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHqVJfutxB
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BSwc5PDZw
You said “Sit! Sit!” They laugh harder.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8WQtpO78g
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wpFNcQVNo
Seven year old Kirby Hayes sits cross-legged, smiling and waving and signing “Sit!”. Behind him, the monstrous train rams oncoming. Now, the twenty-five year old Kirby would pause the romping suspense to slow motion. The smile on that kid’s face, slowly but surely, falters and drops.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI0iu1rkle
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirOtfTh7Lh
Why are “train” and “sit” the same handshape? AND in the same position? Viggo’s neck starts showing veins. Senseless! Enough of this. Pool is off-limits. It’s Mongolian, and they deliver in twenty minutes. Guest room is that way. He points to the east wing of the house. That wing becomes split-level. I’m going to change. My bedroom is there. Off-limits. He points to the west wing of the house which also is split-level. Viggo feigns a smile.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q9WnsjujU
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyxu8nRkRl
Don’t feel free to look around. Your dinner might get cold.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WACIsLyDW
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTbJuz3Plj
Whatever you say. Kirby walks down the east wing. So much for bonding.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nj6PJGHBg
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf3Ml5NirF
The television ceiling seems to open up the place like a museum, and the mirror walls help reflect all the color beams. Teasers and tv spots play with dramatic fanfare. Pure octane. His back rumbles with the hallway’s volume from the surround speakers.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLCgsXq5Xc
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sf8bGiS6H
“DON’T. LOOK. BACK.” A screaming Amy McAdams runs away from someone, anyone, in a flashy chase sequence, and then comes the crashing title, Don’t Look, by everyone’s favorite remake-ruiner Blaine Tabs.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGlPLk4fMu
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlWaHhrhyW
The mirror walls turn out to be tall storage closets with mirrors as doors. Kirby checks in them. They’re big enough for three people to stand and hide in. What are they even used for? When he learns that each and every one is vacant and unused, he has to wonder.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5GsGTFYoH
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKm1C8Bk9S
But the hall narrows and twists, adding to the number of black doors to his agitation. These doors all happen to be locked, requiring Viggo, except for that laundry room.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyykB62wESy
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIZJbcrVxA
The television ceiling strip, along with the ceiling fans, movie trailers, and news channels, is getting addicting to watch. His leaned neck and dropped jaw start to hurt. Oops, drooling. Kirby looks back and thinks he’s seen a shadow.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK9NVFCLId
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULxzzSBVrM
Nah. Nothing. Just the fans. What’s worse, he’s lost sight of the living room.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCZ4NLd5Pz
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41ScJimCRa
Somehow there are two hallways back... His eyes widen. Am I seriously lost in Viggo’s house right now? It doesn’t even look like a house.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY5iXIuLa0
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RVJSIqCr6
The corridor rumbles with a suspenseful chord heralding another villain or doomsday coming next week. Dun, dun, dun!697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EDRb2So0Q
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrVJL0FEU8
One square of the ceiling zapped to jumping static beans. Kirby’s heart does a skip.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtYPbl26Dx
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWaI99arB2
Bzzt. His phone vibrates.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRfi1fbxN8
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboLa163nAB
It’s another text from that private number.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHGWJ6TPTx
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IykCyVyfN
He asked Chance Gott an hour ago how he found his number.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMBsSzUOYr
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qE0K2oGaU
I work for Skyden as tech support. I hack for a living. That’s why I brought up spooks on the flight. I look for them. Found your number from the manifest. Sorry if it disturbs you, you can ask me to leave you alone. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYicj4aRaO
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOAU6jv1sx
If you really are who you say you are. Who else could it be? Um, someone among the paparazzi who’s excellent at extracting inside scoop. Or it still could be the gorgeous one-in-a-trillion potential husband Chance Gott.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Dssm3uEBK
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveoXyAzTOa
