Episode Three: Gene and Jean Tiba-Don’t
Nauseous and amped up in power, everyone argues about who gave them their powers back. The Thibodeau's plan for a date night.
CW: Mentions of death (and actual death), harsh language (cursing), alcohol/drugs, angst, blood
Author’s notes: My rewrite of TUA season 4! I’ve added my OC’s for fun but the main focus is the siblings. I’ve also brought Fei back because…I like her. She’s my favorite character.
Click here for more links to see the OC’s mentioned!
February 19th, 2028. 6:54 am
The day for the siblings starts like any other.
Luther and Mallie wake up, prepare breakfast for their kids. They eat and send the kids off to school. Luther kisses Mallie’s cheek and heads off to work.
Diego is patrolling the streets in his cop car, keeping an eye for any criminals that could be lurking around. Lila and the kids stayed at her parents house. She’s still sleeping soundly.
Allison is putting on makeup while Claire is making her lunch for school.
Klaus walks upstairs with Beatriz with Heidi, their young daughter. He says good morning to Claire.
Five is sitting in his office at the CIA. He’s typing away on his computer. His mind isn’t focused on his work, though. He’s wondering what to do with the marigold. He never took the container out of the original bag, yesterday was too tiring.
Jackson decided to let the kids stay home from school. The oldest is sleeping in while the younger two are playing with dolls in front of Jackson.
Ben is lying in bed, smiling to himself. He felt warm last night. He’s getting his power back…he just doesn’t know when.
Viktor and Bella are in the room next door, packing their bags. They talk about plans for the bar, what to do next.
Theon lies in bed with Oscar, sleeping soundly. Emme is sitting in her room, scrolling through her phone. Fei is at the gym, working out.
The families go through their day as normal.
But one by one…they start to feel…off.
Luther rubs the back of his neck. He turns to his coworker.
Luther: Hey, Mike…my muscles are feeling really...tight. For some reason. Like they’re all contracting.
Mike: Weird. Maybe it was the anti-grav training the other day?
Luther: Maybe…I had a long car ride yesterday, could be that…
He picks up a pencil and goes to write something down. The pencil immediately snapped in half.
Luther: What the?
He picks up another. The same thing happens.
Mike: Luther, quit breaking pencils!
Luther: Uh…yeah. Y’know…I’ll be right back.
He stands up and opens the door, ripping the door handle off. He stares at it in confusion. His coworker stares at him. Luther looks back at him and chuckles awkwardly.
Luther: This door…I-It’s really old.
He quickly walks off. He goes out to his car and opens the door, ripping the door off of its handle. He looks back at it and drops it. He gets into the car, weighing it down. He drives off.
Bicycle Race by Queen begins to play
Diego is driving in his cop car. He sees a young man in a mask run past an older woman and rip the purse out of her hand, running off with it. He turns on the sirens and gets out of his car. He begins running after the criminal. As he’s running, he begins to slow down a bit…but he then picks up a second wind. He runs even faster. He weaves in and out of the crowd. He picks up a banana off of a market shelf outside, quickly turning onto the street to avoid the car. He starts running on top of the cars and when he gets to the end of the street, he backflips off and throws the banana perfectly under the criminal's feet. The criminal slips and drops everything. Diego looks at him in amazement. He goes over to the criminal and puts him in handcuffs. He places him into the cop car and closes the door. He pumps his fist and starts celebrating. Can he get any cooler?
Allison is at the recording studio for a new commercial. The director keeps yelling “cut!”, which is annoying Allison. Eventually she glares at him, her eyes turning yellow. She looks into his eyes and says:
Allison: Goddamnit, I got it right on the first take!
The director stares blankly at her and sets down his megaphone. He nods slowly.
Director: Yes, Ms. Chesnut…you got it on the first take.
Allison looks confused. She looks around and notices everyone staring at her. She quickly grabs her things and leaves.
Klaus and Beatriz are taking a walk, Klaus pushing Heidi’s stroller. Beatriz trips onto the concrete. Klaus helps her up.
