printisbetter

DARKNESS
As NARRATOR speaks, FADE IN TO...
EXTERNAL: LATE AFTERNOON
Tracking shot of a small, filthy town with dirt roads and paint peeling off the small wooden buildings.

NARRATOR

A few merchants set up shop in Tiphereth, but it was more of a trading post for the farms that carved out a living on the grasslands. Built at the edge of a tiny lake that was no more than a deep swimming hole in the stream, Tiphereth was an open invitation for the troll war bands, many of whom had even given up raiding and killing in Tiphereth all together. They just walked into town, took the food they wanted, took the drink they wanted, and if they were in a really good mood, they would break a window or two.

Camera settles on VALENTINE, CHLOE ISIS, entering Tiphereth, looking around in wonder. DAHOOTY hops behind them.

VALENTINE

Can we really just walk into town with a talking bird?

Closeup of DAHOOTY. His gold eyes narrow.

DAHOOTY

Dahooty knows how to behave in civilized culture.

CHLOE steps defensively in front of Dahooty.

CHLOE

Stop being so oppressive.

VALENTINE

Where do you think those Glithvals went? Did you see them at all when you were flying?

DAHOOTY

Dahooty would have told you if he saw riders. Give Dahooty a little credit.

VALENTINE

I mean... we don’t really know you.

CHLOE

And I’m starving. That sounds like a perfect opportunity for Dahooty to fill us in. Shall we buy him lunch?

VALENTINE

I only have six dollars.

CHLOE

It will work its self out.

VALENTINE

I wish you'd stop keep saying that.

INTERNAL: BOAR’S BREATH INN. Lighting: Dim from fire and candles scattered around the room. WENCH and COOK are behind the counter. No one else present. Enter CHLOE, VALENTINE, and DAHOOTY.

NARRATOR

Valentine, Chloe, and Dahooty went to the first restaurant they could find, a tough place with wood floors slick with dirt, grime, and spilled drink. It was still early in the afternoon so there weren’t any patrons, and the staff was clearly enjoying a little peace and quiet. A tall, round woman with thick arms was leaning on the counter gumming a piece of red candy that stuck out between her stained lips. Her dirty-blond hair was tied up in a top-knot that bobbed around her head as she chewed. Behind her, a tall, wispy man with a warty face had his back to them at the grill, looking over his shoulder occasionally.

WENCH

Whatchu want?

CHLOE

Food to eat. Anything.

WENCH

Can’t have no bird in here. He’s gotta stay outside.

VALENTINE

Oh, he’s okay, he’s a friend.

WENCH

I don’t care, he’s no friend of mine. Now get him out.

CHLOE

We’re sorry, Dahooty. Just wait for us by the door. We’ll bring you something when we’re done.

DAHOOTY

Promise?

CHLOE

We promise.

Exit DAHOOTY

WENCH

You two come to eat?

CHLOE

Yes, please.

WENCH

New around here?

COOK chuckles.

VALENTINE

We’ve been around.

WENCH

Not long enough to know about that bird, you haven’t.

CHLOE

Dahooty?

WENCH

Whatever he calls hisself. He’s trouble.

VALENTINE

We met him on the plain. He saved us from a troll.

COOK chuckles.

WENCH

Saved you from a troll? Is that what he told you?

CHLOE

He did.

WENCH

Led that troll right to you is what he did. That bird is a scoundrel. He and that troll have a racket.

VALENTINE

What do you mean?

WENCH

They find people out on the plain and scare them out of camp. That bird flies in crying and carrying on about trolls. Then when you run off, the troll walks in and picks through your stuff. Most people around here have stopped buying from those two. Too many travelers come to town and are not to happy about buying back their junk, if you know what I mean.

CHLOE

Trolls love junk.

WENCH

Where’s that troll now? Waiting outside of town to steal whatever you buy, no doubt.

CHLOE

You’re making that up.

WENCH

Go ask him. I bet you yer lunches that the bird is already gone. He probably scadaddled the moment we recognized him.

VALENTINE looks out the door.

VALENTINE

He’s gone!

WENCH

I just saved you some trouble. Why don’t you sit down and enjoy some of our famous stew as my reward.

CHLOE

Do you have anything else?

WENCH

How much more do you need but stew?

COOK chuckles.

CHLOE and VALENTINE take a seat in the corner booth and WENCH brings them two bowls and two cups of yellow, frothy juice. CHLOE picks through the bowl.

