Narratives Delivered to You

TITLE:   Ghost
AUTHOR: Bertram Piper 
DRAFT DATE:25:05:24
CONTACT: [email protected]

INT. LIVING ROOM -NIGHT 

The LIVING ROOM stairs go to a dark landing with a disability stairlift attached to the railing and lit by only a yellow glow passing through the curtains. In the corner, the sofa and the TV have been moved aside to make room for a hospital bed. 

A boy, RIVEL about 15 standing at the end of the bed looking down with a soulless expression on his face tired from grieving.

A young man TOBY about 20, is lying on the bed paralysed with a slack jaw and limited function.

A car drives past the window only distinguishable by the light passing through the curtain and a low hum. The light flows over the room hitting RIVEL and then TOBY leaving them both in darkness. The only noise in the room is breathing and the ambience from the city in the distance. 

RIVEL
You alright Toby? 

RIVEL sat at the end of the bed. he looked down at the floor twiddling his fingers, and his right knee shook.

RIVEL (CONT'D)
(starting to drift his speech)
Ermm... Holly has been asking about you I told her you're doing well... and she might come see you soon I think.

Toby lets out a small moan. RIVEL looked up at TOBY but only glanced, and then RIVEL's eyes started to search. 

He looks up at the window sill and sees pictures of TOBY before he was paralysed the pictures of TOBY and his girlfriend, TOBY with his baseball team and TOBY with RIVEL. RIVEL's face began to screw up about to cry and he put his head in his hands.

About half a minute passes by and the room starts to get lighter RIVEL is oblivious to this as his head is still in his hands.

MUM
(ringing tone)
Dinners ready (V.O.)

INT. LIVING ROOM -DAY 

The LIVING ROOM is light and saturated. The room was clean, the sofa and TV were set up adjacent to where the hospital bed was and RIVEL was in the same place in the room just sitting on the sofa looking forward at the TV. There is a quiet muffled sound coming out of the TV like someone speaking. The room is a vibrant lime green. 

RIVEL looked up, still teary and now shocked he looked around in awe at where the sound had come from, the kitchen door, as it glowed with light. The room is a vibrant lime green. Some of the pictures on the bed window sill previously were framed on the wall with further pictures including graduation photos, baseball batting stills and medals he had won. 

TOBY
(playfully)
Last hit

TOBY now able bodied slapped RIVEl's face lightly and ran to the kitchen laughing. He had come from the right of RIVEL sitting next to him on the sofa. 

RIVEL bewildered again then began to smile and got up to chase TOBY into the kitchen.

The TV flickered on behind RIVEL.

TV PRESENTER (V.O.)
two teenagers have been involved in a serious...

Before the reporter finished speaking RIVEL closed the door behind him. 

INT. KITCHEN -DAY

The KITCHEN has a centre table with four seats. A light directly over the table is bright yellow. The kitchen counter is to the left and a back door is opposite the entrance from the living room. FATHER sat down adjacent to the entrance to the room. MOTHER looks over the cooking. A radio played an old jazz song on low volume becoming ambience, fading when TOBY speaks.   

MOTHER with her back turned as RIVEL enters the room, then sits down looking at TOBY, who is already seated and is sidesaddling the chair with his leg bouncing in anticipation. MOTHER turns with a roast and places it in the centre of the table. She was smiling at the two boys. TOBY jerked his body around to face MOTHER.

TOBY
(Urgently)
Has Rivel told you? 

MOTHER
(curious)
No, what did he do this time? 

TOBY
Rivel wet the bed.  

MOTHER
(alarmed)
Is this true Rivel?

TOBY started to pull faces trying not to laugh out loud behind MOTHER's back as MOTHER awaited attentively for Rivel's answer.

RIVEL
(breaking down into laughter looking)
Mum look at him he's taking the absolute piss.

MOTHER looks over at TOBY while he tries to put on a straight face. Then RIVEL and TOBY burst out laughing. 

The picture blurs from RIVEL's perspective and the warm lights glow. 

MOTHER
(her voice blurs into the background)
So toby how is...

RIVEL (V.O.)
I miss this, all of us together. 

TOBY (V.O.)
(in a stern articulate voice)
why have you given up? 

INT. KITCHEN -NIGHT 

The kitchen is dark and grey, the is light off. The chairs were empty except RIVEL sat down and TOBY stood up behind him looking down at him with white eyes and a rotted body. never showing TOBY's face just the torso. 

(SILENCE) 

TOBY
Have you forgotten, my younger brother? 

RIVEL grits his teeth.
 

RIVEL
What, It's not like I can even do anything about it... look what you've done. why would I want to remember? 

(SILENCE)

RIVEL (CONT'D)
I haven't talked to them in weeks
(looking over to the empty chairs where MOTHER and FATHER sat.)