Klaus: A-Are you okay? Nasty spill, you’re bleeding! Oh god, and the floor is so dirty, it’ll..get all infected and stuff.
Beatriz:…What? I…I can’t feel anything..
Klaus: You’re..moving, though..
Beatriz: No, I can’t..I didn’t feel any pain.
Klaus:…Oh. Um…maybe we should turn back…cause that’s not good.
They immediately turn around and start walking home.
Five is sitting in his boss’ office, getting reprimanded for his constant investigation of The Keepers. Someone calls for his boss and Five watches him leave. He sighs and goes to get up…but he instead blinks away. He quickly spins around and notices he’s in a train station. He looks down at his hands and focuses on them. They started to glow blue. He’s taken aback and stumbles, teleporting back into the chair he was sitting in, back in his boss’ office.
Ben is in his room still. He’s drawing a familiar portrait. He feels something come out of his back and hears it flop onto the floor. He turns around and looks down, noticing a limp tentacle. He smiles and stands up. He takes off his shirt and summons more tentacles. They aren’t as controllable as they were…but that’ll change with training. He dances out of celebration…but then he vomits on the ground. Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea.
Viktor and Bella are in the car, driving back to Canada. Someone suddenly swerves in front of them, causing Viktor to slam on the brakes and swerve, slamming into the guardrail. Viktor checks on Bella, who’s Fine. He gets out of the car and walks up to the car who swerved in front him, now pulled over onto the shoulder. He bangs on the window.
Viktor: HEY! Roll down the window, asshole!
The lady rolls down the window.
Lady: You’re gonna pay for all of this! You wouldn’t let me pass!
Viktor: I was going the speed limit, I’m not obligated to let you in! You can’t swerve in front of someone like that! Damnit, I’m hours away from home! I can’t drive with this, my cars totaled! What the fuck is your problem?!
Viktor’s eyes glowed a bright white and his chest glowed blue. The light poles near them began to bend down, the bulbs inside popping. Bella gets out of the car.
Bella: Viktor, stop! Look!
Viktor looks around and notices. This happened before, when he first discovered his powers…he looks back at the lady in the car, who looks terrified. He quickly gets back into his car and turns it on. Bella gets in next to him. He drives off.
Bella: What the hell are you doing? Wh-What happened out there?
Viktor: I don’t know! I…I need to talk to my siblings before I…I dunno, end the world again??
Bella: Viktor, you were glowing.
Viktor: I know!
The radio blew up.
Viktor:…I’m sorry. I didn’t…we’ll figure out what’s going on and…we’ll deal with it. Okay? It’s gonna be okay.
Bella: O-Okay. Just…take some deep breaths, yeah?
Viktor grabs her hand and squeezes it tightly.
The camera cuts to Jackson unpacking some groceries in the kitchen. He takes out a can but stares at it for a second. His hands are sweaty. He feels hot, really hot. He sets the can down and leans against the counter. He wipes away the sweat from his forehead and begins to breathe heavily.
He was too hot. He began to take his jacket, sweater and shirt off. He’s beginning to panic. Severe hot flash? Heatstroke? Couldn’t be, it’s winter.
His middle child, Delores, walks in.
Delores: Daddy? Are you okay?
Jackson turns around.
Jackson: I-I’m okay, just go back to the living room. Don’t worry…
Jackson tries to go over to his phone on the counter but before he can reach it, his entire body engulfs in flames. He screams and attempts to put it out. Delores screams and begins crying as her elder brother, Ji-Ho, ran in to see what was happening. He pulls Deleores behind him.
Ji: Dad?!
Jackson: C-Call your father! NOW!
Ji: Shouldn’t I call the fire department?!
Jackson: NO!
Jackson hurriedly makes his way to the bathroom, throwing himself into the shower and turning it on to the coldest setting. The fire is somewhat extinguishing.
Ji quickly grabs his phone and calls Five. He holds Delores close and tries to get her to stop crying. Five picks up.
Five: Hey, Jack…Something weird happened to—
Ji: DAD! DAD’S ON FIRE! H-He told me to call you!
