Splattered pumpkins

[Seer]

<< An intense HALLOWEEN morning gives way to a rather bright but breezy afternoon. Classes roll on & soon itll be lunch hour for some of the students.>>

<< But first...>>

<< Interstate 93. It's a long drive if you have no particular destination in mind but after a seemingly endless view of the North/South running interestate, we turn our attention south and zoom along, Boston is merely 30+ miles away now & just to the west of that city, the posh secluded suburb of Beacon Hill where Hillcrest is.>>

<< A rest stop along the interstate. a young mother, traveling with her daughter, taking a much needed stop.>>

 

[Silver Swan]

Road tripping

[ Sharon Kelly , a mother, traveling to Boston with her young daughter, Kylie Kelly, not more than has made an urgent rest stop for her daughter]

[ after parking, she and her daughter quickly make their way in the bright, slightly windy afternoon]

Kylie: mommy!

Sharon: Don't worry honey. We're almost there.

[ But upon reaching the door to the ladies room, it's locked and on the door is a sign that reads "Out of order"]

Kylie: Ooooohhhh!!!! Mommy!!!

[ Kylie does that "dance" that every young child knows in a situation like this and that every parent dreads]

Sharon: Shhh. Don't worry sweetie.

[ Sharon takes a moment to look around. No other cars. No one at all in sight. She takes a step over and takes hold of the door knob to the men's room.]

Kylie: But mommy! That's the boyyyys room!

Sharon: Well the "BOYYYS" are just gonna have to deal with it.

[ Sharon opens the door. It creaks a bit as she stands in the doorway, peering inside, reaching for a light switch]

Sharon: HELLO??? .....HELLOOO??

[ She calls out with loud clarity. No response, save her own faint echo.]

Sharon: See? Coast is clear, honey.

[ But the light switch. when she lips it on, the lights in the bathroom pitifully flicker at best.]

damn!

[ Quick thinking. Spotting a large rock nearby, Sharon bends down and brings it over, pushing it up against the door to keep it wide open to light the afternoon sunlight illuminate the dimly lit men's room.]

Sharon: Alright. Come on, honey.

[ leading her daughter in, she directs her inside a stall]

Mommy's going too.

[ Sharon says as she takes the next stall. Soon, Sharon fishes some tissue from her purse, placing her hand under the space between her stall and Kylie's.]

Sharon: Here's some tissues....


Sharon: Kylie???

[ A tiny hand gingerly reaches and takes the tissues and Sharon smiles a bit with relief. She's obviously concerned, being in the men's room of a reststop, even in the early afternoon. One can't assume anything.]

[ suddenly...]

 

[Seer]

Watchful eye

<< A young mother, traveling with her daughter to Boston to visit grandmother. Faced with a young daughter with full bladder, Sharon pulled into a rest stop. It was clean and no one else was there. It was also early afternoon. But one, especially a mother traveling alone with her child, can never be too carefull or alert.>>

<< as Kylie goes and Sharon close at hand in the stall next door, the door Sharon thought she'd propped firmly open creaks and closes with a bang!>>

 

[Silver Swan]

rest stop

[ Sharon jumps, slightly started as she hears the door close with a bang!]

Kylie: Mommy?!

Sharon: [ silightly exhaling and rolling her eyes at herself for being so jumpy] It's ...just the door, Kylie. You go on and finish now and we'll wash our hands. Grandma's is not that much further okay?

Kylie: Okay mommy.

[ Sharon swears she hears something else though....something like...another breathing pattern!?]

 

[Seer]

A mother's concern

<< A mother's vigilance when keeping watch over her child is primal. It can make even a normal baseline human female seem SUPERHUMAN when it comes to hearing, seeing, peripheral sense and awareness, also speed and even STRENGTH.>>

<< Sharon wasnt hallucinating and she wasnt paranoid. She DID hear something else. Something very WRONG.>>

 

[The Shape]

For want of a car?

The lights in the men's room flicker and come frightfully close to giving out completely. It only adds to the uncertainty that is now turning into FEAR within Sharon Kelly.

FEAR only serves to draw him CLOSER to investigate.

The wavering shadows play off the Shape like little fish following meekly alongside a SHARK as he silently steps forward and then turns. Now facing the stalls.

Silence. No movement.

