(Due to length, I've separated the chapter into parts.)
Chapter 1: Puncture1
Scene - Nighttime. A large metropolis.
Many people mill about on the streets that are lit up by streetlamps and store lights.
[Caption: Downtown]
Man(thoughts): Hide…
Scene - Elsewhere, a man runs through dark narrow and secluded alleyways, his face hooded.
He is not entirely alone. Behind him, a group of figures chase after him. Their eyes glow red in the shadows and their movements sound heavy and rough.
Sfx - (Man) Panting
Sfx - (Figures) Growling
Man(thoughts): Wait…
Scene - The man dashes around a corner and out of sight. Just as the figures round the corner themselves, rapid footsteps sound out and the man rushes directly towards them.
Sfx - (???) Step step step step step…..
Sfx - (???) WHAM.
Scene- Without witnessing the impact, we see the figures thrown back forcefully and bruised badly. Where they are hurt, their skin shows the texture of scales rather than human skin. The man runs away without giving them a glance, wearing a freaked expression.
Man: And Ruuuuuuun!!
Scene - The man escapes at a full sprint
- - - - -
Scene - Nighttime. A neighbourhood somewhere.
Our MC enters a house and leans against the door he closes behind him.
Ira: Made it (safely home again).
Scene - The MC’s hood falls off, revealing a young man with dark hair, combed to the right.
His smile is a mix between a smirk and a grimace.
He wears black jeans and a black collared T-shirt that says “NOPE” in white.
[Caption: Ira Leander Corner. 21 y.o. Cafe Employee]
Scene - Ira takes off his shoes and goes further into the house.
Ira: That was close. I didn’t expect there to be so many. I’ll have to try to not stay out so late.
...Not that this was my fault. The manager had to ask me to stay and clean up.
Doesn’t anyone get how dangerous it is to stay out at night?!
Scene - Ira enters the next room which holds the living room, dining room, and a kitchen.
Wordlessly, Ira goes to the table and sets the grocery bag he was holding down.
The house is quiet and the furnishings are little. It has the feel of one who lives alone.
As Ira serves himself the takeout dinner, he turns on the TV to see the news.
Glancing at the TV Ira doesn't really listen to the reporter but reads the text on the screen.
"Hole Puncher Still Loose After 15th Murder Streak".
Ira (thoughts): That's the area I go through to get home...
Ira: That area doesn't have enough lights...
Scene - Ira lays down his utensils with a strange expression.
Ira(thoughts): Wait. If it's that area - were those murders my fault?!
"Reporter": All of the victims were brutally killed, the bodies suffering from many lacerations and peculiarly - a single puncture through the cardiac organ.
Ira(thoughts): Ah, it wasn't me...
"Reporter": The police forces are scrambling to capture the Hole Puncher and believe it may not be the work of a single person but of a group of violent individuals. Opinions about this being a planned terrorist attack are also circulating; however, evidence suggests....
Scene - Ira finishes his dinner expressionlessly.
"Reporter": All citizens in the downtown area are being cautioned not to stay out late and advised to avoid dark areas as that seems to be the murderer's or murderers' targeted zone.
Scene - Ira deposits his dishes into the sink.
"Reporter": Anyone who believes they have information on the criminals is encouraged to come forward to the police -
Scene - Ira turns off the TV and heads upstairs to his room.
Ira (narrator): The Hole Puncher...a vicious serial murderer that plagues the downtown area of my city. They ambush people going through lightless areas and kill them by ripping out their organs - that's the story going around.
But I know better...the real reason people are being killed....
Is because of monsters.
Cue laughter.
Scene - Ira shuts his door behind him, vein popping marks on his face.
Ira(thoughts): As if anyone would believe me!
Ira(narrator): I've known about monsters since I was a kid. My father and mother told me all about them.
Not only that, but I started testing the pudding from a young age - monsters aren't just real -
They're ugly. They stink. And they're weird.
Almost every night when I walk through that dark street I get attacked by them.
Ira(thoughts): Police can't even deal with a few stupid monsters...
Ira(narrator): Even if the populace heard about monsters, most of them would turn away from the truth.
This truth sounds ridiculous after all and with all the media manipulation these days, what less can you expect from people? They brainwash them from infancy!
Scene - Scenes from Ira's childhood.
Ira(narrator): I used to tell people about the monsters, but the responses I got...
