Issue Two

Page One

Panel One: Long shot. Exterior. Night. An ordinary neighborhood on the outskirts of town is in the foreground. There are many larger buildings in the distance, behind the group of cozy houses, and one of them has noticeably crumbled and is smoking, as if there was an explosion in it recently. Our focus is on a plump man in the foreground, balding, middle aged, in a jogging suit, faced away from the crumbled building in the distance. He holds the end of a leash in one hand and there is a fluffy, bright pink poodle on the other end of it, sniffing around one of the trees on the block.

MAN: Come on, Fifi, daddy has money riding on tonight’s game.

Panel Two: Medium shot, Man’s POV looking down at the poodle. The dog is sitting up on its haunches, staring off into the distance.

OFF PANEL (muttered): Stupid mutt.

Panel Three: Same perspective as last panel, the leash has been pulled taut, strangling the poodle and causing its eyes to bulge.

OFF PANEL: Come on!

Panel Four: Full shot, from behind the man. The shadows are thick from this viewpoint but it’s clear that he’s yanking the dog along.

MAN: Damn dog! Stop fighting me!

FIFI: GROWL

Panel Five (inset): Close up of the leash snapping in half.

Panel Six: From behind the man, Fifi has made a break for freedom, the man is left shaking his fist after her.

MAN: Go ahead and run! I hope you wind up at the pound, you prissy little--

Panel Five: Same perspective as last panel but something is landing on the pavement behind the man.

SFX: THUD!

Panel Six (inset): Close up. The man glances over his shoulder.

MAN: What in the name of…

Page Two

Panel One: Worm’s eye view, looking upwards at the man, as if we‘re the item that‘s landed on the pavement. He is looking right back at us, clearly entranced by whatever he’s found.

Panel Two: Same perspective as last panel. The man is leaning forward, reaching out for the item that landed on the pavement (us).

Panel Three: Over the shoulder shot from behind the man, looking down at the thing which the man has picked up. It’s a severed, decaying HEAD, with its eyes closed.

MAN: Oh my G--

Panel Four: Close up of the severed head. Its eyes have flown open!

HEAD (very shaky lettering): Grawrg!

Panel Five (inset): Worm’s eye view, looking upwards at the man. Naturally, the talking severed head has startled him and he has fumbled the head.

MAN: Ack!

Panel Six: The head has landed on the pavement and is snapping its jaw at the man  irritably, showing exactly what he thinks of being dropped.

SFX: SNAP! SNAP!

Page Three

Panel One: Normal shot. The man has kicked the head away from him, sending it flying.

Panel Two: Following the head on its flight through the air.

Panel Three: Still following the head.

Panel Four: Focus on the head, it has landed at about a dozen sets of feet. The owners of the feet aren’t visible from this perspective (level with the head, and all). The head has landed on whats left of its stump of a neck.

SFX: PLOP!

Page Four

Panel One: Full page panel, over the shoulder shot (man‘s POV). Pulling back and craning up from the last page’s final panel, we see the motley zombie horde, advancing on the man’s position. (Extra points if you can work a zombie into the horde wearing a rotting t-shirt with the image of a chainsaw and a shotgun crossed over each other like a coat of arms and the word ‘Groovy’ beneath it.)

Panel Two (inset): Close up, the man in profile. He looks utterly terrified.

MAN: Oh…oh sh--

Page Five

Panel One: Long shot. The man has stumbled to one side of the panel; the Caretaker is in the shot and has shoved him aside, axe in hand. Laura is close behind him. Both of them look as though they’ve already been through one battle tonight--Laura’s bandages are ripped and bloodstained where her wounds have reopened and both their clothes are torn and tattered. The Caretaker’s axe is spattered with blood, as is Laura’s glowing Sword of Discord.

Caretaker: Out of the way!

Panel Two: From over the heads of the undead. Laura and the Caretaker stand bravely facing the horde, weapons at the ready; the man meanwhile, has fallen to the ground and looks like he’s about to wet himself.

Panel Three: (Perspective trusted to the artist; just give me drama) The zombie horde and the two who oppose them have launched themselves at each other. (Note: these zombies move more like humans than the typical slow as molasses movie zombies; they‘re animated little buggers. Have fun with it!)

ZOMBIES: Raaaaaar!

Caretaker: YAAAAH!

Panel Four: Focus on the Caretaker. He has the axe held high above his head. There are several zombies attacking him, some colliding with his torso, others trying to grab his arms.