CHLOE

Um... I don’t eat meat.

WENCH

What, are you sick?

CHLOE

I’ll just have some bread.

CHLOE pushes her bowl to VALENTINE. WENCH exits.

VALENTINE

You need to eat something.

CHLOE

I’m not eating that.

VALENTINE

What are you going to do, then? Starve? We don’t even know how much longer we’ve got until Wicked City. You can’t just survive on trail mix and bread.

CHLOE

And juice. (Drinks) Can you believe that bird was out to get us? We certainly got lucky, didn’t we?

VALENTINE

Yeah, lucky.

CHLOE

Come on, Rubin, cheer up. Aren’t you having fun? It’s an adventure.

VALENTINE

Well, I’m tired. We’ve been walking for three days now. You told me this would take an afternoon.

CHLOE

How was I supposed to know how long it would take to reach Wicked City? Last time I went there by train.

VALENTINE

There’s a train?

CHLOE

It’s a huge city, of course the trains go there. It’s where sauerkraut comes from.

VALENTINE

I can’t believe this.

CHLOE

It’s true! I mean, not all of it comes from Wicked City, but quite a bit. The whole city just stinks of pickled cabbage. It’s gross.

VALENTINE

Why did we hike all that way through rough terrain when we could have just hopped on the train?

CHLOE

Well, when I went, they wouldn’t let me off the train. Said I’d upset the trolls. Besides, you keep carrying on about how you only have six dollars. I thought this would be more fun.

VALENTINE

We’ve slept in cold wet grass for two nights.

CHLOE

You’re such a party-pooper, Rubin.

VALENTINE

It’s Valentine.

WENCH enters with a basket of stale bread. She tosses the basket on the table before Chloe.

WENCH

How’s the stew? Need more drinks?

VALENTINE

It’s delicious. I think we’re fine for right now.

WENCH exits.

VALENTINE

Will you eat your stew? You’re going to need your strength, we don’t have anything left.

CHLOE

I’m not eating this.

VALENTINE

Fine, then starve. Maybe if we’re lucky we can get to Wicked City before dark and you can get some sauerkraut.

CHLOE

Ew, I don’t eat sauerkraut. And besides, I think we should stay here tonight.

VALENTINE

Here?

CHLOE

I mean, we don’t know how much farther it is to Wicked City, and we’ve been walking for days. I’d like to sleep in a real bed for once.

VALENTINE

And how do we afford this? I only have...

CHLOE

Only have six dollars, I know, I’ve heard you. Look, we’ll figure something out. Wait here.

CHLOE goes to the bar and talks to WENCH for several minutes, unheard while VALENTINE watches, eating his stew, face distraught. CHLOE returns, smiling.

CHLOE

Oh, ye of little faith.

VALENTINE

What did you do?

CHLOE

I got us a room.

VALENTINE

How did you pull that off?

CHLOE

A little ingenuity and a lot of know-how. I told them we're securing a place for a duke we work for, and he'll be coming tomorrow to pay for our room and board.

VALENTINE

And it worked?

CHLOE

Oh yeah, these townsfolk are as dumb as posts. They believed every word of it. Now, if you’ll join me, I’d like to see our rooms... If you’re done eating, that is.

VALENTINE looks at his bowl.

VALENTINE

I’m done.

CHLOE and VALENTINE exit.

FADE TO...

EXTERNAL: WOODED ROAD, NIGHT

TREMONT AYERS and HOOK are walking down a wide, dusty road with pale green trees on either side.

HOOK

So why aren’t you in Old City?

TREMONT

Because this is more fun.

HOOK

You’ve kept me prisoner, dragged me out of my home, and made me walk more than a day. Forgive me if I want to make a little conversation to pass the time.

TREMONT watches the road.

HOOK

I still don’t understand why we couldn’t take horses. I could have gotten horses for us.

TREMONT

(flat tone, watching the road)
Horses run if we come within reach of them. They are scared of the Glithval Song.

HOOK

We don’t see many Glithvals any more. They say you don’t even leave Old City. What were you doing in Triangle? Why does Teppins want that coat so bad?

TREMONT is quiet a few seconds. He looks at Hook, back at the road, takes a deep breath.

TREMONT

We were banished.

HOOK

Such great heroes of the Empire?