"You're crazy."
"Are you still a baby?"
"There are no such things as monsters!"
"Look! It's Ira the monster boy! Run!"
....the bullying pushed me to my limits in elementary...
So I stopped telling people.
Ira(thoughts): Let them die in their ignorance, the idiots...
Scene - Ira is dressed for bed and is playing video games.
Ira(thoughts): The darkness huh...
Scene - Ira takes a moment to look out the window and the night sky.
Ira(narrator): Monsters... creatures that are born in darkness and feed on evil...that was the description my dad gave them. I would've learned more about them....if they hadn't killed my parents those 14 years ago...
Ira: You could've mentioned they feed on humans too, old man.
Scene - Ira pelts the console buttons with a vengeance.
Ira(narrator): Ever since then, I've been running from monsters.
The only reason I've survived is because of my ability.
Cue laughter.
To anyone else, I'm just as bizarre as the monsters.
Screw common opinion. My ability makes me cool. How many other people carry abilities like me?
Well, the most I can do is repel monsters. If any of the beasts get near me, they get blasted back by some sort of energy, like a force shield....which is great. I don't have to touch a hair of those disgusting things.
Scene - Ira stretches with a yawn and puts his game away.
Ira(thoughts): Come to think of it, are the monsters getting stronger? I used to be able to launch them a whole block away, now they hardly fall back a few meters.
Maybe they're just getting fat. All those people they kill and eat...
Scene - Ira lies down in bed, drowsy.
Ira(thoughts): Funny to think I've lived a pretty much normal life in spite of dealing with monsters all these years...
If it hadn't been for that time, I might've been another ignorant idiot walking the street at night...
...or I might've been killed a long time ago....
Scene - Ira drifts off to sleep and shuts off his thoughts...
- - - - -
2
- - - - -
Scene - Nighttime. Neighbourhood Area.
A van drives past Ira's home. It moves towards a cluster of warehouses at the end of the neighbourhood marked off with yellow "Danger" tape and parks just outside the area.
After a few moments, a group of people exit the vehicle: two males and two females.
They cross the tape and go over to a warehouse at the back of the plot of land.
Once there, they split up into pairs - two wait at the front of the building while two skirt around to the back.
???: We're position, Jasper.
Scene - The group communicate by wireless headsets.
The one who speaks to them is not physically with the group.
"Jasper": There are a total of eight hostiles within the warehouse. Five are on the ground, three in the balconies.
Quartz, Em, and Amy target the ones on the floor - Lapis, take the upper ones.
???: Got it.
"Jasper": You're clear to go.
???: On my go then.
Three...
two...
one....
Sfx - BAM.
Scene - The group barge into the building tactical style.
Instantly, one of the members - a man - launches into the air, landing on the metal scaffolding as he draws out a thick blade and runs at a shady figure.
When we approach the figure we find it looks like a human, frozen in surprise.
The man strikes the figure down with his blade.
Even as the body falls, the man raises and throws his blade to the other side of the building.
- The sword stabs through another figure's chest, pinning it to the wall.
Sfx - Crack!
Scene - Below, three human-like figures have already been slain and two others are running.
"Jasper": Quartz! The door!
Scene - One of the females, a lean woman holding knives, goes to block the door from one of the running targets.
However, the figure swerves towards the wall and runs directly at it.
"Jasper": Energy levels increasing!
Scene - Quartz throws one of her knives at the figure - not before it transforms into a large scaly beast that breaks through the wall. The pieces of concrete fly backwards at the group.
A flashing object comes flying at the monster the moment the monster pokes it head out, startling it.
It doesn't notice the figure hurtling towards from behind.
Sfx - Fwoosh!
Scene - A construction pipe pierces the monster through its neck, killing it instantly.
The blow is given by an older teenage boy.
???: Good one, Em!
"Em": Thanks -
Sfx - Splat!
Scene - A monster body from above crashes to the ground behind the boy.
"Em": Yuck!
???: Sorry. That's the last one up here.
Sfx - Crash!
Scene - We see a figure break through one of the windows.
"Quartz": It's gone outside!
"Amy": It's fast!
???: Track it, Jasper!
"Jasper": He's running for the residential area.
Scene - As the group start to sprint out of the warehouse, the object with flashing lights - a small drone - flits by them and rises into the night.
