Studio apartment the tv on an infomercial channel on low volume. Charlie in his bed asleep, body and left shoulder covered by the blanket.
The alarm on his bedside table goes off with several loud beeps (11am) and he wakes suddenly with a snort.
He stares dazed in sleep inertia for a moment.

He reaches over with his right arm, pressing the off button on the clock.Charlie is Thai-Irish American, short, with honey tan skin, straight pale blonde shoulder length hair, thick eyebrows, high cheeks, black monolid eyes, and black bands all over his body.He rubs his face with his hand for a moment and stares blankly before dropping his head back onto the pillow.
His phone buzzes on the nightstand a few times. He turns his head and opens his eyes again and after a moment he reaches his right arm over and pulls the phone to his face to see the message

[Nora]
Nora: We need to talk.

He closes his eyes again and places the phone screen down on the bed and lays there for a moment. He grumbles and sits up, the blanket falling off his body, his left arm absent from the deltoid down where a second black band marks.
He sighs and stands up, walking past his kitchenette turning on a coffee pot on his way to the bathroom.
-

The coffee pot finishes brewing. Charlie returns to grab it and pour it into a cup. Face still tired, top half of his hair tied into a bun and wearing day clothes, a pale muted pink toned t-shirt and a brown jacket with the left arm tied off
-
Charlie puts his half empty coffee cup on his bedside table and sits down on his bed putting final socked foot into the shoe and standing while grabbing his phone.
-
Charlie walks into a small hole in the wall diner. A lanky pale older man sitting at the table by the entrance, Hyphae, looks up from their newspaper.
Hyphae, flat toned:
'Hello, Charlie.'
Charlie returns the greeting with a warm smile and a waves:
'Hey, Hyphae.'
He walks up to the bar and sits down.
The stocky older waitress steps over to him:
'Morning, Charlie. What will it be?'
Charlie:
'Just pancakes, thanks.'
She steps away:
'As usual.'
View past the waitress as she steps to the kitchenette, Nora steps out of the diner's back office.Nora appears as an Indian woman, long dark hair pulled up into a neat bun, average height, dressed nice but formal, with old school teacher vibes.He looks up to her and she motions for him as she walks by, sitting at a corner booth. Charlie stands and follows her, sitting across from her.
Charlie:
'You know you should have a bat signal for me. Not that I would ever see it.'
Nora looks at him with a humored smirk and raised brow:
'I need you to assist Basit with a job.'
The waitress steps up, setting a coffee in front of both of them. Charlie fills his cup with several packs of sugar.
Charlie, light hearted smile:
'Is my tab here out already?'
Nora:
'Don't worry about that. Just go with her. We can discuss more afterwards.'
Charlie sighs:
'Alright, so where is my next epic yet questionable adventure starting?'
Nora sighs, with a weak humored smile.
-
Charlie walking down the street, passing a flower shop with a 'New management' sign. A man, Anwir, with a priest's collar in a florist apron spots him and watches him pass by before turning his attention back to a customer.Anwir is a healthy moderately tall man with rosy fair skin and deep blue eyes. His hair is short, black, and cleanly cut and tended with no facial hair. He stands tall but casual, a consistent warm, welcoming aura.Charlie turns a corner, a gray cat walks up to his side.
Cat:
'Hello, Charlie'
Charlie looks down.
Cat:
'She's not there now.'
Charlie stops and gives the cat his full attention.
Cat:
'Brook street, alley beside the pawn shop.'
Charlie:
'Thanks.'
The cat walks off.
-

Charlie walks up to the alley entrance, the sound of hitting as he turns the corner.
Basit hunched over a man punching him repeatedly while gripping his collar.
Charlie:
'What are you doing?'
Basit stops to look over her shoulder to him, she drops the bloodied man by the collar and stands.Basit has long wavy brown hair that tends to hang over one shoulder, brown eyes, and medium toned skin. The right side of her face and body is covered in a burn scar. Her stature is tall and shoulders broad but her face and body shape feminine and curved.Basit, posture is proud and dominant:
'Teaching this asshole a lesson.'
Basit walks over to Charlie, the man groaning as the two leave the alley.
Charlie:
'Right— Nora said you needed my help counting puppies or something.'
Basit, flat unamused:
'What?'
Charlie:
'It was a joke…'
Basit:
'Oh. No, there's something out killing humans-'
Charlie weakly smiles:
'That isn't you?'
Basit smirks and walks out of the ally.
Basit:
'It's reckless and has gotten to the point Nora is struggling to keep the human media and authorities out of it. She's pinpointed where its hide out probably is. We are going to find it.'
Charlie:
'And— ask it nicely to please stop?'
Basit:
'Yup, as nicely as I asked that jackass to stop grabbing asses.'
Charlie:
'Well, I throw a weak punch, so I'll just do the asking and puppy counting.'
Basit snorts.
-
Charlie and Basit on a bus, standing and holding onto a handgrab Basit standing in front of Charlie both facing away from a few white women sitting a few seats behind them glance and stare at Charlie, muttering to each other.
Woman-A, a middle aged woman, shoulder turned away from Charlie looking to the other. She points towards her own face with confusion while subtly motioning her head in his direction.
Woman-B, older, wearing a small silver cross and holding a handbag, contempt, mutters under her breath:
'It must be their religion.'
Charlie glances over his shoulder at them, the younger lady quickly looking away, he then looks forward again.
-

City industrial, the two walk up to a massive storm drain.
Charlie nervous:
'In here? Really?'
Basit:
'Yup.'
Charlie:
'This is like the opening to a horror movie.'
Basit ignores him walking on ahead. He sighs, beginning to follow.
Charlie's voice echoes in the tunnel:
'The shit I do for some free pancakes.'
Both walk further into the tunnels.
Charlie:
'I'm not sure if you know this but— I'm not exactly the tough guy fighter type. So why am I here?'
Basit shrugs:
*'Nora insisted. Maybe she just wants you to be my backup. Make sure I don't get killed or anything.' *
She snorts.
Charlie witty:
'What do you mean? You're so tough they call you the 'back alley ball crusher'.'
Basit confused:
'What?'
Charlie flat:
'It was a joke.'
Basit:
'Oh.'
Charlie:
'But for real, what could hurt you? The ghost of an Aul?'
Basit frowns, brows furrowed:
'Auls are not ghosts.'
Charlie:
'Whatever, they're made up so what does it matter? Point is-'
Basit:
'They are real. I've seen one.'
A large and low shadow crosses behind them.
Charlie:
'oh good. Then the chance of us finding one is lower.'
Basit:
'That's not how probability works.'
They pass in front of a dark tunnel.
Charlie stops, nervous:
'Did you hear that?'
The two stare at the tunnel, Basit is stanced and fight ready, Charlie leaned away, prepared to run.After a moment a few rats rush out squeaking and running past their feet. Charlie jumps and yelps, Basit laughing. Realizing they're rats he takes a breath and puts his hand over his chest.
Basit still amused:
'What's got you so jumpy?'
Charlie:
'Hey, I'm not used to all this shit!'
They continue walking.
Basit:
'Sewers and rats?'
Charlie:
'Yea, especially the talking ones that keep calling me about my car's extended warranty.
No, I mean like, vorein, kindred, those fucking water creatures, abnormals. All of it.'
Basit raises a brow:
'Abnormals? How are you not used to your own kind?'
Charlie:
'I wasn't always like this.'
Basit:
'Yea? What were you before then?'
The two jump down where another deeper tunnel meets.
Charlie:
'Human, believe it or not.'
Basit skeptical suspicion:
'Is this another joke?'
Charlie:
'No?'
Basit:
'Humans don't become abnormals. And you're not Hyphae. '
The large canine shaped shadow watches them from a tunnel.
Charlie dry sarcasm:
'Yea? Well, I guess I 'm just really lucky then..'A while later deeper into the tunnels.
Basit:
'Okay, so assuming you're not full of shit, how did you become one of us?'
Charlie's brows furrow for a moment before his face takes on his typical witty grin.
Charlie:
'I don't know, I touched an old cursed artifact, it bit me, I tripped into a nuclear power plant
and now I'm Lego Man, the weakest member of Nora's superhero league!'
Basit unamused:
'Uh huh...'
The two enter another tunnel.
Basit:
'What was it like as a human then?'
Charlie in his typical dry wit:
'Uh— Kinda similar, but minus the monsters, dead humans, hiding from the law,
and struggles finding a job. Actually— No, it's pretty much the same.'
Basit:
'Right. Do you really think I'm that gulli-'
The shadow lunges from the side, Basit ducking, dodging it.
The Vorein's maws land on Charlie's arm, biting down on it.
Charlie screams in pain, both falling over an edge and into a deeper open space.
The vorein pulls Charlie's arm off, ripping the sleeve, and tosses it to the side before turning back to his face,
mouth open with a snarl about to bite-
A long appendage of muscle and bone pierces the voreins skull. killing it.

Basit at a distance her arm formed into the appendage extended 20~ ft. The appendage throws the vorein's body to the side, then contracts back, reforming her arm.
Basit casually:
'Just a mad vorein. Well that's much easier to deal with.'
Charlie rolls over in pain, Basit walks towards him.
Basit kneels down beside him:
'you alright?'
Charlies face tense and teared up.
Charlie:
'Get— my arm— please.'
Basit looks up to the arm a few feet away.
She stands up, walks over, and picks it up, it's bloodied and ripped from the teeth
but the separated point at the band is black and smooth. She brings it back over to him.
She looks from him to the arm with mild confusion. She holds up the arm to him and it snaps back into place.
She leans back, Charlie lifting and flexing his hand before holding it against his chest.
Basit:
'Huh. It just snaps right back on like a magnet huh?'
He pushes himself up with his arm:
'Yea…'
Basit watches him and reaches down, reaching her arm under his reattached arm to pull him up to his feet,
holding on for a moment while he gains his balance. She shakes off his torn, bloody, sleeve from his arm.
Charlie mutters, voice low:
'I liked that coat...'
-
The two walking back through the tunnels.
Charlie staring down at the ground. In his view he sees his feet, but they are bare,
dirty, and walking a much darker path, his vision mildly obscured by red noise and static.
Basit looks back to Charlie whose face is still twisted in pain, eyes watery and looking downward.
She looks at his arm, bloodied but healed, no wounds.
Basit:
'Does it hurt?'
Charlie snaps out of it:
'...Not anymore.'
Basit:
'Does it hurt for it to disconnect like that?'
Charlie:
'Nah, It just feels-'
He pauses, his face changing from disturbed to a masking smile and sarcastic tone
Charlie:
'I'm like a- an indestructible lego.'
A tinge of a frown breaks through the mask.
Charlie mutters:
'That's missing a few pieces.'
Basit watches his face with empathetic concern.
The two exit the tunnels.
-
They stand at a bus stop.
Charlie:
'Why does Nora like to involve me in this shit lately? I'm practically useless.'
Basit:
'You're not. But maybe she's just trying to get you 'used to all this shit.'
She grins and Charlie sighs.
-

Late noon
Charlie enters the diner, tired and not smiling.
Hyphae:
'Hello, Charlie.'
Charlie:
'Hey.'
Hyphae:
'She's in her office.'
-
Charlie gives a short knock before immediately entering. Nora sits at her desk
staring at a small stack of half a dozen parchments in her hand, a small box on the desk to the side.
Charlie:
'So where is my tab at now?'
Nora half smiles:
'You know I don't actually keep up with that, Charlie.'
He sits in the chair in front of her desk.
She looks up:
'Well? What did you find?'
Charlie:
'A mad vorein.'
Nora:
'That's all? You found nothing else?'
Charlie:
'No, where we supposed to?'
Nora leaning forward:
'Did you know the vorein, recognized them?'
Charlie's eyes narrow:
'Oh yea, we're old college buddies. We played ball before Basit stabbed it in the skull.
No. I didn't know it. What's this about, Nora?'
She sighs, frustrated:
'It was a long shot but I hoped it was involved. Whatever, that's one issue out of the way.
I just wanted to get more information before I brought this to your attention.'
She hands him the stack of papers.
Nora:
'Do you know anything about this?'
Charlie looks over the scraps of paper, the notes containing chunks of scripture.

1#
And lo, ye faithful, cast off thy burden of self and lay it before the Lord; and let thy heart exult,
for blessed art thou who art found worthy to wield His sacred Flesh.
For the Blessed shall be made more—a Scion of our God.
Thou shalt slough the dust of the Hallowed Man and shape the
Vassal of Desire.
The Vassal's hunger shall be of the Lord's—eternal and boundless, as is Her yawning Void.
And all shall be consumed until naught remains to slake our Lord's hunger but the devouring of time.
And when the last sand hath descended into our Lord's Desire, He Who Was shall Be and shall step
forth, remade and Wholly.2#
Go forth, ye Blessed, and bear the Flesh of the Lord; seek thee thy Hallowed Man.
For the Vassal of Desire must be forged of a hollowed host—rendered void, that it may be filled with
His Glory.
Rejoice and steel thy spirit, for it is ordained; the Blessed shall be given unto the Vassal.
And from the Blessed the Vassal shall feast on the Desire of our Lord, and His will shall be sown.3#
Seek among thine Man the Scions of God, for Divinity dwelleth within them.
Yet let not thy hunt be aimless, for not all Scion are for His will.
Seek only those whose form is as the Hallowed Man.
For the Scion shall be consumed, made one with the hollowed flesh.
As once the Vassal was of Man, so too must the Scion bear their shape.
Reap from the Scion only their likeness, familiar unto the Vessel– be it eyes, ears, hands or feet,
the sacred pieces must be mirrored of the Vessel, that the rite be made whole.4#
Prepare ye the Vessel upon the body of our Lord, for it shall be laid bare.
And the Vessel shall be sanctified in the cleaving of parts from the body,
that it may be made ready for our Lord.
Sever the parts with care, for many fragments lay open the Void wide.
And in the Void shall Man be made hollow and in the Vessel shall the Lord's Will be made manifest.5#
Let not thine duties falter before the blood of Man, for the Vessel must be made.
Let thy Lord bear the burden of thy mind, that thou mayest be of His will and carry His body as thou
dost shape the Vessel from the hollowed shards thou hast carved from the Hallowed Man.
Only then, with the Flesh thou hast been charged to bear, shalt thou pierce the hollow and fill the
Vessel with the Glory of our Lord.6#
Returned is life, for the Vessel hath been made of His Divinity, but not yet full of His Flesh and Will;
for the Vessel is not yet ready to bear our Lord.
Gather ye thy harvest of the Scion and prepare their likeness, as thou hast learned by the Vessel.
Be ready, O Blessed One, and join thy body unto them, as thou wilt join them unto the Vessel.

Charlie:
'This is just a bunch of religious gibberish word salad. What does this have to do with me-'
His eyes land on a symbol. drawn in red, at the top of one of the pieces torn from the bottom of a page, he stares at it.
His view of the paper blurs into red noise replaced by the faint silhouette of a knife with the symbol etched into its hilt.
Nora:
'Each came in a package addressed to the same name.'
She pauses, Charlie still staring.
Nora hesitates:
'Your old name.'
Nora:
'But they were all sent to other people's locations. All abnormals.'
He tosses the papers down and stands up.
Charlie:
'If that's all then I'm going home.'
Nora speaks up to stop him:
'Along with one of these!'
She pushes the box towards him.
He pauses and steps over and opens the package, six of his own disconnected finger parts sit inside.
Nora serious:
'Each abnormal was sent a package, addressed to you, each with a note and— finger piece. Charlie, some of these people only I should know the identity of.'
Charlie shuts the box and picks it up, putting it under his arm and leaving the office.
Nora upset:
'Where are you going?'
She gets up to follow him, Hyphae looking up and watching them.
Charlie:
'Home, I'm about to miss my favorite infomercial.'
Nora:
'Charlie my people are being targeted, you are being targeted. If you know something-'
Charlie flat:
'I don't know anything.'
He leaves the diner. Nora stands frustrated and concerned, she turns to Hyphae.
Nora:
'Watch over him.'
They nod and pull their paper back up to their face.
-
Charlie walks down the street, from the diner, a black 2004 Toyota Camry parked across the road. The gray cat from before lounges nearby, watching him pass.
Charlie's pocket beeps and he pulls out his phone, reading the text.

[Daniel]
Daniel: meet @ park when nora done w u

-
Evening
An isolated ball court within a large park.
Daniel dribbles a basketball, his head and shoulders are made of dense, contained, flames. He bounces the basketball around practicing and throwing it, making the shots easily.
Charlie walks up:
'Nora's gonna be pissed if she knows you're out in public unmasked.'
Daniel's flames extinguish showing a human face.Daniel has shaved warm brown hair, bright blue eyes, and warm medium dark skin, covered in tattoos from his neck and chest down both arms, wearing a gold cross necklace and sports tank and shorts.Daniel:
'Gotta stretch out once in a while.'
Charlie stops and stands off to the side, watching him.
Daniel:
*'I don't know how she and Basit manage it all the time. Especially Basit.' *
He throws another.
Charlie:
'Yea, Nora never unmasks. Basit does pretty often though, she was when I first met her.'
Daniel:
'She was probably still half masked.'
Charlie:
'No. There wasn't anything masked about that.'
Daniel looks over head tilted and smirking:
'Was she the size of a building?'
Charlie stares silent.
Daniel looks back to the hoop making a shot:
'Then she was still masked.'
Charlie sweats:
'Damn…'
-
Full night, Charlie and Daniel sitting on a bench, Charlie smoking and huddled up as if cold, Daniel still in his shorts and shirt unfazed while he pets a black cat sitting in his lap, a backpack sitting beside him on the ground. The cat has a scar on its back leg and a chip out of one ear.
Daniel:
'You alright, man?'
Charlie looks over raised brows:
'Yea?'
Daniel:
'You just seem… less chipper today.'
Charlie sighs:
'It's been a long day.'
Daniel:
'Talked with Nora?'
Charlie:
'Yea.'
Daniel looks at the package sitting on the bench beside Charlie.
Daniel:
'She told you about those weird ass letters'n shit?'
Charlie:
'You know about that too?'
Daniel:
'Yup.'
He leans over and pulls the backpack to open it.
Daniel:
'I got one too.'
Charlie looks over, concerned and nervous.
Daniel holds up the package to him.
Daniel:
'I haven't opened it. Figured I shouldn't if it's yours.'
Charlie takes it, brows furrowed. He stares at the name on it for a moment.
To: Chîn
Daniel:
'I didn't realise what it was until Nora asked me about them. I didn't tell her I received one. Don't need to worry her any more than she is.'
Charlie opens it, another note folded up, with another finger part.

7#
Bring forth the Vessel, hollow made full by our Lord—the Glory of God;
born of the Hallowed Man—the hollow body of God;
united in flesh of the Scion—the Divinity of God;
and thyself—wielding the Flesh of our Lord, of God, for together ye fulfill the Glory of His Will.
Wield His Flesh and bind the Wholly Trinity unto the body of our Lord,
and accept the gift of the Vassal's yoke.

Daniel looks over to Charlie, who looks deeply uncomfortable as he puts the contents in the first box.
Daniel:
'Do you know who's sending them?'
Charlie sharp:
'No.'
Daniel pauses for a moment.
Daniel:
'I worry about you. This shit isn't normal, even for us.'
Charlie stands up:
'I'm going home.'
Daniel, concerned, watches him leave.
Charlie:
'See you later, Daniel.'
Daniel:
'Yea… I'll pray for you, man.'
-
Charlie walks down the street, turning into a dive bar. He sits down at the counter.

Early morning
Charlie's woken by banging on his door. He groans and rolls over as the banging continues, sitting up in the bed. He fumbles to the door and swings it open.
Charlie:
'What?'
Basit:
'Get dressed, we're going out of town.'
Charlie:
'I'd really rather not.'
Basit:
'Nora's request.'
Charlie leans against the doorway and groans:
'Why do I have to be involved?'
Basit agitated:
'Get your ass dressed.'
Charlie pulls himself off the doorway and sighs dramatically.
-
The two walk out of the apartment building, Charlie tired but dressed in his usual mute colored tee, jeans and a lilac hoodie.
Basit:
'You drive?'
Charlie:
'No.'
Basit:
'Me neither. Bus it is then.'
-
The two on the bus, Charlie staring out the window, moody, as it leaves the city.
Basit looks over to him for a moment:
'Had breakfast yet?'
Charlie:
'No.'
Basit:
'We'll grab something when we arrive then.'
-
The two walk off the bus in the new town. Brick buildings, rustic downtown.
-
They walk into the diner and sit down.
The waitress walks up:
'Hello! What can I get you?'
Charlie:
'Coffee and pancakes. Please.'
The waitress:
'Got it.'
The waitress looks to Basit then glances away, focusing on her order pad, trying not to stare at her scar.
Waitress:
'And uh- what can I get you?'
Basit:
'Three of your mega burgers, rare, hold the ketchup, mustard and bun.'
The waitress nods and goes to write it down, pausing, confused.
Waitress:
'So… you want just three rare burger patties?'
Basit flat:
'Yes.'
The waitress gives a confused awkward nod:
'Alright then…'
She walks away and Charlie looks to Basit.
Charlie:
'I never considered you- we- might have different diets.'
He leans forward, speaking lower and looking off to the side contemplating to himself.
Charlie:
'I never considered I might not even need to eat.'
Basit:
'Every abnormal is different, that's kind of the point.'
Behind Charlie through the window is the parking lot, a few cars parked.
Charlie:
'Right. So— you eat meat then?'
Basit:
'Preferably raw but they won't serve it like that.'
Charlie:
'I don't think they legally can.'
Basit:
'And they never have enough of it.'
Charlie:
'How much do you eat?'
Basit leaning back, casual tone:
'Every once in a while I go out to the country and eat several cows.'
Charlie raises his brows:
'How do you-' he mutters 'Oh, right. Size of a building.'
The waitress walks over and sets the coffee in front of him then steps away again.
Charlie:
'Does Nora eat?'
Basit:
'Hm. Kind of? Not like us though. It's more- I don't know, spiritual? I don't get it.'
Charlie mixes lots of sugar and cream into the coffee:
'Weird.'
Basit:
'You're among abnormals, Charlie. 'Weird' doesn't exist.'
Charlie:
'Like I said, still getting used to it.'
Basit looks out the window in thought:
'I used to know an abnormal who ate storms.'
Charlie looks up, raised brows:
'Seriously?'
The waitress steps over with the plates of food, sitting them on the table. Both pausing their conversation.
Waitress:
'Let me know if there's anything else I can get you.'
Charlie:
'Thanks'
Both begin to eat, Charlie wolfing down the pancakes with a fork and Basit eating the patty with one hand. The waitress and the cook glancing over, subtly staring at them.
-

Both walking down the street of the town.
Charlie:
'Alright, so what are we here for?'
Basit:
'Nora wants us to fetch a friend of hers.'
Charlie:
'Great. So is this a friendly friend or a strong arm into coming with us friend?'
Basit chuckles:
'A friendly friend, to me and Nora anyway.'
Charlie half smile:
'Ah, so am I walking my ass head first into danger again?'
Basit:
'Probably not, but we should make it clear you're not a human.'
Charlie:
'Do they not like humans?'
Basit:
'He does for breakfast.'
-
Basit and Charlie walk into a run down apartment building.
Basit stops in front of a door and knocks.
They wait a moment.
Basit:
'You should still eat.'
Charlie:
'Hm?'
Basit:
It seems good for you and your mood. Even if you can stop eating, you should keep it up anyway.
The door in front of them then opens slightly, locked with a chain,
Conner irritated:
'What?'
Basit leans into his view:
'Nora sent us.'
Conner's expression softens with surprise:
'Basit?'
He peers at Charlie, expression hardening again.
Basit:
'He's not for lunch.'
Charlie leans in with an awkward wave:
'I'm not a human!'
Conner glares for a moment then shuts the door. After a click it opens and Basit and Charlie walk in.
The apartment is messy, full of books, newspapers, photos, tapes, stacked up on the floor and hanging from the walls and ceiling by and connected with a web of red strings. A mass of red webs in corners tangled with items and papers.The same type of thread hangs around Conner's neck, several on his wrists and some even used to patch his fine but ragged clothes. Conner is older, medium olive skin, receding hairline with combed back short gray hair with a paler streak that fans out at the back, a shorter downward Zapata style moustache, thin brows, and lean but average height; shorter than Basit but taller than Charlie. He speaks with a faint accent and has a simple but fine watch on his wrist.Charlie turns, looking around:
'I didn't know 'conspiracy theory board' could be a decoration style.'
He turns back with a startle, meeting face to face with Conner, who leans in peering at him with suspicion.
Conner:
'What are you then?'
Charlie steps back, to Basit's side, hands up:
'I'm an Abnormal!'
Basit cheeky grin:
'He's immortal and was human once, you could probably get a decent nibble out of him.'
Charlie:
'Basit!'
Basit chuckles.
Conner 'Tch's and steps away:
'Humans don't become abnormal…'
Basit:
'That's what I said.'
Conner interested:
'How did you change, then?'
Charlie uncomfortable:
'I doubt this is why we're here.'
Basit:
'True-'
She pulls a yellow envelope out of her jacket:
'Nora needs your help figuring out what's going on with these.'
Charlie watches him take it and pull the parchments out of the envelope, looking away with a grimace.
Conner shuffles through them, brows deeply furrowing
Basit:
'These letters have been-'
Conner lifts a hand, she pauses as he stares at them.
He looks up and walks forward, six large thin spider legs reaching out from his back, Charlie stares with surprise and backs out of his way as Conner lifts himself up. His face shifts, more spider like in appearance. Conner begins sifting through the red webs with his spider appendages making his way to the upper shelving of a tall web covered bookshelf. He picks up a small tin on the edge of the top shelf. He opens it, out of view, looking back to the papers in his hand from Basit.
Conner:
'Talk.'
Basit steps forward, arms crossed:
'Six abnormals have been sent a package with one of those letters, each one containing a piece of our friend here— a piece of his fingers.'
Charlie looking uncomfortable, turns away looking at objects in the room, spotting a shelf stuffed with folders, including a few odd baubles, statuettes, and a small framed photo of a child, around 7 years old.
Conner pauses and glances over his shoulder.
Conner:
'More.'
Basit:
'That's all we have. Nora included a list of most of the abnormals that have received packages— She's still waiting on a couple to give her permission to share their information.'
Conner:
'That's all? Does your friend not have more?'
Basit looks over to Charlie who's poking at a strange object on the shelf trying to ignore them.
Looking back to Conner, Basit:
'He says he doesn't know anything about it.'
Conner looks back to the tin in his hand, and closes it with a click.
Charlie looks back, Conner's face to face with him again, Charlie jumping back with a surprised 'eep'. Conner stares, uncomfortably close, Charlie leaning away.
Charlie meek:
'Can you please stop doing that…'
After a long awkward moment he pulls away, his face reforms to human, lips crook and the spider legs fold back out of view.
Conner:
'Alright. I'll get my things together.'
-

Noon
They walk out of the apartment, Conner carrying a large briefcase.
Conner:
'Did you drive here?'
Basit:
'We took the bus.'
Conner motions for them to follow and leads them to his car: 1987 Lincoln Town Car Delray
Charlie looks at it as the other two approach its doors. Face lighting up.
Charlie giddy:
'Hey, is this the Delray-'
Conner gives a quick dismissive glance:
'Get in.'
Charlie, dispirited, gets in the rear seat.
-
Conner driving:
'What was your name?'
Charlie:
'I go by Charlie.'
After a pause.
Charlie:
'I don't think I caught yours either.'
Conner:
'Conner Edwards. Abnormal investigator.'
Charlie:
'Cool— Does it pay well?'
Another long pause, Basit silently amused.
Conner:
'What makes you an abnormal, Charlie?'
Charlie confused:
'Uh…'
Basit:
'Immortal, and his body can separate and snap back together.'
Conner:
'Immortal as in indestructible or infinitely repairing?'
Charlie brows furrowing:
'Repairing.'
Conner:
'How was this state bestowed onto you?'
Charlie becomes more uncomfortable and looks out the window:
'I don't remember.'
Conner studies him from the mirror, eyes narrow with suspicion.
Charlies pulls out his phone and opens his and Daniel's text while Basit and Conner talk.
Conner mutters:
'Is he a friend of Nora's.'
Basit flat:
'Yes...'