SFX: GRAAAWRG!!

Panel Five: The Caretaker has swung his axe, sending heads and body parts flying every which way!

SFX: Swoosh!
Page Six

Series of panels showing several action poses focusing on Laura in motion.

Panel One: Focus on Laura.  She has her sword hand on the ground as she does a handspring. Her line of trajectory will send her flying into the heart of the group of undead.

Panel Two: Her feet land squarely on two zombie’s heads, forcing their skulls flat into the pavement, sending brain matter flying everywhere.

SFX: SQUISH!

Panel Three: Laura hefts her sword with both hands while using one leg to kick a zombie in the chest, pushing him aside.

Laura: Hungh!

Panel Four: Laura swings her sword in a wide arc, the glow from it overpowering the panel, engulfing the attacking undead.

Laura: HYAA!

Panel Five: Bird’s eye view, directly above Laura. She has felled about a dozen zombies in an even circle around herself, bodies in a heap lying at her feet. The look like dominos that have been toppled.

Page Seven

Panel One: Medium shot. Laura and the Caretaker are still fighting off the horde.

Panel Two: Loads of gore in this panel. Make it as icky as you please! Laura’s sword slices a zombie in half from the ribcage down!

SFX: SPLICE!

Panel Three: The Caretaker cleaves a zombie’s head in two!

SFX: SQUISH!

Panel Four: Long shot. The horde has been diminished considerably. It looks like our heroes might actually win this round.

Page Eight

Panel One: Medium shot. A zombie has grabbed Laura from behind! With one arm wrapped around her throat and the other holding her sword arm immobile.

ZOMBIE: Grrraaaaa!

Panel Two: Laura is struggling against the zombie. Her glasses are hanging askew!

Laura: Get off me, you rotting son of a bitch!

Panel Three: The zombie tosses Laura’s sword aside.

SFX: CLINK!

Panel Four: Using the hand that had been keeping Laura’s sword hand imprisoned, the zombie grabs the side of her hair, appearing to be trying to squeeze her head so hard it’ll pop.

Panel Five (inset): Close up of Laura and the zombie struggling, in profile. The leg of her glasses on this side has snapped in half.

SFX: Snap!

Page Nine

Panel One: Full page panel. Her glasses still falling from her face, Laura’s head is thrown back and an immense pulse of the same blue aura she had in the museum is bursting from her eyes.

Laura: AHHHH!

Panel Two (inset): The zombies are being engulfed by the blue, melting, falling apart and dissolving in its power.

Page Ten

Panel One: Laura’s POV of the zombies. They’re all melding together into one misshapen mass of decaying flesh and bones.

Panel Two: Laura has fallen to her knees and has flung one forearm over her eyes. The light emanating from Laura’s form is so intense we can barely see zombies still melting around her.

Laura: Not again!

Panel Three: Same perspective as last panel, Laura’s forearm still over her eyes. She is using her other hand to feel along the ground in front of her for her glasses.

Panel Four: Same perspective as last panel. The Caretaker has entered the shot, visible from the waist down.

Panel Five (inset): Close up of the Caretaker’s hand closing around the arm that is covering Laura’s eyes.

Laura: No! I can’t--

Panel Six (inset): The Caretaker has pulled Laura’s arm away from her face; she has her eyes squeezed shut tightly. His other hand is visible in the shot, her broken glasses in it.

Page Eleven

Panel One: The Caretaker has placed the glasses on Laura’s face. They hang oddly because of the broken leg, but they’ll do in a pinch. Her eyes have opened a crack.

Laura: But--

Panel Two: Medium shot. The Caretaker is hauling Laura up by her arm, pressing her sword into one of her hands. She takes no notice of him, however, she is focused on the scene before her. Her eyes are wide and startled behind her broken glasses.

Laura: Oh…

Panel Three: Long shot. The suburban street scene is absolutely devastating. Pieces of houses are gone, there is smoke rising from the ground and the zombie horde has been reduced to nothing more than a large, lumpy mass, neatly ringing the Caretaker and Laura’s current position. Note that the jogging suit of the man from the first part of the issue is clearly noticeable amongst the other bits of melted bodies.

Laura: Oh my God.

Panel Four (inset): Close up of Laura, horrified at the ruins of the formerly intact suburb.

Laura: I…I did this?

Panel Five (inset): Same perspective as last panel.