Five’s heart drops. His fear quickly turns into anger.
Five: FUCK!
He kicks a hole into the wall. He grabs his bag and runs out to his car, trying to tell Ji to keep calm, he’ll be there soon.
Five: Where is he now?!
ji: I think he ran into the bathroom! I hear water!
Five: Okay, just…keep your sisters out of there! Go take them and stay in your room!
Ji: Why am I not calling 911?!
Five: It’s not—…just, don’t! I’ll be there!
A few minutes pass with Five driving like a madman. He turns into his driveway and gets out, leaving the car on and the door open. He quickly rushes into the house and to the bathroom.
Five: Jack! Are you okay?!
Jackson is sitting down in the tub with freezing water filling the tub, leaving the shower running. He’s no longer on fire but steam is coming off of him. The water seems close to boiling.
Jackson: I-I’m fine, I think…I just felt really hot. I went to go call you but then…I just burst into flames.
Five: I…Jack, I teleported earlier. I was in my boss’ office then..I was in a subway station. Then I came back.
Jackson slowly looks at him and he realizes something.
Jackson: The marigold. It’s in our room. Go!
Five gets up and runs into their bedroom. He opens the closet door and takes a bag out. He rips it open and takes out the jar that had the marigold before. It was empty. Five looks at it in utter horror and frustration. He goes back into the bathroom and shows Jackson.
Five: It’s empty. It’s fucking empty!
Jackson: I didn’t open it! And the kids haven’t been in our room!
He turns off the shower and stands up. He bursts into flames again.
Jackson: Goddamnit! Go get a fire extinguisher!
Five leaves and comes back with one. He sprays Jackson with it, extinguishing the flames. Jackson takes a deep breath.
Jackson: Cold thoughts…cold thoughts…Okay. I’m good…
He looks at the jar. He picks it up and examines it.
Jackson: There’s still a little left…so someone didn’t get it. That’s good..It couldn’t have just…come out on its own. Someone did this. And if both of us have our powers…then the others probably do too.
Five: Fuck, you’re right…I wonder if they’ve figured it out yet. We’ve gotta meet up, find out who did this. My bet is on that Cy guy…he wanted us to have our powers and we said no.
Jackson: We would’ve heard someone come into our room, especially you. You wake up when someone flicks a light switch.
Five: Weirder things have happened. Can’t rule anyone out. Plus…we had a few drinks last night. Puts me into a deeper sleep. Come on, call your mom and have her pick up the kids. We can’t tell them.
Jackson: They just saw their dad burst into flames in front of them. That’s a little hard to make an excuse. Especially when I don’t have burn marks.
Five: We’ll figure something out! For now, we need them out of the way and out of our concerns. We need to figure out this power thing first.
Jackson sighs.
Jackson: Fine, I’ll call my mom. You call one of your siblings…
Five leaves and closes the door behind him. He goes into his bedroom and closes the door. He takes out his phone, scrolling through his contacts list. Which one does he even call?
Five: Luther and Diego are stupid, Klaus is a no go, Allison hardly talks to me, Ben is…not good Ben. Fuck it, Vik.
Five calls Viktor. Viktor picks up.
Bella: Five? Uh…Vik can’t really talk right now…
Five: I don’t care, put him on. It’s an emergency.
Bella:…Is the…”our powers are back” sort of emergency?
Five:……Yes. I was a bit afraid of that being the answer. Damnit. Where are you two?
Bella: On the interstate. We’re driving back to the city. Though, I dunno how long our car will last. We got into a pretty bad accident. The car’s totaled.
Five: Did Vik crash it?
Viktor takes the phone from Bella.
Vik: No! Some crazy lady just pulled in front of me! I…I got a little heated and the light posts bent. Bella said my eyes went white. Obviously they did cause even the lady looked terrified.
Five: hm. I teleported earlier…and Jackson burst into flames. The marigold, it’s gone. There’s only a little bit left.
Viktor: So someone didn’t take it. Or…maybe they didn’t have time to get it all.