[Daniel]
Charlie: Hey, ball later? :waves: :basketball: I promise I'll actually play this time. :crossedfingers:

Charlie looks back up staring at the passing buildings through his own reflection
-
They arrive at Nora's diner. Everyone gets out of the car, Charlie lagging behind to check his phone.
Delivered, Not seen.
They enter the diner.
Hyphae greets them one by one:
'Hello, Conner. Hello, Basit. Hello, Charlie.'
Basit:
'Hey, Hyphae.'
Charlie waves they pass.
Conner goes to the office, entering. Nora looks up and smiles widely, standing up.
Nora:
'Conner Edwards!'
Conner half smiles back:
'Salut, Nora.'
She gives him a hug turning her head as Conner kisses both of her cheeks. She pulls away and motions for him to sit.
She turns to Basit and Charlie:
'You two go on, I'll get Conner settled in.'
Charlie leaves first and Nora stops Basit.
Nora:
'Keep an eye on him will you? If he's being targeted we can't let our guard down.'
Basit nods and leaves the office.
Conner:
'Where shall I be staying?'
Nora friendly smile:
'My house, of course, I want to make sure you have space. I have a very roomy basement you can set up in for the duration of your stay.'
Conner:
'Are there bugs?'
Nora:
'A few. And you're welcome to that pesky little dog that keeps getting into my roses.'
Conner grins:
'C'est parfait.'
-

Charlie walking from the diner, looking at his phone again.
Basit catches up:
'Hey.'
Charlie looks over:
'Hey— something else I'm needed for or can I go home?'
Basit:
'No, I'm just going to walk you home.'
Charlie:
'Why?'
Basit flat:
'Because I said so.'
Charlie raises a brow and starts walking:
'Okay…'
The two walk down the street for a while.
Charlie:
'Nora and Conner seem close.'
Basit:
'Mhm.'
Charlie interest:
'Is there a thing there?'
Basit amused:
'Hah— no.'
They pass the park, the ball court empty, Charlie glancing out to it.
Basit:
'These packages—'
Charlie sighs, exacerbated.
Basit:
'I don't know what's going on but it's best we figure it out fast. If you know anything—'
Charlie annoyed:
'So Nora set you up to this?'
Basit cross:
'She asked me to keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe–'
Charlie:
'Of course she did.'
Basit:
'I'm the one asking you what you know about those creepy fucking packages. '
Charlie:
'I already told Nora, I don't know.'
They continue to walk in silence.
-
They reach the apartment building. Passing several cars parked along the street, a red ford, black toyota, white honda, ect.
Basit:
'I believe you don't know anything about what's going on-'
Charlie:
'Oh you do? Damn, guess that means I don't need to be strapped up to the polygraph for more interrogation— What a shame.'
Basit through her teeth, holding back her irritation:
'But maybe you know something relevant to it that you don't even realise is involved.'
Charlie:
'I don't.'
Basit:
'I'm just saying talk to Conner-'
They reach his door.
Charlie:
'Just drop it.'
Charlie forcefully swings open his door, bumping a unsealed package causing it to skid across the floor a short ways (towards ground view)
Both pause and stare at it. Charlie steps forward and kneels down, opening it, Basit following behind to peer in. Both stare in horror, an arm covered in tattoos sits inside with a letter and finger piece sitting under it.
Basit:
'Daniel–'
Charlie pushes past her and rushes down the hall, sprinting out of the building and down the street tears streaming down his panicked face.
Charlie's bare dirty feet running through the woods, static at the edge of his vision as Charlie passes the park and gets to a mobile home on a small lot by some other run down residential homes.
He bangs on the door shouting:
'Daniel!'
He tries to open the door but it's locked, he pauses confused and panicked trying to force it open. Basit catches up to him and pushes him to the side, grabbing the door handle and ripping it open with ease, knocking a small food bowl off the steps and breaking the lock. Charlie pushes past her and rushes in. Daniel's body lies in the middle of the floor, butchered and dismembered in the same pattern as Charlie's marks. His right arm missing, and in the place of the left one lies Charlie's left, fingerless arm.
Charlie falls to his knees, dazed, the red static consuming his vision.
Basits body deforming as her and her words fading:
'Who the fuck would do this? I'll— I'll kill them! I'll tear them apart-!'
Charlie falls to his side, in shock. Consumed by red.
-
From Charlies view his arm lies on an undone leather arm strap attached to concrete ground, covered in blood with a few parchments scattered around.Through the red static, the vague outline of a silver blade with the symbol, it shifts, shimmering and dripping blood.His pov looking down at his bare, dirty and bloodied, feet walking a dark hard, solid path by an uneven rocky wall.Everything fades away into black.
-

*Charlie's face, on his back laying on a couch, staring up at the ceiling in Nora's house.
He rolls over and sits up.
Basit, sitting nearby:
'Hey…'
His still dazed face looks down at the reattached arm.
Basit:
'It was at- I thought you would want it reattached.'
He looks down at his fingerless left hand, vision obscured by red static.
Charlie looks away, eyes closed tight then stands up, walking to the kitchen.
Nora and Conner sit at the dining table, the notes, pictures of the scene, and several photos of other victims lay in front of Connor on the table.
Conner:
'-Non, not mad. Or at least not chaotic, these attacks were precisely planned.'
Conner:
'She said there was an arm-?'
Nora:
'Hyphae has it, it's with the rest of his remains. But the other one is still missing.'
Conner:
'Like the others.'
Charlie walks in and begins looking through Nora's cupboards.
Nora looks up:
'What are you doing?'
Charlie:
'I don't gamble but if you're not the type of person to have a bottle of whisky stashed somewhere then I need to lose 20 bucks to someone.'
Nora:
… 'Most left cabinet.'
Charlie weak:
'Hah…'
He grabs it and a glass sitting at the table. His eyes catch the photos in front of Conner, the static returning. He quickly looks away and downs the whisky as Basit walks into the room.
Conner's hands to his mouth in thought, eyes staying on the files in front of him.
Conner:
'I would press him for more information.'
Basit frowns at him:
'I don't think now is a good time.'
Conner stern:
'Tss! Seven abnormals are dead, possibly more, time and sensibilities is not a luxury we have.'
Nora pondering:
'What could do this? kill so many of us so easily-'
Charlie downs another glass, places it down with a loud clink, and walks out of the kitchen.
Nora:
'Where are you going?'
Charlie:
'Home.'
Basit:
'I'll come with you-'
Charlie snaps back:
'I'm immortal remember?'
He turns and waves his hand dismissively:
'just—'
He walks out of the house.
-
Charlie enters his apartment, not turning on the lights he stands dazed for a moment. He pours another drink in his kitchen before sitting down in front of his tv. Tv lights up his zombied face, his eyes tearing up.

Late Noon
Nora walking down the street at a brisk pace, on her phone.

[Hyphaes & Conner]
Conner: Any news?
Nora: Nothing useful, all of the packages were labeled as from different fake names and addresses with no residents and they must have used post boxes away from any cameras.
Conner: Send the names and addresses to me anyway
Nora: will do
5#: No fingerprints.
Nora: At all?
5#: No.
4#: Victims occupation in order of our labeling:
Technician for a chemical manufacturing company
Truck driver for a business delivery company
Funeral planner at a local church
Advertising agent
Landscape contractor
Event planner
Conner: Give me the list of those companies.
Conner: And any Lab results?
2#: Recurring results include trace amounts of: Monopotassium phosphate, copper, metabasalt, and unakite.
Nora: Thank you Hyphae

She looks up and sighs, putting her phone in her pocket.
She steps into a convenience store to buy cigarettes. She notices Charlie in the store. He sets his basket down on the floor to use his right hand to grab the snacks and food, avoiding using his left arm, its hand tucked in his hoodie pocket. She pays and takes the smokes and walks over to him.
Nora:
'Hey, Charlie, what are you doing?'
Charlie turns to her:
'Oh, Hey. I'm grabbing groceries, this place has the brands I like.'
Nora concern:
'Are you— holding up okay?'
Charlie weak masked smile:
'I'm fine.'
Nora concerned:
'You are?'
Charlie:
*'Mhm.' *
He walks past her:
'See you later.'
Nora watches him walk away, worried.
-
Charlie enters his apartment and places the bags on the kitchen counter. He steps back towards the door to take his shoes off, staring down at his bare feet, static creeping up the edges of his vision as the floor shifts into a dark obscured pathway. He closes his eyes for a moment, rubbing them, and goes back to his kitchen and pours a drink, the last in the bottle. He turns on the tv, another infomercial playing, as he walks by and comes back to sit in front of it, package under his arm. He sets his drink down and opens the box containing his finger pieces. He stares at them for a moment before reaching up to grab and down the down the drink.
-
Charlie sitting on the floor, his knees up and slightly bent. He places the finger pieces together, one by one, onto his left hand. The hand half complete, thumb and pointer finger whole and tip of the middle finger missing.
He stares at it for a moment, flexing it making a fist with the half a hand's worth of fingers. He sighs and leans back going for his glass, now empty, he picks it up with his incomplete hand and stares at it.
-

Late evening
Charlie walks up to a bar and enters.Kate is slender but curved and pale, slightly taller than Charlie, short black shaggy wolf cut hair, bright green eyes, soft makeup with a focus on their eyes, and a subtle adams apple. They're wearing denim shorts, black heels, long sleeved pine green crop top sweater, and tights going up past their abdomen under their shirt.Kate sits at the bar on their phone:

[Ayden]
Ayden: dont mind her
she just a old asshole
Kate: An asshole I have to deal with– Unless you come pick me up so I can crash at your place.
Ayden: Im out of town
can u get a ride?
Kate: No, and I don't have a key.
Ayden: u no how to pick a lock?
Kate: You're funny.
Ayden: not something u read up on?
thats a first
few hours and i can pick u up
Kate: I'll just die of boredom until then, I suppose.
Ayden: im sure ull figure out a way to entertain urself

Charlie steps up to the counter and orders a drink. He keeps his incomplete hand in his pocket.
Kate sighs and rests their chin on their hand and glances around the bar. They spot Charlie and their brows lift with interest, staring for a moment. They stand up and walk over, sitting one seat away from where he stands.
Kate speaks up, getting his attention:
'Hey. Sorry, bet you get this all the time, but I really like your tattoos.'
Charlie moderate surprise:
'You do?'
Kate smiles:
'Yeah! They look really cool.'
Charlie mildly flustered grin: 'Thanks…'
Kate:
'Did the face part hurt? I can't imagine letting someone tattoo around my eyes!'
Charlie stares off with a grimace while they talk, he stirs back again, stammering to process what they said.
Charlie:
'Uh- I don't remember.'
Kate:
'Really?' humored grin: 'where you drunk while you did it?'
Charlie speaking into his cup before drinking:
*'Yup.' *
Kate:
'You know alcohol thins your blood, did you bleed?'
Faint static. Charlie pausing for a moment.
Charlie clears his throat and masks with a witty smirks and holds his right hand up for emphasis.
Charlie:
'Yea, all over the place. You should have seen the artist slip on his ass from the puddles.'
Kate chuckles:
'I'm surprised he didn't sue you.'
Charlie shrugs:
'I left a big tip— and a mop.'
He finishes his drink. Kate watching, amused.
Kate grins:
'Sit down and I'll get you another.' They say, finishing off their own drink.
Charlie glances with surprise that turns into a smile and he sits down beside Kate.
Kate motions for their glass and for the bartender to bring to more.
Kate turns their attention to Charlie.
Kate:
'Is it just your face-' They look to Charlie's hand on the counter. '- and hands? Or do you have more?'
Charlie:
'Pretty much all over.'
Kate, relaxed against the bar, cheek in hand:
'Cool.'
The bartender sets the drinks down.
Kate:
'So what brings you here? Plan on getting more tattoos?'
Charlie weak chuckle:
'I just needed to get out of my apartment for a bit.'
Kate:
'Domestic struggles?'
Charlie sighs dramatically:
'Yea, I couldn't take my liquor bottle's empty promises anymore. Between you and me I think it's been cheating on me with the fridge.'
Kate chuckles.
Charlie:
'And you? Here to avoid a domestic too or just needed some liquid confidence?'
Kate about to sip their drink:
'Hah, as if I need to be more insufferable. It makes for a good boredom killer, though.'
Charlie picking up his glass:
'Only killing boredom tonight?'
Kate:
'Maybe, and looking for someone cool to show up. Maybe I got lucky tonight?'
Charlie:
'Oh definitely, you should probably get a lottery ticket before it runs out.'
Kate snorts and watches Charlie finish his drink
Kate::
'You get the next round?'
Charlie:
'Ah- You may be lucky but my wallet is not.'
Kate chuckles and finishes their drink.
Charlie pauses, watching them.
Charlie:
'Besides who needs drinks when my immaculate humor and charm is already so intoxicating?'
Kate smirking:
'You got me there. Do you live around here?'
They lean in, putting a hand on Charlie's leg:
'We could get out of here and you can show me where else you're tattooed.'
Charlie pauses, finishes his drink and half smiles:
'Yea, I do.'
-

Kate follows behind, Charlie walking towards his apartment door. Charlie stops and with only his right hand gets out his keys fumbles trying to unlock the door.
Kate looks up from their phone, amused.
Kate:
'You look like that isn't your dominant hand.'
Charlie:
'It's not-' He lifts his other hand. 'But that one's missing some pieces.'
Kate's smile drops to mild embarrassment, Charlie returns the hand to his pocket.
Kate steps over, getting close to Charlie's side, putting one hand on his shoulder and the other over the keys.
Kate:
'Let me help you then.'
Faces close Charlie flustered as Kate pushes in front of him and unlocks the door. Charlie pushes up against them, pressing his nose against their hair on their neck. Kate leans into him and opens the door, Charlie pushing it open and following Kate inside. Kate turns around their lips lock, Charlie kicks the door closed and guides them towards the bed, stopping in front of it Kate slides their hands up Charlie's shirt and he pulls it and the jacket off, Kate eyes the marks around his torso and biceps as they sit on the edge of the bed. Kate pulls their shirt off and Charlie leans over them kissing around their neck as Kate kicks off their shoes, grabs something from their pocket and pulls off their hose and shorts. Kate pulls from Charlie to crawl further onto the bed, Charlie pushes off the rest of his clothes and crawls towards them. They kiss again, interrupted by Kate holding a condom in front of him. Charlie looks at it then takes it by his teeth. He sits up tearing it open. He puts it on as Kate sits up to push Charlie back, straddling him.
-
Late night
Kate pulling their shorts on.
Charlie lying in the bed, back of his head against the pillow, watching them, in view his night stand with the clock showing 1:47 am.
Kate goes to put their shirt on.
Charlie:
'You can stay a bit longer.'
Kate glances over their shoulder to him.
Charlie shy:
'If you want, I mean.'

Kate puts their shirt on:
'Thanks, but I don't have that kind of stamina.'
Kate slips on their shoes.
Charlie:
'Not like that.'
Kate looks over humored:
'So, you're into aftercare cuddling?'
Charlie bashful:
'Maybe— and incredibly touch starved.'
Kate looks away, pondering for a moment. They pull out their phone to send a text to Ayden:

[Ayden]
3 hours ago
Kate: [Map ping]
Ayden: lol have fun
Now
Kate: Don't bother with the ride.

Kate slips their shoes back off and walks back over to the bed, leaning down towards Charlie, held up by their hands.
Kate:
'If this is going to be a sleep over, I'll need to borrow something to sleep in.'
Charlie smiles:
'you can use whatever is in the top drawer.'
Kate steps away then returns in some of Charlie's pajamas, they get back into the bed beside Charlie and the two wrap their arms around each other.
-
Black turns red static, Charlie gasping, hyperventilating. Charlie fades into view, covering his face with his hands, but he is younger, hair short, body and hair covered in a thin layer of dried blood. He stands in pitch black on a concrete floor covered in loose pages. He lowers them, peeking over. He sees Daniel dismembered on the floor in front of him.
Charlie jerks awake with a terrified yelp, red static lingering around his vision. Charlie hunches over, hyperventilates, sweating. The red fades as his breathing slows. He looks down at his hands, shaking.
Kate sitting at the kitchen table, legs up in the other seat, still in the pajamas, phone in hand
Kate:
'You alright?'
Charlie looks over, still a bit dazed and catching his breath.
Charlie rubs his face and gets up:
'I'm fine.'
He walks over to the kitchen area.
Kate:
'Nightmare?'
Charlie pushes the unpacked groceries to the side
Charlie, flat:
'I don't remember.'
Kate's phone buzzes in their hand.

[Ayden]
Ayden: Had fun?
Kate: I did.
Ayden: oh good u didnt get murdered by a creep
Kate: As if.

Charlie:
'Do you want some coffee— or breakfast?'
Kate smirks:
'I don't usually have breakfast with a one night stand.'
Charlie half smile:
'I don't usually have one night stands.'
Kate pauses and smiles:
'Sure. To both.'
-
Kate bobs one of their crossed legs as they watch Charlie cook, pancakes bacon and eggs, coffee on the table beside them. Charlie using only his right hand to cook. Kate looks at his missing fingers on his left.
Kate:
'What's the story with your hand?'
Charlie moves his hand out of sight, shifting uncomfortably.
Kate:
'I didn't mean to pry-'
Charlie moving the cooked food to a plate with the spatula.
He places the plate in front of Kate, bacon and eggs and one pancake.
Charlie:
'Auto repair accident. Gotta be careful where you stick your hands.'
Kate flinches:
'Ouch.'
Charlie fills another plate with only pancakes and sits across from Kate as they eat.
Kate:
'You repair cars?'
Charlie:
'Not professionally.'
Kate smiling:
'Cool. I have an old car, it doesn't run though.'
Charlie:
'What's wrong with it?'
Kate:
'I don't know, the back blows black nasty smoke and it maybe starts but just shuts off again.'
Charlie:
'Probably transmission then.'
Kate shrugs.
Kate:
'What got you into cars?'
Charlie:
'I don't know. They look cool, and they're pretty predictable— when you know how they work.'
Kate:
'I don't get cars, but I get predictability.'
Charlie awkwardly:
'What about you? What do you do?'
Kate:
'Remote accounting.'
-
Charlie putting their dishes on the counter and turning on the ink to wash them. Kate pulling on their own clothes.
Kate:
'Thanks for breakfast.'
Kate spots the note pad on Charlie's end table.
Charlie glancing over nervously:
'Any time'
Kate writing something down on the notepad.
Charlie:
'I didn't catch your name.'
Kate stands, lower view obscures them, focus past them on Charlie.
Kate:
'Kate.'
Charlie: 'I'm Charlie.'
/Don't do it.../
Charlie focused on the dishes.
/Don't…/
Charlie:
'Maybe I could see you again sometime?'
/Damn it/
Charlie turns as Kate walks up to his side setting down the piece of paper.
Kate sly grin:
'I prefer text.'
Charlie, surprised, watches them leave, awkwardly speaking late, as they close the door.
Charlie awkwardly:
'Se— Bye…'
He pauses, embarrassed, then picks up the paper
[Kate They/Them ###-###-####]
Charlie grins, flustered.
Kate walking down the hallway of the apartment, hose draped across their forearm as they type on their phone.

Kate: He's actually kind of sweet.

Afternoon
Charlie sitting at his kitchen table, tv on the typical channel in the back. He stares down at his phone and the piece of paper Kate left, the number already entered for a new message.
Charlie:
/If I text now I may seem desperate or creepy, if I text later I'll seem uninterested./
He drops his face down onto the table and groans. He stands from the table picking up his phone.
Charlie:
/I just need to chill out./
-
Charlie walking down the street then into the convenience store. He stands in line, waiting. He spots some skittles and grabs them then steps up to the now open counter. He points for a pack of cigarettes and gives cash.
-
Charlie sitting on the steps outside his apartment, his phone in one hand the mostly smoked cigarette in the other (left). He stares at the screen with Kate's number and a message typed.

[ Hi, it's me charlie from last night| ]
[ Hi, it's me Charlie from this mornign | ]
[Hi| ]

Charlie looks up and sighs heavily, putting out the cigarette butt and leaning back to eat his candy.
Charlie:
/It's probably not a great idea to get involved with anyone anyway./
Charlies face tenses and he looks down at the bag.
Charlie:
'Damn it, I grabbed the sour ones...'
He groans in disappointment but keeps chewing.
After a moment of him sitting there chewing.
Charlie:
'Eh, not so bad.'
He stands, pulling up his phone and heads back inside the building as he types.

Charlie: Hey you! :wave: This is Charlie from earlier :smile:

Send.
He steps into his apartment and his phone starts ringing. Surprised and in flustered anticipation he answers it.
Charlie nervous:
'Hey you~'
Nora:
[... I don't know what tone that was but I never want to hear it from you again.]
Charlie deep disappointment:
'oh- Nora.'
Nora:
[Come to my place.] * Click*
Charlie looks down at the phone, the call end screen switching to his messages where Kate responded:

[Kate]
Kate: Well, hello. I have your number, you'll never be rid of me now.

Charlie grins.

Charlie: I'm fine with that :heart:

-
Nora and Conner alone in Nora's basement waiting for Charlie, a fresh evidence board, only containing a few photos and all seven pieces of scriptures and some documents listing the victims details.
View board #1
Off to the side is a hand full of red strings and his briefcase.
Nora:
'What do we have so far?'
Conner mutters:
'Trop peu.'
Conner:
'They're all humanoid, their homes and the killings were within a hundred miles of each other. The murderer meticulously took one arm from each, left and right equally. No sign of struggle, yet the killing blow was a blade stabbed straight through their cranium. Clean and precise— before they were charcutés !'
He pauses and eyes one of the pictures of the victims.
Conner frowns:
'And the cuts look familiar…'
He pulls back from the board:
'But the one suspect at the center of all this?'
He turns to Nora with an agitated sneer:
'Clamped shut like an obstinate clam. So all I can do here is work with fragments while our main lead pleads amnesia and plays coy.'
Nora:
'He's not a suspect.'
Conner:
'As far as you believe.'
Nora:
'I know him, Conner. He didn't do this, he's a victim in this too.'
Conner:
'Tss. That does not change the fact he's not cooperating.'
Nora:
'He says he doesn't remember anything that could help us.'
Conner cold and low tone:
'Quelle commodité.'
-
Charlie enters the house, looking around for Nora.
He walks by a doberman who lifts its head:
'Hello, Charlie.'
Charlie:
'Hey. Where's Nora?'
The doberman looks over towards the basement and Charlie follows the direction.
-
Nora:
'This isn't his fault, Conner. He's a good kid.'
Conner:
'Even good people are followed by dark pasts. No matter how far he's tangled up in this– He's involved, Yet he won't even lift a finger to help this case. Just don't think his name is clear just yet.'
Nora:
'...I'll talk to him.'
Charlie calls out:
'Nora?'
Nora from the basement:
'Down here, Charlie!'
Charlie steps to the basement's open door, looking down the stairs, lit, clean refined wood, static bleeds in.
Nora steps over to the stairs viewing Charlie who looks disturbed.
Charlie:
'I'll talk to you up here.'
Nora:
'Sure, I needed to speak to Hyphae anyway.'
She leaves Conner alone as he stares at the wall of evidence.
Both Charlie and Nora walk back to the foyer.
Charlie:
'Is there coffee?'
Nore:
'In the kitchen.'
Charlie goes for it and Nora stops by the doberman.
Nore: *'Anything?'v
Doberman Hyphae looks up:
'Hello, Nora. We have been watching all of the Abnormals we know of and on your list. One received a package of similar size and shape to the others a moment ago. No one else has been seen yet.'
Nora:
'What's the address?'
Hyphae:
'We will text it to you.'
Charlie walks over with his coffee.
Nora:
'Thanks Hyphae.'
Hyphae:
'Any tim-'
The doberman Hyphae winces and yelps in pain, a few mushroom growths subtly appearing around their head.
Charlie concerned:
'You alright Hyphae?'
Hyphae's face relaxes again, the growths sinking back into their body.
Hyphae:
'Yes, we are fine. One of us was killed. That is all.'
Charlie:
'Killed…?'
Nora:
'It wasn't the murderer was it?'
Hyphae:
'No. Our shape was a mouse, and that was a very large cat.'
Nora steps away with her phone out.
Charlie:
'Wait so, you feel all the others' pain?'
Hyphae:
'Of course.'
Charlie:
'How many of you are there? If one of you stubs a toe do the rest of you yell 'ouch!'?'
Hyphae:
'No, it's usually more like a memory at the back of the mind for small things like that. But death and terror reaches all of us directly.'
Charlie:
'But like— how do you process all that?'
Hyphae:
'We have many brains to process it all. Some brains can't handle as much as others, so we share the load as needed.'
Charlie:
'Huh. Sounds… kinda useful?'
Hyphae:
'We are.'
Nora steps back to them, coat on.
Nora:
'Charlie, mind coming with me?'
Charlie uncomfortable:
'To see if I've been mailed to someone else's house? Yea— no, thanks.'
Nora:
'Basit will be looking into that. Come on, I'll buy lunch.'
Charlie's interest peaks and he follows.
-
Nora driving, Charlie in the passenger seat eating some form of over stuffed breakfast wrap with his left hand, his phone in the other.

[Kate]
Kate: You say that now. I guess we'll see how long that lasts.
Charlie: Well how about we meet up again :wink: and you can try to prove me wrong :laugh:
Kate: Miss me already?
Kate: I'm free tomorrow. There's a museum a few blocks from where we met.
Charlie: I'm down :Thumbsup:
Kate: Cool.

Nora, mild disgust:
'How do you eat those things?'
Charlie:
'Hm?'
Nora:
'It's just grease, cheese, and potato.'
Charlie:
'You just named all the best parts.'
Nora:
'Ugh.'
Charlie getting excitable:
'Do you have any taste buds, woman?!'
Nora side eyes him:
'No.'
Charlie:
'Wow, no wonder you're like this.'
Nora gives a humored smile and Charlie finishes his food.
Charlie, mouth still half full:
'So what is it you're dragging me to?'
Nora:
'I have an appointment to assign a mask.'
Charlie:
'Oh, neat.'
He looks back down at his phone.

[Kate]
Kate: The museum at 10am, then.
Charlie: :tada: I'll be there!

