#10 Valley of Death

Cast
Tori Jacobs
Garrus Vakarian
Kragen
Miracle
Dyne
Maricul
Armando
Madeira Roberts
Solomon
Jehanne
June Greenaway
Shinta Greenaway
Lily Mayweather
Nex Aaron
Mary Thompson

Voice: She is coming.

The scene fades into the holy temple of Aircano where Miracle is awoken from a deep prayer with a pale look on her face.

Miracle: She is coming. I must warn them.

Miracle stood up and ran outside the temple where Jehanne was standing.

Miracle: Jehanne, tell Solomon to prepare for evacuation.

Jehanne: What ever for, My Lady?

Miracle: I don't have time to explain. Looks up to see the Resistance's jet coming in for a landing. Just do it!

Jehanne: Runs off to find Solomon.

Miracle moves to meet with Tori and the others.

Tori: Miracle, you have to get everyone out here right now! One of the Ancients are coming this way.

Miracle: I am already preparing the city for evacuation.

Garrus: We have the jet here if you need it.

Miracle: That won't be enough to fit everyone.

Tori: She called herself a guardian. She said she wanted to restore the balance.

Cut to: Outside Aircano

Dyne: Approaches the city's gate, a trail of bodies from the villages behind her piling up with every step she takes. The sandstorm coming straight at the city's walls and shaking them, forcing the guards on the other side to act and hold the gate as she continues her walk, storm clouds forming over the sky and blocking out the sun as a great darkness overcomes the city.

Cut to: Inside Aircano

The group looks towards the darkness that descends Aircano.

Miracle: We're out of time.

Mary: What do we do?

Tori: Shinta, you and the others get the refugees out. The rest of us will help Miracle defend the city.

June: What about you?

Tori: I'm staying.

June: Like hell you are! Tori, you're blind. You're not going to be able to stay.

Tori: I can't die, remember? I'm the reason this thing was released, I'm not leaving until it's defeated. Get moving.

June: But, Tori–!

Tori: That was an order!

June: Looks displease with Tori and reluctantly leaves with Shinta and the others.

Garrus: They aren't going to be able to hold that gate for long.

Armando: What's our next move?

Miracle: We force it back. Draws her sword and staff. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Kragen: Must be Sunday.

Solomon: Arrives on horseback. Form a perimeter! Get the refugees into the temple where Yahweh's magic can protect them!

Aircano Soldier: Sire, do you really think we can combat this enemy? Look what it does outside the walls!

Solomon: David was only a small boy when he slayed the giant. Have faith and we will succeed. Now go!

The soldier runs off and Solomon joins the others with Jehanne by his side. Rain fell from the sky, becoming more violent with each drop. Lightning strikes the sky and the soldiers at the gate fell one by one to dust while Dyne continues to penetrate the walls of the city. The soldiers gathering around the defense group beginning to cower in fear as Miracle watches.

Miracle: And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still! The storm stops. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Looks towards the soldiers. Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Soldiers: Looks back at Miracle in shock.

Solomon: Draws his blade. Hear me now, beast! I am the head defender of these walls, named after the wise King Solomon! Turn back now or be cut down by my blade! Your efforts to intimidate us with your mere presence will not succeed. The fury and wrath of the Lord thy God awaits you should you come any closer!

The city's gate breaks down, the remaining soldiers guarding it perish and scream in terrible agony. Dyne steps over their corpses, rendering them to ash as she took her first steps into the city and stared down the army that stands across from her.

Madeira: I don't think she heard you.

Tori: Oh, she heard him.

Dyne: The war amongst the celestial kingdom shall not be contained; the sons of man shall be engulfed in the flood of conflict, and all hope shall be lost unto them.

Garrus: What is that?

Tori: More prophecy.

Dyne: Looks at Miracle. A child will cradle the seed of destruction in her breast as the heart of man falls under the shadow. Fate shall make war upon the heavens, and the heavens shall gird themselves as for battle. The righteous shall fall upon the wicked and lay siege to the very gates of the house of the Creator. It shall take peace from mankind and loose great destruction upon the world.

Tori: Upon?

Miracle: Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Begins her march towards Dyne, the others soon following her. Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations!