SFX: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Page Twelve

Panel One: The Caretaker has stepped in front of Laura, as though to protect her from the unseen laughing malevolent force.

Caretaker: Show yourself, Bone Summoner!

Panel Two: Over the shoulder shot, Caretaker’s POV, looking upward toward the sky. Something distinctly female in shape is materializing. It’s Elena, though she’s nothing but a silhouette right now.

ELENA: I applaud you, Caretaker.

Panel Three: Same perspective as last shot, though Elena‘s position has lowered toward the ground somewhat also, she’s more solid in this panel than she was in the last. Elena is smiling maliciously.

ELENA: It isn’t every day that those charged with the job of protecting humanity from the powers of discord cause such impressive destruction.

ELENA: I couldn’t have done better myself.

Panel Four: Elena’s feet have touched down on the ground beneath her, just barely. She’s looking at Laura.

ELENA: I am impressed with you as well, Goddess. You have slain a multitude of my underlings with minimal effort.

ELENA: But, that is immaterial.

Panel Five: Elena has lifted her staff made of bones, pointing it in Laura’s general direction.

ELENA: I have an inexhaustible supply of minions at my disposal. Legions of the dead at my command.

ELENA: No matter how many you destroy, I’ll always have more…

Panel Six: Close up of Elena, her face twisted with rage.

ELENA: Resign yourself to your fate!

Page Thirteen

Panel One: Worm’s eye view. The ground beneath Laura and the Caretaker’s feet has started to shake.

SFX: RUMBLE!

Panel Two: Same perspective as last panel. The ground is yawning open, ominous black swirling fog seeping out from the fractures in the sidewalk.

SFX: CRACK!

Panel Three: Focus on Laura, bringing her sword up and gritting her teeth. She’s pissed.

Laura: Oh no you don’t!

Panel Four: Close up of the ground by Laura’s foot. A set of skeletal fingers is emerging from the crack near her boot.

Panel Five: Same perspective as last panel. Laura has slammed her foot down on the surfacing bony hand, breaking the fingers beneath her heel.

SFX: CRUNCH!

Page Fourteen

Panel One: Normal shot. Laura has thrown herself at Elena, one hand outstretched toward her and her sword hand drawn back, intent to strike!

Laura: Why don’t you resign yourself, bone bitch?!

Panel Two: Close up. Laura and Elena have locked weapons.

Laura: YAAAA!

ELENA: HNGH!

Panel Three: Long shot. Elena has leapt back from Laura, swinging her staff through the air.

SFX: SWISH!

Laura: Ha! You missed!

Panel Four: Normal shot. Focus on Laura, ducking the blow of the staff.

OFF PANEL: You’re good.

Panel Five: Close up. Laura leaps at her enemy and takes another swing with her sword, Elena is moving to block her.

ELENA: But not good enough!

Panel Six: Once more, Laura and Elena have locked weapons. They’re glaring at each other and Elena’s mouth is twisted into a semi-triumphant smirk. The atmosphere is tense beyond belief.

ELENA: Having trouble keeping that rage in check, are we?

Page Fifteen

Panel One: Medium shot. Laura has lifted one foot and her boot has connected with Elena’s abdomen.

Laura: I destroyed an entire block because of you!

Panel Two: Elena has stumbled backwards, but not by much. She is only slightly off balance due to Laura’s attack.

Laura: All those people--

Panel Three: Laura throws herself at Elena, her sword above her head; clearly she thinks she’s about to deliver the killing blow.

ELENA: Are much better off.

Panel Four: Elena has braced her staff against the ground, pointed end up.

Panel Five (inset): As anticipated, gravity has done its job. Laura has run herself through on her opponent’s weapon.

ELENA: As you will be.

Panel Six: Reaction shot. Laura’s face. Her eyes wide, mouth open in a silent scream.

Page Sixteen

Panel One: Worm’s eye view, focusing on Laura’s boots. Her feet are splayed as though she’s having trouble holding herself up.

Panel Two: Same perspective as last panel. Laura has fallen to her knees.

Panel Three: Bird’s eye view. Laura has landed on her back, staring glassy eyed  at the sky, her corset-top torn and blood gushing from her chest where the staff impaled her. Her mouth is slightly open.

SFX: THUD.

Panel Four: Same perspective as last panel. Nothing about the scene has changed.

Panel Five: Same perspective as last panel. The ground beneath Laura has faded. It looks washed out, dreamlike. The bloodstain on her chest has spread.

