CHAPTER TWO
What Viggo calls a private residence is really a smart mansion instead, and it knows that they’re here. The lights outside and inside turn on, a blazing golden in walls of stucco white. The garage door opens folding at their arrival. The black sleek muscle car with the darkest tinted windows growls and takes its sweet time, rolling in.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpOQi8ib6l
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhhGo2uJGU
Glad to get out of the car in one piece, Kirby grips his tattered jeans in the finest garage he’s ever seen. Viggo has already demanded in the car to return the tux. Viggo’s so wealthy, so filthy rich, that the rest of his garage lights up one at a time, illuminating a spectacular car show with silent fanfare.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfs5bAITYX
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l76Pybpjf
His brother tells him that he’s been shitting cash. You are so disgusting, Kirby almost says as a joke. The garage door closes behind them. The castle is now secured. It isn’t the normal modern home you would see in a magazine. He takes a stroll, realizing this the moment he sees the white opaque glass door. It has no knob or handle.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DbdrNyQYI
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT0HROjbrc
There’s one way to open it, one way to close it. Viggo presses both his palms onto the white glass. His psycho orange eyes gaze into the mini camera three times and averts his eyes looking to the left, the right, and then directly. The door slides open, receding into the wall.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTlBQgckGJ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zoB2FFzC7
Kirby hesitates at the entrance. A house under my brother’s complete control. My arms get sore from just thinking about it. Still, psychosomatic. All in my head.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoctLP0Nlf
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMxr1314Nn
Don’t worry. No cameras here. Viggo says spinning his keys and enters the foyer.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm2L2WQmMY
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC1xJiMTTA
Kirby’s eyes are glued to the striped skylights that bathe the foyer in white earth glow. So surreal. Plants rustle at the chilly vents, trying to be familiar and earthly. The door remains open behind him as they enter the house. He walks so silently that Viggo notices.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mfk86ZDdU
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrFTusd5MN
Why are you sneaking? Get in. Viggo guffaws and sneers, shaking his head. He kicks off his shoes. Barefoot he struts along the cold red stone floor. I forgot how bad your anxiety can get.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rAPciHvs6
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOKHSPAfK4
Kirby goes pink in the face. He drops his luggage, freeing up his hands.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hCzNm5vSU
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwZ8Ban2dH
I walk … the way I walk.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWh8CFoVgZ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OjAZAEdgT
Viggo’s orange eyes close as he refrains from an eye-roll, “Oh.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHQTdSWP6P
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvctwzkVBd
That’s the hallway to my study. Off-limits.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1Dw1e9iM7
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cTvFPC1QT
Kirby gets tense at that phrase. It seems a boring, unpainted, distant area anyway. I bet that’s where he works and keeps all his creative projects and twenty-year plans. Probably a man cave to impress his friends.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEmTueknSq
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEnZ0l4MKu
Kirby and Viggo move on to the enormous red room stocked with white furniture and black electronics. Tons of video game consoles and collections. It’s like an entertainment room or a ballroom?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD22vX08lT
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQMmQyMpm0
Club room, says Viggo. Off-limits.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iUfMwI8jl
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLMhs5m3uD
Kirby sees a shrine to a movie poster on one wall. It’s not what made Viggo a break-out writer ten years ago but it’s his greatest achievement, almost. It’s Milton, Oscar-nominated but not worthy. It was a phenomenal biopic about the man behind Skyden, Garth Milton the one and only with his large iconic ears, played by Will Smith. And having his brother Viggo Hayes be the screenwriter and co-director nominated for the Oscars? That’s huge. By now, half the world knows the Hayes name.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDF6WSKHfM
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PshHK9096
He swells with pride. He remembers exactly how Viggo sat at the edge of his seat the whole time at the Oscars that night. The anticipation. He also feels sharp pain when Viggo learned on live television that applause and the trophy went to someone else.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EN2QTzQyD
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrfHXulg6G
They point to the bar in the nearest corner and share a look. Nothing more needs to be said about that but Viggo adds, Off-limits. Kirby swallows his pride. He has got to be joking! They travel into the open kitchen.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYRGHZE5OP
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVSDThrPUa
Before his brother could start, Kirby rifles through the empty cupboards. They’re stocked with nothing. That’s odd? Feeling watched, he matches Viggo’s unblinking stare. Viggo goes pink in the face too.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkSlFH1ou9
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvDl6u2m7S
