Alia and the Boy:Origin of thy Sword by Dan Sherrill and Wooden Box Theater

No one knew how to react in flight class when the disaster siren was heard...

Desi Cataline and Leok Quill
in

Alia and the Boy

Natasha marches past our doorway

Part One
Origin of thy Sword

written and directed by Dan Sherrill
and Wooden Box Theater

Call it the snow, but something makes Empress Alia feel uneasy when she answers the front door of their house in Crystal Acres, Illinois. Natalya Glory is expected home for the holiday and Alia has already offered to have her over to stay instead of paying for the usual hotel room for the weekend.

She walks in, sets her suitcases down on the first couple of steps of the staircase leading to her room. The same one she slept in when she lived there almost a year ago. Alia has kept it open for her, should she ever return to her cowgirl days. And the days when she was all a certain someone cared to dream about.

This time she's here alone. Gabe and the others have no idea she's come home to visit, only Alia and in a few minutes, Dan Sherrill. What might the first conversaiton between them contain? Especially since he has no idea she's come back to the home that was bought for them in the first place.

Empress Alia-We're having dinner here tonight.

Natalya Glory-Damn. I haven't seen him in a while, and I read the last story, which was okay, but I would've rather it had been about me.

Alia-You're still his calculated match, and there won't be another one like you for a long time.

Natalya-I broke up with my boyfriend last night. That's the truth of why I'm here.

Alia-I'm sorry to hear that, care to tell me the drawn out story, if there is one? I'm all ears.

Natalya-It's some bullshit over not seeing enough of each other, the usual long distance thing where you think that just because there's a few miles on a map separating two people that it won't matter, well, it does and we both just needed a rest from saying, 'Honey I wish I could be there' or 'I wish I could make love to you tonight and feel your body close to mine at the end of the night' when you know good and damned well that you can't unless you want to fly a jet back and forth everytime you get the sudden urge to french kiss.

Someone else knocks on the front door.

Natalya-Are you expecting anyone?

Alia-No.

She walks to answer, wondering why the person wouldn't just ring the doorbell.

Anda Quorell-Hey there, can I come in?

Alia-Damn you!

She slams the door shut, directly in his face.

Natalya-Who is it?

Alia-My ex.

Natalya-This is going to be interesting, are you going to let him in? I can go upstairs to unpack while you're fighting.

Alia-Thanks.

She finally walks back to the door and opens it for him, seeing that he's now covered in snow from the horrible snowstorm that's coming their way.

Anda-I just cleaned off your car, the snows coming down as fast as the plows are getting to it. You'd have to pick a house in the middle of nowhere, although the pond outside is cool...

Alia-What the hell are you doing here?

She grabs a vase from an endtable near the doorway and slings it right at him, luckily he's able to move away from it as the vase crashes and breaks into hundreds of shards on the floor.

Anda-What was that for?

Alia-It's an illustration, get it? You broke my heart, so I thought I'd show you for real how it felt and how it sounded as it smashed and bled like a wrestler doing a blade job, only I'm not selling this injury, it's real.

Anda-Alia, I'm sorry.

She finally lets him hold her in his arms as she cries.

Anda-Someone can clean up the glass later, I'm not going anywhere.

He leads her to the couch and offers her a kiss, which is easily accepted.

Anda-Don't worry so much.

Alia-I'm sorry, it's just winter and I never get to see you, remember 1998 when everything was better with us.

Anda-Yes, but this isn't the past, it's the present and I just wanted to come all the way here from Orla to tell you that. Let's put this love back together, the right way this time, not just glued back together but cemented back together.

Alia-Are you asking me to marry you?

Anda-Yes. I can help you with Dan, I mean Aaron, or whatever you're calling him these days. I haven't seen him a while. Not since the stories started appearing online. I saw him outside the bars on North Iley one night. There was a fight outside and he was walking up to investigate. He changes little, but I think he could get used to us being together again. I have to tell you something, though.

Alia-Yes?

Anda-Clark skipped town. I don't know how you'll feel about that, but he's gone. I heard Aaron went looking for him that night that I saw him.

Alia-Did he tell anyone where he was going?

Anda-No.

Alia-I only have an outdated cell number for him. What if he's dead, living on the street or in another's arms tonight? Or freezing cold with one of those carts that the homeless people drag around with all their stuff attached to it looking for somewhere to camp out at during the day when they can't stay at the homeless shelter. It makes you fortunate sometimes to have a roof over your head. Really, on these snowy nights, what are these people doing for shelter or food? I mean all you need is some of those college noodles and a bowl, granted it's clean, and a hopefully clean spoon or fork to twist the noodles onto and you have yourself a hot meal for about a quarter, but where do you microwave it. Wait, there's a microwave in the lounge at the library.

The doorbell rings.

Alia-Anda, can you get that?

He walks to the door to answer it, unlocks it and reveals someone Alia might not be ready to see just yet.

Anda-Can I talk to you outside before I let you in?

Clark Ava-Sure, I could help you shovel some of the snow.

Anda-Alia, your guest and I are going to take care of the snow, don't worry.

Alia-Alright, I hear the phone anyway.

She wonders why he didn't tell her who was at the door, but is distracted, anyway, by the phone call.

Alia-Hello?

Rachel Deschanel-Have you heard from Aaron?

Alia-No, but he's due here later.

Rachel-You remember that I need to see him, about our visit to spain in the last story?

Alia-I do.

Rachel-Well something happened since then. I have a friend who works for the garbage disposal company on North Iley and I had him return something that was never mailed but had my return address on it.

Alia-What was it?

She starts to cry.

Rachel-A christmas card. Well, half of one anyway. He apparently gave it several second thoughts and tore it in half, after everything we said last time, but I guess that's the line you draw between stories posted on the internet and how someone really feels for you, in real life.

Alia-Or that it's easier to write feelings for someone, and just mail it off and sit there everyday fearing that he'll never get a reply. The ball would be in your court as to weather you'd want to call him or not, now wouldn't it? That's too great of a risk, considering how the last couple of visits went.

Rachel-Those were a year ago.

Alia-Hurt dies slow.

Rachel-Can I come down to see him?

Alia-Natalya is here, I should tell you.

Rachel-Well, don't let that witch, or her sister, get to him before I can.

Alia-I can't stop fate.

Rachel-But you can sure as hell stop blood from pouring out of someone's emotional state.

Alia-I'm just going to observe for a while, he's not even here yet.

Rachel-I'll see you in about half an hour. Somonauk rd, right?

Alia-Yeah.

The front door opens, and shoes are brushed off from the snow on the ground, and shovels are put away. She notices him out of the corner of her eye and starts to get emotional in front of both of them.

Anda-Alia and I are getting married, Clark.

Clark-That's nice. I'm here to see Aaron, wait is he Dan or Aaron is this story?

Alia-I need him here as Aaron. So just don't slip and call him Dan.

Clark-Thanks for the warning.

Alia-What are you doing here, Anda told me you left town.

Clark-There's not that much of a scene anymore. I'm not homeless like you thought, I brought a check for Aaron. It's about $3,000. I was just visiting with Princess Avonlie on North Iley and she wanted him to have it.

Alia-Why?

Clark-For remembering her. Whatever that means.

Alia-Which 'Avonlie' are we talking about, so I know who to thank. Remember at the performances there were 4 Princess Avonlie's that were cast for the past.

Clark-The one that thhe character was based on originally.

Alia-Wow! Why would she want to hand over so much money to him? Is it stolen?

Clark-Not her. She just opened up a business on North Iley, she wouldn't need to steal money or jewels to have that much money. All that she said was that she saw him and that he was nice to her and that she smiled a lot and wanted to do something nice for him.

Alia-Unless someone put her up to it.

Clark-I used to hang out with her all the time, I don't think she's too fond of bribes. Why can't you believe that she's just a caring person.

He sits by himself drinking ice water with a shot of cherry reading the newest wrestling biography at the bookstore on Kaesa that he had spent about a year working for, it's all differen't now. Much more peaceful, things just seem relaxed, much more than the constant drama that used to be it's trademark for those 11 long, long months.

So much changes and you never realize it until you're sitting in the exact same spot you did 5 years ago, he thinks. His thought pattern is disrupted for a moment as a familiar face walks by him and recognizes him.

Julia H.-Want some coffee?

Aaron-You're here?

Julia H.-Nothing else to do in the snow, I thought I'd come here to trigger some things in the back of my head. Try to wipe the slate clean, if you know what I mean.

Aaron-This is where we met.

Julia H.-You have a good memory.

Aaron-I'm supposed to be at our house in Crystal Acres later, for dinner.

Julia H.-Why don't I drive you, I have a truck, and you just have your red car, I don't want you to crash again, plus the roads are pretty bad and I could be your unlikely help.

Aaron-Do you mind driving all that way? The Ileys have a house there, with a pond. I never get lost because there's a bright light and a flag to point it out. Maybe later we can go for a drink?

Julia H.-I thought you didn't drink?

Aaron-I've been known to sneak one in lately, well maybe two, but never three.

Julia H.-Put your books in the reshelf bin and let's go. What way should we take to get there. Probably Keslinger to Somonauk rd. right?

Aaron-That would work. Plus I don't have one of those white things for my car, yet, so I'm still paying in coins.

Julia H.-I miss you, and think about you often.

Aaron-So do I. There's always that special place in my heart with your name on it that I check in every so often, but then I remember that we didn't have the greatest of visits there for a while, and I don't want that again.

Julia H.-So don't have a bitter visit with me. You don't ever seem to realize when someone likes you a lot. Sometimes you just can't see things like that. You'd rather eat popcorn and carry on at the movies like you're some comedian or the guy who watches movies with his robot friends than sitting back and realizing that your better than you sometimes think you are.

She talks it over with the manager on duty to not tow his car if they're gone for a while and walks with him outside to the parking lot as they begin to drive away.

Aaron-Of all people to meet here, what really brought you out of your house in the snow.

Julia H.-Not sure. I just had a feeling you were around.

