《The Keeper Chronicles: Trial One》


 Trial One: Scene 1

    Issue 3: Trial One


    Avonari: Venessa, wake up!


    Avonari shakes Venessa awake. Venessa rubs her eyes.


    Venessa: What is it? It¡¯s five in the morning.


    Avonari: We have school!


    Venessa: School?


    Avonari: Yeah! You¡¯re starting school today.


    Venessa: But it¡¯s my first night here and the universe is starting to feel like a dumpster fire of Lost episodes¡­


    Avonari: You still have to go to school! Now, c¡¯mon!


    Venessa reluctantly stands up from her bed and completes her morning routine. Then, she heads downstairs and sits beside Avonari at the dining table. Annelise is already making breakfast.


    Annelise: Well, you two are up early. School doesn¡¯t start until eight.


    Venessa narrows her eyes at Avonari.


    Avonari shrugs: I wanted to stop by Cleo¡¯s before school.


    Venessa: Cleo¡¯s?


    Avonari: It¡¯s a coffee shop. Now, before you ask why I would want to go to a coffee shop when I can¡¯t eat real food, I simply like the decor and vibe of the place.


    Annelise: Are you sure that you have permission to go to Cleo¡¯s?


    Avonari sighs: Can we go, Annelise? Please?


    Annelise smiles: Alright. Just be careful and don¡¯t be late for school, okay?


    Avonari: Yes! Thank you!


    Annelise sets a plate of food on the table for Venessa, which she begins eating.


    Venessa: Wait¡­I¡¯m not even registered for this school.


    Annelise shakes her head: We registered you right before you were brought to the headquarters.


    Venessa wants to ask another question, but she thinks better of it: So, is this like a school for powered children? Is it through the Keepers of the Realm?


    Avonari: Nah, it¡¯s your generic public high school.


    Venessa¡¯s expression brightens: Really?


    Annelise nods.


    Venessa smiles as she continues eating her breakfast. Avonari goes upstairs and returns with normal, flesh-colored skin instead of her usual green. A headscarf covers her head and the lower half of her face, hiding her spiral ears and lack of mouth.


    Venessa: How did you change your skin color?


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    Avonari: Oh, I take a pill for it every morning. Lasts twelve hours.


    Venessa nods. The two girls then head out the door.


    Annelise: Wait!


    Avonari turns around: What is it?


    Annelise: You¡¯ll have to take the VeloTrak if you want to make it to school on time. Just so you know.


    She kisses Avonari¡¯s forehead. Annelise turns toward Venessa, who shies away slightly. Annelise waves goodbye to both of them as they head into the streets.


    The girls walk into a Cleo¡¯s. Spooky decorations are projected from the walls, a reminder that Halloween is a week away. Self-fixing robotic coffee machines with self-checkouts beside them stand along the walls.


    Avonari: Well, aren¡¯t you gonna get a coffee?


    Venessa: I just came out of a psychiatric facility, Avonari. I¡¯m broke.


    Avonari: Here, I¡¯ll lend you some money.


    Avonari hands Venessa her clear debit card tablet.


    Avonari: Punch in how much money you want to take out and put the tablet in the self-checkout machine. Just¡­don¡¯t get a Double XL Espresso. I made the mistake of doing that when I came from¡­


    Avonari looks around. As usual, no one¡¯s paying attention.


    Avonari:...When I came from Anthra. I reacted very poorly.


    Venessa nods: I was thinking about getting something sweeter.


    Venessa places the tablet on the self-checkout machine, and it scans.


    Coffee Machine: Hello. What can I make you today?


    Venessa: Can I have¡­hmmm¡­a medium pumpkin spice latte?


    Coffee Machine: I see that you are a generic American. One medium pumpkin spice latte.


    Venessa: Ugh! Rude!


    Avonari laughs: I bet whoever programmed this machine got a kick out of it.


    The machine gives Venessa her coffee and the two of them sit down at one of the tables. On their way, Avonari bumps into a woman.