(SILENCE)

RIVEL (CONT'D)
I haven’t even sat down to eat with them since Sunday. I come home to an empty house every single day.

TOBY
But...

RIVEL
 Every single day… It's exhausting coming home and seeing you. All twisted up and mangled it makes me sick... Mum and Dad still pretend... They've just buried themselves in work to avoid facing you. All they do is work and work and look after you!

(RIVEL turns around when he says "you" and TOBY is gone, just him alone in the kitchen) 

INT. LIVING ROOM -NIGHT 

RIVEL lowers his head, leaves the kitchen and walks over to the hospital bed which is completely shrouded in darkness. He stops suddenly and looks up a thud is heard near TOBY's bed. He sees and hears a baseball slowly rolling towards him and stops at his foot.

He stands there for a few seconds looking down at it. His tongue protrudes slightly over his teeth then he brings it back in and then reaches for the ball and pitches violently lifting his leg with proper form towards TOBY’S bed.

We see the ball travel through the air spinning surrounded by darkness.

EXT. FIELD -DAY 

Suddenly the ball is transported to a field with short-cut grass and a small baseball hitting post. The ball goes too high, missing TOBY completely. 

TOBY and RIVEL are playing a game of baseball. RIVEL is the pitcher and TOBY is the batter and he seems to be a little less rotted and still able-bodied. 

TOBY
(laughing taunting his brother smacking his bat on the ground several times in anticipation)
Never stopped throwing those meatballs I see. 

TOBY throws a ball to RIVEL. RIVEL sharply exhales while looking away then throws another pitch, it hits the ground visual frustration on RIVEL’S face 

TOBY (CONT'D)
(stern voice posed like a question)
Stop avoiding me, Rivel.

RIVEL breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth and tenses for a pitch, then pitches it. The pitch is perfect on centre at Toby.

RIVEL’s eyes meet TOBY’s just before the swing TOBY’s eyes are full of sad regret. RIVEL's face is shocked at the revelation.

A loud bang as the ball hits the bat, and the ball goes flying behind RIVEL. He starts to chase the ball, looking up at the ball. Just before it lands RIVEL falls over.

He looks up to see a circle of vibrant flowers. TOBY’s naked, skinny, and crippled body lay there in the middle with the ball in his hands wrapped closely to his chest. RIVEL stands up staring at the scene sobbing as TOBY approaches from behind him. 

TOBY (CONT'D)
(a sadness in his voice)
This is what I truly am now Rivel, look at it.

(SILENCE)

TOBY (CONT'D)
(he looks at himself on the ground as he grits his teeth in anger and sorrow)
The people I’ve met in my life Rivel... you, mum, dad, grandad, my girlfriend and my friends, even my teachers, all they will ever think of when they hear the name Toby is a tragedy an unfortunate circumstance. I'm so much more than this Rivel... All Im now is a fucking destroyed brain and a crippled body. That's all I'll ever have. 

Rivel looks up at his brother now face unrotted and pure. Then to Toby laying on the flowers. 

INT. LIVING ROOM -NIGHT 
 
RIVEL is kneeling in front of the window looking down at TOBY, there is a vase of wilted flowers on the windowsill. TOBY is asleep. 

RIVEL waits for 20 seconds heavy breathing. A car drives past the window flooding the room and leaving it dark again. 

RIVEL
I'm, sorry Toby... I'm so sorry, I didn't know...I didn't want to know.

Another car sweeps across the street flooding the room with light once more. 

RIVEL (CONT'D)
(monotone begging)
Forgive me, my brother I have failed...

Three more cars sweep the room with light and then pass. 

RIVEL (CONT'D)
(rising and falling in desperation)
 I left you here, alone... I ignored my own brother, And our family is devastated.

Toby's unfettered form standing up on the other side of the bed reaches for Rivel's chin and lifts his head to face each other. 

TOBY 
(raising his voice near the end enthusiastically)
Forgive... there is nothing to forgive Rivel. You grieved when no one else would, you remembered me, when there was no remanence of that person left. 

numerous cars pass the window lighting up the room passing over TOBY as RIVEl looks in awe. As the lights passed when a light would hit Toby he would be erased and reappear instantly when the light passed. the cars finally passed.  

RIVEL
Is this a dream or a vision?

TOBY
Neither... I live. 

TOBY held the hand of his lesser form. RIVEL fell to his knees.  

TOBY
(a stern but friendly voice)
Get up Rivel, I will not accept displays of humility from you, rise now. 

RIVEl slowly gets up to face TOBY. A car passes by and makes TOBY vanish in its light in front of RIVEL. 

RIVEL 
(frantic sobbing)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I almost lost everything, I did lose... everything...I lost you.

TOBY (CONT'D)  
(calmy and benevolently)
There is nothing to forgive. I just wish for you to live Rivel... Live without remorse for me. live without shame of me, live without grief, live without me. Live for me Rivel. 