Five: Just…get to Luther’s house. Okay? Best place for all of us to meet up…
Viktor: O-Okay. I can do that. I’ll see you there…
Five hangs up the phone and rubs his face. He’s tired.
Time passes and the camera cuts to the old Hargreeves mansion. The family is sitting in the living room. Klaus is standing in the corner, far away from everyone. Everyone else looks sick.
Five: Good, everyone is here..looking horrible, though.
Allison: Five, get on with it…
Five: I think it’s a fair assumption to say we’ve all got our powers back. Teleportation, sound wave control, strength…all of it.
Diego: Yeah. I felt amazing when I first got them…but now I feel like shit.
Ben: Feel hungover…
Diego: Best way to describe it.
Five: Could be a side effect. When we first had them, we were born with it. It could grow with us.
Theon is holding a towel to his nose, with clots of blood pouring out. In his other hand, he’s holding a flashlight. Emme is holding onto his arm, trying to remain calm.
Theon: Makes sense. What doesn't make sense is how we got them back in the first place. Five had ‘em last. But he and Jackie were against it…so it couldn't have been them. Did someone break into your house or something?
Jackson: No, they couldn't have. We have alerts on everything, we would’ve noticed.
Theon: Then…it had to have been at the bar last night. Someone spiked the drinks.
Lila: What, the bartender?
Theon: No, he was behind the bar the entire time. Five kept the marigold next to him. It was one of us.
Viktor:...Well, there was only a handful who wanted it back.
Allison: And who wanted it most? Ben.
Ben: What? You’re blaming me? For what? I didn’t do anything! Maybe it was you. Wanted your powers back cause you suck at acting.
Allison: Excuse me? Wanna say that again?
Allison stands up and goes over to Ben.
Allison: I heard a rumor…you stood up and didn't move.
Ben’s eyes roll into the back of his head. He stands up and becomes stiff. He tries to move, but can’t.
Five: Allison…
Allison: I heard a rumor…you could only tell the truth.
Allison’s eyes turned gold.
Allison: Did you mess with the marigold, asshole?
Ben tries to hold back his tongue by biting down. He can’t.
Ben: YES!...I did.
Allison is taken aback. Everyone in the room gasps and whispers to each other.
Allison: What the hell did you do!?
Ben: I…I poured the marigold into the shots. All of you drank it.
Five: Fuck me…
Luther: Ben…Why? They didn't want it!
Ben: I just thought…we had powers for a reason. Cy had us meet for a reason. We can’t just sit around! We were meant for this!
Viktor: So you drugged us?
Ben:...Yes.
Allison: I… I can’t. I just can’t with this goddamn family!
Allison storms off outside. Ben’s irises come back and he rubs his neck.
Fei: Tough crowd, Ben. Maybe you should’ve just shared with the ones who wanted it.
Ben: Shut up, Fei…
Jackson suddenly bursts into flames again. Luther panics and tries to put out the fire on his couch. Jackson stands up and Five sprays the couch with a fire extinguisher. He then aims it at Jackson and sprays him.
The flames didn’t go out.
Jackson: You don’t even care just how much you’ve fucked us. You’re just thinking about yourself! I should incinerate you for what you did!
Five: Jack, take a breath. You’re gonna burn the whole place down.
Jackson: Does it matter? The powers, they ruin everything! You should know! Because this asshole only thought of himself, we all have to suffer!
Five: Yeah, I know, fuck him! But getting angry and burning everything down won’t fix it!
Jackson takes a deep breath. The flames subside and he sits back down, still glaring at Ben.
Ben: Well…we’ve got our powers. Maybe we should go try and save that girl Cy talked about. His daughter.
Fei laughs.
Fei: Oooh, I see what this is about now…Little Benny, relieving his glory days of being a superhero and leading the team, despite failing miserably last time.
Ben: “Failing miserably?” I led us to–
Fei: To Alphonso and Jayme’s death. There’s a reason Marcus never gave you the important jobs, you’re too immature. You don’t think before you act. And when you do think, it’s purely on anger and overconfidence.
Ben: If I was so terrible and you were so great, why were you number 3? Huh?