Aaron-Me, too. No use laying down all day listening to the radio. Tell me that there's not any more snow coming. I already called into work, which I'm sure they're not pleased about, and I hope I don't get written up for it, but I probably will.

Julia H.-Are you still over at the hospital working, as part of your deal for leaving the bookstore so quick?

Aaron-I was, but not anymore. (Wink) I'd have to change back into Dan's state of mind to retell that one. I'm starting to feel myself break character so I'd rather talk about something else. I don't want to spend my time with you telling you about how I had to have my car towed off 88 and that it cost me $80 fucking dollars to get it out of the damned towing yard. That's not important right now. Or the fact that I'm pissed off that I don't have my own house, making thirty fucking dollars an hour, or even thirty six dollars an hour.

Julia H.-Stay in character, my dear. I'm sure of one thing, though. What if you did. Then someone would come along and steal the cute girl away and he's going to make $40 an hour, married to his job. What would you rather have? Just think about never being able to do 'Alia and the Boy' again, or being controlled. Since we're out of character here, didn't you piss and moan about being in a controlling relationship a few years back and got a divorce to stop it from getting way out of hand, and didn't you put on several overweight inducing pounds while in that relationship. I commend you for breaking out of that disaster, but do you really want someone that's going to say you can't go line dancing? Someone who glares at you when you ask the rich cowgirl in the front row of the line dance to take your hand and slow dance right before they change the music over at 2am? Is that going to make you happy? With a set of screaming kids wanting pizza on fridays? Is that your idea of having a fun time? Ask youself that, and I'll be quiet while your thinking it over.

The car is silent for the next 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Natalya begins to worry about Aaron, when or if he's still going to be home for dinner. A familiar face drives her car into the driveway and shuts the driver side door, reaches out her hand to ring the doorbell, and is let in by Alia.

Alia-I don't understand your visit, I mean you two were barely friends, now all of the sudden you act like you're his long lost love affair come to life, what's up?

1st Princess Avonlie-It's complicated.

Alia-I'm complicated, but after you get to know me, I'm fine.

Avonlie 1-I heard about his accident not far from here this past summer and wanted to do something nice for him. I hadn't seen him since he was doing the plays about all of you guys and wanted to come, but I kept misplacing the flyers that he used to give out.

Alia-Things have changed though, both places are shut down. One moved to Washington DC and the other bet the farm on a kids card game, so what's your point?

Avonlie-What about the gang over on 7th street, couldn't a cast be put in place for another weekly live show like the last one?

Alia-Not sure. I haven't met them, yet?

Rachel is let in and shown her room at the house just as Julia and Aaron pull up, having to park by the curb since the driveway seems to be full.

Suddenly she screams out at something she found in her room as Alia and Avonlie 1 race up the stairs to investigate.

Rachel-Alia, how much did you pay for this place, I don't get a very good feeling in my skeleton from it.

Alia-It's not that old. Actually they built it about 5 years ago, what's the feeling you have? Maybe you should sleep in another room.

Rachel-Trust me, I don't think it's that.

The doorbell rings again. It's Julia and Aaron. Anda sends them both upstairs to find out what startled Rachel.

Rachel-Hello, Aaron.

Aaron-Hi. Anda says something scared you.

Rachel-Stay up with me tonight.

Aaron-That's fine.

Natalya walks by the door to see Rachel holding Aaron, for dear life.

Alia is the first to notice that she saw it and signals for Natalya to speak with her in another more peaceful room.

Natalya-Well, it looks like my fucking work here is done!

Alia-Why do you say that? Rachel can't stand Aaron. You don't have to worry about them putting things back together. He'd still walk through a home on fire for you, don't ever forget that, my friend.

Natalya-Thanks for the kind words.

Avonlie 1-I don't feel anything, are you sure something was in here?

Rachel-As sure as I am gritting my teeth at your doubt.

Aaron-Rachel, let me make you some coffee in the kitchen, maybe the heat from it will set you at peace.

Rachel-Yeah, maybe you're right. And hey, everyone, long time so see.

Julia H.-I'm going to stay up here to make sure something really isn't hiding out in the wall fixture. You know how ghosts are, they pick the damndest places to roam free under our noses at night, and in this case during the daylight that shines down upon us. Alia, can you send Anda up to help me?

A woman pulls up to the house on a motorcycle, and takes her helmet off, rings the doorbell and is let in by Natalya.

Angel Natasha Kry-I'm here to solve your little mystery.

Natalya-How did you know?

Natasha-That's right, you weren't really in the last story, my name is Angel Natasha Kry. A long time ago I watched over a significant event involving Jesus of Nazareth and his burial and resurrection. I'm familiar with this sort of thing. Alia just called me so I came. I just have the power to sometimes come down and hang out with whoever I want to, it was a gift from The Father when I did as he asked. More people should and the world wouldn't be so haunted all the time.

Natalya-Is this house haunted? That might make for a neat ghost story, on the other hand I wouldn't want to be in a ghost story anyway, they're more fun when you watch them, than when you're one of the characters in it.

Natasha-Let's just say that if you went back and reread the last story, you know 'Darken the letters...Eliza has a message' you would know that The Father and His Son, Jesus, set up a meeting with Aaron, or Dan, as some of you call him, in the middle of Spain. Let's also just say that it was planned, and some folks went to great trouble to construct it for them to finally get some feelings out, but what no one realized was that others were watching from afar. It was a close call with another woman, Pastora, as an exact date might have been revealed, as no one can really be sure that the Pastora for which they dealt with in the last book passed any information on to the one in disguise. Only a small fraction of the scenes were part of the original plan. It was important for Dan to spend time with Rachel, but 'at what cost' is what they're trying to figure out tonight. A meeting has been set up with Professor EyeCross and his men. It's going to be dangerous. Universe 2 is still being constructed and no one can really stop it at the moment. The Father's using a lot of high end machinery and computers to try to block it, but the reality of the situation is that...

Alia-This is Universe 2! Alright, listen up. That's why Rachel freaked out a few minutes ago. Collette! EyeCross! Can you hear me. We're stuck here, aren't we?

Natasha-The only one who can slip between here and there is me. He has to fight me, and I know he can't since if I ever was able to show him the 'real' me his eyeballs would explode. Angels, I mean real ones, aren't made of the same skeletons as humans. EyeCross is human, so are Martina and Collette. Look what they were able to distract Dan with in 'Rehydrate Ash' they can change back and forth from Universe 2 to the place where all of you are supposed to be, Earth. If you think about it, places and events may seem the same, but how would anyone know unless you've studied your complete surroundings long enough to know exactly where everything sat the last time your eyes were able to blink. That's the trouble with blinking, you never really know how the world's going to look when your eyes open again. Doesn't make you want to have too many staring contests, now does it? The next time you blink you might be on the right universe, but dare you do it again and Universe 2 may be in your eye path. How does that feel to you?

Rachel-She's right. I blinked once and then I felt something evil, but once I blinked my eyes it was gone. That's why no one else can feel it.

Natasha-Good. They're manipulating us from right where we stand.

She pulls out her comlink.

Jesus of Nazareth-Any news from the Ileys?

Natasha-Rachel Deschanel was transported momentarily to Universe 2.

Jesus-We have a serious problem. I need all of them here. The whole of Earth may be in trouble. The only safe port so far seems to be here in Heaven. Get the Ileys here as quick as you can. All of Heaven is under a warning sign at the moment.

Natasha-Got it.

She hangs up.

Natasha-Listen up, Heaven's under red alert. Jesus needs you all there to figure this mess out.

Alia-But usually our method of getting there is to blink, right? Or else he pulls us up there in our sleep. How do we risk it?

She calls him back.

Jesus-Yes, Natasha?

Natasha-Good try, Martina. You know the only way we get up and down from Heaven is to blink, nice try in trying to capture us. Change the scenery, and we'll talk about what you want.

Right before them their entire surroundings are somehow turned 'off' and when their eyes adjust to the flash of light that's just happened, all of the Ileys and Natasha are back in the same control room that Dan and Natalya had previously seen.

He walks closer to them.

EyeCross-Welcome to Crystal Acres.

Aaron-That's not funny.

Collette-Didn't you realize that the house is one story in your universe and 2 in ours. That small, but large modification should've given it away. Now you don't even have to blink to get to Universe 2. It's everywhere. We've already done it.

Natalya-What have you done?

Collette-Erased Jesus and His Father. They can't help you.

Natasha-Then where are they?

EyeCross-A deep sleep, possibly forever. You can't possibly miss then, you can have us to keep you company on this wintery night.

Avonlie 1-Is it really snowing outside?

EyeCross-Of course not, everything's controlled right here by my machines.

Aaron-Why are you doing this to them, what did they ever do to you?

EyeCross-I was rejected from Heaven. I couldn't live there. I had to live in Hell. I got all the way to the Door of Heaven. You know, the huge gates, and the man standing there above the clouds looked for 3 hours for my name in the Book of Life. I started to get a sick feeling in my chest, and I felt myself disappear. I asked him, no, I stood there and begged him to check again, and I didn't really blame him for becoming angry because we stayed up all night, which, yeah, he didn't mind doing, but in the end he couldn't find me in the Book of Life.

Aaron-Can you think of something you might have done or wished you hadn't done in your life, I'm talking to the three of you, where you felt that God wasn't there listening or watching.

EyeCross-I was homeless most of my life.

Collette-I was a stripper.

Martina-I was addicted to heroin.

EyeCross-None of the three of us are as lucky as you guys, we don't get to just ask Him to hang out up there for periods of time and be transported there without even so much as a flinch. We were stuck in Hell forever. Of course He came down to see us every so often and tried to talk to us to make us feel better, but it never helped. All the burning and heat didn't help matters one bit either. So we dediced to read up on chemistry, found out knowledge through the books that L keeps down there and read and read until we couldn't read any more. How do you think we were able to slip into the hospital to drug you a few stories ago?

Martina-Now it's our turn to rearrange the very reality that people every day take for granted. We were reading up on things down there in his library every day. I'd just sit there and plug in my headphones and suddenly I had the formula I needed to create Universe 2.

