America, 1924
Will
I'm home
Grandmother
Welcome home, Will
Will
Where's Mom?
Grandmother
She's just late getting home from the factory, I'm sure she'll be home shortly
Next scene, Will is walking on the streets as he sees a typical nuclear family
Will then bumps into someone and falls
Will
Sorry…Mom?!
Random man
You know this runt?
Will's mother makes eye contact with him
Mother
Never seen him before
Random man
Oh, that's a relief!
I thought you had a kid for a minute there!
Mother
Hehe! Don't be silly, I don't have a son.
Will
!?
Will gets home
Will
I'm back…
Grandma, is mom gonna leave?
Grandmother
Now where did you hear that?
Will
Well, she hasn't been home lately, and earlier, I saw her walking with a guy…
Grandma, is it my fault?
Did she leave because of me?
Grandmother
Now don't be ridiculous!
You're a wonderful child, I'm sure there's an explanation for what happened earlier.
Now, why don't you go wash your hands and help me set the table?
Again, we see shadows as Will listens in on a conversation
Grandmother
What are you doing getting home so late?
Mother
Don't worry, everything's fine…
Grandmother
You reek of alcohol, you went to a speakeasy again, didn't you?
Mother
Why should it matter to you?
Grandmother
After you're husband passed away, I took in you and your son, but if you're not even going to try spending time with him, I don't see any reason for you to be here.
Your son's doubting that you even love him anymore.
You still love your son, don't you?
Why won't you answer me?!
Will is crying while muffling his voice
1927
Will
Grandma! I did it! I was accepted into the University of New York!
Grandma
That's amazing honey!
I'm so proud of you!
Graduating early with top marks, a good university, what more could some want for their grandchild?
Will
Do you think Mom's proud of me?
Grandma
Eh…why don't we go to the kitchen, I got you something to celebrate!
It's a typewriter, you've always shown an interest in the newspaper, so I thought you might be able to use this!
Will
Thanks Grandma!
Will's mother walks past him
Will
Ah, mom!
I got into university!
Mother
Did you now?
…
She looks at him
Mother
Good for you…
I'll be back later, I need to speak with someone.
Later, as Will is asleep in his room he wakes up and sees his mom
Will
Mom?
Mother
You're looking more and more like your father every day, you know that?
It sickens me.
I thought I was finally free after I killed him all those years ago…
But here you are, the spitting image of him.
It's just that man told me.
I need to use this power to make myself happy and not let anyone stand in my way…
Will
What are you talking about…?
Mother
Here's what's going to happen, I'm going to kill you, and then I'll skip town again.
He said he'd prepare somewhere for me to stay.
Don't even think about trying to call for help, I've already killed the crone!
Now it's your turn!
As her Manifesto makes a slicing motion, a fist sends her flying, as a vague outline of a Manifesto appears above Will
Mother
You…you have one too?!
Will
?
Mother
No, no no no no!
He told me this made me special!
Wait, I can be special.
All I need to do is kill you and that power should disappear along with you!
Her Manifesto launches a flurry of attacks at Will as Auriga delivers a strong punch sending her flying
Will sits there in shock before running out of the house
Inside, Will's mother is lying on the ground, bleeding as someone walks up to her
John
You were running late, so I wanted to see what happened.
Mother
…
John
Seems you underestimated your son.
You know, I once learned that if a parent has a power, it's possible for their child to have one too.
I wanted to see if the same thing would happen if the power was given through Corvus instead of being natural.
Turns out the effect was the same.
Which means that in a way, Corvus created a completely new power.
Isn't that amazing?
Oops, I can't speak for too long or you might die!
And we wouldn't want that, now would we?
Because if you were to die, I'd lose that wonderful ability of yours.
Corvus' silhouette appears behind John
Mother
(Will…Harold…help me!)
(Please, don't let me die alone like this!)
(I don't want to die!)
Later
Police
Are you Will Wood?
Will
Yes?
(Is this about last night?)
(Did I accidentally do something to mom?!)
Police
This morning, we found the bodies of your mother and grandmother.
Now, don't worry, we aren't accusing you of anything.
Neighbours said they saw a suspicious person waiting outside of your house last night.
We believe he killed your relatives
Will
?
(What?)
(wait, wait, grandma was killed by Mom, she told me that herself!)
(But Mom, is she…dead?)
N-no…
That can't be possible!
(She said she didn't want to be alone, so there's no way she would leave me!)
(And dad? No, he wasn't killed by Mom, it was an accident!)
(Yeah, Mom's still alive, she just disappeared!)
(Mom told me to stay in school, and dad wanted me to protect others!)
(I swear, I'll do both!)
(I'll become a journalist, if my articles are published, then so is my name!)
(I'm sure she'll see one of them, or I might even find her while writing one of them!)
(Don't worry Mom, I'll find you and I'll protect you, just like I promised when I was a kid!)
Back to present
Will
(That's right…)
(How could I have forgotten?)
(Mom didn't "disappear")
(She died…)
(That man she said told her about her abilities, it must've been John!)
(I can't be losing here, not when I need to be getting answers out of him!)
(Mom only killed dad after she got her Manifesto, meaning they must have met at some point!)
(I need to ask about her…)
(Which means, I can't be losing to some old lady now!)
Auriga!!!
Auriga
!
As Will forces himself up, Auriga snaps the strings holding it in place
Evelyn
!?
Well isn't that…impressive.
Will
Sorry, old lady.
I can't go dying now.
Not when I still have so much left to do.