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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0UMxjtUfW
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAKoCXpGRo
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKFgxohSVp
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGETDFWoUf
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IjyPZPoMd
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTz5GfNHZY
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTThEjQDiQ
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7PJW7eyBo
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb2SnVZKXh
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdqdIiuHkG
Don’t worry. No cameras here. Viggo says spinning his keys and enters the foyer.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bH0tLPmVE
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HIqr3h5V3
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V9muOM1hn
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh8llCmtpd
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TH8F2TTfA
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRqKgXUlDR
Kirby goes pink in the face. He drops his luggage, freeing up his hands.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceaf5VUhDy
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvlo3OJSIM
I walk … the way I walk.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObWV6evxgL
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pr2jU2kuh
Viggo’s orange eyes close as he refrains from an eye-roll, “Oh.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvJgcRTgti
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP2O30O0Fh
That’s the hallway to my study. Off-limits.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3gpepBnGZ
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLru6W1YaAH
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrXSYy6Kc3
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVR3NCz3mH
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?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVquuwrfJzK
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGdJCd2Bh4
Club room, says Viggo. Off-limits.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLisnpLUnL
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwD7WUkD3Y
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz16gYmlRN1
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpiiBPg5RV
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBheHMJAatP
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MHPC22Naj
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgqQgl0Cj0
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6tUBkSuFR
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkGckDRKEK
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2Do6gLKuQ
I do eat. It’s a habit of ordering take-out. What the hell do you want? Mexican, Italian, Mongolian, or Greek?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDe0QnNG1x
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvfUqxFYCT
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gUEFzZbLb
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydYxCUDyNY
The other side of the sky.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yrFWR7FL5
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS7btz2wko
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qhvYjTOwh
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUw9u1E5Et
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!681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXCRylMi2a
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOFE2vFRNW
Kirby squints. I see now. Is this my competition?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtghGpwvQT
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCZ6MG7ae2
But I don’t want him to be competition.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtopYxIxx9g
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b5GuKzqPv
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… 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2g0elCLXe
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwf9bMsCap
Why remind me? Viggo pinches the bridge of his nose.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eMSzb8DKN
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFHm5VeLLn
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…681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECVnjpF2Gj
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaB3ELPelP
Viggo’s face goes blank so Kirby hurries. But of course, along comes a train.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktMth7VJqS
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnTAU6Vran
An enormous, wailing black train. A dragon of midnight fury leaving behind a mountainous trail of volcanic smoke. Pebbles leap up. The tracks rattle.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9ZMKS5Oih
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUOergi5N2
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. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0biv9NtRbi
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ1uO6NwSQ
The river was too far down and too shallow that a jump would mean fatal.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VzGM8h9NQ
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEmcjchbLZ
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQUqWVeXfD
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ333Vxv3wk
I was trying to say “Train!” Viggo pounds the counter several times. “Train!”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ798fvHyeb9
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMTk7LyeZs
You said “Sit! Sit!” They laugh harder.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18mmQ1U4Rd
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiJ2EjEmCS
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SL2vzyyyp
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLNxalMkSP
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5GgZT1vzp
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQh1ogbR3o
Don’t feel free to look around. Your dinner might get cold.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlXe5T3m5l
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk6Rx7xbqC
Whatever you say. Kirby walks down the east wing. So much for bonding.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdqksvUMp4
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoVZ1uqNFO
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhOowcnrEa
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizNESKGG4p
“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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx53AcoE5c
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h1ctW8KVM
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgSQfbTY5a
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB89WSZneWy
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnS5iixcD0
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF6Br3BiNi
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6AkNS5S1U
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi0uZca8Ww
Nah. Nothing. Just the fans. What’s worse, he’s lost sight of the living room.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z70qRKUl5
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPTA7ZjYJb
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLoHMrM5g4
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp4i7P2oPJ
The corridor rumbles with a suspenseful chord heralding another villain or doomsday coming next week. Dun, dun, dun!681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJDknT4nRI
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOIAdFSxgW
One square of the ceiling zapped to jumping static beans. Kirby’s heart does a skip.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW1mUEJUPM
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu38OVBggu
Bzzt. His phone vibrates.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRvLHzqmD4
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPClwbudcj
It’s another text from that private number.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3bNRLpno8
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWHqUNNGCu
He asked Chance Gott an hour ago how he found his number.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSd7cCq48O
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44bAHSUaYO
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. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPMphQq7Xe
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1QH9fpsOg
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4IWNbK5c1
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEfwLP0IUc
Kirby fires back several texts. No, but thanks for explaining. Actually, this is an emergency. I’m lost somewhere in my brother’s house.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAlrKwWmOX
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKziXyoFKdR
Bzzt. That was fast. You’re lost in a house?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqDGCs5pvS
Bzzt. Use your nose.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPJ5m7NpuI
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGosGE067X
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHenTsGv0cK
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxzgWjpKsD
Is someone there?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwiqtwPIxf
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zSQbuCZrt
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl7SKl7hHB
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFfML1rAvd
He rolls his shoulders to take the edge off and checks the phone.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdj0pS5RsA
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvZGTIkJy4
Chance says: Lol! We’re men, we both should know something about architecture.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JgXbR7bpf
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRJZD27JI6
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOdT3j1L0y
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqjNJvI1jW
I see your point. I’m new here as well.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY41ZAOLXmS
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv2Ej8GZcX
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZNeZJ1fYW
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mQCVeXVtg
He texts Chance a question that’s bothered him for a while. Do you know what happened with that jet?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv0xKie0mn
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC7P2wnbdy
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzxc3InYV4
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9qdwtKQgj
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfDkj3cvQu
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCE944qDse
Iris Frisk looks somewhat like Emma Stone with her dark auburn hair, squealing hysterical laughter. She somersaults in her zero-gravity room.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7tD5pbBog
