CHAPTER FIVE
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9EkC3lvTP
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?614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaLXCdXj5P
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal4NfeowLd
Kirby shoves him out of the way, harder than necessary.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXZPaUW74c
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjFxObcqUS
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxWLc7YJ5p
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbEa56R47I
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2BRFQQRNJ
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkgYUJWtDi
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z1YBBP1B8
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v8ipxnUpH
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzse7xUxtLR
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVfF81jugY
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLgEGGAOvB
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhjLwuHsJf
He skulked out of his office and walked out of this building. Kirby insists it. I saw the man with my own two eyes.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmrWYS8bcl
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO29NYvKKiY
People have been known to hallucinate after a VR session.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDnQMqgWNd
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNHl5tISqZ
Kirby scoffs incredulously. I don’t believe ...614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHjlQhLJVA
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1VyFNV9Xi
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J6azhfmzn
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRiKfPGUBX
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0p3hel5yt
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbetSznaSp
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzpdVWC6hU
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjMfZtKMiU
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfn0EG1uAs
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJG9ZZ4Kn0
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?614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvpgFC62Jc
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyRdxyaIDH
He pulls out his phone. 13 worried texts from the anonymous. Kirby blinks. That means Chance really was there in his waking nightmare.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR6PFuI2lc
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmXKzxBo1I
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyfL5IrMN0
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz6w0E8AsG
Standing next to him, Kirby realizes that Chance is taller.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSsifBi1aV
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0TgAJoLxm
Bzzt. Hi. We obviously need to talk. But first, can I take you out for a date?614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGkjjlv0Co
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJRxy4tLyc
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub6a1fNzqt
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyWvwjH4lv
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12griZrNVF
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzaCjlVG2C
Bzzt. This is where I work. Quentin Tarantino was supposed to be here. But since the bombing, he respectfully declined.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCExqre4xKJ
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqEvCa6cFN
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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaEYJA9QuX
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mvel0tIbk
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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkszfPjVcl
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLgh6wPUvN
Her arms crawl with gooseflesh. She hesitates to check it but like, whatever. It’s just pretend. It’s acting. It’s a job.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccOCg0AtxV
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZvJbvG2YH
The blade’s edge is sharply barbed, but locked in place. Motionless.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ053nYxLaM5
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9vZJ1psJH
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69m0csJF2K
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitZhJihqq3
Her phone is on. Skyden security’s not supposed to look at celebrities’ personal effects but hey if you don’t get caught… 614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmcb9CSIhK
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA64G7saVnp
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g5hTetX6c
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXVlddoJOQ
Kirby and Chance could see everything.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NGHHhfcd3
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecVysFY9ej
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8eMHkJn4i
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdkDDK78lU
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EyswIFMxh
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyfrikjhoF
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaT4iZiOSq
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTYOLxgI36
Kirby decides to send a text: Did you ever go through my phone?614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasmEciHkIk
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbapWBUjbp
Chance pauses at this, just briefly. Yes. 614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPqBIXjKQP
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbaQHf3yUm
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. 614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFxv0NS0H6
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyLTG4Ryz2
Kirby blushes. You are shameless! 614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pXcMNVMOk
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRxi67pRCl
I don’t think truth should be taboo. Chance glances at Kirby’s lips.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRfRerVaYK
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU9aor9KK2
He looks at Chance’s lips too. They lean in.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bTrrq48ru
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA38VW0PRkM
“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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCYYBmq9eb
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hQF39gpmF
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftSVGYWvPk
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhyjnqV8U5
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!!”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOHLezx6iJ
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkolFeEgYhv
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8XUsw3fYC
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMF8v2CiUo
July shouts at her, “Left! Right, harder!”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmklUUjYmQ
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkkheOKKRS
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2p3gALt28
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLff12TsiOs
He keys in a long string of code that abruptly kills the chainsaw dead.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemseF92C6B
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgUGoWFc4I
“Okay, okay, hurry,” Simone feels a lot better as they zigzag.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGVFuwPU4u
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirMJegyx2r
Her hair starts to detach and fray with fringe. It starts coming apart.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMwb4sx7Ux
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlstkzwimU
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?614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUJaUGSTrV
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9twMrPQusy
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqZcwjJ85d