Panel Six: Same perspective as last panel. The ground beneath Laura is seemingly gone. She is nothing but a body lying on blackness. Her entire torso is drenched with dark red.

Panel Seven: Same perspective as last panel. Laura’s outline has become somewhat dim. Blurred. Unreal. Her skin has taken on a bluish cast. The ground beneath her remains pitch black.

Panel Eight: Same perspective as last panel. Everything about Laura remains the same as the last panel; the ground beneath her is coming back into focus but it’s blurry.

Panel Nine: Same perspective as last panel. The ground is fully in focus. It appears that she’s lying on grayish sand, sparsely sprinkled with human bones.

Page Seventeen

Panel One: Close up of Laura’s face in profile. Her eyes are dull.

Panel Two: Same perspective as last panel. Laura’s eyes have widened, as has her mouth.

Laura: GASP!

Panel Three: Medium shot. Laura sits up on the sand, disoriented, fearful.

Panel Four: Long shot. Laura is looking at her surroundings. She appears to be in a cavern of some kind, on the banks of a still river. There is a shadowy figure in front of her, cloaked in black and holding a rowing ore made entirely of human bones. This is THE FERRYMAN. He’s nothing but a skeleton beneath his flowing robe.

Page Eighteen

Panel One: Over the shoulder shot, Laura’s POV, looking up at the Ferryman. The Ferryman is reaching out towards us with one bony, dusty hand.

FERRYMAN: Passssssage. Payment for your passssssage.

Laura: Passage?

FERRYMAN: Passssssage across the river Sssssstyx.

Panel Two (inset): Reaction shot. Focus on Laura, eyes wide, eyebrows raised practically into her hairline.

Laura: I’m DEAD?!

Page Nineteen

Panel One: Long shot. Exterior. Night. The decimated neighborhood where the zombie horde battle from issue three commenced. Elena is stepping over Laura’s dead body, toward the Caretaker (and us), a triumphant smirk on her face.

ELENA: My, my, Caretaker…

Panel Two: Medium shot. Elena has lifted her staff and is looking at the Caretaker with mock regret.

ELENA: First you lost the gem…

Panel Three: Close up of the Caretaker’s face. His eyes are narrowed.

OFF PANEL: Now you lost the girl…

Panel Four: Medium shot. Focus on Elena. The smirk is back in place and she looks terribly pleased with herself.

ELENA: How dreadfully unfortunate.

ELENA: I--

Panel Five (inset): Close up of Elena’s eyes. They’ve gone wide with surprise.

Page Twenty

Panel One: Medium shot. Focus on Elena. The Sword of Discord has been thrust through her middle from behind. There is a blood soaked hand clasped around one of her shoulders.

Panel Two: Same perspective as last panel. Elena has landed on her side on the ground and behind her stands Laura, bloodied and looking very weak, as if she can barely stand up.

SFX: THUD

Panel Three: Normal shot. Laura has dropped to one knee, the tip of her sword is digging into the concrete rubble beneath her, helping to hold her steady.

Panel Four: The Caretaker is rushing to his charge’s side as she starts slumping forward with exhaustion.

Panel Five: The Caretaker has dropped to his knees directly in front of Laura, his hands caught under her armpits. She’s limp like a rag doll, forehead leaned on his chest.

Page Twenty One

Panel One: Interior. A plush penthouse. Normal shot, focusing on a full length mirror. Christopher Burgess with his back to the mirror is the reflection we see. He is dressed in a pristine pinstripe business suit and his black hair is immaculately styled, but no part of his face is visible from this angle. One hand is clenched into a fist at his side, the other is only visible from the shoulder to elbow, as if he’s holding something in front of himself.

Panel Two: Same perspective as the last panel. A ping-pong ball sized black sphere has been thrown at the mirror, causing it to shatter. The glass is flying everywhere.

SFX: CRASH!

Panel Three: Close up of the mirror littered floor, focus on the black sphere.

OFF PANEL: Sir?

Panel Four: Closer on the sphere. There is a very small red etching of a human skull on its surface that wasn’t apparent before. The lines that make up the skull are very weak and wobbly.

Panel Five: Same perspective as last panel. The lines that make up the skull have deepened, grown stronger and turned white.

OFF PANEL: The Bone Summoner's powers are no more.

OFF PANEL: The host of the Essence is putting up more of a fight then I anticipated…

OFF PANEL: We’ll have to bring in the big guns.

