Haunted

[Artemis]

Now or Never

:: She heard the foot falls of his stead pace. As terrifying as it was, she also could use it to carefully time her attack! He made it into the room where she was. Where Marcus' corpse was. But prior to his arrival, she'd turned off ALL sources of light. She'd rely on her memory of the lay out of the room, she'd use furniture as sources of support or barriers between herself and the shape.::

:: Alycia had pulled herself and was now running off of adrenaline, SURVIVAL mode. Yes this was awfull...TERRIFYING. But HE was HERE. Two people were DEAD and if she didnt do something, if she didnt FIGHT, SHE would be next!::

I stopped him before! I fought him BEFORE! I can do it again! Hit him and don't stop till you take him DOWN, then BURY the firepoker in his HEAD. Take a chair and go OUT the window! Whatever pain or cuts you get you will SURVIVE them. You WONT survive HIM!

:: she thought to her self as she regulated her breathing. He was looking for her. She KNEW he knew she was there...somewhere. No sense in panicking anymore than she already had.::

:: But even as she resigned herself to this moment of truth and fate, the sound of POLICE sirens and LIGHTS changed everything! She covered her mouth as she couldnt help but SMILE a bit while still breathing heavily!::

FINALLY! They're HERE!...NEXT DOOR. But MERE FEET AWAY! I can fight him off, get out through the window and get them over here!

:: with no obvious movements from the shape or more than a few seconds, Alycia slowly and quickly rose up just enough to peer over the top of the couch. ::

:: He was WATCHING the police next door! Intently it seemed. He KNEW just as well as she did that things could change drasticly.::

:: there were two windows. She had to act NOW while his attention was drawn!::

:: slowly standing all the way up, with firepoker firmly gripped in both hands, Alycia takes a deep breath and moves out from behind the sofa. no pointless dramatic screem or yell. no dialogue. It would foolish anyway and utterly wasted on this creature. just STRIKE for her LIFE!::

:: she runs forward and pulling the firepoker back over her head, feeling the adrenaline, she SLAMS IT DOWN on the back of his head with all her might!::

 

[The Shape]

Unrelenting

He WOULD find Alycia Barnett.

Despite her skill, her resourcefullness and her courage, she was just ONE woman. An ORDINARY woman. Not a mutant, not SPECIAL like he was. Like his mother. His SISTER.

He would FIND her. Even if he had to TEAR THIS ENTIRE ROOM DOWN to do it.

The police arrive. This was...unanticipated but not unfamiliar. They'd always show up but they were ALWAYS TOO. LATE.

This time, they were much closer. Alycia must be ELIMINATED and then he would move on to what was most important to him.

Watching them from the window he counted two.

There's a shift in the air behind him. Movement. Alycia has revealed herself!

A force slams down into the back of his head. Sharp. Harsh.

He CRINGES as Alycia Barnett attacks him. She strikes again, slamming her weapon ACROSS his head and then KICKING him in the back of his leg with her high heeled boot.

Her strength is NO MATCH whatsoever for him but she times her blows using force, speed and angle to maximize her effort. She's TERRIFIED and he can FEEL IT but she's fighting, REFUSING to give in.

He's suitably toppled by her attack and falls, but not completely down like she hoped. Just to one knee and bent over. Blood oozes from the wound in the back of his head and he is momentarily stunned.

BUT NOT FOR LONG.

As Alycia dashes past him, without looking up, he reaches out with his right hand, GRABBING HER by the ankle and YANKING back, making her FALL forward on to the floor.

Brandishing the large sharp kitchen knife , he brings it DOWN with unwavering force and aim, intending to STAB Alycia through her ankle and slice the bone through in two!

 

[Artemis]

Fighting for her life

::NAILED HIM! Alycia couldnt help but exclaim with a shout of defiance as she attacked and caused the shape to stumble and fall, but he did not go all the way down like she wanted.::

:: It doesnt matter. There's NO TIME and no one to impress! Only her life and trying to KEEP IT!::

:: she dashes past him, reaching for a chair but then...::

As Alycia dashes past him, without looking up, he reaches out with his right hand, GRABBING HER by the ankle and YANKING back, making her FALL forward on to the floor.

::shrieking with surprise, she falls so fast but she doesnt hit hard wood floor, and is spared the pain of smashing her jaw. she manages to turn over just in time to see him! he's RIGHT there, RIGHT OVER HER! ::

Brandishing the large sharp kitchen knife , he brings it DOWN with unwavering force and aim, intending to STAB Alycia through her ankle and slice the bone through in two!

AHH!

Think fast! ACT FASTER!

:: she quickly swings her calf back, AVOIDING the deadly strike as the knife SLAMS down into the floor instead!::

GET AWAY FROM ME!

:: She screams with defiance as she bends that same leg up and then strikes, releasing a STRONG forward KICK squarely into his mouth and face with her high heeled boot.::

 

[Seer]

Next Door, Alycia's house

<< The the detective inspector and rookie officer arrive at Alycia's front door which they see is widely open. They shine their police torches inside and loudly announce themselves. It's SO CLOSE to where Alycia is NOW that she can hear their voice's faintly!>>

<< With no response, they slowly enter, with the detective noticing Alycia's purse AND LG Optimus out on top of the wooden cabinet by the front door, along with her flashlight, still on, left in the middle of the floor near the start of the hallway leading from the foyer.>>

<< The senior officer knows right away something is wrong. But they have too little to go on just yet. they begin a sweep of the rooms off the foyer on each side and then down the hall.>>

<< so close...yet so far. its TRAGIC to WATCH.>>

<< meanwhile, next door at the Cook's house...>>

 

[The Shape]

Still coming

Alycia Barnett is as fast and reactive as she ever was. She narrowly avoids a painful strike that would have ensured her helplessness and subsequent elimination.

