Twisted Horror Stories by Matthew Tonks

Tag: Lies Of A Broken World Chapter Three

  • Day 45 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act IV

    Day 45 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act IV

    Christopher removes the headset and gives a little laugh as he sits back in his seat, how easily this plan played out, and now as he relaxes as the jet prepares to take off towards New London, he feels finally fulfilled. He looks out the window and takes a sip of wine ‘Here’s to a plan well played.’ He allows a small laugh to escape.

    “Is this seat taken?” a voice asks.

    “No, please help yousel…” Christopher stops mid-sentence as he meets Gary’s gaze.

    “How’s this for a coincidence, fancy running into you, Hallowthorpe not with you?” Gary asks as he sits down looking around the cabin.

    “No, I have a personal matter to take care of that does not involve Caroline,” Christopher says as he slides the headset down the side of his seat.

    “Man what a view,” Gary says as he peers out the window. “Hey what are those?” he asks as he pulls up the headset.

    “No please, they are very expensive,” Christopher says in a panic as he grabs hold of the headset.

    “Ok, no need to get excited there Christopher,” Gary says as he lets go. “Anyone would think you just killed Hallowthorpe with some remote controlled droid dressed as her long dead sister.”

    Christopher sits there in shock for a few moments and his eyes begin to well up with tears, “What! How?”

    “Sometimes the little things you overlook are the things we find, but the servo-chair, leaving that behind was a big mistake. Seems not only does it record everything the droid does, but it also led me straight to you, I thought it was more important getting to you than Hallowthorpe. It also didn’t work well for you to use the same name for the ticket that you used to hire my former partner Andrew Fontaine for the ground work in your little plan. I see you’re a little shocked, so if you don’t mind, I’ll fill you in on what I think is going to happen, so tell me how close I am,” Gary says as he settles back in his seat. “You see Christopher, I’m pretty sure when we get a DNA test done on you, we’ll see that you’re Hallowthorpe’s half-brother or some relation of some kind, and I’m betting that’s why you did it in the end, you wanted to avenge the father you never knew and the sister you actually liked, all I want to know is why did it take you so long do it?”

    “The bitch was stealing my ideas and taking all the credit, I was the brains, she couldn’t even think without getting a headache. Spending all her time and credits at those disgusting so called entertainment shitholes,” Christopher replies. “The worst thing was, I never got a cent of what we made, I was paid a pittance for all the work I did, she deserved to die, one bad deed justifies another, I saw nothing wrong with it.”

    “Too bad Christopher, if you tried another way, you could’ve been sitting where she was, you could’ve had it all, but now you’ve got nothing.”

    “What’s going to happen to me now?” Christopher asks as the tears run down his face.

    “I don’t want to ruin the fun, but it’s going to be very cold.”

     

    #

     

    Within Delta City, man has recreated many areas to remind themselves of the beauty Earth once possessed, bio-engineered parks that can be found throughout many of the uptown and downtown suburbs. These parks were created with one intention, to mimic the once living earth that man so long ago destroyed. Milwaukee Park is by day a haven for children everywhere, and by night brings out all the monsters that hide in the shadows, and tonight is no exception.

    Three members of a Zerker’s gang named The Aces, deal out punishment to a credit jumping bookkeeper for their current employer.

    “Boss said you owe him his cut of your takings Washington, boss don’t like the disappearing act you did, you’ve wasted our time and his time and credits finding you,” one of the Zerker’s say to Washington, as he holds him by one leg in the air.

    “I’ll have his money Palco, I swear, it’s just tied up in an investment, there was nothing I could do. I have the same problems as your boss, I just needed time,” Washington pleads.

    “You know how this all works, if you weren’t so deep in shit then maybe we could give you a free pass. But you’re not only sinking in your own shit, your breathing it in like the disgusting little creep you are,” Palco replies.

    “I’ll double whatever Barossa is paying you if you give me a day, that’s all I need.”

    “You think I’m that fucking stupid?” Palco replies, “You know what happened to the last guy who tried to make a little money on the side? They got fucking buried, I’m not that stupid, so again you little shit, what will it be, fingers or toes?”

    “District-Three PD, freeze!” A voice yells from the darkness of the park. “Release Washington and get on your hands and knees!”

