Chereads / Small World(s) / Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Enemy At The Door!

Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Enemy At The Door!

PAGE 1

 

Setting: Hotel suite. Elliot, Wendy, and Devlon are talking to each other. Elliot's lying on his back on one of the two full sized beds. 

 

Elliot: "C'mon, why do you get the fancier part of the suite?"

 

Devlon: "It's fine, Elliot. We'll take the twins here. It's better that Wendy has the master."

 

Wendy: "Why thank you, Devlon. Elliot here is struggling with being a gentleman."

 

Elliot: "Oh, c'mon. He's only acting like that because you drugged him in the car."

 

Wendy: "Don't be so dramatic! He seemed tense, so I hooked him up with one of the teas I brought." Even though It was supposed to be for me.

 

Devlon: "What was in it again?"

 

Wendy: "Hm? Blue vervain, valerian, mullein, and chamomile. It's a good combination for fighting anxiety and depression, and helps you relax."

 

Devlon: "And mullein also strengthens the respiratory system, right?"

 

Elliot: "Breathe in, breathe out, I suppose. Well, whatever. I guess it worked for his stress level, so whatevs."

Wendy rests a hand on her hip.

 

Wendy: Nobody considered my stress levels dealing with you two. I'm such a saint.

 

Elliot gets up and turns the TV on across from the bed. 

 

Wendy: "What are you doing?"

 

Elliot: "What's it look like? There's a console in here! Time to get some games in!"

 

Wendy: "Turn it off. We've got other plans."

 

Elliot: "At 9 pm? What kind of plans do we have at this hour?"

 

Wendy: "Training. They have a large fitness room downstairs. You do want to get stronger, don't you?"

 

 

PAGE 2

 

The three make their way to the front lobby. At the front desk is a receptionist. A tall man stands in front of the receptionist to book a room. Elliot, Wendy, and Devlon walk past the man to get to the fitness room. 

 

Elliot: "Man, this place is faaaancy! Still can't get over it."

 

Devlon: "Yeah. The boss pays for these things when the occasion arises."

 

Wendy: "Well, I'm gonna need a lot more occasions like this one."

 

Man booking the room: "Yeah, just for the night. I'm beat. So what time is checkout-huh?"

 

Close up of the man as he looks to the side. He's surprised to see Elliot walk past him. The man is Stone, by the way. He's wearing a fake mustache. 

 

Stone: "What the!" That's him. So it was that kid that showed up on the radar!

 

Receptionist: "Sir? Did you hear me?"

 

Stone: "Huh?"

 

Receptionist: "That will be 680 bucks."

 

Stone: "FOR ONE NIGHT?"

 

Stone digs into his pockets as the trio make their way to the fitness room.

 

Stone: It'll be worth it to get some info on these guys.

 

 

PAGE 3

 

The three make it to the large fitness room, moving the equipment against the walls. More specifically, Devlon is moving everything around. Wendy stands with her hands on her hips while she watches. The room has large windows.

 

Devlon: "I see we have to make room, but why am I the one doing all the moving?"

 

Wendy: "Those manly irregular muscles of yours are useful. Besides, you hit me pretty hard, and now you want me to do some heavy lifting?"

 

Devlon immediately looks guilty and continues to move things.

Devlon: "Sorry…I'll just…"

Elliot: How long is she gonna guilt him?

 

Stone watches them through the window from outside the room.

 

Stone: "Alright, let's see what kind of skill he's working with."

 

Devlon: "You may wanna close the blinds so nobody can see that we moved everything around."

 

Wendy: "Good idea."

Wendy closes the blinds without seeing Stone. 

Elliot: "So, what kinda workout we doin'?"

 

Wendy gives off a smile. 

 

Wendy: "Lesson one: Hand to Hand combat."

 

PAGE 4

 

Wendy and Devlon stand across from Elliot. 

 

Wendy: "While you were snoozing in the back seat, Devlon and I planned out how we'd go about training you. So, I'm up first."

 

Wendy walks to Elliot. Elliot raises his fists. 

 

Wendy: "Ready?"

 

Elliot: "You bet. Let's do this."

 

Wendy raises her leg for a rising kick, which Elliot moves back to dodge. 

 

Elliot: Woah! That was a fast kick! But now…

 

Wendy's split kick misses, so Elliot charges her to take advantage of the opportunity.

 

Elliot: She missed, so I'll take advantage of that opening.

 

Though Elliot dodged Wendy's upwards split kick, she brings down her foot, the downward kick coming down on Elliot's shoulder.