Fei: Um, hello? Limited vision? Not a people person? I have my flaws, but I know them. You think you have none. Fine, take us all to save this girl…you’ll see it was a waste of time. You rescue her, then what? You make the Academy again? You try to be your own Batman?
Ben: Exactly! We rescue her, we can rescue more! The police don’t do shit!
Diego is baffled.
Diego: Dude…we do everything. You’re just mad cause you were in jail! All criminals spew that “police are bad” bullshit cause they’re mad they were caught.
Ben: With the Sparrow’s, our city was perfect! Bad guys feared us! We have actual powers!
Fei: God, so pretentious…
Ben: Let’s just try. Afterwards, you all can go back to whatever. I don’t care!
Viktor sighs but then gets an idea.
Viktor: If…I have some time…I might be able to manipulate the marigold. Like I did with Harlan…If I gave it to him, surely, I could…take it back?
Luther: What would that do to you, though?
Viktor: I dunno…maybe I could put it back into the jar?
Five: Not a bad theory…we just don’t want to overload you. Last time your power remained dormant–
Viktor: I blew up the moon, I know.
Five: And an FBI headquarters.
Viktor: I didn't do that…
Five: In another timeline, you did.
Viktor: Then that doesn't count!
Lila: God, can we just get this over with? There’s a PTA meeting next week, I can’t miss it or else Sharon gets control of the bake sale. Then she won’t shut up about it.
Theon:...Perhaps I do miss the commission days. My sister was cooler.
Lila takes a knife out of Diego’s pocket and stabs him in the chest.
Theon: AH! Fuck! Don’t stab a bleeding man!
Lila: I did miss that.
Five rolls his eyes. How’d he get stuck with these morons again?
Everyone leaves the house, with Diego going upstairs to get Allison. Everyone then piles into the two cars. The umbrella’s plus Ben and Lila into Diego’s car. Everyone else got into Jackson’s car.
Ben is ecstatic. The adrenaline of going on a mission, finally. He sits up and shouts:
Ben: Let’s kill this bitch!
Everyone turns around to look at him, confused and slightly worried.
Allison: This is a rescue mission…
Ben:...Yeah, right…it is.
He sits back down and looks out the window awkwardly.
Diego turns the car on and immediately “Baby Shark” starts blaring on the radio. Everyone jumps and Diego panics to turn the volume down.
Viktor: What the hell was that?
Diego: The uh…kids really like that song. It’s also stuck in the CD player…
Five: So glad my kids don’t listen to that crap…
Diego rolls his eyes and starts driving.
The camera cuts to older people, a man and woman. They're sitting in separate chairs. The woman is crocheting something, and the man is reading a newspaper.
Man: Hon, have you heard? A nice little town meeting is taking place tomorrow.
Woman: Oh, lovely. What's it about?
Man: The priest's niece is getting baptized.
Woman: Oh, good. I can't wait. We should definitely go. I'll make cookies for them!
Man: Sounds like a plan, darlin. Let's call it a date.
The woman stands up and holds up the crocheted blanket, revealing an upside-down umbrella pattern
Hours pass and it’s dark. Almost everyone is asleep, except for Diego and Five.
Diego is staring out into the road. He turns to Five and whispers:
Diego: Dude…I think Lila is cheating on me…
Five is a little taken aback. He whispers:
Five: A little heavy, don’t you think?
Diego: Sorry…I just can’t get it out of my head. She’s been going out at night…so I followed her. She was eating at this cafe with this guy…she was laughing, having fun…couldn't be a friend.
Five: You’re a fucking idiot.
Diego: What?
Five: She’s not cheating on you…at the cafe, that was me. I was at a Keepers meeting…and she was there.
Diego: Why…what?
Five: I was investigating. Apparently, she was too…I talked to Jack about it. He says she might just miss the life before…everything.
Diego: I try to make things exciting…
Five: She was an agent, Diego. It’s all she knew. It’s hard to adjust. To just stop being something. Huh…I guess I see where Ben was going with this whole thing.