Miracle's march turns into a run with her sword up high. Solomon and Jehanne close by her side as well as the other Aircano soldiers. Kragen, Garrus, and Armando fire towards Dyne, and Madeira sends waves of electricity at the child.

Dyne: Lux, Umbra, Vita, Mors, Concordia, Chaos. Walks towards the onslaught. At last the storm surges forth from the holy lands. And the hand of destruction reaches out to undo the workings of the Creator. The tides of judgment surge – ready to smash down upon the shores of the mortal world – to drown the guilty and the innocent alike. The Ancients shall mete out their vengeance upon all flesh. And blood shall run as great torrents. Only then, shall they be saved.

The ground raises up like tendrils and impales the soldiers charging at Dyne while blocking the bullets and electricity from the others. Miracle, Solomon, and Jehanne manages to dodge the tendrils and continue their charge. Solomon was the first to reach Dyne and swing his sword towards her.

Dyne: Deus Mortis. Twin swords materializes in Dyne's hands and blocks Solomon's strike, pushing him back in the direction of the earth tendrils.

Miracle: Solomon!

Jehanne: Jumps up into the air and grabs Solomon before the tendrils could get him.

Garrus: She has swords now.

Tori: From where? Her ass?

Armando: Made, try magnetizing them to disarm her.

Madeira: I can't.

Armando: Dammit! What is she doing now?

Dyne: Raises her blades.

Tori: What is she doing?

Garrus: Raising her weapons.

Tori: Get down!

Dyne: Tenebrae illius devorant omnia.

Dyne swings her blades, two lines flash across the air forcing the defenders to get out of the way. The lines slice through the holy temple cutting it in half killing Tori's friends, and the refugees that were still inside. The lines continue cutting through buildings and blowing a new hole in the back wall of the city. Miracle jumps over two fallen trees and then sees the damage done to the temple, narrowing her eyes at Dyne.

Miracle: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Holy energy radiates off of her. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore! Plunges her sword into Dyne's heart.

Solomon: Looks at the destruction cause by Dyne and then his soldiers. Find what few survivors you can and lead them through the new exit!

The Aircano soldiers escape through the back exit with the remaining refugees. Blood drips from the wound in Dyne as she stood there meeting the harsh gaze of Miracle before the ground opens up and swallows Dyne whole, forcing Miracle back.

Garrus: What the hell was that!?

Tori: The wind stopped.

Kragen: Up there!

The group looks up to see a flock of crows circling the air. They come together to form a single wing and then act as the clothes for the naked woman in the air, the wing turning into hair and clothes covering up her form as a witch in black robes and hat hovers in the air above the city.

Armando: Who the hell is that?

Miracle: Maricul!

Maricul: To the one who wrecked my home.

The earth closes over Dyne.

Maricul: Fuck off!

The ground close leaving Dyne trap inside. Everyone looks on in silence until the gravity around them intensified and they were bounded to the ground unable to stand. What remains of the buildings around them collapse under the gravity and Dyne rose up out of the ground with no lasting effect seen on her. She began to walk towards the group just as the sun shines on the alter that remain in perfect condition despite the entire church building being left in ruin.

Miracle: Who covereth the heaven with clouds? Struggles to get up.

Dyne: Looks in Miracle's direction.

Miracle: Manages to get to one knee. Who prepareth rain for the earth? Groans in pain. Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains? Pulls herself up to her feet. It is not you, demon! Closes her eyes. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Is release from the gravity. Amen!

Dyne appears in front of Miracle as soon as she open her eyes, shroud in darkness while Miracle stood underneath the only ray of sunlight that shines through the clouds. The two stares into each other's eyes for a moment before the silence was broken.

Dyne: A wanderer will pass through the ancient lands, trailing chaos in her wake. The realms will be reunited and the mortal world will tremble before them. A true servant of God shall never teach false doctrine. It shall, in return, never deny new revelation. It will never tell one that the canon of scripture is full, or that Testament, new and old, is the last revelation ever intended to be given to man. The beast shall be upon the earth, and it shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, tread it down, and break it in pieces. Draws her blades at Miracle. Let it be heard that Yahweh’s will cometh not from the faith of man – but from Yahweh itself. It is in his divine law that the Ancients draw their blades – and in his duty that destruction must come to pass; for all of his creation. Stares at Tori. A sacrifice of blood is what it demands for the cleansing of this world. Until this moment, the Ancients spared this sanctuary; it will tolerate no further hindrance by the hand of man: Like Sodom and Gomorrah before you, if repentance is not sought so shall Aircano be swallowed by a storm of brimstone, salt and flames as result of the sins and abominations committed against and in his name.