Nora:
'I can still assign you one too, you know.'
Charlie looks up:
'Assign what-?'
Nora:
'A mask.'
Charlie:
'Why? I already look human.'
Nora:
'I know. I mean— if your marks or your hand bother you-'
Charlie looks away:
'It's fine.'
They sit in silence for a moment, Charlie looking out the window.
Nora:
'How's bills?'
Charlie frowns, not turning around:
'...Fine.'
Nora:
'Let me know if you need help, Charlie.'
Charlie mild shame:
'I'm fine, Nora. You've done enough for me.'
Nora glances at him:
'That's not how this works Charlie. We help each other wherever we can.'
Charlie pauses:
'Take up the load others can't?'
Nora:
'Exactly.'
Charlie:
'...'
Charlie:
'Thanks Nora-'
She glances to him.
Charlie:
'...for everything.'
Nora gives a warm smile.
Charlie sits back up:
'But there's more important things than me right now.'
Nora's smile drops.
-
Late noon
They reach a nice residential area, Nora parking in front of a small house with all the curtains closed. The two get out and head for the door and ring the bell. The door opens, no one in view, Nora and Charlie step in. Charlie looks with surprise to see a semi human looking being with three heads, necks long and flexible.
DRA:
'Ello!' 'Sup.' '...'
Nora:
'Dra, I presume?'
R:
'D. R. A.'
D:
'I'm D!'
Nora:
'My mistake. Your— a unique one.'
D:
'Thank you!'
R:
'Duh.'
Nora:
'I have to admit, I'm not sure how your situation will affect the mask. My best guess is only one of you will be able to talk at a time.'
R:
'We'll manage.'
D:
'Oh this is exciting, I wonder what we will look like!'
Nora:
'Well, normally I could let you decide but— I imagine making a decision may take a while.'
R:
'Just get on with it.'
Nora pulls up her sleeves stepping up to them, Charlie leaning against the wall as he watches. Her body changes to a ghostly white plasma and she places her hands on them. The white spreads up from her hands and covers their body.
D:
'Oh, that tickles!'
It covers them entirely and their shape starts to warp and shrink, taking the form of a human silhouette. She breaks away, only wrists as if her hands are what became the mask. Her hands reform and both figures of light fade onto their human appearance.
DRA looks around and blinks, one eye before the other. Nora watches them with concern.
The human DRA speaks, seemingly switching between the three personalities.
R:
'This is w-'
D:
'So cool!'
R:
'Don't interrupt me!'
Nora, amused smile:
'It may take you time to get used to it, and to learn how to not fight over your words. '
A:
'This is going to end horribly'
D:
'No it isn't! How much do we owe you?'
R:
'D, we already paid her.'
D:
'Oh right.'
Nora:
'Let me know if you have any issues, with the mask or the humans. I can call in some favors when I need to, but I suggest due to your unique situation, you still try to limit contact and keep a low profile.'
DRA:
'Thank you, Nora.'
Nora smiles and her and Charlie go to leave
Nora:
'Oh and one more thing, If you happen to receive a strange package not addressed to you, please dont open it, and inform me immediately.'
Charlie uncomfortable, looking away as she mentions it.
D:
'Alright I will!'
A:
'Addressed to Chin?'
Nora and Charlie fearful surprise.
Nora:
'Yes! Do you have one?'
R:
'No, but Bismuth on Cherry Rd does-'
Nora:
'Where? We need to get to them!'
-

The car drives up to another house, parking haphazardly in the driveway. Nora rushes out, not closing the door behind her, DRA tentatively follows her, shutting the door. Charlie lags behind. He slowly gets out of the car. He nears the door, hearing Nora shout 'Fuck!' in the distance.
He enters the house, DRA covers their mouth and stares as Nora pulls out her phone to call Conner. The cream colored walls shift to the fake wood paneling of Daniels trailer. Charlie stares at the body, only seeing Daniel, the static obscuring his vision as he stares, blank and disassociated.
Nora:
'Conner, we found another-'
Charlie spots the package out of the corner of his eyes, sitting open on a decorative table. Dazed, Charlie steps over to it, reaching his hand in. He lifts his hand back out, the finger piece having snaping back on to him.
-
Early evening
The front of the house, door closed, both Nora and Conner's cars in the yard. Charlie standing outside of the house, alone, smoking, the finger piece attached to his hand. He stares down at his feet. In his static edged view, his feet are bare, dirty-
Nora steps out of the house, looking tired. She looks at Charlie.
Nora:
'Come on, let's go. Conner will handle it from here.'
Charlie follows her to the car.
They ride silently, Charlie staring out of the window with a blank, tired, expression.
Nora parks at the diner, Charlie gets out.
Basit standing outside of the dinner waiting for them.
Nora to Basit:
'Did you find anything?'
Basit:
'Yea— Well, no. I mean I found the abnormal and the package but it wasn't one we're looking for. Just some product they ordered online.'
Nore:
'I wish that was more of a relief.'
Basit:
'Did something happen?'
Nora grim:
'We found another one.'
She turns to Charlie who's walking away.
Nora:
'Want to come in for some coffee?'
Charlie doesn't answer, just continues walking.
Nora:
'Charlie?'
Both watch him leave with concern.
-
Charlie walks down the street, staring down at his feet. The world warps with the red static, his feet, bare and bloodied, walking down the damp dirted concrete path. Close view, he reaches up his right arm to his sweaty face, leaving behind a thin layer of caked blood as he wipes the sweat off. He then places his hand on the tunnel wall. He is younger, hair shorter, and body bare, covered in a light layer of dried dirt and blood. He bumps into someone on the street.
the stranger agitated:
'Watch where the fuck you're going!'
Charlie, present, reels back surprised and confused.
Anwir steps out of the flower shop, looking to Charlie with concern and stepping up to him.
Anwir:
'Are you alright?'
Charlie looks at him, the static warping his view of the man into a reflective visor.
Charlie looks scared and flees.
View from beside a dark car in an ally, Charlie running, past down the street.
The red static persists, as he runs he starts to pass a few trees, tall forest trees that grow in number.
He enters his apartment, static obscuring most of his vision as he stares down at Daniel's severed arm in the box in front of him. The static fades, and the arm and box fades with it. He drops to his knees, and starts sobbing.
Charlie:
'He's dead… He's dead!'
He repeats this several times, hyperventilating and sobbing.
He falls onto his side on Daniels floor, his hair now short, damp, and bloody.
His words trail and warp'I'm dead'The world around him goes dark, he lays fetal, younger, body bare say for shorts and caked in a thin layer of blood and mud.
He continues to repeat
'I'm dead.'
The words slowly warping again as he fades into the static.
'I'm dead… I'm dead…'
'I'm…''I'm dying'

Charlie still on the floor of his apartment, out cold.
Kate sitting at the museum entrance, waiting. They look down at their phone [10:30am]
They open their text with charlie.

[Charlie]
40 minutes ago
Kate: I'm here.
30 minutes ago
Kate: Slept in, did you?
1 minute ago
Kate: Cool…

Kate opens Ayden's texts

[Ayden]
Kate: Well, it seems I've been stood up.
Ayden: maybe somethins up
try calling?

Kate sighs, annoyed. They call.Charlie's phone rings, he's still on the floor, unresponsive.
The call goes to voicemail. Kate hangs up, sighs again with a disappointed frown and stands, walking off as they type.

[Ayden]
Kate: No answer. I'm heading home.
Ayden: sorry kate
Kate: Of course, the 'nice guy' ghosts me.
Ayden: want to come over?
Kate: Yeah.
Ayden: omw

-
Charlie's beside alarm goes off [11am]. He stirs, pulling himself up, dazed, he crawls over and turns it off. He crawls onto his bed, view his window in his background, a crow sitting outside of it looking in.
He curls into a ball again and everything goes black.
-
His morning alarm goes off again [11am], waking him with a jolt. He sits up and looks over, then turns it off seemingly confused. He rubs his face and sighs. He stands up wobbly and goes for his sink, struggling to wash his face, leaned over propping himself up on the sink by his arms. His stomach growls. He finds a pre-packaged convenience store sandwich in his fridge. He sits at his table seemingly still half dazed and struggling to eat more than half of it. He rubs his tired eyes. His phone buzzes in his pocket. He pulls it out and looks at the notification list
Nora Messages (2)
Kate messages (3)
Kate Missed Call
Nora Missed Call
He opens Kate's messages first realising he missed the date. He looks to the clock [11:07]
Charlie:
'Damn it!'
He calls Kate
Kate's phone rings on a bedside table, Ayden sleeping in the bed, shirtless broad and slightly scarred up back and toned arms. His hair is a deep ginger red, straight and messy at the top with a tapered shave at the bottom, his ears pierced up to the helix.
Kate steps over to pick it up and answers it, holding it with their shoulder as they continue stirring the coffee in their cup.
Kate:
'Hello?'
Charlie nervous:
'Kate! Hey I'm so sorry I'm late, are you at the museum? I can still meet-?'
Kate pissed:
'Are you high?!'
Ayden wakes, looking up at Kate, his eyes a light brown nearly gold and his brow pierced.
Charlie:
'What? No I-'
* click * Kate hangs up.
Charlie confused goes to their messages, he starts to type out

[Im sorry I'm just a little| ]

He spots where Kates messages say 'yesterday'
Charlie dread:
/I lost a day?/
Confused he sets down his phone and rubs his face.
Kate tosses their phone onto the bed, Ayden sits up.
Ayden:
'You alright?'
Kate snaps:
'I'm fine.'
They put the mug on the bed side table with a heavy thud and sit on the bed, arms crossed in a huff.
Charlie picks his phone back up and starts to type.
Ayden chuckles.
Kate:
'What are you laughing at?'
Ayden:
'You usually don't get upset over being rejected.'
Kate annoyed:
'I wasn't rejected.'
Ayden:
'I'm just saying, it's cute to see you actually interested in someone, sorry it didn't go well.'
Kate:
'Yeah, well— that's what I get.'
Kates phone buzzes, the screen showing the notification
[Charlie Message 1]
Kate looks away from it.
Ayden, sly smile:
'Gonna check that?'
Kate:
'Why should I?'
Ayden takes the phone and gets up, wearing only a pair of silk boxer briefs, he steps around the bed to Kate holding it out in front of them. They look up at him as he speaks.
Ayden:
'Because either it's bullshit and you can get a kick out of it, or it's a valid excuse and you'll forgive him.'
Kate glares at him and takes the phone, Ayden grabbing some black cargo pants from a chair in the corner of the room and walking out. Kate looks at the phone.

[Charlie]
Charlie: Kate I'm really sorry, I swear I'm not high or anything I just lost track of time. Im just really stressed out I guess.
Charlie: Can I still take you to the museum today? :pleading:
Kate: While they're closed on a Sunday?
Charlie: Then let me take you somewhere else, anywhere. Your choice.

Kate sets their phone down with a sigh.
Charlie stares down at his phone, waiting for a response.

[Kate]
Kate: You'd better have a good excuse for standing me up. I'll be there in half an hour.

Charlie jumps up:
'yes!'
And rushes to get ready.
Kate walks into the dining room of Ayden's house, Ayden making himself coffee.
Kate still upset:
'Can you give me a ride?'
Ayden grins:
'Valid excuse?'
Kate pulling on their coat:
'That remains to be seen.'
-
Charlie sitting on his bed pulling on his shoes, toothbrush sticking out of his mouth. He stands up, pushing his arms through his hoodie and heads for the bathroom. He spits in the sink then looks uncomfortable before tugging on his shirt collar seeing the tag at the front.
Charlie:
'Damn it.'
He pulls off his shirt and coat.Ayden with Kate in red compact pickup truck, pulls up in front of Charlie's apartment building.
Ayden smiles:
'Have fun.'
Kate, still annoyed, side eyes him and grabs their mini backpack.
Kate:
'He's lucky he's cute.'
Ayden chuckles.
-
Kate at Charlie's door, they knock.
Charlie rushes to open, nervously greeting him-
Charlie:
'H-hey you!'
He smiles awkwardly.
Kate stern:
'Ready?'
Charlie's smile half drops:
*'Yea.' *
He steps out shutting the door behind him, Kate already walking, arms crossed.
-
The two of them walking down the street, overcast. A crow flies by, above them.
Kate:
*'So-' *
Charlie looks over to them, Kate eyeing him.
Kate:
*'What's the excuse?'
Charlie looks away:
'Uh, I don't really know how to explain it. It's— been a pretty fucked up couple of weeks. I guess it all just got to me and I slept away a day— apparently.'
Kate listens but stays silent.
Charlie nervous:
'So— Where do you want to go?'
Kate sighs: 'I don't know, I'm sure we'll find something. If nothing else there's a nice cafe a few miles away.'
Charlie smiles:
'Sounds good.'
They walk by the flower shop- Anwir setting some flower bundles outside, Charlie glances back at the flowers, Anwir spots Charlie and waves with a warm smile.
-
They walk past the park with the ball court. Kate looks over and grins, they turn to Charlie.
Kate:
'Come on.'
Charlie, weak, masking wit:
'Did you know you have a very high chance of getting struck by lightning in parks?'
Kate raises a brow.
Charlie:
'Yea I guess Thor really hates public spaces. So— maybe lets skip parks today?'
Kate with a sly grin:
'You said anything I want.'
Charlie hesitates and follows, demeanor turning cold and closed off.
Kate:
'There's a park in the north end of the city that decorates for Christmas every year. It's really beautiful.'
Charlie: …
Kate leads him to the ball court, Charlies face showing dread. Kate picks up an abandoned basketball by a bench. They walk up to Charlie with a smile.
Kate:
'Ever play ball?'
Charlie flat:
'No.'
Kate grins and tosses the ball to him:
'It's never to late to learn'
It hits Charlie's chest and bounces off, slipping past his fingers, his reaction too slow to catch it.
Charlies voice cracks:
'Can we leave now?'
Kate, both confused and agitated:
'Fine.'
They walk away from the ball court and out of the park.
Kate crosses their arms, agitated: 'Cafe then?'
Charlie doesn't respond, staring down at his feet, slightly paler.
Kate glances at him then looks away, annoyed.
-
They reach the cafe, the crow perched in a tree in front of the building.
Kate walks in and Charlie follows behind them. Charlie opens the door entering Daniels trailer. He stares at Daniel's body beginning to panic and hyperventilate. He drops to the floor.
Kate looks back seeing Charlie, They rush over to them.
Kate:
'Charlie? Are you alright?'
Charlie starts shaking and whimpering.
Kate:
'What's wrong?'
Charlie pukes and drops, everything going dark.
-

Charlie wakes up in a hospital, Kate sitting in a chair at the corner of the room on their phone. He reaches a hand up to rub his face, Kate notices him move and gets up to step over to his bed.
Kate soft and concerned:
'Hey… You alright?'
Charlie rolls over to look at them.
Charlie:
'Oh yea. Never better.'
Kate, weak smile:
'Well if this is your best, I can't imagine what your worst would be.'
Charlie chuckles then pauses, looking up.
Charlie:
'Why am I in a hospital?'
Kate:
'You kinda started freaking out and went unconscious.'
Charlie:
'Sorry.'
Kate:
'They said you probably had a panic attack. They gave you some medication to help.'
Charlie sits up:
'I want to go home.'
Kate:
'I'll get someone.'
-
Kate in the waiting room.
Charlie still in the hospital bed getting ready to leave, the nurse with him unhooking his IV.
Nurse:
'Do you mind answering some questions before you leave?'
Charlie hesitant:
'I guess?'
Charlie pulls his jacket on as she talks.
Nurse:
'Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following-'
'Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge?'
Charlie:
'Uh- sometimes…'
Nurse:
'Would you say 'several days', 'Over half the days', or 'Nearly every day'?'
Charlie meekly:
'Nearly every day…'
Nurse:
'Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.?'
Charlie:
'...Nearly every day.'
Nurse:
'Poor appetite or overeating?'
Charlie pauses, low and ashamed:
'Uhm… Nearly every day.'
Nurse:
'Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen?'
Charlie hesitant and low:
'Every day...'
Nurse:
'Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way?'
Charlie:
'...'
-
Evening
Charlie checking out. The nurse hands him a few papers and an extra smaller piece of paper.
Nurse:
'Here's your bill, visit summary, and your prescription. You can fill it at your local pharmacy.'
Charlie looks down at it then hands the prescription paper back and walks off, the nurse holding it, confused.
They leave the hospital.
Kate:
'Why didn't you take the prescription?'
Charlie:
'I can't afford meds that don't even work.'
-
The two walking down the street,
Kate:
'Are you alright?'
Charlie:
'I'll be fine. Sorry that just— happens sometimes.'
They walk in silence for a moment.
Kate:
'Passing out?'
Charlie:
'No, I just kind of…'
Kate listening.
Charlie:
'Feel like I'm somewhere else, sometimes— I guess.'Kate:
'Is one of those episodes why you missed our date?'
Charlie eyes staying down:
'Yea.'
-
They reach his apartment and go inside. Charlie sits on his bed, only turning on his bedside light and pulling his shoes off, looking exhausted.
Kate:
'You alright? Do you need— anything?'
Charlie:
'I'll be fine. Thanks.'
Kate nods and goes back for the door, Charlie laying back on his bed with a shaky sigh. Kate looks back, shutting the door again and walking over to Charlie on the bed, sitting beside him and looking down at him.
Charlie looks up at them:
'I'm fine, you can go home.'
Kate:
'Do you want to be alone, or would you rather I stay?'
Charlies brows furrow and he looks away, a moment of silence.
Charlie:
'I—'
He gives a weak masking grin:
'I would never say no to your company.'
Kate gives a soft smile and stands up, walking over to Charlie's dresser and grabbing pajamas.
Kate walks back over in Charlie's clothes, crawling into the bed beside him, face to face.
Charlie looks at them with a weak smile.
Charlie:
'Sorry I keep fucking up our dates.'
Kate smiles:
'I suppose you're just going to have to keep making it up to me.'
Charlie smiles and closes his eyes.
-
late Night
Kate sitting up in the bed, Charlie's head and arm in their lap as they chat on their phone.

[Ayden]
Ayden: checking in
Kate: We had to stop at the hospital.
Ayden: what r u ok?
Kate: It was for Charlie. He had a panic attack.
Ayden: O. shit

Kate pauses and looks down at Charlie, restlessly sleeping, face occasionally twisting into fear or pain.

[Ayden]
Kate: I think he might have PTSD.
Ayden: O. damn
u do like them kinda fucked up huh
Kate: Fuck you.
Ayden: <3
Ayden: valid excuse?
Kate: Valid excuse.

-
Charlie, sleeping restlessly, wakes up with a sharp gasp. His breath calms and he sits up, seeing Kate sitting by him on the bed with their phone. Kate looks down and smiles.
Kate:
'Morning.'
Charlie, weak smile:
'Morning.'
-
Kate sitting at Charlie's table with a coffee. Kate watches him make his own cup.
Kate:
'So-'
Charlie looks over curious.
Kate:
'-your panic attacks, do they happen often?'
Charlie tenses and looks away again.
Kate:
'You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.'
Charlie sighs:
'No, not usually, but they have been happening a lot more lately.'
Charlie:
'Sorry for being an ass at the park yesterday. I just-'
Kate listens and Charlie pauses.
Charlie's voice cracks:
'I guess it just— uh— .'
Charlie's left hand by the cups handle shakes.
Kate:
'Brings up some bad memories?'
Charlie:
'Yea...'
Kate stands up and hugs him from behind:
'It's alright. Thank you for telling me though. I did think you were being an ass.'
-
Kate back at the table, two coffee cups, Charlie finishing fixing breakfast.
Charlie sits across from Kate, placing the two plates on either side. Once again, several pancakes on Charlie's, and one with some eggs on Kate's.
Kate looks from the food to him and smiles:
'Keep this up, I'm going to think we're dating.'
Charlie:
'Are we- not?'
Kate:
'That is the question. You seem interested, but do you know what you want from me?'
Charlie confused:
'What do you mean?'
Kate:
'Do you want something casual, a fuck buddy, marriage? I prefer to know what's expected of me.'
Charlie thinks for a while:
'I'm not sure.'
Silence for a moment
Charlie:
'I like you, I guess I want- some form of intimate connection. Emotionally and physically. But I've been avoiding that for a while so I'm probably really bad at it.'
He finishes speaking with a nervous chuckle.
Charlie watches Kate expectantly but they don't respond, looking away pondering.
Charlie looks down to his food nervous.Kate:
'I like you, Charlie– so far. So if we're going to continue then I need to set out some boundaries.'
Charlie looks up, full attention.
Kate strict:
'I don't do marriage, and I don't do monogamy. I have a boyfriend, he's protective but not the jealous type– I don't do jealous types. I'm not his, and I'm not yours.'
Kate's tone softens to a coy grin:
'But if I like you, and you like me, then we can spend plenty of time together.'
Charlie smiles back:
'That's all fine with me.'
Kate:
'Good, just say something if that changes.'
They go back to eating
Kate:
'Oh- One more thing.'
Charlie looks up again.
Kate:
'If we continue to be intimate I prefer we share our– 'medical history'.'
Charlie pauses:
'Oh, like STI— stuff?'
Kate nods.
Charlie:
'Sure-' He looks down concerned: 'Uhm-'
Kate:
'If cost is an issue I know a reproductive health clinic that has a sliding fee.'
Charlie relieved:
'Great, send me their info.'
-
Kate goes to leave, they stop and turn back to Charlie pecking him on the lips.
Kate:
'See you later.'
Kate smiles and leaves. Charlie turns away with a giddy expression.
-
Charlie tidies up his apartment, coming across the hospital bill on his coffee table. He stares at it for a moment before picking up his phone and opening his and Nora's texts

[Nora]
2 Days ago
Nora: Are you ok?
Yesterday
Nora: Please call soon

Charlie types out

[Charlie: I'm fine. I had to go to the hospital
and idk if i can pay| ]

He pauses, then back spaces and sends:

[Charlie: I'm fine.]

Charlie steps to the kitchenette, tosses the bill onto the counter and grabs a drink.

Morning
Nora at her dining table going through papers, a landline phone nearby, having been set on the counter.
She looks tired, a coffee cup and a small coffee liquor bottle nearby.
Conner enters the house, walking through the foyer, past the dining and kitchen area. Nora looks to him and leans back to speak-
Conner:
'I'll be in the basement, don't disturb me.'
She closes her mouth again and turns to the papers, rubbing her eyelids.
-
The basement has more webs scattered around, the original webs by the suit case is now thicker and holds several objects including the breif case.
Conner pulls up a chair and turns it backwards, sitting in it and staring at the board, He reaches his arms down, a few appendages reach down, one by one they puncture his wrists, the first one only coated in red, the second two carrying a red string from either wrist. They reach up towards the board to make a few connections and write a few notes. They then return to him and fold up again, the remaning strands losing form and dropping onto the floor as a liquid.
He leans forward, elbows on the back of the chair, hands in front of his mouth as he ponders.
View board #2
His brows furrow in frustration.
Nora steps into the basement.
Nora:
'I know you said not to disturb you— but I know you well enough to also know that just means do disturb you after you've had time to stump yourself.'
Conner grumbles.
She stands beside him, handing him a cup of tea:
'And need someone to talk it out to.'
Conner leans back, taking the cup:
'I think this is some sort of ritual.'
Nora:
'For what?'
Conner:
'I don't know. Normally I would believe it to simply be something for the killer to follow along to. To bring stability to their actions. Mais… Charlie's part in this gives me pause.'
Nora:
'How does this help?'
Conner:
'All pieces of information form a greater picture, but where all the pieces fit, I'm not sure yet.'
Conner frustrated:
'Bordel, I feel like I'm overlooking something.'
Nora:
'You're just being too hard on yourself.'
Conner:
'With these stakes there's no such thing as too hard.'
Nora:
'I disagree, push yourself too hard and you're no use to anyone. Take care of yourself, Conner.'
Conner grumbles and looks at the notes on Charlie.
Conner:
'Do you have anything else on the kid?'
Nora:
'Charlie? No.'
Conner:
'He's still not talking?'
Nora ...
Conner:
'How did you meet him? I've seen the Charlie now, you've shown me bits of the Charlie before. But you haven't told me about the in between, when you first met him.'
Nora:
'I don't see how it would help.'
Conner:
'Greater picture.'
Nora sighs:
'Fine. Well first of all, the amnesia thing is true. He was found on the side of the road up in Blue Ridge. No ID, no personal items, nothing. I have a contact in their police force, he called me when they couldn't find any trace of his family or identity.'
Conner:
'And you adopted him like a stray puppy?'
Nora:
'He had no idea who or where he was, it was pretty easy to figure out he was abnormal. Giving shelter, safety, and community to abnormals is what I do, Conner.'
Conner:
'And you dote over everyone like this? Tu parles.'
Nora:
'I want to protect him, Conner, from himself and whatever is going on. He's a good kid, he deserves to be happy.'
Conner leans forward onto the chairs back:
'So you don't know what he could have been up to before? And you're only just now keeping an eye on him with Hyphae?'
Nora:
'He's been through a lot, I've tried to give him space.'
Conner looks back to the board, staring at it.
Conner:
'So you don't exactly know how involved he is in this?'
Conner peers at the part from note #1:
—Blessed shall be made more—a Scion of our God.
Nora frowns:
'I know him well enough to know he wouldn't—'
Her phone rings and she picks it up and steps a few feet away, Conner standing up and stepping over to the board.
Nora:
'Hello? … Yes, it will, thank you!'
Nora hangs up and steps over to Conner: 'We may have a lead!'
Conner perks up.
Nora:
'Might. One of my contacts says they had overheard someone talking about anonymous package drop offs for pay. They described packages out of the norm that fit the description. They're dropping off the details of the person at the diner.'
Conner nods:
'Get Basit on it.'
Nora turns away, finding Basit in her contacts. A notification for a text from Charlie pops up and she goes to it to see his 'im fine' message.
There's also unread messages from Hyphae #1
She opens it, her brows furrow in worry and she goes back to the contacts, calling Basit, as it rings she walks briskly out of the basement.
Nora calls out to Conner on her way out:
'I'm going out.'
-

The city streets, cool toned, foggy and raining, very early morning.
Nora driving Charlie, younger, hair shorter and damp, dirty and ragged clothes, leaned over looking nauseated.
Nora:
'I can pull over if you think you're going to be sick.'
Charlie grumples with a dry urk.
With a sway he lifts his head:
'Where'm I goin?'
Nora:
'My house, so you can sober up and dry off.'
He drops his head back again slurring his words.
Charlie:
'I don'wonna go- urk- there.'
Nora deep concern:
'I know you don't trust me but you can't just live on the streets as a drunk.'
Charlie:
'stop the— car.'
Nora parks:
'If you need water I-'
Charlie gets out of the car and stumbles away from it.
Nora:
'Hey! Where are you going?'
She jumps out of the car and goes to chase him:
'Wait, just let me help you-'
Charlie turns to shout at her, his face more fear than anger:
'I don't know you!'
Nora stares, hurt.

Nora walks down the street in the present with the same expression on her face, holding a Styrofoam to-go box.
-
A knock on Charlie's door.
He opens it to see Nora.
Charlie mild surprise:
'Nora? Hey-'
Nora:
'Hello, Charlie, can I come in?'
Charlie steps aside:
'Uh- sure?'
She holds up the to-go box:
'I brought you some pancakes from that other diner that's definitely not as good as mine.'
Charlie shuts the door behind her and half smiles:
'Right, your diner is much healthier, not nearly enough butter, sugar and cheese in anything.'
She smiles:
'Exactly.'
Charlie looks at it, unsure:
'You didn't have to.'
She holds up the box to him, making him take it.
Charlie:
'Really, Nora- You've done more than enough for me.'
Nora:
'I know. But I wanted to check in anyway and make sure you were— okay.'
Charlie steps over to the counter and sets the box down:
'Yea. I'm fine.'
Nora doubtful:
'Are you sure?'
Charlie weak smile while he fixes coffee:
'Yea. You know me, ball of indestructible sunshine.'
Nora:
'I mean- I haven't seen you for a few days. With everything going on-'
Charlie half smirk:
'Did everyone else run out of problems for you to solve?'
Nora mildly frustrated:
'I would hope by now you could trust me enough to tell me if somethings wrong. I know you're always trying to pretend your fine-'
Charlie turns away, tight lipped.
Nora getting passionate:
'-but a lot has happened lately and I would just rather you let me know so I can help you before you end up in the hospital again.'
She tightens her lip, Charlie's back to her, his head turning slightly to the side.He puts down his mug with a thunk and turns to view her:
'How long has Hyphae been watching me?'
Nora shifts uncomfortable:
'Hyphae has eyes everywhere-'
Charlie annoyed:
'How long have you had Hyphae watch me?'
Nora hesitates and speaks low:
'Since I told you about the packages.'
Charlie turns away with an annoyed sigh.
Nora takes a step forward:
'I'm sorry. I just needed to make sure you are safe. Especially now.'
Charlie's face turns from annoyed to tired:
'I get it…'
He turns half smile:
'But shouldn't you be focusing on someone else?'
Nora grim:
'Nothing is ever so certain with us.'
Nora:
'We can't take any chances Charlie. We have to solve this case fast, so no one else gets hurt, including you.'
Charlie looks away.
She takes him by the shoulders:
'Hey, it'll be alright-'
Charlie shifts uncomfortably, Nora dropping her hands from him.
Charlie:
'Really? I think this is the one time it won't just be alright, even if you catch whoever it is, he's already—'
Nora:
'I know. But- I mean you'll be alright. You've been through worse, I know you have— I mean, you've never told me what but-'
Charlie frowns:
'I don't remember.'
Nora, an air of disappointment: 'Right.'
Charlie steps away from the counter:
'Thanks for checking in Nora…'
Nora's lip tightens as he walks over to his couch, the tv on, her eyes catch the hospital bill on the counter. She looks to Charlie who sits down, she reaches over and silently takes it, folding it and pocketing it before heading to the door.
Nora:
'Please call me if you need anything.'
Charlie gives a wave, not looking over.
-
Charlie, alone in his apartment, laying on the couch, rubbing his left middle finger with his right hand. The news comes onto the TV and he quickly picks up the remote and turns it off. He pulls out his phone and goes to his and Kate's texts.