Diego: Miércoles…I’m sorry. I just thought…I dunno. How do I make her happy?
Five: Well…you’re a cop. Let her in on some investigations. Or hell, get her a job there. She could pass the school easily.
Diego: Yeah…I think she’d like that.
He looks back at Lila in the rearview mirror, sleeping soundly and leaning against Allison.
The camera slowly pans over to Ben, leaning his head back and sleeping. He’s twitching a bit. Flashes of…her…appear in his mind. A girl. She’s haunted him his entire life. The girl appears again, this time with tentacles slowly creeping up her body. Black liquid pours from her eyes and mouth, echoes of a baby crying loop in his mind. He jolts awake and looks around…nothing. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes again, attempting to go back to sleep.
More hours pass and they finally arrive in a town called “New Grumpson.” Something feels off about it, though. The streets are clean, and the buildings are in perfect shape…though, they seem to have been built a long time ago.
There are signs everywhere depicting squids, like it’s the town's mascot.
Everyone steps out of the cars and takes a look around.
Klaus: Fuuuun, looks like a festival…Hopefully it’s not too crowded, y'know how people can be in large groups.
Ben: Large groups like this one?
Klaus: I prepared…
Luther takes a deep breath and smiles.
Luther: Guys, this is like…our first vacation as a family! Basically…ever. We should enjoy this!
Five: Oh god…
Allison: What happened to “rescue mission?”
Luther: It can be both, yeah? Come on, family picture!
He pulls out a disposable camera and aims it at everyone, smiling happily while everyone else either stares blankly, covers their face or gives a half smile.
Five:...Okay, now that Luther is done being weird, let’s split up. It’s gonna be easier to find who we’re looking for.
Diego: Good idea. Klaus, Bea, stay with the cars.
Klaus: What? Why do we have to stay back?
Diego: Well…we need a watchman. Very important job. We also can’t have the watchman be alone and bored, huh?
Beatriz and Klaus look at each other.
Beatriz: I guess…I prefer to stay back either way. I’m not really…into this hero stuff.
They get back into the car as everyone walks into the town and splits into different directions.
Diego and Lila go into the town square and engage in simple games around, with Diego showing off his skills in throwing axes. Lila smirks and throws her axes straight down the center of Diego’s. He and the game runner stare at her, surprised. Diego starts laughing and they pick out three stuffed animals for their kids.
Viktor, Allison, Luther and Mallie walk through the shops, asking the people around if they know a “Zoe Grossman.” They notice the shopkeeper's demeanors change, becoming more wary and suspicious after they ask.
Five, Jackson, Theon and Emme wander around, not doing too much to help the mission. Five is lost in his own thoughts, Jackson is working on keeping himself calm, Theon is watching Emme closely with a flashlight in hand and Emme is listening to music.
Ben and Fei are walking down a sidewalk. Ben suddenly takes a turn as he notices a Bus stop. Fei follows.
Fei: And what’re you doing, Exactly?
Ben: Getting out of here. Without the hairy ape watching, I can leave and do some good.
Fei: So the whole…”We gotta save this girl!” thing was just you finding an escape?
Ben: Obviously.
She bursts out laughing. She can’t believe it.
Fei: You ruined lives just to get out of prison? Oh my god, Ben!
She laughs harder.
Ben: What’s so funny?
Fei: You gave us all our powers…you forced all of us here, just to escape? God, you're so stupid! If they find out, they’re gonna kill you!
Ben: Shut up, Fei. I’m leaving and you can’t do anything about it.
Fei: Oh, I’m not going to stop you. But I will tell you to look behind you.
Ben: What?
He turns around just to be met with a sign saying “Bus out of service.”
Ben: You didn't want to say something earlier?
Fei: Mmm…I wasn't gonna say anything. But then I felt bad.
Ben groans and starts walking again.
Fei: Now where are you going?
Ben: I’ll find a car or something.
She follows.
Fei: And then?
Ben: I’ll leave! Get to a big city where I can disappear!
He stops and looks at a church with a strange symbol…a sparrow holding an umbrella that was inside out.