From the drone's view, we see a small and lean monster running on all fours in the streets.
"Jasper": He is fast. Take the van. I'll try to slow him down. He's heading towards the main roads.
Scene - [In another room somewhere else, we see a number of screens monitoring the action.
The middle screen shows the first person view of the drone.
One side screen follows the running monster.
Another shows the van pursuing the monster and gaining on it.
On yet another screen there are a variety of different coloured lights.
Sitting in front of the screens is a silhouetted individual wearing a headset and fiddling with a controller.]
"Jasper": I'm putting up a wall 800 metres ahead of you all.
???: Go for it, Jas.
Scene - Back to the streets, the drone whips past the van and the monster far ahead.
It stops when reaches the end of the street and turns around to face the oncoming beast.
[Then the individual in the room types a command on the keyboard in front of him.]
A blue light activates on the drone and a wall of transparent energy builds up underneath it.
By now, the monster reaches the drone's position - when it hits the energy of the "wall" it skids to a stop, snarling and cringing at the invisible force.
Sfx - Screeeeech.
Scene - The van, not far behind, stops and the group dashes out, swiftly surrounding the paralyzed monster.
"Jasper": Amy -
"Amy": I know!
Scene - Another member of the group - an older teenage girl wielding two pistols - darts forward and aims her sights towards the monster.
Instead of shooting the monster, she fires two silent shots into the ground on either side of it.
The monster stiffens as a string of purple energy arcs from the one bullet to the other passing through the monster's body. The energy "wall" suddenly dissipates and the monster starts to shrivel up.
Quartz then throws a knife into the monster's back. The beast collapses.
With a streak of blue, a blade comes and severs the creature's head from its body.
"Jasper": Was that really necessary, Lapis?
"Lapis": Sorry.
"Em": Overkill...
"Quartz": Is that all?
"Jasper": I think -
.....
"Lapis": What was that?
"Jasper": It's just - I'm picking up another energy sig, It's not identified but it's positive.
"Lapis": ....ahhh.
I know what you're talking about.
"Jasper": You do?
"Lapis": Yeah, don't worry about that. It's nothing dangerous.
"Jasper": Mind if I ask what it is?
"Lapis": It's probably...our lucky carbuncle.
"Japser": Carbuncle...?
"Lapis": Great.
Call the clean-up crew. We'll move to the next location.
Scene - The group gets back into the van and drives away.
Its lights deactivated, the drone lingers in the area.
[In the room with the monitors, the individual views the screen displaying different coloured lights.
Each light represents one of the members of the group and their position on a map.
The cluster of lights that represent the group departing in the van move away...
...some distance away from them rests another light, red, and glowing brightly.]
"Jasper": ...
Scene - The drone finally moves, flying silently by the sleeping houses.
On its way, it passes over the house where Ira sleeps soundly.
- - - - -
3
- - - - -
Ira: Whoa. Gross road kill.
Scene - Morning. Ira's neighbourhood.
Ira walks on the sidewalk and sees a massive dark red spot at the end of the street.
Ira: Someone run over a family of raccoons...?
Scene - Ira walks by the scene and moves further into the city.
It is around 7:00 am, but there is already much activity in the downtown core.
Business people, students, hoodlums, etc....
Ira heads deeper into the city, coming to business districts.
Ira(narrator): At night, I run from monsters....
During the day...
Scene - Ira comes to a shop along the road that has tables and chairs set out front.
He goes around the back to a side door and goes in.
Ira(narrator): I go to work.
???: Ira - I was going to tell you not to come in today, but I guess it can't be helped you're here now.
Scene - Ira is in a back room where we see the manager of the place and some other workers.
The setting is in a cafe.
Ira: What? Why?
Manager: Amie came back.
Ira: I thought she was on le -
???: Hi handsome~!
Scene - A short young woman pokes her head into the back room. Her hair is brown, bang pinned back, and her eyes large with a touch of violet. She wears a white top with gray and black accents, a white bow with a purple brooch pinned at her collar with small black chains links hanging from it.
Ira: What are you doing here?
Amie: I finished my vacation early and decided to drop in today.
Ira: And drop out tomorrow?
Amie: No silly! I'll be back on regular shift so you head back to your beddy bed.
Ira: I'm already here, but I won't mind going back if you take my shift too today.