    “Fuck me, is this your doing little man?” Palco asks looking down at the upside down Washington.

    “No way, I may be stupid, but I’m not that stupid.”

    “Bullshit, they know your name arsehole,” Palco yells as he rips Washington in two like a wishbone and slams a button on his chest. The other two Zerker’s follow Palco’s lead, setting off a chemical injection of ND411 or as it’s known on the streets Nitro, an illegal steroid that works overtime. It simultaneously stimulates rapid muscle growth to every muscle in the body, sending the user into a muscle-bound rage fit more commonly called ‘Red Rage.’ The officers are quickly ripped into various pieces before they can even mount a defensive attack, the Zerker’s then continue their drug induced rampage off into the city.

    In the shadows, a figure watches them from afar. ‘That’s it, continue on your way my Zerker friends, leave me to do my work.’

    The man turns back to the four children who sit behind him, he pulls out a knife and it gleams in the moonlight.

    “Now that our friends are gone let’s get started shall we?” he says as he thrusts the blade into one of the children.

     

    END OF CHAPTER THREE

     

  • Day 42 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act III

    Day 42 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act III

    Caroline stands in front of a holo-projection of Mike Robbins the current anchor of Channel Thirty-One news, his contract is about to run out, and he’s trying to make a better deal.

    “Look I don’t care, you either agree to my terms or you can find work elsewhere, although I don’t know where else there is!” Caroline yells as she slams the phone down. “Ungrateful pricks, you give them everything, make them a name and all they want is more!”

    Caroline makes her way out into a large kitchen, four robots stand awaiting orders.

    “How may I be of assistance Miss Hallowthorpe?” one of the robots queries.

    “I am ready for my evening meal.”

    “It will be ready in five minutes Miss Hallowthorpe,” the robot replies and then it whisks off and begins preparing Caroline’s meal, the other robots quickly join in, suddenly there is a loud crash from the lounge area, and Caroline instantly freezes.

    Quickly she hits a small emergency button next to the phone and looks around the kitchen for something to use as a weapon, a knife rack catches her eye, and she slowly draws a knife free, then quietly makes her way out into the hallway. A sound comes from the lounge area and causes Caroline to freeze in her steps, after a few moments she slowly steps towards the entrance way when she is stopped again, this time by a cold shiver that run down her spine. She spins around in fright coming face to face with her long dead sister.

    “Rebecca!” Caroline screams in shock.

    “Hello Caroline, miss me?” Rebecca says as she backhands Caroline to the floor, and the knife goes skidding off underneath the sofa.

    “Don’t look so surprised sister you never really thought you could be rid of me did you?” Rebecca asks with a smile.

    “There’s no way,” Caroline says.

    “Why, because you killed me?”

    “You’re not my sister, I don’t know who you are, but you’re not my sister. But it matters little of who you are as the police are going to be here very soon!”

    “I hate to disappoint you sis, but they’re not coming, I took care of that before I got here.”

    “What the fuck are you?” Caroline yells. “You can’t be here, you’re dead! You’re dead!”

    “But I am,” Rebecca replies, “and I want what is mine, what you took from me.”

    “I took nothing from you, you took it from me, I should have had it all, you never earned it, you just sucked up to Daddy all the time, you never challenged anything he ever said you just wanted the credits. I’ve turned this into a business, into something even Daddy never dreamed of. You’re scum just like he was, that’s why he had to die, and that’s why you had to die too!” Caroline screams as she attacks Rebecca, who easily avoids her advances and throws her into the lounge area, Caroline goes crashing into the ground, she lets out a cry of agony as her hip rips out of its joint.

    “You killed Daddy too?”

    “Don’t play stupid with me bitch, you knew I killed Daddy, you saw me do it, but you knew to keep your mouth shut because you knew you would get everything!” Caroline yells as she feels around and finds the knife lying underneath the sofa, Rebecca grabs Caroline and pulls her up.

    “You killed Daddy!” Rebecca yells, Caroline takes the chance and plunges the knife deep into Rebecca’s chest, they both go crashing to the floor, and Caroline forces the knife in deeper, staring into her dead sister’s eyes with the glee of a maniac as she does.

    “I’m not going to make the same mistake twice, this time, I’m going to make sure you stay dead!” Caroline yells as she slowly gets to her feet and limps away.