Tori: The righteous shall fall upon the wicked. She was referring to us. We're the wicked. That thing and Miracle are working for the same god!

Miracle: Falls to her knees in shock. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. This was never about offering shelter to the lost was it? I was leading these people to their deaths to restore what was damaged. I rounded up the sheep so that you could come and take them in one fair swoop. Starts to cry. He knew I wouldn't have the stomach for such a task. He blinded me so my conscious would remain clear. My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death. Puts her hands together and closes her eyes in prayer. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Stands up and steps aside.

Tori: What is she doing?

Garrus: She's standing aside.

Tori: What? Looks at Miracle. Have you lost your mind?! You can't let that thing succeed!

Miracle: I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do.

Maricul: Chuckles. Somehow, I expected more from you. Lifts up her hand and reverses the gravity from the group onto Dyne.

Dyne: Begins to be held down under the pressure of her own power before the gravity converted into raw energy and flows across her body as she steps towards the witch.

Tori: Gets up and moves in the path of Dyne. If it's a sacrifice of blood you want – Removes her blindfold where the dry blood from her eye sockets were. then take it! Wipes the blood on her hand and then throws it at Dyne. Take it and let this world be cleansed!

Dyne: Is hit in the face with the blood. A violent wind surges through the city blowing back the entire group in the air. Her body turns into a singularity that tears holes into the air. Out from these holes came derange monsters that heads towards the group as a great force can be felt in Dyne, Miracle, Maricul, and even Tori.

Garrus, Kragen, Armando, and Madeira go over to help Tori up while Jehanne runs to Miracle's side to get her away from Dyne.

Garrus: Tori, are you all right?

Tori: Did you feel that?

Garrus: Feel what?

Dyne: Looks sad. The world is broken.

Miracle: What have you done, Maricul?

Maricul: What have I done? Why don't you ask your new friend over there? It's her power that just sent the universe into chaos. Had you never came to this place, Dyne, the balance never would have never been broken in the first place.

Madeira: Someone wants to clue me in on what's going on?

Tori: A paradox. All this power in one place was so great it caused the imbalance the child was talking about.

Garrus: How is that possible?

Maricul: Does it matter? You all see this as a crisis in need of preventing, I see it as the dawning of a new era. Mankind has evolved beyond the need of gods, just like it has evolved beyond the need of walls that serve only to divide us.

Miracle: Maricul, have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea what would happen if you go through with this? Any idea at all?

Maricul: On the contrary, midear, my mind is quite clear. The clearest it has been for centuries.

Miracle: Your fight with Yahweh should stay between you and Yahweh. Don't pull the other worlds into it I beg you!

Maricul: The grand design is flawed. I plan to redesign it. Make it better. Soon these creatures that do not mesh with the realm will be made anew. They will belong here just as much as you and I do now. The Creator could have simply made us in the same universe, but instead it chose to separate us. To create gods to rule over us. Now our people are divided by different religions that all worship a different god further dividing us all. But what the gods fear the most is that mankind has indeed evolved beyond the need for them. We’re no longer afraid to venture into the unknown possibilities of the universe and has expanded our minds to a level of intelligence that makes them obsolete.

The monsters continue to close in on the group

Kragen: Those things are approaching.

Tori: Hold them off!

Maricul: Even you, Miracle. You have surpassed Yahweh himself. Why else would he keep you in the dark? As if it would matter if you weren’t on board? There are many people in Aircano who would have gladly led these sheep to the slaughter, but instead he chose to keep you around. To keep you in the dark so that this moment could take place. I ask you why? Was it really for your benefit, or was it because Yahweh knew if you were aware of his plans from the very beginning you would and very well could stop him before he had the chance to get it off the ground? It is not you who needs Yahweh, midear, it’s Yahweh who needs you.