[Kate]
2 hours ago
Kate: vrpleauge.com/appointments
1 hour ago
Charlie: Thanks, made an appointment :thumbsup:
Charlie: I really enjoyed my time with you :purpleheart: sorry about the other parts :grinsweat:

He gets up and steps over to his counter to pour a shot.
-
Charlie steps outside of his apartment building, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pack of cigarettes and opens it, seeing it empty. He sighs and tosses the box into a nearby garbage can and walks down the street towards the store.
-
Basit walks down the street, passing the store as Charlie steps out with his new pack and a small bottle of alcohol, pulling out a smoke and pocketing the rest.
Charlie looks up:
'Basit?'
She pauses and looks back at him:
'Sup?'
Charlie:
'Where are you going?'
Basit:
'Conner has a lead, I'm going to look into it.'
Charlie:
'Oh...'
She continues walking, Charlie ponders for a moment.
From behind Basit Charlie shouts:
'Hey!'
She turns again as he catches up to her:
'Uh- Can I help?'
Basit raises a brow:
'I guess, are you sure you want to be involved? There's no telling what we'll run into.'
Charlie:
'Sure, I've been through worse.'
Basit unsure:
'Alright.'
She turns to continue to walk and he follows, lighting his cigarette.
-

Charlie and Basit near the diner, Charlie dropping his smoke into an ash urn nearby before entering the diner.
Hyphae:
'Hello, Charlie. Hello, Basit'
Charlie:
'Hey, Hyphae.'
Basit gives a short 'Hey.' And continues to the counter.
Basit:
'Nora sent me to pick up information on a lead.'
The waitress steps away for a moment.
Charlie looks to Hyphae:
'Do you- I mean you- ever leave here? I've never seen that seat without you.'
Hyphae:
'No. This is my place. If I ever run from it then you should too.'
Charlie mildly disturbed:
'Fair enough…'
The waitress returns with a letter and hands it to Basit.
She takes it and goes to walk out, Charlie following, waving bye to Hyphae.
-
Basit and Charlie walk down the street as Basit reads the information on the letter.
Charlie, lagging behind her as she reads, takes out his small bottle and takes a swallow before catching up to her.
Charlie:
'Alright 'Tough Nut Jane', so what's the lead?'
Basit glances to him with a raised brow then looks back at the paper
Basit:
'Some guy named 'Ricky' apparently does 'anonymous package drop off and delivery. Nora's contact overheard him talking about it, he may know something about the packages we're finding.'
Charlie:
'Right… So is this going to be like with that vorein?'
Basit:
'Fuck if I know. But the guy is a human if that makes you feel better.'
Charlie:
'I'm not sure it does…'
-
Charlie and Basit reach a house in the middle of an impoverished neighborhood.
Inside is a black man playing a military fps game (A), another two men, one white (B) one hispanic(C), passing a joint, and another white man(D) counting bills.
Basit knocks on the door. The man counting the money, D, shoves it under the couch cushion and waves at the two smoking, C snuffs it out with his fingers. D steps up to the door and cracks it open.
D:
'Who are you?'
Basit:
'Doesn't matter, I'm looking for someone named 'Ricky'.'
Inside B hears and looks spooked, the other two look to him as he quickly gets up and rushes to the back door.
D:
'Don't know no one by that name. Beat it.'
He goes to close the door but Basit grabs it to stop him.
Basit:
'You sure about that?'
D agitated glances back into the house seeing Ricky/B is gone
He looks back to her:
'I already said he aint here.'
He opens the door further.
'But if you're looking for a fix I got somethin for you.'
He leans in dragging his finger down her chest, causing her to reel back in disgust before pushing him away from her, causing him to fall back and hit the wall.
She steps it to see the other two men looking shocked.
Basit:
'Where the fuck is Ricky?'
D, angry jumps up to take a swing at her:
'You crazy bitch!'
She dodges it and hits him back in the jaw.
Charlie sees the tussle start and steps back, spotting Ricky running in a visible back pathway.
Charlie:
'Basit-!'
The two other men jump up and rush towards her, she kicks C in the gut throwing him back, A instantly backs away, D pulls himself up, reaching for the couch.
Basit:
'Where. Is. Ricky?!'
A:
'He ran off man!'
D:
'Dont fucking snitch!'
A:
'He left when he heard you askin for him!'
C:
'What the fuck are you doing?!'
A:
'Look at what she did to Mace! I'm not getting killed by this woman!'
A turns back to her:
'Whatever he's in we have nothing to do with it! He just comes over to play games and catch one.'
Charlie: 'Basit, he ran out the back!'
She turns to him:
'Which way?'
Charlie goes to answer but pauses, holding his breath as he waves uncertainty in the alleys vague direction.
Basit turns back to the men:
'Where did he go?'
A:
'We don't know what he does. He- He goes to the Three Billy's casino!'
D:
'Stop fucking talking!'
He grabs a gun from under a couch cushion.
D:
'Come up in my house and start shit-'
He shoots her in the torso making a hole in her jacket as it goes through her ribcage.
From behind her Charlie yelps and ducks, putting his hands over his head.
She barely flinteches, the two other men staring in shock, D's anger faltering as she holds up the jacket to look at the hole then back to the man, agitated.
D shakes off his shock and shoots her again, in the chest, only her shoulder pushed back from the force.
Her face doesn't flinch, she turns to directly face him and cracks her knuckles. D's expression turns to terror and he drops the gun and jumps up, hopping over the couch and sprinting out of the house with the other two men.
Basit rolls her eyes and turns away from the door way and walks off, Charlie tentatively standing up straight again and follows her. Still shaken Charlie reaches for his small bottle.
Basit:
'Fucking hate men.'
Charlie recaps and pockets the bottle, offended:
'Gee, thanks.'
Basit:
'You know what I meant.'
Charlie:
'No. I don't think I do...'
They walk, Basit rubbing the now closed bruise mark where the bullet wound was.
Charlie:
'I feel like I've seen those guys before…'
Basit:
'Yea, Daniel knew a lot of people around here.'
Charlies face drops:
'Oh…'
Basit:
'Most of them are good people. Except that dickwad with the gun—' She angerly mutters '—Gonna just eat that fucker.'
She looks over to Charlie:
'You got a phone on hand? Look up that Three Billy's place.'
Charlie pulls out his phone to search for it.
Basit pulls hers out as well and calls Conner.
Basit:
'Conner. I found the place but the lead ran off to fuck knows where. Only thing I got is he may be at a 'Three Billy's Casino'.'
Charlie steps up beside her:
'I can't find it.'
Basit sighs:
'And we we have no idea where the fuck that is.'
Conner:
[I recall that place. I've had to visit it a few times for a previous case. Meet me by the Elliot's station, I'll meet you there.]
As she hangs up, Charlie lags behind drinking the rest of his pocket bottle.
-

Basit and Charlie wait outside of the convenience store. Charlie smoking, the classic neon lights and smoke ads in the windows behind them.
Basit looks to Charlie:
'How are you holding up?'
Charlie:
'Yea, I'm fine.'
Basit raises a brow but looks away.
A taxi drives up and stops, Conner stepping out of it and it drives away as he walks up to them.
Basit:
'You took a taxi?'
Conner:
'I mean no offence to the impoverished humans of this area but I will not subject my car to their tactics for survival.'
Charlie:
'What?'
Conner flat:
'It's a valuable car and I don't want to risk losing it.'
Charlie:
'Oh-'
Conner sighs and turns motioning for them to follow as they walk down the street.
Conner:
*'So how did our lead get away?'
Basit: 'He heard me and fled out the back door.'
Conner glances to Charlie:
'And he wasn't acting as a look out?'
Charlie offended:
'Hey- I saw him!'
Conner:
'And you did nothing?'
Charlie:
'What am I supposed to do? Run after him?'
Conner flat:
'Ouais, That would typically be the next course of action.'
Charlie frustrated:
'Then hire a track star next time.'
Conner rolls his eyes.
Charlie:
'Besides what if he had a gun like the other one? I may be immortal but shit still hurts! And Basit's already been shot.'
Conner expression changes to concern and he turns to Basit.
Conner:
'You were shot? Are you alright?'
Basit flat:
'Of course. I'm not going to bleed over a little .22 piss shooter.'
Conner turns forward again grumbling:
'Mm. Still, be more careful.'
Basit:
'No.'
Charlie listens to them, watching them back and forth with mild confusion.
-
They arrive at a pool and bar named 'Goats Gruff'. They enter and follow Conner towards the bathroom, Charlie flowing hesitantly. He looks to Basit, following her as she follows Conner.
Conner opens the janitor's closet and the three step in, Charlie still looking around confused.
Inside is a man dressed as a janitor leaning against the wall by a closet door, smoking.
Man:
'What do you want?'
Conner:
'Transhumance. These are my brothers.'
The janitor's face relaxes and he opens the closet door revealing a back room. Conner leads, walking into the area, its well lit but dark themed poker room.
The three sit down at a table, Conner reaches into his pocket pulling out bills, handing it to the table dealer who looks at it with a disapproving smirk and hands him back a few tokens muttering.
'Tightwad.'
Conner:
'I don't plan on staying long.'
Conner passes equal tokens to Basit and Charlie. The dealer starts to deal out cards.
As they play:
Conner:
'Do either of you see him?'
Basit:
'I didn't get a look at him.'
Conner looks at Charlie expectantly.
Charlie:
'I didn't actually see much of him either. He was in a red tee and black hoodie if that helps.'
Conner:
'Pants, shoes, hair?'
Charlie:
'Uh- jeans, gray sneakers and I'm not sure, his hood was up.'
Conner glances around.
The dealer:
'No starting shit in here, Edwards.'
Conner:
'I assure you, I will remain very civil.'
Dealer:
'And you're friends?'
Conner looks to them, first Charlie gives an uncertain smile then Basit who stands from the table.
Basit:
'I'll just wait outside.'
Conner sighs and takes her tokens.
After a moment he pushes the tokens to Charlie:
'Here.'
Charlie:
'Oh- thanks-'
Conner:
'You're going to need it if we're going to be here more than five minutes.'
Charlie's gratitude falls:
'Oh...'
-
Basit outside the Bar, night.
Inside Conner and Charlie are still playing cards, their token amount generally the same, Charlies slightly larger than before. Both of them have a whisky beside them, Charlies half empty and a cigarette in his hand.
Conner glances over to his token pile:
'You're not as bad at this as I expected.'
Charlie:
'Maybe I'm just not that bad in general.'
Conner gives him a short side eye.
The dealer lays out more cards.
Conner:
'So, Charlie, what is your stake in this?'
Charlie:
'What?'
Conner:
'You haven't wanted to help our investigation until now. Why the change of heart?'
Charlie brows furrow:
'It's not that I don't want to help.'
Dealer:
'Ante up.'
They both put in their tokens.
Conner:
'So this is the peak of your effort then?'
Charlie annoyed:
'It's the peak of how I can help. If you want better, maybe clone yourself.'
Dealer:
'Dealer wins.'
Conner:
'Though that would be favorable, no matter how many times I clone myself it's not my name on the packages.'
Charlie looks away, noticing Ricky walk in and towards a table.
Conner:
'Perhaps if you actually want to-'
Charlie mutters:
'That's him.'
Conner looks at the man as he sits down.
Conner:
'Are you sure?'
Charlie nods.
Conner stands and tells the dealer:
'Keep your chips.'
Charlie looks at him confused as he steps around him.
Charlie looks at the dealer:
'Uh- I would like to cash mine out please.'
Conner steps up behind Ricky, Charlie lagging behind.
Conner:
'Ricky?'
Ricky agitated turns to look up.
Ricky:
'Yea? What the fuck do you want?'
Conner:
'I want to know about some packages.'
Ricky casually picks up a drink:
'I don't know nothing about that.'
Conner:
'You don't? Well, that's not what I heard.'
Conner sits beside him:
'You're a chatty drunk, you know that? To bad serial killers don't like chatty loose ends.'
Ricky:
'The fuck you gettin to get at? Yea, go ahead and come at me in here, see how well that goes.'
Conner stern:
'What I'm getting at is those packages you delivered were sent by a murder, a murder I'm hunting down. So either you talk now, to me, or I go to my contacts in the police and make sure you're known as an accomplice, known well enough even the murder will know who talked. Lets see which cat catches the rat first.'
Ricky grows nervous as he talks. He glances down at his few chips and then around the room.
He shifts his feet, Conner notices and goes to finish off his drink.
Conner:
'Ring ring, the cat's are coming.'
Ricky jumps up and darts out of the room, Conner jumping up to sprint off after him, Charlie noticing and following.
-

Ricky sprints out of the bar, Basit notices and in a moment of confusion she looks back to the bar seeing Conner chasing after him, seeing him she turns and chases after Ricky.
Ricky darts and ducks in the allies, Basit following and quickly gaining ground.
She catches him in an alley behind a few buildings, tackling and pinning him down.
Ricky shouts:
'Get off me, cunt!'
Conner and Charlie catch up, Conner unphased, Charlie bending over and wheezing, out of breath.
Conner steps over in front of Ricky, kneeling down.
Conner:
'I'm giving you a chance to talk. You will want to take it.'
Ricky:
'I told you I don't fucking know anything.'
Conner:
'Well I know a few things, you run packages for people anonymously. Things that someone wouldn't want going through the official channels. Things like weapons, drugs— body parts.'
Ricky:
'I don't know what's in them! It's a fucking package man, I don't snoop.'
Conner:
'But you did deliver them, packages like this?'
He pulls out a photo of a few of the opened packages.
Ricky:
'I'm not involved with no murders! I just deliver the shit my boss gives me. I just do my job!'
Conner:
'Who's your boss?'
Ricky's expression torn between fear and defiance:
'I'll be dead before I tell you anything, you senile piece of-'
As he talks Conner nods to Basit, one of her arms forms into jagged bone and muscle and she holds it beside Ricky's neck.
Conner:
'That could be arranged.'
Ricky stares at it with terror:
'Oh fuck you people are abnormals?!'
Conner:
'You're familiar? What abnormals do you know?'
Ricky:
'Uh- no one! Look man I've been around, alright? I've seen shit.'
Conner:
'Is your boss an abnormal?'
Ricky stays silent.
Conner:
'Give me their name and I'll make sure my associate here won't be picking your spleen out of her teeth.'
Ricky looks up to Basit, she stares back, the edge of he her mouth splitting up her cheek opening to a mass of jagged teeth.
Ricky lets out a small whimper in fear.
Ricky desperate:
'I can't tell you anything man, I haven't killed no body I just deliver some fucking packages he gives me, what was a few more? I didn't think anything of it! I swear I don't know your killer!'
Conner:
'Tell me everything you can then. The packages, where did you drop them off- do you remember the addresses?'
Ricky sweating:
*'Yea, yea, Uh one was up in the down town area off of- uh- fuck- West uh-
Conner:
'Highview Avenue?'
Ricky:
'That's it!'
Conner:
'Already dead. And the others?'
Ricky:
'Uh- The other was up by Ridgeway- Close to Porters!'
Conner:
'And?'
Ricky:
'Those are the only one's I delivered— I uh… Dropped the others off at the post office.'
Conner scoffs and stands up, looking down at him.
Conner:
'Your boss. Who is he?'
Ricky defeated and scared, he goes to open his mouth, hangs open desperate to speak, it closes again.
Ricky:
'I can't tell you.'
Basit lowers her mouth and jagged teeth down to his head, he lets out a meek sound in terror.
Conner:
'Let him go.'
Basit rises again, reforming her head:
'Really? Don't you need that name?'
Conner:
'He's already told me.'
He looks down at Ricky, who looks almost ashamed.
Basit hesitates then stands. Ricky picks himself up and starts walking off almost in disbelief before taking off in a full sprint.
Basit:
'So a vague location and no follow up name. I assume you know more?'
Conner:
'Of course, I have a pretty strong suspicion on who his boss is. But it's going to take me a while to find him. He's a slippery bâtard.'
He turns to walk out of the alley, passing Charlie who's staying out of the way by a wall.
Conner stern:
'Come on, we've got to get to that target.'

Night
Conner's car drives up to a farm house that stands beside a barn, a truck parked in the front, behind it a field. Conner, Basit, and Charlie step out: Charlie's shoulders low and eyes tired in contrast to the others.
They walk up towards the house front door, Conner looking around as they walk.
Basit steps up to the door and looks to Conner.
Basit:
'Doorbell?'
Conner nods and she rings it. They stand waiting for a while, Conner leaning back and looking around the house.
Charlie:
'Maybe they're not home?'
Conner:
'That is the optimistic possibility.'
Conner looks at Basit:
'Keep trying, I'll check the back.'
He walks around the house. Basit turns back to the door and bangs on it hard with an impatience frown. Charlie steps away to follow Conner.
Conner steps around the back finding the back door, slightly ajar.
He steps back into view of the side of the house, seeing Charlie walking in his direction.
Conner:
'Get Basit.'
Charlie looks up, confusion turning to concern and he turns and rushes to the front of the house.
-
View the back door from inside the kitchen, Basit slowly opens it, Conner then Charlie behind her.
They walk inside. Beside the backdoor are a few crates, two stacks of three and one stack of two.
Conner in a low whisper:
'Basit you check upstairs, Charlie stay here and make sure no one leaves.'
Charlie's voice cracks:
'Uh- a-alright…'
-
Conner looks around the foyer, seeing graduation pictures sitting Infront of a flower vase, the celebration adorned with flowers and decorations, the room is homely ranch styled and clean. Basit checks the bedrooms upstairs. Charlie stands in the dark kitchen, nervous.
He hears the floor creak, view a figure behind him, he jumps with a gasp pausing when nothing is there. Conner steps back into the kitchen.
Conner:
'See something?'
Charlie:
'Uh- No, I— I need some air.'
He steps out of the house and takes a deep breath, rubbing his face.
He takes out his phone and checks Kates texts:

[Kate]
several hours ago
Kate: Don't worry about it, I enjoyed it too. When are you free next? I'll let you choose where we go this time.

Charlie gives a happy grin and starts typing on his phone, a noise from the barn distracts him making him jump, he looks over to see a cat daring out of the barn. He looks from the open barn door to the kitchen door.
Charlie in a low, shaky voice:
'Conner?'
Conner in the living room turns to Charlie, he steps out of the house and up to him, mildly agitated.
Conner:
'What?'
Charlie:
'uh— '
Charlie stammers, pointing to the barn. Conner peers at him disapprovingly and steps over to it. He pushes open the door, looking inside, his face turning to a grim scowl.
Basit upstairs, sighs:
'There's nothing up here.'
She walks down stairs:
'Conner?'
She sees Conner and Charlie from the living room window, Conner stepping into the Barn, Charlie keeping his distance.
Conner steps over to the body laid out in the center of the barn, looking over it. He spots the note and finger piece, placed carefully over the chest. He picks it up, reading the scrap of paper:

9#
Art thou ready, Blessed of Man? To will thy body for the feast of the Vassal of our Lord?
Remember thy oath; dost thou forsake thy Lord's will and cling unto the Hallowed flesh?
Blessed of the Hallowed Man, thou shalt be made unto one of the Scion.
Be ready for the first feast of the Vassal—give of thyself thy body,
that the Vassal may know the will of our Lord and be made one with His Desire.
This is the oath thou hast willed.

-
Conners brows furrow into anger and he grips the paper. He steps out of the barn, tossing the finger at Charlies chest, he instinctively catches it with surprise, the finger piece snapping back on, the grim realisation hitting Charlie.
Conner angry:
'What is this?!'
He holds up the page, briskly stomping towards Charlie.
Charlie:
'I don't-'
Conner grabs him by his collar and holds him up against the barn wall and shouting.
Conner:
'What is going on?! What is your part in this?!'
Basit running up to them:
'Conner?!'
Conner:
'You have to know something!'
Charlie doesn't speak, just whimpers in fear, shaking.
Basit:
'Conner!'
Conner getting louder and more aggressive:
'Did you will this, Blessed of Man?'
Charlie cowering:
'I don't know—'
Conner:
'Stop lying!'
Basit shouts 'Stop!' Loudly while pushing in between them, forcefully pushing Conner off of him, making him fall onto the ground, as does Charlie when the grip is released.
Conner scurries to stand up, Basit eyeing him, both angry.
Basit:
'What are you doing?'
Conner:
'Look at it! The scriptures, the bodies, his marks! Human that became an abnormal!'
Basit:
'What are you talking about?'
Conner:
'This is all some sick ritual, that he is apart of!'
Basit:
'Because of those fucking nonsense notes?'
Conner:
'All of it!'
He turns to Charlie, stepping forward, Basit stepping in his way to stop him.
Conner:
'Are you the killer? Or are you simply an accomplice? Do you ever care that abnormals are being murdered?!'
Charlie still on the ground against the barn sobbing.
Basit:
'Conner, stop.'
Conner pauses, both staring each other down. He steps away, hands on his waists as he looks down, brows furrowed in frustrated thought.
Basit:
'Charlie. Go to the car.'
Charlie wipes his face with his hoodie, unsteady and shaking he stands up and goes to leave, passing by the barn door his eyes catches view of the body in full. He turns away from it, looking sick, and continues walking.
Basit watches him leave then looks to Conner, her agitation returning.
Basit:
'Talk to me.'
Frustration returns to Conners face:
'He can't just be an innocent bystander.'
He turns to her:
'There has to be something more to this!'
Basit:
'No shit but accusing him of being the murder?'
Conner:
'Murderer, accomplice, whatever, the scriptures-'
Basit interrupts him:
'You're doing it again.'
Conner:
'Doing what?'
Basit:
'That thing you do. When you get so focused on one answer you can't look past it, and you convince yourself it's the only one.'
Conner's face softens slightly, from anger to frustration.
Conner sighs and looks away:
'I have to solve this case, Basit.'
Basit:
'I know. I want it solved too, so does Nora, and so does Charlie. We are all on the same page about that. We are a team, remember that.'
Basit smirks:
'I know that concept isn't your strong suit.'
Conner glances at her, knowingly.
Conner sighs:
'There's a string here. All the murders, the scriptures. I just- I can't find it. Everything's tangled and fractured!'
Basit amused:
'I thought those were your favorite.'
Conner:
'Not this one!... Not like this. What the killer's doing–'
He pauses his frustration, turning to fear.Basit:
'Is there anything connecting the victims so far?'
Conner:
'There must be- but I don't see it.'
Basit:
'No relative or friend that overlaps?'
Conner:
'No.'
Basit:
'Do they all live alone then?'
Conner:
'No. Some of them are surrounded by family and friends, yet even still they're caught alone, after having been sent the package. The attacks have been planned out, the murderer has to have known when each one would be alone.'
Basit:
'Then we find the other targets, quickly, we close in on this murder before he gets there and we end this.'
Conner sighs, calmed down:
'I— Yea. I'll do that.'
Basit:
'We will do that.'
Basit puts a hand on his shoulder.
Basit:
'I'm with you, Tangles.'
Conner's face flinches with a sharp mix of pain and grief, dropping his eyes.
He pulls away from her as he turns to walk towards the car, Basit watching him for a moment before following him.
The two get into the car, Charlie curled up in a ball in the back seat.
Conner starts the car, Basit still eyeing him for a moment.
-
Conner's car drives up to outside Charlie's apartment.
Charlie and Basit get out and walk over to the sidewalk.
Conner:
'I'll let you know when I have more on our lead.'
Basit smirk:
'Get some rest.'
He drives off.
Basit turns, spotting Charlie walking away from his apartment building.
Basit:
'Where are you going?'
Charlie: *
'Getting a drink.'*
Basit pauses in thought for a moment then catches up to him.
Basit:
'I'll join you.'*
-

They sit down in a dive bar, Charlie ordering a cheap liquor then lighting a cigarette.
Basit:
'This place is a shit hole.'
Charlie picks up the drink the bartender sets in front of him.
Charlie:
'Yea. But they're cheap.'
Basit:
'Just buy it from a store if that's what you're worried about.'
Charlie:
'Too late, they're all closed.'
He takes the shot and sets it down, motioning for two more.
-
Pan alt view of them from afar to show time passed.
Basit:
'Maybe you should slow down…'
View them again, 6 empty shot glasses in front of Charlie who is obviously drunk.
Charlie slurring:
'Only b'cause em out of moonie.'
Basit half smile:
'Work skimping you?'
Charlie lights another cigarette:
'dun work.'
Basit:
'How do you cover bills?'
View behind them, Charlie lowers his head in shame.
Charlie:
'Nora.'
Basit:
'ah.'
Charlie:
'She m- picked it 'en I was home—less.'
Basit:
'If you need work she could find you something.'
Charlie:
'Nn— tried.'
Basit:
'Didn't work out?'
Charlie stands:
'Nope.'
Charlie unsteadily pulls himself up from the chair and turns to leave.
Charlie:
'Because Ima f—uck up.'
Basit's brows furrow and she stands to follow him.
-
The two walk down the street, Charlie walking unsteady while smoking.
Charlie:
'dosyou work?'
Basit pauses:
'Not really. But I don't live in an apartment or eat human food much.'
Charlie:
'Where'ou live?'
Basit:
'Where ever. Abandoned buildings mostly, the big ones when I need to stretch my skin.'
Charlie:
' 'erid.'
Basit:
'I do body guard gigs for Nora to pay for a phone and laundry once in a while. But I don't really care to blend with humans for my own private life.'
Charlie:
'Mus'nbe hat.'
Basit:
'What?'
Charlie:
'M-'
He keels over, putting a hand on the building wall beside him and puking.
Basit:
'Told you to slow down.'
Charlie hurls again and coughs:
'Din' you not drink?'
Basit:
'No. I don't get drunk, just sick. Different physiology I guess.'
Charlie mutters:
'Fisi-' He hurls again.
Charlie:
'I 'ink I drank to m— much.'
Basit:
'Yea? You've been drinking all day without food then downed half a dozen in less than an hour- what did you expect?'
Charlie slides down to his knees:
'T'nop 'uning.'
Basit kneels beside him:
'What?'
Charlie takes a heavy breath, bile still on his lips:
'To— stop— running.'
Basit listens, patient and empathetic, as he talks between breaths.
Charlie:
'It 'elps—'
Basit:
'Helps what?'
Charlie between nauseous breaths:
' 'ying—Dying… always feel.'
He gives a dry urk.
Charlie:
'M'behind me— 'oing to kill— me.'
He haunches over to the side and hurls again.
Basit puts a hand on his shoulder:
'Think you can stand up?'
Charlie:
'Urk— no.'
Basit stands and pulls out her phone.
-
Nora sitting at her document filled dining table. On Top of the typical pile is an opened manila folder with documents, pictures of Charlie, news articles, a police report, and an old ID. She looks over the pictures, there is very few: one print copied from a news article with younger him, unmarked, and in a graduation outfit; Another copied from the police report, marked, dirty, scared; another of him unmarked at an outdoor event, possibly a church or town event in the background and two other older people, one asian man and a blond freckled woman; And one recent but his hair slightly shorter, him working on a car, holding his hand up as if asking for the photo to not be taken.
In the background the police report and news paper
[Other Documents: Nora's Manila folder]
She stares at them with furrowed brows, her attention broken by her cell phone ringing for a call from Basit.
She answers:
'Hello? Is everything alright?'
-
Charlie sitting on the ground back against the building, Basit standing beside him.
Basit:
'You know— There are support groups.'*
Charlie is sobered some but still drags his words.
Charlie:
'Oh yea, tried those groups. If I wanted monotheism shoved down my throat I'd join a church.'
Basit:
'There's others that are not like that.'Charlie:
'Do you believe in a god?'
Basit:
'Yup.'Basit:
'And I fucking hate him.'
Nora's car pulls up beside them, she gets out and rushes up to them:
'Is he alright?'
Basit calm:
'Yea, he just drank too much and needs a drive home.'
Nora steps over and kneels in front of him, going to reach a hand for his shoulder but stopping.
Nora:
'Charlie? Are you alright?'
Charlie:
'I'm fine. Just feel sick.'
Nora:
'Let's get you home.'
She looks to Basit who reaches down to help him up, Nora standing and walking over to the car to open the door for him.
Charlie gets in, leaning his head back against the seat, Basit looks to Nora.
Basit:
'It's been a long day.'
Nora:
'I'll get Conner to brief me.'
She shuts Charlie's door and goes to walk to the driver's side while Basit walks away past a parked car.
-