A final car drove past and after the light had passed TOBY was gone. Only the TOBY in the bed and RIVEl remained. 

INT. LIVING ROOM -DAY 

The room is a more vibrant green and the hospital bed with TOBY lying in it is decorated with Bright fresh flowers. with the sofa neatly arranged adjacent to the bed. A soft silence no sound of cars or the city.

The pictures of Toby were adorned around the crest of the bed in an arch more pictures had been gathered not just the ones that previously decorated the window sill. They show TOBY's accomplishments and friends and family as well as his baseball photos. TOBY's baseball bat signed by his team rested against the bed. 

RIVEl came running in from the kitchen with some porridge and a plastic spoon. He sat down on the sofa next to TOBY

RIVEL
(jokingly)
I hope you like it, I've never been the best chief, that was always your job.

TOBY lay there looking at RIVEL with his eyes while remaining still. RIVEL picked up the spoon with some porridge on it and invited it towards TOBY. TOBY's head started to wobble left to right a little then his jaw went slack and RIVEL pushed the food. 

TOBY began to move his cheeks as a little bit of the porridge got out and dribbled down his face and RIVEL let out a little laugh. 

RIVEL (CONT'D)
(laughing)
whats happened here then?

RIVEL rested his face then patiently moved his hand towards TOBY's face, he wiped the porridge off his face gently. He rested back on the sofa and sighed. He checked his phone and then turned to TOBY. 

  RIVEL (CONT'D)
yo just give me a minute rivel I just need to go to the toilet.

RIVEL walks off the scene and upstairs while Toby lies there patiently looking at the flowers. 

INT. LIVING ROOM STAIRS -DAY 

RIVEL is walking down the stairs and a thud is heard in the living room he rushes down. He swivelled his head towards TOBY's bed. MOTHER and FATHER were stood over TOBY's bed.

MOTHER has dropped her bags and is on her knees and Father is covering his face with his hands. She begins to sob into her hands. 

RIVEL frozen at the bottom of the stairs walks towards them. MOTHER turns after hearing the sound of RIVEL's footsteps then rushes and embraces him sobbing.

MOTHER
Did you do this... It's beautiful Rivel... Thank you. 

MOTHER turns and looks back at the bed with RIVEL. FATHER is kneeling in a praying pose next to TOBY holding his hand. 

MOTHER (CONT'D)
(tearing up)
Thank you, Rivel, thank you, It's what he would have wanted.

shows indistinct chatter of the family then fades to black. 

 

INT. LIVING ROOM -NIGHT

while showing TOBY resting and the rest of the family asleep on the sofa next to him. A lone tear leaves his face and then he starts to smile as it touches his lip. we are shown his arm and his hand as he grips tightly on a baseball. 

Evisceration

Day 1 “This is BBC News at six o'clock. This is Annie McKie. Good Morning. Police in theNottingham area are searching for suspects in an ongoing investigation into the disturbingclaims of people waking up without their eyes.” “What the fuck, you seeing this!” said Jamie putting his breakfast down on the floor spilling some of the milk in the process. The TV turned to black as Nathan entered the room remote in hand. “Listen, stop listening to bollocks, you need to focus, you've literally got your first practical today and you cant fuck this, first impressions matter.” “But.” stuttered Jamie. “But what, go on.” “Never mind.” Jamie picked up his bag and left for university.” Entering the room Jamie realised something was off, all the students watched attentively forward. As he seated himself he found their source of intrigue. The teacher Mr Becket frantically searches every drawer and closes every blind in the classroomkeepinghiseyes closed in the process knocking over glasses and books alike. As soon as he hadfinished he sat prying open his eye lids. They scanned the pupils for hostiles. Then asighof relief passed over him. He stood demanding the attention of everyone who bare witness. “Everyone it's with a heavy heart i say this but you can no longer claimignoranceasanexcuse. We are all in danger…” “That’s enough Becket.” said the Dean accompanied by security. 6 “I’ll come with you but just know this shut your doors close your windows or youwill regret it to the day you die.” he said calmly then with no sense of urgency collected histhings and left. The Dean scanned the class as security escorted Mr Becket out then stood to attention. “If you have any more classes today with teachers aside from Mr Becket attendthem; if not you are permitted to leave. Do not I repeat do not disturb the other classes on your wayout.” she stated. “But miss what is Mr Becket on about.” exclaimed a student standing up. “Mr Becket has recently lost his wife and is just not in the right place right nowfor teaching that is I’m sure he will be back in a day or two so rest assured you will be abletoresume your practical at a later date, and I’ll hear no more of this.” “But.” She glared at him, he wavered then sat down.