Kirby fires back several texts. No, but thanks for explaining. Actually, this is an emergency. I’m lost somewhere in my brother’s house.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x9fmdlwTS
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg3sduqIKz
Bzzt. That was fast. You’re lost in a house?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU703JDSt1
Bzzt. Use your nose.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdkjdIviiE
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NRm7ZzglE
I’m in the east wing which looks and smells like a shoe store. Do not laugh at me. Kirby sighs wandering upstairs. He sees a darker hallway dead with inactivity.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMdYkBgBPI
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsJ99cFFq7
Is someone there?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhRel6olxy
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb1aQOPtWE
Bzzt. His phone lights up in time, so he shines away the dark. No one’s there. Just an ajar door to a dark room. For some reason, he expects to see Viggo. Huh.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOEZUC3Qyy
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9LSmBQdHW
He rolls his shoulders to take the edge off and checks the phone.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgGrasUDxp
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR5OjOtK61
Chance says: Lol! We’re men, we both should know something about architecture.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VOl4wECOf
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgar7275s6o
The heat ducts and windows are for external walls and cold air vents are for internal, I know that much. Kirby pauses to look. There are none to be found. Due to Skyden’s synthetic environment and perfect weather, there’s not much need for them.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH3xANA3bZ
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGh5nNsASM
I see your point. I’m new here as well.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Yju9AiiE7
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ma0KoV7ya
Kirby thinks of the explosion and the body parts colliding into Skyden. In space, nothing holds death back. That theme’s the point of his movie, that’s why he won the internship, and that’s how he’s here. Kind of creepy.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXfU6FPasY
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO3vz1FTF9
He texts Chance a question that’s bothered him for a while. Do you know what happened with that jet?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9BufOhhLJ
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01uf5P0oSM
This time, no reply. Instead, the air vent somewhere whooshes cold wind in his face. Kirby draws closer to the room at the end of the hall. Inside the lights turn on, revealing the guest room. He hops on the king size bed, already cherishing the plush pillows. Ack, thank the Lord. He’s completely dogged tired.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0reymre2Wm
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo1qTy6zTM
One entire wall becomes the television. The channel is set to happy teary audience dancing on the Oprah show, but he’s more interested in Iris Frisk’s webcast. Upon finding the keyboard remote, he shuffles through websites and brings up her face full-screen. He double-checks. The phone remains dormant. And no one stands at his doorway to spy on him. Now relax and watch, he tells himself.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt2UzGg9Hy
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmPqSGi0H7
Iris Frisk looks somewhat like Emma Stone with her dark auburn hair, squealing hysterical laughter. She somersaults in her zero-gravity room.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYSUbSsb6I
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9by5KLskw
She looks at the camera through her ridiculous reading glasses and snickers with her perfect teeth. English subtitles translate every word: “Hello everybody hello, I’m finally settled here in my dorm room … on Skyden... I sure hope nobody turns this off!”
Her checkered neon yellow sneakers kick off the wall. Her knee-high sock-wearing legs tuck in, transforming her into a drifting crumpled ball of paper that lands in a laundry basket. Her messy red hair gets really ruffled when she emerges. “Score! Just kidding. Even if someone turns off the zero-gravity, it takes time to wind down. That way, nothing breaks. Smart.” Her index finger taps her temple with neon yellow fingertips. She floats mid-air again.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF0gOOofMi
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHOCqhPx3B
Kirby starts searching his room for the zero-gravity button. “Hi, I’m Iris Frisk and this is my cat Bunny and this is our webcast. No rimshot this time because actually I’m going to address the recent Skyden tragedy.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVXicyFHOz
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzKjsq7qWE
She leaps into her swivel chair as her white hairy cat Bunny sails in the air. “My thoughts and prayers go out to families and friends of the fifty-plus victims. Bunny, get out of my face. Okay here’s what we know and what we don’t.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG1yg5L8X3
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVN49wg6eM
She points to overlaying bold text seeming to shout: WHO DIED?