Still over her, he does not stop his movement forward as he brings his strong, muscled arm up, balling his fist, preparing to BREAK HER FACE with one punch!

GET AWAY FROM ME!

Alycia's voice is lost on the shape as he prepares to strike.

::she bends that same leg up and then strikes, releasing a STRONG forward KICK squarely into his mouth and face with her high heeled boot.::

Again, Alycia's physical strength is no match for his. But her speed, timing and technique...while admirable... merely delay the INEVITABLE.

The blow from her well placed kick and high heeled boot catches him square in the chin, mouth and face. His face turns upward his neck whips back and because he was not centered in his crouch, he flies back, SLAMMING into the chair where the body of an earlier victim of his, Marcus, spills off the chair on to the floor with a thud.

Pain was nothing new to him. It only seemed to push him further toward his goal.

Sitting up immediately.

Up on his feet moments later.Alycia was FAST but she did NOT have the long stride that he did.

He takes one. two steps forward.

He thrusts his free hand forward and GRABS a tight fistfull of Alycia's long raven black hair. She fights back once more but is unable to avoid the PAIN of her temporary freedom as he succeeded in RIPPING a fistfull of strands from her head.

He does not stop.

He comes for her AGAIN. She will NOT escape.

 

[Seer]

Next Door- Alycia's house

<< the officers have searched the entire first floor. Curiously, perhaps tragically, the only door they DIDNT open was the door to Alycia's office.>>

<< there's not much sign of vandalism or even theft, but the senior officer knows something is wrong. The ROOKIE doesnt realize whose house this is, but the detective knows.>>

<< Seeing the shattered porch light, the busted in door, her purse and phone on the cabinet by the door, the flashlight on the floor. that's enough to tell HIM that there's foul play.>>

<< He's SO CLOSE...and yet he's JUST MISSING. Everyone is fallible, but that doesnt make it any less regretable in the end.>>

<< He tells the rookie to finish up the search in the kitchen, where the back door was found to be open. He returns to the foyer and looks at Alycia's LG Optimus.>>

<< he see's the last actual call she made was to Rye Brooke PD but the last ACTION on the phone was in the phonebook, a contact simply labled as "K.S." no other information available. It appears that she was going to call someone else. But WHO?>>

<< the more he sees, the more he knows this may be more than a mere B&E and it troubles him deeply.>>

<< if only he knew....>>

 

[Artemis]

Fight or Flight

:: with each moment she saw his face...it was like more and more of the life in her was draining away. She felt SICK with terror but her adrenaline was pumping and she wasnt going to just lay there and DIE.::

:: huffing loudly as she got to her feet after kicking him away::

CHAIR! WINDOW! FLEE! CHAIR! WINDOW! FLEE!

::her thoughts were the only thing that drowned out the sound of her thundering heart beat. it was a GOOD PLAN. It was DOABLE! All she had to do was get a few steps more to that chair and...::

He thrusts his free hand forward and GRABS a tight fistfull of Alycia's long raven black hair. She fights back once more but is unable to avoid the PAIN of her temporary freedom as he succeeded in RIPPING a fistfull of strands from her head.

AIIEEEE!!

:: she shrieks with PAIN as she lurches back from the force of his grabbing her hair! Shutting her eyes and gritting her teeth...::

nnnnn....NO!!

:: bringing the firepoker STRAIGHT BACK , like she was elbowing him, but instead she SLAMS the firepoker into his GROIN AREA.::

NO!!!

:: she spins around, the back of her head now STINGING with pain from where he ripped some of it out! She's BEYOND terrified and NOW she's ANGRY! She want's to ESCAPE. She want's to LIVE and dammit...she's GOING TO!::


:: she SLAMS the firepoker down on the crown of his head!::

NO!!!

:: and now, with tears streaming down her face she bares a look of FERAL RAGE. Fight or Flight is now in FULL EFFECT!::

:: with a form and force that would make any record setting major league baseball player proud, Alycia swings and CRACKS Adam across the jaw and face with the firepoker, the SHARP HOOKED END of it and runs away from him, grabbing the chair and HURLING it through the window! the opening is there, she can hear the rain, she can HEAR the officers in her house!

:: she can't help but to SCREAM OUT to get their attention (as if the breaking glass wouldnt?)::

HELP ME!!! IN HERE GODDAMMIT.....
:: now srcambling to climb out of the window...::

 

[The Shape]

Eliminated

He does not stop.

nnnnn....NO!!

:: bringing the firepoker STRAIGHT BACK , like she was elbowing him, but instead she SLAMS the firepoker into his GROIN AREA.::

A brief but noticeable flash of ANGER registers over his eeriely "featurless" face. But again, PAIN is nothing new to him.

He comes for her AGAIN.

NO!!!

:: she spins around, the back of her head now STINGING with pain from where he ripped some of it out! She's BEYOND terrified and NOW she's ANGRY! She want's to ESCAPE. She want's to LIVE and dammit...she's GOING TO!::


:: she SLAMS the firepoker down on the crown of his head!::

NO!!!

:: and now, with tears streaming down her face she bares a look of FERAL RAGE. Fight or Flight is now in FULL EFFECT!::

:: with a form and force that would make any record setting major league baseball player proud, Alycia swings and CRACKS Adam across the jaw and face with the firepoker, the SHARP HOOKED END of it and runs away from him, grabbing the chair and HURLING it through the window! the opening is there, she can hear the rain, she can HEAR the officers in her house!