Ben: You see this?
Fei: I guess that’s weird.
Ben: Yeah, weird coincidence. Come on.
He walks in as Fei follows.
Fei: Now he cares…
Ben: I guess we know why the town was so empty before. Everyone’s here.
He grabs Fei’s arm and pushes past a crowd of people, making his way to a room full of pews. There’s a stage with a podium and something covered with a large tarp. One of Fei’s crows flew up onto a rafter on the ceiling. Ben leaned over to an older lady and asked:
Ben: Hey…we’re tourists. What’s this about?
Lady: Oooh, this is the priest's daughter's baptism!
Ben:...A lot of people here for a baptism.
Lady: it’s not just any ordinary baptism, son. It marks the beginning of “The Cleanse.”
Ben: The–?
He’s shushed before he can ask more questions. A priest walks onto the stage, wearing a cthulhu-esque mask. He goes up to the podium.
Priest: Today is a special day…a day we have awaited for decades. We embark on the journey to The Cleanse. To return to where we once came. My daughter…she was chosen for this, by god himself! On her 30th birthday, we bathe her in the very liquid she was brought from, so that she may feel her mother’s warm embrace!
Fei whispers to Ben.
Fei: Ew…under that tarp better not be what I think it is.
Ben: Dude…what the fuck.
Two nuns, also wearing Cthulhu-esque masks walk out with a girl wearing a white robe. She had long, black hair and pale skin. Ben recognizes her instantly…the girl from his dreams. He pushes past the crowd to get to the front, leaving Fei behind. He stares at the girl, in complete disbelief that she’s real.
The priest rips the tarp off to reveal a giant vat of black liquid. The nuns pick up a glass and have the girl drink all of it.
Priest: Let The Cleanse…BEGIN!
PAINT IT BLACK, COVER BY HIDDEN CITIZENS BEGIN PLAYING.
The nuns walk the girl over to the stairs leading into the vat. They begin to walk her down, the black liquid absorbing into her dress and skin. The girl has a blank stare and is looking down…but she looks up for a second and makes eye contact with Ben.
He can tell by the look in her eyes she wants help. Without thinking, his tentacles protrude from his back, one of them wrapping itself around the girl and pulling her towards him. The townspeople stare at him.
Priest: HERETIC!! KILL HIM! HE MEANS TO DEFY GOD'S WORD!
More people in masks run out with guns aiming at Ben. The townspeople try to grab him, but he knocks them away with his free tentacles.
Fei summons more crows to attack the armed men, forcing them to drop their weapons. She runs over to Ben.
Fei: What the hell are you doing?!
Ben: She needed help!
He looks down at the girl.
Ben: Are you Zoe Grossman?!
Girl:…M-My name…it’s Zoe…
Ben: Fei, c’mon! We gotta get her outta here!
Fei: Jesus…
The camera cuts to outside of the church, with sounds of people screaming and silhouettes of Ben with his tentacles, people being thrown and Fei’s crows.
Another cut shows Five walking. He turns to the church.
Five: What the hell is happening in there?
A man is suddenly thrown through the window and lands at his feet. He makes a face and crouches down, noticing a mask…and tentacle marks with scratches all over.
Theon: He don’t look too good, huh?
Five: Yeah…you could say that.
Fei and Ben run out of the church with Zoe, almost stumbling down the steps.
Five: Okay, what did you two idiots do now?
Fei: Ben started it.
Ben: I completed the mission!
Zoe: mission…?
Theon: and the mission required fuckin up a church?
Ben: Can we just go and talk about this later?
Emme:…Why is half of her black?
Ben: Shut up!
He starts moving with Zoe. Fei shrugs and follows behind. Just as the others turn to run, a person with a gun comes out of the church and goes to shoot Five. Five teleports away and Theon forces the man to stiffen up, draining all the blood from his body.
Jackson: Five?! Where’d he go?
Theon: Who cares? He’ll catch up! C’mon!