TREMONT

There’s been no Empire to speak of for years. The Emperor sits alone in Old City waiting for his subjects to come praise him. If it wasn’t for the Glithvals, he'd have no one to defend him.

HOOK

You’re dodging the question.

TREMONT

Do you hear the drone of flies? Or birds, or some other wild animal that doesn’t realize it’s too close to a sword?

HOOK

Touchy subject.

TREMONT

We were banished because Teppins can’t keep his fool mouth shut. He’s always going on and on and on about how no one else knows what they are doing, and that he should be the one on that throne. After all, his troops that did the bulk of the fighting, while Konakarse stepped in and took the credit.

HOOK

He told off the Emperor?

TREMONT

Not directly. They were friends once, before the war. They don’t talk much now. I imagine this has to do with Teppins constantly whining.

HOOK

What did he do?

TREMONT

Let’s just say that if Bandyboo is who I think he is, the Marshal is going to have some fun before this is all over.

HOOK

Hey, do you think we can stop at that river a few minutes. I’m out of water.

TREMONT

If we must.

Cut to...

EXTERNAL: RIVERBANK

The ground slopes steeply to broken stone at the edge of the water, with massive shale boulders where weather has worn away the dirt, and only scant moss has dared to take hold. A few saplings poke out between the rocks. Heavy overhang of foliage on either side of the river. A dam has formed a swimming hole, and the opposite bank is torn away with a rope swing dangling from a tree above it.

TREMONT and HOOK enter at the top.

HOOK

What, don’t you drink? (Looks around bank for a way down.) I’ve barely seen you put anything in your body at all the last couple days.

HOOK tries his footing on the bank, but slips on his first step, sliding down on his back.

TREMONT

The Glithval Song helps us conserve energy. We don’t eat often.

HOOK sits down on a large rock and unbuckles his boots.

HOOK

What is that, some kind of magic?

TREMONT

The most powerful magick in the world.

HOOK

I’m a wizard too, you know?

TREMONT

I bet.

HOOK

You don’t believe me?

TREMONT

Do you shoot fire, or are you just the type that can disconnect his thumb and put it back on.

HOOK

You wait and see.

TREMONT

I’ll be holding my breath. Weren’t you going swimming?

HOOK digs his canteen out of his pack and takes off his shirt.

HOOK

If I’m not back in an hour, wait another hour.

TREMONT

If you leave my sight, I’ll skewer you like a pig.

HOOK

(salutes)
Yes, Mister Ayers.

TREMONT

That’s Lieutenant Ayers.

HOOK

How could I forget?

HOOK wades into the river.

HOOK

This is amazing! You sure you don’t want to peel off that armor and join me?

TREMONT

The day you see me out of armor will be a cold day indeed.

HOOK

What, do you sleep in it too?

TREMONT

I don’t sleep.

HOOK fills his canteen, splashing water on his face, immersing his head.

HOOK

So they threw all of you out? Just because Teppins mouthed off?

TREMONT

(sits on rock)
Lokia came on his own. He’s been with Teppins since the war. He’s utterly loyal.

HOOK

And you?

TREMONT

Impertinence.

HOOK

What?

TREMONT

Insolence.

HOOK

You?

TREMONT

They called me arrogant, said I must learn the lesson of Teppins with him, or teach him in the process.

HOOK

Now you have my interest peaked.

TREMONT

Morgan Lithes. General Morgan Lithes. Right hand man to the Emperor himself. He’s a pompous old bear that spent his time burning and attacking Illithred civilians during the war.

HOOK

Any Illithred is an enemy.

TREMONT

But enemies with no weapons don’t put up much of a fight as they run away. The General’s favorite tactic was to burn the villages ahead of the Glithval advance, attracting the Illithred armies to defend, and leaving us with no replenished supplies. He called himself a hero, claimed he broke the spirits of the enemy. I’d be surprised if he even crossed swords once. He’s a human, just like you. Just like the Emperor.

HOOK

I’ve tried and tried, but I can’t seem to change that.

TREMONT

It should be a Glithval by his side. Be it Adeal Teppins or anyone else, it should be a Glithval before Morgan Lithes.

HOOK

Is this what you told them?

TREMONT

I was not so greedy. I told them I felt I was quite capable of filling Adeal’s role as Marshal of the Third Wall while he was seeking redemption. After all, I am the most qualified candidate. Apparently, no consideration was given to my record before a decision was made. I should be at home right now, watching the flags blowing over the fields. Have you filled your canteen yet?