The first stall. A tiny, fragile little girl inside. BEYOND easy prey to kill.

The second stall. A tall, young, vibrant woman. Same fire and strength as Alycia Barnett. She will fight to the death to protect her child but in the end all that is certain is that SHE will meet death.

Fate has smiled on Sharon and Kylie Kelly for all that is wanted now is Sharon's purse...rather the CAR KEYS inside the purse.

Reaching down to the opening beneath the door of the second stall, he unwaveringly grips and takes Sharon's purse.

If Sharon Kelly is SMART, she will stay where she is. If she comes out...FOR ANY REASON, she will DIE.

Upon hearing movement, he stops and turns around, once again facing the stalls. His eerie glowing red irises flash with curiosity or more than likely...AGGRESSION

 

[Silver Swan]

A mother's instinct

[ Sharon Kelly becomes increasingly fearfull that she and her daughter are no longer alone in the restroom]

Reaching down to the opening beneath the door of the second stall, he unwaveringly grips and takes Sharon's purse.

[ Her suspicions are CONFIRMED.]

[ Sharon's silver eyes WIDEN with dismay and she covers her mouth to stifle any sound of disbelief or shock that might escape.]

[ But it isnt even that she's just been ROBBED, but that SHE and her DAUGHTER are now trapped in this bathroom with a man that is...from one tiny view of him she can catch from space between the stall... very large, very tall, strangely dressed and TOTALLY CREEPY!]

KYLIE'S in the next stall! and this asshole freak just snatched my purse! You have what you want, you creep...now just GO! leave me and my daughter be!

[ He could have the damn purse and anything in it! Nothing was worth her or her daughter's life, but as she shifted EVER SO SLIGHTLY to catch what glimpse she could of him in that small space in the stall door, he must have HEARD her move!]

If Sharon Kelly is SMART, she will stay where she is. If she comes out...FOR ANY REASON, she will DIE.

Upon hearing movement, he stops and turns around, once again facing the stalls. His eerie glowing red irises flash with curiosity or more than likely...AGGRESSION

[Sharon remains totally quiet. She does not move again...but in her mind,]

OH. MY. GOD! WHO IS HE!?

[ Kylie was finished! She was ready to come out! Sharon couldn't just hide and cower in the stall. She was going to have to DO SOMETHING!]

Have to protect my DAUGHTER!

[He may have taken her purse, but she keeps her phone and most importantly her PROTECTION in her jacket that she's wearing! No mother, traveling alone with her young child should travel without their phone CLOSE at hand and moreover some form of PROTECTION.]

Don't think about him!

[Sharon silently coached herself as she carefully and quietly retrieved her GUN from inside her jacket.]

use the door to distract him toward me. Smack him with it if you can. Get Kylie OUT. If he comes for her, SHOOT HIM IN THE HEAD!

[ Sharon was ready to lay down her life to protect her daughter from this psycho freak with those EYES...dressed in a car mechanic's uniform and a weird featurless white mask.]

 

[Seer]

anxious agony

<< each second might as well be a DAY. the moments drag on with such AGONY as Sharon could BURST from stifling the fear and shock she is feeling right now, but her primary motivation is her instinct to PROTECT HER DAUGHTER.>>

<< The Shape took her purse. He didnt simply attack and murder her or her daughter. She hoped he'd leave now that he had what he wanted but he lingered. He turned BACK and stared at the doors. She could FEEL his eyes burning to her heart.>>

<< She couldnt let him hurt her daughter, not without doing everything she could! So she slowly retrieved her GUN and quietly, carefully eased forward, turning the lock on her door so slowly it was as if it wouldnt move at all.>>

<< ever moment, EVERY SECOND counted but one misstep, one premature move on her part and she'd be DEAD and Kylie left totally defenseless! The Shape had no conscience, he would brutralize and murder Kylie just as he had his own SiSTER, ALL of Morgan's friends, the doctors and nurses who cared for Morgan, Alycia's young neighbors and Alycia herself!>>

<< Sharon Kelly didnt know who or WHAT she was facing. She didnt know that bullets wouldnt stop him. They wouldnt KILL him, but HE would most certainly kill THEM BOTH.>>

<< She didnt know. She didnt CARE about "what if". All she knew was that her child's life was in DANGER.>>

<< Just as she seemed primed to come busting out in a gun blazing ambush...>>

 

[Silver Swan]

and just like that...it's over

[ turning the lock, EVER SO SLOWLY so as not to draw his attention...]

have to be....careful. have to move...just...right!