Page Twenty Two

Panel One: Interior. A corridor. Dark. The walls are made of metal and there is rust crawling up them. There are doors on either side of the corridor--each is solid and has a small barred window set at eye level. It’s like a very run-down insane asylum.

Panel Two: Medium shot. Focus on one of the barred windows.

Panel Three: Looking through the barred window. The room beyond the door is just as dingy as the corridor was, if not more so. There’s a woman curled up in one corner of the cell like a dog. This is LYSSA THE HELLHOUND. Her hair is wild and matted and her fingernails are long and claw-like. Her head is down so that we can’t see her eyes. The light from the corridor casts the shadows from the bars of the window across her body. She wears a short tattered brown dress of some kind (the female equivalent of Tarzan‘s loincloth, I suppose, is the best way to describe it; it looks like something barely held together and covers just enough to keep her from being nude), dirty as her surroundings.

Panel Four: This panel is identical to the last one, except that the shadows from the bars of the window have been obscured by another shadow, this one in the shape of a human head.

Page Twenty Three

Panel One: Full page panel. Looking into the cell, as if we’re standing in the doorway. The door to the cell has been opened, leaving it and its occupant bathed in light that is only broken by a human shaped shadow. Lyssa has lifted her head to look at the person encroaching on her personal territory. Her eyes are large, wolf-like, wholly unnatural. Her teeth are needle-sharp points and are bared. There’s foam dripping down around her mouth. She is, in essence, a mad dog in human form.

LYSSA: Grrrrrrowl.
Page Twenty Four

Panel One: Over the shoulder shot, Lyssa’s POV, looking at the doorway. Christopher Burgess is standing there, but the light around the him is so bright that all the details of his form from the chest up are obscured. We only know it’s him because of the fact we recognize his business suit from last page.

CHRISTOPHER: I have something for you, Lyssa, my pet…

Panel Two: Same perspective as last panel. Burgess is tossing something towards Lyssa.

CHRISTOPHER: A new scent.

Panel Three: Normal shot, focus on Lyssa as the item lands in front of her.

SFX: CLINK

Panel Four: Close up, looking up from the floor into Lyssa’s face. She’s mesmerized by whatever it is that she’s seeing.

Panel Five: Close up, looking down at what Lyssa was so enraptured with. It’s the Heart of Eris lying on the floor.

OFF PANEL: Sniff them out.

Page Twenty Five

Panel One: Bird’s eye view. Exterior. Night. Dense woods. There is a figure running through the forest. No details are clear at this height, only that it’s moving very, very quickly.

Panel Two: Worm’s eye view. It’s Lyssa that is running through the woods and there’s a pack of overlarge, deformed wild dogs following behind her (think American Werewolf in London for reference). Their eyes glow yellow in the darkness, but they themselves aren’t corporeal. They appear to be ghost dogs--incorporeal, smoke-like. They’re spirits traveling with Lyssa.

SFX: SNARL!

Panel Three: Lyssa in profile as she runs, her hair flying out behind her and her eyes wild. Her teeth are gritted and her brow is furrowed in concentration.

SFX: GROWL!

Panel Four: Long shot, from behind Lyssa.  The woods in front of her have parted to reveal the edge of a cliff overlooking a city.

Page Twenty Six

Panel One: Long shot, from beneath the cliff, looking upwards. Lyssa has paused on the edge of the overhang as have her pack of hangers on.

Panel Two: Close up of Lyssa’s face. Her eyes have been narrowed as though she’s searching for something.

Panel Three: Over the shoulder shot, Lyssa’s POV, looking down at the city.

Panel Four: Extreme close up of Lyssa‘s eyes. They’ve gone wide and crazed. A large sign that reads “MOTEL” is reflected in her pupils.

SFX: GRRRRR!

Page Twenty Seven

Panel One: Full page panel. From beneath the cliff, looking upwards. Lyssa has launched herself off the cliff and has her arms outstretched in preparation to land, her clawed fingers curled into hooks and her mouth open.

SFX: ROAR!

Page Twenty Eight

Panel One: Medium shot. Interior. A dingy motel room. Dimly lit. Laura is lying on the bed in the foreground, the sheet pulled down to her waist--but she isn’t nude, her torso is heavily bandaged.  The Caretaker sits in a chair next to her, leaning forward, his elbows braced on his knees and his hands clasped together. His brow is furrowed and he seems lost in thought.