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p1aPk9Op2
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABqWQvQBtu
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjn81QCjHL
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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvykMGAJmzm
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fXXPBtulr
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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ555o6iAJ7W
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNGuD1IQ0s
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpVNGmTgJF
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHEOCk1uZO
“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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5fi3VmXw9
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xihtPeVXn
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbKbGDff3q
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2wnPw4VOD
“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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9HtT66Z1M
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuGdGIPiUQ
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvyXFY4Xjq
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHMbqIccX6
“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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQfdeHAs1e
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqbWX7n4uy
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu0tUYsDwF
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FKH6AmTa8
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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzlHhmc9cn
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK65Eojl5R
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxzBvzEK5S
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCJYAeEdOg
Sorry. First day on the job. What do you want to know... stud muffin? 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbpniOoyu9
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYESEXPDFl
He blinks, smiling but faltering. Is this really Chance?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthJwHJ1hF8
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0u7pFki3k
Cute. :) That is all Kirby can think of to text back.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIhhNovp2h
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPQiD6rXVA
Ah, sounds like you got a girlfriend? Or boyfriend? :( 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDYXiXd7IR
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEskdQ6EJM
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgh9zMOTlE
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WDoPKabg9
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?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42yLkQ22dX
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSp0c8QAik
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWhxfSS3sw
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwWbuh5bqJ
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfYUNG8Fpt
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3fl8vLP38
He’ll just have to arrange to meet, so he can stop wondering. But for now…681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmaNnnQU8I
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxkDL2IZmB
Kirby texts: Was the jet hacked? Do they know who did it?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrrcTZeW1F
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaY9FUlUBA
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9MP63YMgP
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq7i9RZZRc
A carry-on. Was this a suicide bomber? 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr81gAkp4vv
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6oLS2pf19
He waits for a reply.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RPwqaAnQB
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmBaXkn3HL
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRVgowhtVy
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RaAdZTQJw
That smells like weed.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBol30k6oaK
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoUIqTQgHG
Kirby blinks. It is. Want some?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vf0j0rfVt
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9ujk6LBNS
Mine’s better. They have better strains here. Viggo hands over a steamy plate, looking distracted. I microwaved it. Your dinner got cold.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6ujIHcCH4
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9shf3KtiP
It hits him. I’m starving! Kirby grabs it and chows down.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8qfL1i5n8
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd1rxRs5lD
What are you watching? His brother looks at the wall and goes pale.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1hzgb3Jyl
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uGEnRmRLp
That strikes Kirby odd since Iris just got here. You know her, Viggo?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pQaCPp8o7
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS48hXtHSb
He snarls before composing himself. We dated.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktv3psQE8g
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSqeGPB1NR
Kirby doesn’t react other than: I see.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N91jdmOQa
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcNeOjbwsV
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… ”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX08ebkwuhn
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3pD7FsZX6
Kirby and Viggo stare, hanging on every word. “Dr. Taylor.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaRA9eEW18
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuQ6mIh1UI
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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyXDshOM8I
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcwJGpCf2c
The Hayes brothers stare ahead.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBsrmqlphw
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdQbweta99
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.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1FUtuRITC
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91SjkCoMQo
“Oh shit,” says Viggo. Chills trickle down Kirby’s spine. But there’s no time for that.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbsJc7AUjH
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T8sbu8dPw
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?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hneo0VGos
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm9B2W5JNT
Kirby nods but that’s not enough.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1fius9wR9
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLmZzvpt2Q
No! Say it to me. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wUJLj5Ric
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0esb7oz8zN
Kirby says: ‘I have no comment at this time.’681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpQbbD7pFd
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9zRx7t9Yt
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?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9rv68ad0E
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPRwF1C0Jm
Kirby nods, having a hard time following. It’s too dark to see.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP6xma2XvJ
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN6U1QgQyq
Viggo grabs his wrist. Okay?!681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLmtuIJrUg
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcRAMqsci2
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEIa8DVC8B
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMzcTCpncn
A crazy smile ignites on Viggo’s face. He looks excited.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt5Dxlxcx5
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNjBlKrpuj
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Lck6ufBm
The murmurs are restless.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkt6FVGx9l
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBMVInEUVd
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI8wLGTfzo
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD1hRb94ol
They talk, talk, talk. All about Dr. Taylor.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2q8e9x9Ck
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8unwLrUrT
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3qzSSZKqG
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf4oH8z0sK
Two rivers of black ink stain the mask, streamed down from eye squints.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlcEJw1uIf
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFlv0wdG4e
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ7WaPj1Qt
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sy056XyNR
“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... ”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4kkgKrnbk
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbmAOIKT4m
“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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo78G2giMb
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fgH868ASx
“‘God help me,’” reads the reporter with a flat face.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r3tTirzOF
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUccx3OfbB3
“No, with feeling, idiot. It’s ‘GOD!! HELP ME!! This can’t BE my life.’”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ShbZ6Ew6t
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVONBaal4Ys
“‘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." 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qRTyXr3Ni
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg51x7I8LeU
“‘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?”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVJWYV9KTp
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PLtpvGLIX
The Spook turns off the music then claps. “Don’t quit your day job.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavtN8mxS56
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7CFgk9lm2
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKPsj1iT0g
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSxwTYSMof
Halfway down twenty floors, the Spook remembers something and halts, hanging from one hand.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzQ7QZ3NNS
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxid4zH7N8
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…”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTNkHGdVpq
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAUloGVEvB
#dayone :(
THE SPOOK IS SAD
Jack Steele Adams
ns 15.158.61.18da2