She hits him with everything she has. It staggers him. His neck turns and his face whips to the side. There's a crack heard as the firepoker collides with his jaw and blood spurts from his mouth but even as he is staggered off his intended path...it is momentary.

His head slowly turns back. His eyes lock on to Alycia, who has made it to the window and busted it out. She's now SCREAMING for help from the officers right next door.


She will NOT escape.

One. Two steps and he is upon her even as she scrambles to climb out of the window.

He places his hand on her forehead, FORCING her head back and exposing her neck.

With one smooth and flawless motion, he DRAGS the large, sharp kitchen knife across her neck, CUTTING HER THROAT.

Her struggling stops in a few seconds and he steps back, releasing his hold on her as she crumbles and falls to the floor with a thud at his feet.

20 years. Alycia Barnett is DEAD!


Standing over her, motionless, he views her feminine form. Tilting his head ever so slightly...as if to savor and ponder this moment.

Now it is time to move on.

 

[Seer]

Tragedy and aftermath

<< and as Alycia Barnett falls, so too does the precious barrier between a past, present and now forever changed future.>>

<< Evil and Death, no stranger to anyone that has ever lived in any time or place, yet these time defying concepts can take on forms and meanings for different people. They are often most terrifying when they look. like. US.>>

<< Adam Victor, born from a woman who only sought to love and care for him as she did her other children, may have LOOKED like her and others in his family but he was something all together different. More than a mutant, worse than a criminal...he was...he still is...EVIL...and ,as many victims had found out 20 years ago...as Alycia Barnett sadly just experienced tonight, DEATH.>>

<< a lingering view of Alycia Barnett's now lifeless body.>>

<< a rapid flash view of Marcus Cook's body.>>


<< a rapid flash view of Charles' body.>>


<< History was starting to repeat itself. But now, there was no one to offer a warning to the ones who would need it MOST.>>

<< Outside of the Cook's house, on the street. A view of the Cook and Alycia's house. The storm has lost some of its intensity but the rains still fall, the thunder still calls and clips and the lightning flashes.>>

<< It has now been 10 minutes since Alycia Barnett was murdered next door to her own house.>>

<< between that time and the arrival of another squad car, an older model black vehicle slowly descends down the cook driveway, headlights off. with a right turn, it proceeds down Cypress Pond Drive. At the end of the block, its headlights turn on and with another right turn, it disappears from sight The EVIL has slipped away into the night from which it came.>>

<< The detective inspector THOUGHT he'd heard a woman screaming outside! But when he looked, there was no one. Until he & his rookie apprentice saw the broken window on the house next door!>>

<< The rookie quips about a "daily double" for B&E this evening. His humour is lost on his senior officer, who calls in another squad car.>>


<< 5 minutes later, the grizzly discovery of three bodies next door is made by the Detective , his apprentice and another officer. The weight of it all comes down when they find Alycia Barnett.>>

<< He'd been right, that WAS a woman's scream he'd heard. And this wasnt just "a woman." this was a colleague and a FRIEND that he knew, respected and had worked with (off the record) in times past. He feared from the beginning what this was going to be about when he first heard the call on dispatch. Because he knew who the address belonged to, HE stepped in to take it. But now, he realizes he was not nearly on the ball as he shouldve been.>>

<< the crime scene is marked and after forensic photographers capture their shots and the officers dust and gather preliminary information and evidence, coroner is summoned and soon, all three bodies are taken away.>>

<< Back at Alycia's, the rookie officer under the detective's direct supervision is showing an amazing lack of tact and respect. if he represents the future of law enforcement, more lives might be at risk for any number of reasons. Even with the discovery of the murder victims, he doesnt seem to have more concern. now conducting a thorough investigation for any further clues. the detective and the officer enter Alycia Barnett's office!>>

So...who's house IS this anyway? You seem kinda intense about all this.

<< inside of Alycia's office. The extreme disarray of it, coupled with the large amount of information in the form of files, pictures, newspaper articles, a map with various locations pin pointed, MORE files, particularly the ones rom the busted safe under Alycia's executive desk and a haunting picture, drawn by a forensic artist, of the creature known as>>

<< whistling with surprise and wonder>> wow. this is quite a love fest. Somebody was OBSSESSED with the urban legend...what did they call him...the SHAPE? << chuckling.>> looks like someone was a little unhinged about all this. probably a victim of their own paranoia.

<< Pity him, as his next question sparks his senior officer's anger and rebuke as well as a much needed crash course on information he clearly lacked.>>

 

[Rampage]

Officer Jack Hightower. A well-respected member of the Larchmont PD, and someone who knew enough about Alycia Barnette to get over here fast if SHE needed help and was willing to attract attention.

He'd found the B & E at her home and he was working things through when he THOUGHT he heard a scream. Or was it a creaky door? Whatever it was, they had taken a quick glance and seen nothing outside. It was not apparent that they needed to take a MUCH closer look. Now she was dead along with two young boys, obviously collateral damage.

Now this rookie was quickly moving from being stupid to being a dick, and he had heard enough.

Shut the fuck up.

Jack comes VERY close to face-to-face with the young rookie.

Barnette was a friend. Anything that took HER down would have shoved your balls in your own mouth by now. Alycia Barnette was the most respected surveillance and protection person in the area, perhaps in the state. And she managed to defeat the SHAPE - a mass killing mutant named Adam Victor who was very real by the way- she beat him twice in one night to save a young girl. So, instead of speaking ill of the still-warm dead...a friend and colleague of mine no less...get your ass in gear, collect clues and data, and try not to fuck up any more than you already have. And for God's sake son, try to learn the REAL history of the town you are sworn to protect.