I do eat. It’s a habit of ordering take-out. What the hell do you want? Mexican, Italian, Mongolian, or Greek?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFaNajjNaq
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCMI58ASZH
Anything. I’m starving. Kirby approaches the windows, drawn to the backlit aquamarine pool. It even steams. Silhouettes of the palm trees rustle like a small jungle. What shatters the illusion of normalcy is the roaring cloud tapestry for a sky. He stops breathing each time he looks at it.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58KPtRebs9
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UXkKhaPQD
The other side of the sky.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB6SQlA9Nh
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aDPfAMeTP
Kirby sees Viggo on a call. He obsesses on the glaring fact that if he weren’t deaf, he could listen to the kind of man his brother is right now. Even if it is just for something as ordinary as dinner. But he’ll have to find out through other means. He’s accepted that. Charades can be fun, sometimes.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae9v4ihk46
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFrQPl4qVd
Viggo opens up his laptop as well, to his surprise. He looks too busy and restless or hasn’t yet lost his need for control. He looks like he’s working!682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjAqQDExJa
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY0IxxoPqx
Kirby squints. I see now. Is this my competition?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02NBGD5KOC
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkk97poKqa
But I don’t want him to be competition.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuWcTQ3nsA
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88HKwdw6Sv
Kirby snaps out of it and his face lights up. He waits for Viggo to end his call and asks him: Hey, do you remember? We had to be what, like seven and eleven, back in the cornfields of good ol’ Iowa. We made popcorn at the concessions that summer. Man, it was so hot from the sweltering sun and the punishing zings from boiling oil and burning kernels from hell… 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1nlIOR2pw
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuebQTdrYY
Why remind me? Viggo pinches the bridge of his nose.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaZ2hPwjih
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6j4T8DXxS
Let me finish. So you remember. Kirby scowls. You should also remember this. We went to the train tracks even after our mom and pop said not to…682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfjOTtxvMs
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFGo2lPykI
Viggo’s face goes blank so Kirby hurries. But of course, along comes a train.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY17cpxg7s5
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3C5W8A2Eu
An enormous, wailing black train. A dragon of midnight fury leaving behind a mountainous trail of volcanic smoke. Pebbles leap up. The tracks rattle.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT7JpopkQh
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWgqgNMOSr
I didn’t hear it, but you did. And I was too far across the bridge too busy gazing down at the river beneath the wooden planks. We were so high up. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aLwsMouEK
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LI5992D6X
The river was too far down and too shallow that a jump would mean fatal.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIzEPDT7GT
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBazlbUO0Lm
I was just lucky to look your way. You weren’t good at sign language. In fact you sucked! They laugh as Viggo starts to clap hands.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3VY9S2Uvi
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkru6dapvJC
I was trying to say “Train!” Viggo pounds the counter several times. “Train!”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwLX1mHHQ7
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwxr5bVSNj
You said “Sit! Sit!” They laugh harder.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOGMvfVqVG
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRlOqRLvPx
Seven year old Kirby Hayes sits cross-legged, smiling and waving and signing “Sit!”. Behind him, the monstrous train rams oncoming. Now, the twenty-five year old Kirby would pause the romping suspense to slow motion. The smile on that kid’s face, slowly but surely, falters and drops.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRcwvSrwAY
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsEzyev2Hh
Why are “train” and “sit” the same handshape? AND in the same position? Viggo’s neck starts showing veins. Senseless! Enough of this. Pool is off-limits. It’s Mongolian, and they deliver in twenty minutes. Guest room is that way. He points to the east wing of the house. That wing becomes split-level. I’m going to change. My bedroom is there. Off-limits. He points to the west wing of the house which also is split-level. Viggo feigns a smile.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt1Gq6zowY
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjgL7d4pKO
Don’t feel free to look around. Your dinner might get cold.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJyVTrHUts
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3TJmqrwP7
Whatever you say. Kirby walks down the east wing. So much for bonding.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YTY27ZjiY
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi38xcMP65p
The television ceiling seems to open up the place like a museum, and the mirror walls help reflect all the color beams. Teasers and tv spots play with dramatic fanfare. Pure octane. His back rumbles with the hallway’s volume from the surround speakers.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6V2ADTRUx
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOD6jMbcs1