Day 2 “This is BBC News at six o'clock. This is Annie McKie. Good Evening. Police in theNottingham area are still searching for suspects the ongoing investigation of com-firmedcases of people waking up without their eyes.” “They are taking the absolute piss at this point.” said Jamie pointing at the TV. “what are you yapping about.” shouted Nathan from the kitchen. “Just that eye thing on the news its actually fucked.” “oh...I heard about that a work today, thingy told me someone he knew someonewokeup without his eyes.” 7 “What Sam.” “yeah.” “Oh come don’t on take the michel hes always been full of shit.” “I know, I know but honestly he seemed genuinely disturbed like I feel bad for theguyif hes telling the truth.” Nathan paused “he said it was his uncle or something.” “He’s done you there absolutely done you, he always lying about something to bethecentre of a attention.” laughing then looking across into the kitchen seeing Nathan infront of the stove frozen. “well I believe him to an extent, always a grain with Sam even when hes telling thetruth, but the thing that go me is that he said his uncle didn’t even realise that it had happenedtohim..shits kinda real, there's loads of stuff on insta about it too so I just prayer that it don’t happen to me I need my eyes without them I think I would just kill myself its just not alifeworth living if I cant experience the world around me.” “shut up you were calling it nonsense yesterday now your deeping it its probs just somebollocks just like you said.” said Jamie interrupting him. Nathan was thawed from his thought and grabbed the fish he had been frying andtookat seat next to Jamie. The void in Nathans eyes reflected the fish he was probing ontheplate. Seeing this Jamie looked frantically around and spoke “listen just chill there's noneedto get worked up about this rubbish even if it is true the probability of it happening toyouislike one-million to one.” “OK OK ill leave it” Nathan sawed the head of his sardine but in the process theeyepopped out like a cork. He regurgitated the plate away from him and just left the roomleaving Jamie with his jaw slacked.

Day 3 8 “This is BBC News at six o'clock. This is Daren White unfortunately Annie Mckiehastaken ill so I will be covering this morning segment.” he paused a moment in thought afacegrim with concern. “To our on going story in Nottingham” He paused again. The TV went dark as Jamie agitated and leg twitching slammed the remote down. Hewas alone this morning; since last nights argument. The silence was deafening, until heheard something, a low its origin was not human. Jamie’s head perked alerted listeningandtilting his head like a dog. It was coming from outside. He held his hand on the back door likea trigger and fired. The muffled cry grew louder a moan for help unimpeded by the wallsof the house. He scanned his surrounding for the source of the sound. But nothing. Heedgedaround the side of the house and the bin bag laying next to the green bin began to move. Assuming it was rats again he sighed and turned back when all of a sudden the moangrewpainful and sounded like a cat in heat. “Wtf is that.” he muttered. He grabbed a stick laying near the bag and pierced it. something grabbed onto the stick and he flinched letting it drop to the ground. Asmall pawemerged from the darkness and he relaxed. Bending over he tutted and reached in feelingthe frail body of the kitten inside pulling it out and holding it up to his face. “what happenedtoyou, why...” The sheer uncompromising horror in front of him shook him to the core. Thekitten starred back at him with empty socket. He instinctual dropped the creature. Theanimal landed head first as Jamie stuttered backwards unable to comprehend what he just didandsaw. It started to twitch on the floor gurgling on its own brain fluid.

Day 4 Jamie sat in silence again the black reflection of the TV his only company. His eyessad. Nathan like a torch lit up the room with sound. Then pausing after the discovery of Jamie’sstate. “you alright bro?” said Nathan concerning. But Jamie sat dormant. “Hello” he statedagain. Jamie looked up at him and grunted and reassuring nod. Jamie looked over at theclock on the wall and picked up his bag and left. 9 Jamie entered the classroom once again turning his head to great the placement teacher but instead Mr Becket gleamed back at him wearing sunglasses. Jamie sat downinsilence with the rest of the students. “I guess you wonder why I’m back so early.” Stated Mr Becket to the silent room. Well I’ll tell you, as I am sure you all know my wife died recently and I’msupposedtohave time off...how long did they say again two weeks well I said screw that my studentshave a practical today and I will not miss that for the world.” He paused awaiting a responsefrom them. “But sir there is no need your wife should take priority.” Said a student hesitantly. A member of faculty walked passed the door double taking and then turning her headand running away alarmed. “Exactly, did they tell you what happened to her?” He paused. “Well I will tell youshewas sick in the head, I woke up one morning and I came downstairs to hear my wifeknocking things over and stumbling around. She looked at me with no eyes. As you all knowthis is still happening. Grief time, I started grieving that day, that was two months agoshewasn’t my wife anymore. After that day she was something else she couldn’t even acknowledge her own ailment. She lived in bliss it felt like she was someone else it wasn’t the woman I married an impostor in my own home. So your still wondering howshe died.” The classroom horrified Jamie’s eyes widened with each waking work. suddenly thedoor slammed open as security and the dean stormed in. “Well I killed her I strangled her in her sleep I couldn’t even tell anymore she might havebeen awake in her last moment.” he started to strain his calm determiner and his facebeginto twitch. He was shocked when he was grabbed by security as if he hadn’t seen themgrabhim and began to struggle. “Now I understand her this is the happiest I’ve ever beenwhy 10 would I waste my time at home I’m not alone anymore I’m still with her I can still seethroughher she was just waiting for me to join her!” he started to break down and laugh as his sunglasses flew off in the doorway as they struggled to get him through. Two eyes socketssmiling back into the classroom.