“Most of you scrambled back to your lives, in record time thanks to our ‘outstanding’ (corrupted) ‘commercial’ (subliminal) ‘media coverage’ (... control). “What you didn’t realize was that unfortunately a lot of celebrities died tonight While it wasn’t the first time, it certainly is the worst. The claimed passengers have become the Buddy Hollys and Aaliyahs of our generation and I have here with me a copy of the manifest. So brace yourselves.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBYBFfARng
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmlgUZkHOz
“We know that, Bunny move it, uh we lost Robyn Byrd. Known for her eleven best-selling romantic detective novels about everyone’s beloved widow Mrs. Harper. We may never know if Mrs. Harper will consider sweetheart Mr. Tuff’s marriage proposal or if she catches and arrests whoever killed her secretive husband. No rumors yet whether or not if someone will pen the last book. Farewell, Byrd. You left us too soon.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiCdByOLi7
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI7V0oSdBe
Meh, no offense to anyone who knows Robyn Byrd, thinks Kirby. I didn’t really care for the Harper series. Too many adverbs and open-ended chapters. However they had nice book covers with scantily clad men to gaze at. Sometimes her name was one of the highlights for a gay teenager walking through a sleepy bookstore on a summer day. Still tragic to lose her, all around.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRutoR9zEBf
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kbeix3fnl
“We also know that we lost, wow. It’s as if fate went lengths to deliberately upset the fans. Again, brace yourselves. We also lost … Blaine Tabs.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe27MZqN0T
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq2ZiXLFAm
No way. Kirby leans forward, rubbing his goosebumps. Pegasus Studios won’t be the same after this. And if Skyden won’t be the same after this, then neither will the world.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZIhjIhu4d
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IgOlFkVcx
“That’s right. Famous for slasher remake ruiner Don’t Look and long-awaited sequel Argonauts 3: Nova War, the still-in-production third chapter from a meticulously planned seven-part project supposedly set to release this July. Does this mean the date will be pushed back? Either way, major disappointment and despair for the world over! We weep. I can just see every Facebook wall post, every Tweet hashtag mourning the precious yet mysterious life of Blaine Tabs. Will the Argonauts chain stay afloat without its genius creator? Damn it comic nerds, you better cross your toes, sacrifice lambs at your altars, and pray. Because chances of another Blaine Tabs blockbuster coming by every two years? Too slim at this point, mi amigos. Tsk, too slim.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3CZx9O2Eq
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvivtlvtBbk
She chomps from her blueberry pie. “Mmm! Bunny, out of my air space.” After having gone down a long list of fifty-plus names and their feats of success, Iris Frisk moves onto the next overlaying bold text seeming to shout: HOW AND WHY?
“Before we get back to what this means for Pegasus Studios’ future, Horizon Airlines claim that nothing was wrong with their planes. There was no misfire or malfunction of any kind. No drunk pilots either. So, was it cyber terrorism and were these people direct targets? Was the jet hacked and then rigged to blow? If so, then how? And why?” Iris ponders pulling a red curl, relieved that it isn’t white or even her natural color, strawberry blond. Her bovine hazel eyes stare listlessly into her desk.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8REBvG2kq8
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaTVybYsXx
Finally she plucks her cat face to face. “Tell me what you know, Bunny. What do you know?” The white hairy cat shrieks a pitiful mew, as if put on the spot. “Then again, for a tuna dish, you could say practically anything.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX1lx2SIUW
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA8rtV9WyM
Bzzt. Kirby pauses then decides it’s a good time as any for a toke. He pulls out a prescription bottle and a pipe from his luggage. He checks his phone.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmScgkTlkDA
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuADcc9LPPn
Sorry. First day on the job. What do you want to know... stud muffin? 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHSkehVMUi
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3giQrRjuN
He blinks, smiling but faltering. Is this really Chance?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wrtzikY4D
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhvAujRi3k
Cute. :) That is all Kirby can think of to text back.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemAncm3kXu
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpFQESY9FN
Ah, sounds like you got a girlfriend? Or boyfriend? :( 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMY0xbtB2Y
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeSTIQwxgp
He breaks into an embarrassed smile. This sounds like inquiring. His smiles falters once again. Or interviewing. Kirby texts: How do I know you are who you say you are? No reply. Kirby scratches his head, stir-crazy.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI1fHXuO49
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB4dL2l3HW
Bzzt. It’s a photo! Definitely Chance Gott, and surprise, shirtless in a poorly-lit gym. His v-line, black mesh shorts, and brick biceps are signs that he’s been playing football all his life. Of course, he flexes one arm, his left one, and poses with a low come-hither stare with those arrogant and wild jungle green eyes. His mouth is either snarling or slacking, hungry like a wolf.