    Stranger: Watch it!


    Avonari: I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. I didn¡¯t mean to bump into you¡­


    Stranger: Just leave me be! Your age group drives me mad.


    Avonari shrugs and the two of them sit down.


    Avonari: What kind of person says ¡®your age group¡¯? Why can¡¯t she just say that she hates teenagers?


    Venessa: I would rather her just not speak to us at all.


    Avonari: That¡¯s a good point. So, some of the girls in our grade are wanting to have a horror movie marathon at Penny¡¯s house and sleep over. I was wondering if you might wanna come.


    Venessa: Why would they invite me? It¡¯s my first day at their school today. They don¡¯t even know me.


    Avonari: Relax. They¡¯ll love you.


    Venessa laughs to herself. She looks over at the other tables.


    Venessa: I think the rude old lady¡¯s still glaring at us over there.


    Avonari shrugs: I¡¯ve met ruder people.*she checks her projector watch* Oh, we¡¯ve gotta catch the VeloTrak!


    The two of them rush out of the coffee shop and into the underground VeloTrak station. Avonari scans her member card and selects the amount of people as ¡®two¡¯. The girls then wait beside the track.


    Avonari: I have this theory that the English teacher, Mrs. Kennan, is a witch.


    Venessa: How do you know what a witch is?


    Avonari: The legends are basically the same here as where I come from. Except, in Anthra, the way they get their powers is much more graphic.


    Venessa nods: Good to know. I¡¯m guessing that you don¡¯t know what werewolves, vampires, or ghosts are.


    Avonari: I know ghosts, but not vampires and werewolves. You¡¯ll have to tell me about those.*she looks to her left* Hey, it¡¯s that old lady! She must be taking the same VeloTrak as we are.


    Venessa: She¡¯s starting to freak me out a little bit.


    Avonari: I see the same people here all the time. It¡¯s not a big deal.


    Venessa searches for the old lady: She¡¯s gone!


    Avonari: Really?


    Venessa: Yeah, really.


    Just then, the VeloTrak speeds into the station. As soon as it stops, the large hatch doors hiss open and people come out.


    Avonari: This is our ride.

 Trial One: Scene 2

    The two of them enter the VeloTrak and buckle their seatbelts. The hatch door closes. The VeloTrak starts moving, magnetically hovering above the track. The world speeds by. In about three minutes, they reach their destination. Avonari and Venessa exit the station and head to the nearby Kennedy-Gloften High School. Avonari looks at Venessa¡¯s schedule.


    Avonari: Perfect! We have first hour together! Follow me.


    Venessa follows Avonari into the English classroom and they take their seats. Everyone takes out their tablets with the textbooks downloaded into them. A middle-aged teacher with dark hair walks into the room. Some kid in the back plays ¡®The Imperial March¡¯ on his tablet at top volume as the teacher enters. The whole class, except for Avonari who doesn¡¯t get the joke, bursts out laughing. Mrs. Kennan silences them with one glance.


    Avonari:(whispering to Venessa) This is the witch.


    After a few moments, the group says the Pledge of Allegiance, and sits back down. Mrs. Kennan presses a button on the wall and a floating board is projected.


    Mrs. Kennan: Today, we¡¯re going to discuss the history of Mary Shelley¡¯s Frankenstein.


    The whole class groans.


    Mrs. Kennan: It¡¯s important to discuss the mindset of the author before reading their works.


    Avonari raises her hand: Why can¡¯t we just read the book and decide for ourselves what the author¡¯s intentions were?


    The whole class agrees.


    Mrs. Kennan: Because the conclusions would not be factual.


    The projector glitches and then disappears behind Mrs. Kennan.


    Venessa: Mrs...Uuum¡­Teacher? The projector isn¡¯t on.


    Mrs. Kennan turns around and throws her hands up: After all these years, the annoyance remains.