Harsh words, but Jack was clearly upset. She was a friend, someone who had the class when he approached her romantically to let him down without being a bitch. And when he wanted to ask his wife Betty out, she was a friend who gave him tips to woo her. They had not been overly close since he married ears ago, but she could be counted on and he knew Larchmont had lost a good person.

And she had apparently kept the mother of all files on the Shape There was enough here to know anything anyone might ever ask that was known about him. The attention to detail was staggering. He was reading up on it when the rookie chimed in.

Sir! Who is this? It looks like it might have been important to whoever ransacked the house.

Jack looks. It is a file on marked Victor, Karen. He sighs heavily.

A real tragic figure here. This is Karen Victor. She was the MOTHER of the Shape. A beauty back in the day, she was a doctor who married a geneticist who specialized in mutations. Good thing I suppose because ALL of their children were mutants. Adam...Blaze his twin sister, and Morgan, the baby of the bunch who was not coincidentally the girl that Alycia saved from Adam that night damn near 20 years ago. This is bad. Contact dispatch and tell the chief that we need to QUIETLY go on alert.

 

[Seer]

Assessing the situation

<< Having been ripped up by Hightower, Bennett kept his displeasure from being constantly checked and shut down well hidden. His supervising officer was growing more and more annoyed with him, and rightly so.>>

<< inside Alycia's office, Jack gives Bennett a quick but no less eye opening crash course on Alycia's "love fest" with The Shape. A creature who was VERY real and had a bloody, infamous past in Larchmont.>>

<< Bennett listened and seemed to FINALLY start getting a clue but of course, as with most young people today, he was not quite there yet.>>

<< as the rookie examined the picture of Karen Victor that was out in the open...>>

A real tragic figure here. This is Karen Victor. She was the MOTHER of the Shape. A beauty back in the day, she was a doctor who married a geneticist who specialized in mutations. Good thing I suppose because ALL of their children were mutants. Adam...Blaze his twin sister, and Morgan, the baby of the bunch who was not coincidentally the girl that Alycia saved from Adam that night damn near 20 years ago. This is bad. Contact dispatch and tell the chief that we need to QUIETLY go on alert.

<< most young and eager officers would take their cues from their commanding officer and straight up, go in another direction when corrected...even berrated as often as Hightower had Bennett, but there's always someone whose too ignorant or hardheaded to catch on soon enough.>>

Hey....you don't think that it was...THE SHAPE, do you? C'mon! It's been 20 years! What're you gonna tell them? To look for a guy with a cane and alzhimer's.

<< hadnt he been paying attention at all? once again, Hightower would have to forcibly clue him in. This time about the Shape's status to date (hence Alycia's extensive information archive on him), what happened the very last time she had encountered him.>>

<< AND as a point of reference, Adam Victor would be YOUNGER than Hightower, who was just reaching 10 when Adam murdered his sister Blaze and 25 when he attacked Morgan.>>

<< He couldnt help but revisit the image of Alycia's phone. She was going to call somebody. The contact simply read "C.S." with no other visible or accessible information. He had a hunch and as he happened to look at Alycia's desk, a large scrap book lay off to the side, opened to a page that featured a cut out of a news paper article. The headline read...>>

Mother, daughter- sole survivors of Halloween massacre die in car crash

<< he would see another picture of Karen and one of the young Morgan

<< Scanning the article, it reaffirmed the tragedy and trauma that Dr. Karen Victor and her last surviving daughter had endured. Her son, a bad seed; her other daughter, murdered; her husband dead and then her youngest daughter, terrorized and nearly killed twice in one night! >>

<< For Karen and her daughter to have survived that nightmare, only to DIE in an accident several years later...it caused him to shake his head with sympathy and rememberance of one of the darkest events in that town's history and now to be standing in the home and office of the woman who saved them...only now SHE was dead too?>>

<< He cant help but think back...>>


<<FLASH>>

Alycia and Jack share a dance together. Jack was now with Betty, but before her, he'd tried his luck with Alycia. She was unavailable...but not in a mean way. They remained friends.

Alycia: You look good, Jack.

Jack: You look BEAUTIFUL as ever, Alycia.

Alycia: Look a little closer...there's bound to be some lines and grey hairs after ....

:: she pauses and looks away, swallowing a "lump" in her throat.::

Alycia: after all....

Jack: It's ok, Alycia. You don't have to say it. You're a hero in this town...the STATE. The governor issued you the highest commendation he could for what you did to save Dr. Karen Victor and her daughter.

:: quickly changing the subject::

Alycia: Listen...

:: staying close to Jack as she whispered::

Alycia: I'm "retiring"....and I'm relocating. But not far. You'll have the address but keep it confidential. I have a client...one that I will be devoting all of my attention and services to from here on. The pay is...well, let's just say the pay will leave me wanting for NOTHING. But beyond that...I have to do this. After everything I've seen....and been through....

:: she hesitated. She was clearly suffering from post traumatic stress BUT she had hid it well from most. She couldnt hide it from a FRIEND.::

Jack: Alycia, you SURVIVED that ordeal too. You've been carrying this with you for years! You've closed yourself off and now you're going to relocate? I wish you'd let Betty and I help you more. We care about you. You don't have to do this alone!

Alycia: Listen to me Jack. I'm "retiring" from PUBLIC availabililty. But I'm STILL going to be working. Just now for ONE client, EXCLUSIVELY. There are things...LOOSE ENDS. I need to..."hide in plain sight."

