James looks outside
James
I'm not seeing any traps out here…
The trip wires from before are gone…
Caroline
Did he give up?
Or is that just wishful thinking?
James
I'm pretty sure the renowned hunter known for his efficiency wouldn't just give up.
Caroline
So what's your theory then?
James
He's probably hiding close by so he can see where we run…
My guess is he's strewn objects around the street, so it may look like we have a choice, but he's just funneling us into the real threat.
Caroline
Well that sounds like fun. Now, how do we avoid being skewered by a pit trap in the middle of manhattan?
I don't know about you, but I don't really feel like dying in the streets of New York by an assassin.
James
I feel like no one wants to die like that…
Caroline
There's always someone
I'm not sure if you know this detective, but our world is full of strange and interesting people.
James
No kidding.
James takes a moment and thinks about all of the people he's met throughout the story, then his thoughts end of Will, reminding him why he started out on this mission
James
Doc, are you ready?
Caroline
Would it matter if I said no?
James
Probably not!
Lacerta, shoot some bullets towards the ground.
Caroline
?
That seems like a waste of bullets…
James
Y'know your joke about dying in a pit trap?
Lacerta's bullet causes the ground to collapse revealing a tiger trap in the ground
Caroline
!
James
Considering we're dealing with Orion "the hunter," you can't take anything at face value.
James and Caroline jump over the trap
Caroline
So, how are we getting to Central Park?
James
We walk.
Caroline
Wow, thanks. I can see why you're a detective.
Real insightful, how about a real answer?
James
We're gonna stay on Alphabet St. until 57th, then we'll cut into the park and hope our friend will try and attack us himself.
Caroline
And if he doesn't?
James
Then we get a straight path to the Fish in a Birdcage to protect us.
Caroline
And you're certain we'll be safe at this place?
James
Nothing's certain these days.
Caroline doesn't look impressed with this comment
James
No?
And I was doing so well!
Caroline
Hahahaha!!
We're being hunted but we're making jokes!!
I misjudged you detective!!
James
Thanks Doc, maybe next time you won't attack every person who walks into your office!
Lyra pushes James out of the way of pens that were flying like arrows from a store window
As James avoids the attack, a cloaked figure continues to run along a rooftop near them
Caroline
In my defence, you started that fight!
James
Did I?
Well, the past is the past!
Caroline
You mean five minutes ago?
James
Psh, same/difference
James blocks with Lacerta while pushing Caroline out of the way of an exploding landmine
Caroline
Shit!
Are you okay!?
James
I-I'm good…th-thanks–
James coughs up blood
James
!?!
(B-blood?!)
Caroline
You are definitely not ok!
Here, let me fix you!!
Lyra emerges with its hand outstretched
James
No really, it's nothing. Lacerta heals itself, which is why I blocked with it.
You won't even be able to tell anything happened to me in a few minutes!!
Caroline
That doesn't sound like a good way to go about doing things, what are you going to do if one day you fight someone that Lacerta can't do anything against?
Or what happens if you take a hit that Lacerta can't heal?
James
Don't worry about that, Lacerta would be able to just–
!!
(If Lacerta's gotten stronger, we take more equal damage, which means she's right!)
(I can't pull what I did against Mercury and May, that won't work anymore!!)
(Even if Lacerta heals, it's far more resilient than I am, so I might not be able to endure the attack even if it can!)
!!!
James goes pale as he thinks about his past fights with Manifestos and falls to the ground
Caroline
Whoa!
Are you sure you don't want me to fix you with Lacerta?!
James
No, it's not something you could fix by reversing my body or whatever…
…the issue is so far I've faced Manifestos capable of ripping apart human flesh like it's nothing, but when I destroyed them, nothing happened to the user which makes me realize that those Manifestos that killed countless people must've been…
Caroline
…weak…
James
Exactly, how can something with the jaw of a shark that can swim through any surface be considered a "weak" Manifesto
Caroline
What's more worrying is what would constitute a "strong" Manifesto.
I saw what happened when yours took that blast, you definitely felt the same thing your Manifesto did!
Which means your Manifesto must be one of these "strong" ones!
Just what kind of power is held by something like that…
I never did ask detective, but what are these "Manifestos"?
James
I-I
Lacerta is looming over James' shoulder, its whole silhouette in shadow except its yellow glowing eyes
James starts flashing back to when he first met Lacerta
James
Oh!
Hey, we made it to Central Park!!
Great! This'll be perfect!!
Caroline
…
(What's up with this guy?)
(More accurately, what happened to him?)
(First he wants a fight, then he's joking around like nothing happened, then he starts suddenly thinking intensely about his past)
(Could he have ptsd?)
(But what could've happened?)
James is pacing around, looking around the area
Caroline
Um, detective, I have a question about something–
James
Wait!
Do you see that?!
Caroline
…
No, I don't. Now, my question is actually kinda important, so if I could—
Lacerta emerges in an aggressive position
James
I'm being serious here!
Look at that gas!
Caroline
?
What…is it?
James
I'm not sure, but I don't think we really want to find out.
Bring out your Lyra.
We're going into the park now.
Caroline
Listen, just let me ask my–
James
NOW!!!
It's not safe until we know what that gas is!!
Caroline
…
Fine.
I'll hold off, but when we get to the Fish in a Birdcage, I'm asking it, whether you like it or not!
Sound fair!?
James
Hm?
Oh, yeah, go ahead.
I don't care.
Caroline
Ugh, I feel stupid for caring.
Lyra emerges as the two of them enter into Central Park
The gate slams shut behind them
Caroline
Of course it was a trap.
Why wouldn't the guy known for traps make it so we can't escape Central Park.
James
All of the exits are probably like this, and using his Manifesto he has a very broad definition of what a "trap" is.
He could probably coat the bars in some kind of poison under the definition of a "trap."
Caroline
So what should we do?
James
We go on with the plan.
Remember, my Manifesto can heal my injuries, and yours will restore us to however we were before we ever got poisoned.
We'll be fine.
Caroline
I feel I should clarify something real quick, my Manifesto only works on living creatures.
So any plants or animals: a-okay.
But, the minute something no longer is "living," my Manifesto loses its ability to affect it.
Like once a tree has been turned into a house, I could affect some moss in the wood to force it to rot, but I couldn't affect the wood itself.
If you die, I can't bring you back.
If you die, you can't bring yourself back.
Do you understand that?
James
That doesn't change anything, the only way for Orion to stop us is to kill us!
Orion
Sounds like a great plan to me!!
James and Caroline both immediately look at the figure in front of them
Orion
Nice to finally meet you James Spectre…
…I'm so glad I could see you in person at least once before the funeral.