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbRCyWVdL1
Come on! Kirby thinks, wondering how fast the other hacker is.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen9bTtNl4z
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcWOFVib14
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6xsrITubE
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfVf6P6eC9
It emerges, traveling up behind a red dot labeled Kirby Hayes.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyp6pL1Zrq
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEnwACVYPH
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHACls784V
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVaol67dXA
He catches the next stomp with his two hands. Kirby hooks his shoe behind Taylor’s standing boot, at the ankle, and trips him.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLr6x7lLqY
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNQHYZ93CN
Taylor falls hard onto his back and cries out with pain.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E2a21NoCo
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVBbZHseu3
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLv54KHKVg
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTi1znMk5d
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakCbqodIVz
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7bg0pHVIO
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHObyDMaPdd
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl63qe8pjQ
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOP31i0DKO
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsp5vB0azk
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKAperzEtK
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEQjiq6CkK
We don’t know that. Help me tie him up.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbwyx10vEW
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nzsm82DoZ
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceDATnpAwe
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYBfIZetX2
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGeXL13B63
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM6BSkSiqb
Onlookers spread the word through their phones.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevR6w7TOjg
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLLDj41qfl
Just wait until Viggo hears about this.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBoprLNeWE
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTA74kDek2
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YyeDcADuF
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0eMtvYyXr
You saved her life. :) Kirby tells him.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2fUUtrE36
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt5tnOFL02
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwCFbqAcdD
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG4DJrWtsw
Doesn’t it? Kirby could scratch his head.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlENm0zczoT
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6muskxfeFW
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!”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYu6vHObAF
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe03VrfhRTc
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEwTEbGK7o
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42ySEpoHLt
Iris sneers and says, “Whoever you are, now’s not the time!”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VtFVYLjWD
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G5VEqcZ0c
“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Chance retorts. “Back down.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtfsPh5ROo
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz25I5KFTW
“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?”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCqiqZ4ZSj
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiR86WpKcv
Chance laughs sardonically in her face and says, “I am the police.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kUTWHdcby
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DHXmTVtmF
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bgCUCUZE2
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuodAfxM59A
Iris grits her teeth, “Oh jesus.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Uq5tI7QeF
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNLOU5X4Yb
Kirby’s stunned, left with a million questions. The police?614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBoMunKmez
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFHgbxftfZ
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtFyEBWh2X
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyZsbzp8iR
His eyes gaze upon the gleaming name Skyden Police Officer Chance Gott.
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwedp0MgRs
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYihM0Prvz
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tkzFBV891
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnIRhNZOkZ
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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G5PsIWMso
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSOgkbrfoY
“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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60opfI2cQO
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkYxiTu66w
“Only after the climb to Heaven have I found rest.” The Spook sighs heavily.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR6ok9DlTa
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuyy2iYxRf
“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?”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WfAFKcUJW
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIexR1hgfh
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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaEAlNOtcD
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuX0EvlcSX
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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXChBRP2fB
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAL0C8530t
“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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEvRYYPfBw
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcBhGJ1cto
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?”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCuWc3WiEo
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus6qPywSmH
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS2Y4MumE6
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpUuFMAmhL
The Spook searches for Taylor, but the name is gone. Off-grid, but guaranteed to be arrested and taken down to the police station.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeGfCxCJvM
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qMDJMko9a
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.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPnbGQzf9y
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8cxFKBBnp
But Kirby Hayes saw me.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVdwC9mpmb
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNirRgkOz79
That is a loose end, the Spook decides. That is rather vexing.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDImXiNJuW
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapW6jKaqoi
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.”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYk8ZsLeX1
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98cFirVMF3
“Yes, you.” A gloved finger presses upon Kirby’s pinging red dot.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt4ufR49bT
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwzRuHZBkW
“You will unknowingly kill yourself. I’ll help ...”614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCQrgdPskn
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpysMXha9R3
614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWn2i51BCi
THE SPOOK IS SAD614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqshnNJLgB
Jack Steele Adams614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN2VHqSJIH
ns216.73.216.143da2