[ gun in hand and ready to DEFEND herself and her daughter, she comes closer and closer to opening...]

this is IT! Get ready....

[ and then]

KYLIE: [SHRIEKING and screaming] MOMMYYY!!!

[Sharon FLINCHES and gasps. To HELL with an ambush.]

KYLIE! MOMMY'S COMING!

[her door FLIES open and she CHARGES out of her stall, gun DRAWN AND AIMED]

LEAVE HER ALONE YOU.....

[ Sharon QUICKLY pulls Kylie's stall door open and...]

He...He's GONE.....but WHERE!?....

[after looking every which way around her, she quickly lowers her gun down to her side]

KYLIE!? Wha.....

[ she finds her daughter, frantically rubbing and running her hands through her blonde hair]

Kylie: Spiders mommy! ewww!!

[ Sharon's distraught facial expression melts into one of slight amusement as she looks upon her young daughter and exhales with RELIEF and a bit of a laugh]

Oh Kylie!

[ Shuddering with odd relief, Helping her daughter from the stall and gathering her up into her arms, Sharon RUSHES out of the restroom back into the open, the afternoon sun]

[ But she finds that her CAR is gone! Her and Kylie's suitcases left behind on the grass and a late model black vehicle, the one the Shape took from the Cook residence after he murdered Marcus, Charles and Alycia, with two badly shredded tires is also there]

He took the car!

Kylie: Mommy! I wanna get down please!

Sharon: Hush Kylie. Mommy has to make a call. You'll stay right in mommy's arms.

[But Sharon would not let her daughter go. Not just yet. Quickly moving away from the doors of the rest rooms and away from the building, but not too close to the abandonned car, she slips her gun into the pocket of her jacket and brings forth her cellphone, quickly placing a call to roadside and then the police.]

[A most unusual situation indeed, but one that she and her daughter would live to tell about, unlike so many others who encountered the dark evil that is THE SHAPE.]

 

[Seer]

the evil moves on

<< Purses and cars can be replaced. Sharon knew that. But LIVES? Not so much. Sharon Kelly, a woman of remarkable courage, strength and resourcefullness, faced a truly unexpected, terrifying and DEADLY situation. Not unlike Alycia Barnett.>>

<< She reacted the way any capable, competent woman...MOTHER should have but were it not for a twist of fate and a situation she had NO knowledge of, even HER plan of action would not have been enough to save her or her daughter.>>

<< She didnt know that she was merely a circumstantial, minor player in a dark, tragic drama that was now well on its way to the 3rd and FINAL act.>>

<< Now stranded, she counts her blessings, holds on tightly to her daughter and waits for the police. She and Kylie survived and will recover, which is more than can be said for those who came before her or the ones to follow her.>>

<< one last view of Sharon and Kylie before we zoom away from them and follow along I-93, PASSING The Shape as he now drives in Sharon Kelly's vehicle.>>

<< It's not hard to guess where he's headed. >>

<< Back in Beacon Hill>>

<< It's now lunch hours at Hillcrest. Students are once again seen in the courtyard or commons areas. Those who have lunch/kitchen duty are in the kitchen hall. Some students will eat there, others opt to eat in their dorms, some dont bother with eating but prefer to socialize in various areas or study, and others still engage in games, activities and power exercises for fun and friendly competition.>>

<< Which of those options does Courtney Starr fit into? NONE. True to form, Courtney makes her own way, but today will be an especially eyebrow raising course of action she takes, and she won't be alone.>>

 

[Spellbinder]

Hillcrest- Stone gardens

<< at the back end of the mansion grounds, Courtney LAYS across a marble bench on her back.>>

<< She lays so still and straight like she was laid out in a COFFIN.>>

<< She stares up at the afternoon sky and sun, the clouds rolling along in the steady breeze. there's a few birds that can be heard amongst the lush leafy canopies provided by the large, massive trees that help to hide and nestle this posh place.>>

in my secret garden....i'm looking for the perfect flower

<< she closes her eyes and continues to breath slowly and deeply>>

<< images of herself, FREE of this disguise....this BONDAGE of "Courtney" flash in rapid succession in her mind>>

waiting for my finest hour

<<FLASH>>

<<she DREAMS of being a MODEL! of walking, strutting, spinning down the catwalk and even PIROUETTING at the basin of the catwalk to show off in the latest, most luxurious fashions from the most elite fashion houses. flash bulbs pop off , audiences cheer and clap.>>

.....

until my BROTHER comes, just like my mother and i don't want to acknowledge we FEAR but we do just the same, and KILLS my flower with a winter frost...just like he killed...