Aaron-You're saying L has an instruction book down there?

Martina-Not exactly, but enough of the right books on any subject being read by you is going to eventually sink in by the end of a long day and bags under your eyes from reading it too late.

Aaron-So where exactly are we?

Collette-We did it. We can manipulate everything. I mean totally. Heaven doesn't orbit Universe 2. It's not a matter here of going to Heaven or Hell that will bother people in our universe. People can live without fear of being rejected from the promised land that I was rejected from. Who really wants to live on gold streets in gold mansions anyway, it's much more real in our world. No church, no offerings. And most of all it's a chance to live your life without having to worry if your name is in His Book of Life. And an added perk would be to anyone trying to make the decision to live here in peace is that nothing's the same as it is in the present. If you lept from one universe to ours, you could erase certain things. Nothing's the same. You'll have what people say is a 'second chance.' Ever had messed up teeth, or bad hair, just come here to live and none of that will be. You can do as you please. If you were in piss poor health, come over to Universe 2 and you're fine. Walk around any oldfolk's home and ask them if they'd like a chance to be cured instantly if they'd just switch their home. How many of them would stay there in their wheelchairs knowing that another way is right outside the door?

Natasha-Because people don't operate that way.

Martina-That's funny, the ones I run to are. Besides it's already done. I mean, how many people believe in God now?

Natasha-Enough, since there's always new souls entering His Kingdom in Heaven. He's never done anything bad to me.

Martina-If you only knew.

Natasha-What's that supposed to mean?

Martina-Doesn't the fact that He hides 'Alex' there make Him seem suspicious. Don't you question Him at all?

Natasha-I don't question Him.

Martina-Maybe not you and the Ileys, but you'd shake in your combat boots if you knew the multitude of people who do. And, hey, that's where we come in. My only question to you and the Ileys is weather any of you would like to jump to our side? Dan, or Aaron, whoever you are today, let me ask you something, wouldn't you like to not be held accountable for anything you do. Tired of someone bugging you for rent money or the tollway being fucked up with snow during the winter, or having to wake up in the morning and go to work, which by the way I know you can't stand, you wish you were working with Miss Pottery and Mr. Wayne.

Dan Sherrill-Yeah, but she's in another state, I quit that job on my own, on my own free will, and I haven't seen 'Mr. Wayne' in a couple of years. You're going to have to do better than that.

Martina-What if it was sunny all year long, and one day out of the blue that one lady came knocking on your door, if she could figure out the doorbell system on your house, since none of the 4 doorbells on your front door are labeled with what hallway they ring to. What if she showed up out of the blue and wanted to be with you, we could arrange that. We managed to produce her voice and presence in that story, and you're right, you figured it out, but did you want to figure it out? If you hadn't, you would've been onto a possible conversation with her. A peaceful one where the past is bullshit and not talked about. I know you want that so much, to go up and to give her a flyer for the last two stories and have her sit down and actually feel in her heart the way you still somehow feel about her even though she destroyed everything you stood for and made you look like you were trying to break up her relationship, but in our reality she's the way you wanted her, your friend, and better yet, she helps you write these stories. Or you can do better yet, choose the same destiny for you and Rachel. Come here, Rachel?

She is lead close to the conversation by two of the guards that have made sure none of the transported Ileys come any closer to either EyeCross, Martina or Collette.

EyeCross-Rachel, what if he chose you as his wife? Would you love him? If he was somehow perfect for you, forvige me for saying that no one's shown you the dedication he did since you two stopped talking. Don't you miss him sometimes.

Tears start to run down her face, taking some of her makeup with them.

Rachel-Alright, I do.

EyeCross-What would you do if you got word somehow that he had died in his accident in July for real? I mean if someone came to your door and said 'I'm sorry, Miss, but someone who knows you died in a firey car crash last night out on Somonauk rd.' Would you have cried, like you are now, or would just the thought of the last time you saw him and basically discarded himbother you or, wouldn't hearing of his untimely demise bring out any emotion in you or are you just that much more cold hearted than the rest of the world?

Rachel-That's not fair, that was caused by 'Alex' and he was involed with the three of you since you all tried to lure him out of Heaven so you could get the date of the End of the World.

Aaron-Rachel!

He runs off crying and screaming.

Natalya, seeing the chance, runs off after him into a hallway which seems to be full of lockers on the wall. He's sitting down on the hallway floor next to his high school locker with his hands covering his eyes as he cries to himself, only right now he's not so alone, his beloved cowgirl sits next to him and offers to hold him in her arms. For dear life.

Natalya-Only difference between me and her is that I can unconditionaly recite my feelings for you. EyeCross has created this scene for us to talk in. But by the looks of it, class must be letting out in a few minutes and if I can tap into EyeCross' thought pattern this is your Freshman year.

He appears as Dan once more.

Dan-She's walking through the door, any minute now.

Natalya-Who?

Dan-'Alia.' EyeCross must have caught me thinking about what it would've been like to have dated her in high school. It's not going to work.

Natalya-Why not?

Dan-Cause her and I barely ever talked either. We just didn't get along.

Natalya-Did you try?

Dan-I was 14. Not many people aren't shy at 14.

Natalya-What if she was the one who came knocking instead of the other one? Would it be worth it?

Dan-I don't know her well enough to want that so much that I'd pretend that God never existed and to deny the existance of Heaven and Hell. It's not worth it.

She walks closer to him.

'Alia'-Thanks for the gift. I loved it. And the note you gave me. I read it twice and I want to hold hands with you and let you walk me to class. All you have to do is take my hand, and kiss my lips. I'll even let you bring me home to meet your mom and sister and step dad. Don't you live just off Rt.23 in Sycamore?

Natalya-You can only fight it for so long. These guys have done something purely evil.

She's surprised that he actually is willing to uncover his eyes long enough to examine the woman infront of him, in all of her beauty. He does it just to find out if she is real of just another mind assault like the accident was, something horrible but a hidden lesson somewhere in the middle of it's horror.

'Alia'-What's wrong, Dan, why are you sitting there crying?

Dan-I'm not, my friend Natalya is here with me, sitting right next to my crying tears.

'Alia'-No, she's not.

He looks to his right. She's gone. It's just him by himself, with 'Alia,' the one he remembers clearly enough to have her right there beside him.

The next thing she does it sit right next to him. In the same spot that Natalya was a minute ago. Then he feels her hand touch his cheek, wiping some of the tears away. In doing so the image of her appears to be that of her in the present day, for which he hasn't seen in about 7 years.

'Alia'-How does that feel? We're not younger now, I'm still a little older than you. As we appear in this place that we both remember, I'm holding you close to my heart, and maybe it could be me that you would live to come home to and make dinner for, even though no one ever taught you how to use a stove, you could learn.

Dan-Could it ever be real? I think I messed things up pretty bad with you, back then. But is this back then, it could be right now. Right now. That reminds me, did you ever get that second note with the gift handed off to someone to give to you.

'Alia'-I might have, you're asking me to remember 13 years ago, and I can't possibly do that.

Dan-Did you ever give it any thought?

'Alia'-Yes, but you were just too damned shy for me. I needed someone with fury, not someone rehearsing his lines to me up the stairs and to where you would see me and stumble over what you were going to say, and by the way how many dances went by that you didn't ask me, finally someone else did. Good thing, too, since I didn't want any part of going with someone who's going to bring drama into a date with me, that's totally not what I'm into. I needed someone who could defend me in a fight, and someone I could take home for dinner. Usual stuff. You couldn't though. I asked around. Scary stuff at home, I think it was, I didn't want to get myself involved in that. I mean I could've driven over to get you the hell away from it all, but I just think it would've been too much for me. People used to talk, even though you didn't.

Dan-Yeah, it was hard. And if the truth were known, I couldn't have gone with you to any of the dances anyway, I didn't have a car that first year, and you did, just think about how that might have looked. You know I'd get so close to opening the door to a relationship then would have to stop as soon as it started. Not because of the car situation, but because maybe, I don't know, only part of it was not having a car, but just that it might have not been the wisest choice to bring someone home for dinner. I'll just leave it at that. And plus I wasn't working until right around Junior year anyway, so I really didn't have any of my own money. Yeah, that wouldn't have been too attractive. Then by the time I did it just seemed like you just up and forgot about me, but all said, I really did like you.

'Alia'-I know. But impossible back then, I understand. What you may not have realized back when you were 14 was that everybodies parents go through the same things every once in a while. It wasn't just you. Sometimes I think it's catchable. We've all seen the movies about kids living with parents who can't stand the sight of each other. I mean everyone's been through it. That shouldn't stop you from finding someone to walk the halls holding hands with, now should it? Come with me, let's take a walk for old time's sake.

He agrees.

Dan-This is where I had biology, and down the hall a little further are the stairs to get downstairs, this place is differen't now since they remodeled and added to it, but things still haunt it at night.

'Alia'-Like people who kept their feelings locked inside their central nervous systems too long?

Dan-Maybe.

A flash of light is seen out of the corner of his eye.

Dan-What was that?

'Alia'-Someone who wanted to see you.

Justeen Cria-Hello there.

Dan-You look unchanged, which should be taken as a compliment.

Justeen-Thanks. I know the choice, between growing up and growing old with pizza boxes littering your apartment floor, letting the tomato sauce stain your carpet, if you know what I mean. I remember you only for one thing. If you walk around here at night you can sometimes hear people talking. I've been back a few times just to walk around and to call up my own thought patterns to certain things I wish, too, that I could erase and redo. Like maybe going out with you.

Dan-Why didn't we then?

Justeen-Because you didn't ask. Well, you did, once. Actually, I'm sorry, you didn't. You just walked up to me as you were late to class and said, 'Hey, um, do you have a boyfriend?' and I think I said something as simple as 'yes' and you just kept on walking to class. I was like, well, so much for 'if you ever break up with him, keep in mind that I think you're really beautiful and would love to go out with you.'

Dan-Well, what would you have said?

