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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWmgTjuH0C
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29ckcvpevU
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoa90tE9K9
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEzPA6nYeH
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I5VwaHwwA
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm1PoBa1LQ
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR40f0H0GrT
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOVaRc3Coe
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtkw9ONbsX
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhnpooIosi
Don’t worry. No cameras here. Viggo says spinning his keys and enters the foyer.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1q6L2Uhuj
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgA1F5StQb
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqcZLzBrwh
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEppOkQvEx7
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxOP1Sho18
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwJ0bk7Uab
Kirby goes pink in the face. He drops his luggage, freeing up his hands.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHOAbeZxOp
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfxZCqOyq5
I walk … the way I walk.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oW9EaP3K6
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRMKPFE1q3
Viggo’s orange eyes close as he refrains from an eye-roll, “Oh.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw829GmdYue
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C4jeQlFHS
That’s the hallway to my study. Off-limits.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnGlyIIo0s
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjznqs9uLtO
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaAzw72rpd
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE5ZE1xe9K
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?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAW5RhiChf
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnOuFicSDU
Club room, says Viggo. Off-limits.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfE3yF6g0D
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m7bb5t7SN
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb5jq7HFD3
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKWPIHH3xZ
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuhMjhc0ym
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1mgtcFdWo
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURCCeW7OiK
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lcUK3aeid
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL6ZX7OQM1
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7QUfpUVpB
I do eat. It’s a habit of ordering take-out. What the hell do you want? Mexican, Italian, Mongolian, or Greek?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0kUjy7Sbn
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jrx9wsd5p
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsnBqc7MUo
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs14DmFlG89
The other side of the sky.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yviebd2lB
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZFxeyqCR1
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvSmcjhmEQ
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrVJn5Bkoe
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!760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP0So1F0i3
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE08ybrRTv
Kirby squints. I see now. Is this my competition?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLkm6UkCEo
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp29GXammH
But I don’t want him to be competition.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74iCgwjlJM
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhwgHGsxWE
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… 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7mX7wtxhN
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jQaU8gwC8
Why remind me? Viggo pinches the bridge of his nose.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vrkIUZcnX
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAJWjGYBRQ
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…760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PPapJcTMh
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrI2Ph2oiG
Viggo’s face goes blank so Kirby hurries. But of course, along comes a train.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIsIy1BV3A
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4ZmJzQGb9
An enormous, wailing black train. A dragon of midnight fury leaving behind a mountainous trail of volcanic smoke. Pebbles leap up. The tracks rattle.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1cgXa0YhH
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsjpFi1dai
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. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72pSo7LHgp
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvoXMS3nRk
The river was too far down and too shallow that a jump would mean fatal.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWzMXwj8hF
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNPqtxVLEZ
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sPRplcdEZ
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN3J2QVtLc
I was trying to say “Train!” Viggo pounds the counter several times. “Train!”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkEMVKmi1O
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmBDnrT3uZ
You said “Sit! Sit!” They laugh harder.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlg1jNBVIU
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc63tbFIuEL
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchrfmSyxws
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfbeCvlycL
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS8XDq1k5v
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH6YZknUDw
Don’t feel free to look around. Your dinner might get cold.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE6MysUA0t
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMFk7zmZGb
Whatever you say. Kirby walks down the east wing. So much for bonding.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0wpsrTfpO
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAkT0RUg7r
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU97PFn4hd
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSNsVAofhB
“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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjjFiOZBsu
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxURHR7Kp1H
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyliIMVb6h2
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZdnO83HYP
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPJkyW5vXe
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhniKTVDBf
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3S68aWjhz
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEu7t328s7
Nah. Nothing. Just the fans. What’s worse, he’s lost sight of the living room.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccIbUlkQfy
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsci3V2dlqi
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhczktWykAg
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UyJvqE6Xv
The corridor rumbles with a suspenseful chord heralding another villain or doomsday coming next week. Dun, dun, dun!760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzyhQkQVKy
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JC8HwHGYN
One square of the ceiling zapped to jumping static beans. Kirby’s heart does a skip.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX71w1BI4k
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJdzHGWG2c
Bzzt. His phone vibrates.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZU7mGAubT
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFa4gDeZpt
It’s another text from that private number.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTpVMA7AHy
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVTzIQn1yl
He asked Chance Gott an hour ago how he found his number.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Z6mYqzNR
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTIoeKz2jo
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. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mgxca36pS
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqgzau2XCj
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSuTtQmQ8y
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUJkWWF1ka
Kirby fires back several texts. No, but thanks for explaining. Actually, this is an emergency. I’m lost somewhere in my brother’s house.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdshPGvRpC
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2QU4aFq1T
Bzzt. That was fast. You’re lost in a house?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVfA7pvEkC
Bzzt. Use your nose.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA75t18cc7n
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYP82678Je
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvXfhzhkOT
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntIGQYLbIr
Is someone there?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfYElxX012
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlhCj7EDQc
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOMm2FsK5Q
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFK5mXgZqX
He rolls his shoulders to take the edge off and checks the phone.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5XfHUNaPz
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7low6Trjid
Chance says: Lol! We’re men, we both should know something about architecture.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw5u8MX4W1
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4von5jApZ
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYDGIRa8CS
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0kgsRlbUK
I see your point. I’m new here as well.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjztqAxUP4e
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Tv61zJTmh
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1VWP99Tgh
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne7SqZp9To
He texts Chance a question that’s bothered him for a while. Do you know what happened with that jet?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzdCwkAHOO
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirIR6yRBUG
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowvJ3ehBwH
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJZDjgKbD2
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk84Pxtc7Tk
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvUkCQg6e7
Iris Frisk looks somewhat like Emma Stone with her dark auburn hair, squealing hysterical laughter. She somersaults in her zero-gravity room.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEHLmuvNIq
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa15Fw6Jd5
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N0DJ7bQtP
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGdGpFBOYn
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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGemf8m2pJ
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNrdwOQVkP
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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JxYkslXyi
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo5uqE3cQP
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobu0zctSDk
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5HvkW5JX3
“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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkCJNzmsOE
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKCVwSM9F9
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkcXLTb7hi
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdvPS1hTP0
“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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnEM09G5Fp
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV61CpEg8T
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuoPaPmVLY
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ZA8SSOmS
“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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj8SW2jtHs
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGh0TDJaJ6
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlboQyxKZf
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp0kMBou4i
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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J9Dw7H35p
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BV7Q4rmE2
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYxVuJD6Af
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkPgVeIDjX
Sorry. First day on the job. What do you want to know... stud muffin? 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBNInMbRX9
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu261PSNzV
He blinks, smiling but faltering. Is this really Chance?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJs0Cgzn2f
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaFRlBBLWh
Cute. :) That is all Kirby can think of to text back.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcRxxA3qtQ
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlKresCGhP
Ah, sounds like you got a girlfriend? Or boyfriend? :( 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hWtc7bH6S
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoY2yT3AU9
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFgJJ0cehT
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbybvvlYcHe
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?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hji39w3ln
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMwxiwxlYk
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7khfGIJdU
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0ewWJp2ya
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m0OdsSa9N
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG3PvNrZcg
He’ll just have to arrange to meet, so he can stop wondering. But for now…760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS9n8uMPeS
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2wfRKU2bt
Kirby texts: Was the jet hacked? Do they know who did it?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFhzCczw3r
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH4rRt6xJM
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8cRrQ13qZ
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV4bqA7wE3
A carry-on. Was this a suicide bomber? 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGVyt8NQRO
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHzj7QzkdW
He waits for a reply.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJisUg6LkeA
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f9GspLFv7
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJtXw3oXNo
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsSmdQuh67
That smells like weed.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7n7mFLKJs
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyWPhKokEO
Kirby blinks. It is. Want some?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGm25c5l9r
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGIfbrJEWD
Mine’s better. They have better strains here. Viggo hands over a steamy plate, looking distracted. I microwaved it. Your dinner got cold.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKlP8g5fTu
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NqAwFhSr1
It hits him. I’m starving! Kirby grabs it and chows down.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uCGnac5UM
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kAGxwa5q9
What are you watching? His brother looks at the wall and goes pale.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLjOmH0Jxj
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCMoLS9sln
That strikes Kirby odd since Iris just got here. You know her, Viggo?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69eklOQrKH
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJpiJWZLSV
He snarls before composing himself. We dated.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD9RcJow9X
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCJ0siiKZv
Kirby doesn’t react other than: I see.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeDGd2VGJG
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6Nw2hQDHx
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… ”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLv0VqZAQt
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBhPqYPnE1
Kirby and Viggo stare, hanging on every word. “Dr. Taylor.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o9Qa6CgSu
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV26C48bTf3
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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbyMPv8GsC
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwUt5UaMQa
The Hayes brothers stare ahead.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmwNpcNQ2h
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGW5s54yV6
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.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28X18n9QPr
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Js1nwSIOm
“Oh shit,” says Viggo. Chills trickle down Kirby’s spine. But there’s no time for that.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecL9flyy9z
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8WRDx7DGn
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?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtLTBw6w41
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLE0jkrQtd
Kirby nods but that’s not enough.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqaMLP68Hm
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rVXxkLQl5
No! Say it to me. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkEC2TttCC
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe2JFnFPBG
Kirby says: ‘I have no comment at this time.’760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfA5YaPwdo
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqU1Q5bH2I
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?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemb653T3JM
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdkrSbSbxU
Kirby nods, having a hard time following. It’s too dark to see.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL9K5TImK2
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkndgMZMwy
Viggo grabs his wrist. Okay?!760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0dPkcxikO
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF4lkrz05v
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGVWnCewZF
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumLxe7u8Vy
A crazy smile ignites on Viggo’s face. He looks excited.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBy3mCMBA2
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgrYR7LkZd
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6ZTyBqpQc
The murmurs are restless.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ7KdrDP9p
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfNkl2vEko
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y7q4aiEiO
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiima1INMa
They talk, talk, talk. All about Dr. Taylor.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCvbrRVux1
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyTR0cKxhE
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDXizr0NME
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1tbw98y3y
Two rivers of black ink stain the mask, streamed down from eye squints.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DDTQtU93f
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJymSNC2Cn
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPPgQgNRVV
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNDfpjZDj9
“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... ”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6IMck9Ti7
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhYHYwQOED
“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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYDXEdHnXT
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx5yjRC8u4
“‘God help me,’” reads the reporter with a flat face.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE1zBNS48f
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAp8a9z5Qn
“No, with feeling, idiot. It’s ‘GOD!! HELP ME!! This can’t BE my life.’”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL77v4fBGQ
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l73A6yKVr
“‘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." 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfCgG36Coz
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRBHj89FSN
“‘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?”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73Eu9LTirD
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqqgHQwor4
The Spook turns off the music then claps. “Don’t quit your day job.”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweS38PIlwo
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge6FMNSofW
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4rUaiHsHh
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ8VubWehl
Halfway down twenty floors, the Spook remembers something and halts, hanging from one hand.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ5OyI6VaI
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXR1Sa2Dl1
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…”760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5rts4NDMm
760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn7n2LZmZa
#dayone :(
THE SPOOK IS SAD
Jack Steele Adams
ns216.73.216.79da2