Panel Two: Same perspective as last shot. Laura’s eyes have opened a crack.

LAURA (weakly): Unngh.

Panel Three: Same perspective as last two panels. The Caretaker has gotten up from his seat and is leaning on the bed, looking down at Laura.

Caretaker: Still alive?

Panel Four (inset): Over the shoulder shot, Caretaker’s POV, looking down at Laura. Her eyelids are at half mast and her eyes appear unfocused.

Laura: It would seem so, unfortunately.

Page Twenty Nine

Panel One: Medium shot, Laura in foreground. She is struggling to sit up, supporting herself on her elbows. The Caretaker is reaching out to assist her.

Laura: Ugh. I feel like I was hit by a runaway rhinoceros.

Laura: I take it we won?

Panel Two: Medium shot. The Caretaker has taken a seat next to Laura on the bed, helping her to sit up with his arm around her shoulder.

Caretaker: Yes.

Laura: Good.

Panel Three: Close up. Laura is leaning her head on the Caretaker’s shoulder, eyes almost closed.

Caretaker: Thought I lost you for good back there…

Laura: You very nearly did.

Laura: I was dead for a few minutes, you know. Damnedest thing…

Panel Four: Flashback. Interior. Cavern. On the shores of the river Styx. Laura kneels before the Ferryman, looking up at him and gesturing in such a way that her desperation is obvious.

Laura: You don’t understand, I can’t be dead!

Panel Five: Still in flashback. Focus on the Ferryman, his skull tilted to one side as he considers Laura.

FERRYMAN: You are deceassssssed…

Laura: You’ve got to send me back!

Page Thirty

Panel One: Still in flashback. Laura is clutching her hands together, pleading.

Laura: Please! I can’t be dead!!

Panel Two (inset): Still in flashback. The Ferryman leans in close to Laura.

FERRYMAN: Why so resisssssstant to eternal resssssst?

FERRYMAN: What have you sssssstill to accomplish?

Panel Three: Still in flashback. Close up, Laura’s face in profile. With one bony hand, the Ferryman has reached out to touch her forehead. There is a spark beneath his fingertip where flesh and bone touch.

Panel Four (inset): Flashback within the flashback. Washed out. Dreamlike. Laura and the Caretaker fighting the zombie horde in the ruins of the library/armory.

CAPTION: Your causssssse is noble…

Panel Five (inset): Flashback within the flashback. The museum during the explosion from the Heart of Eris.

CAPTION: Your essssssence is ancient…

Panel Six: Back on the shores of Styx. Normal shot. The Ferryman has his hand curled beneath Laura’s chin, her head tilted upwards so that her gaze meets his eyeless sockets. He seems to be studying her intently.

FERRYMAN: And you do not bear the mark of Minossssss….

Panel Seven: Normal shot. The Ferryman has released Laura and stepped away from her.

FERRYMAN: Your time is not at hand.

FERRYMAN: You have not yet been judged.

FERRYMAN: You may return.

Page Thirty One

Panel One: Back in the present. Close up of the Caretaker’s eyes, narrowed with  some unnamed emotion.

Caretaker: I know…

Panel Two: Medium shot. Laura still with her head on the Caretaker’s shoulder. Her eyes have suddenly snapped open.

Laura: Wait a minute…

Panel Three: Laura has pulled back from the Caretaker and is looking at him, confusion written plainly on her features.

Laura: You said, if I died--

Panel Four: Close up, focus on Laura. She is staring at the Caretaker, hands fisting in his shirt and looks horrified.

Laura: Oh, God, the gem!

Laura: The essence has gone back to the gem!

Panel Five: Same perspective as last shot. The Caretaker has closed his hands over Laura‘s

Caretaker: Not quite.

Page Thirty Two

Panel One: Long shot. The Sword of Discord is in the foreground on a table, the Caretaker and Laura on the bed in the background. The sword is still glowing with the white aura mottled with black.

Caretaker: I don’t know how you did it, but the sword holds some of the essence within it.

Caretaker: I thought the process might be possible--which is why I encouraged you to try--but I didn’t think you’d pull it off in one shot.

Caretaker: Even though you ceased to be a vessel for the essence when you slipped into death, the sword didn‘t.

Caretaker: The essence can’t take flight if it’s not whole…the fragment that is in the sword kept the rest of it grounded.

Panel Two: Normal shot. The Caretaker is looking down at Laura, who is staring towards the sword, transfixed.