Justeen-Yes. And I still can. If you jump to Universe 2. Which I can tell by the look on your face that you want to. How many more ghosts do you have to resurrect in this building to make your choice known to me and the others.

Dan-There isn't anyone that could sither out of the walls here that could change my mind. I'm fine with the choices I made in school. It made me who I am today.

Justeen-I would've moved in with you.

Dan-But, you wouldn't have ever known what was bothering me because I wasn't as vocal about it as most other people were.

A security door opens and a woman walks into plain view of Dan.

Kissta-Mine never got made.

He turns around to find 'Alia' gone. Sucked back into the walls of the upstairs, and is now replaced with the most famous of any ghost this night.

Kissta-Why? You did one for several of the girls you used to really like. One of them even got two.

Dan-That's not fair.

Kissta-Is anything in this life really fair?

Dan-I don't quite know what to say to you, I wasn't expected to be put in a situation where the two of us would be spending time alone recreating things in my life that should've came true.

Kissta-I hated your guts. Let's just get that out in the open. I didn't understand what the hell you were trying to do, but I was more than happy when we stopped talking.

Dan-Really?

Kissta-No. But that's how I think you felt. You never asked me to any dances either, which sucked.

Dan-I couldn't.

Kissta-Correction, my dear. I had a car at the time. So don't give me that shit about being afraid that I wouldn't want to switch driving roles with you. A dance is a dance, no matter who the hell drives you to it. So answer me. Why wasn't I asked? And my dear, everyone breaks out in acne when they're 14. It's a fact of life. People still do at 40 and 50 years old. And you don't date people because of the clothes that they're wearing. You could have the most expensive threads out there and nice shoes and whatever the hell else you want to buy to try to impress someone but in the 13 years since I would have hoped that you now realize that clothes or a haircut or any of it does not mean your a generally good person, just means you have some sort of fashion taste. And yeah, I probably could've said no, but as much as you broadcasted and called your friends and everything about wanting to be with me, you didn't seem to be doing anything about it, if I remember. You called a few times, but then wouldn't even show me the respect in saying 'Hi' to me when we'd see each other. And I know you, damn it, I know you. You'd just give me blank look like you didn't even know if I'd say 'Hello' back. That, my dear, if why you were single. Don't blame this on anyone but yourself making the first move. You were friends with the most popular people in our school, and had friends wherever you looked, but somehow, 'Will you go out with me' never exited your mouth, and you really had no reason. Couldn't we have met up at the theater for a movie? There is still one uptown. But listen to me, you could redo all of it if you'd just accept the invitation to Universe 2. Am I worth it to you? I was supposed to be your one true love then, and by the looks of it you haven't really found anyone since that's turned your head as much as I once did, or have you forgotten? Remember failing English, Freshman year?

Dan-Yeah, and having to take it again the next year and feeling so bad about it. Look, none of that matters now, this is 2005. We're not in high school anymore, I'm going into the reunion not like this but as someone who's been through greater knock down drag outs than pondering over someone I cared about 13 years ago, it's not worth it and doesn't get anybody anywhere anymore. I've tried that.

Kissta-I'm single.

Dan-What?

Kissta-I'm single. I broke up with my fiance and I'm single. I have a car, and actually I bought my first house. Now, is there room for a badly broken heart like yourself? Anytime. Make the jump! Spend your life with me. We can go to the reunion together, as a couple. You won't feel awkward coming up to me and tapping me on the shoulder to apologize for something that happened so long ago, I'll already be there with and everyone can shut their all too familiar mouths closed at the sight of the two most deserving people finally in the arms of each other and then we can show off our new car and the new promise ring that we just came fron sizing and...

Out of nowhere someone else walks right past them.

Dan-Who the hell was that?

Kissta-Sage. You hurt her feelings, too.

She turns and walks back to where Dan and Kissta and standing near the entrace to the auditorium.

Sage-Silence hurts anyone's feelings. So I'm going to be quiet so that I know for a fact you feel hurt and betrayed. That isn't the best thing in the world to do, but at least it gives the one dishing out some form of satisfaction knowing that they are standing there inflicting it upon your helpless skeleton. You were over me in a hurry, right? So you could run off into the sunset with this witch that even at a time like this you'd rather think about than me. How can you stand to operate your brain under such conditions, or did I even mean anything to you? Did I not even mean enough to you to give me a note on your own. Who's going to want to be in a relationship like that? But, after all that, I'd still go out with you, if only we could do it on Universe 2.

She disappears altogether, leaving him and Kissta to walk into the auditorium alone. She finds a seat near the front row and wants to sit with him.

Dan-I'm sorry about that.

Kissta-No, you're not. Don't lie. Hold me in your arms. See if it feels right. If it does then everything will come back to you.

Dan-I don't have to go to Universe 2 if I do, right?

Kissta-I promise.

He leans closer to her and for the first time in 9 years holds her dearly in his arms.

Dan-I can be with you still without making the switch in my universe situation. I loved you.

Kissta-But, you barely knew me. And why didn't you ever tell me how you felt. Don't write shit like that down, actually say it. Could you have?

Dan-Probably not.

Kissta-What if we were by ourselves at a movie?

Dan-Probably so.

Kissta-You had 4 years to tell me. Why didn't you? Don't say shit like that over the phone, you are supposed to say it with your lips moving so that the other person can see it as proof that you at least on the surface mean what you say. Don't call your friends and say things like 'wow I really like her, but I've got acne right now and nothing to wear to tell her, but I'll wait months and then have a new outfit and my mom would have bought me a car and you'd have $200 in spending money and then after all that, granted she's still single, yeah, then I'll walk up to her and be gasping for breath and say, okay I'm here, now, where were we, oh yeah, will you go out with me.' What if I'd said no? How crushed would you have been? Apparently, you crushed yourself in the face because not once. Not even once did you come up to me and say anything. Gee, thanks. I felt like an apple that had been stepped on and had the seeds ripped out of. Well, maybe just like 'wow that was for nothing, if he's just going to walk right by and not say anything.' The whole thing must have been a joke to you. How insane do you think I really was back then?

She surprises him by spitting right in his face, getting up and walking away, leaving him to clean her saliva off of his cheek.

Desi Querta Cataline-That wasn't very nice.

The lady walks from the stage to the stage steps and sits right next to Dan.

Dan-I deserved it. Who are you?

Cataline-I never met you, you might have been a little younger than me.

Dan-You don't look familiar to me.

Cataline-I'm wearing a mask. See, I can easliy take it off. I'm not in on this sceme. I'm a friend of Natasha's. They're monitoring you. In doing so, Jesus and The Father are trying to string you back to Heaven, as Aaron.

Dan-How do I know that you're real?

Cataline-Cause all you have to do is pick up your phone and call me and I'll be the one you fell for so many times it's worthy of an encyclopedia. I had a car, too. I broke right through your shell. I had a real hard time saying no, but God I was just getting out of a relationship myself, but I would've jumped through a brick wall for you. Let's get you out of here.

Dan-Where am I going?

A man walks up to both of them.

Leok Quill-Back to Heaven.

Dan-But isn't The Father trapped? What about Jesus?

Leok-They're fine, you're not.

A flash of light is seen.

The Father-I'm fine.

Dan-Are you sure?

The Father-You've got a lot in your heart. Some of it should stay hidden, as I have stayed hidden from EyeCross. Let this stuff go, though.

Suddenly the scene vanishes leaving him once again in the control room, sitting in a chair next to the professor, as Aaron Deschanel.

Aaron-You see, it didn't work. I don't see how anyone in their right mind would follow your lead into this sick and twisted second universe. I mean yeah those things happened in high school, but I'm not going to replay any of that again in my thoughts, and that doesn't mean your fake versions of them didn't tempt me because they did, especially the last one spitting in my face. I'm not going to lose sleep over it though. Things happen and too much has happened to me to deny my Savior over a few times my heart got suffocated in high school in order to what, go on a few dates with someone then realize that they weren't so great to begin with and guess what I'd lose, a friendship that means the world to me. You're going to have to find another rat to run tests on because I'm going to Heaven to be with my friends and I'm going to make Jesus a cup of hot cocoa and tell him how great of a friend He is.

EyeCross-But you'll always wonder what would've happened if you'd gone out with Kissta, just once.

Dan-Why are you doing this to me!!!

EyeCross-Not to you, to everyone. I've created a place where you and Kissta would be happily in love. It's called 'a fresh start' I know that's what the hell you want. You're doing the resurrecting here yourself, I'm just illustrating it for you in order to make the choice easier on you if you actually were able to fix certian things that up until now have seemed impossible to mend. Like actually being with Kissta.

Dan-You don't know me!

EyeCross-Yes, Dan, I do. I know that in reality, which we're concentrating on here tells me that nobody I've reintroduced you to tonight has been as much a part of your heart as someone that goes by the name Lurra'jean.

Dan-How did you know?

EyeCross-I'm a villain. I know these things. You're a rule breaker, like me. We share a lot in common, kid.

The scenery changes again.

Lurra'jean-Honey wake up, you're late for work.

Dan-I'm sorry. I was up late reading.

Lurra'jean-Don't worry I taped 'Alia and the Boy,' even though it was a rerun, I know how you like to watch what they ended up doing with your scripts after all these years.

Dan-Wait.

Lurra'jean-Thank you.

Dan-For what?

Lurra'jean-Making the choice. Welcome to Universe 2.

Dan-But I didn't, Jesus, what did I do?

EyeCross-So you see everyone, no one person is exempt from the temptation to believe in their surroundings, this has now been proven. He's made the jump. I found someone and she got to him, and now look. Hey Empress, looks like you need to find another student.

Alia-How will he be transported back?

Martina-It's a once in a lifetime chance and I'm almost sorry to say he took it.

Alia-Damn.

Just as they seem to be trying to believe in his betrayal, Lurra'jean removes her mask to reveal her identity.

Natasha-Desi and Leok are with me. We're taking you someplace.

Dan-So this isn't Universe 2?

Natasha-It is, I found a way to get here without being tempted and we're going to get you out.