:: looking directly into his eyes with her own hazel eyes. she wanted him to HEAR what she was saying without actually saying it. Thankfully, he picked up on it. the story of The Shape, Karen and Morgan...::

Alycia: I won't be far. Just across the bridge and in Rye Brook. Nobody would expect a P.I., even a..."Celebrated" one, to be able to afford a house in that area. You'll have my address. If you really want to help me...just keep your eyes and ears open. If you ever hear me on the scanner...come a runnin'

:: the two colleagues finish their dance. Jack wishes her well and promises he'll watch and listen out for her. They hug::

<<FLASH>>

<< back in the present>>

<< and true to her word, Jack and Betty were among the FEW to have Alycia Barnett's address and contact information. The visited her with a house warming gift, stayed in touch via emails, cards etc. But like most things Alycia did...she kept communication quiet and limited. RARELY was she seen "out and about" in public. true to HIS word, Jack watched and listened out. Years passed and there were no reports or calls of distress or disturbance involving Alycia OR The Shape, whom many wanted to believe dead. Still he kept vigilant. So tonight, when he heard that call...he stepped up and got there first, but he missed the mark JUST by one house.>>

<< It would HAUNT him forever now, just Alycia had been haunted by the ordeal she'd endured. All he could do now was try to carry on, at least in part, what she'd done. Keep watch...for the Shape and be ready for him.>>

<< Jack knew Alycia well enough to know that in addition to getting the files on the Victor family survivors sealed off from anyone but HER, she also probably had Karen and Morgan relocated under witness protection. What better way than to ensure their safety and protection than to make everybody think they were dead? It was a wild but strong hunch. not something he should share with his "Barney Fife-ish" trainee. Still, hunch or assumption aside, he had the entire town of Larchmont to consider. They needed to be on alert just in case. Mourning Alycia Barnett would come soon enough, for now, after once again busting Bennett's balls and schooling him, he reaffirmed his decision to notify Larchmont of the situation.>>

 

[Rampage]

Originally Posted By: Bennett

Hey....you don't think that it was...THE SHAPE, do you? C'mon! It's been 20 years! What're you gonna tell them? To look for a guy with a cane and alzhimer's.

I'm sorry, I failed to see the degree in Biology in your file? And I thought you wanted to be a cop, not a meter maid. Your current lack of decorum suggests otherwise. Should I inform the lieutenant of your true aspirations?

Hightower waited for the horror to register on the kid's face before proceeding.

Thought not. The Shape's body was never found. He would be younger than me if alive and it is obvious from any cursory investigation into his history that his mutant powers have a physical aspect which suggests he is not your normal 30-something. Hell, he committed his first murder when he was less than ten years old WITH HIS BARE HANDS.

So...CALL.IT.IN. If I have to repeat myself again I will make certain that you tear tickets for a month before you get another patrol, are we clear? And for God's sake son, DRAW YOUR WEAPON. This scene is not necessarily clear.

Even as he spoke, he realized that the Shape likely knew what he is suspecting: that Karen Victor and her daughter Morgan were really alive and in hiding. He copied the number of 'KS' down and finished his grim work. He would have to go home and tell his wife, and comfort her - and himself- soon enough. But if he cried in front of this cretin of a partner they gave him he would have to them kill him...it was that simple.

 

[Seer]

and so

<< Bennett's face is tight with displeasure and concern, he straightens up and stiffens with attention as Jack embarrasses him yet again. He didnt get it, and that wouldnt be so bad if he'd just kept quiet and not tried to display the infuriating detachment and disregard so many young officers like him had. he was facing the prologue of something that was beyond his inexperience.>>

<< Jack Hightower leaves the office and Michael Bennett follows, bringing forth his dispatch link as he turns around and surveys Alycia's office one final time.>>

<< With Hightower safely out of hearing range...the young rookie rolls his eyes.>>

The Shape...Adam Victor...after 20 years?? Yeah right.

<< exiting, he closes the door behind him.>>

<< Thunder from the fading storm outside rumbles and rolls in the now silent air and as we slowly draw closer to a drawn picture of The Shape" on the corkboard, lightning flickers outside, providing a haunting last look of this creature.>>

 

[Artemis]

Remember me

::FLASH::

the astral image of Alycia Barnett now flickers over a "first person perspective" walk through of her house. pausing over the form of Jack Hightower as he looks at a framed picture of Alycia in the dark living room of her home.

:: a closer, linger view of the picture holds Jack's and our view as Alycia's voice echoes with a slight reverberating effect. Jack doesn't know how, but he hears her and as he stares at the picture, misty eyed, he'll SEE things...FLASHES of events past as well.::

My name is Alycia Barnett, I'm a licensed, armed private investigator with speciality in surveilance, information gather and personal protection.

My career...my life changed, when a met a woman named Dr. Karen Victor...now 20 years ago. She was beautifull. Successfull. Rich and on top of all that, a 'super'...a WITCH. I was expecting a snobby, pretentious socialite snob. What i got was something all together different.

She told me the story of a boy.

<< the image of Adam Victor, sitting in a sanitarium. With a cold, blank facial expression and big eyes...devoid of any humanity.

Who murdered a girl. His twin sister.

::FLASH::

<< The original Victor family home. Upstairs. In the bedroom of Blaze Victor.>>

<< the sound of flesh being rend cut and ripped, of bone being scraped and fractured is heard. the bizarre view of a large, sharp kitchen knife rising and falling with rapid pace is seen as it plunges into the body of a young girl who was at first sitting in a chair but has now fallen to the floor.>>

<< Blaze Victor, lies dead after several seconds of painfull, bloody, knife plunging terror at the hands of her BROTHER.>>

That was 15 years ago. He was too young to be prosecuted and up till that time...nothing like it had ever happened in a place like THIS.