HOOK

Just about. It’s one of those slow-filling models.

TREMONT

Well, hurry up.

HOOK puts his canteen in the water.

TREMONT

How far to this Ox Ford?

HOOK

Probably get there tomorrow, depending on how often you need to stop and rest.

TREMONT

Teppins and Lokia are close, I can hear their Song.

HOOK

That’s sweet.

TREMONT

You don’t want to survive this, do you?

HOOK

Did I see a little smile? Mr. Glithval, are you starting to enjoy yourself?

TREMONT

The Song comes second nature after a while. Most of the time, we don’t even realize it, but to the right ears, it can be heard for miles. A dull hum. It can lead us right to each other.

HOOK

I wanted to be one, you know? A Glithval. When I was little, that’s all we ever talked about. In my town, we’d run through the streets replaying your battles with the Titans, and the overthrow of the Illithred.

TREMONT

You’re not allowed to discuss those times now. I’ve been ordered to kill anyone that does.

HOOK

I was real little, just a baby. All I remember is red. And noise. Then it stopped. (Climbs out of the river.) The Glithvals are heros, the Glithvals saved the day.

TREMONT

Is there a point to this story, or are you just trying to make my ears fall off?

HOOK

(sits on rock, dries his feet with his coat.)
I left home when I was sixteen years old to join you. I came to Old City and was given audience with the Grand Master himself, and he turned me away.

TREMONT

We have accepted no new recruits since the war.

HOOK

Why not? There can’t be to many of you left. You guys die, don’t you?

TREMONT

The Emperor closed our ranks, which are sufficient to fulfill our duties...

HOOK

Yeah, yeah, whatever. The wizards were happy to take me.

TREMONT

The wizards are con artists.

HOOK

Most of them, but I learned a thing or two you wouldn’t expect.

HOOK climbs up the bank.

TREMONT

Like what?

TREMONT helps HOOK over the edge when HOOK reaches the top.

HOOK

I got pretty good with a staff, but try to find a quality quarterstaff these days. Everything is ‘Swords! Swords! Swords!’

TREMONT

Are you ready to go yet?

HOOK

Let me just buckle my boots.

TREMONT

I trust you know this area well.

HOOK

I grew up not far from here. Right up that hill is where we staged several splendid recreations of the capture of Karaak Kether, where the Illithred had been dug in for weeks...

TREMONT

I was at Kether, you don’t need to describe.

HOOK

And I played you a few times. It was epic. Quite a few years ago though, I’m not sure how well I remember the terrain.

TREMONT

This was before you attended wizard school.

HOOK finishes adjusting his clothes and stands.

HOOK

Laugh if you want.

TREMONT

As long as this road leads to the Ox Ford.

HOOK

It’s the most direct route I know.

TREMONT freezes and holds out his hand for HOOK to stop.

HOOK

What’s wrong?

TREMONT

Shh!

HOOK

What do you hear?

TREMONT

You. (beat) What lived in this forest?

HOOK

I don’t know, woodchucks? Squirrels? Maybe a bear.

TREMONT

Monsters? Ghosts? Legends?

HOOK

Do you want to tell campfire stories?

Closeup of HOOK’s face. He smiles, then his expression changes to horror. Zoom out as a black shape crashes into Hook, knocking him off the bank onto the rocks below where they both roll into the water.

HOOK

Help!

TREMONT draws his sword and jumps down, landing at the water’s edge.

The creature stands to its full height and turns on Tremont. Slow pan up the creature. It is a SHOGOTTA. It resembles a massive newt or lizard, 8 feet from nose to tail with oily black skin plastered with wet brown leaves and fragments of branches and twigs. It has uneven, iris-less milky eyes that protrude from its head and look like fragments of rose quartz, glowing from within. Its teeth are blue-grey color and resemble broken fragments of shale. The SHOGOTTA lets out a low growl and takes a step toward TREMONT with one of it’s flabby, shapeless front arms.

SHOGOTTA lunges at Tremont and claws at him with its seemingly boneless appendages, and snaps at him with its jaws.