Day 5 It was a dark night no one had left the house too afraid to leave. Jamie heard somethingoutside his window. Galloping downwards towards the front door. He crashed clinchinghisshoulder to the door pushing the handle down surgically like trying to retrieve cheesefromamouse trap. Eyes bulged as he felt no resistance of a lock and hastily pushed the handleupreaching around and turning the lock as he fell against the door in relief. Finally pusheddown on the handle again after he met resistance and continued to the kitchen. Turning he faced it, the relief instantly drained from his face the instrument of his torment looked back at him; a three panned blackness. The void above the kitchen sink. Thegaze held with the window froze him, holding him tight, choking his thoughts. A greater evil loomed, a greater threat to his safety. Sprinting past the window he made it to the next door fumbling for a guiding light, for a phone. Blinding him the device lit up and he scrambledfinally the torch shone away from him. Breathing in and out placing his hand upon the door bracing for impact. He blinkedslowly then rushed in his hand like a gun sweeping the room with light. The darkness behindthe door still unchecked by human eyes he slammed the door leaving himvulnerablepreytowhatever festered inside this living room. He smashed his fist backwards slamming onthelight switch. The explosion of light flooded the room. It was clear. His attention burnedtowards the door to the outside world, a pure and primal horror, the disturbing darkness, something that couldn’t be vanquished by his means alone. Arising his hand like an executioner’s sword he smacked down on the handle. He had been blessed as he hadmet resistance. 11 Time had passed since the defence of the house. Now washing the dishes comfortablyill aware of the terror of the outside as he had drawn the blinds. ‘Could you grab my glassesI can’t see, I left on the window, could you grab them’ A voice bellowed from upstairs. ‘Yeah, I got you’ He countered, turning away while drawing the blind up as the coiled around thetopof the window. ‘What you doing later, wanna go get some scran’ He continued facing away from the window. There was no response back. He shrugged, turning back towards the newly open void. The window was the only thing that separated him from the abomination behindit; hundreds of bloodshot eyes connected like a molecular structure spread across the windowlike a net. All of the eyes focused on him. 

Final journey 

Raw night sky, cleared circle vision
Black forest floor, a worlds fission 
Ancient monolith, violet idiom glimmer 
Blinded eyes stare, sound grew dimmer 

Stoic minds shake, teeth jumping 
Packed perimeter, consumers clumping
Climax reached, barrier shatters 
Time preserved, moment to matter 

ponder before, worthless latitude 
Dead in my arms, bairn glued 
Iminidate case, jammed sense 
Army of teeth, a wall dense 

Mind diverted, downward streamed     
Eyes converge, steel gleamed
Griping hungry, pointed ambition
Hopeless prospect, human condition

One foot now, more than enough 
Hopefully, they can't call my bluff
Life is short, not futile 
Sorry soul, my last mile

No sleep

In a state breathing 
Whether dark or blazing 
awoke reality teething
When awake dream’s life hazing

Just birthed another fades away 
His life hope or abhorrence
Either attention they weigh
Stolen without accordance 

Age bleeds into the next 
Should abstain chance of Zion
Feeting form mind never annexed 
Eternal destination forever Orion 

melted day break beacons 
Out of regulation failure 
Anatomy crumbles weakens 
Void presents jailer 

Apologise perhaps tomorrow 
Idea flooded genius 
Incantations seen borrowed 
Complex unbroken betweenness 

This life endemic 
Existence participant or aperture 
Picture teratogenic
Born again amateur

Cycle

INT. A WHITE VOID

Jacob rises from the floor stuck in motion with a cut on his stomach that isn't bleeding. But the cut is fatal if it were to bleed Jacob wakes from this frozen state and his eyes bulge and begins to scream until he grabs his stomach and looks around at his surroundings

JACOB

Where am I? What is this place? Who am...

A colossal golden iris eye with 7 wings on each side of it rises into the distant void creating a massive gust of wind and reaching Jacob as he strains to turn to see it. Finally, it reaches a height just hovering above the void scanning the area locks onto Jacob as its iris turns white. Jacob drops to his knees in awe of the creature.

ENTITY

(speaking in a voice neither female nor male almost alternating between the two)

Why do you think you are here? What do you remember?