<<FLASH>>

<< the claps and cheers give way to SCREAMS and gurglings of the dead and dying. No more runway but instead a HOUSE on windmill pointe. BLAZE, a bloody, stabbed, twisted corpse; ALISON strangled, slashed throat, left dead on blood soaked sheets of a bad; HALEIGH neck broken, and twisted so her face is now looking BACKWARD instead of forward with eyes left OPEN and her body STUFFED into a closet; BRANDON stabbed in the chest, heart and back, left hanging upside down in a closet until his body falls on the floor at Alycia's feet.>>

is there no hope for me or my mother? which one of us is right? we've lived a LIE for so long that we dont even know each other or ourselves anymore. how do we know HE is even looking for us?

<< sighing with heavy meloncholy and keeping her eyes closed, a tear rolls down her cheek. this is all so OLD. so TIRESOME. so OPPRESSIVE.>>

<< Courtney...MORGAN along with Carole...KAREN didnt know that Alycia Barnett was dead, murdered by none other than The Shape...ADAM VICTOR. They also didnt know that he WAS coming for them and now FAR closer than they could possibly know.>>

<< No, Courtney doesnt know any of that. But what one doesnt know CAN hurt them.>>

<< At the moment though, Courtney, FED UP with everything and having been DENIED the chance to go to the Salem Witches Ball tonight, has decided she WILL go to Ava's private intimate party, but NOT without adding something to it.>>

<< To do that, she's going to have to do something VERY naughty and she wants her friends, ALL of whom are quite accustomed to sneaking around behind Dr. Starr and the faculty's backs like most young people in situations like this do, to join her on it.>>

<< they'll be surprised, but that doesnt matter to her.>>

<< She continues to lay there quite still,waiting for them. Just a little while ago, she had texted Delilah to meet her here and to tell Ava and Nicolas as well.>>

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas whistled softly.

Nice view.

He flirted harmlessly as he strolled up first. He'd made a point to get here before the others as he actually wanted to talk to the young witch. He came and stood near her as he spoke again.

On a serious note Courtney...I will tone it back for YOU and Ava and Dee. No one else. Not your Mom or my aunt. Not even myself because after here...lets just say I will be just fine. So...even though you can be scary as hell sometimes...I like you anyways. But be warned...our graduation...after I get my shit...will be legendary.

Nicolas gave a wink and took his messenger bag and sat it down. he then lay in the grass, his head on the bag, while he waited for Ava and Dee.

 

[MorningStar]

"Hey party people."

Delilah had made it a point to be upbeat - she didn't want Courtney to feel any weirder, knowing already that Delilah was concerned about her. She set down quite a large picnic basket.

"I brought sushi for everyone...[holds up her hands] Now don't ask me how I managed it, but you do know that I have my ways."

She smiled as she took a blanket out of the basket and laid it on the ground before plopping down herself.

"Nicolas - I'm surprised you're not under house arrest."

She chuckled, then turned to Courtney.

"How were classes this morning? Anything cool happen in Wagner's today?"

 

[Spellbinder]

Stone garden

<< a shadow cast over her. It was Nicolas. He'd been the first to reach the stone garden and find her laid out on the marble bench.>>

Nicolas whistled softly.

Nice view.

He flirted harmlessly as he strolled up first. He'd made a point to get here before the others as he actually wanted to talk to the young witch. He came and stood near her as he spoke again.