    “Where do you think you’re going? It’s not over yet,” Rebecca says from behind her, Caroline turns around and faces Rebecca again.

    “It’s just not possible, I stabbed that knife into your heart, you should be dead?”

    “Sorry to disappoint you,” Rebecca says with a smile. “But you were right about one thing, Rebecca is dead, and I’m glad you finally admitted to what really happened,” she says as she grabs the front of her fringe and rips the skin off revealing a robotic face.

    “You’re a droid?”

    “Surprise Caroline, I just want to tell you it’s a shame I’m not there with you to witness your death first hand, but still there is nothing to cry over with this second rate live feed. In a way I’m sorry it had to end this way Caroline, but that’s how somethings go. You see right now I’m jetting off to my new life and you, well let’s just say you’re about to pay for your sins,” the droid says, the voice now matching Christopher’s.

    “Christopher?” Caroline mutters as the droids eyes flash red.

    “Don’t worry Caroline, I promise it won’t hurt too much, goodbye sister.”

    “Christopher you fu…” she screams as the droid explodes, the explosion rips into Caroline, her skin and flesh ripped from her bones, leaving only the smoking remains of what once was Caroline Hallowthorpe.

     

    END OF ACT III

     

  • Day 38 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act II

    Day 38 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act II

    For almost an hour, Gary follows Christopher down into the lower levels of Downtown until he finally pulls into an old rundown storage warehouse delightfully called ‘The Graveyard’ a place where things can come and rest in peace. ‘This is way too seedy an area for the rich and powerful to come visiting unless you have a secret to hide, what the fuck are you up to Dillinger?’

    He watches as Christopher comes to a stop in front of storage unit twenty-two. He looks around quickly before pressing a button on his key chain and the door slides open with a grinding hiss, Christopher enters the storage locker, and the door closes behind him. ‘What have you got in there?’

    Gary slowly makes his way towards the door of the storage unit, with a hiss the door begins to reopen, Gary quickly finds a place to crouch behind to avoid Christopher’s detection. To his surprise the sound of two sets of footsteps leave the storage unit, he quickly peers from behind the bin and is shocked to see only Christopher get into his car and drive away, Gary crouches back down his face showing his confusion. ‘I could’ve sworn two people just exited that storage unit?’

    Once Christopher is out of site he re-emerges from his hiding place and walks to storage unit twenty-two’s door, “So my friend what secrets are you going to tell me?” Gays says as he looks over the locking mechanism, and pulls out a small device from his pocket and places it against the lock. After several moments the door hisses open. Gary walks into the storage locker, the room is bare except for an unusual looking chair that sits in the centre of the room, and he recognises the device instantly.

    ‘Christopher, you little fucker!’

    #

     

    Delta District-Nine Detective Sergeant Lance Finnell walks out of the seedy Downtown brothel as he tucks his shirt into his pants.

    “Lance Finnell?” a voice asks from the darkness.

    “You seem to have me at a disadvantage friend, who the fuck are you supposed to be?” Finnell replies as he faces the alleyway and tries to make out the approaching figure.

    “Your end,” the figure replies as he steps out of the shadows and fires two shots into Finnell’s chest sending him crashing to the ground in a smoking heap. Within moments of Finnell hitting the ground, the figure is standing above him and pulls out a datapad.

    “You’ve been a naughty boy Lance, you don’t mind if I call you Lance, do you?” Finnell manages to draw a couple of breaths and squeezes out a gasp or two, but nothing else.

    “Didn’t think you would, so tell me, how does a guy like you sleep at night?” Finnell still only manages a few gasps.

    “Ok, I get it, why would you tell the guy who just shot you in the chest anything, I can understand that,” the man says. “I guess you want to know what’s happening, so I’ll give you the quick version, because you obviously don’t have much time. You’ve been found guilty of crimes against the citizens of Delta City, crimes that has so by my count, a count that is still yet to be finalized, cost over four hundred and twelve downtown dwellers their lives and seventy-eight or more investigations that you have purposely interfered with over your career to be abandoned due to lack or loss of evidence,” Finnell grabs the bottom corner of the man’s large overcoat and struggles to say something.