TREMONT lifts the SHOGOTTA over his head and hurls it into the deeper part of the water, where it splashes about at the surface, leaving a film of oil and dead leaves spreading out as the monster clumsily swims to shore. HOOK scrambles up the bank while TREMONT stands in a defensive crouch, braced for attack. When the SHOGOTTA gains footing on the rocks, it hurls its self at TREMONT again, knocking him down with a clank and crunch of his armor. Both flail madly until they regain their footing.

TREMONT narrowly misses the Shogotta with his sword. SHOGOTTA bites his arm as Tremont passes, cracking the metal plate. TREMONT cries out, tearing his arm free with a splash of blood marking its trail.

TREMONT hits the Shogotta with the butt of his sword, knocking out one of its eyes, which cracks open on the ground. SHOGOTTA turns back on Tremont, jumping at him and impaling itself on his sword. SHOGOTTA flails three times and goes limp. TREMONT lets the body slide off his blade into a widening black puddle on the rocks in front of him.

HOOK

What was that?

TREMONT

(picking up broken stone eye, turning it over in his hand.)
We’re close to Doom City.

HOOK

Hey! Are you listening? What was that thing?

TREMONT

Probably a bear. Thank you for your help.

TREMONT climbs up the bank, brushes himself off at the top.

HOOK

You had it under control. I never seen a bear like that before. Are there more?

TREMONT

It was a Shogotta.

HOOK

Huh?

TREMONT

Servants of the Illithred. Guardians. They were spawned in Malkooth... Doom City.

The oily remains of the Shogotta are absorbing into the rocks and dirt.

TREMONT

We have to go.

HOOK

Are there more?

TREMONT

Hopefully just the one. It won’t be gone long.

HOOK

You killed it.

TREMONT

It’s regrouping. It’ll follow us down under the ground. When we aren't paying attention it will attack again.

HOOK

How do we kill it?

TREMONT

You’re a wizard, figure something out.

TREMONT starts down the trail until they reach a fork leading away from the river.

TREMONT

Do you know this road?

HOOK

Sort of. It goes up the hill.

TREMONT

Will it go where we want?

HOOK

It’s long. Longer. We should stay by the river.

TREMONT

The harder ground will slow it down. We might be able to lose it, at least for a while. Shogotta don’t give up easily. If there’s a town, we might be able to confuse it.

HOOK

There is a town called Tiphereth to the north. Are we going to walk all night?

TREMONT

Unless you'd like to face that thing again. Let's move.

Wide shot of forest as TREMONT and HOOK walk off-screen.

FADE TO...

INTERNAL: BEDROOM IN THE BOAR’S BREATH INN, MORNING

Sunlight comes in through the thin yellow-white curtains hanging on the single window above the rickety bed. VALENTINE is asleep under the blankets. CHLOE is beside him, propped up on her elbow watching him. VALENTINE wrinkles his face and opens his eyes, blinks a few times and looks over at Chloe.

VALENTINE

What are you doing in here?

CHLOE

Couldn’t sleep.

VALENTINE

Me either.

CHLOE

Think we should go?

VALENTINE

Probably, get ourselves out of town before anyone gets themselves woken up enough to chase.

VALENTINE sits up, rubs his eye with the heels of his hands.

VALENTINE

How long were you sitting there?

CHLOE

A while. Before the sun came up.

VALENTINE

Why didn’t you wake me?

CHLOE

You looked peaceful.

Tapping on the window. DAHOOTY is outside. VALENTINE waves him away.

VALENTINE

Get lost.

CHLOE

We don’t want to see you.

DAHOOTY pecks again.

VALENTINE

You’re a thief.

CHLOE

Go back to your troll.

DAHOOTY taps again.

VALENTINE

If we don’t let him in, he’ll wake the whole place up.

CHLOE opens the window.

CHLOE

Go. Get lost.

DAHOOTY hops in.

DAHOOTY

Must listen to Dahooty. You are in mortal danger!

VALENTINE

We’ve heard that before.

CHLOE

They told us about you and your troll.

VALENTINE

Is he down in the street to catch us when we run out?

DAHOOTY

No, but Wench is.

CHLOE

Sure.

DAHOOTY

Dahooty heard them talking. They’ve been waiting downstairs all morning to catch you when you try and run. They want to put you in chains and sell you to trolls.

CHLOE

And why should we believe you?

DAHOOTY

Dahooty had no choice but to work with troll. Troll give food and money. Nobody else would do that for Dahooty.

CHLOE

Stolen money.

VALENTINE

Where is he now?