Amie: Why should I?
Ira: I've been taking your shift and mine for the past few weeks, missy.
Manager: Why don't you both stay the whole day? We do need the extra hands.
Ira: What?! But -
Manager: I'll give you both overtime pay.
- - - - -
Scene - Shot of the front of the shop.
[Caption - Corner Intersection Cafe ]
Scene - Ira and Amie are serving customers - Amie takes orders while Ira serves them.
Ira(narrator): During the night, I run from monsters. During the day, I work at this cafe.
It's my normal daily routine. Can't say I like it any better than being chased by monsters.
Scene - Midday. The cafe gets busier.
Amie: Ira! Go take the orders from those customers - I have a whole list to take to the back already.
Ira: Do your own job...
Scene - Ira goes over to the new customers and pulls out a pad and pencil.
The customers are a family of four with two small children.
Ira starts to grimace, but pulls it back into a stiff smile.
Ira: Hi, are you ready to order?
"Father": Yes, I'd like a coffee.
"Mother": I'll have a French Vanilla.
"Boy": Hot chocolate?
"Mother": Wanda, what would you like?
"Girl": Ummm...
Ira(thoughts): More customers are coming in...
"Girl": I...don't want what Carter has.
"Father": Then what would you like?
Ira: Take your time.
Scene - Ira's smile is at its limits.
"Girl": I don't know...
Ira: Our recommended drink of the day is the strawberry banana smoothie.
"Girl": I don't like banana...
Ira(thoughts): So much for that.
"Mother": C'mon hon. We'll get a milk chocolate for her.
"Girl": I don't want milk chocolate!
Ira(thoughts): Are you serious? Why did you come here then?
"Mother": No, the milk chocolate for her, please.
Ira: Sure thing -
"Girl": Mom!
Scene - Ira snaps, jabbing a finger at the table in front of the girl.
Ira: You're not getting anything.
Scene - The family stares at Ira....who starts going red in the face.
Ira(thoughts): Crap....I did it again -
Scene - A hand comes and shoves Ira away.
Amie stands there with a lovely smile and apologetic puppy eyes.
Amie: He said "I'll get you whatever you want, even custom".
"Girl": Really?
Amie: Really really.
"Girl": Then I'd like -
Scene - The girl rattles off some sort of complicated order to Amie.
Her parents mutter to each other and look towards Ira.
But Ira is no longer in sight.
A little later, Amie serves the family.
Amie: (I'm truly sorry for his behaviour....he's new.)
(We won't charge you for the girl's order.)
"Father": (I see...)
Amie: (And if you like, you can rate our employees online. I highly recommend it.)
- - - - -
Scene - Ira stands in the back room with the manager.
Manager: This isn't the first time, Ira.
Ira:...
Manager: What are you going to do?
Ira: I'm sorry.
Manager: Sorry isn't going to cut it.
Ugh...I let you stay here because you're Leander's kid, but I have to think about my business too.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but if you're going to keep that up....I can't let you work here anymore.
Ira: ...Tomorrow I'm going back to my regular shift.
Manager: That sounds best. Sorry for throwing you in with Amie.
Ira: Sorry for blowing up again, Mr. Richley.
Manager: ...go work in the back for now.
Scene - In the kitchen of the cafe, Ira moodily prepares drinks for the customers.
The other workers leave him alone, glancing warily in his direction.
Seemingly engrossed in his work, Ira hears their whispers.
"He's not going to last long..."
"Manager took him in several years ago. He's always been like that."
"I'm surprised this place is still running."
"I heard the manager was friends with his parents - they were killed in a car accident."
"No wonder he turned out that way..."
Ira: Monsters....
Ira(thoughts): My parents weren't killed in a car accident, they were killed my monsters, freaking zeroes.
Scene - Those near enough to hear Ira's mutter stiffen and move away.
Ira(narrator): Mr. Richley looked after me when my parents died and let me live with his family till I moved out.
I was never good with people, especially in school. Several times I was nearly expelled for fights.
Ira(thoughts): None of which I started. In fact, I never start any of the fights I get into.
It's just everyone - humans AND monsters - picking on me as if they have a justified reason.
Go ahead people! Say it to my face!
Ira: Even monsters are more honest than humans.
Go ahead world! Fight me! I haven't gone down yet!
Scene - Workers overhearing Ira's mutters move away quickly.