Dan-How, I think Alia might not like me anymore if she figures out that I took the bribe and got here.

Natasha-Trust me, she can't know that we are behind this.

Dan-Why are you here?

Natasha-Your two friends who run Heaven have more faith in you than even you have in yourself, I think.

Dan-Thank you.

Natasha-It's okay, really, just lay down with me until Leok and Desi get here. They took another way.

He rests peacefully next to the mysterious woman who has come out of nowhere to save him. At one point during the night she moves herself closer and holds him closely in her arms. They continue to sleep close together through the blizzard happening outside.

Natasha-Shh. Just stay with me. Don't let me leave your arms. I will save you. No matter what.

She then recloses her eyes and falls asleep next to him, as Alia and the rest of the Ileys return home to North Iley, without an author, and without a friend. The castle almost seems like a tomb without their inspiration.

Alia-I never thought I'd fall into tears having just entered my own castle. I wish I knew what was so tempting about a few long lost loves that caused him to just choose to leave all of us and The Father.

Natalya-I'm sorry for your loss.

Alia-I miss him already.

Rachel is the last to walk through the door of the castle, throwing her purse at the door to Dan's room, when he's there as Aaron Deschanel.

Rachel-Why did you have to leave us!

She walks into his room to notice his video games and wrestling figures and Wooden Box Theater flyers freshly made sitting in his top dresser drawer. The same room he once gave her a key to, for which she even still has, and used just now to let herself in.

Rachel-Alia, get up here!

Alia walks back up the staircase in her castle to Aaron's room.

Rachel-Now that he's gone, what will happen to the Ileys?

Alia-Avonlie wrote part of one of the stories. I could get her to finish this one.

Rachel-I mean full time. What of Wooden Box Theater without it's cofounder?

Alia-I guess I have to make plans to vanish.

Rachel-Don't. Just in case. It's not like him to just deny you and the others. I've never known him to be that way.

The castle phone rings a few times before any of them can get to it.

Alia-Yes?

Aaron-I'm fine.

Alia-Where are you? And thank God that you're okay.

Aaron-EyeCross has lost. Natasha and two of her friends are here with me.

Alia-Where?

Aaron-I can't tell you.

Alia-I understand, I think. I just wish you were here.

Rachel takes the phone from Alia.

Rachel-Listen, my dear, I'm so sorry if I was mean to you the last time we saw each other. I just don't think I can deal with seeing you become transparent to my eyes. You used to always be so nice to me, I guess I couldn't realize that at the time, but I do now. I'm sorry, we just thought you left us.

Aaron-Nothing was all that tempting. I like my life now so much better than if I had chosen it differently back then. It's nice to hear sometimes about how someone could just go back and end up with the girl of their dreams but the reality that eats your lips off your face is that there's always an unknown to everything. What if I was with Kissta and she suddenly up and fucking ran off with someone two years older who made more money than me, what the hell then? I can just go to another universe? It's not worth it. And yea, everytime I blink I might be changing the future and might just as easily be changing my life. I could've said well if I wasn't headed out to dance that night I might not have crashed my car, but I was out driving, and I did crash, so there. Maybe on Universe 2 I would've hit a racoon instead, and if I didn't like that outcome I could go to Universe 3 and hit a person and watch their body splatter onto my windshield. Who really wants to revisit those things? Not me.

Rachel-How do you feel about me? If none of those girls from the past were able to tempt you to jump to Universe 2 could I? If I said come home to Alia's castle on North Iley and we'll be together forever just like you wanted more recently than those others. I could have you over whenever you wanted, until three in the morning, I'd never break your heart...

Dan-Don't say never, and you already did.

The phone hangs up.

Alia-I guess you have to live with that, my friend.

The computer monitor in EyeCross' control room begins to flicker on an off.

Collette-Martina, get in here!

Martina-Yes?

Collette-We're losing power.

Professor EyeCross races to find the power completely turned off of his precious computers.

EyeCross-My research! Who did this!

He takes one angry look at his two assistants and storms off into the dark hallway yelling at top volume. Once he reaches his backup computer with the 43 disks needed to restart the entire system, he finds them missing.

EyeCross-What is the meaning of this betrayal?

Leok-Be ready to defend yourself, or be cut by my weapon.

EyeCross-Don't I house you, too? Give me the disks!

Leok-A long time ago a man named Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph and then in an act of love He gave His life so that others would have eternal life. I read it. It's in the Bible. Isn't that enough proof that you don't mess with God?

EyeCross-So you've been reading, I'll give you that much, but hasn't science proven that God doesn't exist?

Leok-No. If you read the Bible, you will see His dedication to His chosen people.

EyeCross-But what about the ones that aren't chosen.

Leok-Why don't you read up about why they aren't chosen. If your so pissed off about being condemned to Hell, maybe you should think about the reasons why you're there in the first place. Have you ever apologized? You know it can't get you to Heaven, but would you rather be in Hell with a guilty feeling or be there knowing that you pulled God aside and said you were sorry. I did, when I died. Or should I say when you killed me.

EyeCross-You know the rules of Hell, you can kill me over and over for revenge, but we still have to stay down there to burn. The universe as they know it will just change without them. They'll be the only ones on a numb planet without anyone on it since everyone will make the jump to Universe 2.

Leok-No, they won't. Not any more than Dan did. Don't take out your rejection from Heaven out on every living human being just because you screwed up, it doesn't mean that God doesn't exist it just means you have to be more careful when you're in His presence.

He feels a gun pressed up against his chest.

Martina-Traitor! I should pull the trigger right now!

Leok-It won't do any good, it's not like I'm going to collapse. Not just you can make decent looking masks.

Leok at this point removes what appears to be a mask of His own.

Jesus-Your gun won't work and I have your disks. How do you want to proceed with this conversation knowing who is standing in front of you?

There is a long silence.

Jesus-Do you feel caught? Maybe you should.

EyeCross-I don't feel anything, except a want to tear your arms out of their sockets.

Jesus-Will it work, though? Might make you think twice before becoming unpopular with Collette and Martina, right?

EyeCross-You can't win!

Jesus-I challenge you to recite to me without error how many people so far you have signed up for Universe 2?

EyeCross-Myself and...Martina.

Martina-Yes, me. I'm in. But, wait, EyeCross is it forever?

Jesus-Martina, if you go I can't come to visit you in Hell because I won't exist. You will literaly have to forget you ever accepted my flowers at your cell or my desperate attempts to be welcome in your heart. You'd have to pretend like the Bible and everything in it never happened. That at one time there wasn't a Christmas where you bought little Jesus and Mary figures and decorated your house. You do like Christmas right, going to church hearing the choir sing, and holding the wax candle in your hand while they sing 'Silent Night' don't you like that?

She's seen crying at his description.

Martina-I can't, EyeCross. I can't deny Him while He's standing right next to me.

EyeCross-Then get out of here, Jesus, let us disintegrate on our own!

Jesus-I don't turn my back on people like you're asking these two to do to me.

EyeCross-I'm just asking them to forget you ever existed, because who would they be turning their back on if you never existed?

Jesus-Martina, what do you think of when someone says the name Jesus Christ? What imagry does the name bring to mind?

She stops dead in her tracks and closes her eyes.

Martina-The nativity scene.

EyeCross-Fight it, or else you're not welcome on Universe 2. He does this to everyone. Why can't you see that?

Martina-Shut up and let me think for myself for once. Now, getting back to our conversation, Jesus, I'm going to close my eyes and think about you. The first time I heard your name was when my mom dragged me to church when I was 6. I didn't know how cruel people could be when I was so young. We sat in church and held onto the wax candles. During 'Silent Night' they turned off all the lights and we just sang. Then the organist stopped playing the song and we just sang it for ourselves. It was the midnight service and I was, at first, looking forward to getting home since it was Christmas Eve and I knew I could open one present that either Mom or Santa Claus had left for me under our tree. But I always wondered about this Jesus whose birthday was on Christmas. Until I realized that Christ was your last name. My mom and dad got into a big fight the next Christmas. God, I cried so much. She was addicted to drugs. Dad couldn't get her off heroin, then she needed some pill to get her normal again because we'd come hom and find her passed completely out. They got into a big fight at Christmas dinner, I remember that. She just freaked out. She hit dad in the face, hard, then pulled a steak knife out on him and threatened to stab him in the throat if he didn't get her more heroin, that will never erase itself from my skull.

Jesus-I remember seeing that on the monitor. We sometimes cry, ourselves, up in Heaven at some of the horrors that come through day and night, sometimes I've even wanted to run to the bathroom and open the lid of the toilet and puke my guts up when I see these things happen to young kids. It's a mess seeing them put through emotional grief because their parents just can't get along. A few times I could feel the vomit start to come up and I'd have to swallw it back down in order to not get any on the keyboard I use, but through all of it I always try to make sure that no kids are harmed. That's what guardian angels are for.

Martina-The worst is having to go to bed when you know that your parents are fighting and hitting each other on the other side of the wall. I hated that the worst. I wish I could've just gotten them to break it up but then I realized that love is not a constant boxing match. I remember being put into foster care. There was a night when my mom went crazy and attacked me.

Jesus-It was a few days after New Years 2001 wasn't it?

Martina-Yeah, she called me into the living room and hit me in the face with two empty ice cube trays. Until I bled. I grabbed my school bookbag and ran out the apartment door as fast as my 19 year old feet would carry me to a neighbor's house. The police got called, but the foster parents I started living with were worse and treated me like garbage next to their kids. And I rebelled against everything and everyone. I Changed my identity and Your Dad sentenced me to Hell for it.

Jesus-Did you think you deserved it?