Miracle: Maricul, please, I beg you. Don't do this!

Maricul: The only thing these people are guilty of is being the victim of a flawed system made by their creator. Do they really deserve death for that? Do they deserve death for the gods that allowed their worlds to perish leaving them with nowhere to turn? All they desire is a new realm to give them hope. Think about it, Miracle. REALLY think about it! Flies up into the air and spread out her arms. It isn't man that should fear God. Blasts the rifts and makes them larger It's God that should fear man!

More things start to come out of the rifts as Garrus, Kragen, Armando, and Madeira continue to fight them off.

Tori: Have everyone in this damn village lost their minds?! You'll kill us all if you do that!

Maricul: Don't be naive! Only life awaits beyond the rift.

Dyne: Words of a witch.

Pieces of the ground shot up to impale the creatures that came through the rifts.

Dyne: Fell thing that conspires against God, mortal, and devil, you are part of two worlds and yet belong to neither. You corrupt man and set mind to motion: An abomination to be eradicated along with your machinations. Turns her head to Miracle as she begins to glow like the sun. FLEE!

Jehanne: Grabs Miracle and runs off.

Tori: We need to get out of here! Runs back to her group. We need to get out of here now!

Miracle: Looks back to Maricul. Maricul!

The group flees Aircano as Maricul holds her ground against Dyne.

Dyne: And so it was foretold that the parallels, once reunited, would be shattered again. Closes her eyes. Their defeat would be illusory – for the final gambit would have yet to be played.

Dyne is engulfed by a blinding light that soon covers all of Aircano. Dyne's body explodes and from its destruction a supernova erupts taking Maricul and the creatures surrounding them with it, the blast escaping into the rifts in the air while Maricul's flesh start to burn in the extreme heat.

Maricul: HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!
HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!

And the scene fade to black.

To Be Continued!

#9 Pathway of Destruction

Cast
Tori Jacobs
Garrus Vakarian
Kragen
Dyne
Armando
Madeira Roberts
June Greenaway
Shinta Greenaway
Lily Mayweather
Nex Aaron
Mary Thompson

The scene fades into the underground temple with Tori and June divided by rocks.

Tori: June, is that you?

June: Tori? Oh, thank God, you're okay.

Tori: You don't believe in God.

June: It's a figure of speech, you jerk!

Tori: Where are the others?

June: Up there, still fighting the golems. Shinta wanted to leave you.

Tori: I'm sure he didn't want to leave me. Help me move these rocks.

June: What was all that commotion back there?

Tori: I met one of the Ancients.

June: What?

Tori: A vessel, more like. She sounded like a small child just like the first one. She talked about restoring the balance.

June: Balance? What balance?

Tori: The tower in the expanse and the people coming from it. That balance.

June: Where is she now?

Tori: Gone.

June: You let her go?

Tori: What was I supposed to do cane her?

The two pull away enough of the rocks for June to squeeze through and hug Tori.

June: Come on, we have to find the others and stop her.

June starts walking to find another way out, but Tori remains standing where she is prompting June to turn back to her.

June: That was our cue to leave.

Tori: I'm not getting in the Ancients' way.

June: What!?

Tori: The child said she only wants to restore the balance. If the balance is restored these nightmares in my head will stop.

June: And you believe her? You saw first hand what these things are capable of.

Tori: That's exactly why I'm not getting in their way.

June: I can't believe this. You're afraid.

Tori: Afraid? Yes, I'm afraid. That's why I traveled to the middle of the desert in a cave that leads to only God knows where! I can't see!

June: Don't you think I know that?

Tori: No, you're not listening. I can't see! I can't see anything! The only thing I can see are those things back at Sector Twelve. Blood all around me and everything decaying and I can feel unimaginable pain, but I can't die! No matter what I can't die! I'm in my own personal hell, and the only chance I have of getting any peace is if that child succeed in whatever the hell she's going to do!

June: Listen to me, I can't imagine what you're going through. I really can't, but we will find a way to fix it. But before we can, I just need you to go a little father. You already made it this far, so I know you have it in you. Maybe you're right and this guardian or whatever won't be a threat and just wants to help, but we have to be sure. Because if it's a threat then you know what's the right thing to do is.