“DON’T. LOOK. BACK.” A screaming Amy McAdams runs away from someone, anyone, in a flashy chase sequence, and then comes the crashing title, Don’t Look, by everyone’s favorite remake-ruiner Blaine Tabs.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIvbOPrsrf
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GRmGHHmoN
The mirror walls turn out to be tall storage closets with mirrors as doors. Kirby checks in them. They’re big enough for three people to stand and hide in. What are they even used for? When he learns that each and every one is vacant and unused, he has to wonder.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUUsrAtbIh
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjydKKtbN73
But the hall narrows and twists, adding to the number of black doors to his agitation. These doors all happen to be locked, requiring Viggo, except for that laundry room.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6t4eHA9vh
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6FksucfPM
The television ceiling strip, along with the ceiling fans, movie trailers, and news channels, is getting addicting to watch. His leaned neck and dropped jaw start to hurt. Oops, drooling. Kirby looks back and thinks he’s seen a shadow.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLhbXCQpmp
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXnEBf01pZ
Nah. Nothing. Just the fans. What’s worse, he’s lost sight of the living room.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDLZ5jw8Jf
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SwPEGRAx5
Somehow there are two hallways back... His eyes widen. Am I seriously lost in Viggo’s house right now? It doesn’t even look like a house.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsziws49XRX
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0qFaiucm8
The corridor rumbles with a suspenseful chord heralding another villain or doomsday coming next week. Dun, dun, dun!682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ2I5hNqoK
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlZvp73sJI
One square of the ceiling zapped to jumping static beans. Kirby’s heart does a skip.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPJaTbX2Jb
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2MdboyNU6
Bzzt. His phone vibrates.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplAOQHqn1t
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqB2V38uAy
It’s another text from that private number.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MhxBBLxL2
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlHlcamNRJ
He asked Chance Gott an hour ago how he found his number.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85MkDjmyX1
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofPyxvMg6i
I work for Skyden as tech support. I hack for a living. That’s why I brought up spooks on the flight. I look for them. Found your number from the manifest. Sorry if it disturbs you, you can ask me to leave you alone. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0iUbhuLBP
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BiTUZGhKJ
If you really are who you say you are. Who else could it be? Um, someone among the paparazzi who’s excellent at extracting inside scoop. Or it still could be the gorgeous one-in-a-trillion potential husband Chance Gott.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7Qw6u44ae
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w51ItlxFK
Kirby fires back several texts. No, but thanks for explaining. Actually, this is an emergency. I’m lost somewhere in my brother’s house.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25gMtd6dOJ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld3CJYpThW
Bzzt. That was fast. You’re lost in a house?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr6NxhlwTs
Bzzt. Use your nose.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPugw2mXpxh
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdBYQczU3U
I’m in the east wing which looks and smells like a shoe store. Do not laugh at me. Kirby sighs wandering upstairs. He sees a darker hallway dead with inactivity.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOkoFr40mN
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqwnQ9jxqN
Is someone there?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPAqxgdMzw
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6CuP3bVuu
Bzzt. His phone lights up in time, so he shines away the dark. No one’s there. Just an ajar door to a dark room. For some reason, he expects to see Viggo. Huh.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkCcNHQpC3
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaTSa91w2p
He rolls his shoulders to take the edge off and checks the phone.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLQ9PeGisQ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaREoi8Fwon
Chance says: Lol! We’re men, we both should know something about architecture.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPz8KTXjIm
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP10N341pp
The heat ducts and windows are for external walls and cold air vents are for internal, I know that much. Kirby pauses to look. There are none to be found. Due to Skyden’s synthetic environment and perfect weather, there’s not much need for them.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAV555xW2f
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhFmjMvhyT
I see your point. I’m new here as well.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj032u0L0tZ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4zrl1NDjb
Kirby thinks of the explosion and the body parts colliding into Skyden. In space, nothing holds death back. That theme’s the point of his movie, that’s why he won the internship, and that’s how he’s here. Kind of creepy.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5olGSUTrGb
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcuJCt4P8y
He texts Chance a question that’s bothered him for a while. Do you know what happened with that jet?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqdDbz1Abj