Nora opens the door to Charlies apartment, guiding him to his bed. He sits on the edge, uneasy. [10:40 pm]
Nora:
'Take care of yourself and get some rest, alright?'
Charlie doesn't respond, dazed. She kneels in front of him.
Nora:
'Hey, there-'
Charlie glances up to her. seeing the room through a light static, a police office, Nora slightly younger in a different outfit.
Nora:
'You going to be Alright?'
Present- Charlie pauses:
'I'm fine.'
Nora stands to leave:
'Call me if you need.'
Charlie nods and pulls himself fully onto the bed, lying diagonally across it.
-
[12:50 am] Charlie still awake sits up, rubbing his eyes. He stands, wobbly, and walks to the bathroom to rinse his face off and swish some water before drinking some.
He steps out of the bathroom and into a dark tunnel tunnel. Charlie in his apartment rubs his face and walks towards his kitchen.
Charlie:
/No no. I'm not there. I'm here. I'm… where am I?/
He takes a step forward, his foot reaching from the boards of his apartment floor and towards forest grass.
He trips falling down a steep hill in the woods, rolling until he lands on a road leading into a long underground tunnel. He looks up the hill above, seeing a figure moving in the shadows. He jogs into the tunnel a ways, wheezing. He slows down and starts walking steadily, right arm on the tunnel wall, staring down at his bare dirty feet walking in front of him in the darkness. He walks. All but his undershorts gone, his body coated in blood and dirt. He walks. He's younger, hair shorter, his left arm missing, his expression of dazed shock. He walks.'Hey.'He looks up to a vague silhouette of a park ranger with a green truck behind him.
Anwir:
'Sir? Are you alright?'
Present- The florist priest, Anwir, stands in front of him with a concerned expression, his hands on Charlies shoulders.
Charlie looks up scared and confused, both standing in the street parallel to the florist shop.
Anwir:
'Come inside, you'll catch your death out here this late at night.'
Anwir guides him to the closed shop and lets him inside, Charlie still dazed and startled unsure where he is.
-
Charlie sitting at the counter on a chair pulled up to it, a tea in front of him, seemingly calmer but still dazed.
Charlie looks up:
'Where am I?'
Anwir:
'You're in my shop. I found you in the street, you seemed out of sorts.'
Charlie looks down at his tea, brows furrow.
Anwir chuckles:
'It's just chamomile, calms the nerves.'
Charlie eyes it for a moment before taking a sip.
Charlie:
'Who are you?'
Anwir:
'Anwir, Anwir Avdel.'
Charlie:
'I'm… Charlie.'
Anwir, pleasant smile:
'It's good to meet you, Charlie.'
Charlie sits the tea again and glances at Anwir's clerical collar.
Charlie:
'You're a priest?'
Anwir chuckles and puts a hand to it:
'Not so much anymore. But I guess I can't let go of my past.'
He chuckles to himself, ' Or, maybe my past won't let go of me.'
Charlie looks back down to the tea:
'I should go home.'
Anwir:
'Let me walk you, make sure you get where you need to go.'
He smiles and holds out a hand, Charlie looks at it and stands on his own. Anwir and Charlie exit the shop, Anwir locking it behind himself.
The two walk down the street towards Charlie's apartment, neither speaking. Charlie keeping his head low, eyes tired, Anwir head high content and calm, walking slightly ahead of Charlie.
-
They reach the apartment building Anwir following him inside.
He reaches his room and opens the door. He stops and looks to Anwir.
Charlie:
'Uh- Thanks, for- walking me home I guess…'
Anwir smiles:
'I'm glad to help. Oh-'
He reaches into his pocket and takes out a business card to his florist shop, handing it to Charlie.
[Avdel Flowers xxx st ###-###-###]
Anwir:
'I know my ties may be intimidating to some but I assure you I hold no judgment for any of God's children. Please, if you need help I'm just a call away.'
Charlie mildly uncomfortable:
'Right… thanks.'
He says dismissively and enters his room, shutting the door behind himself. He tosses the card towards the trash and misses before dropping back onto the bed.
-

Late night [2:03 am]
Charlie laying in bed, wide awake. He rolls over and picks up his phone. He stares at Kate's contacts for a long while.
Charlie:
/I shouldn't bother them./
He places the phone back down.
His thoughts loop around him getting smaller and smaller
/I want to talk to them./
/I need their company right now.//I don't want to be alone…./_{/I'm scared/}
His thoughts continue as he picks up the phone again. He stares at the messages. He switches to browser scrolling through images.
Kate half awake laying on the couch with Ayden, who's snoring. The tv on, lighting them.
Kate's phone buzzes. They pick it up

[Charlie]
Charlie: :Nonbinarymeme.png:
Charlie: Sorry I thought you'd find it funny- also my way of showing support and saying hi :wave: at the same time :sweatlaugh:

Kate snorts

Kate: Most people steer clear of the subject, only to make a stupid comment or show support by harping on it– or both.
Charlie: I promise not to harp on it :sweatsmile: so what are you up to :smile:?
Kate: I was binge watching a show with ayden. I sont think I'm going to make it to the end before passingout though
Charlie: Sorry to interrupt
Kate: You're not. everythin alright?

Charlie stares at the phone for a while before responding.

Charlie: I had another episode and can't sleep now

Kate almost asleep wakes up to the notification again.

Kate: If theyr getting that bad maybe yu can try meds?
Charlie: I have before, I ended up worse. Besides I can't afford them.
Kate: everyones different and theres aton of different ones. Consider trying it again maybe

Charlie frowns, staring at his phone and not responding for a while.

Kate: I just know thie kinda shit dosnt get better on its own. Let me know if I can help
Charlie: You already are :heart:

Charlie smiles closing his eyes and falling asleep
-
Charlie, younger, finds himself in the tunnel again, walking it. He sees a bit of light at the end. He steps out, the morning light shining in his face. A green truck driving towards him stops and a park ranger exits.
Ranger:
'Hey, are you alright?'
The scene fades to Charlie sitting in a police station. He's still out of it, but cleaned up and wrapped in a mute lilac wool blanket and wearing oversized gray sweat pants, and sweat shirt with the local police office logo on it. Outside of the room voices can be heard.
Nora:
'This is a long way from home you know.'
Police:
'You said to call you if we ever found strange unidentifiable people.'
The door opens and Nora steps in. She looks at him, sympathetic, and steps up, kneels in front of him.
Nora:
'Hey, there-'
Charlie looks at her, still dazed.
Nora:
'You're going to be alright.
Nora:
'I'm Nora, what's your name?'
Charlie:
'... I don't remember…'

Early evening
A car in a dark garage, the door opens, light shining on it, two shadows cast.
Kate:
'And here it is.'
Kate and Charlie at the garage door, an open residential country area behind them.
Kate:
'The bane of my adult life.'
Charlie:
'1979 Ford Mustang notchback coupe, nice~'
Kate affectionately:
'Dork.'
-
Charlie opens the hood looking it over with interest, Kate watching him amused.
He jacks the car up, getting under it to change the oil, his hair tied up into a bun.
Kate steps over, kneeling down to watch him. Charlie focused, a bit of oil and dust on him.
Kate:
'You know, this angle is kinda hot.'
Charlie momentary surprise then grins:
'Not ruined by being sweaty and dirty with car oil?'
Kate smirks:
'No, that adds to it.'
Charlie then snorts and puts the filter and nut back on and slides out from under the car. Sitting up beside Kate, faces close.
Charlie smirks: 'So, is that what you're into?'
A car pulls up into the driveway in the background.
Kate leans in: 'I'm into a lot of things.'
Kate grabs his shirt and pulls him into a kiss.
Kate hears the car door shut behind them and pulls away.
Catherine standing by the garage entrance:
'Cody.'
Kate, mild agitation, looks over their shoulder to the woman standing in view of the garage, a store bag in her hand.
Catherine disapproving:
'What are you doing?'
Kate cold tone:
'Getting my car fixed.'
Catherine:
'How are you planning on paying that?'
Kate sneers.
Catherine walks off towards the front of the house:
'Keep it out of my house, Cody.'
Kate watches her leave, sneering anger turns to hurt.
Charlie:
'You alright?'
Kate turns back to him.
'Yeah.'
They stand, Charlie follows.
Kate:
'So how much to fix it?'
Charlie hesitant:
'Uh- Parts are probably several hundred but I can keep an eye out and I should have some spare-'
Kate:
'I mean to pay you.'
Charlie smile:
'I didn't think this was a business translation.'
Kate:
'Well no but I don't want you to think I wasn't going to pay you. Besides, maybe it can help you get the medication you need.'
Charlie:
'No, Kate, it's fine. If money is tight…'
Kate:
'It's not, I can afford it.'
Charlie:
'She sounded like it was.'
Kate agitated, mutters:
'That's not-'
They sigh:
'Just… ignore her. I want to pay you.'
Charlie half grins:
'But isn't manly acts of service how I'm supposed to whoo the pretty person I'm interested in?'
Kate grins and grabs him by the belt of his pants tugging him forward and leaning in.
Kate:
'Keep it up and you'll be paying me to keep off of you.'
Charlie leans in to kiss them:
'That's a bet I'm willing to lose.'
-
Kate shutting the garage door.
Kate:
'I would invite you to stay for lunch— But I was hoping it would be just us.'
Charlie:
'Is she your mom?'
Kate snide:
'Unfortunately.'
Kate:
'Anyway, lunch at your place then? Least I can do is buy you food.'
Charlie:
'Hard to say no to that.'
Kate goes to walk with him, Charlie warping his arm over Kate's shoulder.
-
The two stand at a bus stop.
Charlie:
'Why such an old car?'
Kate:
'You seemed to like it.'
Charlie:
'Well yea, I'm just surprised you want to fix it up and use it.'
Kate:
'It was my dads. He gave it to me.'
Charlie:
'Oh, makes sense.'
They stand waiting.
Charlie:
'Your dad has good taste in cars then.'
Kate:
'Had.'
Charlie:
'Oh. Sorry.'
Kate:
'It's fine. You two would have probably gotten along.'
Charlie:
'I'll take that as a complement.'
-

The two enter Charlie's apartment.
Charlie:
'I'm going to shower.'
Kate:
'Alright.'
They take out their phone calling.
Kate:
'Hello, I would like to place an order—'
Kate steps up to the bathroom door.
Kate:
'I'm going out to get the food.'
Charlie through the door:
'Okay!'
Kate leaves the apartment.
-
Charlie in the shower staring down at his feet as he washes his hair, eyes closed. His eyes peer open a faint static overlay of the tunnel. He jerks his head up and rinses off.
-
Charlie steps out of the bathroom, drying his hair. He steps over to his kitchenette and looks to where the hospital bill used to be. He looks for it under the hospital summary but doesn't find it. He sighs and sits at his dining table pulling out his phone and calling.
Charlie:
'Uh Hi, This is Charlie, I had a- bill I need to pay, do you do any sort of financing?'
…
Charlie:
*'Paid? That can't be right-' *
His lip tightens in realization.
Charlie:
'Never mind, thank you.'
He hangs up and stares at the phone.
Charlie mutters:
'Nora…'
Kate walks back into the apartment, Charlie turning his head as they sit at the table pulling out Chinese dishes from a paper bag. Charlie sits down.
Kate sudden realization:
'Oh-! Uhm-'
Charlie looks up.
Kate:
'I got Chinese, I hope that's Alright? I wasn't even thinking.'
Charlie confused:
'Why wouldn't it be?'
Kate:
'I mean— Look, most of the dudes I meet at the bar are white and my mother isn't exactly a role model of racial sensitivity.'
Charlie raises a brow, mildly amused.
Kate meek:
'I just- don't want to accidentally come across as insensitive.'
Charlie grins:
'are you showing support by harping on it?'
Kate weak snort:
'Maybe. I'm making a fool out of myself aren't I?'
Charlie chuckles:
'It's fine. I don't think anyone is going to think you're racist because you ordered Chinese take out to eat with an Asian person.'
Kate silent, embarrassed, relief.
Charlie shrugs:
'Chinese food is good— I'm not Chinese though.'
Kate looks up, listening.
Charlie:
'I'm Thai- well half Thai. Not that it matters. I don't have any ties with my family or heritage.'
Kate:
'Why?'
Charlie pauses and shrugs:
'I don't know them.'
Kate:
'Oh- Were you a foster kid?'
Charlie:
'...Something like that.'
Charlie:
'By the way, there's a pretty diverse queer bar by the bowling alley up north.'
Kate smiles:
'Cool, noted.'
-
Next morning
Charlie and Kate step out of the apartment building, Basit on the street headed in their direction.
Basit:
'Charlie-'
Charlie looks up:
'Hey-'
Kate from behind him looks over to Basit.
Kate:
'Oh, you're pretty!'
Basit blinks taken aback:
'Uh-'
Basit to Charlie:
'Are you free today?'
Charlie:
'Er-'
Kate puts a hand on his shoulder and kisses his cheek:
'I can get to the bus stop on my own. I'll see you later.'
Charlie:
'Alright— see yuh.'
Kate leaves waving at them both with a smile.
Basit to Charlie as they turn to leave.
Basit:
'Who's that?'
Charlie:
*'Their name's Kate. We've uh-' * flustered smile 'been dating for a few months now.'
Basit:
'Oh, they seem nice.'
They walk for a while.
Basit:
'I'm not used to people calling me pretty.'
Charlie:
'Because of the scar?'
Basit:
'Mhm.'
Charlie:
'Nora can change the mask right? If you can choose it, why keep the scar?'
Basit:
'Nora didn't give me a mask, I can do it myself.'
Charlie:
'So- you choose to have the scar?'
Basit:
'Mhm.'
Charlie:
'Why?'
Basit:
'Because people don't typically like someone who isn't appealing. They either leave me alone or the really shitty ones basically announce how much of an asshole they are. And I like kicking asses.'
Charlie:
'Fair enough— I guess?'
Basit:
'What about you?'
Charlie looks over, questioning.
Basit:
'How do people respond to your marks?'
Charlie: 'Everyone assumes they're tattoos so I get a mixed reaction. Some think it's cool, and want to talk to me about them. Others get judgmental like I'm damaged or I'm trying to get attention.'
Basit:
'Che. Humans.'
Charlie gives a silent, agreeing, shrug.
-

Basit leads Charlie to Conners car parked by the sidewalk.
Conner:
'Get in.'
Charlie pauses:
'Can I at least know where we're going first?'
Basit standing by the open car door:
'To get some information-'
Conner:
'Espérons...'
Charlie:
'I uh- I would rather set this out-'
Conner agitated:
'You are a part of the investigation, whether you like it or not.'
Charlie:
'Yea. I know- But I don't see how I can help.'
Basit:
'Anything helps.'
Charlie:
'But- I'm not a tough bad ass or a smart guy- '
Charlie bumped:
'I wasn't even much help last time.'
Conner:
'You don't have to be any of that to simply contribute.'
Basit glances toward Conner with a tight lip:
'You did help last time. But it's up to you, Charlie.'
Charlie pauses and sighs, getting in as a two black cars drive past, a volkswagon and a toyota.
-
Charlie on his phone, texting with Kate.

[Kate]
Yesterday
Kate: Sure, you can come by and see it tomorrow morning.
Now
Charlie: I can probably get it fixed, I have some basic tools but not everything I would need for that kind of job
Kate: What else would you need?
Charlie: Transmission jack, replacement transmission, a couple of 10 ton jack stands, fluid
Kate: I'll see what I can do

After a while he looks up:
'Where are we going again?'
Conner:
'A library, I need to look up some information; make sure I know what to look out for.'
Charlie:
'There's libraries back in the city.'
Conner:
'We are going to a specific library.'
Basit:
'It's owned by an abnormal and has a lot more in it than a human's library would.'
Charlie unenthused:
'Neat. I'll add another library card to my collection.'
Silent pause.
Charlie:
'How far is it?'
Conner:
'I estimate we have an hour and fifty seven minutes to go.'
Charlie, disheartened, leans back and pulls his phone back up.
-
They park in front of the large library, old architecture, everyone gets out of the car.
Demetrius the Librarian stands at the front desk. He looks up.
Demetrius gives a wide welcoming smile:
'Conner!' His smile and arms drop 'Basit.'
Basit smirks:
'Hey D.'
Demetrius:
'Demetrius.'
Basit:
'Whatever.'
Demetrius:
'I told you you're not welcome here anymore.'
Conner:
'What's the problem?'
Basit:
'That's D's gratitude for you. You spill a bit of blood on a book while protecting it and he goes nuts.'
Demetrius loudly agitated:
'It was an entire shelf of rare tomes!'
Basit:
'You asked me to guard the library from burglars-'
Demetrius:
'Guard! Not eviscerate them all over priceless-'
Conner interrupts:
'Demetrius, Mon ami, I would owe you a favor if you let me and my friends browse freely. I promise I'll keep Basit from making any form of mess.'
Demetrius frowns:
'For you, Conner Edwards. But she is still unwelcome if not with your company.'
Conner as he walks past:
'Understood, Thank you Demetrius.'
Demetrius glares as they walk past:'And not freely, you're still limited to your credentials!'
Conner waves in acknowledgement:
'Of course.'
-
All three in a room, each wall lined with shelves of books, all on cultures and religions of both human and abnormal. Basit leaned back feet on the center table, Conner pouring over a few books, beside them a few papers and photos.
Charlie sitting clearly bored and on his phone:

[Kate]
Kate: That’s why I need to get the car running. If I have a working car, I can finally move out.
Charlie: :sadface: If living with your mom upsets you that much you could always stay with me. :heart:
Charlie: :sweat: sorry, that was a joke i think. was that too forward?
Charlie: :exclamationmarks: I don't mean to cross any boundary
Charlie: :prayhands: Sorry
Kate: I appreciate it, but I prefer not to rely on my boyfriends. Maybe I'll land a better gig, buy a big house, and you all can rely on me instead. ;)
Kate: If you don’t mind sharing a space with Ayden—not that he’d accept the offer.
Charlie: :thinking-face:

Basit:
'Conner, What are you looking for here?'
Conner:
'Information. There's something familiar about those scriptures.'
Basit:
'Familiar how?'
Conner looking back to the books in front of him:
'Confirmation first.'Charlie looks up:
'Why did I need to come along for this?'
Conner:
'Because you may recognize something I might find.'
He looks up to Charlie with an unfriendly stare:
'And I need to ask you a few things.'
Charlie:
'You couldn't ask me back in town— or over the phone.'
Conner gives a disapproving frown:
'What I ask may change based on my findings.'
Charlie:
'Right, because a phone is limited to one question a day.'
Conner glances over with a disapproving glare.
Charlie leans his head back and sighs, clearly bored.
A long silent moment while Conner skims the books, writing down notes.
Conner:
'Charlie, were you ever involved with any other abnormal communities?'
Charlie:
'No.'
Conner:
'What about before? Any religious affiliations- cults?'
Charlie:
'Before?'
Conner:
'When you were a human.'
Charlie:
'I don't remember being a human.'
Conner:
'What about your family?'
Charlie frustrated:
'What's the definition of insanity again? Asking me something over and over expecting a different answer?'
Conner:
'What about your college, was there any social groups?'
Charlie:
'What collage?'
Conner:
'The one you graduated from as a human.'
Charlie grows uncomfortable:
'Why are you asking me this? Clearly you know more about my past than I do.'
Conner: '
I know your name was Boonruang Chîn-'
Charlie grimaces and looks away avoiding the information.
Conner:
'Your father was Thai immigrant and your mother was Irish-American. Your father died from cancer a year after your graduation-'
Charlie low unsteady voice:
'I don't want to know this.'
Baist's brows furrow, concerned.
Conner getting more stern:
'You lived in a small town in Pitt county. And the trail of who you are ends when your home was burned down with no known survivors. Reports concluded arson.'
Charlies brows furrow:
'I don't remember a fire.'
Conner insistent:
'So you DO remember something?'
Charlie looks up frustrated:
'No!'
Basit's concern grows as the two get more riled up.
Charlie covers his ears as Conner continues:
'You graduated at Duke University with a masters in Biological and Biomedical Sciences-'
Charlie mutters:
'Stop.'
Conner:
'-and you were engaged to-'
Basit moves to speak up-
Charlie stands up and shouts:
'Stop! Just shut the fucking up! I don't want to hear it, I never want to hear it! I don't remember it! I don't want to know it!'
Conner:
'Why? So you don't have to think about it? So you can stay in blissful ignorance while people die?!'
Charlie tears up, mix of sorrow and anger:
'I'm not the killer!'
Conner:
'Killer or not you were involved before any of this started, if there's any answer to this it's in your past! Reprends-toi, and jog that memory of yours! Because no matter how hard you run from this you will never escape it, you'll just let others die while you plug up your ears and pretend everything will just be okay—for you.'
Basit stands up:
'Hey!'
Conner turns to her:
'He-'
Basit stern:
'Conner- cool it!'
Charlie drops into the chair, covering his face, Conner goes back to his book, still angry.
Basit looks between them.Basit:
'Who skipped breakfast?'
Both don't move their gaze.
Conner:
'Why does that matter?'
Basit:
'I'll take that as two yes's. So let's go get food.'
Conner:
'No thank you-'
She reaches over and closes the book he was staring at, Conner pulling back with annoyance.
Conner:
'You two go ahead-'
Basit staring at him:
'Lets. Go.'
She turns and walks to the study's door and stands expectantly waiting.
Charlie gets up first, walking past the door and leaving without waiting for them.
Basit watches him leave then looks to Conner with crossed arms.
The two have a stare off for a moment before Conner silently concedes and steps away from the table.
He walks past her, head held high, she rolls her eyes behind him and follows him out.
Demetrius watches them leave.
Basit:
'We'll be back later, D.'
Demetrius displeased:
'Lovely…'
Demetrius looks back down at the paperwork and books he's sorting.
-

They drive away from the library, the library in the distance behind them. In a visible off road beside the library is parked a few dark colored cars and a few white ones on the opposite side.Basit:
'We'll drop you off at a diner, Charlie. Me and Conner will find our type of food elsewhere.'
Charlie says nothing, eyes still down.
-
Conner's car stops in front of a breakfast restaurant. Charlie gets out.
Basit from in the car:
*'Do you need cash?'
Charlie ignores her, walking into the diner.
The car pulls out of the parking lot and drives off. Charlie sits at a booth.
He looks down at his hands, fidgeting. The world blurs out around him, a vague silhouette of a figure stands in front of him, bright static. The faded memory echoing faintly in his mind.
'...ruang …at …es … …me …en?'
'Sir.'
'... me.. li…'
'Sir?'
'... Chîn?...'
'Sir!'
Charlie's head bolts up, staring at the waitress.
Waitress impatient:
'Do you want to order something?'
Charlie:
'Uh- pancakes… and coffee.'
He looks back down and she walks away. He rubs his face aggressively and leans back in the booth looking out the window
-
Basit and Conner walking down a downtown street.
Basit:
'So what are you in the mood for? Dog?'
Conner grumbles.
Basit:
'Are we really going to do the silent game, Tangles?'
Conner low:
'Stop that.'
Basit eyes him and they continue walking.Basit:
'You should be easier on the kid.'
Conner annoyed:
'I'm solving the case.'
Basit:
'You're berating a victim.'
Conner shouts at her:
'If you don't like the way I do things then you can just leave me be and let me do my work in peace!'
Basit hurt and angry stands as Conner continues walking.
Basit:
'You want to know why I left?'
Conner stops but doesn't turn, his anger mixing with grief.
Basit:
'Because of shit like this, you get so fucking obsessed with solving a case you stop giving a shit about the people around you.'
She nears him.
Conner:
'People are dead.'
Basit:
'Welcome to life.'
Conner turns:
'So I should just give up?'
Basit:
'No, but not every case can be solved by banging your head against it and everyone around you! It hasn't worked finding that kid and it isn't working now.'
Conner snaps, gritting his teeth and goes to swing at her, she ducks and punches back hitting his nose and making him reel back. He goes for another swing, she catches his wrist and he goes to swing with the other hand, she catches that one too and gripping them pushes him back against the alley wall.
They stare at each other in a huff, their anger calming his turning to sorrow. They mutually lean in to kiss each other, Basit letting go of his arms to grab his waist and he cups his hands around her face. They get more heated and with a growl Basit grabs him by the upper arms, he lets out a meek gasp, Basit forcing him around pinning his chest against the wall.
-
early evening
Charlie at the diner, his plate empty with only syrup. He looks down to his phone,

[Basit]
One hour ago
Charlie: I'm done
20 minutes ago
Charlie: so no rush but where you at? :wave:
Now
Charlie: I don't think this place doubles as a hotel :yawn:
Basit: Otw

-
Early evening
Charlie outside the diner, Conner's car pulls up. Charlie gets in, Conner's hair slightly, but not blatantly, less tidy.
Charlie:
'Yall were gone for a while.'
Conner looks away, Basit lightly smirks.
Charlie:
'Bet your full-'
Conner's stomach growls to both of their surprise. Basit amused Conner, grudgingly flustered.
Charlie:
'...Or not.'
Conner low:
'Enough.'
He takes the car out of park and begins to drive.
Charlie:
'We're not going home now are we?'
Conner:
'No.'
Charlie sighs.

The three step back into the library, the front desk unoccupied.
They step back to the room and take their places again.
They sit in silence for a moment as Conner finds his place in his books again.
Conner sighs:
'Alright, so what I've gathered so far is these pages are from an obscure cult. I have found only vague mentions of it but, as I said, it's very obscure. There's not a lot of documentation about them.'
Basit:
'Why is it always cults?'
Conner:
'The only information I have so far is it was composed of both humans and abnormals and they worship the Auls.'
Basit grimaces:
'Lovely. But what does that have to do with killing abnormals?'
Conner:
'It's a ritual.'
Basit groans.
Conner:
'I'm still just trying to decode these nonsense scriptures, maybe find the full text but not much luck on that so far. But any information we can find on the cult, could make all the difference.'
Conner to Charlie:
'That's why if you have anything you can share, it could be exactly what we need.'
Charlie annoyed:
'How long are we going to do this little song and dance? I don't-'
Conner:
'-Remember. I know. But that doesn't mean we can't try to jog your memory.'
Charlie looks away with stubborn silence.
Conner turns to Basit with a questioning and frustrated gaze, she gives him a mock-stern look and motion.
Conner sighs and looks back to Charlie:
'Maybe you're not a bad person. But good people are dying, and you could help. Nora is wearing herself thin to assist the investigation, calling in every favor she has. Basit is running around like a dog to catch leads and defend us. And I won't let more people be a victim. What are you going to do?"
Charlie grimaces and stands up and walks out of the room. Conner sighs again, shaking his head as he flips through books, Basit watching him with tight lipped disapproval.
Charlie walks through the empty library foyer and out of the library, crossing the street.
-
Basit:
'Alright so what if it is some cult, would there be multiple killers? How could we find the group?'
Conner:
'I'm not sure it is multiple people. The kills are precise with no deviation and there's plenty of time between each attack for it to be only one.'
Basit:
'What about the first 6? Those happened pretty fucking fast.'
Conner:
'No, we learned about them fast. Nora and Hyphae's forensic connections showed the actual time they died gave plenty of time for the killer to strike each one on their own. My guess is they took out the easy and isolated targets in the closest proximity first. The rest they're just finding the opportunity to strike.'
Basit:
'If it was a cult you would think it would definitely be coordinated.'
Conner:
'If it was an active cult, this one seems all but dead.'
-
Charlie sits at a bar finishing hard drink.
The bartender steps up with another one.
Bartender:
'I like your tat's man.'
Charlie, not budging from his depressed demeanor:
'Thanks…'
He finishes the drink quickly then lowers his head, propping it up with his hands to cover his eyes.
Charlie:
/Just jog my memory huh?/
The memory of the park ranger fades in then fades to black as he walks through the tunnel, then fades to him falling down a steep forested hill, he looks behind himself to see the vague figures silhouette, the shine of the blade, darkness surrounds it, the bloodied blade lifting. The static gets worse for each one then completely obscuring the last- where the blade is pointed long ways parallel to his vision.
Charlie jerks his head up from his hands with a panicked gasp. He covers his mouth to stop it, slightly shaking and eyes wide and starting to tear up, his breath quick and unsteady.
He looks down staring at his empty glass, the loud chatter of people around him pushing away the growing red noise. The bartender passes, holding up the bottle, Charlie pushing his glass forward for the bartender to refill it. Charlie downs it pulling out a small wad of cash and setting it down before standing up and leaving.
-

Conner still sitting with Basit, growingly frustrated, the pile of books in front of him having grown.
Conner mutters to himself:
'I wonder…'
Basit:
'Wonder what?'
Conner looks up mildly surprised not realizing he spoke aloud.
Conner:
'If the killer could be an Aul. I can't find any consistent information on them and this dead cult was based on them.'
Basit:
'It's not.'
Conner:
'How can you tell?'
Basit:
'I've seen an aul kill. This isn't like that.'
Conner skeptical interest:
'When?'
Basit frowns and looks away.
Basit:
'You know that… facility?'
Conner:
'The abandoned bunker I found you in?'