<< Courtney continued to lay, unmoving and not opening her eyes. If Nicolas wasnt pranking, or joking, or laughing, or playing around with Ava, he was flirting >>

<< Courtney and Nicolas had come a long way since his arrival to Hillcrest and subsequent taunting of Courtney, which ended the night she "dragged him to hell" and then Ava and Delilah stepped in to mediate peace between them.>>

On a serious note Courtney...I will tone it back for YOU and Ava and Dee. No one else. Not your Mom or my aunt. Not even myself because after here...lets just say I will be just fine. So...even though you can be scary as hell sometimes...I like you anyways. But be warned...our graduation...after I get my shit...will be legendary.

Nicolas gave a wink and took his messenger bag and sat it down. he then lay in the grass, his head on the bag, while he waited for Ava and Dee.

<< Courtney remained motionless with her eyes closed but she heard him. He was defiant as ever but he finally seemed to get a clue! he seemed to acknowledge and CARE about HER warning to him. That showed her she was right about giving him even an ounce of a chance and eventually, some trust.>>

<< her lush, sparkling glossed lips curled into a slight, BRIEF smile of sorts as she continued lay with her eyes closed while Nicolas settled on the grass, resting his head on his messenger bag.>>

<< soon, in a cold voice.>>

It's good to know you're not all looks, smart mouth and foolishness, Nicolas.

<< and she returned to her stonelike silence.>>

<< a short time later...>>

"Hey party people."

Delilah had made it a point to be upbeat - she didn't want Courtney to feel any weirder, knowing already that Delilah was concerned about her. She set down quite a large picnic basket.

You havent seen anything, Dee.

<< Courtney finally opened her violet eyes. This was her best friend here and Delilah always had a way of helping Courtney a little more warm and CONNECTED. Was it her light based powers? Courtney came to feel that it was Delilah's genuine nature rather than just her powers.>>

<< Sushi was especially one of Courtney's favorites and despite being known as a scarey [implied] 'witch from hell' , the girl was HUMAN and still had to eat >>

"Nicolas - I'm surprised you're not under house arrest."

She chuckled, then turned to Courtney.

"How were classes this morning? Anything cool happen in Wagner's today?"

<< turning over to lay on her stomach so she could reach down to the picnic area for a piece of sushi, Courtney replied>>

"Teleporting is art and to maximize the use of the space you want to move in, you must increase you're spatial awareness."

<< Courtney quoted with her best attempt at a german accent>>

Mr. Wagner sometimes has to have private tutoring sessions with me because "you're teleporting power is unlike any other student's in my class and your mother wants me to make sure you have a firm grasp of it and can use it as efficiently as possible in case of any emergency situation"

<< They might wonder what that last part means, but Courtney knows all too well.>>

<<sigh>>

Speaking of teleporting...thats one of the reasons why i wanted you all to meet me here this afternoon.

 

[Rampage]

The others showed up and Nicolas sat back, analyzing the dynamic and seeing Courtney open up a bit. His ego grew a size when she complimented his looks at it were, but there was no way he was risking his Ava for a shot at deflowering the hellspawn. Even if you win, most likely you lose.

He smiled at her terrible Germanic accent (though he was a fan of Wagner who referred to his great potential even though he had yet to do anything as impressive with teleportation as Courtney), and he was intrigued by her cryptic lead-in.

Spit it out Eastwick! You are teasing me with the cloak and dagger. You KNOW we are in, lets move to the plan...

 

[Persephone]

Ava was running late, mainly due to Ms. Monroe harping on her AGAIN. It was like, because they had similar powers, she always pushed Ava more than any other student. If she didn't complete something perfectly, she needed to practice more. If she did complete the task at hand, it could be done better. She understood Ms. Monroe wanting her to perfect her abilities, but sometimes it just really got under Ava's skin....it reminded her of her father always pushing her to be the "perfect daughter" and heir to the Cassadine name and fortune. It sucked.

So while the others ate some sushi and conversed, Ava arrived about 10 minutes later, walking up to the group without her usual smile on her face. In fact, she mirrored Courtney's usually bitchy expression.

"Sorry i'm late."

Throwing her bag down on the grass, Ava sat down and tucked her legs next to her, making sure her short skirt covered all important areas. Plucking a California roll from the container, she took a bite and looked at Courtney.

"So, whats up?"

Referring to why Courtney had summoned them all there.