    “Sorry Lance, there is no plea bargaining, there is no eleventh hour save, your sentence has already been set, and it will now be dealt,” the man says as he picks up Finnell’s blaster and places it against his temple.

    “For your crimes you are sentenced to death, there is no redemption, there is no future, all that your life is, and was, is no more.”

    Finnell struggles to pull the blaster away, but the man holds it firmly down, a shot breaks the silence and it rips through Finnell’s head, which ruptures with the explosion of the blast and his eyes become blank and void of life.

    The man stands up and pulls out his datapad once more, “Lance Finnell, you have been judged and sentenced.”

     

    #

     

    Gary climbs aboard his Modified AC-Stinger and quickly picks up his phone and dials a number, several moments pass before Andrew Fontaine’s face appears on the other end.

    “The man, the hero, the saviour of the city, I’m hounoured you still know who I am and have even found the time to call me.”

    “You know you’re not funny, right?”

    “People pay for this sort of material.”

    “No they don’t, anyway, besides the thank you for the flowers, I need to know if you’ve done any work for Caroline Hallowthorpe or a Christopher Dillinger recently?”

    “I think I’m well below Hallowthorpe’s pay grade, but you know my business motto, who cares what their names are as long as the credits are golden.”

    “What about this girl? Remember her?” Gary asks as he holds up one of the photos he took from Caroline.

    “Her I remember, easiest track and trace I’ve ever had.”

    “What do you mean?”

    “It sounds strange for me to be questioning my very excellent detective skills, but it was like she knew I was there, she was posing for god’s sake. I don’t know, but you know when you get that feeling deep down that something is just not right, well I got it with this one.”

    “So you think it was all set up?”

    “No doubt, but as I said their credits were good so who cares, why the questions?”

    “Hallowthorpe is having a paranoid breakdown over this woman being up and walking around, apparently it’s her dead sister and she wants me to deal with the problem. Bill obviously sees this as another political power play, so he’s forcing me to be at her beck and call.”

    “Sucks to be you. When you say he’s forcing you, you mean he’s hanging shit over your head to get you to play along?”

    “That’s how it works, he promises to back off on me using you as a bouncing board.”

    “What a fuck, you know he’s full of shit, right?” Fontaine says.

    “I’m aware.”

    “Look, I do have something you may be able to use though, I mean it could’ve just been me, but I think there was something really wrong with her, she was just not right. I don’t know how to explain it, besides the whole feel of it being a set-up there was something about her that just seemed fake, I guess that’s what you would call it, she seemed fake.”

    “Remember the Lews-Philpher case from seventy-one?”

    “I still have the scars,” Fontaine replies. “Holy shit, you think she’s a droid?”

    “I’m beginning to think that.”

    “It would be a big call, have to be major underground bullshit, droids like that are completely off the grid, Lews-Philpher made sure of that. Who wouldn’t fear droids after the carnage that fucking droid caused.”

    “Well credits are no issue for these fuckers, is there anyone you can think of that would be able to get their hands on a droid if the credits were right?”

    “Fuck man, even I couldn’t get you a droid, I mean not like that, well maybe if you really wanted one I could manage to find something or Johnny L could, tech savvy arse. But the ones that are readily available are sex toys anyway. If you want them to do more basic shit like this one, you either run them yourself with a headset, which is pointless. But believe me, some sickos use them to fulfil their weird sexual desires, or you spend a lot of time reprograming the fuckers and that is hard shit, and trust me I know, I’ve been there, on both fronts,” Fontaine replies. “People with credits can always get the good shit, I’d look for Hans Lews, he’s still out there, fucker was never found after the droid went batshit crazy, and I’ve sourced one or two upgraded models since seventy-one. For personal use mind you, and his name is all over the work.”

    “You still think he survived all that shit?”

    “Tiracom fuckers always manage to survive, they’re like cockroaches, as I said, his name is all over the work, you can just tell sometimes and that case took a lot of leg work back in the day, so I was pretty deep into his work, in more ways than one, if you catch my drift,” Fontaine replies with a laugh. “Lionel Banks would know where he is, but I doubt he’d ever admit it, Lews was their best GeoTech, he put them on the map and they still seem to be making striding steps forward without him. So I’d say Tiracom would be the place to go for info.”