LAURA (whispered): I still have it inside me?

Caretaker: Indeed. You won’t be able to get rid of it anytime soon, either.

Panel Three: Same perspective as last panel. Laura has turned her head towards the Caretaker and is looking at him.

Laura: So…by splitting the Essence, I’ve kinda doomed myself to having being its host until we can find the Heart?

Caretaker: Correct.

Laura: And we have no idea how long that’ll take?

Caretaker: Also correct.

Laura: You know all about this stuff, right? You’re like…a guardian of the Essence of Eris…

Laura: Teach me to use my powers. To control them.

Panel Four: Same perspective as last panel. The Caretaker has drawn back from Laura slightly, frowning.

Caretaker: No one can harness enough to truly control them.

Laura: You did.

Caretaker: Barely. And only with ancient knowledge gained through the Gods.

Laura: What about Eris? She did.

Caretaker: She had the power since the moment of conception and she was a Goddess, that hardly counts.

Page Thirty Three

Panel One: Long shot. The Caretaker has gotten up and stands next to the bed, his hands resting on his hips.

Laura: So? I’m the new goddess of discord. You said I am. I should be able to learn to control these powers, shouldn’t I?

Laura: I managed to control them enough to put some of the essence in that sword…

Caretaker: I admit it extraordinary that you were able to split the essence and transfer it to an object, but that’s hardly basis for--

Panel Two: Laura is trying to get out of bed.

Laura: Look, I blew away a whole block already, I don’t want that to happen again if I can help it.

Laura: For now, I don’t have any choice about keeping these powers and it’s a pretty safe bet that things are going to get worse before they get better, isn’t it?

Panel Three: Medium shot, focus on the Caretaker. He doesn’t look happy about this turn in the conversation.

Caretaker: You’re asking if the Nyx Society will keep hunting you…

Laura: Won’t they?

Panel Four: Close up of the Caretaker’s face. He has shut his eyes as though to steady himself and is rubbing his forehead with the fingers of one hand.

Caretaker: They will.

Page Thirty Four

Panel One: Laura is standing next to the bed, holding onto the chair the Caretaker had been sitting in to keep herself from falling over, looking at him severely.

Laura: You said you’re the last surviving member of the order that protected the Heart of Eris…

Panel Two: Laura has taken a step towards the Caretaker, still hanging onto the chair.

Laura: You’re the only person alive who knows about this…

Panel Three: Laura is reaching out to the Caretaker, her free hand touching his forearm.

Laura: You’re the only person who could possibly help me figure out how to use this power to my advantage against whatever comes after me.

Panel Four: Close up, over the shoulder shot, Caretaker‘s POV, looking down at Laura’s pleading features.

Laura: Will you help me?

Panel Five: Close up of the Caretaker. He looks distressed but resigned to his fate.

Caretaker: Very well.

Caretaker: I am chosen guardian of the Essence…

Caretaker: I don’t suppose either of us have much of a choice anyway.

Panel Six: Medium shot. Laura has thrown her arms around the Caretaker and buried her face in his shirt.

Page Thirty Five

Panel One: Long shot. From behind the Caretaker as Laura hugs him. The motel room window is visible from this angle, the full moon shining through it.

Laura: Oh, thank God.

Panel Two (inset): From behind Laura as she hugs the Caretaker. He looks startled.

Laura: I don’t know what I would have done if you’d said no…

Panel Three (inset): Same perspective as last panel. The Caretaker has put his hand on the back of Laura’s head in an almost fatherly, comforting embrace. Despite his action, his face speaks of him being at a complete loss at what to do about the fact he’s got a young woman plastered to his chest.

Laura: I’m gonna need all the help I can get.

Panel Four: From behind the Caretaker as Laura hugs him. This is the same perspective as the first panel. The window has been shattered by a human foot crashing through it, glass shards flying everywhere.

SFX: CRASH!

Page Thirty Six

Panel One: Full page panel. Medium shot. Focus on the area around the window. Lyssa has landed in a crouch amidst the glass and is looking directly at us, scary as all hell. There’s saliva dripping from her mouth and she’s bleeding where she cut herself on the window pane.

LYSSA: RAAAAAAAAAAR!

Panel Two (inset): Normal shot. From behind Lyssa as she throws herself at the startled occupants of the room with her claws outstretched. The Caretaker is still hanging onto Laura and vice versa, their expressions absolutely stunned.

Caretaker: You certainly have a way with understatements.