Media frenzy and town shock and eventually, a concerted effort to cover it up

But Karen had one more child, several years after this incident. Before she gave birth to her child- a daughter named Morgan- her husband, Dr. Chris Victor, a well known, respected and ground breaking geneticist, died in horrific car accident. Leaving her widowed and with child and STILL haunted by what had taken place all those years earlier.

Per her request- all reports and documents were sealed by the governor's support and order. Even the record of her daughter Morgan's birth.

But she was still haunted.

Images of Karen visiting the sanitarium several times over those years. Images of various doctors, psychiatrists and nurses. an overall ghostly view of Adam Victor.

She confessed to me that she felt she had failed as a mother. She told me she'd spent 7 years and exhausted all her efforts trying to reach and possibly rehabilitate him but then...after an incident involving him killing a helpless animal that was kept as a pet at the facility to bring cheer to other FAR LESS DERRANGED patients...and then an incident of him attacking a nurse and orderly, beating the orderly severly with a baseball batt...she ABANDONNED all hope and committed herself and her efforts to keeping him LOCKED UP.

::FLASH::

<< Alycia and Karen sit in an unknown location, in a dimly lit room with papers and files on the table between them, along with a pot of coffee and two cups. Karen can be seen and heard OPENLY weeping, covering her face with grief and shame.>>

She told me her son was a "bad seed." It had nothing to do with him being a mutant. It had everything to do with him simply being..."EVIL WRAPPED IN FLESH."

She hesitated for a moment, before further admitting that if she could, she would have him euthanized...for the safety of the community at large but most of all for the safety of her DAUGHTER. She noticeably didnt include herself in that. She seemed to no longer care what happened to herself.

I must admit...This was BEYOND anything I'd been presented with before and I've seen QUITE A BIT. From cheating spouses, to fraud, abuse and more...From the low class, to the high society. But THIS? This was something all together different.

Karen was cracking with grief, guilt and shame. But honestly? From all that I'd read from the files she gave me. From what I'd seen of the police reports and heard from personal contacts of mine, like Jack Tower? Karen was as much a victim as her poor daughter, Blaze. I wondered if the FATHER had something to do with it. Being a geneticist at all, they specialize in things that even mainstream science sometimes balk at.

Still- it was not for me to assume anything. I could only go by what I knew and what was presented to me.

Karen feared for her last surviving daughter's life, and rightfully so, since Adam was a powerfull mutant with physical abilities that made him a super predator.

She wanted me to shadow her daughter and if necessary, PROTECT her. She was offering me an amount of money that was beyond anything I'd seen before. But that wasnt the point of sale for me. No, this was a woman who was now widowed and alone and living in FEAR. She needed HELP. She couldnt be everywhere at once and thus far, her DAUGHTER was blissfully unaware of her dark family history. The governor had helped see to that.

After several hours of talking and exchange of information, I ...accepted her offer. The money she was paying me would more than allow me to upgrade my weapons arsenal and surveilance equipment. She also made sure I had access to all files concerning her son, as well as her daughter so that I could shadow her without being seen.

For a while, things were fine, but one night...

<< October 30th. Smith's Grove Sanitarium. Night time, a storm rages in the night.>>

<< Adam...now being referred to as some of the patients as THE SHAPE due to his hulking stature and errie face, disturbing eyes...has busted loose from his maximum security cell and murdered his way up to the main floor of the facility before disabling security systems, allowing some patients to now roam free...outside...in the storm.>>

<< Adam himself scales the back of a car being driven by an unsuspecting nurse as she was pulling in to work. He attacks the nurse in her car but he manages to escape, prooving he's far more aware and smarter than some law enforcement officials at the time gave him credit for. He drives off into the night. His destination....Larchmont, to begin what was shown in the previous flashback- stalking his baby sister.>>

He'd made it back...and he knew. Just as Karen had feared. He knew. and he was closing in. Karen had secretly hoped that all her ongoing efforts to keep him locked up were enough. And to be honest, at THAT TIME, I didnt THINK he'd get out, much less drive for miles to return back here. I didnt think...because I didnt know. I didnt know because whie I felt sympathy and concern...I didnt BELIEVE quite like I should have.

<< Larchmont, NY. Autumn season. Images of a young adolescent Morgan along with her BEST FRIEND, Alison Marble and Alison's brother Cameron and his crush, Haleigh Davidoff heading to school. They pass the now silent and abandonned house that was once the home of the Victor family over a decade ago. Neither the children, NOR Alycia, who is watching from a distance and following them, knew that inside the house at the very moment was THE SHAPE himself. He saw Morgan. he knew who she was.>>

Halloween night...EVERYTHING changed. Morgan, her friends Alison, Cameron and Haleigh were staying at Alison's. Her parents were away on business. Karen herself was at a mental health professional's conference. I had her contact information but after all this time...we both thought MAYBE things would be okay!?

View of the posh neighborhood. Look to the left to see the Marble family home and to the right to see the Brackett family home across the street. Morgan and the others were inside the Marble home.

We were WRONG. the kids were being babysat by two teens in the neigborhood. Lynda and Annie and of course, their horny boyfriends were in tow. Annie's house was right across from Alison's parent's home. So THEY had the brilliant idea of taking turns sneaking off to Annie's to fool around.

I was watching both houses. I saw all the traffic. But THE SHAPE had elluded me. Just as I was following Morgan, so was HE but he was a MUTANT. He could do things I couldnt, despite how "good" I might have been.

Hours passed. The teens had stopped making their dashes to and from. At some point the children were left ALONE.

<<Images of Alycia's hazel eyes front and center.>>

The teens by now had all been killed. Though I didnt know that. I also didnt know that Morgan's own mutant power- to teleport via portals of light called "STEPPING DISCS" had already manifested. Karen never told me that!