 

Elliot: "Ngh!"

 

 

PAGE 5

 

Elliot crouches down to his knees as he holds his shoulder. Wendy stands across from him with her hands on her hips. 

 

Wendy: "Nice reflex for sure. But that was a fake opening."

 

Elliot: "Yeah…you're really a master of mix-ups." I forgot she does a lot of fake openings. MAN, that's a tender spot!

 

Wendy: "Pain tolerance is another thing. Of course, defense will help you protect those tender areas. Use those reflexes!"

 

Elliot: "Yeah I…just….I thought it was my turn."

 

Wendy throws up her guard. So does Elliot.

 

Wendy: "Let's build up that defense and tolerance, shall we?"

 

Elliot: "Yeah, let's do this!"

 

A series of small panels show close ups of Elliot receiving a knee to the stomach, punch to the face, and sweeps (being tripped). 

 

Shift to Devlon's perspective. He watches them from a distance with concern as Wendy stomps Elliot. 

 

Wendy: "And then blowing up my car! And I haven't had a day off! And draggin' me into this mess! And that calming tea was meant for me, but now I've got nothing! …"

 

Devlon: "…umm, break time?"

 

 

PAGE 6

Wendy casually walks past Devlon, wiping her forehead with her forearm.

 

Wendy: "Phew. Man that felt good! Alright. Good lesson. Go again first thing in the morning?"

 

Devlon: This seems more personal than just a training exercise…

 

Back in the hotel room. Devlon sits on one of the beds. Elliot's on the floor, eyes spiraling with steam rising from his body. Wendy walks past Devlon while she puts her hair into a bun.

 

Devlon: "You good, Elliot?"

 

Wendy: "He'll be fine. I'm sure he just needs rest."

 

Devlon: "Well, guess he won't be playing any games tonight."

 

Elliot sits up with lightning speed.

 

Elliot: "Right! I forgot. Hook up the game! I think I saw Strangled Kittens on there!"

 

Wendy:  That was fast. "What kind of game is that?"

 

Elliot: "It's a game where you punch a cat repeatedly until it goes 'moo.' But, that may be too extreme for you."

 

Wendy: "I'll say! Why would anyone want to hurt a kitten?"

 

Elliot: "Never mind. Let's just play Super Runjump Bros."

 

With glassy puppy eyes, Elliot holds out a controller to Wendy.

Wendy: "What?"

 

Elliot: "Play one round with us? Pleeeease!"

 

Wendy: "Fine. After that, I'm going to bed."

 

PAGE 7

 

Scene change. Setting: Stone's hotel bathroom. Stone sits in the hot tub while he talks on the phone.

Stone: "Yeah. I'm gonna check em out in the morning and see if I can have a talk with the kid. I just gotta get him alone."

 

Jade: "Sounds good. But couldn't you have used a better disguise? Nobody's gonna fall for that mustache."

 

Stone: "Of course it'll work! The other two don't know how I look, and the kid saw me at night. It'll be fine!" Making me doubt myself now.

 

Jade: "Whatever you say. Let me know how it goes tomorrow."

 

Stone gets out and dries himself off.

 

He looks in the mirror and puts his gag mustache on.

 

Stone: "Looks like tomorrow's the big day."

 

 

PAGE 8

 

Scene change. Though, visuals display nothing more than a speech bubble.

 

Voice: "AAAAHHHHH!!!"

 

Setting: Back in the hotel room with Elliot and the others. Elliot's falling over away from Wendy as he sits on the floor in front of the TV. He's laughing. Wendy's standing up with a controller in her hand. She looks stressed out. Devlon sits on the bed with a chuckle.

 

Elliot: "Gahahahaha! Girl, this is the third time you screamed over a little turtle!"

 

Wendy: "IT WAS CHASING ME!" I hate being chased!

 

Elliot: "But you fight crime! Make it make sense."

 

Wendy turns her head to Devlon. Devlon's holding in his laugh. 

 

Wendy: "What are you laughing at?!"

 

Devlon: "Nothing, nothing." It's…oddly adorable.

Wendy: "That's enough anxiety for one night."

 

Elliot gets up to talk to Wendy.

 

Elliot: "Hey, so I was wondering. Are you up for another training session? I really wanna get these skills down."

 

Wendy: "Sure. We can do one more lesson before bed."

 

Devlon: Last session wasn't much of a lesson. 

 

 

 Scene end.