    Mrs. Kennan repeatedly presses the button on the wall, trying to get the floating board to reappear. Mrs. Kennan finally gives up, but the projector turns on by itself.


    Mrs. Kennan: That¡¯s odd.


    Suddenly, all the lights in the school shut off. The automatic doors shut by themselves and lock. The window blinds close. The class is concerned.


    Mrs. Kennan: Jake Winniger, if you did this, I will personally see to it that¡­


    A woman¡¯s face made of static appears on the floating board. Her voice fluctuates from sounding normal to sounding glitchy and low.


    Webmaster: Hello, students. As you can see, I¡¯ve taken over the building. ¡®How?¡¯ I hear you ask. The answer is that no one can escape the omniscient eye of the Worldwide Web. Now, we¡¯re going to play a game. You¡¯ve likely heard of it before. It¡¯s called Two Truths and a Lie. Yet, I know every bit of information about each of you.


    The students cower in fear against the wall.


    Avonari:(whispering) You have destructive telekinesis, right? Blow her up!


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    Venessa:(whispering) I can¡¯t! I don¡¯t know where she is! Plus, I¡¯d expose myself!


    Webmaster: For every lie that I guess correctly, a very embarrassing personal truth will be shared with everyone at this school and every hacker in the world. Let¡¯s start with Jen Baron.


    A girl in the cowering group quivers.


    Webmaster: You have thirty seconds to come up with two truths and a lie. Begin!


    Jen: I already have some!


    Webmaster:(sarcastically) Well, what an overachiever! Tell me then!


    Jen¡¯s lip shakes: I¡­I have two brothers. I have¡­uh¡­


    Webmaster: Hurry, up! I hate adolescent humans!


    Jen: My favorite candy is Swedish Fish, and I have a dog named Sparrow at home.


    Webmaster laughs and it glitches and lowers from time to time: Correction! You had a dog named Sparrow! He was euthanized two days ago! (mockingly) I¡¯m terribly sorry for your loss. I won! Now, let¡¯s see here¡­


    Jen:(whimpering) No¡­


    Webmaster: Oh, yes! Here¡¯s a stain on one¡¯s reputation! Jen has updated her social media status from ¡®single¡¯ to ¡®in a relationship¡¯ and you¡¯ve likely seen pictures of her and her new ¡°boyfriend¡±. But did you know that the pictures of her boyfriend were A.I. generated?


    Her claim appears on the board. It¡¯s true. Jen begins to cry. A boy starts laughing at her.


    Webmaster: How about you, Jake Winniger?


    The boy is silent.


    Jake: Uuum¡­can I pass?


    Webmaster laughs: No, I¡¯m afraid there is no option to pass. You have two options. I either release embarrassing secrets or dangerous secrets. By defying me, you have chosen the latter.


    Jake: No, please! I¡¯ll play the game!


    Webmaster smiles crookedly: Alright.


    Jake: My name is Jacob Eliot Winneger, my last English test grade was a B-, and my favorite A.R. game is 49th Quadrant.


    Mrs. Kennan stares at Jacob in distress.


    Webmaster: Unfortunately for you, your last grade was a C+, not a B-.


    Jake: Wait! I miscalculated the percentage! I didn¡¯t mean to! I told three truths!


    Webmaster: You broke the rules! Two truths will be revealed! One humiliation and a piece of security information!


    Jake: No!


    Webmaster laughs: You cheated on your last test! Terrible job cheating, by the way! A C?! Let¡¯s see. Jacob Winneger, social security number¡­


    Suddenly, the ground begins to shake. Webmaster looks around for a few moments.


    Webmaster: I¡­I¡¯m going to leave you¡­*intimidatingly* For now.


    The projector flips off.


    Mrs. Kennan: Now, are you going to complain about having to do earthquake drills?!


    Jake: Yes.


    Mrs. Kennan sighs: Get under your desks!


    The class obeys. The earthquake suddenly stops. A man and a woman enter the room. There¡¯s a flash and Webmaster appears in front of them.