Martina-I got addicted to herion, just like mom. Heroin sucks. At least in Hell there's not the temptation, I mean I could get heroin if I wanted to from a guy who lives in the level below me. He's got it real cheap, but I don't want it. I saw what it did to me. That's the thing I don't mind about being in Hell is that everything bad and evil is right there for everyone to try and screw up themselves with, but we all know we can't die again, we can just see how cool it might be to pretend. And yeah, I wish I had a second chance, EyeCross, to go someplace and start over, but I have a question for you, Jesus, when you were hanging on that cross in front of all those screaming people and your own mom, didn't you ever wish there was a Universe 2 that you could sign up for at that moment, so that you wouldn't have to bleed all over a wooden cross and have your guts crushed by whips and chains during your crucifixion scene? I mean wouldn't you sometimes have wished that you didn't have to die? When the first few hooks from the whips cut into your precious and Godly back and arms, didn't you wish you could just get in contact with someone that could erase all of it if you'd just run away from Your mission, and say, 'that's it I've taken enough abuse, nothings worth this agony,' why didn't you fight back, get all your friends together and bolt. I mean run as fast as you could out of Jerusalem and get as far away as anyone ever could, without a care in the world?

Jesus-Open your eyes, Martina.

She does. And sees Him begin to cry.

Jesus-You know why? What kind of Savior bolts at the sign of trouble? What kind of friend runs when His friends need him?

Martina-But you ran away from me when you condemed me to Hell?

Jesus-Don't I visit you every night to make sure you're staying out of trouble? And don't I send letters to L asking how everyone is and what time should I come by the cells with a slice of birthday cake and don't we sing Happy Birthday and blow out little candles.

Martina-It's not enough.

Jesus-People are sent to Hell for a reason. It's not supposed to be attractive. It's supposed to give people a chance to live out everything they urge for on Earth to the point where they're sick of it and so sick of it that they lose interest after a while and actually wait for me to come by and visit them so that they can ask me things and have coffee and chat and whatever. But do I go home sad that I can't pick everyone last one of you out of your cells and bring you home to experience how great Heaven is, yes, I do, all the time. Dad can tell you about how often I come home crying my eyes and heart out that I can't save everyone who's rejected at the Doors of Heaven, but I can't. Everyone has free will on Earth, all Dad asks is that you believe in Him. Do you, Martina, believe in Me? Do you believe that the scars I still have on My hands right here are real? Here, give me your hands.

EyeCross is becoming more and more angered by her sudden turn, as he begins to draw his sword in an attempt to attack Jesus.

EyeCross-Don't touch his scars, they're not real. Anyone could draw or have those things tatooed on them, all that stuff was made up by some crazy prophets, and who's really going to remember something like 2,000 years ago to it's exact detail. Those gospels are a joke and were written long after He was killed.

Martina gives Jesus her hand. As she does he moves her fingers so that they touch the wounds from the nails banged into his wrists.

Jesus-They did this so that the pain would be so rough and wicked that I'd just hang up there and die, but that it would hurt bad and that they'd see me cry, and I tried my best to hide it, but I did. Anyone would. I cried badly. Suddenly the blood from where the crown of thorns they made for me was mashed into my scalp mixed with my crying tears I had no choice but to make more tears fall from my eyes. I got to a point up there, right before they took me down, where I didn't know which would last the longest, the blood or the tears, in the end I stopped counting both of them and just collapsed from blood loss and the fact that I just yelled out to Dad that the mission was finished and that they could take me down. But, no, I didn't want to give up. If I had given up, then it would've all been worth nothing. I didn't want a second chance to redo things that I did, or to make right the things I cried about. I knew things happend and went on for a reason in my life. I knew from a certian point in my life that I would be put to death in a very brutal way, but that I would be raised from the dead. But, do I just give up and run away? One thing people don't realize is that Dad watches everyone. He keeps track pretty good, almost compulsively at times.

She is surprised and herself begins to cry when she realizes that her entire index finger can go right through his wrist, as the wounds are clearly still there from the bloody ordeal at the cross.

Martina-EyeCross, come here, check this out, you'll believe once you try to fit your finger through his cross wound.

EyeCross-No! I try not to go near him.

Martina-Alright, Collette, get over here.

Jesus-I'm not an art gallery!

Martina-I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt Your feelings, my dear. Why would anyone? Why would anyone? Why would I sit here and deny you? I want to take you home and make chicken noodle soup and share my crackers with you. You don't seem like the type to leave a trail of broken hearts in your path. I want to tell you something right now and I want you to listen to me, and then I'm going to let the guards let your friends out of the rooms that they're now being held in. Listen to me.

Jesus-I am.

Martina-Even when I was six years old, I didn't mind holding onto that wax candle when they sang 'Silent Night,' I mean I wanted to hurry up and get home to open my one present, but I didn't mind waiting a little longer and singing for you to hear me. I just hoped that you did. Don't ask me why I never went there later on in life, to the same church on Your birthday and had that same feeling, but when I was six I was wise enough to know that if all I have to do is stand there, sing, and hold a wax candle in my hand then at least I made that much of an effort to be that much closer to Your spirit and to your heart. And damn, I guess I'm desinted to spend my life burning in Hell for what I did after that and now that I think about it You must have felt like a father who's favorite daughter up and turned her back on him, leaving him as a broken man knowing that you went through whips and chains and being spit on for me. For me! And what do I go and do but get addicted to drugs, I deserve to never even be in your company again, my dear. But please hear me out, I don't want to jump to Universe 2 and redo everything, because what I would want to redo isn't part of the deal that my buddy here is offering. Yeah, I could jump over if only I would deny you, but I would be putting myself in the position of someone in the audience watching Your death and standing right by Mary and seeing her cry so hard for You and getting on Her hands and knees and choke sobbing on the sandy ground. Could I really look her in the eye and say, 'that man up there isn't a real person, He's not the savior.' It would've crushed Her and me. I couldn't do that. Not to you, not ever.

Huge tears fall from Jesus' eyes.

Jesus-The next time I come down to see you, Martina, I will bring a glass of cold water for you to drink.

Martina-Thank you. Guards, let the Ileys out of the rooms I had you put them in while I talked to Jesus.

As told they are seen fetching their fresh caught Ileys from several rooms hidden away from view of both EyeCross and Jesus.

EyeCross-You know I could slice your skull in half and then rip the skin off your frame, but apparently it won't do any good. I remember Christmas, too. Well before I got addicted to heroin. It's a killer, you know. I'd kill for it, and I'd kill without it. I beat someone once so bad I thought he'd never make it because he was fresh out of the stuff I needed to get myself high. How do you like that, I'm a professor by day, but drug addict by night and it tore my marraige apart. My students never suspected, it's just when I got home I was in a rush to get high again and again. I needed it at 10pm and then I woke up needing it at 4am and then all my money went on it. I gave up being a professor and turned to driving a truck as my profession. That's when the lonely nights really got to me. I'd pull over at these truck stops, and maybe I'd go home and get laid by whatever scary looking gal was walking around the truck stop wanting to sleep with the truckers, but the same thing would have to happen. I couldn't enjoy sex without a rush from the drugs, and I couldn't hide the marks all over my wrists. Tracks, they used to call them. It's terminology from needles being poked into your flesh to try to get a good enough vein to inject that shit into then you wait, and sometimes you overdose and end up just sitting there rocking back and forth in place, then people freak out and think you're dead. It used to call my name at night. 'Professor,' it would say, 'Don't you need more of me in your blood and in your day.' As as sure as I'm standing here, I listened to it every night.

Jesus-What was the worst of it?

EyeCross-When I tried to quit. When you try to quit something it's always the hardest. I mean it. Because you stay up and think I'm going to quit, then you have arguments with it. You start talking to the heroin, I mean actually having conversaitons with it. It's pretty bad when it wins. But, you want to know what the worst of it is, when you say those dreaded words. 'This is the last time and then I'm done.' That phrase can screw you up pretty bad. I'm sorry if I'm not using the greatest of language, my friend, but I want you to know a few things since you asked me. I want to tell you something personal right now.

Jesus-That's fine.

EyeCross-When I was rejected from Heaven, I was high. I know I must've punched the man at the Gates of Heaven, actually I think I punched him hard a few times. Then they had to restrain me and physically carry me into the room where you wait to be transported to L's place, I fought it, though, but I was high, and you turn into someone else when you're high on that stuff.

Jesus-Is this the first time you've ever told anyone this? I mean, have you ever done that thing where you went and visited loved ones on Earth in spirit form? Just to see what they'd think to feel your presence around them again? It might bring closure to your situation. What if I could arrange an hour or so?

EyeCross-What do you mean?

Jesus-I could talk to Dad for you, but in the meantime, think of someone you'd want to visit and you and I and a couple of friends of mine can arrange it. Why did you tell me all of that stuff?

EyeCross-Because Your Jesus. And I know you'll listen.

Jesus-I haven't been distracted by anything, and I stood here in your high tech control room all set to turn millions and millions of people against me and Dad when I think all you really needed to do, all three of you, was sit down and get these things and feelings of hurt and betrayal off your chests. How does it feel to know that you just finally noticed that My existance became real right before your eyes. Now, let me tell you three one last thing, and I want you to really listen. The cross was worth it. Those five words should echo in your skulls for the rest of your alertness. I'd do it again. I wouldn't change it. Not one bit. Some could slap me across the face for pulling such a stunt in front of My own mother with I thought about, but I know she always understood, even if sometimes she didn't want to believe what I had to do. I could sense her behind Me on the way to the cross, cleaning up the blood that leaked out of my body as I tried to be strong and carry that cross. It seemed like a thousand miles with this big wooden thing making me weaker and let me tell you having these men with weapons taunting me from the front and back didn't help matters much either. I kept falling, too. But ask me, go ahead. Ask me, if I'd do it again? I'm walking proof of My Father's ability.

He turns off the computer and walks home in the cold not wanting to leave but the library just closed and he can't sleep either. What was it that was just written that got to him so much. Was it the ghosts that he has conjured up or a few of the feelings left without closure for himself.

The car is started and he drives a couple of hours to see her, not even sure if she still lives in the same place as she did the last time they saw each other.

The door is answered.

Dan-I know now.

'Kissta'-What? It's 4 in the morning. Shouldn't you be in DeKalb and in bed?

Dan-I'm writing this story and I didn't plan on any of this, but it's almost done, and yet I think I need to talk to you before I finish it. Just please let me in so I can explain it to you.