Another text: Satisfied?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJQEu0uYsz
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzqg8N2bii
Kirby lets slip loud laughter. He grabs his mouth, dropping the phone. So that’s what’s under the grey jumpsuit. Snatching it, he starts to worry.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByBnytcYkl
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCUEgtj7j9
Anyone on that flight could have seen them talking. Anyone could have a trove of pictures of Chance Gott to send. Kirby realizes his mind is prepare to wage war with itself over this. How fun is that.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyD4fuCAfr
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo2aBApg6X
He’ll just have to arrange to meet, so he can stop wondering. But for now…697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ1L9kEb1T
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACAAY1pSrB
Kirby texts: Was the jet hacked? Do they know who did it?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6fGQ9M4pc
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMsHallb0I
As far as they can tell, no. Mostly radio silent. They salvaged the wreck and there’s no sign of the system being tampered with. Something detonated inside. A carry-on. I can find out more but knowing this city, someone can leak it any second.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wc0LMYdhK
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeWjXB5aHU
A carry-on. Was this a suicide bomber? 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AZlSagNfb
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdnl7chhOU
He waits for a reply.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcmYLONEOW
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMv03wpKNF
Viggo pats the wall and gives Kirby something like a heart attack. He’s wearing a different black and orange suit and looking wired awake. Like he doesn’t run on sleep. But Kirby knows otherwise, maybe starting to worry if his brother’s a workaholic.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh3A1hOJO8
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gsIzqi6Nt
That smells like weed.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknTLDEOGel
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpMc4fwrdH
Kirby blinks. It is. Want some?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7wru8kV0p
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohgJ57Zm55
Mine’s better. They have better strains here. Viggo hands over a steamy plate, looking distracted. I microwaved it. Your dinner got cold.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr3hAOcmZw
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4LwVJSmbe
It hits him. I’m starving! Kirby grabs it and chows down.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyRKH6apxP
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7qcNfps9u
What are you watching? His brother looks at the wall and goes pale.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMm55ZzaMqM
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TOxIK9nOf
That strikes Kirby odd since Iris just got here. You know her, Viggo?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMv9Pk2gnQ
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hmQKC7vm8
He snarls before composing himself. We dated.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOhTwEmeu7
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFzGIdv73Y
Kirby doesn’t react other than: I see.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIWjMSvRMj
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGdfrlB33J
Iris Frisk laughs harder, spinning halfway to the ceiling with Bunny pouncing after her. The phone ringing gets her attention. She flies to it and blurts, “This just in! It is now being reported that body count is sixty and we lost another person of relevance.” She listens. “They’re saying it’s… ”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s9Y8NADFq
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhU8tVxNBc
Kirby and Viggo stare, hanging on every word. “Dr. Taylor.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVvI7vumk7
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjHQIlTino
Iris sits upright. She turns off the zero gravity. It winds down, and her cat lands like a plane. She looks devastated but determined, an inner strength forged from fire with Viggo? Kirby sobers. “He was a great man known for his classics and discovering the world’s modern writers and actors. What a tremendous, earth-shattering loss. Dr. Taylor was an overactive board member of Pegasus Studios who co-founded the contest with Viggo Hayes.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvGmOvr42l
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYk6rAZMSo
The Hayes brothers stare ahead.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqNU6U5imn
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl24sHPLAlM
It shows on her face how the future goes somewhat blank. She processes it. “Excuse me. Dr. Taylor was supposed to be my mentor this year. Ours. Kirby Hayes and the interns, myself included, would have met with him tomorrow. For some of us, that dream is surely crushed. But his death begs the question: Why did he leave? And who will replace him? Reporters must be swarming around the Hayes brothers by now. This is field day for the press, and one hell of a storm coming your way, Hayes.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5TyBC9R60
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4T297LtwB
“Oh shit,” says Viggo. Chills trickle down Kirby’s spine. But there’s no time for that.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2WgtwotH1
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Wvtyq3TW7
Viggo goes to an app that blacks out and locks down the entire residence. His phone lights up their faces and he snaps his fingers. Kirby, focus. Let me take care of this. I know how to handle the sharks. Pay attention. Don’t talk to them. When they approach you, you say ‘I have no comment at this time.’ Got that?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H0K9Eu5Cd
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo54l76QwI
Kirby nods but that’s not enough.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPOt5fyFhg
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQuqtHkE3d
No! Say it to me. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIPSaqyvSm
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcH9aS9yCH