    Tyler: Leave this building and go back to wherever you came from, or there will be consequences!


    Webmaster: I human threatens me?!


    Tyler looks up and the water pipes burst. Everyone gets drenched, including Webmaster. Webmaster¡¯s form begins to glitch.


    Webmaster: No¡­N¡­No! *She recovers* Ha! You can¡¯t stop me with mere dihydrogen monoxide!


    Pearl: What about psyche?


    The woman¡¯s brown eyes begin to glow blue and her hair begins to float. A sonic wave casts Webmaster to the ground. Glowing blue cracks begin to form on Webmaster¡¯s face. Pearl backs off and lets Tyler take care of Webmaster. Tyler forms the water on the ground into a blob which he then forcefully pummels Webmaster with. Webmaster glitches again.


    Tyler: Leave!


    Webmaster: This¡­This¡­This isn¡¯t the end.


    She disintegrates and jumps from electronic to electronic until she escapes out the window.


    Tyler and Pearl help the kids out from under their desks. They then slyly exit the room through the window.


    Mrs. Kennan: Alright. Let¡¯s get back to our discussion.


    The whole class sighs loudly.


    Jake: I would rather get cyberattacked again.

 Trial One: Scene 3

    Venessa and Avonari head back to the Presley house after school. Cory and Annelise greet them at the door.


    Cory: Hi, girls. How was school today?


    Avonari: Webmaster attacked during English, but Cross-Sea and Doomsayer showed up.


    Cory: Webmaster? Cross-Sea? Doomsayer?


    Avonari: The Keepers have powers and save people. They need superhero names!


    Annelise smiles, amused: Who are Cross-Sea and Doomsayer?


    Avonari:(likes it¡¯s obvious) Agent Tyler is Cross-Sea. Agent Pearl is Doomsayer. I also came up with a name for Cory: Moltoron.


    Venessa laughs: What¡¯s my name?


    Avonari: Hmmm¡­Oracle. You¡¯re Oracle.


    Annelise: So, you¡¯re okay, then? After the cyberattack?


    Venessa: How¡¯d you know it was a cyberattack?


    Annelise: When Avonari said ¡®Webmaster¡¯, I suspected that was her name for Code4568 Hostility. She travels through the internet and can recover from injuries using it.*she sighs* I knew that the Keepers would come, but I was still so worried about you.


    Venessa: You could feel our fear from that far away?


    Annelise nods. Cory places his hand on Annelise¡¯s shoulder. Annelise collects herself.


    Annelise: Let¡¯s go inside.


    The four of them head inside. Cory and Annelise sit Venessa on the sofa with them.


    Annelise: You¡¯re going to go on your first mission tonight.


    Venessa pales: Mission?


    Annelise nods: Every Keeper goes on rescue missions to help people in need. It¡¯s important that you get practice early on.


    Cory smiles: Don¡¯t worry. Until you become a Keeper, you¡¯ll shadow under a Keeper. I think Agent Cassandra will be your guide.


    Avonari:(from the kitchen) You mean Octavo?


    Cory laughs:(to Avonari) Octavo, I guess. (to Venessa) It¡¯ll be okay. Just follow Agent¡­Octavo¡¯s directions and you¡¯ll be alright.


    Venessa: But¡­I¡¯m not ready yet. I mean, I just got here.


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    Annelise puts her hand on Venessa¡¯s shoulder, but Venessa instinctually twitches it away. Annelise puts her hand back in her lap.


    Annelise: Hey. You¡¯ll be perfectly fine. Every Keeper-in-Training has to have a first mission. Avonari had hers a couple weeks ago and look at her now.


    Venessa: What if¡­what if I don¡¯t pass?


    Annelise: Pass?


    Venessa nods.


    Annelise smiles: I have never cared for a Keeper-in-Training who didn¡¯t become a Keeper.


    Venessa: Really?