 

 

PAGE 9

 

Scene change. The next day, late morning. 

Setting: Some neighborhood in Maple City. The gang rides down the street in Wendy's new cop car on a bright, partly cloudy day.

 

Wendy's driving (of course). Devlon's the passenger. El's in the back, but sitting forward in the middle with his arms resting on each front seat. 

 

Elliot: "Aiight, so where we stopping first? Wendy's apartment?" 

 

Wendy: "We can stop by your place first." Will you sit back? "I have some business to take care of with my boss."

 

Suddenly, Elliot looks down to the side. A mix of discomfort and nervousness is written on his face.

 

Wendy: "Plus, it's been days since you've been home. I'm sure your folks are worried."

 

Elliot sits back and looks out the window.

Elliot: "Yeah…right." *sigh*

Elliot guides Wendy to the next street.

 

Elliot: "Turn at this corner here."

Wendy parks in front of a decent sized house with stairs leading up to the porch and front door. 

 

PAGE 10

 

Elliot knocks on the door.

 

Kei, Elliot's friend from chapter 1, answers the door. Reminder of his appearance: Caucasian teen with light freckles and brown hair. He also wears glasses. His eyes light up as soon as he sees Elliot. He's very surprised to see him.

 

Kei: "El?"

 

Elliot: "Hey. Sorry we haven't spoken. A lot's happened and my phone is de-"

 

Kei interrupts with a tight embrace. 

 

Kei: "I thought something happened to you! There was an explosion the night I last saw you! And no one's heard from you since!"

 

Wendy and Devlon are in the background, still waiting by the car. Elliot scratches his head and looks down. He seems relieved that Kei isn't upset with him.

 

Elliot: "Yeah, I don't even know where to start with all that." Seriously, where do I even begin?

Devlon signals Elliot from the car.

 

Devlon: "Elliot. We're gonna stop by Wendy's to get some things. We'll be back."

 

Kei: "Who're they?"

 

Elliot: "They're cool peeps."

The two had inside the house.

 

 

PAGE 12

 

Kei and Elliot sit at the kitchen table. Kei leans with big eyes and a dropped jaw. Though Elliot is chill, relaxed, and putting on a cool aura with a confident smirk.

 

Kei: "YOU GOT ARRESTED?"

 

Elliot: "Dang straight."

 

Kei: "So you've been locked up this whole time? What did you do?" He's way too reckless!

 

Elliot: "Well, I wasn't locked up the whole time. You saw that hot cop chick? We've been together the last few days."

Kei looks unimpressed.

 

Kei: "Together like…probation?" No need to exaggerate, El.

 

Elliot: "No, nothing like that. Hehehe. And as for what I did, I found out that I-"

 

Elliot freezes for a moment, thinking critically about his choice of words.

 

Elliot: Maybe I shouldn't jump the gun and tell him I'm an irregular just yet. "Let's just say I'm hanging out with new cop friends for reasons."

Kei tilts his head and skeptically raises a brow.

Kei: "Reasons?"

 

Elliot: "Yep. Reasons. So, what's been going on lately?"

 

Kei: "Well, there was the 2nd explosion at Maple Mall the last time I saw you. And there was another disappearance last night."

 

As Kei continues, a small person is seen walking up behind Kei, though he's unaware. 

 

Kei: "That, and…"

 

 End of scene.

PAGE 13

 

Change scenes. Wendy's and Devlon's perspective.

Setting: Outside or an apartment building in the parking lot. 

Wendy is on her knees in front of the car, gasping for air. She looks petrified. Devlon kneels down with a hand on Wendy's shoulder, trying to calm her down.

Wendy: "Never again!"

 

Devlon: "Are you gonna be okay?"

 

Wendy: "Maybe not ever with you behind the wheel!"

 

*FLASHBACK*

In this flashback, Wendy casually drives before coming to a stop. 

 

Wendy: "Let's switch. It's time you learned how to drive."

 

Devlon: "Huh? Are you sure?"

 

Wendy: "My place is just two blocks away. I'll be guiding you. What's the worst that could happen?"

Devlon innocently opens the passenger door.

Devlon: "Oh, okay. Sure, let's get ready to switch."

*END OF FLASHBACK*

 

Back to the present. Wendy makes her way to the apartment, though her legs are shaking. Devlon follows her with great concern.

 

Wendy: "A twelve year-old drives better than that!" Let's just go.

 

Devlon: "Wendy, you're shaking." Do you need support?