    “I don’t have time to try and locate a ghost or attempt to deal with Tiracom and Banks for information I know they won’t divulge. Have you got anything realistic I could use?”

    “Sorry man, wish I did, but the best I can say is, if credits are no issue then Tiracom is the answer, I can check with Johnny L and see if he’s had any dealings with anyone lately, but besides that I’ve got nothing,” Fontaine replies. “There is one other option though, but it would require you to have the servo-chair, that would give you an open shot at the droid and the owner in one go.”

    “Wait, what do you mean?”

    “The chair, if you have the servo-chair for the droid you can use it to locate the droid and the controller, if it is being controlled that is,” Fontaine says. “Everything the droid does is recorded in the chair, and I mean everything especially if it’s a controller droid, because the chair is the link between the headset for the controller and the droid. Pretty much the only reason I purge my chair religously, but amatures have no idea what the chair really does, me I never leave anything to chance and I don’t use the controller headset either, but that’s because I’m not really into fucking myself, tried it once and just really freaked me out.”

    “You’re fucking kidding me, you mean this chair?” Gary asks turning the screen around to face the chair that sits in the warehouse unit.

    “That’s the chair.”

    “How soon can you get to The Graveyard?”

    “A lot longer than it will take me to talk you through what you need to know.”

    “Well, you better start talking then.”

     

    END OF ACT II

     

  • Day 35 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act I

    Day 35 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act I

    For over one hundred years, Hallowthorpe Estate has entertained many of Delta City’s rich and important, today its latest visitor is neither of those, he bangs on the door and needs only wait several moments before Christopher Dillinger answers it.

    “Can I help you?”

    “Detective Inspector Gary Jackson, District-Three PD,” Gary says holding out his badge. “Miss Hallowthorpe contacted my Superintendent and wanted me to personally come see her,” a certain level of disrespect obvious in his voice. His mind is nowhere near ready for something like this as he’s still struggling to get himself back on track after the last few days in Bay Side Memorial. They can fix the flesh and bone in a matter of minutes, but the mind, well there is still no sure-fire cure for fixing that.

    “Detective Inspector, welcome, I’m Christopher Dillinger, I work for Miss Hallowthorpe,” Christopher says as he extends his hand, Gary takes it and gives it a good shake.

    “That must be fun,” Gary says sarcastically. “So what am I here for?”

    “I’ll leave that up to Miss Hallowthorpe to explain, if you would follow me,” Christopher replies as he leads Gary into a large lounge area, Caroline sits in a big chair sipping a glass of wine.

    “Miss Hallowthorpe, may I introduce, Detective Inspector Gary Jackson.”

    “You have a very beautiful and big place here, Miss Hallowthorpe.”

    “Thank you,” Caroline replies. “But you’re not here to compliment my house now are you, Detective Inspector, you’re here to help me.”

    “And how can I do that, Miss Hallowthorpe?”

    “Christopher, please give him the photos.”

    “Of course,” Christopher replies as he walks over to a table and picks up several photos.

    “These photos were taken two days ago by a private investigator I hired,” Caroline says as Christopher hands Gary the photos.

    “Who am I looking at, and why am I supposed to care?” Gary asks as he looks at the pictures of a young lady with long blonde hair.

    “The lady in the picture is my sister, Rebecca,” Caroline replies.

    “And the importance of these photos are?”

    “Rebecca died in a car accident three years ago Detective Inspector,” Christopher says.

    “And these were taken two days ago?”

    “Yes, by a private investigator,” Caroline replies.

    “This private investigator, do they have a name?”

    “A Mister Andrew Fontaine,” Christopher replies.

    “Fontaine?” Gary says, the surprise shows on his face.

    “You know of him?”

    “You could say that, I didn’t think he still did this sort of stuff anymore.”

    “It’s none of my concern if this man does or does not do this sort of work anymore, I want to know what you’re going to do about my problem?” Caroline asks.

    “Look, Miss Hallowthorpe, I don’t understand why you want me here or what you want me to do?”

    “Is it not obvious? Someone is trying to kill me and take my empire, and you are here to make sure they do not succeed,” Caroline replies, the frustration in her voice evident.

    “But there’s nothing to say anyone is trying to kill you, just some photos of your supposed dead sister, which amounts to nothing really in my book.”