Conner, younger, in the desert standing back, a metal ground entrance opened and a huge mass of muscle bone and gore exploding out of it, upward.

Basit:
'Yea… That one. That's where I saw it.'
Long pause as Conner waits for her to speak more, she doesn't.
Conner:
'Can you elaborate?'
Basit's frown deepens.
Conner looks away:
'Apologies.'Basit:
'All the time we've known each other you've always respected my boundaries when talking about my past.'
Conner, compassionate:
'Of course.'
Basit eyes him:
'Maybe give Charlie a similar luxury.'
Conner frowns and looks down. Basit sighs and leans forward to speak, as she does Conner puts his hands together, resting his jaw against them while he listens.
Basit:
'Before the facility went into lockdown— from my escape attempt; ton's of abnormals where held there-'
Conner:
'I know-'
She eyes him into silence, he closes his mouth and lowers his head to listen.
Basit:
'So when they got their hands on a genuine Aul-' sarcastic optimism '-what better place to keep it, right?'
Her expression drops and she pauses for a moment.
Basit's face turns grim as she speaks:
'All abnormals are unique, but an Aul is- somethign else. Abnormals are conscious, in some form. This— It got out of it's containment, broke through almost all the other barriers, and slaughtered almost everyone. Like a machine.'

The underground facility, a figure standing in an open area, it's human in shape but its head floats above its shoulders, a large glowing nail in the center of its forehead. Its eyes and mouth glow, open, still and lifeless. Its hair glowing and spectral, reaching out throughout the area, holding up and actively tearing apart several abnormal corpses, a faint glow emitting from the corpses and flowing back into the hair tendrils. Several humans in agent outfits holding up guns at it, a few shooting, the bullets pinging off with no effect, the being not touching them.

Conner:
'This was before you did the same thing-?'
Basit looks up, stern:
'I killed the humans. The Aul killed the abnormals. Only abnormals. I think I only survived it because I had extra protection-' she sneers -'a luxury of being their 'asset'.'
Conner:
'Did they kill it?'
Basit:
'No, they couldn't. It was indestructible, nothing could even harm it. They just managed to confine it again and, I assume, take it to a more secure facility.'
Conner in thought:
'Hm.'
Basit tensing up in fear of the memory:
'It didn't plan its attacks. It just did. No threats, no communication at all, like it had no thoughts, its only purpose was to annihilate every abnormal it could get to.'Basit:
'I really hope an aul isn't involved in this.' Dread 'For all our sakes.'
As soon as she finished speaking Charlie steps back into the room. Both look up to him as he walks over to the table, grabbing one of Conner's pens and papers, Conner looking affronted then curious as Charlie starts to sketch out the blade from his memory, including the repeating symbol from the pages on its hilt.
Charlie sits back down in the chair, shaken.
Conner picks up the paper and looks to Charlie:
'What is this?'
Charlie:
'it's- the—'
He lowers his face into his hands:
'It's the only thing I remember.'
Conner stares at the paper.
Conner:
'I'll be right back, I need to get Demetrius's insight on this.'
Conner goes to leave.
Conner searches for Demetrius in the foyer.
Basit to Charlie:
'I'm going to have a smoke, want to come?'
Charlie shakes his head in his hands. Basit turns and leaves the room.Conner goes to Demetrius's office, it's empty. He goes to leave but stops, spotting a familiar piece of paper on the deskBasit steps out of the room, she walks down to the foyer. Looking around and seeing nobody she sighs and leans against one of the walls in a short hallway to the restrooms. She leans against the wall and pulls out a cigarette and lights it. She looks up, seeing a no smoking sign. She stares at it while taking a puff and blows the smoke in it's direction.Conner steps over, picking up the paper, a finger piece falling out of it. Conner leans down and picks it up then rushes from the office.Basit leans her head back and takes a deep sigh. She opens her eyes, catching glimpse of a few drops of blood on the floor at the bathroom door down the hall. She pushes off the wall, pushing her cigarette against the metal sign to put it out before walking down the hall to the bathroom. She stops, pushing the door open to find Demetrius's butchered body.
-

Conner:
'Putain !'
Conner's foot kicks a smoking bin outside of the library.
Basit standing nearby.
Conner:
'Ici même ! We where this fucking close!'
Basit:
'It probably wasn't while we were here. We saw Demetrius just before we left-'
Conner:
'Exactly! While we were off fucking around, someone else got killed!'
Conner pacing upset.
In Conners car, nearby, Charlie lay in the back seat, staring at his added finger piece, tired and dissociated.
Basit:
'Do you really think if we were here the murderer would have just announced themself? We're both hunters, Conner, you know they would have just waited to strike after we left.'
Conner upset, more desperate than angry:
'You don't know that.'
Basit:
'I know you're doing your best.'
Conner:
'Best isn't good enough! I have to finish this case! People need me-'
He voice drops. Basit watches him, sympathetic.
Conner turns and walks towards the car:
'Let's go.'
They get into the car.
Basit:
'Is there anything else we need before we leave?'
Conner:
'No. I collected everything I could. I'll tell Nora to get some people down here to take care of the body-'
Conner's sorrow deepens:
'-and the library.'
Basit empathetic:
'I'm sorry, Conner.'
Conner pained:
'Me too.'
-
Conner, carrying a few folders of papers and a few books, steps into the basement. He places them on the table in front of the evidence board. He puts his hands on the desk edges and pauses for a moment, expression grim. He stands up again to reach into his pocket, looking at the scrap of paper, and pinning it to the board.

10#
"And thus shall the host of our Lord's hunger, the Vassal of Desire,
first feast upon the Scion of the earth—first among Man. Then shall it feast among the stars.
And at the last, shall it hunt within Her void."

-
Charlie in his apartment laying in bed, eyes open. His phone on his night stand beeps a couple of times.
Kate in their room on their phone, sitting on their bed, brows furrowed with worry. Beside them is a large pink stuffed platypus, a laptop at the side, a filled bookshelf, and a wall of photos.

[Charlie]
Four hours ago
Kate: How was your day with your friend?
30 minutes ago
Kate: Goodnight
Now
Kate: you ok?

Charlie lays there for a while, not checking his phone, simply staring up at the ceiling. The ceiling warps, through the growing static the smooth off white ceiling becomes dark and boarded, the walls gray and rough like concrete. The vague shadow of a figure with a squared head, a visor, steps up beside him into his view.
Charlie jerks out of bed and stands up, not grabbing his phone, only his lilac hoodie as he heads back out of the apartment.
-
Charlie stops in front of a liquor store 'closed'.
He sighs and walks past it.
He walks down the street, across from the flower shop. He continues walking, Anwir passing by on the other side of the street. Anwir spots him and waves, calling out.
Anwir:
'Charlie!'
Charlie stops, looking and waving awkwardly, brows furrowed and unsure.
Anwir crosses the street and walks up to him.
Anwir concern:
'Are you alright?'
Charlie:
'I'm fine.'
Anwir:
'Good. It's a bit late to be out, isn't it?'
Charlie eyes him distrusting:
'Yea.. it is…'
Anwir humored:
'If you're wondering why I'm also out so late-'
He holds up a bag.
Anwir:
'I have floral arrangements that I have to get done tonight and I ran out of foam and ties. It's very important I get them done before tomorrow morning.'
Charlie:
'Oh… Good luck with that.'
Charlie goes to continue walking, Anwir watches him for a moment before speaking up.
Anwir:
'Would you like to come inside for a bit?'
Charlie glances over his shoulder:
'Nah, thanks.'
Anwir:
'Are you sure? I could use some help getting these bouquets finished, and I can pay you for your time.'
Charlie stops, pausing in thought.
He turns around.
Anwir:
'And I'll even throw in a cup of tea, or coffee if you prefer.'
Charlie:
'I don't know anything about flowers.'
Anwir:
'That's fine, all you need is some functioning hands.'
Charlie holds up his left hand, pinkie and tip of his ring finger still missing.
Charlie:
'Guess I'm not qualified for the job then.'
Anwir gives a sympathetic smile:
'I'm sure that will be no issue.'
Charlie glances down, pondering. He concedes with a sigh and follows Anwir.
-

In Anwir's flower shop both work on banquets, Charlie has a coffee beside his work, he lags behind Anwir, his bouquet less cohesive and organised than Anwir's.
They work in silence for a long while. Anwir finishes his and sets it aside with several others.
Charlie:
'So—'
Anwir looks over to him as he gathers more flowers.
Charlie:
'What made you want to be a florist?'
Anwir pauses in thought:
'I'm not sure. Flower gardening is something that brought me joy, so I kept doing it until it became my career.'
Charlie half humored smile:
'Did being a priest not pay well?'
Anwir chuckles:
'This became a career after I left the church.'
Charlie:
'Ah.'
They go back to silence for a moment.
Charlie:
'Why did you leave the church?'
Anwir pauses, his happy demeanor faltering.
Charlie:
'Sorry-'
Anwir:
'No, please, never be sorry for questions.'
He focuses on the flowers again for a silent moment.
Anwir:
'Have you ever lost someone you care about?'
Charlie becomes uncomfortable and his demeanor closes up, brows furrowing as he focuses on the flowers.
Anwir:
'I've lost people before. suddenly and without warning. it cuts you like a knife and leaves you feeling empty, and broken.'
Charlie:
'Yea… it does.'
Anwir:
'That is why I left the church. It simply could not fill the void that was left.'
Charlie:
'But flowers did?'
Anwir sad chuckle:
'No. Nothing can. But I feel more content in my work now, like maybe I can heal— a little bit.'
Charlie pauses for a long time, Anwir finishing another bouquet.
Charlie:
'How did you find it?'
Anwir looks to him questioning.
Charlie nervous:
'The thing that helps you heal?'
Anwir:
'I guess it more of found me. It wasn't until I confronted the pain that I learned how to soothe it with purpose.'
Charlie:
'You make it sound easy.'
Anwir chuckles:
'It's not. It's taken years to feel like a person again.'
Charlie flinches with sorrow muttering to himself:
'I already forgot what it feels like to be human'
Anwir gives him a soft smile:
'Then focus on remembering what it feels like to be Charlie.'
He picks up the two finished bouquets putting his and Charlie's with the rest.
Anwir:
'And that's done.'
He reaches into his wallet taking out some cash to hand to Charlie.
Charlie hesitates to take it:
'No, you don't have to. I didn't really help much.'
Anwir smiles:
'I keep my promises.'Charlie tentatively takes it.
Anwir looks at the bouquet collection:
'Oh! One of them is missing an orange chrysanthemum.'
He heads for the room at the back of the store:
'Would you like to see the rest?'
Charlie:
'Of- your flowers?'
Anwir nods and Charlie follows him to the grow room in the back. He finds the orange chrysanthemums and clips one from the rest.
Charlie:
'You really like flowers huh?'
Anwir chuckles:
'I do. They're all beautiful, but I do have a favorite.'
He stands up tall to look at a corner of the room:
'Oh!'
He heads over, Charlie following him to a singled off grow area for a single flower plant.
Anwir exclaimed leaning forward:
'It's blooming!'
Charlie:
'What is it?'
Anwir:
'Pink lady slippers. They take years to have their first bloom. I started this one from a seed seven years ago.'
Anwir smiling at it, Charlie looking at it, masking his disinterest with a half smile.
Anwir stands up straight again still looking at it:
'Growing them takes patience and meticulous planning and care. They take time, dedication, and focus. That makes it all the more rewarding.'
Anwir turns and clips a few more flowers from some of his collection. He bundles them and hands them to Charlie.
Anwir:
'Here.'
Charlie:
'Oh you don't have to-'
Anwir:
'I'm sure you have someone special to give them to.'
Charlie, slightly flustered, smiles and takes them.
-
Anwir follows Charlie out of his shop.
Anwir:
'Thank you again for your help, Charlie.'
Charlie:
'Sure, anytime.'
He smiles at Anwir and waves, Anwir returns the gesture.
-
Charlie enters his apartment again.
He steps over to his trash can, picking up the business card.
He lays on the bed staring at the ceiling.
Charlie:
/Confront the pain huh? Sounds so much easier than it is./
He rolls over and closes his eyes, slipping into a white static fog.'...Boonruang… what does that name mean?'
'Dad said …means light…'
'... and Chîn?...'
'A piece...separated from a whole… dad took… name when he left his…''A piece separated from the whole.'
'How beautiful.''May I call you Chîn?'

[Kate]
Yesterday
Charlie: Im fine
Kate: you sure?
Now*
Charlie: Want to work on your car today? :car: :wrench:
Kate: Sure, 3 good?

Charlie pauses and looks to his clock 11:43 am

Charlie: ok

Charlie grabs a bottle of liquor, taking a shot.
-
Charlie on the bus, flowers in hand.
-
Charlie gets off the bus and walks to Kate's house.
Charlie on his phone while he walks

[Kate]
Charlie: Got everything in the garage?
Kate: everything on your list
Charlie: :thumbsup:

-
Charlie walks up to the house towards the open garage, Kate steps out.
Charlie:
'Hey.'
Kate walks up to him with a smile:
'Hi, handsome.'
Charlie awkwardly holds up the flowers.
Kate grins and takes them:
'I should have known you were a romantic.'
Kate kisses his cheek, Charlie grinning, flustered. He turns towards the car as Kate heads back for the house door with the flowers.
Kate:
'Want coffee?'
Charlie:
'Sure- thanks.'
-
Charlie ties all of his hair into a bun.
Charlie changing the transmission:
-Unhooks battery-
-Removes driver shaft-
Kate sitting on a chair against the garage wall, Going back and forth between watching Charlie work and being on their phone
-Lifts car with 4 big jacks one trans jack left with parts-
-
Early night
Kate tired looks to their phone [10:09 pm]
Kate:
'Aren't you tired? You can finish this later.'
Charlie, from under the car putting the final bolts on the replaced transmission.
Charlie:
'I'm fine. I'm almost done anyway.'
Kate:
'Almost done as in 20 minutes or-?'
Charlie pauses.
Charlie from under the car:
'an hour-ish?'
Kate gives a sigh and weak smile as they stand.
Kate:
'Then decide what you want to eat.'
Charlie gets out from under the car to grab a part:
'I'm good.'
Kate:
'It’s been over six hours, Charlie—assuming you ate before you got here.'
Charlie:
'Eating will just make it take longer.'
Kate stands up and heads for the door:
'I'm not having you pass out under my car.'
Charlie:
'I won't. I wouldn't say no to more coffee though.'
-
Kate in the kitchen, a pot of coffee brewing, a pot of water boiling, a pan of vegetables frying.
Kate steps out with 2 cups of coffee, Charlie sitting in the lowered cars driver seat ,wiping off his hands, about to replace the shaft
Kate:
'Need another?'
Charlie:
'In a moment.'
Kate:
'At least take five for caffeine.'
Charlie smiles, drops the rag and takes the cup.
Kate sets their phone down and drinks from their cup too.
Kate:
'So you're a romantic and workaholic?'
Charlie gives a tired chuckle:
'Not really. I just like working on cars. It's a good distraction.'
Kate:
'Distraction from what?'
Charlies smile falters, hiding it behind the coffee as he sips it. He masks with his typical witty smirk.
Charlie:
'Oh, you know. Climate change, the economy, existential dread. The usual human struggle.'
Kate's phone beeps, the timer alarm going off, Kate takes it and heads back inside. Charlie puts down the coffee and goes back to the car.
-
Clock on the wall showing 10:42 pm
Kate filling two plates with food: Mashed potatoes, fried veggies and Salisbury steak. They hear the car start and look up, rushing outside with excitement. They watch Charlie pull the car forward and out of the garage.
Charlie turns off the car again and steps out, Kate rushing up to him.
Charlie:
'Alright it's don-'
Kate grabs them and pulls them into a kiss affectionately hugging.
Kate breaks it:
'Now get in here and eat something.'
Charlie:
'Yes— Uhm… Captain?'
Kate snorts and grabs his hand leading him inside.
-

Charlie wolfing down the last few bites of food on his plate.
Kate chuckles, less than half done with their plate.
Kate:
'Still hungry?'
Charlie embarrassed:
'Maybe.'
Kate smiles and grabs his plate standing up and stepping over to the counter with the remaining food. Clock: 11:04 pm
Kate:
'I knew you should have stopped to eat earlier.'
Charlie:
'Hey, I got it fixed.'
Kate happy:
'You did—without passing out, somehow.'
Light shining outside from Kate's moms car pulling in.
Charlie:
'I guess I'm just really lucky, huh?'
Kate sets the plate down in front of him and leans down to kiss him.
Kate's mom enters the house, looking up her expression turns from tired to a sour glare.
Catherine:
'What the hell is he doing here?'
Charlie confused, Kate annoyed, standing up straight.
Kate:
'Well that's hospitality for you.'
Catherine:
'I told you I don't want this in my house.'
Kate clenches their jaw:
'I'm just giving Charlie something to eat for fixing my car.'
Catherine:
'I'm sure that's all you're giving him as payment.'
Kate huffs up in agitation:
'That's not— You know what, yes I will be fucking him, because. He's. My. Boyfriend!'
Kate shouts, speaks each of the last words with emphasis.
Charlie taken aback and flustered by the outburst.
Catherine disgust:
'Call it what you want, when everyone knows what's going on when you dress like a whore.'
Kate, tenses up, enraged. They pause, clenching their jaw and turning towards the garage door:
Kate:
'Let's go.'
Charlie gets up and follows them outside and to their car. Kate goes for the passenger seat.
Charlie standing by the drivers side:
'Uh-'
Kate pauses, Charlie holding out the keys to them.
Charlie:
'I don't drive.'
Kate:
'You don't?'
Charlie:
'Not legally.'
Kate walks back around, takes the keys and gets into the driver seat both getting in as Kate's mom steps outside.
Catherine:
'Cody-'
Kate slams their car door and turns to shout:
'It's Kate!'
Kate starts the car and drives off.
-
Charlie sits awkwardly, Kate silently upset holding back tears.
Charlie:
'So— what was that about?'
Kate:
'Nothing. She just-'
Kate pauses
Kate snide:
'She thinks I'm a whore. Because it must not be possible to be trans and have multiple boyfriends and not be a prostitute!'
Charlie goes to speak but they keep going, emotional and upset.
Kate:
'And who fucking cares?! If I wanted to be a sex worker that would be none of her— or anyone else's fucking business!'
Kate:
'And she's not really worried for my safety! She just can't get over I'm not her perfect little boy-'
They start to tear up, shouting through their tears
'-in her eye's I'm just some perverted freak, some tainted version of the son. She. Never. Had!'
Kate smacks the steering wheel as they shout the last words.
Kate wheezes, tears rolling down their cheek.
Charlie sits awkwardly and unsure.
Kate wiping their face:
'Sorry.'
Charlie:
'You're fine.'
They sit in silence for a few moments.
Charlie glances over to Kate, nervous:
'This is probably a really bad time to admit I'm an idiot.'
Kate glances over, brows crooked in confusion.
Charlie:
'I may had herd that 'accountant' was a cover for 'sex work'.'
Kate's face drops, mildly agitated:
'You thought I was a hooker?'
Charlie:
'Maybe.'
Kate sighs heavily:
'God—Charlie...'
Charlie, guilty:
'Sorry.'
Kate's face softens:
'Well at least you weren't an asshole about it.'
They sit in silence for a moment, both more relaxed.
Charlie:
'Where are we going?'
Kate:
'I don't know.'
Charlie half-smiles:
'Just driving aimlessly then?'
Kate realization:
'No. I think I know where I'm going.'
-

Kate drives up to an abandoned church building with a long driveway, surrounded by a field with a few houses in the distance.
Charlie:
'What's this place?'
Kate parks and both exit the car.
Kate:
'An old church.'
They walk up to it.
Kate:
'Mom used to drag me and dad here every Sunday. When it was abandoned, me and a group of friends started to come here to hang out.'
They enter the large door creaks.
Kate:
'Usually to do stupid shit like drink, smoke, and graffiti stuff.'
They walk past some spray painted walls.
Charlie:
'So like every other teenager?'
Kate chuckles:
'Pretty much.'
They walk to the podium, Charlie rubs his tired eyes.
They stare out at the tall ceiling, the ransacked decor, dusty bleachers, and broken stain glass.
Charlie:
'I take it you're not the religious type.'
Kate:
'Like doing ritualistic worship shit? No.'
Charlie: 'Me neither. Kind of hard to believe in a god when so much bad shit happens, you know?'
Kate walks off the podium and down the walkway between the seats.
Kate:
'I didn't say I don't believe in a god.'
Charlie:
'Oh.'
Kate turns to him, expectant and sly:
'Problem?'
Charlie:
'No— I mean, so long as you don't mind that I don't believe in it.'
Charlie follows them.
Kate shrugs:
'I don't care.'
They leave the service area and into the main hall again.
Charlie:
'Didn't it bother you to desecrate your church?'
Kate:
'I didn't say I believe in their god either.'
Charlie:
'Which one then?'
Kate shrugs:
'None in particular, I just think there is one. There must be.'
Charlie:
'Why must it be?'
Kate walks to a door at the back opening it before turning back to Charlie.
Kate:
'Because only some kind of god could make a world that has such strict rules yet so much random bullshit. How else does it make sense for someone like me to exist?'
Charlie pauses Kate already walking past the open door.
Charlie:
'Well that's— Ironic.'
Kate chuckles from in the hall:
'I aim to surprise!'
Charlie follows and Kate leads him down a short set of steps into the lower floor.
As Kate talks Charlie looks down, seeing his bare feet. He shakes it off rubbing his eyes, he looks back up tired and strained. He surprises a yawn.
Kate:
'I don’t hang out with those guys anymore, but over the years, this place has somehow become a safe space for me. Just a place to be alone and think.'
They enter a kitchen area past it is a sitting room. There is a light switch on the kitchen wall before the exit to the next room.
Kate:
'I spent a lot of time here when I was figuring myself out— and avoiding mom.'
They near the doorway to the next room.
Kate:
'Maybe I should check in on the old gang sometime—if they’d even be-'
Kate looking off to the side both about to enter the room. Charlie sees the silhouette of another victim laid out on the floor.
Shocked, Charlie grabs Kate's arm and pulls them back out and away from the room, scared.
Kate:
'Ow, Charlie what the fuck?!'
Charlie holding both their arms:
'Go back to the car.'
Kate:
'What, why?'
Charlie:
'Just do it!'
Kate fights him off:
'Charlie, let go of me!'
Kate pulls away going back towards the doorway.
Charlie:
'Don't-!'
Charlie reaches for Kate at they go for the lights, Kate flips them on and both the lights for the kitchen and the next room come on, showing the next room is empty, say for a few scattered chairs and a dusty meeting table.
Charlie stares confused and a bit dazed.
Kate:
'What is wrong with you?!'
Charlie:
'I thought… '
He pauses and looks down, shaking, a faint static overlay of parchment under his feet.
Charlie low, starting to breathe heavily:
'...I think I'm having an episode.'
Kate's expression turns from anger to concern.
Kate:
'Oh! Uh-'
Charlie goes to cover his face hyperventilating, he's standing in Daniels trailer, hands over his eyes but Daniel's body laying in front of him.
Kate grabs his hands and pulls them from his face holding them and rubbing them with their thumbs.
Kate:
'Hey, look at me. It's alright.'
Charlie looks up, vision obscured, through the static he sees the figure in the visor looking down on him.
Kate:
'It's me, Kate. I'm right here, just breathe.'
The view fades to see Kate's face in front of him, in Daniel's camper.
Kate:
'You're in an old church. We were exploring it and I was telling you about it.'
The surrounding view of Kate in the camper fades to the church.
Kate:
'We came here in my car, you fixed it earlier, remember?'
Charlie still shaken and breathing ragged trying to focus on Kate.
Kate:
'Can you tell me what color my shirt is?'
Charlie takes a moment: 'Blue.'
Kate struggled to think:
'And, uhm— My car, what color was it?'
Charlie thinks back, seeing the rangers truck.
Charlie:
'Green-'
Kate concern:
'The car you fixed a few hours ago. What color is it?'
Charlie:
'...Champaign.'
Charlie, calmer, looks at Kate's hands on his, grabbing them.
Kate relief:
'That's it. And what type of car is it?'
Both smile.
Charlie:
'1979 Ford Mustang notchback coupe'
Kate:
'Dork.'
Kate puts their hands on either side of Charlie's face, giving a comforting smile.
Kate:
'You're safe, Charlie.'
Charlie:
'Sorry-'
Kate:
'No, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were struggling. Want to go home now?'
Charlie nods.
-

At Charlie's apartment, 1:13 am, both laying in his bed. Charlie still awake, the red static persisting around his vision. He closes his eyes; his arm is bound to the floor he looks up as a rubber boot steps over to him. Charlie's eyes open again, brows furrowed, breath hitching.
Kate stirs and rolls over, opening their eyes to look at Charlie.
Kate:
'Can't sleep?'
Charlie:
'No.'
Kate:
'Any way I can help you get to sleep?'
Charlie:
'Knock me out with a crowbar.'
Kate gives a pained chuckle. They lean over and kiss him.
Kate:
'I think we can figure out something better than that.'
They lay close together, kissing for a moment before Kate shifts and moves over top of Charlie. Both shift under the covers, Kate pulling Charlie's shirt off and tossing it to the side. Charlie pulls Kate down, holding them close to his chest as they rock, their breath quickens.They stop, both exhale, Charlie's head leaned back against the pillow, catching his breath. Kate slides off of him, staying huddled close to his side.
Kate grins:
*'Feel any better?'
Charlie repeating internally:
/Don't do it./
Charlie smiles:
'A bit.'
Kate:
'Good.'
Kate leans over to kiss him on his brow.
Charlie smiling, content:
'I love you.'
/Fuck./
Both of their faces flinch with a mix of anxiety and happiness.
Both stay awkwardly silent for a moment, Kate avoiding eye contact.
After a moment, Kate:
'Try that again, before sex next time.'
Charlie gives a nervous chuckle.
-
Late morning
Charlie mixing a bowl of pancake mix, Kate in his shower.
Kate exits the bathroom drying their hair as they sit down at Charlie's table.
Charlie puts a coffee in front of them.
Kate:
'Oh, thanks.'
Charlie:
'Pancakes?'
Kate:
'Sure.'
Charlie sets a plate down in front of them and goes back to making more.
Charlie:
'Uh- Thank you. For helping me calm down last night.'
Kate:
'Yea, no problem. Sorry if taking you to the church triggered you-'
Charlie sits down with his own food and coffee.
Charlie:
'No. I- I think I was just really tired.'
Kate:
'Oh, yea. That'll do it.'
Charlie:
'You seem to know how to handle me when I'm… like that.'
Kate:
'Hardly. But my dad had episodes like that.'
Charlie:
'You helped him with them?'
Kate:
'Not really. But I saw my uncle do stuff like that to help ground him.'
Charlie finishes off his food quickly.
Kate:
'Well, not uncle exactly. He worked with my dad and became a really good family friend after my dad left his job.'
Charlie:
'Mm. So like a— 'don't tell my wife' kind of 'not-uncle'?'
Kate amused:
'Heh—They were both straight. But he definitely didn't act the part, really eccentric.'
Charlie smiles:
'Platonic 'not-uncle' then, got it. Where did he and your dad work?'
Kate:
'Not sure, some government agency. Not the army but maybe something military, or something else. He didn't really talk about it.'
Charlie takes his empty plate back to his counter, turning on the burner to make more pancakes.
Kate watches him cook for a moment.
Kate smirks:
'You know, this counts as 'before sex'.'
Charlie gives a nervous chuckle, back still turned away from Kate as he cooks.
Kate's expression falls and they look down to their coffee.
Kate mutters:
'Exactly.'
Charlie's back still turned, expression anxious.
Charlie internal:
/Don't make it worse./
Kate, disappointed, stands, grabbing their bag and keys.
Kate:
'I need to get going.'
Charlie glances back:
'Oh… Alright.'
Kate:
'I have a client to get to.'
Charlie looks confused for a moment:
'Oh, you're joking.'
Kate looks back, smirking:
'Accountants have clients too.'
Charlie mildly embarrassed:
'Right.'
Kate snorts, amused, as they leave.
-
Evening
Charlie lying on his couch, on the coffee table a single empty shot glass, an open car magazine, and his phone. The tv on, infomercials playing, Charlie not paying attention to it as he looks at his two thirds complete ring finger. He rubs the finger with his other hand, the two pieces slipping off form the knuckles, he lets them go to snap back on.

