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Rehearsing a Tragedy
It is late at night. Muffled sounds and suppressed screams can be heard from the prop room, which should be empty at this hour.
In a dark corner, the faceless faces of mannequins are illuminated by flashing lights.
Tippi cowers into a sofa, hugging a cushion tightly. The knife-wielding killer laughs maniacally, whose blade reflecting the bright white lights. In the very next instant—
- Tippi
EEK—
- Shelly
EEK—
- Moira
......
- Tippi
What a classic! That one's one of my favorites. It may be a small-budget production from thirty years ago, but it stands up perfectly well to today's films!
- Shelly
Phew... watching horror movies really does help let off steam. I feel better already. Thanks for the invitation, Tip.
- Tippi
Like, doesn't it feel better to just scream it all out? I know you didn't mean to interrupt the shoot. You were just on edge.
- Shelly
Yeah. I wouldn't say it's solved my issues... but at least I can forget about them for tonight. What are we watching next?
- Tippi
I've got everything. Horror night has just begun!
- Tippi
Hey, why so serious, Molly? You didn't like the movie?
- Moira
I was just thinking...
- Moira
That knife looked a little too thin. I think it'd have had more impact with a more intricate design, like blood grooves on the sides of the blade.
- Tippi
All work and no play makes Molly a dull girl! Turn off that work-brain already! Have you been spending too much time with Shelly?
- Miss.Christine
Mrrow~
- Tippi
Hey there, mystery lady. Whatcha doing here?
The beautiful creature gets between the two girls, stretches, and sits in front of the sofa.
- Tippi
Clever girl. Looks like she really likes us, Molly. You wanna watch a movie together? But it'll be scary, so don't say I didn't warn you.
- Tippi
Hm? Whose terminal was that? Molly?
- Moira
Not mine.
- Shelly
......
- Shelly
Sorry... I've got to go.
- Moira
She looked really pale. Do you think Miss Stone is pissed at her about what happened today?
- Tippi
Let's try to be there for her tomorrow too. She looks really tired.
- Moira
Yeah.
- Tippi
Alright, fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy movie night! This one won Best Design. The background, props, and weapons are all really cool.
The screen lights begin flashing again, immersing the two girls in another horror story. Neither of them notice that Miss.Christine is nowhere to be seen.
- Shelly
......
- Michael
Shelly? I thought you were watching movies with Tip. What's the rush?
The overly friendly man notices that Shelly is clutching her terminal in her right hand.
- Michael
Ah, I see... a sudden invitation to a date?
- Michael
Well, try not to look so grim when you're there. I'm sure he'd rather see a smile.
- Shelly
It's none of your business.
- Michael
Your lips are trembling. You're cold. Or maybe afraid?
- Michael
You poor thing, you're still shaken about Dalton's accident, aren't you? Just like me.
- Michael
Don't worry, with you as coordinator, I'm sure everything will go just fine. Come on, let me give you a hug. You could use the warmth.
- Shelly
What do you mean, 'just like me'?
- Shelly
I couldn't hear an ounce of fear in that trashy pick-up line.
- Shelly
Have you completely forgotten what happened five years ago?
- Shelly
Well, I haven't, because I'm not heartless like you. Don't forget: you're not free from blame for that accident either.
- Michael
......
The light abruptly turns on in the office on the second floor.
On one desk, the papers are tidily filed away in folders, with hardly any sign of use.
On the other, notices are scattered all over, covered in editing marks as though the writer is troubled by something.
A tall figure searches around the desks, making not a single sound with his lithe and nimble motions.
- Lucian
Here.
The shredder has been used recently.
Lucian opens the waste bin, and picks up several strips of shredded paper that feel different from the others, different from the printing paper normally used by the film crew.
- Lucian
'Trimounts University'... 'Environmental Monitoring'... signed... 'Greta'.
- Lucian
The 'unusual document' that Shelly mentioned.
He feels a slight push on his shoulder, seemingly in affirmation, but there is no one else in the room.
- Lucian
Welcome back, Miss.Christine.
- Lucian
You've been taking more walks lately. Did something here catch your eye?
- Miss.Christine
This place is more interesting than expected.
- Lucian
Indeed. I've discovered something unexpected myself.
- Shelly
Don't overthink this, Shelly... You're only here to see who's playing this sick joke.
- Shelly
You saw that number become invalid with your own eyes. It... it can't be...
Shelly tries her best to calm down. The fear and anxiety she had briefly forgotten while watching the movie now takes over again.
'Go to the warehouse and atone for your sins.'
The terminal's screen glows in the quiet warehouse, showing the name of the sender. A name that is familiar, yet impossible—'Laura'.
- Shelly
Who's there?!
- Shelly
Stop playing games. I know I'm not hearing things this time! What the hell do you want from me?
- Shelly
What do you know?!
There is no answer. The darkness swallows all sound in the old warehouse.
She hears the tiny buzzing of electricity. A light suddenly comes on above a distant shelf.
As eerie as it is enticing, Shelly cannot help but walk toward it.
- ???
Shelly.
- Shelly
Laura... is that you?
Once again, Shelly starts trembling. She cannot tell if the sound came from deep within the warehouse, or from inside her own head.
She walks forward in a daze. It is as if she has returned to that set five years ago, where the tragedy occurred.
- ???
Shelly! I just got another scene and I need the wire rig. Can you prepare it for me?
- Shelly
Arrogant... cocky... proud... how dare you, a fresh face in Wrankwood...
- ???
Mr. Dalton said the director signed off on it...
- Shelly
Dalton, still a star at the time, wanted to teach you a lesson, but you thought he was helping you... Are you happy with how it turned out?
- ???
Is he not here yet? I've spent hours up in this rig. My knees and elbows are probably bleeding by now... Can you please ask them for me, Shelly?
- Shelly
I'm just a coordinator. All I can do is prepare the equipment and the rig. Make sure they're... safe...
- ???
Well, did you?
Shelly arrives before the shelf. The light shines upon a black dust bag. She knows what is inside.
Don't open it, Shelly. Don't.
- Shelly
!!!
Inside is an old wire rig set. The hook and tether are badly worn, and the harness is frayed.
There are dark spots on the black cloth.
Laura's blood.
- Shelly
No! You can't possibly know!
- Shelly
You're just a hallucination! You can't be alive! Right... pain... I brought a pen...
- Shelly
Ngh—
- ???
...How pathetic.
- Shelly
Why are you still there... Why didn't it work?!
- ???
Was the incident five years ago an accident... or a murder?
- Shelly
An accident... it was an accident! It was a tragic accident that only happened because Dalton held a grudge against you!
- ???
Then why didn't you check my rig?
- Shelly
I...
- ???
Why?
- Shelly
Because I hated you!
- Shelly
I hated your selfishness and arrogance! I hated that you made a mess out of the shooting schedule, and affected everyone with your unreasonable demands!
- Shelly
I was happy when Dalton decided to teach you a lesson! I was checking the wire rig as usual, and noticed it was due for replacement.
- Shelly
Then, a little thought crossed my mind. What if an accident happened, and you were gone forever...?
- Shelly
Wouldn't that be... even better...?
Still in a trance, a hand pushes Shelly over. She hears the sound of coolant flowing through the pipes, and frost cracking beneath her.
She realizes that she had stumbled into the cold storage at the end of the warehouse.
But what can she do? Bang on the door? Shout? She has no strength left to struggle.
......
The fear is gone. She feels completely relaxed.
......
......
Death has answered all her questions.