Kirby says: ‘I have no comment at this time.’697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpyg61pCFv
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROAWIiGbkv
Perfect, that’s half the battle. Viggo’s eyes are darting everywhere. He paces the floor in the dark. Kirby could hardly make out what he’s saying. No talking with anyone, I mean anyone. Don’t be careless with public posts and private texts. Eyes are on us that much harder. You’re here for one thing, your internship. Okay! Okay?697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsW4FKcvSv
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXnkaMLNKp
Kirby nods, having a hard time following. It’s too dark to see.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLYELWom9D
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG29cCPuf3
Viggo grabs his wrist. Okay?!697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiPMo1LMOY
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtNk9rI5EI
Kirby stares wild-eyed. His face turns ugly in the small glow. He jerks back his wrist. Touch me again, I’ll break your face.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytiWM1HF8M
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1M1HEyPT4
A crazy smile ignites on Viggo’s face. He looks excited.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XRmxUn7Qc
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAvKsyrJp5
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKsaNBOF8n
The murmurs are restless.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiE63O6M1S
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLIYouVtY2
The rest of Skyden stare at their television screens in their rooms, on their phones, and all over the skyscrapers. The murmurs spread like fire to kerosene. Breaking news on CNN and Fox of Dr. Taylor’s passing. Hushed rumors spread like a thunderstorm, a pulse of irrevocable and irreparable plague.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxZajfHaCV
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCF7xDh2aV
They talk, talk, talk. All about Dr. Taylor.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgObAvRS6wK
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjjP2nNRoM
On the ledge of one of the roofs, a masked person kneels. The brown mask is a wooden drama mask with two faces: an upside down smile on the top and an afflicted frown on the bottom. If rotated 180 degrees, it is a placid smile. But right now, the mood is a pained, twisted, and agonizing sorrow.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3faW8GlPF
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulr5nTXT3O
Two rivers of black ink stain the mask, streamed down from eye squints.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCuDsYoHHh
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0OUfii9jb
Next to the Spook’s thick black dusty boots is a music player. In front of a glorious rectangle of bokeh light, a black-gloved finger presses play. Suddenly, opera wails full volume with awe and horror! The Spook stands before an enormous rainbow-burst television screen on a building under the gloomy mist of Earth’s endless clouds. Inspired by the crying crescendo, the grieving Spook raises both claws. They ball into shaking fists.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6uYr12wDA
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0yVmmZz1b
“BREAKING NEWS!” The television shouts with alarm. That gets the Spook’s attention. As the opera plays on, the reporter booms the city at a rapid pace, “The shocking leak regarding the suicide note that was found at Dr. Taylor’s residence is in fact not a hoax. Confirmed by the FBI. Dr. Taylor’s last words are... ”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDjalxX2Wr
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88w3grmTPl
“God help me!” The Spook says with a guttural garble. It’s like a small electric guitar solo or a razor whine. A horrible sad face looks down at the little people in the streets. Both black gloved hands grip shoulders of a husky jacket in a frantic hug.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rRWJTl2nh
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1la9IYvQj
“‘God help me,’” reads the reporter with a flat face.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGMfc8Js1O
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLfGZM5TYc
“No, with feeling, idiot. It’s ‘GOD!! HELP ME!! This can’t BE my life.’”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxuWyytoQW
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBfssXGnXJ
“‘This can’t be my life.’” The reporter hems her throat and struggles to say it word for word, “‘It is too stagnant. It is too complacent.’” The music swells to such perfect pitch that the Spook has to howl off the rooftops, “Too stagnant! Too complacent! Too old! Something HAS to explode! Might as well make it me." 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVd6aM43nR
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS623YFQTjZ
“‘Something has to explode. Might as well make it … me.’ You can find the rest of the manifesto online. It alludes that the explosion was orchestrated by none other than beloved, legendary, and now mass bomber Dr. Taylor?”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40NnrNooIf
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hEoX0rgNh
The Spook turns off the music then claps. “Don’t quit your day job.”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxQz7LYHa8
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xAmXx90H9
The reporter continues with several guest speakers as the gloved fingers clamp to the side of the building, clearly with magnet clips built in. The Spook scales down, hanging above the vivid city of Skyden.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xPoZIW2Pt
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUpuheX9Yi
Halfway down twenty floors, the Spook remembers something and halts, hanging from one hand.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdiK2ZVq0y
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg7gNxUgNo
The other gloved hand brings out a smartphone and a Twitter account with zero followers. The sad Spook’s mask tilts as an overwhelmed dog would, completely on the verge of tears. The right hand thumbs in a message. “Hashtag. Day. One. Frown…”697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqUtgkhGb6
697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgVX5X7jdH
#dayone :(
THE SPOOK IS SAD
Jack Steele Adams
ns18.223.3.50da2