-
Morning, laundromat
Charlie walking down the street with a laundry basket.
Charlie sitting on a bench in the laundromat, watching a tv in the upper corner.
Charlie pulls his clothes out from the dryer and sits the basket beside him at the folding table. He puts in some earbuds and puts music on his phone and begins to fold.
Kate steps into the laundromat, at the front of the place, out of sight from Charlie, They put their clothes in the washer. They go to pour in the detergent but only a few drops come out. They press their lips together and step away for the detergent dispenser in the back. As they walk they spot Charlie at the dryer tables, swaying to the music.
Kate:
'Hey, Charlie!'
Charlie doesn't hear them, he starts to bounce more to the music getting into it, mouthing and humming some of the lyrics.
Kate grins affectionately and steps closer to him. Standing behind him they reach their hands out to grab and surprise him. They pause, their mischievous grin drops, contemplating.
They step back, away from behind Charlie and give him a wide berth to come around beside him and wave.
Charlie sees them out of the corner of his eye. He turns in surprise, a momentary flash of terror on his face before he realises it's Kate and calms down, pulling out an earbud, Kate's face turning to remorse.
Charlie, delighted:
'Kate!'
Kate:
'Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.'
Charlie:
'What are you doing here?'
Kate:
'I was going to put on my laundry and then come bother you while I waited for it to finish.'
Charlie sly grin:
'Staring at the spin cycle's not as entertaining as me I take it?'
Kate smirks as they turn away:
'Not even close'
Charlie watches as Kate step away to get the detergent from the dispenser then steps back over to their washing machine.
As Kate goes to open the mini bottle Charlie steps over, peeking from the top corner of the machine.
Charlie:
'This one is broken, you know.'
Kate looks over:
'Really?'
Charlie:
'It stops halfway through the rinse cycle.'
He points to another:
'That one works well.'
Kate looks at it then goes to pull their laundry back out of the machine.
Kate:
'Thanks for saving me that headache.'
Charlie:
'I am a wealth of laundromat knowledge.'
Kate chuckles:
'Does that make you my laundry mentor then?'
They pickup the basket and lean into Charlie:
'Or shall I just call you my Charlie?'
They peck him on the cheek, Charlie giving a crooked flustered grin.
-

Kate opens the door to Charlie's apartment, Charlie stepping in with his basket of folded laundry.
Charlie:
'You sure you want to leave your laundry in your car?'
Kate:
'Mhm. What, is someone going to break into my car to steal my pantyhose?'
Charlie gives his witty flirtatious grin:
'I would—' Grin drops, brows furrow 'Wait no, nevermind, that's creepy.'
Kate gives an amused chuff.
Charlie sits at his couch Kate following and sitting in his lap to his mild surprise, Kate kisses him and they make out for a moment before Kate pulls away again to speak.
Kate:
'Have I softened you up enough to ask if I can stay the night?'
Charlie half smile:
'You don't have to soften me up for me to say yes to that.'
Kate, weak masking smile:
'Thank you.'
Charlie notices:
'Something wrong?'
Kate sighs:
'Not anything new. Just my mom being insufferable, so I need a break from being around her. Normally I stay at Ayden's, but he has work tonight—' mock bravado 'And I thought you could use my company.'
Charlie grins, putting his hands on Kates waist.
Charlie:
'I always crave your company.'
Kate grins and kisses Charlie as he slides his hands up Kate's sides lifting their shirt.
A sudden knock at the door caused both of them to stop. They both look towards the door, the knocking repeats.
Charlie sighs and leans back, Kate half smiling and getting up from his lap.
Kate:
'Shall I make coffee?'
Charlie stands:
'Yea, go ahead.'
Charlie walks over to the door opening it to see Nora.
Charlie:
'Nora?' Concern 'Has something happened?'
Nora:
'No, I just-'
Nora spots Kate at Charlie's kitchenette.
Nora suspicion:
'Who are you?'
Charlie grows annoyed, Kate looks over from the kitchen giving a small wave.
Kate:
'I'm Kate.'
Nora looks to Charlie with slightly hunched defensive shoulders.
Nora:
'Charlie, who are they?'
Charlie flat:
'They just said their name is Kate.'
Nora:
'No, I mean-'
Charlie interrupts her:
'Did you want something? Other than to interrogate me over my social life?'
Nora:
'I just— wanted to make sure you're doing alright. Are you sleeping well, eating, staying hydrated?'
Charlie half amused:
'Should I also hand over my report card with those answers?'
Nora crosses her arms mock defensive:
'I'm just checking in, Charlie, as I'd do for anyone else.'
Kate glances over to them, stirring their coffee.
Charlie:
'Right— Definitely no change lately.'
Nora gives a frustrated huff.
Charlie:
'I'm fine, Nora, really.'
Nora relaxes and smiles:
'Good. Visit soon, alright?'
Charlie:
'Sure. Bye Nora.'
Charlie goes to shut the door, Nora staying put, staring at Kate as the door shuts. She stands at the door for a moment before turning to leave.
Charlie steps over beside Kate, picking up the second cup of coffee Kate fixed.
Kate amused smirk:
'Foster mom?'
Charlie:
'No—' He pauses 'Well, she probably thinks so.'
Kate smiles:
'She seems cool.'
Charlie smiles as he sips from his mug and sets it down, stepping in front of Kate and leaning in.
Charlie:
'Where were we—'
Charlie's phone starts pinging, several times.
Charlie's face drops, Kate snorts.
Kate:
'You should check that.'
Kate steps away from him and back to the couch. Charlie sighs and takes his phone out of his pocket.

[Nora]
Nora: Are they just a friend?
Nora: How did you meet them?
Nora: Are they human?
Nora: Are they nice to you?
Charlie: NORA

Another ping and a notification for a message from conner overlaps the convo.

[Snoody Spoody]
Snoody Spoody: Be here at 4 o'clock sharp.
Charlie: …Why?
Snoody Spoody: Got a lead on our investigation.

Charlie sighs, Kate glancing over.

Charlie: I'm kind of busy today, hopefully you and Basit can handle it without my essential moral support.'
Snoody Spoody: Basit is sitting this one out. four sharp.
Charlie: I have something kind of important already.
Snoody Spoody: More important than the case?

Charlie's expression turns more agitated. Kate, standing at the couch waiting and watching, steps back over to Charlie when they see his agitation grow.
Kate:
'Are you alright?'
Charlie looks up, with a masking smile:
'Yea, I'm fine.'
Kate:
'Is something wrong?'
Charlie:
'Uh— No, just—' He pauses to think '-Being called into something— work related.'
Kate, sly smirk:
'And you don't want to tear yourself away from my company?'
Charlie gives a half hearted chuckle:
'Yea, that too, actually.'
Kate smiles and steps up leaning in:
'Well, If you don't mind me being in your apartment alone— you can go ahead and do whatever you need to and I'll be here for when you get back.'
Charlie:
'Coming home from work to a beautiful person in my home? Now that would be a dangerous addiction.'
Charlie kisses them.
Kate:
'How long till you have to leave?'
Charlie:
'Mmm. We have time.'
Kate grins and grabs him by the shirt pulling him towards the bed.
-
Charlie walks into Nora's house, Nora and Hyphae not there. He walks up to the basement door, brows furrow. He grits and steps down the stairs slowly. faint static on the edges, his foot steps, making a creak, he gasps and darts down the rest of the way in a panic. He looks back to it, vision clearing. He sighs and looks over to Conner, seeing him on his knees in front of the table, hands up and clasped together, praying.
Charlie saunters over, to his side:
'Didn't take you for the faithful type.'
Conner opens his eyes to side glare at Charlie before standing up.
Conner:
'And, why shouldn't I be?'
Charlie shrugs:
'You just don't seem the type. You seem like that 'god is dead and humanity has no hope' kind of jaded.'
Conner:
'It doesn't. That's exactly why I do believe.'
Conner looks up to the board of evidence.
View board #3
Conner:
'The world is full of nothing but pain, suffering, and injustice. There must be some greater— and good— to balance our hell.'
Charlie:
'If there was a good god wouldn't have done something about it?'
Conner turns to him:
'And if it did? Would the world listen and fall in the line of virtue? Or would it simply go back to burning itself?'
Charlie:
'Fair enough.'
Conner looks back up to the board: 'I believe because I have to. Otherwise we are alone in our hell.'
Charlie mutters:
'Welcome to my world, tickets are free.'
Conner steps away from the table grabbing a jacket:
'Come on.'
Charlie and Conner head outside to Conners car.
Charlie:
'So what's the lead this time?'
Conner:
'Ricky's boss.'
Charlie worried:
'A crime boss? Basit's coming with us, right?'
Conner:
'No, I know his tricks and she would be in danger for this one.'
Conner gets in the car.
Charlie mock excitement:
'That's super reassuring!'
Charlie follows, getting in the passenger seat.
Conner:
'Keep your shoes on, we still have backup.'
Charlie:
'Someone tougher than Basit?'
Conner gives a wavering shrug:
'No, but in this case he'll do fine.'
-

Sun nearly set as they drive in a country area, passing some country houses and trailers. Conner pulls into a dirt road and parks.
He gets out, Charlie following.
Conner:
'We'll stay parked here, probably best to not be seen yet.'
Charlie:
'What about the backup?'
A vorein, standing straight, steps out of the woods from behind him:
'Heh, backup?'The vorein has deep warm red fur and a few piercings up his ears and on his brow.Charlie turns, shocked and tense. ready to run.
Conner: 'Ah, Mr. Mercer.'
Vorein feign offence:
'Tsk tsk and here I thought we were on a first name basis. You get back up with Basit and suddenly I'm just 'the backup'.'
Conner begrudging:
'You are a valid member of the people I contract for assistance with my investigations.' Snarky 'Does that feel better?'
The vorein, amused:
'Good enough. Who's this?'
He points to Charlie who's still on edge.
Conner:
'This is Charlie. Now if this is enough chit chat, let's be off.'
Charlie relaxes a bit Conner turning to walk away, The vorein lowers his ears, questioning.
Vorein:
' 'Charlie'? Do you know Kate?'
Charlie tenses, worried:
'Are they alright?'
Conner reluctantly pauses, waiting for them.
Vorein:
'No- Yea! I mean, they're fine, Uh—'
He holds out a clawed hand to Charlie:
'I'm Ayden— Kate's other boyfriend...'
Charlie stares at the hand:
'Oh-'
Realization fully sets and he looks up to him:
'OH! You're a vorein?!'
Ayden lowers his hand again:
'Yea… Kate has a type it seems.'
Charlie:
'Do they know—?'
Ayden:
'Nooo— definitely not.'
Conner:
'Are you quite finished?'
The two turn and follow Conner into the woods, a short distance and they're back into a clearing with a small trailer, music blaring from it.
Ayden's ears perk up and he listens:
'Is that- Ah.'
Charlie glances up at him as he talks to himself.
Conner looks over and whispers:
'What?'
Ayden:
'Pick the lock, we can catch him while his pants are down.'
Ayden smirks and Conner nods.
Conner kneels in front of the door, his fingers shifting into points, like his spider legs, as he picks the lock.
Conner finishes and steps back, Ayden steps up and bursts through the door.
Apollo shouts:
'Woah what the fuck?!'
He jumps up, pulling his pants up and zipping them.
The trailer is a wreck filled with clutter, dirty clothes, beer cans, empty take out containers, magazines. The main room is a makeshift sleeping space, drug paraphernalia out in the open on tables and other random surfaces, and porn on the large tv while the music blasts from a nearby stereo system.
Charlie flustered from the sight:
'Oh— you weren't kidding.'
Ayden amused, Conner stoic.
Apollo grabs a nearby gun, Charlie instinctually ducking, Ayden and Conner standing their ground.
Apollo:
'Who the fuck do you think you are?!'
Conner:
'I'm Conner Edwards, Abnormal investigator, I have some questions for you, Apollo.'
Apollo:
'Oh yea and I have some bullets for you!'
Conner's head tilts, getting annoyed by the blaring music.
He goes to shoot but the gun clicks, he looks at it confused, the magazine missing.
Apollo:
'Where the fuck—?'
An appendage shoots from Conner and stabs the Stereo, silencing it.
Apollo looks from it to Conner with flat disbelief:
'You have about two and a half seconds to explain yourself—'
He turns again looking around his mess muttering:
'While I find that fucking—'
Ayden steps forward, grabbing Apollo by the throat and holding him up.
Apollo:
'Gurk- Hey let go of me you fucking mutt.'
Conner:
'I said— I have questions.'
Apollo:
'Fuck your- Ack!'
Ayden tightens his grip, choking him into silence. Conner steps up and sits on the couch, glancing down at it with disgust. Charlie rises up again but stays behind the couch, he spots the tv remote and picks it up to turn turn the TV, nd the porn, off.
Conner:
'Apollo, among your many avenues of illegitimate business-'
Apollo:
'The fuck you talking about? What do I look like, a crime boss to you?'
Conner:
'You may have the ability to force people to not speak of you but that backfires when you become known for it.'

Apollo:
'Chk- Useless fucking ability-'
Conner:
'Among your many operations you have a group of runners— people delivering packages for you and others who commission you.'
Apollo snarky, growing agitated:
'If you needed a run you could have just asked. But now the rates are double to replace my fucking stereo.'
Conner:
'It has come to my attention that some packages, that are apart of my investigation, were given to you to deliver. These packages have been a key piece in a murder spree. I need to know everything you do about the packages and who sent them to you.'
Apollo:
'Sorry Mr.old MacDonald but I don't snitch on customers- Ack!'
Ayden squeezes his throat again.
Conner:
'Well one of your customers is a murderer so either you talk or my associate here uses you as a chew toy.'
Apollo looks to Ayden who gives a toothy grin.
Apollo:
'Heh… about that-'A sharp ended tendril, made of ribbed spine like bones, reaches from under Apollo's shirt and stabs Ayden in his shoulder. Ayden gives out a 'Gah!' and drops Apollo, Conner still unyieldingly stoic as the fight breaks out, Charlie yelps lowering behind the couch.Apollo goes to scramble away towards something, seemingly the door. Ayden grabs him and pulls him back, Apollo turns around going to stab at him again but Ayden catches it with his maw, another one reaches out and Ayden catches it with his other hand. A third one reaches out stabbing Ayden in the hand gripping Apollo.Ayden's bite loosens as he shouts from the pain, his build seemingly increasing in size slightly with each hit. Apollo rushes to grab something. He stands holding up a cattle prod with a triumphant smirk.Ayden, huffing and bleeding looks at it and laughs:
'What is this, kink night?'
Ayden smirking:
'You better have good aim.'
Ayden lowers ready to jump:
'I like it along the spine.'Ayden jumps at Apollo and goes to bite at him, aiming for the neck, Apollo raises his arm to catch the bite, his blood is dark purple, then uses his other to jab him with the prod. Ayden grits through it with a grunt, clenching on the arm.Seeing it's ineffective Apollo reaches out his multiple appendages, stabbing him repeatedly in different locations, Ayden catches only a few aimed for his vitals. As the stabs keep hitting him Ayden grows in size and his eyes become a solid red, becoming more quadrupedal and less humanoid.His front paws land on the floor, his maw still on Apollo's arm he slings him across the trailer, Apollo crashing into his TV. Conner still sitting and observing, relaxed, legs crossed and elbow on the arm rest, Charlie crouched against the couches back, watching the fight disquietly.Apollo pulls himself up, looking up to the enraged vorein. Ayden nears, back hunched, ready to lung, Apollo looks from his door to Ayden. He darts for his window, busting through it, Ayden follows, bursting through the window making a wide hole in the trailer's wall.Apollo sprints through the open area in front of the trailer, running for the road. Ayden runs after him, lunging and biting down on Apollo's arm. As Apollo stabs at him Ayden braces him with his paw and rips his arm off. Ayden tears Apollo apart, ripping off appendages and limbs in a rage until he has only numbs for appendages and one arm left.Apollo looks up to the teeth above him:
'Wait—!'
Ayden grabs his head, tearing it off his neck and crushing it in his maw. The mass falls from his teeth and he huffs, his eyes returning to normal and his size shrinking.Conner walks up to them, Charlie behind him.
Ayden stands back up and looks to Conner.
Ayden: 'Uh— Sorry, boss...'One last appendage reaches up and gives one more stab at Ayden's shoulder from behind, he shouts as Apollo's torso skitters off with it's one arm and nubby appendages.
He gets a short way before a spidery leg stabs him pinning him in place, causing the torso to emit a 'gak!'.
Conner keeps him held down, Charlie and Ayden walking up to them.

Conner:
'Now, talk.'
He says his other appendage ripping Apollos shirt off to reveal several eyes up the ribs and a toothy mouth just under the ribcage.
Apollo groans:
'Fuck you, Conner Edwards.'
Conner:
'Talk.'
Apollo:
'What the fuck do you want from me? I was given some packages to deliver so I gave them to my boys, big fucking deal.'
Conner:
'Who gave you the packages?'
Apollo:
'Fuck if I know. They were just dropped off along with payment. A customer is a customer so we delivered.'
Conner:
'How many were you given?'
Apollo:
'A couple at a time. First two then a few sets of three and then two.'
Conner:
'I need more information than that.'
Apollo:
'Well I can't pull it out of my ass!'
Apollo sighs:
'Okay look, one of them we never exactly sent out like usual-'
Conner:
'Why?'
Apollo:
'Because it was addressed to one of my own men.'
Conner perks up:
'Who? When did you last have contact with them?'
Apollo:
'I don't know, yesterday?'
Conner hopeful:
'Then maybe we have time— Give me their address!'
Apollo:
'Ugh, fine-'
Charlie glances over to Ayden and grimaces seeing all the bleeding stab wounds.
Conner writing down the address as Apollo speaks.
Apollo:
'-but don't expect to find them until Friday.'
Conner:
'We need to find them now.'
Apollo:
*'Whoopty-fucking-doo for you, they're on a job.'
Conner:
'They could be dead.'
Apollo: 'I know, you think our line of work has safety regulations? Be real. Neither of us will be contacting them until Friday, probably just past midnight. That's our schedule.'
Conner:
'Tell me what they're doing and where they went maybe I can-'
Apollo:
'Get the mothballs out of your ears! By the time you find them, if you find them, they'll be done and headed home. Don't waste your time.'
Conner scowls.
Apollo:
'Now get the fuck off of me!'
Conner pauses with a contemptuous scowl:
'Fine.'
One of his appendages pricks Apollo, pulling a string from his blood.
Apollo shouts out:
'Ow! Fucking asshole!'
Conner's appendage brings the string to his hand and he takes it, wrapping the purple thread around his wrist.
Conner:
'But I'll be keeping an eye on you.'
Conner's appendage lifts, Apollo sliding off it, dropping, and quickly skitters away.
Ayden and Charlie watch as the abnormal flees across the road and into the woods.
Ayden sighs:
'Right, well now that's done—'
He turns to the two with a grin and perked up ears:
'Burgers anyone?'
Charlie stares at him in tired disbelief, Conner flatly looks from him to a dim light in the road.
Conner:
'Car.'
Ayden looks over his shoulder to the approaching car lights.In the car a country woman drives down the road, turning her head as she passes them, slowing down. She looks out her car windows seeing: Charlie with his hoodie up turned slightly, hiding his face from view. Conner standing the same staring at the car. Ayden, now in human form nude and bloodied, waving with a smile.Her jaw drops slightly at the sight. They watch as the car speeds away.
Conner turns to leave, Charlie looking up as Ayden follows.
-

Charlie standing, tired and a bit dazed, in front of a 24/7 food shack window. The server steps over to the window with four burgers and a drink on a tray.
'Here you are!'
Charlie goes to take the tray by the sides, the server looking past him, growing concern.
'Uhm. Is he alright? Should I call for an ambulance?'
Charlie looks over to Ayden and Conner sitting at one of the outdoor tables. Ayden, human form, wearing pants but shirtless, covered in bandages, Conner working to patch him up.
Ayden overhears her and raises a hand:
'We're good- Ow!'
He shouts as Conner dabs iodine on the stab wound on his back shoulder. Conner eyes him, face close as he works.
Charlie's brows furrow slightly, the waitress staring with deep concern.
Charlie:
'I think we're fine.'
Ayden:
'Hey! Can I get a bottle of mustard with that?!'
Charlie, tired, simply turns back to her. She looks from Ayden to Charlie then steps away, still uneasy, and brings the bottle, setting it on the tray.
Charlie brings the tray over to the table and sits.
Ayden takes three of the burgers and the drink. Charlie taking the fourth and slowly opening it tired and a bit zoned out. Ayden enthusiastically opens the bun and pours an abundant amount of mustard onto it before retopping it and biting into it.
Ayden:
'You going after that agent of his or waiting till Friday?'
Conner sighs:
'I'll get some contacts on it, but if he's right and I'd sooner find them when they return home then I don't need to be out on a goose chase.'
Ayden:
'You're the boss.'
Ayden, already having finished his first burger, grabs the second. As he coats it in mustard he glances at Charlie who's only taken one bite of his.
Ayden:
'Don't like burgers?'
Charlie doesn't respond.
Ayden:
'Yo!'
Charlie looks up blinking:
'Uh— I'm not really hungry.'
Ayden watches him, mildly concerned before he turns back to his food and wolfs down half of the second burger, as he chews;
Ayden:
'Why are you dragging the kid into this, Conner?'
Charlie glances up, mildly offended:
'Kid?'
Ayden: 'What are you, twenty?'
Charlie mildly annoyed:
'Thirty— at least.'
Ayden shrugs:
'Hard to tell with your people.'
Charlie frowns:
'Asians?'
Ayden:
'Abnormals. But that too.'
Conner interrupts:
'Because he's involved in this case.'
Ayden:
'Okay, sure— I don't know what all's going on but why bring him to this?'
Conner:
'Because If he tags along I get a chance to see the lead's reactions, any air of recognition gives me an idea of how deeply involved they– or he— are.'
Ayden finishes off his burger as Conner talks.
Charlie speaks up:
'Are we done here?'
Conner:
'There's a few people I need to check in on before we head back.'
Charlie's brows furrow and he stands:
'I'll find my own way home then.'
Conner:
'Are you aware of how far we are from the city?'
Charlie ignores him and continues walking off into the darkness, following the highway.
Ayden eating his third burger.
Ayden's brows furrow and he looks to Conner.
Ayden:
'Shouldn't we give him a ride home?'
Conner:
'If he wants to walk, he can walk. I need to check those people as soon as I can.'
Ayden:
'Leads?'
Conner:
'Humanoid abnormals that may be targets. It's blind shots in the dark but better to check on them and make sure they're not dead or targeted.'
Ayden unsure:
'If you say so, boss.'
Ayden turns his attention back to the burger, finishing it.
Ayden grins:
'So are you back up with Basit or is she just tolerating you for the case?'
Conner side eyes him, glaring.
Ayden chuckles:
'Careful you pine any harder and she might actually feel like you care.'
Conner's glare intensifies, Ayden's cocky grin widens, he glances over to Charlie's burger and grabs it.
-

Charlie walks down the side of the highway, an open area of all fields, barely lit up by the moon. As he walks over his shoulder a silhouette begins to follow him. He glances to the side but does not look directly behind himself, the fear on his face growing.He starts to walk faster, red static growing as does, his pace quickening until he's full on sprinting away. He pushes through trees, branches smacking his face and body as he runs through, road gone. He runs in a panic until he trips down the hill. His hands land on the road and he falls to his knees panting and wheezing.He looks behind himself, seeing only the empty road and fields. Charlie crawls off the road and onto the grassy incline, near tears. He curls up, burrowing his face into his knees. After a moment he lifts his head, still panting from held back sobs. He grabs his phone, shaking he opens Kates messages:

[Kate]
Charlie: hey cani bug u forr a ride?

View Kate asleep in Charlie's bed, a book on their chest. Their phone on the bedside table pings, Kate doesn't stir.
Charlie waits in the dark, huddled up. After a while he checks seeing no response
[sent 15 minutes ago]He goes to call Nora, view Nora at her papers filled dining table, head on her arm passed out, an empty glass and half bottle of whisky nearby.The call goes to voicemail and Charlie hangs up, hugging his knees again, face down.
After a long while, slightly calmer, Charlie pulls up his phone again, making a call.Charlie:
'H-hey. I'm sorry— I don't mean to bother you so late—'
Charlie:
'Yea… I'm— Can I get a ride home?'-
Charlie, tired, sitting in the same spot, calmer, waiting. A silver Honda car drives by, stopping just past him. Charlie looks up, Anwir peeking out of the car window.
Anwir:
'Hey, hop in.'
Charlie stands. Charlie sits in the passenger seat, putting on the seatbelt.
Charlie:
'Thanks for coming to pick me up.'
Anwir:
'No problem. Are you alright?'
Charlie:
'I'm fine. I just need to get home.'
-
Anwir parks in front of Charlie's apartment.
Charlie gets out and turns:
'Thanks again for the ride.'
Anwir:
'Any time, Charlie. Have a good night, alright?'
Charlie nods:
'You too.'
He heads inside.
-
Charlie enters his apartment and crawls up beside Kate, resting his head on them.

Conner standing in front of the board again, Nora steps into the basement, walking up behind him.
Conner:
'Call Hyphae down, I need to get an update from them.'
Nora:
'They're not here right now.'
Conner frowns:
'This one's been out a lot, do they not have other bodies to do errands?'
Nora:
'Actually their count has been dwindling for years now. That one is the only body they have that can track scents right now.'
Conner grumbles:
'Call the Diner, get an update from Hyphae there.'
Nora amused smirk and mock serious tone:
'Conner Edwards, Do you ever sleep?'
Conner flat:
'No.'
Conner speaks while focusing on the board, peering closely. He reaches up to scribble something down.

' the Vassal of Desire, first feast upon the Scion '
The murderer is feasting?