Jacob has a blank stair ignoring the Entity's words

ENTITY

Don't ignore me mortal

(with a booming voice)

Jacob composing himself standing up trembling

JACOB

Could you plea...

ENTITY

Let me rephrase the question, who are you?

JACOB

I am...my name is...

Jacob's confusion scared him until his eyes lit up

JACOB

My name is...Jacob

ENTITY

Very good Jacob or Ya'aqovis a very fitting name for a mortal in your position.

2.

JACOB

Why am I here, where have I just come from

ENTITY

Look down Jacob, look at your body

Jacob looks down at his stomach and feels the wound in panic as he begins to cry

JACOB

(sobbing)

What happened to me? Am I dead?

ENTITY

(almost breaking character about to laugh as the last words contain malicious intentions)

You have died Jacob you are not in the mortal realm anymore you have transcended

JACOB

(shouting in desperation)

Oh god oh god, what the fuck...how did it happen, how did I die is my family ok, my daughter, my wife, where are they!

ENTITY

You were murdered Jacob, killed by a man called Easu Richards but that is irrelevant now. I'm sure that name means nothing to you because he did it indiscriminately he didn't know you, simply because you were in the wrong place at the right time he killed you for his God. He killed many others but your wife and daughter managed to escape thanks to your sacrifice.

JACOB

Thank God.

Jacob released his breath in relief after hearing that message

3.

ENTITY

It's ironic you would thank a God who sent you to your death and departed you from your daughter from everything and everyone you have ever known or ever would have known.

JACOB

It doesn't matter now I can only be grateful for what happened, not what didn't happen.

ENTITY

Do you know what will happen to you now? Jacob.

JACOB

I imagine I will be sent to heaven or hell and you will be the one to judge me that's what the bible says anyways.

ENTITY

(a demeaning laugh)

Hahaha...how could you ev? Never mind, I wonder where you got that idea from Jacob. Truly an interesting idea you humour me more than anything your ignorance is terrifying.

The Entity's iris flashes dark blue as the void is filled with rays of golden light.

ENTITY

Jacob, you need to understand I'm here to judge you. Well that's not entirely true I'm here to judge a copy of you, see when you died I needed a version of your consciousness to judge as your physical original is still down on earth awaiting the verdict. Soon your physical body will pass on completely and so shall you.

JACOB

What no that's...impossible I am me I am here right now I'm alive...How can I not be Jacob?

4.

ENTITY

Do you remember your daughter's name

JACOB

Yes her name is Dal...her name is Da...

ENTITY

Exactly you are a shell of the man you represent simply a consciousness with implanted situational memories of a life you never lived

Jacob starts to have a panic attack moving frantically around and breathing heavily

ENTITY

I created you, I also created Jacob but neither of you will be going anywhere both of you will die. See it's cut and paste not copy and paste.

Jacob's cut begins to burst open Jacob clenches his stomach

ENTITY

Your full consciousness down on earth will be copied and transported to eternal bliss or eternal nothingness.

Jacobs gives a look of confused horror

JACOB

(struggling to say it)

But that's abhorrent if what you say is true then the new copy of myself will have no idea why they are suffering nor have they earnt nor deserved the situation they find themselves in.

ENTITY

So now you speak why would you care for someone when you are about to die it's not like you going up there why should you care?

Jacob falls to his knees the blood creating a puddle on the floor

5.

JACOB

because even if I myself am artificial in nature, I was still born...

ENTITY

You get it now don't you the struggles and hardships you face now to the ones you faced when you were alive all were chosen regardless of your character. What I'm doing is giving you a chance to change that, to give you a life that is solely based on your qualities alone.

Jacob falls to the ground looking up at the Entity

JACOB

Then I choose to die here and that be final. I pray for you to find another form of salvation there must be another way besides eternal suffering or bliss to...

Jacob coughs up blood as the blood from his stomach overlaps the blood he coughed out as his head drops into the layer of blood

JACOB

I hope you change your mind I don't think we are perfect or irredeemable. Maybe one day you will understand that every human dream, every sad and happy moment makes us who we are and without them how can it be a fair representation of ourselves surely a power full being such as thee should understand this more than anyone. When we die we should remain dead as if life was endless it would be pointless, not only that but if we aren't even the same person who lived those lives then it would only be an illusion of memories and a false life. even if life is only for a short time its finite nature makes it precious at least to me anyway...

Jacob stops struggling and dies from bleeding out and his body rapidly decays

6.

ENTITY

Jacob...Jacob! Don't you die on me now after saying all that, I have so many things I want to tell you so many things you deserved to know

The Entity falls backwards through the void vanishing from the void as the bodies also leave with it leaving it empty again then a man holding a knife emerges from the void frozen like Jacob was with a gunshot through his head.