    Annelise nods and checks her watch: It¡¯s 5:12. Your mission is in two hours. That reminds me¡­


    Annelise walks into another room and returns with a red jumpsuit and a pair of red combat boots.


    Venessa: Is that¡­mine?


    Annelise: Yes, this is your uniform. You¡¯ll be in the Flame Sector when you become a Keeper. Now, go put it on. Agent Cassandra will be here to pick you up in about fifteen minutes.


    Venessa changes into her jumpsuit. It¡¯s long-sleeved with thumb holes and a fitted, gaitor-like neck that covers the lower half of her face. The legs are loose-fitting and comfortable. She looks at herself in the mirror and then walks out of her room.


    Avonari: Wow! Venessa, you look so cool! I wish I could wear red. I¡¯d look like a mutant Christmas tree, though.


    Cory: You look amazing. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do great.


    Venessa: Thanks. I don¡¯t know what to do with my hair, though. It¡¯s kind of uncomfortable around the neck.


    Annelise: I think I know how to fix that.


    Venessa reluctantly sits on the couch and lets Annelise style her hair. Her hair is braided in a dutch braid down the middle of her head and ends in a high ponytail.


    Jesse walks by with a snack in his hand: First mission, huh?


    Cory: Did you ask if you could get a snack from the fridge this close to dinner time?


    Jesse frowns: No¡­I just¡­


    Annelise: I¡¯ll have dinner ready in ten minutes. You can wait ¡®til then.


    Jesse smirks: How do you know I can wait ¡®til then? I could be starving to death.


    Cory smirks back at Jesse: You should¡¯ve learned that we¡¯ve heard it all. There¡¯s no tricking me or your mother. Now, go put your cheese stick back in the fridge.


    Venessa shifts uncomfortably when Cory says ¡®mother¡¯. Like they¡¯re his real parents.


    Jesse sighs: Alright.


    A few minutes later, Annelise puts dinner on the table and Venessa eats quickly. Annelise hands Venessa what looks like a pair of wireless earbuds.


    Annelise: Put these in your ears when you go on the rescue mission.


    Venessa: Why?


    Annelise: You¡¯ll need them. Plus, you can tap them twice to call me and Cory if something goes wrong.


    Just then, there¡¯s a whirring sound from behind the walls. A hidden door opens and a woman wearing a red midi dress with matching leggings and golden, knee-high boots walks in. The mask on her face looks like a measure of red sheet music covering her eyes.


    Annelise smiles: Cassandra, welcome home.


    The two of them hug.


    Cassandra: Hey, Annelise.


    Venessa notices that they both appear to be the same age. Cory hugs Cassandra and the three of them exchange greetings. Cassandra spots Venessa.


    Cassandra: I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re the new recruit?


    Venessa nods tentatively.


    Cassandra: Don¡¯t worry. Tonight¡¯s mission will be pretty easy, but it¡¯ll be smart to put those noise-filtering earbuds in.


    Venessa puts the earbuds in and adjusts the settings. After saying goodbye to Annelise and Cory, Venessa follows Cassandra into the secret room where they are teleported to the Keeper headquarters. They walk up to Dortor, who is speaking in a strange language to another member of the Cyclone Sector.

 Trial One: Scene 4

    Dortor: Hello, Venessa. You¡¯ve come for your first trial, correct?


    Venessa: Trial?


    Dortor: Rescue mission. Do you have your ear pieces at the ready?


    Cassandra: She already has them in.


    Dortor nods: Perfect. If you¡¯ll follow me¡­


    Venessa: You¡¯re not gonna teleport are you?


    Dortor smiles: Teleporting is for missions and missions only.


    The three head down the hallway.


    Cassandra:(jokingly) What about invisibility, strength, and astrokinesis?


    Dortor: You know well that I use all of my abilities at the Commander¡¯s beckoning¡­Ah, this is your kind¡¯s sense of satire. I see it now. You can live in a place for many years and never fully grasp it.


    Venessa: Astro-what?