View board #4
Conner leans back again, still focused on the board as he speaks.
Conner:
'But sometimes I rest, and my imagination wonders.'
Nora:
'That's sleeping, Conner.'
Conner:
'It's closer to meditation.'
She shakes her head and turns to leave:
'We'll I'll leave you to 'not sleep'. But do get some rest Conner, we all need to be at our best.'
After she leaves Conner sighs and steps away from the board reaching up to tug, pull, and intertwine the red threats into a hammock like web. He lays in it, and closes his eyes.
-

Blades of grass in a well tended lawn, morning sun shining on the drops of dew. A small spider, with conners same colors and pattern, crawls up one of the blades of grass. Suddenly a pair of stubby little hands clasp over it. They lift up to the face of a little boy, he opens his hands staring at the spider inside with excitement.
Boy:
'Bonjour, petite araignée !'The boy's face pressed against glass, in his room, staring intently with a wide smile. The little spider crawls up a stick into view, weaving a tiny red web as it goes.
View behind the little boy as he stares at the spider enclosure on his desk, a bit of paper taped to the corner of the glass box labeled: 'Conner'

-
Pancakes in a pan, Charlie flipping them. Behind him Kate sits at the table, putting on makeup with a little hand held mirror. The tv remote on the table in front of them and the tv playing a random sitcom.
Kate:
'How was work?'
Charlie turns to them:
'Work?'
Kate raises a brow:
'What you were called in for last night?'
Charlie:
'Oh— right. Uh- It was...'
Kate puts away their makeup in their bag while Charlie sets the food on the table.
Charlie:
'It was nuts, a guy broke through a wall, and some nerdy crime boss lost his head. You should have been there.'
Kate smirks and snorts:
'Well, that's creative. So definitely not a date then?'
Charlie stammers:
'No! Nothing like that!'
Kate chuckles:
'This isn't one sided, you can be honest if it was.'
Charlie:
'Still no, it wasn't that. It's just— I guess it's not really 'work' like a job. More of an—obligation.'
Kate:
'Want to talk about it?'
Charlie pauses:
'...Maybe later..'
-
Charlie picking up the plates and taking them to his sink, Kate sitting on his couch.
Kate looking up from their phone:
'Any objections if Ayden meets me here? I'm taking him out for the day.'
Charlie shrugs and shakes his head, indifferent.
Kate looks back down to the phone for a moment before turning their attention to the tv. The show changes to advertisements for a theme park's offer of birthday discounts.
Kate looks back to Charlie.
Kate:
'Say, when is your birthday?'
Charlie shrugs, walking back to the couch and sitting beside them.
Charlie:
'Dunno.'
Kate confused:
'You don't? Isn't it on your ID?'
Charlie:
'Oh— Uh, I guess...'
Kate:
'Is it not accurate?'
Charlie:
'Probably not.'
Kate:
'Because of the foster thing?'
Charlie hesitant:
'Yea…'
Kate:
'Couldn't you find out?'
Charlie:
'Probably. But I don't want to know it.'
Kate:
'Why not?'
Charlie's witty tone:
'Why disturb it? There's enough ghosts haunting me I don't need my past to get in on the party.'
Kate saddened:
'So you haven't celebrated any birthdays?'
Charlie:
'Nope.'
Kate goes to speak but their phone dings, they look at it.
Kate stands:
'Ayden's outside.'
Charlie watches them gather their things. Kate stands, ready to leave and looks back at Charlie.
Kate:
'You can still walk me out if you want.'
Charlie half smiles and stands.
-

They step out of the apartment building, Ayden standing and waiting at the base of the steps. He looks up and smiles to Kate.
Ayden:
'Ready?'
Kate smirks:
'You always ask that, but I'm never the one that takes ten minutes to find his other shoe.'
Ayden grins:
'That only happened once— about half a dozen times, you gotta let that go, babe.'
Kate:
'Mhm.'
Ayden looks behind Kate to Charlie.
Ayden:
'Charlie, sup man!'
Charlie:
'Hey, Ayden.'
Kate eyes them both:
'Have you two met?'
Ayden:
'I met him at work the other day.'
Kate:
*'Really?' *
Ayden suddenly falters:
'Yea I mean, in passing. He's not a hard guy to miss.'
Kate feigning upset:
'And you both leave me in the dark about this? What are you conspiring against me?'
Kate goes to reach in their bag.
Ayden:
'Come on, Kate, we can't reveal that just yet— Someone else has to so it becomes a huge scandal.'
Kate half smiles, the smile instantly dropping as they continue to shift through the bag.
Kate:
'Damn it, I must have forgotten my keys. I'll be right back.'
They turn and head back into the apartment building, Charlie waiting behind.
The two stand awkwardly for a moment.
Ayden:
'So— How's it been?'
Charlie speaks with a weak witty tone:
'Oh, great. I'm surrounded by dead bodies-' the tone falters '-and violence and I always feel like—'
He abruptly stops, brows furrowing.
Charlie:
'Sorry, there was supposed to be a joke in there.'
Ayden gives a sympathetic look:
'Like— you're always in danger?'
Charlie's brows furrow in recognition.
-
Kate In Charlie's apartment rummaging through the bed sheets, looking for the keys. They lift the pillows to no aval and bend over the edge of the bed, feet in the air as they look under the bed side. They spot the keys on the floor and grab them.
-
Ayden:
'You know—There's treatment for that. Therapy, medication—'
Charlie:
'They don't work for me.'
Ayden:
'Sometimes it takes a really long time to find the right balance— In medication, diet, sleep, therapy technique, hell even finding a decent doctor took me fucking forever. It's rough as shit, but worth it.'
Charlie pauses, contemplating.
Charlie:
'You take meds?'
Ayden:
'Oh yea, Wellbutrin, Vyvanse, Mirtazapine, and—'
Kate steps back out of the building:
'Found them!'
Kate stops by Charlie, kissing him on the cheek.
Ayden grins:
'Does this make up for my missing shoes?'
Kate side eyes him with a grin:
'Not even close.'
Kate walks away waving to Charlie:
'See you later!'
Ayden follows Kate, turning to Charlie to call out:
'Hey, Charlie, hit me up sometime! We gotta plan the cover story for our conspiracy!'
Ayden gives a wink, Charlie gives a half amused wave to them.
-
Early evening
Charlie in his apartment sitting on the couch holding up his head with his arm on the couch rest, watching the tv infomercials with a tired expression. His eyes half lid, growing heavy till they slowly close. He slowly leans, his head falls and in a split moment his left arm is grabbed he panics and jerks awake, looking around nervously. He takes a deep breath, rubbing his face to wake himself up.He leans back again, staring at the tv. He flinches at small noises, hyper aware and turning to listen in to each one. A drop from the sink. A tap from a bee flying into the window, the creek from people walking past his apartment door. He closes his eyes and rubs his face again trying to ignore them.A drop of water onto the basement floor, the dusty scratch of rubber boots on parchment paper. He opens his eyes again and stands up, grabbing his hoodie as he heads out of his apartment.
-

Charlie walks into a bar and sits down, visibly uncomfortable. He stares down at the bar, listening to the murmurs of the crowd around him.
He takes a deep breath.
A glass is set in front of him, he takes it drinking it.
/I'm fine. I'm fine./
He closes his eyes and sighs, more relaxed.'You know these places are expensive as shit right?'
Charlie jumps to the voice beside him, Basit sitting down.
Charlie:
'Damn! Warn someone instead of sneaking up on them!'
Basit:
'Sorry, wasn't intending to startle you.'
Charlie:
'What are you doing here? I thought you didn't drink.'
Basit:
'I don't. But places like this aren't always safe, so I keep an eye out.'
Charlie weary:
'What do you mean?'
Basit:
'Predators are in every corner, not just back allies.'
Charlie:
'Coming from 'The Carnivorous Claw'. Aren't you, like, a predator?'
Basit stands back up: 'Not that kind.'
Basit:
'Come on, let's go.'
Charlie waving for the bartender:
'You go ahead— Hey!'
Basit grabs the cloth of his clothing by the shoulder, pulling him out of the seat.
He reluctantly follows her out of the bar.
Charlie:
'I'm getting just a little bit tired of being dragged around like a used chew toy.'
Basit ignores him and keeps walking. The sun starting to set.
Basit:
'What do you do for fun?'
Charlie:
'You already dragged me from it.'
Basit:
'No, I mean like a hobby.'
Charlie shrugs:
'I used to work on cars.'
Basit:
'Used to?'
Charlie:
'Yea the shop I used to work at under the table shut down. No one else wants an unlicensed amateur.'
Basit:
'I know someone who owns a dump. It gets a ton of cars for scrap, the owner fixes them up and sells them. I bet she would take your help.'
As they walk in an isolated back area between a hill and water, a few people follow behind.
Charlie:
'Where is it?'
Basit:
'About 15 miles south-'
Man:
'Hey!'
They turn around, the man from chapter 1 standing with a few others, his nose crooked from being broken.
Man:
'Remember me?'
Basit condescending:
'Nope, not really. I see so many of you shit stains.'
Man:
'You'll be the stain when I'm done with you!'
The three men charge, Charlie fearfully backing away, Basit stanced up.The first man goes to swing at her and she kicks him back, another takes the opportunity to grab her, holding her arms to her side. The third comes up, she goes to kick, he catches it, she swings her head back hitting the one behind her in the nose.Charlie nervous:
'Should I call someone?'
Basit:
'Don't bother!'The man's grip loosens and she grabs the man in front of her bashing his face into her knee and pushing him back, his nose bloodied. He falls to the ground unconscious.The other man goes to swing she grabs his fist and pulls it, causing him to lurch forward as she jabs him in the back of the head with her elbow, knocking him out. She looks at the final man standing. He reaches for a taser, holding it out.Basit's face turns to terror as she stares at the electric spark from the taser end. She sees the spark coming from a more cattle prod like device, held by a white gloved hand. He goes to charge, in a panic her arm extends into the fleshy mass and pointed bone. In a split second she stabs him on the chest and hurls him to the side before reeling back, breath ragged and still shaken.Charlie shock:
'Holy shit!?'They pause for a moment, Charlie staring at the dead man then looking to Basit, who's still shaken. She looks around then rushes to the dead body and drags him to the edge of the quay and pushes him into the water.She then turns to run, Charlie in a daze of confusion taking a moment before following her.
-They walk silently, down a more public street.Charlie's voice cracks:
'Uh— what was that about?'
Basit, arms crossed, defensive.
Basit:
'What? Sometimes people don't like getting put in their place and they think they can bite back.'
Charlie:
'Yea, no, I get that. I mean you were like— I don't think I've ever seen you actually scared before.'
Basit's brows furrow, silent for a moment.
Basit:
'I really don't like electricity. It fucks me up.'
Charlie:
'So that's your one weakness?'
Basit tightens her lips.
They walk in awkward silence for a moment.Charlie sees she's still shaken by her face.
Charlie feigning optimism:
'Hey, at least that's your only weakness right? I mean look at me, I'm a weak, walking, indestructible liability, that flinches at loud noises. I would take being weak to only tasers and cattle prods if it meant I had your strength.'Silent pause for a moment.
Basit, lowering her hands to rest them in her jacket pockets.
Basit:
'Is that really how you feel about yourself?'
Charlie flat:
'It was a joke.'
Basit:
'That doesn't answer my question.'
Charlie uncomfortable, looks away: 'Where are we going?'
Basit:
'I'm going to check on Conner, and let Nora know about— earlier.'
Charlie sighs:
'Great.'
Basit: '
You can head home if you want.'
Charlie sighs:
'I'm fine.'
-

Charlie and Basit walk up to Nora's house and enter.
Charlie following Basit inside:
'Shouldn't we be knocking?'
Basit:
'I don't think she cares about that right now.'
Dog Hyphae walking up to and past them for the door, Basit holding it open for them.
Hyphae:
'Hello, Basit. Hello, Charlie. Nora isn't here right now. She'll be back soon.'
Basit:
'Thanks, Hyphae.'
-
Conner in his nest, staring up at the ceiling, brows tense in thought.
Charlie:
'Of course when you relax it's in a web of—'
Conner looks to the side, Basit and Charlie walking up to him.
Charlie:
'-of what ever that is.'
Conner slips out of the web, catching several strings with each finger in one hand and pulling as he walks, the hammock displacing back into the hanging webs.
Conner:
'Do you have any news?'
Basit:
'No. We're just checking in.'
Conner walking over to the desk:
'Apollo was correct, my contact's are having no luck finding our next would be victim. So we must just sit around and wait, les bras croisés. We have less than four days until we can check on our lead, we need to be doing all we can until then.'
Conner looking over it, brows still tensed.
Basit:
'It's okay to rest Conner.'
Conner turns to Charlie motioning towards an area of tangled webs full of items.
Conner:
'Charlie, grab the black leather case from over there.'
Charlie looks to the mass of webs, brows furrow.
Basit:
'Besides, we don't have much of a choice right now, right?'
Charlie steps up to, and looks over, the web mass. He spots the case, tangled in the web beside the skeleton of a small dog. He grabs it and pulls, the webs not budding from it, he tries to detangle it off the case, getting all but the handle.
Basit:
'We have checked every humanoid abnormal we have knowledge of and then some. Hyphae has checked the victims' homes and place of work. You have dug into these bullshit notes till bedrock—'
They hear Charlie grunt, struggling to pull the case free of the mass. He spots some sharp, heavy, scissors in the mass and grabs them, trying to cut the red web from the cases handle. The scissors clasp several times, the mass of undamaged web slipping out of and between the blades.
Charlie:
'What is this shit made of?!'
His gaze shifts to the side, jumping slightly to Conners, uncomfortably close, disapproving peer.
Conner grabs the case and effortlessly pulls it from the mass. He steps away, going back to the desk.
Charlie:
'I feel like I was just set up...'
Conner frustrated:
'I have other cases to work on.'
Basit pensively peers at Conner. He sets the case down, opening it and taking out a mechanical looking loupe and putting it to his eye, observing a vain like spread of some form of glow in the pages, observable through the lens.
Basit looks to Charlie:
'Nora is back, why don't you go see her—'
Nora stepping into the basement:
'Is my car that loud that you herd me pull in?'
Basit:
'No.'
Nora:
'How did you know I was back then?'
Basit mild disgust:
'The perfume you always wear. I could track you from miles away with how potent it is.'
Nora mildly offended:
'It's not that potent!' She mutters 'It doesn't smell bad does it? It's my favorite scent.'
Conner ignoring them, Basit gives a mild disapproving crook of her lips.
Charlie:
'I think it smells fine. Like a rich old lady's closet or— Oh! Moth balls, that's it!'
Nora give a flat discontent stare to his comment.
Basit watching them amused:
'See?'
Nora turns to Charlie half smirking:
'Well why don't you come up for a coffee and you can tell me exactly what old ladies' closets you've been getting into.'
The two head up stares, Basit staying behind.
Basit steps up beside Conner who's still focused on the papers.
Basit:
'How is your other case?'
Conner:
'Which case? I have many.'
Basit:
'Edward.'
Conner stays stoic but the edge of his lip flinches.Conner:
'That doesn't matter right now.'
He sets down the lens back into the case and stands straight, his shirt shifting to further reveal the single deep red string around his neck.
Basit glances at it, he steps away with the packed case, bringing it back to the web mass.
Basit leans against the desk, crossing her arms and pondering.
Basit's face turners to confusion.
Basit:
'You acted surprised, when I came to get you for this case.'
Conner pretending to work with the cluttered web, avoiding looking back.
Conner:
'I was.'
Basit half smirk:
'That's not my thread then?'
Conner pauses, looking downward towards the thread around his neck.
Conner:
'It is. I don't use it. I figured you would want your privacy respected.'Basit:
'Thank you.'
-

In Nora's dining room, she brings Charlie a coffee.
Nora:
'So—'
Charlie gives her a questioning gaze, sipping the coffee as she sits down beside him, on the cleaner side of the table.
Nora:
'How are— things?'
Charlie shrugs:
'Fine I guess, kind of a roller coaster when It gets tied up in an episode of Sherlock Holmes starring spider man and the thing.'
Nora stifles a snort:
'I mean with you and that person— Kate?'
Charlie tries to hide an embarrassed grin:
'Oh. Uh— It's good.'
Charlie hides behind his coffee, drinking it.
Nora suppressing a wide grin:
'How long have you been seeing each other?'
Charlie quietly:
'A few months.'
Nora with a ting of worry:
'Are they a human?'
Charlie blunt:
'Yes.'
Nora's tone turns concerned:
'Do they know about you?'
Charlie sighs, lowering his coffee: 'No, Nora. Don't worry I'm not going to out anything.'
Nora's brows furrow:
'I'm more worried about you, Charlie. What if they find out and things go south with them? What if-'
Charlie:
'I'm not worried about that right now.'
Nora goes to speak but pauses.
Nora:
'Well— I hope they make you happy.'
Charlie weak smile:
'They do.' Witty tone 'But you know me, I loose at Jenga on my first turn. Hopefully I can break my high score on how long before I topple the relationship.'
Nora frowns:
'What do you mean?'
Charlie trying to feign humor:
'I mean, look at me I'm a walking bag of disaster, I—'
His voice cracks and his smile drops as the emotion breaks through. He looks down, keeping his eyes on his coffee as he speaks, slowly, like each sentence is a struggle.
Charlie:
'I mean— I'm weak, a coward, I can't even really help in the case other than be a walking canary for Conner, I-'
Nora interrupts him:
'No you're not, Charlie! You're a great help and you've been so brave! I know you can do anything you set your mind to! Kate is lucky to have you!'
She gives a overtly warm smile.
Charlie masks with a smile again:
'Thanks for the pep talk Nora, but be careful or you'll make my ego start to compete with Conners. I should go before he smells competition.'
Nora:
'Are you sure? You can stay longer if you need to.'
Charlie:
'I'm good.'
He stands, holding the smile. He heads for the door.
Nora:
'Just tell me if you need anything alright?'
Charlie looks back to her still holding the fake smile:
'I'm fine.'
He turns to leave, the smile dropping as he closes the door.
-
Basit and Conner in the basement, Basit leaned against the desk beside Conner, attention to him. Conner leaned over the desk, bracing himself with his arms. He looks down at the small closed tin beside his hand, his pinky subconsciously stretches for it.Conner:
'Did you ever consider coming back?'
Basit:
'Yeah. But why would I?'
Conner looks towards her, not lifting his head:
'I would have taken you back.'
Basit softer tone:
'I know you would have, but what would have been different? You're still the same old jaded obsessive man getting tangled up in his own head.'
Conner looks back down.
Basit:
'What's the point of me staying with you when you're never actually with me?'Conner:
'I miss you, Bones.'Basit:
'I miss you too, Tangles.'
Basit pushes off the desk, putting a hand on Conners shoulder and kissing his temple.
Basit:
'Finish that case. Then maybe we'll talk.'
She leaves, Conner staying at the desk. His head lowers further

Kate driving, radio on.
[This is Kat on the radio * meow * and it looks like it's going to be a clear and warm Friday today— but it's going to be a gusty one so keep those coa-]
Kate parks by Charlie's apartment. They get out of their car and open up their texts.

[Charlie]
30 mins ago
Kate: Hey sleepy head. You up?
Kate: Speak now or I'm invading your apartment.
Now
Kate: You should have never given me your spare key :impsmile:

Kate walks up to Charlie's apartment and knocks, pauses, then unlocks and enters. As they do, Charlie steps out of the bathroom, hair damp from the shower. He looks up, startled upon seeing Kate.
Kate:
'Hey, sorry for startling you. I texted you a few times.'
Charlie, calmed down:
'No, you're fine. I guess I didn't see your messages.'
Kate masking a grin:
'Are you busy today?'
Charlie:
'Uh- Not today.'
Kate:
'So— You're free to spend some time together?'
Charlie pauses glancing towards the clock.
Charlie:
'Yea. Sure.'
Kate:
'Cool. Get dressed.'
Kate heads for Charlie's kitchen table and Charlie walks over to his dresser.
-
Kate and Charlie approaching the car.
Charlie:
'So where are we going?'
Kate:
'First, to Ayden's house. I need to give him back his wallet he forgot— again.'
They get in the car.
Kate:
'And bring him some food because he eats like shit.'
Charlie chuckles:
'You really do have a type.'
Kate glances at Charlie and smirks:
'Cute wiseasses with emotional baggage and a taste for junk food? You got me there.'
-
As Kate is pulling up to Ayden's house their phone starts to ring. Kate parks and picks it up, looking at it, brows furrowing, as it continues to ring.
Kate:
'You go ahead, I need to take this.'
Charlie:
'Oh— uh-'
Kate:
'You don't need to knock, he knows we are coming.'
Charlie hesitant:
'Alright…'
He gets out, Kate answering the call, eyes still on Charlie as he walks away.
Kate:
'Yes this is Kate.' — 'That's fine, just no singing.'
-
Charlie steps inside nervously, shutting the door behind himself:
'Hey- It's me Charlie. Kate said—'
Charlie steps into the living room, Ayden huffing in anger in his vorein form, standing over a mess of displaced couch cushions.
Charlie:
'You— okay?'
Ayden gritting his maw:
'I can't find my meds.'
Charlie:
'Oh—I'll help you look.'
Ayden:
'Where's Kate?'
Charlie looking around:
'In the car on the phone.'
Ayden grumbles, tossing things around in search.
Charlie leaned over to check by the tv stand seeing the bottle under it.
Charlie:
'Are these it?'
He lifts with the bottle, tossing it to Ayden. Ayden catches it, ears perked up in relief. They both hear the front door open and Ayden dashes for his bedroom.
As Kate enters the room Ayden's door quickly shuts with a slam and locks.
Kate peers at Ayden's bedroom door with suspicion then turns to Charlie.
Kate:
'Good you were here for that one. Explain.'
Charlie:
'What?'
Kate putting down the bag of food and the wallet on the coffee table.
Kate:
'He keeps doing that! Sometimes I come in here and he runs off to his room and locks himself in there for a while and refuses to explain. What gives?'
Charlie:
'Oh, uh— he— wasn't dressed.'
Charlie's brows arches, feigning confidence.
Kate crosses their arms:
'You're cute when you're being funny but this bullshitting thing; it's going to be a problem.'
Charlie's smile drops:
'Sorry… I just— don't know how to put it.'
Kate:
'Honestly?'
Charlie sighs and pauses in thought for a moment.
Charlie:
'He just couldn't find his medication and wasn't feeling well. He just doesn't want you to see him like that.'
Kate's demeanor calms:
'Seriously? He could have just told me that.'
Kate picks up an envelope from a side table.
Kate:
'Why do you boys have to make everything so complicated.'
Kate heads for the door:
'Let's go then, he won't be out for a while, anyway.'
Charlie:
'Right-'
He follows Kate, both getting back into the car. Charlie gets a text.

Ayden: Thanks for the save man

-
Kate drives for a while through town.
Charlie:
'So— now where are we going?'
Kate grins:
'You'll see.'
-
Kate pulls up to a small car show, They glance at Charlie, his demeanor lights up.
Kate grins:
'So—'
Charlie looks at them, Kate holding up the envelope.
Charlie takes it and opens it.Inside is a small card, the front is an image of a plate of pancakes with the words 'Happy Birthday Sweetheart!' He opens it- 'The years just keep stacking up!' And under the printed words is two hand written notes 'HAVE FUN MAN! EAT CAKE!! -AYDEN' and 'You deserve this ♡ -Kate'Charlie tight smile:
'It's not my birthday.'
Kate smirks:
'You don't know that.'
Kate:
'If you don't want to do this then you don't have to. But I thought you deserve a day just for you, no worries, no stress, just having fun and celebrating yourself.'
Charlie looks down at the card then back up to Kate.
Charlie:
'There's Cake?'
Kate grins and opens their car door:
'That comes later.'
-
The two of them walking around the show, wind mildly gusty.Kate stands beside Charlie as he looks over one of the cars, the hood up showing the engine.Kate stands off to the side, on their phone, as Charlie enthusiastically talks with the owner. Kate smiles and holds up their phone silently taking a picture of Charlie's face as he enthusiastically chats. Kate looks down at the image, smiling.Kate and Charlie walking again, hand in hand.
Kate:
'It's nice actually seeing you smile.'
Charlie looks to them:
'I smile.'
Kate gives a small unassured smirk.
Charlie stops by a Lincoln Town Car and goes to talk with the owner.
Charlie:
'1956 Continental Mark II?'
Owner:
'Yup! You know your cars, kid.'
They start chatting, Kate checking their phone.

[Ayden]
Ayden: He having fun?
Kate: Like a kid, I've never seen him so energetic.

Charlie still chatting:
'For real! The Delray Edition!'
Charlie and the owner's conversion is cut off when a nearby car revs up loudly startling Charlie.
Kate looks up, a group of people by one of the newer more modified cars laughing and cutting up.The owner of the Mark II looks over at them and mutters:
'Rude.'
Charlie clams his reaction but his demeanor closes up. He walks away from the car, Kate following him.They walk by a car with a few people looking through a few thick car books on the hood and speaking. The wind picks up, blowing through the pages of one of the large books, catching Charlie's attention.Kate looks up, seeing his unnerved expression, they reach for his arm, Charlie jerking at the touch.
Kate concerned:
'You alright?'
Charlie flat:
'I'm fine.'
Kate frowns but continues to walk with him.Charlie just walks, not really paying attention to the cars anymore.
Kate looks over to Charlie, seeing his enthusiasm gone, they keep walking.Kate looks over to one of the cars and points.
Kate:
'What's that one?'
Charlie continues walking, barely turning his head to it:
'Don't know.'Kate watching him, Charlie, looking away at nothing specific while rubbing his incomplete left ring finger.
Kate:
'Hey, let's go get something to drink, I'm thirsty.'
Charlie silently follows them back to their car.
-
Kate parks outside of a gas station and goes in. Charlie sitting in the car, still fidgeting with his finger. His phone beeps and after a moment he checks it.

Conner: Be ready 11pm sharp. We can't waste time.

Charlie's view of the phone blurs.Charlie gets out of the car, and walks into the store. Charlie walks towards the freezers while Kate checks out.
Kate:
'Twinty on three.'Kate standing by their car filling it with gas. Charlie walks back to the car, getting in, Kate glancing to him then turning their attention back to the pump.Kate gets back into the car, seeing Charlie finishing off the small liquor sample bottle. They mask a frown with tightened lips and look away to start the car.
Kate:
'Guess that's one way to celebrate.'
Charlie:
'I thought that was the point.'

Kate:
'Hungry?'
Charlie:
'Sure.'
-

They arrive at a breakfast restaurant and go in, sitting at a table.
Kate:
'I figured this place would be perfect for you.'
Charlie looks at them and gives a weak smile looking down at the menu.
Kate:
'We can order to go if you don't want to stay.'
Charlie:
'I'm good.'
The waiter steps over:
'Are you ready to order?'
Kate:
'I'll have the Florentine Crepes.'
Charlie:
'Strawberry pancakes, please.'
The waiter writes it down, Kate looking up to the waiter with a sly grin hidden behind their hands, elbows resting on the table.As the waiter walks away Kate reaches into their small backpack and pulls out a small gift bag. Charlie looks at it, hesitating before taking it.
Kate:
'I wanted to do more but-'
Charlie pulls out a diecast model car.
Kate:
'-I know nothing about cars. Though, I had a feeling you would like this.'
Charlie content smile:
'Thanks.'
Kate:
'What make is it?'
Charlie:
'1967 Shelby GT-500.'
Kate smiling:
'Dork.'The waiter steps over setting down a large plate in front of Charlie: A stack of pancakes covered in dripping blue icing, sprinkles, candles, and 'Happy birthday!' written in icing.Charlie stares at it.
Kate:
'I asked them not to sing for you.'
Charlie awkwardly smiles:
'Thanks for that.'
Kate whispers:
'Happy birthday.'
Charlie smiles looking back down at it.
Kate gets up to sit beside him:
'Let me snap a picture before you fall into a sugar coma.'
They hold up their phone above them, getting a picture of them, Charlie, and the pancakes.
After Kate takes the photo Charlie turns to kiss them.
-
Kate and Charlie return to his apartment and enter, Kate pulling off their shoes and bag. Charlie looks at his bedside clock, subtly grimacing. He steps over to his kitchen, Kate glancing over at him.Charlie grabs a liquor bottle and glass from his cupboard, as he goes to open the bottle Kate steps over putting their hand on his. They take the bottle and set it back down on the counter, grabbing Charlie by the shirt and pulling him in for a kiss and away from the kitchenette.
-
Night
Kate and Charlie, still clothed, lying in the bed
facing each other, Charlie's eyes closed.
Kate:
'Did you have fun today?'
Charlie:
'Mhm.'
Kate smirks:
'Not having a set birthday makes the surprise easy. I should throw you a surprise birthday once every year— no warning, random day. You'll never see it coming.'
Charlie gives a weak smile.
Kate:
'Are you alright? You seem down, or is this your tired face?'
Charlie:
'Tired. And dreading something I have to do in-'
He opens his eyes, looks at the clock and sighs:
'A few hours.'
Kate moves close:
'Hey, don't think about it. Just focus on me and get some rest.'
Charlie smiles again, staring at Kate.
Charlie:
'I love you.'
Kate shifts uncomfortably, looking away.
Charlie's smile drops to embarrassment:
'Sorry-'
Kate:
'No.'
They look back to him with a weak smile.
Kate:
'I love you too— that's the problem.'
Charlie:
'Why?'
Kate:
'Because, that means I'm attached to you.'
Charlie smiles:
'Isn't that the point?'
Kate gives a tight smile and leans in to kiss him.
They lay together cozied up for a moment.
Kate:
'So what did you wish for?'
I wish I was strong.
-