- - - - -
4
- - - - -
Scene - Evening. Corner Intersection Cafe Back Room.
Ira and Amie slouch in chairs, utterly spent.
Ira: You shouldn't have come back today.
Amie: You should've taken up my offer.
Manager: Thanks again, Ira, Amie.
Ira: Whatever...
Scene - Late evening. It is already pretty dark.
The manager locks up the store and parts with Ira and Amie.
Amie walks on ahead.
Amie: See you later, Ira~
Ira: Kay, bye.
Ira(thoughts); I want to go to bed as soon as possible and sleep in. So much for coming in this morning.
Amazing how she puts up with me. Only a few ever do, like Richley...and Amie.
Wait, that makes only two people. Really?
Scene - Ira, walking in the same direction, regards the back of Amie's head.
Ira(thoughts); I mean, how long has it been? Six - seven years since high school?
Heck, it's amazing how I've still put up with her.
She's like a cackly cockatiel that chirps all day...wait, that's not right either.
Scene - Ira stops still on the street, struck by a thought.
Ira(narrator): Wait a sec, I can’t let her go home alone. What if she gets hunted down by monsters?
That'd lower my acquaintances down to one - I'd have to put up with another worker in her place -
And Richley might stick me on full shift.
I... have to do this again, gah.
Ira: Wait – Amie!
Amie: ??
Ira: I’ll, uh, come with you.
Amie: I was wondering when you were going to ask. You usually do~
But it's okay Ira, you don't have to walk me home all the time~ I can manage.
Ira: It’s, uh, dangerous at night, y’know. I’d feel bad if something happened, y’know.
Amie: Can you never be honest, Ira?
Ira: Guh.
Amie: Hehe, thanks for worrying about me.
Ira: (whatever. stop teasing me. freaking zero!)
- - - - -
Scene – Ira and Amie at a crossroad. Amie is leaving.
Amie: Just here is fine. Thanks again~.
Ira: This is why you should stick to day shift, got it?
Amie: Yeh yeh, mister antsy pants. Good luck on afternoons!
And go home on lit streets. That Hole Puncher might still be out there.
Ira: Uh, yeah.
Ira(thoughts): Good riddance....I don't need you telling me about that of all people.
Scene - As Amie goes off, Ira glances at the environment.
Ira(thoughts): The crowds and lighting should be enough from here.
Scene – Ira looks over his shoulder with a grimace.
Ira(thoughts): …Now I gotta get myself home.
- - - - -
Scene – [Jasper views his screens, noting the purple and red light parting ways.
He smiles, puts on his headset, and takes the controller into his hands.]
- - - - -
Scene – Ira walks along the sidewalk of a quiet street. The only ones around are those inside the stores.
He comes to a dark path between two shops and glances everywhere.
Ira(thoughts): I haven’t seen any monsters down this way for some time.
I might be wasting my luck…but this is the quickest route home from here.
And I do have my ability.
Alright, number 1 cool person in the world is going to take the stage.
Scene – Before entering, Ira takes out his phone and turns on the flashlight app.
Then Ira stomps quietly down the alley, keeping his eyes ahead and his ears behind.
The street noises fade, the lights dim, and the darkness stays in front of the glow from the phone.
Ira maintains an annoyed frown.
Sfx – Skitter…
Scene – Ira halts mid-step to a faint sound, eyes darting.
When he sees nothing, he moves forward again, senses alert.
Sfx – Clatter…
Ira(thoughts): Oh s--!!
You’re getting ahead of yourself, Ira.
It was probably just a cat or a raccoon or a fox or a skunk…
Not that I can defend against any of those…
Scene – Taking deep breaths, Ira steps forward stiffly.
Ira(thoughts): Right, let’s do this.
Scene – Ira starts to pick up his speed, holding the light up.
In his usual jig, Ira runs through the passage.
Halfway down the alley there is a side road.
As he approaches the intersection, a gangly monster jumps out from the side and smacks into the wall.
Ira(thoughts): WHOA.
Scene – Ira starts to slow in surprise, but catches himself.
Ira(thoughts): Keep the momentum. Break through. Just like every time.
Scene – Ira sets himself firmly and picks up speed again.
The monster turns towards him, squinting at the flashlight.
Ira: Outta the way!