    Dortor: Astrokinesis is the term that the inhabitants of this universe have given to one of the abilities of interdimensionals. It¡¯s a term that is understood as the ability to annihilate solar entities using thoughts.


    Cassandra:(whispering to Venessa) It means that he can blow up planets with his mind.


    Venessa nods and moves slightly away from Dortor.


    Dortor: I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to frighten or confuse you. I¡¯m used to using the diction of my kind.


    Venessa: It¡¯s fine.


    They enter a room with many screens. One of the screens comes forward and the other screens move backwards. A mugshot-like picture of a strange man shows up. A few words appear on the screen.


    Dortor: Every Hostility has a Keeper who opposes them, whether that be in their gift, character, or position. This is Code 7780 Hostility, Agent Cassandra¡¯s nemesis. Code 7780 Hostility will attack tonight at approximately 7:12 p.m. He¡¯s likely to hack into music-playing apps to play a frequency that will fully ignite the Abramian organs of everyone in Saint Louis and control their minds.


    The screen changes into a picture of the top portion of the human anatomy and then zooms in on the brain. A small, green organ that Venessa had never seen in any textbook is attached to the back of the brainstem. Cassandra steps in.


    Cassandra: This organ is dormant or only slightly active most of the time. There was a time that the Hostilities could simply snap their fingers and every Abramian organ in the world would activate. Those days are over, but the Hostilities are known for their adaptability. They have found other ways to control minds, including with certain frequencies of music. However, if another song of an opposing frequency is played, it¡¯s possible to free everyone. Since¡­most of us are human or from this universe, we also have the Abramian organ. That¡¯s where the noise-filtering earbuds come in. If we set the filter settings a certain way, we won¡¯t be able to hear the hijacked music.


    Venessa hands Cassandra her earbuds and she sets them to the optimal settings.


    Dortor:(without looking at a clock) It¡¯s around 6:30. If you want to get yourselves into position, you should leave by 6:45.


    Cassandra nods: Thank you, Dortor.


    Dortor: It¡¯s my pleasure. (to Venessa) If you have any questions, now would be the time to ask them.


    Venessa: Uuum¡­Have you ever blown up a planet before?


    Cassandra snickers.


    Dortor: I only cause planets to explode when it is absolutely necessary.


    Venessa: What language were you speaking to that other Cyclone Sector guy?


    Dortor: It¡¯s a complicated language called Jhanyoruich. It operates differently than most languages of this universe.


    Venessa: ¡®Kay¡­I¡¯ll just call it ¡®Cyclonese¡¯ if that¡¯s fine with you.


    Dortor smiles: I don¡¯t care what your name for it is, as long as it gets the point across.


    Venessa: So, I have a question for Agent Cassandra, who Avonari has officially granted the superhero name ¡®Octavo¡¯ to.


    Cassandra smiles: What¡¯s your question?


    Venessa: What powers do you have?


    Cassandra: I have sonic screams. Also, hmmm¡­pick a song, any song.


    Venessa: Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones.


    Cassandra: Oh, a classic!


    She then begins singing the first verse of Paint It Black, and her voice sounds exactly like the lead and background singers. Venessa can also hear the instruments in her voice.


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    Venessa nods, impressed: I have another question.


    Cassandra: Go for it.


    Venessa: How come your uniforms have a ¡®P¡¯ and ¡®F¡¯ on them, but mine doesn¡¯t?


    Cassandra: You receive that label when you become a Keeper.


    Dortor: I have a question for you, Venessa.


    Venessa: Uuum¡­okay.


    Dortor: It seems to be the case that Avonari has been giving everyone superhero names. I¡¯m curious as to what mine is.


    Venessa shrugs: I¡¯ll have to ask her¡­when I get back.(she almost says ¡®if¡¯)


    Cassandra and Dortor discuss Keeper business, and Venessa sits in silence. Eventually, Dortor announces that they have two minutes to leave. Venessa heads outside with Agent Cassandra, who places earbuds in her ears and turns them to the right settings. The streets are bustling.