 

[Spellbinder]

stone garden

<< Nicolas was ALWAYS quick with his witty nicknames he'd assign. HE was the only one among those three that was convinced she was in fact a WITCH on top of being a mutant, having had a glimpse of what he could only describe as "HELL" & her looking like a "demon queen". so NOW he called her "Eastwick" as he asked what was going on. Courtney's violet eyes ROLL at that moment and of course he was all smiles while Delilah groaned a bit.>>

<< Ava FINALLY arrives and joins them.>>

"So, whats up?"

<< Courtney reaches for a bottled water>>

Well...

I can't go to the Salem...

<< she caught her self as she was about to say "WITCHES Ball">>

that THING i was telling you & Dee about this morning.

Even if I snuck out and you two covered...IF by some crazy twist, The Warden found out, she'd go all apoplectic on my ass and SCRAMBLE my powers with her magick. Yours too, as punishment for covering for me.

<< like all the faculty at Hillcrest, Carole Starr was known to be a "super", and she was known to be a WITCH as well. One of the most powerfull witches any of the faculty had known or worked with, but SHE didnt have a connection to a demonic realm like her daughter. Like so many other things about their lives, Carole (moreso) & Courtney had decided to keep Courtney's magickal aspects a secret for fear that people would react badly to the nature of her mystical ability outside of her mutant teleporting power.>>

I've decided to go to Ava's little party instead. MOST of the Hillcrest student body and faculty going away for the weekend retreat, I wont have to be bothered with the wretched pinhead pompous.

The Warden will be preoccupied with Officer Armstrong tonight << rolling her eyes again>> so even Nicolas will be able to sneak over to the basement of the main hall for the party.


I figure if I'm going to attend this little gathering...It'll need something

<< her violet eyes sparkle with intrigue>>

EXTRA.

<< Courtney suddenly sits up, bring her legs down, planting her high heels down on the grass as she leaned forward>>

BOOZE.


Hurry up and funny lunch. We have somewhere to go and while my mother is busy, we have JUST enough time...so I'LL "drive."

<< That meant they were going to be taking a ride courtesy of one of Courtney's stepping discs. It was an intriguing, yet scarey thought for the other three. How were they getting where ever she was taking them? THAT part was clear. But how were they going to score alcohol?? Well apparently SHE had the solution to that too & that was one of the scarey aspects of this unexpected trip they were about to make. >>

 

[Persephone]

Just hearing the word booze, Ava was in.

"Thank GOD, I need a little liquid numbing after Monroe's cluster fuck of a class."

Ava stated with an annoyed tone to her voice. Grabbing her purse, Courtney suggested driving but the mutant knew her "driving" wasn't the normal kind. Standing up from the grass, Ava was a little nervous about this form of transportation, but she had always been curious about how it felt and looked like. So she was game.

"I'm done [with lunch]!"

She said with a grin.

"I can hopefully pick up the last few things I need for my costume. You're gonna love it."

Though she said the last part to everyone, it was moreso directed to Nicolas. Her eyes even shifting over to him with a mischievous glint to them.

"Lets go!"

 

[MorningStar]

Courtney's announcement felt a bit anticlimactic. Delilah had thought Courtney wanted to have a serious conversation with them, and it was in reality all about getting alcohol? Delilah had wanted to HELP her friend, not just help her self-medicate. Delilah didn't have a problem with drinking - she enjoyed it just as much as any other teen - but to Delilah it just wasn't that big of a deal. On the other hand something was wrong with Courtney and this seemed like a colossal waste of time.

Ava was all up for it, though. And Nicolas would go wherever Ava went. At least Delilah could keep an eye on Courtney while they shopped. So with a roll of her eyes she got up and prepared herself.

 

[Seer]

Afternoon lunch

<< Courtney is not the the only one making moves this afternoon.>>

<< Beacon Hill. A small, historic village in Boston, it's one of the most posh and secluded areas around.>>

<< And no better place to shope or dine can be found, than up and down Charles Street, in what would pass as the "downtown" area of Beacon Hill.>>

<< Charles Street is known for its pricey antique shops, enticing cafes and swanky clothing, accessory boutiques.>>

<< It's high noon this halloween and the village has certainly show its spirit with various decorations on street lamps and vendors decorating their shops.>>


<< settling on a central view of Charles Street, we see a sleek black Lexus SUV pulling up to a curbside parking spot.>>