'Kissta'-Alright, but I'm still in my sleep outfit and my house is a mess.

Dan-I don't care. You know me. Just getting to see you is enough for me, I don't require coffee and the sugar and cream being put in it for me. I can do it myself.

'Kissta'-I have to be at work in a few hours, I'm actually an employee at the post office near here. It's shit to work in the snow and have to drive those little white trucks, but it pays good.

Against his will she does end up making a pot of coffee for them to share, and almost intending on annoying him, his cream and suger are already mixed in.

'Kissta'-'Alia and the Boy,' I take it? You got through a story and couldn't finish it? Someone passed me a flyer for 'Rehydrate Ash,' and I liked it. I was half tempted to email you, but I thought that maybe you wouldn't believe it was me. So I just shut up and kept my reading it from everyone. I wish I would've known what hospital you were in. Mom and I would've sent flowers.

Dan-This ones about redoing things in another Universe, set up for this sort of thing. I sort of created a scene where we met back up and that you spit on me and caused me all sort of hurt again and I went home and couldn't sleep. I managed to watch all of a Tom Cruise movie and some wrestling, and I think I might have played a wrestling video game and after eating some wheat crackers and chicken soup I jumped back in my car and here I am and I swear to God if you don't let me get a few tings off my chest they will continue to break parts of my brain off and I'll end up stayuing up every night until this is finally settled. All I ever wanted was to be your boyfriend and if I was a little shy about it before then forgive me and lets just run away tonight together and never fucking have to come back to everything that we ever felt would ever hurt us, and lets take tonight and make it our New Years Day and walk out of this house that you now live in and screw the post office and the office I work in and lets cut open the hearts of anyone who tries to mess with us and our love and let's just...

'Kissta'-Finish your coffee, my dear. One thing at a time. You're turning red. You almost exploded. Now, start over. What do you want to do. Here, I know you better than that.

She walks to the light swich and looks at it and the candles sitting on the speaker to her stereo and lights both of them. Two white ones. Once they are lit she turns the light switch to the off position and turns the stereo on to a slow song.

'Kissta'-Get up. I mean put your coffee cup down and get up. Walk over to me and hold me, and them slow dance with me. But be quiet. I don't want you to say anything. Just dance with me.

She puts her arms around him and they dance.

Dan-The singer is right, I don't know how to let you go. You seem to still be in my thoughts after all these years, and I don't get in my painted red car at 2 in the morning for that many people. Especially in the snow, which I hate. I swear I'm going to be written up if I take one more snow day.

'Kissta'-Shh.

Dan-Why are you crying?

'Kissta'-I guess I am. Please stop the story. I don't want you to see or think about anything else right now, but me and how my smile appears to be in love with you right now. Let go. Alia will still be there when you get back, just freeze everything 'Alia and the Boy' related for even just a few more minutes since we managed to talk through most of that song, and I'll start another one. I want you to do this for me because you're selfish if you think you're the one who needs this. I do. I swear I do.

The play buttom is once again pressed.

Dan-The girl who used to play Annie when we used to perform the scripts live read the words to this song at the end of 'Iva and the balance of freedom.'

'Kissta'-Everyone knew about that whole ordeal. You're brave.

Dan-Sometimes I feel like there's no part of my heart left unhurt so I try to look back and fix parts of it that were hurt for no reason.

'Kissta'-You hurt me pretty badly, by not saying anything. I could've saved you from her. From all of them that came along and butchered you.

Dan-I know.

'Kissta'-I still can.

Dan-How?

'Kissta'-French kiss me right now.

Dan-Why?

'Kissta'-Because I love you.

Dan-Collette!

She is unmasked.

Dan-I won't kiss your lips! What have you done with the real Kissta!

Collette-She's waiting for you. On Universe 2. No one's going to make me a Christian. Jesus got to EyeCross and Martina, but not me.

Dan-You just spent about an hour mutilating my thought pattern and I want to know why?

Collette-Doesn't the thought of the 'worlds greatest supercouple that never was' being reunited if only you drove a couple of hours to see her? Couldn't you just feel it in your bones, how great it felt when you and her were slow dancing? Didn't it make you feel all special inside your heart?

Dan-But, at what cost?

Collette-You and I just entered Universe 3. Every good villain has a backup plan and you fell for it.

Dan-How do I escape?

Collette-You don't. You can fight it, but it will win. Go ahead, take a walk around. I did what Martina and the professor only dreamed of. You accepted the invitation and ran for it. Too many songs being played on your headphones that reminded you of her when you were writing the story, don't you think? Or was it the way that you now have come to realize that it was your fault, not mom or stepdad's or sister's or anyone else's fault but your own selfishness that lead you to not say those things to her back all those years ago when you had plenty of chances to when you used to call her, and you just gave in tonight and drove all that way to see her, only it wasn't her, it was me. I sat there and tried to get it out of you, and hey you took the bait and I won. I don't even feel bad for hurting you, though and I know deep down I should, but I don't. Where's your cowgirl now? Where is she? She sure hasn't rescued you, yet? I'm smarter now than I was the last time. I'm not going to kidnap you in such an open area as a house in the middle of a busy town. No, we're in the middle of nowhere, that much you know from driving all the way out here for an illusion of something you've wanted since, what, when you were 17? Isn't that right? Damn you. How many wasted days are there in four years? Days when you could've easily walked up to her and said 'You know what, you look really beautiful today,' why not?

Dan-Because. Hell, I don't know, what the Hell good would it do me to confide in someone that I know is trying to murder me?

Collette-Because you never did with anyone else. See, I know how to get to you, just as Jesus got to my friends. 'Hey will you go to the dance with me that's coming up, I'm playing drums in the pep band at the basketball game, but after that I can have someone take me home and call my mom and then we can hang out longer or even inside the lunch room while we wait for our parents to pull up and take us home.' There, a few seconds and it's out of your mouth. That's all it would've taken. She wouldn't have said no.

Dan-How do you know that?

Collette-Because I wouldn't have and I know the real 'Kissta' wherever she is and whoever she's with won't mind much at all dancing with you when or if you see her later this year with the others. Let me tell you what women want. Security in their man's arms. That's the most imporant. And someone to show slinky new nightgowns to who's going to appreciate them. This story is getting pretty brutal so far.

She lights a cigarette.

Collette-I'm taking you home now. I can't kidnap you after all, you too good of a spirit. Here, jump in the car I stole and I'll drive you someplace I think you might want to see, but remember that this is my house. 'Kissta' is someplace else. I don't have her address for you and I'm sorry about that and that might make you cry, well, too late for speculation, but I can't produce her right now. She didn't sign up for Universe 2. She's happy with her life the way it is, my dear. And yeah, I'm the only one left out of the three. In all honesty.

They pull into a cemetary and she stops the car.

Collette-There are flaws in Universe 2. This is one of them. I forgot to mention that in Universe 2 there's no Jesus to pray to. You have to deny Him at the front door. So I did. So I drove here to see if I felt any different seeing Dad's grave where he was laid to rest and I do. Only this time, there's no Jesus for me to pray to. He doesn't exist here. And no matter how much I pissed and moaned and screamed and yelled until my tonsils were bloody, He wasn't there. Then I was glad, I thought. I felt like I didn't need Him anyway. Piss on Him. But I ended up falling alseep right here next to Dad, only I felt like I should've been in the casket instead of him. Damn myself for feeling that way. I kept things all on the inside until it ate me like a tapeworm eats all your food for you. Dad drank until it killed him. He beat me and my sister silly most of the time, but that was my dad and I cried at the funeral. Like a baby. I was holding onto the casket for dear life when they were ready to lower it into the ground with dad in it. I couldn't even go up to it at the visitation because it scared me to see him laying inside it knowing that there were still things I wished I had said to him, but I realize now that what I wished would truthfully take place at that moment was that I could have Jesus himself over so He Himself could talk to me while I was trying to hide my tears because I could've found a friend in Him. A friend that I would've needed and accepted so badly that when the time came I wouldn't care how many tears I cried in front of Him, I would know that He'd always be there for me, through all of it. A life without that security is nothing. You hear me. Absolutely nothing. You have nothing and you are nothing if you walk alone. People try, though. I did. EyeCross and Martina did. But, what have we all learned tonight. Maybe that you don't know what you have in your life until you throw it away thinking it's not there thinking about you, when in reality it is. People say you have guardian angels. That's bullshit. There's only one guardian angel and He's got a pretty smart kid, too.

Dan-Did anyone ever really break your heart? I mean until you felt that blood had drained out of it and they would have to find a suitable donor just to keep it looking like an actual heart planted inside your chest?

Collette-Yeah. I remember it clear enough to want to rip his hair out of the scalp on his head, but it won't do any good, he'll just go off and smash another girl's self esteem. You know when Craid left me I swore that no one would ever hurt me so bad. This was right before dad died. I had to get a restraining order against him. I was scared to death.

Dan-I'm not a controlling person, so I can't really comment on someone who is. I couldn't see myself controlling a girlfriend. They're supposed to be for you to love and spend time with, not to give orders to.

Something startles both of them.

A man walks slowly enough so that his every footprint can be heard in the snow.

Admiral Osterly-Hello there, Dan. Enjoy my unbroken spirits while they last. I have you cornered in this wintery night, don't I?

Dan-Collette?

Collette-Daddy, don't hurt him!

He moves closer, with his hands ready to choke Dan.

Dan-I'm wearing a watch. Everyone of the Ileys will jump past whatever brick wall you throw at them. I know what you want. I know it eats at your skin that you can't have the date of the 'End of the World.' Do you want a slight preview of the horror of it to the unbelievers? It's a horror show in the sky for anyone who's caught denying The Father! You might have cornered me and my friends, but when you anger a sleeping giant, he comes looking for the one that did the damage and when that giant wakes from his sleep you had better find someplace, even a fast food place bathroom and kneel down on your face in fear of the coming of the Lord, it's going to happen. How did the four of you plan on creating 2 other patters in the sky to cover up the fact that He rejected all four of your friends from Heaven, and the fact that I know how your case against Marcus and Thoma will turn out!