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp5y821SlG
This time, no reply. Instead, the air vent somewhere whooshes cold wind in his face. Kirby draws closer to the room at the end of the hall. Inside the lights turn on, revealing the guest room. He hops on the king size bed, already cherishing the plush pillows. Ack, thank the Lord. He’s completely dogged tired.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC6WmaFLAX
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9iZzP4ZQW
One entire wall becomes the television. The channel is set to happy teary audience dancing on the Oprah show, but he’s more interested in Iris Frisk’s webcast. Upon finding the keyboard remote, he shuffles through websites and brings up her face full-screen. He double-checks. The phone remains dormant. And no one stands at his doorway to spy on him. Now relax and watch, he tells himself.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrf0WJUuTc
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoW8p0UQ7Y
Iris Frisk looks somewhat like Emma Stone with her dark auburn hair, squealing hysterical laughter. She somersaults in her zero-gravity room.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7stFefpYXY
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDmo8B4JcC
She looks at the camera through her ridiculous reading glasses and snickers with her perfect teeth. English subtitles translate every word: “Hello everybody hello, I’m finally settled here in my dorm room … on Skyden... I sure hope nobody turns this off!”
Her checkered neon yellow sneakers kick off the wall. Her knee-high sock-wearing legs tuck in, transforming her into a drifting crumpled ball of paper that lands in a laundry basket. Her messy red hair gets really ruffled when she emerges. “Score! Just kidding. Even if someone turns off the zero-gravity, it takes time to wind down. That way, nothing breaks. Smart.” Her index finger taps her temple with neon yellow fingertips. She floats mid-air again.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds6cXGe02u
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaj4vbki4H
Kirby starts searching his room for the zero-gravity button. “Hi, I’m Iris Frisk and this is my cat Bunny and this is our webcast. No rimshot this time because actually I’m going to address the recent Skyden tragedy.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjzBT0vzOJ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1j8J4nYt3R
She leaps into her swivel chair as her white hairy cat Bunny sails in the air. “My thoughts and prayers go out to families and friends of the fifty-plus victims. Bunny, get out of my face. Okay here’s what we know and what we don’t.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBJrgFQNYE
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSahggyUOZN
She points to overlaying bold text seeming to shout: WHO DIED?
“Most of you scrambled back to your lives, in record time thanks to our ‘outstanding’ (corrupted) ‘commercial’ (subliminal) ‘media coverage’ (... control). “What you didn’t realize was that unfortunately a lot of celebrities died tonight While it wasn’t the first time, it certainly is the worst. The claimed passengers have become the Buddy Hollys and Aaliyahs of our generation and I have here with me a copy of the manifest. So brace yourselves.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeOnUShhWM
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG1cQYjwv8
“We know that, Bunny move it, uh we lost Robyn Byrd. Known for her eleven best-selling romantic detective novels about everyone’s beloved widow Mrs. Harper. We may never know if Mrs. Harper will consider sweetheart Mr. Tuff’s marriage proposal or if she catches and arrests whoever killed her secretive husband. No rumors yet whether or not if someone will pen the last book. Farewell, Byrd. You left us too soon.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9En6X9Fje
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx4QnoVlGj
Meh, no offense to anyone who knows Robyn Byrd, thinks Kirby. I didn’t really care for the Harper series. Too many adverbs and open-ended chapters. However they had nice book covers with scantily clad men to gaze at. Sometimes her name was one of the highlights for a gay teenager walking through a sleepy bookstore on a summer day. Still tragic to lose her, all around.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwOJBlIrmD
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZFPbRT6cb
“We also know that we lost, wow. It’s as if fate went lengths to deliberately upset the fans. Again, brace yourselves. We also lost … Blaine Tabs.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAuf1245DI
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1niKcfWFR
No way. Kirby leans forward, rubbing his goosebumps. Pegasus Studios won’t be the same after this. And if Skyden won’t be the same after this, then neither will the world.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9stVqVmi26
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsrawblbVB
“That’s right. Famous for slasher remake ruiner Don’t Look and long-awaited sequel Argonauts 3: Nova War, the still-in-production third chapter from a meticulously planned seven-part project supposedly set to release this July. Does this mean the date will be pushed back? Either way, major disappointment and despair for the world over! We weep. I can just see every Facebook wall post, every Tweet hashtag mourning the precious yet mysterious life of Blaine Tabs. Will the Argonauts chain stay afloat without its genius creator? Damn it comic nerds, you better cross your toes, sacrifice lambs at your altars, and pray. Because chances of another Blaine Tabs blockbuster coming by every two years? Too slim at this point, mi amigos. Tsk, too slim.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvAnhbi0fq
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsQcU7NyWK
She chomps from her blueberry pie. “Mmm! Bunny, out of my air space.” After having gone down a long list of fifty-plus names and their feats of success, Iris Frisk moves onto the next overlaying bold text seeming to shout: HOW AND WHY?