Tori: You're right. You're right. I'm sorry.

June: Kisses Tori. Don't be. Let's go.

The two take off.

Cut to: Temple First Floor Corridor.

Lily: What the hell was that?!

Shinta: It looked like a kid.

Mary: What is a kid doing here?

Shinta: Tori said the one who attacked her back at Sector Twelve was a little girl. Maybe she's connected with the Ancients?

Nex: Looked like the girl from Silent Hill.

Everyone looks at Nex.

Nex: Am I the only person here who played Silent Hill? Figures. You guys wouldn't know a good game if it came up and jammed its case right up your–!

Armando: We need to keep searching for the others. We can figure out what that thing was later.

The group walk down what remained of the damaged halls after Dyne walked through them.

Madeira: This place looks like a war zone.

Shinta: If she can do this just by walking I don't want to see her when she's mad.

Nex: All women are dangerous when they're mad, Shinta.

Made, Lily, and Mary stare at Nex.

Nex: See what I mean?

Armando: You could probably work on your people's skills.

Nex: Whatever you say, Rocky.

Armando: Raises eyebrow.

Mary: Guys, look. There are some drawings here.

See images of people bowed before a single mask in the sky.

Shinta: These must be thousands of years old.

Mary: Where's June when you need her?

Lily: Why would we need her? It's a bunch of people bowing around a mask, what's not to get?

Shinta: The mask must represent the Ancients, or the first Ancient at least.

Armando: That girl wasn't wearing no mask.

Shinta: I sincerely doubt either child are the Ancients themselves, but more of an instrument that they've chosen to act through because they can't manifest on the mortal planes.

Mary: And a child will lead us.

Madeira: Do gods use children often?

Lily: Yawns. As fascinating as all of this is, I'd like to find Tori and June.

Armando: She's right. Let's keep moving.

Cut to: Temple Basement

June: At first I thought there were no textbooks to be discovered, until I realized that the entire temple is just one big textbook. Years of history have been recorded on these walls.

Tori: Anything there about children?

June: Sadly no, but it would seem the Ancients are being represented by these masked beings plastered all over the place in the form of statues. Why the people here chosen to worship the first Ancient specifically is a mystery to me.

Tori: The child back in Isafaro wasn't wearing a mask.

June: The child was most likely just a pawn. She was created in a lab, after all. Gently lays a hand on the drawings on the walls. I wish I had more time to study them.

Tori: We can always come back.

June: You think Imai would let us? She was pretty mad when we left to get you to Aircano.

Tori: This temple could be the key in figuring out what Vulture was working on, she'd be an idiot not to let us study them further.

June: I guess you're right. What about you? What are you going down now that you're... blind?

Tori: We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

June: It's just – it's unlikely that Imai is going to let you back on the field if you can't see anything.

Tori: I said we'll cross that bridge when get to it.

June: Okay. Screams.

Tori: What? What is it?

June: Spiders!

Tori: Seriously?

June: Hides behind Tori. They're everywhere!

A large group of spiders crawl across the floor and moves up the steps.

Tori: They're just bugs.

June: Bugs that can kill you. Spiders in Jherrazad are said to be poisonous.

Tori: You're hiding behind the right meatshield, then. According to child number dos I can't die.

June: What do you mean you can't die?

Tori: Exactly what I said, I can't die. That girl back in Isafaro marked me. I was called the “Herald of Prophecy.”

June: And when were you going to tell me this?

Tori: I just did.

Mary: Faint screaming could be heard coming above.

June: That sounded like–

Tori: Mary!

The pair runs towards the source of the scream. They make it to the ground floor to hear gunshots coming from afar and follow it to find Armando shooting a bunch of spiders and black cobras that are on the floor with Mary on his back.

Armando: There, they're dead! You can get off my back now.

Mary: Are you sure they're all gone?

Armando: Captain!

Mary: Looks up from Armando's back. Tori!

Tori: I see you have a pest problem.

June: Gross! First it was spiders now it's snakes?

Nex: Welcome to the desert. Now all we need is a scorpion to come full circle.