At the sound of their names, the admiral makes good on his promise and reaches out his hands to fit around the neck of Dan Sherrill.

Osterly-When will the world end!

Dan closes his eyes for a brief second. That's all it takes. No one can get to his prayers. To his thoughts. His calling card to Heaven is about to be used in this desperate hour. The ground shakes first, appearing to only be a tremor under both of their feet as Collette looks on thanking herself for her quick ability to tell a convincing story to lure Dan into this forbidden cemetary. At the cue of her father she brushes off a small portion of ice and snow off of another grave sitting next to the one with her father's name on it.

Collette-Remember, Dan, this is Universe 3 and there is no God that will save you, I'm sorry.

Dan-That's a nice cardboard gravestone, my now ex friend. I sat there and trusted you, and look where it got me. Face to face with someone who is destined to chase me in my nightmares down the busy streets of Madrid, Spain with a sharp knife wanting a specific date out of my memory bank, you two know that if you choke me and my guts come up with yesterdays breakfast at the lack of breathing through my nose and mouth I will die and you'll never know when the world will end. What hour? What minute? And what would that do to your case against two Christians? Prove their guilt and enter them into a lifetime of horror just for believing in Jesus? You're writing the history books with this trial. The first of it's kind, right? Two men jailed for believing in the gospels and wanting other Spanish citizens to marvel at it's glory. That's sure a nice thing to do to the population that looks up to you.

The Earth trembles again. This time it's more violent. A man walks carrying a weapon. Osterly falls a couple of times, trying to stand still. Collette has fainted instantly at the sight of the man walking closer and closer to Osterly. Every step puts an inprint in the snow filled cemetary. He walks right by Dan and smiles then makes his way toward where Osterly is standing, ready with a weapon of his own. An ax. A sharp one.

The Father-So, this is Universe 3.

He's very quiet.

The Father-That's Dan Sherrill over there, and why does he have marks on his neck from hands being around it? And how many classes in anatomy have you ever taken to be able to create something as complex as a human being. The difference between you and I, Osterly, is that you read books and check books out at the library about anatomy and how human bodies function. You seem to forget that I never have to suffer through ridiculous late fees on my library card. I wrote the book so long ago you could've been born, lived 80 years and then died and repeated that cycle thousands of times. Millions of times. Trillions of times. Trying to get the date of the 'End of the World' has landed you a persistant nature, but, my foe of the hour, you forget something. I could turn over my entire bag of tricks and secrets and 'Alex' but would you even begin to know how to operate everything that I could possibly hand you? How much did you pay these people to join you? Only I can give them cold water down there, and all your doing is trying and trying and trying to get your dirty paws on the date so you can save your case. I should bring Pastora here right now. So she could see finally, once and for all the deception that is rearing its ugly head out of the sand of the Earth. It has only one name and how lucky are you to have it? Do you think raiding Hell of three story tellers to try to help you construct a second and third universe in order to lure Dan into the arms of a costume who could've easily killed him at any point, but do you see what we have succeeded in doing that you can never say for yourself? My Boy and Dan here were able to peel off the illusion. I have one command to give and then I will see your face melt.

Osterly-There is nothing you can command that would cause heat to burn my face off. I don't need those three anyway, I knew You and your bratty Kid would try something like this, so I came prepared with a second option, should this happen. A little piece of information. I know the date. It's June 19th! There, see, I win again! I'm going to send Marcus and Thoma to the death penalty tonight. I can find the judge.

The Father-What's his name?

Osterly-What do you mean?

The Father-June 19th of what year? And what is the name of the judge, and has he been checked for a mask? You know one of those rubbery things that people wear at Halloween. I dare you to go and check him. Then we'll see who's name has been added to the list, if you know what I mean. The list of people who's faces have been formally melted from their bones! Think about that for a while.

He transports himself back to the empty courtroom. No one suspects any wrongdoing since he runs half the town. He almost violently searches through court papers on the exact date of the beginning of Marcus and Thoma's trial. A cell phone is used to make several phone calls. First to his cheif aid and then to his secretary, and then to Pastora herself.

Attourney Pastora Condon-What do you want?

Osterly-I'm sorry for calling so late.

Pastora-Where are you?

Osterly-Tearing the courtroom apart.

Pastora-Why would you be doing that at 5 in the morning? What are you looking for?

Osterly-I'm hunting down the name of the judge for tomorrow. Tomorrow is June 19th and something bad is about to happen to your precious defendants. Something horrifying. What do you think of when you hear the term 'death penalty.'

Pastora-Hold on, someone's at the door.

She walks to answer the doorbell just as as Osterly realizes who it might be at her door.

She lets him in and offers him a cup of tea.

Osterly-Pastora! Who just entered your apartment.

His cellphone line goes dead and turns into a fast busy signal. Finally after several minutes he does finally find the sheet of paper with the usual name of the judge for the upcoming case. It's signed in an unfamiliar form of ink, looking to be freshly written. It reads only a few things for which he hardly understands. EHYEH ASHER EHYEH! Where the name of the judge should be. And what looks at first to be signed initials, YHWH. He quickly removes the log book and races to a nearby gas station to make copies of the signature.

The first time the light from the copier senses His signature and handwriting it freezes up. The manager doesn't know how to punish Osterly for this, knowing that the Admiral could easily shut his gas station down that instant. So Osterly rushes to another location to make a copy to examine the apparent signature of the upcoming judge. It's a grocery store. He also begins to notice the sky. A hideous black night is about to unfold as no matter where he goes he cannot escape the fact that court is in session to decide the lives of those christians and his own may evaporate before his eyes.

Finally he comes to the last copier in that the signature's presence hasn't broken and it is tried. This time, something else is written in place of 'YHWH,' a set of initials that seem more familiar to him, but in a much more realistic way. 'JHVH.'

The storm begins. And with the first few raindrops on his shoulder an envelope is passed to him as he stands outside. Now the hale begins. Until a car sitting next to him is eye catching to those walking by as the hale has broke through it's windshield.

Chief Aid Randol-Admiral, is that you? What do you have?

When he finds Osterly, Randol notices that he is shaking, even though he is the most powerful man in Spain.

Randol-What's the letter say, and who gave it to you?

He is unable to get a response from Osterly, only a blank stare. Finally, Randol unfolds the letter himself and reads.

Admiral Osterly,

B'shem Elohim, ha-Rachaman, V'ha-Rachum

Randol-Do you know what's happening!

Osterly-I do. The angry giant has been tossing and turning all night and is finally awake and ready for His day. You know you try to predict these things your whole life...

Randol-But once they're looking at you. I mean, really looking at you, you never realize quite how badly you needed to keep uncovered what should've remained under the cloak of mystery. Now, look. You know who wrote this letter to you? Don't you?

Osterly-You did, my Lord.

A mask is removed, slowly.

YHWH-I hope for your sake, Admiral, that your eyes are open. You seek the date, now here it is in front of you, what will you do to stop it once you have scemed to start it? Be the first to witness those who obey me and those that don't. Now, let it horrify you until the skin melts off your face, like you so profoundly told me would not happen.

Osterly-Something is burning me.

YHWH-Reach directly in front of you.

As he does, things are put back into plain view. The illusion projected around him is turned off to reveal a crying man on his hands and knees before God, daring anyone to follow the same path.

Osterly-I'm sorry, my Lord. I dare never tread those same footsteps without considering the horror I shall unravel along the way.

The Father-I only use my initials when I'm out to prove a point.

The admiral wakes peacefully in his time period, about to be awakened by his alarm clock sixteen days before the 'Day of the Lord' unaware that the case he is about to examine is more important to him than trying to remember a deeply freightening nightmare that has only a few minutes ago faded like most dreams do, by thinking about more important things like taking that shower in the morning and making a fresh pot of coffee.

The Father-My friends, the Ileys, again you strive to obey my wishes, however dangerous, and however 'long story like.' Thank you.

Alia-It's not a problem for any one in this room. Are we all in agreement?

The entire group of Ileys that were asked to participate is clearing the air between EyeCross, Martina and Collette with their Heavenly Father and Jesus. They exit the hidden control room, which as it turned out was itself a projection created, like everything else, by The Father. Which leaves one last queston, what would he say to her if she did come home long anough to talk to him.

Dan-Wait!

Natalya-Yes?

Dan-I wouldn't have traded that first slow dance with you for anything. When I couldn't sleep the other night I put on that song and put on my headphones and stood there frozen in place and yet transported to the first time I really heard country music. I heard it in your arms, not wanting to let go of someone I grew to care about so much, it's hard to imagine that we never made it as a couple.

Suddenly the scenery changes again. At the hands of The Father. Out of the firely lair known as Hell, where the created environments were constructed and now destructed, the two of them are seen by several of the Ileys, including Alia and Rachel, fixing each other a couple of scoops of ice cream, watching the next several country music videos on the television.

Natalya-You know what tastes good, when you put graham crackers in the glass sundae dish alongside your ice cream and chocolate syrup. I'm making up my mind right now. About staying in this house with you, if you'll find room in your heart for me. Just a cowgirl, looking for a cowboy to stay this time. That's all anyone in my situation could want.

Dan-Just promise me something. That I won't wake up in the middle of the night to find a note next to me instead of a pretty blonde.

Natalya-Some things you have to just trust won't have to happen.

The End.

Fozzy - Enemy

No one knew how to react in flight class when the disaster siren was heard... Desi Cataline and Leok Quill in

Alia and the Boy Natasha marches past our doorway Part One Origin of thy Sword

written and directed by Dan Sherrill and Wooden Box Theater

Continue to Natasha marches past our doorway:Part 2- Cross shatter Eye

No one knew how to react in flight class when the disaster siren was heard...

Desi Cataline and Leok Quill
in

Alia and the Boy

Natasha marches past our doorway

Part One
Origin of thy Sword

written and directed by Dan Sherrill
and Wooden Box Theater

Continue to
Natasha marches past our doorway:Part 2-
Cross shatter Eye