Scene – The monster growls and starts to charge at Ira -
-When it is suddenly struck by an unseen force and goes crashing back.
Ira looks pleasantly surprised.
Ira: Hey, that was better than yesterday.
Scene – Grinning, Ira continues to charge down the passage when a huge form springs at him from the side road.
Ira barely sees the monster, glimpsing only it’s body before an orange force whisks over him.
Sfx – BAM.
Scene – The arc of orange intercepts the monster and a vicious wind kicks up.
Not only is the monster pushed aside, but the force throws Ira forward too.
The force, turned red, collides with the smaller monster ahead and sends it flying again.
Ira: Agh!
Scene – Ira rolls along the ground till he collides with the wall, winded and surprised.
Dust rises from the impacts, hiding the monsters from view.
Ira’s cell phone falls away from him, face down, and the alley goes into darkness.
Ira(thoughts): What was that? I hit something, right? Was that for real?
Scene – Ira staggers to his knees, coughing, and skin stinging where it rubbed against the ground.
Ira(thoughts): It never did that before. What happened?
Sfx - Growl...
Ira(thoughts): It's still there! I gotta run....
Sfx - Growl....
Ira: - !!
Ira(thoughts): Behind me too. Which way was I going again?
Scene - The dust starts to lift and Ira sees the faint glow from his phone.
He crouches and grabs it, looking at it for any damage, then turns it forward.
A pair of legs appears first in the light, thick with long toes.
Ira goes tense and moves the light around.
A large head suddenly rises from behind the legs. Its eyes are sunken and its mouth split into quarters.
Drooling green liquid, the monster, long, and with many legs uncoils itself and lifts its head up higher.
Ira gapes, expression frozen.
Ira(thoughts): It's....HUGE!!
Ira: Run...run, run, run run -
Scene - The monster's eyes focus on Ira and go red.
Monster: Kuaaaaark!
Ira: Agh!!
Scene - As the monster lunges at Ira again, Ira spins and tears away from it.
Passing by the smaller monster, his red force shield activates, tossing it away again.
The larger centipede monster tramples over the small monster as it chases Ira.
Ira(thoughts): Where did that thing come from?! Did they get bigger when I wasn't looking?!
Not even my ability hurt it that much. I gotta get out of this alley - the exit should be just ahea -
Scene - At that moment, something whizzes by Ira and strikes a metal bin up ahead.
The bin is coated with a dark slime that eats the metal away.
Ira(thoughts): Acid?!
Scene - Ira turns away from the main passage into a side alley.
He meets a group of human sized monsters that don't have time to be surprised -
- as his ability activates again and clears his path.
It is just in time as the Centipedster crashes into one wall of the alley, spraying acidic saliva everywhere.
The tremor knocks Ira down. None of the goo hits Ira, but the monsters are less fortunate.
One monster ahead, hit by the acid, has holes right through its body.
Ira starts, horrified.
Ira: This thing...is the Hole Puncher?
Monster: Kuuuaaarrk!
Scene - Ira turns with large eyes.
His light shines on the colossal beast walking towards him, though it keeps its distance.
Ira(thoughts): I knew I shouldn't have come this way. My ability won't be enough to ward it.
And I can't turn my back on this thing. I might get hit.
Scene - The monster curves its body and starts to open its mouth.
Ira(thoughts); It's going to do it again!
???: Hey! Don't just stand there!
Ira: Wha -
???: This way! Or you're gonna be fried!
Scene - Ira's eyes dart around as he tries to register if the voice he's hearing is real.
The monster starts to eject its acid when it suddenly cringes.
Monster: Keeergggh!!
Scene - The monster reels with jerky motions as if in pain.
???: The alley to your left! Now!
Scene - Ira snaps out of his confusion and notices the small spaces between building a little ahead.
Also hearing growling behind him, Ira bursts into action, diving into the narrow alley.
At the other side of the alley it brightens.
Ira(thoughts): Light!
Sfx - Howling.
Scene - Partway through the alley, Ira looks back to see smaller monsters being tossed away by his ability.
Ira(thoughts): It's working better and better each time. You're finally working again.
Scene - Ira exits the alley to find himself behind the building and nowhere near a road.
The area is lit by box on the ground with bright blue lights.
Ira doesn't register it immediately.
Ira: Where is this? I thought I heard -
???: Yeah, it's me. Hi.