Lily: Are you guys okay?

Tori: We're fine. Couple of scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. You guys?

Armando: No worse for wear.

Mary: Climbs down from Armando's back.

Madeira: Were you able to find anything?

Tori: Just a cranky child who sounded unhappy I spoiled her bedtime.

Armando: Yeah... Looks around at all the structural damage. We saw her a little while ago. What did you learn?

Tori: I'll explain on the way. Starts moving in the opposite direction of the others.

Armando: We can't go that way. There are golems blocking the entrance.

Tori: Trust me, if that's the direction the child went they aren't there anymore.

The group follows Tori out of the caves and into the desert to find their helicopter wreck

June: Oh no.

Armando: Shit!

Tori: What?

Armando: Helicopter's been damaged. My guess is the child saw to that, too. We'll have to walk.

Tori: We can't walk. She has too much of a head's start on us already.

Armando: I don't see us having many options.

Lily: Where were she even headed?

Tori: With all the balance talk my guess is she's headed for the tower in the Crystal Expanse.

Shinta: That's on the way to Aircano.

Mary: You don't think–?

Armando: We better get a move on.

Nex: I don't mean to alarm anyone... Points up to the jet coming from the sky. But that's heading right towards us!

The rest of the group looks up to the jet that's about to land, and hightail it back to the cave to hide. When the jet land and the ramp lower, they saw Garrus and Kragen coming out the back.

Armando: They're one of ours!

The group comes out of hiding to meet the two.

Armando: Aren't we glad to see you.

Tori: What are you guys doing here?

Garrus: Miracle sent us a message. Told us you were heading into the desert to find out more about the Ancients, and we thought you might need help.

Tori: How did she even know how to contact you?

Garrus: We were hoping you could tell us that.

June: You didn't happen to see a child on your way here, did you?

Garrus: No. Why?

Tori: I'll explain on the plane, but we need to get back to Aircano ASAP!

Garrus: Understood.

The group enters the jet and moments later the jet takes off. Down below we see Dyne walking on the black desert sand, a sandstorm accompanying her path as everything she comes in contacts with crumbles up and dies. The holy city once again on the horizon as she moves closer and closer to her designation.


FIN

#8 Walking the Demon

Cast
Tori Jacobs
Dyne
Armando
Madeira Roberts
June Greenaway
Shinta Greenaway
Lily Mayweather
Nex Aaron
Mary Thompson

The scene opens up in a dark cavern. The group are walking along with lights and weapons in hand.

Nex: Sneaks up on Mary and mimics the sound of a monster.

Mary: Screams and whacks Nex over the head with her flashlight.

Nex: Ow!

Mary: Dammit, Nex! That's not funny! I could have shot you! Hits Nex on the arm and storms off.

Shinta: Real smooth.

Nex: Worth it.

June: How are you holding up?

Tori: Had better days, June.

June: If it makes you feel any better it's not much brighter in here for the rest of us.

Tori: Yeah, think of the money we could save on batteries.

June: How's the... other thing holding up?

Tori: Comes and goes. Every time I try to picture your face it breaks down into a skeleton.

June: What happens if you just think of a skeleton?

Tori: Not feeling brave enough to test those waters.

Armando: Captain, we have something over here.

The group stop in front of a large door next to Armando.

Tori: You guys are going to have to spell it out for me.

Armando: It's a door of some kind, but it's sealed. There's an inscription on it.

Tori: What does it say?

Armando: It's in Latin.

Tori: Of course it is.

Lily: Anyone here speak Latin?

June: Let me see it.

Armando: Holds the light for June.

June: Only he who knows the prayer of our Lord may gain access to enlightenment.

Shinta, June, Lily, and Nex all look at Mary.

Mary: What?

Lily: You are the Christian of the group.

Tori: No. Remember what Miracle said? They worshiped the first Ancient? I don't think they're talking about God. And if that child is connected to the first Ancient... Clear the way.

Armando and June get out of Tori's way. Tori approaches the door and puts her hand on it. For a moment nothing happens, but then the ground begins to shake and the door opens. Wailing can be heard coming from the other side as the group continues on.

Madeira: What's that sound?

