ONE ([0.018]): Crossing the Line

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[CLICK]

[AS IT CLICKS ON, THERE IS THE SLOW FLIPS OF PAGES, AND BRYCE READING A EXCERPT OF "COTTON MINDS FOR SCATTERBRAINS: AMNESIA WAS HER NAME" VERY QUIETLY, BUT LOUD ENOUGH FOR SOMETHING TO DISCERN]

BRYCE

...Why even bother with this guy? He's just going to make me kill whoever Airy is. Airy's probably a normal guy, living alone. Bryce continued forth, his anger easing up on him. He turned around, seeing nothing behind him...

(whisper, concern) Okay, who wrote this book? Guy sure knows a lot about us; it's unnerving...

[THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR, BRYCE PUTS DOWN THE BOOK]

BRYCE

Come in.

[DOOR CLICKS, FOLLOWED BY CREAKING]

OWEN

Hey, uh, Bryce?

BRYCE

Hmh--What?

OWEN

Well, I--Okay, we need to do something about Liam.

BRYCE

Mhm, why do you suppose we do that? Did Liam do something?

OWEN

Bryce. Listen to me. You don't understand, but Liam's behaviour--have you even noticed?--he's been acting a little bit insecure and ecstatic since the ambush, and since then, he's been avoiding us! On top of it, when I tried to ask him what was going on, he said he was working on a "personal project" that he won't even share. To me, though, it sounds more than just a simple project. Something's wrong.

BRYCE

(normal, gradually getting more aggressive) Huh, no wonder Liam brought two giant stereos, an electric guitar connected to an amp, his laptop, and a microphone, then proceeded to blast My Chemical Romance's "I Don't Love You" song at full volume, at 3 in the morning; standing near my apartment!

[A BEAT.]

OWEN

(heuh?) ...What?

Bryce, this is serious.

BRYCE

Ah, sorry. Uuuuuuhhhh...

Well, I did notice that there were a few things missing, like my axe, map, and... my compass, I believe. I had a feeling one of you stole them, but I didn't expect Liam to- because he was—

OWEN

(stern) The axe.

BRYCE

Yeah, my axe. What about it?

OWEN

(concerned) Why do you have an axe in the first place?

BRYCE

Uhm, chopping wood?

OWEN

I–Nevermind. Why would he steal those items in the first place, anyways?

BRYCE

I dunno. Something tells me this is going too far, though.

OWEN

Mm... Have you seen Amelia and Charlotte? I haven't seen them since a couple of days ago.

BRYCE

Not a clue. I think they might know something about all this, because those things are way out there, and once they catch us, we're all lost.

OWEN

That sounds like a good plan.

BRYCE

Mm, you go ahead; I'll follow.

OWEN

Alright.

[OWEN'S FOOTSTEPS BECOME QUIET, A DOORKNOB CLICK, FOLLOWED BY CREAKING, THEN A THUD]

[A MOMENT OF SILENCE]

[CHAIR SCRAPS AND THERE IS SHUFFLING.]

[SUDDENLY VERY CLOSE INTERFACE AND FEEDBACK, AS IF BRYCE HAS FOUND THE TAPE RECORDER; US IN PARTICULAR]

BRYCE

What the? I don't remember putting you here.

Turn o—

[CLICK]

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