    Cassandra: We¡¯ll head to the music store.


    Venessa nods. The two of them step into a store with a large projected sign on the front that reads ¡°Guitars and Good Days¡±. Cassandra changes the open sign to closed. The store is empty. Venessa notices that while she was outside the headquarters, her uniform had changed into a normal, monochrome red outfit. Now, it has changed back into the jumpsuit and combat boots.


    Cassandra: Alright. Now, we wait.


    The clock on the wall reads 7:00 p.m.


    Venessa: Agent Cassandra?


    Cassandra: Hmm?


    Venessa: Do you own this music shop?


    Cassandra nods: Yes, I do. It¡¯s been in my family since before I went to stay with Annelise and Cory when I was eight years old.


    Venessa: Wait, you lived with your parents? Your actual parents? When you were eight years old?


    Cassandra: Yeah. Before I turned eight, the laws about custody of powered children hadn¡¯t been passed yet. When they were passed, I was taken away from my parents, but I eventually found my way to Annelise and Cory.


    Venessa: Are your parents¡­still around?


    Cassandra nods: I would visit them, but¡­they might be suspicious. I was born in 2030, so that makes me thirty-six. But Keepers don¡¯t age past thirty. I know it¡¯s not a huge difference now, but it will be in the future. I¡¯ll look thirty when I should be fifty. I don¡¯t want to risk blowing my cover.


    Venessa: How do Keepers not age past thirty?


    Cassandra smiles: Something in you changes when you become a Keeper. I don¡¯t know what else to tell you except that you¡¯ll see when you become one of us.


    Venessa: So, are you immortal then?


    Cassandra: I honestly don¡¯t know. None of us have died.


    Suddenly, Venessa sees every car in the street stop. The people get out in an almost robotic fashion. Hordes of people begin walking in the same direction.


    Cassandra: It¡¯s started! Let¡¯s go!


    Venessa and Cassandra head outside and through the crowds.


    Venessa:(to the people) Hello?


    Cassandra: They can¡¯t hear you. Their Abramian organs are activated.*she taps her earbuds* Dortor, Ethan, do we know the direction they¡¯re heading?


    Cassandra pales.


    Venessa: What is it?


    Cassandra: They¡¯re headed for the Saint Louis Arch. Code 7780 is gonna make them jump off!


    Venessa: So, what do we do?!


    Cassandra: We have to find Code 7780. Then, we need to overpower his music.


    Venessa: Do we know where he is?


    Cassandra: I have a hunch. Follow me.


    Venessa and Cassandra run to a sketchy-looking building.


    Cassandra: I think he¡¯s in there. We¡¯ll have to sneak in. When we enter his control room, I¡¯ll need you to use your powers to blow up his speakers. I¡¯ll take care of Composer.


    Venessa: Composer?


    Cassandra grins: Avonari¡¯s supervillain name for Code 7780 Hostility, according to Ethan. Alright, let¡¯s do this!


    Venessa tries to sneak inside, but this is difficult because of the echoes. Cassandra stands protectively in front of her.


    Venessa:(whispering) Where do you think the control room is?


    Cassandra:(whispering) It seems like it should be in the basement, but it never is¡­


    Composer emerges from behind a wall:(sinisterly) Cassandra Calvaruso, always a pleasure.


    Cassandra: Composer.


    Composer: You¡¯ve decided to grant me a name, I see. I must be worthy of attention.


    Cassandra sonic screams and sends Composer flying against the nearest wall.


    Cassandra:(to Venessa) GO!


    Venessa quickly searches through the rooms on the first floor. None of them are the control room.


    Venessa: I can¡¯t find it!


    Cassandra is now in hand-to-hand combat with Composer.


    Cassandra: Have you checked the second floor?!


    Venessa: No! The second floor looks unstable!


    Cassandra: You need to check it!


    Venessa nods and sprints up the stairs, treading carefully on the second floor. She can feel the floor moving beneath her. She checks the first room. It has many computers with breached data and loudspeakers.