Mary: They sound like they're in terrible pain.

Armando: This place is a tomb. The wailing is the souls of the dead reaching out to the living. It was believed by the desert dwellers that they were the victims of horrors so great that even death couldn't free them.

Tori: Veneficus. Must have been the cult Miracle was talking about. How did you know all that?

Armando: You weren't the only one who had to survive out in the desert.

Madeira: I don't understand. What's Veneficus?

Tori: Veneficus was a group that practiced black magic thousands of years ago. They originated from Aircano before the ancestors of the current Theocracy forced them out.

Lily: Christians stealing things from the Pagans? What are the odds?

Mary: Looks disapprovingly at Lily.

Armando: The desert dwellers are all that remain of the group. Passing down their teachings to those born of the desert.

A loud roar stops the group dead in their tracks.

Mary: Nex, please tell me that was you.

Nex: Wasn't me.

Armando: Everybody, get back!

A large golem charged the group, raising its hand to smash them as they move backwards. Armando unloaded on the best with his minigun and the others joined in as Tori felt a throbbing pain enter her head as the nightmares began playing in her mind once more. A second golem just as large as the first joined in on the fight, splitting the group in two as they used the tombs as cover.

Shinta: They just had to be golems. Why couldn't the guards be a couple of polite rabbits?

Nex: Hey, Lily. These golems have big, strong hands, don't they?

Lily: Shut up, Nex!

June: Tori, what's wrong?

Tori: Claps hand onto her head and groans in pain before falling down one of the tombs and disappearing into the abyss below.

June: Tori!

Armando: Continues firing at the golem to no avail. Made, a little help here!

Madeira: Plays a couple of notes on her guitar sending a jolt of electricity at the golem with no effect. It's not working!

Armando: Don't try to electrocute it! Dodges the golem's arm and fires more bullets into it.

Madeira: Charges up a more powerful shot and then sends it into the chest of the golem knocking it flat.

Cut to: Underground Temple

Tori: Reaches around for her cane, pain aching across her body as she felt her own skin pealing off and crumbling to dust just to be revived to endure the suffering again and again. Grabs her cane and pulls herself up to her feet slowly proceeding forward. June!? Shinta!? Lily!? Armando!? Hearing no response, she pressed on. Pressing a hand against a wall and feeling its texture. The wall was replaced with nothing but air and she reached around, feeling a statue of a masked individual, two more similar to it standing nearby as she felt the words carved into the stone. Sighs and leans back against one of the statues, the temple beginning to shake and forcing her down to her knees as the statue crack and broke apart. The walls of the temple exploded, as did the rocks and she hit her head and went unconscious.

Cut to: Tomb

Shinta, Lily, Nex, and Mary fired on the second golem while keeping their distance. June was by the tomb Tori fell down trying to see inside it while Armando jumped on the first golem and repeatedly punched it in the face before being thrown off.

Shinta: It's no good! We have to fall back!

June: Tori fell down this hole, we have to get her out!

Shinta: I'm sorry, June, but we don't have time!

June: I'm not leaving her! Jumps through the hole.

Shinta: June!

June: Makes it to the bottom only to find the path blocked by fallen rocks above. No. No! No! No! Bangs on the rocks. Tori! Tori, can you hear me!?

Cut to: Tomb

Shinta: Runs over to the open tomb. June! JUNE! Goddammit!

Golem #2: Reaches Shinta and swings its arm towards him.

Shinta: Jumps out of the way and unload more shots into the beast before running on empty. I'm out!

Lily: Me too!

Nex: Why couldn't action movie rules apply?

Armando: Fall back! Get to the temple!

Nex: Who builds a temple next to a tomb?

The group makes a run for it, the few with ammo left keeps firing at the golems. They make it inside the temple and proceeds to barricade the doors.

Cut to: Underground Temple

June: Continues to bang on rocks. Tori! TORI! Starts to cry. Tori, don't leave me.

Tori: Starts to come to on the other side. Once again reaches out for her cane to find a pair of feet instead. June?

Dyne: Balance...

Tori: June?

Dyne: You shift it with your presence here, your existence.

Tori: Gets up as fast as she can and grips her cane. Who are you?