Theon grabs him and Emme and begins running. Meanwhile, Five is back at the subway…
Five takes a look around. It’s not a coincidence that the second time he’s used his power he ended up here. He begins walking and notices a subway map. As he’s looking at it, a train appears and the doors open.
He slowly steps in and the doors close behind him. He notices a digital sign above him. He attempts to read it but it’s just a bunch of nonsense. The letters are all jumbled up.
The train makes its way to the next stop and the doors open again. He gets off but notices things look the exact same. He goes over to some stairs leading up and follows them, bringing him up to the surface. He’s back in the town but…it’s normal. No decorations for a festival. He sees a newspaper stand and grabs one, reading off the date. The same. A clock in the park, same time. Although…he looks up to see the moon…but shattered. He quickly runs back down into the subway, disappearing onto the next train.
Back with Klaus and Beatriz, they’re sitting in the car, singing along to the radio. A woman runs up and begins banging on the window. Beatriz grabs onto Klaus as he opens the door.
Klaus: Woah, woah, calm down…what’s going on?
Woman: I-I need help! My name is Zoe!
Klaus: Woah…hey, that was easy finding you! We’ve been looking for you!
He turns around as he hears someone yelling his name. It’s Diego, running with his siblings as a giant mob chases after them.
Diego: KLAUS!! START THE FUCKING CAR!!!
Klaus startles a bit.
Klaus: I found her! I found Zoe!
Diego catches up with the other siblings.
Ben: That’s not Zoe! She’s right here!
Klaus:...Then who’s this?
The woman looks at Klaus and Klaus stares back in confusion. She whispers “The cleanse” and stabs him through the stomach. She starts running off but Theon grabs her with his power and twists her neck. Allison rushes over to Klaus and catches him.
Allison: I-It’s okay! I…Shit! I heard a rumor…you didn't feel any pain.
He stops writhing as she pulls him into Diego’s van.
Allison: How do we stop the bleeding!?
Diego takes off his jacket and hands it to her. She puts it over Klaus’ wound but the bleeding isn't stopping.
Diego: Why isn't he healing already? Are his powers fucked up?
Klaus: I…I di…didn't take the marigold…
Everyone: WHAT!?
Beatriz: He poured out the alcohol at the bar! I saw him! He’s finally sober and said he didn't want any! You guys made him feel like he had to!
Allison: He’s gonna die if we don’t give him his powers!
Viktor: He didn't want them, though! We can’t just force him!
Allison: Do you want him to die!?
She takes the marigold out of Five’s bag. There’s enough left to help him. She pours it into Klaus’ wound. He takes a gasp of air as his wound heals over. He sits up and stares at her.
Klaus: Wh…What did you do…?
Diego: Great, everyone’s here, let’s—
Luther: Where’s Five!?
Diego: Damnit! He’ll catch up!
Diego starts driving as soon as Five suddenly appears outside of the van. He gets hit and Diego stops.
Diego:...He’ll be okay.
Five gets up and gets into the van, glaring at Diego.
Five: You were gonna leave me?...Then you hit me with your car?
Diego: Dude, you just appeared! How could I anticipate that?!
Five: Jesus—Just get us out of here!
Diego steps on the gas, the other car following them. As they drive out of the city, Ben checks over Zoe to ensure she’s okay.
Ben: Okay, you seem...okay...we’re gonna get you to your dad and you’re gonna be okay…
Zoe: My…my dad? I don’t…I don’t have one…
Before Ben could ask anything, another car slammed into the side of them, forcing the car to roll over. Everyone tries to hold on and cover their faces from the glass shards flying everywhere.
Jackson, driving the car behind them, turns the car to avoid the rolling car…as he does so, he hears a loud popping sound. The car who had t-boned Diego shot out his tires. The car loses control and crashes into a nearby ditch.
When the chaos subsides, two people, a man and a woman, exit from the still intact car. They walk over to Diego’s car. The man drags Zoe out of the vehicle and the woman examines Lila. She tsks.
Woman: Nancy, Nancy...whatever are we gonna do with you, hm?
The couple go back to their car and put Zoe inside, driving away. Diego tries to get out but he can’t.
He passes out…