    Venessa: Yes!


    She focuses on the speakers and ducks as they explode. The floor begins to tremble.


    Cassandra: The only way to reverse the mind-control is to sing another song over it! You have to do it now, Venessa!


    Venessa: But¡­but I can¡¯t sing!


    Cassandra: It doesn¡¯t matter!


    Venessa sighs and finds a microphone. She plugs it into the computer. She clears her throat and begins singing Taxi Cab by Twenty-One Pilots.


    Composer: NO!


    The people outside begin twitching as the control escapes them. Composer runs upstairs after Venessa, but Cassandra stops him and pins him to the ground. Composer throws Cassandra off of him and begins rushing upstairs toward Venessa. Cassandra quickly recovers and chases after him. Composer enters the control room.


    Venessa:(stops singing) Oh, shoot!


    She looks at the surveillance cameras. Everyone¡¯s minds are back to normal. Venessa makes the computers explode.


    Composer grits his teeth: Venessa Teller, I swear, if¡­


    The floor gives way from under them and they fall through. Venessa screams. Luckily, Cassandra is still on the stairs and sprints over just in time to catch Venessa.


    Composer: I¡¯ll succeed next time! You will all be sorry that you ever doubted the influence of music!


    Cassandra: Go back to the Hostility H.Q., Composer! We¡¯ll be ready for you when you decide to show your face again! Beyond will be ready to deal with you! I wouldn¡¯t take my chances on his letting you off the hook!


    Composer runs off.


    Venessa: Why¡¯d you let him escape?


    Cassandra: Because the Commander, Beyond, whatever you call him, didn¡¯t want this to be a kill mission. We almost always let them return injured to Code 09166Scaled.


    Venessa: Who¡¯s 09166Scaled?


    Cassandra: She¡¯s their leader¡­and apparently called ¡®Wyverna¡¯ by Avonari.

 Trial One: Final Scene

    Cassandra: Now, c¡¯mon. Let¡¯s get you home.


    The two of them head back to the Keeper headquarters.


    Venessa: I thought you said we were going back to¡­the Presleys.


    Cassandra nods: We are. Come with me.


    They step into a small room with metal walls. Cassandra scans her hand and there¡¯s a flash of light. When Venessa opens her eyes, she sees a staircase in front of her and hears familiar voices. She and Cassandra head up the stairs. Cassandra scans her hand and the wall slides open. The Presley house is dark.


    Cassandra:(whispering) I think everyone¡¯s asleep.


    Venessa nods.


    Cassandra:(whispering) Well, goodnight, Venessa. I hope to work with you again soon.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Venessa sighs. She would rather not have experienced what she had.


    Cassandra scans her hand and climbs back down the stairs, the kitchen wall closing seamlessly behind her. Venessa creeps upstairs. She hears Cory reading The Fellowship of the Ring to a younger child named Josie.


    Cory: I¡¯m getting kinda tired, sweetie. Maybe we can finish the chapter tomorrow night.


    Josie:(pronouncing her ¡®R¡¯s as ¡®W¡¯s) No! I want to know if Galadriel turns evil!


    Cory: Now, why would she turn evil?


    Josie: You said the One Ring turns the nicest people evil!


    Annelise steps into Josie¡¯s room: I can take over if you want.


    Cory: Thank you, Annelise.


    Annelise nods, hugs Cory, and sits down beside Venessa. She then begins reading the scene where Galadriel is offered the Ring.


    Venessa laughs to herself and steps into her room. After changing into her pajamas, she crawls into the bottom bunk and quickly falls asleep.


    Later that night, Annelise walks into Venessa¡¯s bedroom. Venessa is crying and moving around in her sleep. Annelise smiles. She rests her hand on Venessa¡¯s arm, and she relaxes.


    Annelise:(soothingly) You don¡¯t know the whole story of what happens next. Remember that.


    End of Issue 3