Dyne: Why have you come here? Was it to get away from the terrors in your mind?

Tori: Who are you?!

Dyne: You do not make demands of the Ancients.

Tori: So, you're one of them. I should have known, you sound like a small child.

Dyne: You have been touched by the Essence. The mark of the Ancients is visible on your head, Herald.

Tori: The Essence? What Essence? You mean the visions running through my head?

Dyne: They are not visions. They are reality.

Tori: What do you mean?

Dyne: The world is coming undone, nothing but death awaits mankind. For this reason I have been awakened.

Tori: What are you? Some kind of warrior?

Dyne: I am but only an instrument of the Ancients. An extension of their will.

Tori: How interesting that you all require children to do your dirty work for you.

Dyne: Children are pure. They are not subjected to the corruption of adults.

Tori: What about the child who attacked me in Isafaro? I thought she was just an experiment?

Dyne: Isafaro wanted to create a god, little do they know how successful they were. The Ancients have chosen her just as they have me. Soon all of Genesis will know the terrors of the First.

Tori: And what of you? What terrors do you plan to descend upon us now that you're awake?

Dyne: I only seek to restore the balance that have been broken. If you, your friends, or any should interfere, then you shall be struck down by the full force of the Ancients.

Tori: You're evil.

Dyne: Good and evil are creations of man. Gods do not entertain such delusions.

Tori: It's “gods” now, is it? I thought there was only one?

Dyne: There has always been more than one. Have you not traveled across the sea to Elim? Have you not seen the gods who rule under the thumb of the Creator? Have you not seen the Creator's light that fuels all things in this world?

Tori: Can't say I have.

Dyne: Humanity: the true children of the universe.

Tori: I witnessed your sister in arms kill innocent people. She raped me! If that's not evil then what is?

Dyne: You want revenge?

Tori: I want to know what she did to me. How was I able to survive getting shot in the head? Why am I seeing everything waste away into nothing? What are the Ancients!?

Dyne: We are guardians of creation. You are the Herald of Prophecy, you will not, cannot die until your duty is fulfilled.

Tori: What duty?

Dyne: Tell the people what you have seen. Tell them that is the fate of all those who stand in the way of the Ancients. Until balance is restore Genesis will not see peace.

Tori: How was the balance broken in the first place? What triggered the tower in the Crystal Expanse?

Dyne: I do not know.

Tori: You don't know?

Dyne: I am only to restore the balance, not worry about its cause.

Tori: Follow orders blindly like a good little soldier?

Dyne: We are both soldiers here.

Tori: What are these Ancients? What's their function?

Dyne: You would not understand the workings of the Ancients.

Tori: Of course... Mysterious ways and all that happy nonsense, right?

Dyne: Do you intend to get in the Ancients' way?

Tori: If the balance is restore will the nightmares stop?

Dyne: Yes.

Tori: Then no.

Dyne: Then we've nothing further to discuss. Turns around and begin to walk away.

Tori: Wait! Tell me what the prophecy means! Please!

Dyne: Stops and turns her head back to Tori. Pray you never know.

Tori: How am I supposed to herald a prophecy when I don't even know what it means?

Dyne: If you really wish to know, seek the one who marked you. Turns away from Tori and resumes her walk through the temple.

June: Tori!? Faint.

Tori: June? June!

Cut to: Temple First Floor.

Lily: Great, now we're stuck here.

Armando: We need to find the captain and June, and find another way out of here.

Nex: What makes you think you're in charge?

Armando: I'm the guy with the minigun.

Nex: Good answer.

Mary: Guys, something's coming.

The shadow of Dyne could be seen approaching on the walls.

Armando: This way! Move!

The group takes behind cover and watches as Dyne walks past them without a care in the world. Dyne continues until she makes it to the front entrance of the temple. The temple shakes, the barricade is destroyed, and the temple's doors fly open. The golems catches wind of Dyne and begin to charge at her, but collapse in on themselves before they can even reach her. Dyne continues onwards, undisturbed by the obstacles in her path until she makes it out of the cave. With a wave of her hand, the helicopter lying in wait is swallowed by the ground and she looks up to see Aircano on the horizon and begins walking towards the holy city.


FIN