 

In the building, Devlon and Wendy make it Wendy's apartment. Wendy's looking through some things around the apartment while Devlon stands in the living room looking around. He's clearly uncomfortable.

 

Wendy: "Just make yourself at home. There's food in the fridge if you're hungry."

 

Devlon: "You want me to just go in your fridge and just…grab something?" I thought she hated me.

 

She has a confident smile on her face. 

 

Wendy: As annoying as you are... "Growing up, I was taught to treat my guests. So have at it. ¡Confianza!"

 

*Spanish. Literally means "confidence/trust," but in this context, it can be understood as someone being encouraged to make themselves at home.

 

 

 

PAGE 14

 

Devlon hesitantly grabs an apple juice from the fridge.

Devlon: This is the last bottle of apple juice. Is it really okay?

Wendy (from a distance): "Confianza, Devlon! I can sense your timid spirit from all the way over here!"

Devlon: "But it's the last bottle of apple juice."

Wendy: "Do you need me to feed it to you?!"

Devlon gives up and drinks the juice, closing the fridge. 

Devlon: What's this?

 

Devlon examines the picture magnet on the fridge door, still sipping some juice.

 

A closer look shows that the picture is of Wendy and some guy. The same guy in the picture of Wendy's from chapter 1. They're both smiling like besties.

 

Devlon: That smile. She looks…

 

Close up on the picture.

 

Devlon: Genuinely happy. Wendy looks just like her. Even down to her smile.

Devlon looks down, his curiosity turning to sadness.

Devlon: Karla…

 

Wendy: "Hey, can you help me with this bag?"

 

Devlon turns to see Wendy struggling with a large bag, stuffed to the top. 

 

Devlon: "What's all in that bag?" Goodness!

 

Wendy: "A little of everything."

 

Devlon: "Do you really need all-" Wait. Practicing to shut up.

 

 

PAGE 15

 

Outside in the parking lot, Devlon struggles stuffing Wendy's things into the car. 

 

Wendy: "You've been pretty helpful. Thanks."

 

Devlon: "What's in this bag, anyway?"

 

Devlon finally manages to close the trunk. 

 

Wendy: "Oh! I forgot something. I'll be right back."

 

Wendy goes back inside. Devlon awkwardly sits on the front of the car.

Devlon: "I'll just wait here, I guess. What more does she need to pack?

 

Wendy enters her living room again. 

 

Wendy: "Where did I put it?"

 

SFX: GLOOSH!

 

Wendy turns toward the kitchen.

 

Wendy: "What was that?"

 

 

PAGE 16

 

Change the scene to Elliot's perspective.

His hands in his pocket, Elliot walks down the street in deep thought. He had already left Kei's house.

 

*FLASHBACK*

In this flashback scene, Elliot is still at the kitchen table with Kei.

 

Elliot: "So everything went well, then? You two will finally be adopted soon. I'm happy for ya!"

Kei looks at Elliot with concern.

 

Kei: "Yeah, but you're avoiding what I just said. I'm worried about you. Your carefree attitude towards your situation…"

 

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Back in the present, Elliot continues to walk down the street, looking down with a smirk on his face. 

 

Elliot: "Heh. Don't worry about me, bruh. Just enjoy your new family." I wonder what that's like. I wonder what it's like for a family to want you arou-

 

Elliot bumps into someone.

 

Elliot: "Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going-"

 

Elliot's apology is cut short. He's completely thrown off by the person, or thing in front of him. Across from him stands a pale white humanoid with no face.

 

Elliot: "What the heck is that!?"

 

End of scene

 

 

 PAGE 17

 

Change scenes back to Wendy's perspective in her apartment.

Wendy is flung through her kitchen. She shrieks in pain as her back violently slams against the wall. 

 

She slides down the wall onto the floor, her back still against the wall.

In the next instant, Wendy quickly moves her head to the side just in time for a sharp white substance to stretch toward her, penetrating the wall right next to her head. She barely dodged death.

Wendy: "What the heck is that thing?"

 

Zooming out a bit reveals that this white substance is the arm of a whitish grayish person with no face. It just extended its arm to take Wendy's head.

 

The faceless creature pulls its arm out of the wall as it shrinks back to a normal size.

 

Wendy pulls herself to her feet, holding her side.

Wendy: I was off guard. That thing got me good.

She shakes off the pain and raises her guard, clearly pissed.

 

Wendy: "I don't know what you are or where you came from, but you are not welcome here! This is MY house!"