    “The mag-link accident from a few days ago was her first attempt, but it failed, next time she may succeed,” Caroline says with anger.

    “What the fuck are you talking about? The mag-link accident was due to an overflow in the mag-link grid,” Gary replies. “That was not aimed at you Miss Hallowthorpe, fifteen people were killed and you, Miss Hallowthorpe, survived. If you were the intended victim, I’m sure we would not be sitting here having this conversation. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got better things to do than deal with a delusional nut case who thinks the world is out to steal her millions.”

    “How dare you talk to me like that, I will have your badge for this!”

    “Look Miss Hallowthorpe for all I care you can take my badge and shove it,” Gary says. “I don’t work for you, I work for the city, this is not my division or for that matter my area of expertise, I have twelve homicide cases on the go and I’ve just spent two days locked up in Bay Side Memorial. You want to be watched twenty four seven go to the private area, I’m sure you can afford better than I could ever do for you.”

    “Get out!” Caroline screams. “Get out now!”

    “It’s been a pleasure,” Gary says as he storms out of the room and out the door. He sits back on his modified AC-Stinger as the bikes commline begins to blink.

    “She was quick.”

    “What the fuck did you say to her?” Gleeson yells down the commline.

    “Nothing, I told her she was wasting my time and to go elsewhere for the sort of assistance she was after.”

    “Bullshit, what you did was act like an arse,” Gleeson says. “Why did she want to see you anyway?”

    “You don’t know?”

    “That was never discussed, she just requested you.”

    “Ok, well, according to Hallowthorpe, she apparently saw her dead sister Rebecca a few days ago during the mag-grid overload, she thinks that the overload was a deliberate attack towards her orchestrated by Rebecca,” Gary replies. “I had a look into Hallowthorpe’s history before I arrived, her sister Rebecca was killed in an accident a little over three years ago. It all went through the normal channels of investigation and was treated as a murder when it was revealed the car’s mag-line was hacked to pieces. Her husband was convicted of the murder five months later and iced for life, now suddenly dear old Rebecca has surfaced again, and Caroline believes she is trying to kill her.”

    “So what do you think? Is she losing it?”

    “Why are you so fucking interested in this crazy bitches ramblings?”

    “You need to understand son, some very important and powerful people, people who have vested interest in Air-Thirty-Four, minor shareholders you can call them. What most people don’t know is that Hallowthorpe doesn’t own it all, but she holds the lions share, gets to make decisions, and these minor sharehoders,  they’ve been trying to wrestle it away from her since she took the seat, and if she’s loosing it, if she’s walking the sharp road into insainty, they could use that to push her out.”

    “Always trying to work the voodoo aren’t you Bill? What did they promise you, a chair on the board, a step up the ladder?”

    “That’s none of your concern son, you have to understand, these people hold a fair bit of power in this city, and I have no choice, but the more I cooperate, the better it is for everyone.”

    “Better for you, you mean? But you do whatever deals you’ve got to make, just leave me the fuck out of it,” Gary says. “And to answer your question, I’m certain someone’s giving her a shakedown, although I have no idea who. I’ve got a possible suspect in her little toy boy Dillinger, he fits all the flashing lights shit that you look for in cases like this. But it doesn’t matter, I’ve got cases I need to get back to, cases that have sat on my desk since I’ve been in Memorial, so you can handball this off to someone else whose better equipped to deal this sort of shit.”

    “I know you like to do things your own way, but Hallowthorpe, she wants you to handle this case, even after your little outburst, so we have no choice but to play along.”

    “I don’t give a fuck Bill, I don’t work this shit.”

    “Just do me this one favour son,” Gleeson says. “Just look into it, a day at the most, remember our deal, I’ll ignore you using Fontaine.”

    “For fuck sake Bill,” Gary says as he sits there for a few moments. “Understand that I’m not going to waste my time, I’ll keep an eye on Dillinger for a little while and see what falls from the tree, after that I’m done with Hallowthorpe,” Gary replies quickly as he disconnects the commline and watches as Christopher Dillinger leave Hallowthorpe Estate. “Engage camouflage mode, file five nine eight player,” Gary says, in a matter of seconds a hologram image of an eXpresso delivery bike is layered over Gary and the AC-Stinger, and he slowly follows after Christopher.

     

    END OF ACT I