DAHOOTY

Troll is no more. Glithvals did him in first thing. Now Dahooty is alone.

CHLOE

Serves you right, wretched thing.

VALENTINE

Go on, get.

DAHOOTY

No! Dahooty will help. You can be new friends for Dahooty. Dahooty help you escape. Can’t get past wench and cook without Dahooty’s help.

VALENTINE

The cook probably isn’t even there.

CHLOE

Or the wench.

DAHOOTY

See for yourself.

VALENTINE

I will.

VALENTINE quietly opens the door and steps out into a long hallway with brown wooden doors every ten feet. At the end of the hallway is a stairwell going down. Red shag carpet is on the floor. VALENTINE, still barefoot, tip-toes down the hall and peeks around the corner. Slow reveal of the landing and...

...The cook with arms folded and a giant meat cleaver.

VALENTINE gasps and ducks into cover. He catches his breath and tip-toes back to the room.

CHLOE

Well?

VALENTINE

He’s there, holding a big, big knife.

DAHOOTY

Told you!

VALENTINE

Well, we don’t know if he’s going to capture us.

DAHOOTY

Dahooty says you should go ask him. Dahooty bets he’d be happy to answer.

CHLOE

You first.

VALENTINE

(to DAHOOTY)
So, what’s your plan?

DAHOOTY

Sure, once you see knife you want to be Dahooty’s friend.

CHLOE

Talk!

DAHOOTY

Simplicity. Dahooty says, the beauty is simplicity of the plan.

CHLOE

Well? What is it?

DAHOOTY

Wouldn’t you like to know?

VALENTINE

Yes we would! You’re the one saying we’re in so much danger, so you’d better tell us your plan or I’m going to toss you down there.

DAHOOTY

Fine. Be that way. First, the distraction. Dahooty flies through the front door, flapping wings and squawking, pecking them with beak. You jump out this window and run like crazy.

VALENTINE

That’s it? That’s your plan? Run like crazy?

DAHOOTY

Simple, isn’t it?

CHLOE

Jump out the window?

DAHOOTY

Aim for the bushes, you’ll be fine.

CHLOE sticks her head out the window. Two short, fat shrubs are there to break her fall.

CHLOE

You want us to break our legs?

VALENTINE

(putting on his shoes)
All the easier to pick our pockets, huh?

Footsteps in the hall.

CHLOE

Shh!!

DAHOOTY

That’s it! You’ve got no chance! Jump for your life!

The doorhandle jiggles as a key is slipped into the lock on the other side.

DAHOOTY

Go! Go!

The door opens and COOK bursts in, meat cleaver raised over his head.

COOK

I knew it! I knew it!

DAHOOTY starts squawking and flapping his wings, flying at COOK, who covers his face with the cleaver.

VALENTINE

Go! Go! Jump!

CHLOE climbs onto the window jamb and...

EXTERNAL: BOAR’S BREATH INN, MORNING

CHLOE crashes down into the bushes, bouncing immediately to her feet and brushes off the stray needles and branches.

VALENTINE (OS)

Move!

CHLOE steps back and VALENTINE falls in, crushing the last life from the bush. Above them, DAHOOTY flies out the window.

DAHOOTY

Go! Go!

The front door bursts open and WENCH runs out with a carving knife raised over her head, screaming like a banshee. CHLOE and VALENTINE race down the street, putting distance between themselves and WENCH, who quickly grows winded. It is still early, and the streets are empty, no one else is around to join the chase. When enough space is between them, VALENTINE rounds a corner and ducks into an open shed, pulling CHLOE with him.

VALENTINE

Shh!

Outside, WENCH thunders by, still wailing. CHLOE and VALENTINE are quiet a few seconds until she can no longer be heard.

VALENTINE

Well, I guess we don’t have to worry about paying.

CHLOE

But we do have to worry about eating... and getting out of town without being seen. How do you propose we do that?

VALENTINE

I don’t suppose that bird will have anything for us.

CHLOE

Simplicity! Let’s see if we can get out of town without him seeing us.

NARRATOR

With great care and quiet, Chloe and Valentine slipped out of Tiphereth to the edge of the lake, across a bridge and into the hills where they paused to catch their breath. Both were unsurprised when a shadow fell upon them from the air.

Narrow shot of CHLOE and VALENTINE looking up in horror.

FADE TO BLACK.