At some point, the children became worried and Cameron...He'd actually SEEN the SHAPE, standing on the lawn of the Brackett's home, staring directly at the Marble house! He told the others...They didnt believe him. They saw him AGAIN. this time he was now curbside! by THIS time I saw him as well and it blew my mind! He didnt seem as...BIG as Karen had described him but he WAS creepy as hell.

NOW, Cameron was scaring the girls and Morgan decided she needed to get the babysitters to come back, so she TELEPORTED to the Brackett's house! While I was now outside, weapon drawn, SEARCHING for the shape intently.

<< Alycia can be seen searching and prowling around the Brackett's house outside. Making a point to cast her eye across the street ever few moments as well.

Well...you saw my memories of what happened soon after.

The Shape attacked Morgan in the Brackett house, but she escaped him with her teleporting power. Back at the Marble's, the shape found and KILLED all of Morgan's friends...as he closed in on her.

Search warrant's be damned. I HAD to get in there and I did.

I found him...attacking...STRANGLING her.

::FLASH::

<< inside. screams of the girl she was shadowing. up the stairs. She finds the girl struggling for her life, being STRANGLED by a man. A LARGE man wearing a featureless white...MASK!? He's ATTACKING her client. Without wasting time, she takes aim and FIRES. A dead shot to the NECK. He DROPS his victim as he retreats into the bedroom. he should be DEAD! Alycia will make CERTAIN of it. She moves into the doorway and sees him STANDING there.>>

<< without wasting time, Alycia takes aim and FIRES her weapon without hesitation. six shots. two in the chest, two in the heart, one in the arm, one in the shoulder! the man is staggered and topples off the balcony, falling over a dozen feet to the ground below.>>

<< looking VERY intense, Alycia's attention is drawn to the whimpering of the traumatized young girl now crumbled on the floor in the hallway. She turns toward her, looking concerned and sympathetic.>>

girl with violet eyes: << trembling>> was...that the ...SHAPE?

Alycia: ....from what I understand.....yes. But he can't get you now. I've seen to that. Let's get you out of here...

I was too late to save the others. Nothing really CONVEYED the kind of...MONSTER this thing really WAS but NOW I knew. I got Morgan out of there, the police and other officials came. I called Karen. How she got back from where she was (nearl 100 miles away) to Larchmont was beyond me, but she was a witch, so what should I have expected!

Morgan was taken to the hospital and now the police were all in the way! Instead of LISTENING to me...they wanted to see if I had somehow been INVOLVED!

Windmill Pointe. Police cars and ambulance trucks are all over. Alycia stands in the street, confronted by the police as Karen emerges from the shadows

Officer: How is it, that you knew to be here of all places, Ms. Barnett?

Alycia: Do you really want to do this now? Look ALL my licensure and credentials are CURRENT and ON FILE with the state P.I. board. I have a permit for my weapons and I am in the employ of a CLIENT. I was PROTECTING her and it's a damn good thing I was here because if I hadn't been, SHE'D BE DEAD just like all these....

Karen: ALYCIA!?

<< officers try to bar her way.>>

Karen: GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!

<< curiously, the officers exclaim with pain as they are REPULSED from her form by what seemed to be a PAINFULL SHOCK of some kind? there was the briefest golden flash of light from where they had tried grabbing her but no one else seemed to distinguish it from the other lights flashing around.>>

Karen: My daughter! WHERE IS SHE!?

Alycia: She's alive, Karen. I had her taken to Larchmont Memorial Hospital.

Karen: Well we have to get there! HE'LL FIND HER!

Officer: Whoa ma'am. Ms. Barnett is going to have to come with us.

Karen: The DEVIL YOU SAY! You IDIOTS should be working with her, HELPING HER. There's a MONSTER on the loose! These children are DEAD because of HIM, NOT HER! And if you don't stop interferring with us trying to make sure MY DAUGHTER is protected, you'll have a lot BIGGER problems than your meager salaries can handle!

Officer 2: Um...That's Dr. Karen Victor...the mother of Blaze, who was murdered by...

<< Alycia and Karen look at the officer who was barring their way as if he were the lowest piece of scum.>>

Alycia: Are we FINISHED!?

<< Karen grabs Alycia's hand and the two women rush off down the street, getting into Alycia's car and zooming off.>>

But of course it wasnt that simple. We had to contend with the Mayor as well. They always wait for a disaster to try to use as a means to make themselves look "tough on crime." These idiots clearly hadnt gotten the memo about me, about Karen OR the governor. But FINALLY, after MORE delays...we were allowed to proceed and not a moment too soon.

<< Larchmont Memorial Hospital. All the staff, save one, are DEAD. The Shape had arrived 2 hours ago and killed everyone in his path as he pursued a traumatized Morgan through the hospital.>>

<< Morgan, unable to run properly because of a broken ankle she sustained from when she was first attacked earlier, managed to evade The Shape with her stepping discs but she was hurt and also drugged, and still very inexperienced in the use of her power. She would soon be too tired.>>

<< Eventually, after several narrow escapes, she fled the hospital and had been hiding in an unlocked car in the parking lot. She spots a car pulling up! It's Alycia and HER MOTHER!>>

<< Morgan spills out of the car but can only crawl toward them. Her voice too hoarse for her to call out to them loud enough to be heard. Karen and Alycia rush into the hospital and Morgan turns her head to see THE SHAPE, now outside in the parking lot, coming for her!>>

I'd been ALMOST too late the last time. But THIS TIME? It would NOT go down like that.