Fin

 

I LEFT MY HOME

INT. WOODEN INTERIOR WITH TABLE CENTRAL TO THE ROOM WITH 6 CHAIRS AROUND IT WITH 2 ON EACH SIDE WITH 1 AT EACH END. A WINDOW BEHIND THE HEAD OF THE TABLE WITH A DOOR ON THE RIGHT. - DAY

kitchen table, THE FAMILY SAT AROUND THE TABLE EATING. FATHER AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE the WINDOW WITH SUNLIGHT SHINNING THROUGH ONTO HIS BACK THE MOTHER TO THE LEFT OF HIM WITH THE DAUGHTER SAT NEXT TO HER AND THE OLDEST ON HIS RIGHT WITH A BABY NEXT TO HIM AND FACING OPSITE THE FATHER AT THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE IS THE MIDDLE CHILD.

FATHER-ISSAC

MOTHER-REBECCA

OLDEST-ESAU

MIDDLE-JACOB

DAUGHTER-KARLA

YOUNGEST-DELPHINE

Father-ISSAC

What a lovely meal your mother has prepared its not just any day we get to enjoy such a luxury

MOTHER-REBECCA

Make sure you eat up, it all it took me all day to cook

MIDDLE-JACOB

So what's the occasion we never have meat

DAUGHTER-KARLA

shut up Jacob always asking questions just enjoy it

OLDEST-ESAU glances at Jacob and then his father and droops his head with a face of pure hopelessness

MotHER-REBECCA noticing Esau's reaction

MOTHER-REBECCA

You two cut it out your father has something to tell you

2.

Father-Isaac waiting on edge with his leg bouncing up and down and his hand clenching his knife, pushed out of his tense trance by Rebecca's words glances nervously at everyone and clears his throat everyone is silent waiting for his words

FATHER-ISSAC

Well...everyone

(nervously)

Father-Issac his eyes light up as he looks at his wife shaking his head slightly

FATHER-ISSAC

I and your mother have been thinking I think it's about time... it's about time we say grace for this meal that god has given us

MotHER-REBECCA gives a concerned look at Issac but after looking at each other for a glance she understood and puts her on his hand therefore allowing him to loosen his grip on the knife and drop it and join her as they all join hands

MIDDLE-JACOB

But we never...

MotHER-REBECCA glares at him

FATHER-ISSAC

(confidently)

We join hands together to celebrate the gifts that Mabuka has bestowed on too us and allow us to accept this divine blessing of another creature of her creation that has been bestowed for our consumption and may

Father-ISSAC looking around at his family with their eyes closed and a tear forms in his eye

FATHER-ISSAC

May my...family be safe with or without my guidance

MidDLE-JACOB opens his eyes following his father's last words with looking at his father with worry on his face as he looks at him his father quickly shuts his eyes squeezing his hand and his eyes as he realises his mother and Esau are also sincere in their prayer consumed with sadness

 

 park

She woke up and checked her phone, already engaged before the thought stuck. Panic and fear injected into the mind. She had missed her lecture again, it was for nine thirty and it was three in the afternoon. There was a passive urgency that she had to go to at least one by the end of the week, if not she would be subjected to failing her course as she had no prior information for the essay that was due next week. But that was next week she still had time. She was on her phone doing fuck all and watching random content on the apps she had installed to pass spare time, but this wasnt spare time. These little justifications had what had led to this in the first place. Later she had gathered the motivation to get up and turn on her PC. she called her friends on an app on the computer but there was no answer. How much time had passed? It was one AM. What the hell, where did the time go? I swear she was just on her phone no wonder no one was picking up. They had gone to bed hours ago. She justified an hour of gaming as then she would be able to go to bed and still be able to get up for a lecture tomorrow; that was the plan at least. Four hours later the enjoyment had greatly decreased throughout but she kept grinding on as the night burned on. She was trying to catch up on the time she had lost during the day. Finally she crashed at six AM. She envisioned hope of a more productive day and set an alarm. Deep down she knew it was futile.

I was in an open back campervan, some sort of safari of thought. My little brother was sitting next to me with a smile of permanent enjoyment plastered on his face, so I was happy to be there for his sake at least. I love my brother. He's so free and full of life, I hope he doesn't aspire to be like me for god sake. To be honest i wish i had the same innocence and optimistic outlook on life that he had then i wouldn't be so fucking miserable and out of control. The car pulled up along an open lake with a stone barricade around it shadows in the clear water below me. My brother stood up to get a better look. The shapes started to materialise. In front of me there was a sprawled mess of crocodiles each spread out from each other. There must have been at least twenty in there. But there was something wrong. These crocodiles are massive. Their size surely rivals if not outright dwarfs prehistoric alterations of the same species. There again I was struck with confusion as the position and size of the reptiles seem to fluctuate rapidly in front of me seamlessly. My brother was indifferent to this change. All I could do was stand on the back of the truck, totally awestruck at the absurdity of the spectacle. I lost my balance as the truck jolted forward and fell.