“Before we get back to what this means for Pegasus Studios’ future, Horizon Airlines claim that nothing was wrong with their planes. There was no misfire or malfunction of any kind. No drunk pilots either. So, was it cyber terrorism and were these people direct targets? Was the jet hacked and then rigged to blow? If so, then how? And why?” Iris ponders pulling a red curl, relieved that it isn’t white or even her natural color, strawberry blond. Her bovine hazel eyes stare listlessly into her desk.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9TjsJEazG
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjCgyzCMzc
Finally she plucks her cat face to face. “Tell me what you know, Bunny. What do you know?” The white hairy cat shrieks a pitiful mew, as if put on the spot. “Then again, for a tuna dish, you could say practically anything.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IsUnzTKg8
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8tSDBH6yy
Bzzt. Kirby pauses then decides it’s a good time as any for a toke. He pulls out a prescription bottle and a pipe from his luggage. He checks his phone.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eHawdCACL
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeLZOozfJz
Sorry. First day on the job. What do you want to know... stud muffin? 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG4XnlgqWW
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hc5C2IzHc
He blinks, smiling but faltering. Is this really Chance?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiOQdFED5f
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Uho3LGH6
Cute. :) That is all Kirby can think of to text back.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOF1NinE00
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoaHgCV4pI
Ah, sounds like you got a girlfriend? Or boyfriend? :( 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRrbqJyKfP
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dl9ONrZTb
He breaks into an embarrassed smile. This sounds like inquiring. His smiles falters once again. Or interviewing. Kirby texts: How do I know you are who you say you are? No reply. Kirby scratches his head, stir-crazy.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy34LxgLojD
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cZWf9k8Mr
Bzzt. It’s a photo! Definitely Chance Gott, and surprise, shirtless in a poorly-lit gym. His v-line, black mesh shorts, and brick biceps are signs that he’s been playing football all his life. Of course, he flexes one arm, his left one, and poses with a low come-hither stare with those arrogant and wild jungle green eyes. His mouth is either snarling or slacking, hungry like a wolf.