::FLASH!::

<< Morgan gathered her last remainig strength, got up and hobbled to the doors, banging and screaming for her mother and ALycia to let her in, to HELP HER!>>

<< Alycia is the first to hear. She and Karen meet back and see her, they rush to the doors.>>

Alycia: Hurry, get in!

Karen: Oh Morgan! BABY! Mommy's HERE! << taking her daughter into her arms>>

Alycia: Karen, get back!

<< The Shape comes, steady pace, not stopping and CRASHES through the supposedly unbreakable glass! Morgan screams and buries her head in her mother's chest as Karen stands, holding, CLUTCHING her daughter close to her in a most protective way as she covers Morgan's head with one of her hands.>>

<< The Shape closes in.>>

Alycia: I don't think so.

<< Alycia brings forth TWO semi automatic weapons. One in each hand.>>

Alycia: It's YOUR TURN to scream, ASSHOLE!

<< and with that, Alycia UNLOADS into the Shape, shooting him without restraint, without hestitation. His body is RIDDLED with bullets and finally, with a muffled, pained, cry, he FALLS backward to the floor with a hard thud....seemingly not moving.>>

<< Karen, riveted by what she's seen, clutches her sobbing daughter tightly. Alycia, glares at the Shape with an almost wicked glint in her eye.>>

it should've ended there. It shouldve ended EARLIER at the marble house. but he was ...he wasnt HUMAN.

<< Karen carefully brings her daughter outside to Alycia's car and per Alycia's instructions, she uses the radio in Alycia's car to call for the MARSHALLS to come.>>

<< Inside, Alycia waits. But he doesnt move. After sometime, she decides to exit, but as she does...just as she passes his arm, he REANIMATES, GRABBING her ankle, causing her to yell with a start.>>

Karen: Oh my god, He's attacking Alycia!

Alycia: Karen, take the car and GO! Just GET OUT OF HERE!

<< Alycia pulls out another gun from her jacket, preparing to shoot him in the head, but he STABS HER in her leg with a surgical knife. the PAIN is white hot and causes her to FALL to the floor.>>

Karen: NO! I can't...i WON'T let him take ANYONE ELSE...especially not YOU! Morgan. You stay here. If I....we...don't come back, GO. FLEE and Don't look back, do you understand!?

<< Inside, Alycia struggles to get away, but he's totally wounded her leg. She can't. He stands over her, preparing to strike a killing blow to her head when...>>

Karen: ADAM!

<< the shape looks up, fixing his eyes on his mother and slowly tilting his head.>>

Karen: That's ENOUGH. You're NOT MY SON. you're a BAD SEED. A THING OF EVIL. I should have ABORTED YOU! But I was A MOTHER. I didnt think I was SUPPOSED to feel that way! But NOW? I won't allow you to hurt ANYONE ELSE!

<< The Shape seems transfixed by Karen and then, ALYCIA is TELEPORTED outside by MORGAN, who after gathering herself and finding courage, gestures, and summons a disc to RESCUE Alycia. The Shape is PISSED and starts coming toward Karen.>>

Karen: Adam...It's TIME.

<< pointing at him.>>

Karen: Hellspawn demon creature of DEATH! FIRE shall take your very BREATH!

<< swinging her arm in a clockwise motion, chimes sound off, as Karen ignites a POWERFULL spell of HELLFIRE that EXPLODES out between she and the Shape JUST as he reaches her. the blast of hellfire radiates in a ballistic pattern and the flash can be seen for several miles around.>>

Morgan: MOM!?

<< Karen reappears outside, unharmed. But as she slowly makes her way to her daughter and Alycia, Morgan exclaims.>>

Morgan: OMIGAWD MOM! He's STILL COMING!

<< all three women look with utter HORROR as the SHAPE can be seen, lumbering forward through the hellfire but as it turns out, its only for a few steps before he drops to his knees, then falls down on his face. Not moving again. The spell runs its course and by the time police, sheiffs and emergency crews arrive, the fire is retreating as mysterious as it appeared. Karen, Alycia and Morgan are GONE. And the Shape? presumed DEAD.>>

Karen and Morgan ended up returning the favor and saving ME that night too. We didnt bother to stick around for any ashes. We LEFT.

<<A lingering view of the article detailing the deaths of Karen and Morgan in an auto mobile accident. The one Jack Hightower saw earlier.>>

After that, Karen and I hatched a plan. A plan that NO ONE knows, save Jack Hightower, a trusted friend, and even HE didnt get told outright...but I know him well enough to know that if something happens to me, he'll see my files and he'll figure it out.

I guess that time is now.

20 years. And still...the Shape, the EVIL walks. If he's found ME then he knows they are not dead. If he's found me...he won't stop until he finds them. I pray that after all this time, Karen will be READY because this time? There can't be anymore running.

Remember me, Jack.

You'll know what to do.

<< Alycia moves on, to the afterlife...and a haunting breeze from the night air flows around Jack Hightower as he stands in the dark home of his now deceased friend.>>

 

[Seer]

and so it was, the prologue

<< Sadly, Alycia Barnett's chapter in this long, dark story ends here, but her impact and legacy are what allow the overall story to continue. She won't be forgotten and we will see her later in this timeline. But for now, we pause to look at Jack Hightower, who stares with mournful eyes, at the framed picture of his colleague and friend.>>

<< Out of Alycia's house. A view of Cypress Pond Drive.>>

<< zoom up into the sky for an aerial view of this area of New York State.>>

<< The story continues. Several states away. Zooming along through the night sky.>>

<<Massachusetts. Boston. Beacon Hill.>>

<< No matter how much time my pass, a story will not complete, until all key characters, both old and new, are present and accounted for.>>

<< and so we watch.>>