I woke up to my brother's face bombarding my vision. Sitting up I surveyed the surroundings. We appeared to be in some sort of courtyard of a visitor centre. I assumed it was a part of the crocodile exhibit. The courtyard endless in its eco-friendly recycled wood and stone, almost an ​​amalgamation of every single park, nature reserve and visitor centre I had ever been to. Something caught my eye but still couldn't find its source. My brother looked down at me on the floor and raised his index finger to his lips, almost a psychotic look in his eye. He pointed towards the back of the courtyard parallel to us. But there was nothing there but one tree with a wooden fence around it and a lampost seamily out of place. The lamppost towered aggressively over the rest of the courtyard. 

The coal shaded behemoth suddenly attracted my attention for no discernible reason. This must have been what my brother was on about, but I still couldn't make sense of it. There was nothing there. A drumming tension seemed to build as I looked at my brother's intense fixation of the object. His eyes stagnant in its excitement like he was frozen in time. Panic started to flood my mind as I hesitantly then rapidly started to switch between the mundane enigma that was the lamp and my brother's sniper-like fixation on it. Suddenly there was an eruption of motion as my brother's eyes began to bulge and expand. In one swift motion my eyes snapped onto the target. My astonishment as I felt an intense moment of anticipation as if I was waiting for a trigger to be pulled. My eyes zoomed in unnaturally on the lamp as if I was watching through the window of a toy carousel. It felt like a repeating picture; it could almost be compared to stopmotion. Exploding gracefully out of the lamp, a dog. A doberman I concluded but it was out of proportion; its torso and front legs seemed to emerge from the lamp but there was nothing to the other side of the lamp, a paradox to its own existence. Frying my brain the dog continued to emerge but its hind legs never revealed themselves as his torso extended beyond the physical realm. The sausage dog monstrosity halted in its motion. It was about half way across on its journey to the tree from the lamp. Its head swung round to face us. 

Its eyes collided with mine. My fear was hypnotised by this thing, its very existence evaded reason and physical laws. As its gaze penetrated my soul, I felt a sense of tranquillity as the being had transcended every value I held dear, as my inferiority made me feel safe and insignificant to this dog, like a human looking upon an ant. It was looking straight through me. The beings face had begun to deform, from the brown patches that adorned the dog prior had been replaced with a full black coating. Aswell as the flopping of the ears and the nose began to contort and fight itself. Its true vision realised it had turned into a panther. The thing smiled at me before running just behind the tree, its torso extending across but still no end. I turned to face my brother, the control the beast had over me vanishing with its head. He was bleeding. Out his eyes, ears, and nose. I was in shock as he was frozen if not just for a second completely still. Then his whole face lit up red as blood trickled from every pore in his body. I wanted it to stop but I was powerless. He fell and grabbed his body before impact; I turned and surveyed the area in panic. The creature was gone. I buried my head in his neck trying to comfort him as well as myself. For once there was complete darkness which there was comfort intertwined within as it was an escape from the mess of the outside. I couldn’t fathom why this was happening to me; I was simply unable to change a single thing.

The darkness dissipated as if I blinked my eyes. I was no longer in the courtyard, sprawling grass fields appeared in front of me with razor wire around, a farm I thought until my eyes laid on the inhabitants of the field. Arenysaurus about thirty or thirty five of them sprawled out throughout the grassy plain. The peaceful leviathan seemed to have vibrant patches engraved into their skin. Azure, amethyst, Lime, and scarlets. Their natural vivid patches resemble decals. An uncanny resemblance of the commodity skins I use in the games I play. This biological web of patterns were different from each other but indifferent to the animal as a whole as they covered only half of the neck, central body and tail. These biological canvases peer up from their grazing to look upon me. The closest red engraved lizard comes up to greet me peering down at me. It locked eyes with me showing a deep hatred through its eyes a complex emotion. More of a sorrow, some sort of yearning. It turned its side to face me. The dotted pattern filled with black, red, and white stared back at me. Around the canvas of the pattern there were stitches, it could be suggested that they were unnatural and grafted onto the animal. The stitches started to bleed, bubbling red cells kickstarted the beast as it moaned in pain. It heaved in agony then froze like my brother before it and dropped dead. 

I stood there for some time. Drifting in and out of consciousness as I was about to flatline again, I heard a voice. I couldn't find the source of the voice. It seemed to be projected straight into my head. Flicking my head around, and  behind me there was a black grocery shop of some kind. The charcoal panels drew me into its white gleaming sign overhead. Furthermore my head drew down to the glass plane walls near the entrance and standing behind a counter was a man. Beaming in my direction the voice must have been from him.