Another text: Satisfied?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndSNb6szIQ
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNjIvvE9Wd
Kirby lets slip loud laughter. He grabs his mouth, dropping the phone. So that’s what’s under the grey jumpsuit. Snatching it, he starts to worry.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YFZtUr9EB
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAsTs0DUdS
Anyone on that flight could have seen them talking. Anyone could have a trove of pictures of Chance Gott to send. Kirby realizes his mind is prepare to wage war with itself over this. How fun is that.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGPZkzRngi
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6vPmah4F6
He’ll just have to arrange to meet, so he can stop wondering. But for now…682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmal6RXptjw
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQVHpadxLz
Kirby texts: Was the jet hacked? Do they know who did it?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnana5IzzOp
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNESkUdpty
As far as they can tell, no. Mostly radio silent. They salvaged the wreck and there’s no sign of the system being tampered with. Something detonated inside. A carry-on. I can find out more but knowing this city, someone can leak it any second.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FaI7Xm7PH
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9kaftkCsZ
A carry-on. Was this a suicide bomber? 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO3DdAY6c3
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3fxW0YSMh
He waits for a reply.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibkRxGzGQK
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzVWhXZ3Vc
Viggo pats the wall and gives Kirby something like a heart attack. He’s wearing a different black and orange suit and looking wired awake. Like he doesn’t run on sleep. But Kirby knows otherwise, maybe starting to worry if his brother’s a workaholic.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCiHyCBgOL
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKfYmGXjTu
That smells like weed.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZY6Bsxicb
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeuGDAjXba
Kirby blinks. It is. Want some?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLoiMVwOrM
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSgDKLX4q6
Mine’s better. They have better strains here. Viggo hands over a steamy plate, looking distracted. I microwaved it. Your dinner got cold.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLeMHnBqEO
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4PbXfokya
It hits him. I’m starving! Kirby grabs it and chows down.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71YwFGNv0T
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43u9wU3D44
What are you watching? His brother looks at the wall and goes pale.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrBGuq2wbl
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzCHwaHGvl
That strikes Kirby odd since Iris just got here. You know her, Viggo?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVA24VnIaq
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43brtqKkLV
He snarls before composing himself. We dated.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4WAzPMFVK
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuqwT1Cs69
Kirby doesn’t react other than: I see.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VIUBGVC0a
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuBbECBCh0
Iris Frisk laughs harder, spinning halfway to the ceiling with Bunny pouncing after her. The phone ringing gets her attention. She flies to it and blurts, “This just in! It is now being reported that body count is sixty and we lost another person of relevance.” She listens. “They’re saying it’s… ”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNzYsqSD1S
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvw98xxICO
Kirby and Viggo stare, hanging on every word. “Dr. Taylor.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQogltPev0
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAV7sRMk93
Iris sits upright. She turns off the zero gravity. It winds down, and her cat lands like a plane. She looks devastated but determined, an inner strength forged from fire with Viggo? Kirby sobers. “He was a great man known for his classics and discovering the world’s modern writers and actors. What a tremendous, earth-shattering loss. Dr. Taylor was an overactive board member of Pegasus Studios who co-founded the contest with Viggo Hayes.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5HmtLjGit
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzTslJ8zNf
The Hayes brothers stare ahead.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmEj2uO2sq
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgXcoMic2n
It shows on her face how the future goes somewhat blank. She processes it. “Excuse me. Dr. Taylor was supposed to be my mentor this year. Ours. Kirby Hayes and the interns, myself included, would have met with him tomorrow. For some of us, that dream is surely crushed. But his death begs the question: Why did he leave? And who will replace him? Reporters must be swarming around the Hayes brothers by now. This is field day for the press, and one hell of a storm coming your way, Hayes.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQ7LGy8dBS
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2yXx37x0M
“Oh shit,” says Viggo. Chills trickle down Kirby’s spine. But there’s no time for that.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNIwSY2n2v
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUpVertHUM
Viggo goes to an app that blacks out and locks down the entire residence. His phone lights up their faces and he snaps his fingers. Kirby, focus. Let me take care of this. I know how to handle the sharks. Pay attention. Don’t talk to them. When they approach you, you say ‘I have no comment at this time.’ Got that?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJetIc9Msur
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMWqsBu1VH
Kirby nods but that’s not enough.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsrlMfxbBo
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdarkySuiUT
No! Say it to me. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4U9jC6pKF
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjaAyloIuc
Kirby says: ‘I have no comment at this time.’682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVYzj6oixV
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8ynGTlm4v
Perfect, that’s half the battle. Viggo’s eyes are darting everywhere. He paces the floor in the dark. Kirby could hardly make out what he’s saying. No talking with anyone, I mean anyone. Don’t be careless with public posts and private texts. Eyes are on us that much harder. You’re here for one thing, your internship. Okay! Okay?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OuXiD05QY
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1ETcR92dO
Kirby nods, having a hard time following. It’s too dark to see.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WnirD95WI
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWXEDvcdsQ
Viggo grabs his wrist. Okay?!682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwalS5Wkqnv
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXOaWlsX05
Kirby stares wild-eyed. His face turns ugly in the small glow. He jerks back his wrist. Touch me again, I’ll break your face.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUIYij1Idz
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvkodyKHva
A crazy smile ignites on Viggo’s face. He looks excited.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHlrRCSa1z
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdES0ZPJpz
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVan4Ub3um
The murmurs are restless.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq329pyMkA
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGm6vcUJfo
The rest of Skyden stare at their television screens in their rooms, on their phones, and all over the skyscrapers. The murmurs spread like fire to kerosene. Breaking news on CNN and Fox of Dr. Taylor’s passing. Hushed rumors spread like a thunderstorm, a pulse of irrevocable and irreparable plague.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94HTD8X4mK
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBKR7lDVBg
They talk, talk, talk. All about Dr. Taylor.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRlwaPTL76
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6IW56H6WG
On the ledge of one of the roofs, a masked person kneels. The brown mask is a wooden drama mask with two faces: an upside down smile on the top and an afflicted frown on the bottom. If rotated 180 degrees, it is a placid smile. But right now, the mood is a pained, twisted, and agonizing sorrow.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vfgiSidvm
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVjTGVyv7Q
Two rivers of black ink stain the mask, streamed down from eye squints.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb63dA1kmMn
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSipfrABmap
Next to the Spook’s thick black dusty boots is a music player. In front of a glorious rectangle of bokeh light, a black-gloved finger presses play. Suddenly, opera wails full volume with awe and horror! The Spook stands before an enormous rainbow-burst television screen on a building under the gloomy mist of Earth’s endless clouds. Inspired by the crying crescendo, the grieving Spook raises both claws. They ball into shaking fists.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1cXLI5bvf
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GwWF9YDZA
“BREAKING NEWS!” The television shouts with alarm. That gets the Spook’s attention. As the opera plays on, the reporter booms the city at a rapid pace, “The shocking leak regarding the suicide note that was found at Dr. Taylor’s residence is in fact not a hoax. Confirmed by the FBI. Dr. Taylor’s last words are... ”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqHOLlNsYa
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqdHYzVixs
“God help me!” The Spook says with a guttural garble. It’s like a small electric guitar solo or a razor whine. A horrible sad face looks down at the little people in the streets. Both black gloved hands grip shoulders of a husky jacket in a frantic hug.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5wZeRohlW
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfio0mbd8qG
“‘God help me,’” reads the reporter with a flat face.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMldUhnC1z0
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hApd9Uc9x
“No, with feeling, idiot. It’s ‘GOD!! HELP ME!! This can’t BE my life.’”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi1vzh3Zsz
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXryguOf0x
“‘This can’t be my life.’” The reporter hems her throat and struggles to say it word for word, “‘It is too stagnant. It is too complacent.’” The music swells to such perfect pitch that the Spook has to howl off the rooftops, “Too stagnant! Too complacent! Too old! Something HAS to explode! Might as well make it me." 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TDTcgQ8a3
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L4JnWAlvu
“‘Something has to explode. Might as well make it … me.’ You can find the rest of the manifesto online. It alludes that the explosion was orchestrated by none other than beloved, legendary, and now mass bomber Dr. Taylor?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyP8fVnVaR
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkLJKsFbmx
The Spook turns off the music then claps. “Don’t quit your day job.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctVedOH79m
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJUQNuhyeS
The reporter continues with several guest speakers as the gloved fingers clamp to the side of the building, clearly with magnet clips built in. The Spook scales down, hanging above the vivid city of Skyden.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoNswd2ljH
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIde7ziG8PV
Halfway down twenty floors, the Spook remembers something and halts, hanging from one hand.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGo44qCx6f
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx22yVf7iUF
The other gloved hand brings out a smartphone and a Twitter account with zero followers. The sad Spook’s mask tilts as an overwhelmed dog would, completely on the verge of tears. The right hand thumbs in a message. “Hashtag. Day. One. Frown…”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcURAmNWDU
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbqd1PmZpo
#dayone :(
THE SPOOK IS SAD
Jack Steele Adams
ns 15.158.61.19da2