Scene - Ira swivels towards the box and gives it a glance before checking behind him to see if there's anyone.
???: No, over here.
Ira: What? The box?
???: Call me Jasper.
Ira: You called me here?
"Jasper": I helped you get away from them. Don't worry, the monsters won't come here - yet.
Scene - Ira reacts in surprise to the voice.
Ira: You know about the monsters?
"Jasper": Can we talk about me later? We need to get you out of here, lucky carbuncle.
Scene - Before Ira can ask more, the box, which is actually a drone, rises into the air.
It heads down the alley, lighting the way, and Ira follows it.
They go a few meters when the building behind them breaks apart.
The centipede monster tears through with red eyes.
Ira: Oh gosh! It's still following me!
"Jasper": Us, actually. Just think about running.
Scene - The centipede monster is suddenly arrested by another invisible force that stalls it.
Ira: How are you - just what are you?
"Jasper": Me? A human, of course. I'm controlling this.
Ira: A drone? Where did -
"Jasper": It's my own.
Ira: How do you know about all this?
"Jasper": What, you think you're the only one that knows about monsters aside from the government?
Ira: You're the government?
"Jasper": Not quite - hey, take a left at the road ahead, we need to throw him off our trail a little.
It got out of my trap again. Toughie - Not the government.
Scene - Ira charges around the corner without encountering more monsters.
Ira: Then you must be a fat guy with glasses who sits inside all day and eats takeout.
"Jasper": How rude. I'm trying to help you here.
Ira: I never asked for it. In fact, you're a little annoying. Go away.
"Jasper": ....freaking zeroes.
Ira: Huh?!
"Jasper": Nothing. - Turn right up ahead and you'll be at the road. I'll have to leave you there.
Ira: Hold on a sec, man, that's my original expression!
"Jasper": I know. Hey, I'll keep in touch. You might want to consider joining us one day, so here's my business card.
Ira: What -
Scene - The drone suddenly bumps Ira's shoulder.
Ira: Hey!
"Jasper": Alright, I gotta go. Stay alive till then, kid!
Scene - Ira suddenly emerges onto a main road with lights. He skids to a stop and swivels.
Ira: Who're you calling a...
Scene - The drone is gone, leaving Ira alone.
Panting, Ira glances around, looking for people and monsters, but sees none.
Ira: Hey! You - !
Ira(thoughts): What was his name again....?
Scene - Ira then notices a small white paper stuck to his shoulder.
Taking it off, he sees it is a business card that says:
"KRUOS ASSOCIATION. JASPER. OPERATION SUPERVISOR."
A number of contact details were written on the card.
Ira: I should avoid going down that way next time.
Scene - A rumble startles Ira. He winces and starts to back away, staring at the darkness.
Ira hesitates a little, then turns and sprints away.
- - - - -
Sfx - Bang bang!
Scene - In a dimly lit alley way stands a group of four darkly clothed figures.
They stand over many monster bodies, and further on lies the body of the centipede monster.
A blue light appears from a side street, followed by the drone.
"Jasper": Looks like you didn't need my help after all.
"Amy": Jas! You're late!
"Jasper": Eww, that biggie is huge. Everyone okay? No holes through your faces or hearts?
"Em": We're fine, thanks.
"Quartz": Your energy walls did much good.
"Jasper": Glad to hear it. What do you think, Lap?
"Lapis": Looks good.
"Amy": What looks good about it?! Unnecessary overkill, my!
"Quartz": It seems they've been getting stronger and bigger.
Makes me wish there were more of us...
"Lapis": But there aren't more of us.
I can't say for certain this is the only culprit. Lots of monsters use acid.
"Em": We have to look after another Hole Puncher...?
"Lapis": Maybe. This one just happened to appear in our jurisdiction.
"Amy": About that! I thought you said the area was clear! I'm certain I saw a civilian!
"Jasper": Did you? Where?
"Amy": Don't play games with me! You can see everything from your toy!
"Lapis": Calm down. No one got hurt. But Jas, make double sure next time.
"Jasper": Yessir~ I'm calling the cleanup crew now.
"Lapis": Alright.
....by the way, where were you earlier? I think we lost connection a few times.
"Jasper": Heh, just checking out our lucky carbuncle.
- - - - - -
INDENT. Chapter 1 - Puncture. END