WARNING: Attempted Homicide Disguised as Suicide

January 1st, 2017: Filderbrick Hall, Emerald House

'Thank you all for gathering here tonight.' Veronica speaks to the huge audience seated before her. She stands behind the podium, donned in a plaid, navy blue pantsuit. 'Now I was reminded to keep my speech short as everyone here is kindled by the amazing delicacies served on their tables and that I myself, can't refrain from drooling all over the menu. ' Everyone laughs.

'So once again, thank you all for making today possible. I hope that we continue with this advancing momentum and implement the right solutions to the dire problems our country's currently facing. Saying that, we have mountains to climb,' Veronica pauses. 'But before that, let's cool ourselves down with some entertainment.'

Everyone applauds as the President of Henwrich steps away from the podium. Laura, seated at the front table smiles as she sees the President talk with the host. We've ended the first month with a bang. She recollects the radical achievements the administration has made so far. She will definitely bring the change we need in this country. 

Laura checks her vibrating phone when she raises her glass of wine. Who's calling now? She reads the caller ID. 'Excuse me,' she says, getting up from her seat. She treads to an empty corner of the hall and and watches the President take her seat at the front table. 'Hello,' Laura answers. 'What is it, Sanders?'

'Don't hang up.' A voice speaks into the phone. Laura pulls away her phone and reads the caller ID again. It's Sanders' number. She brings her phone back to her ear, 'Who's this?'

'Carolina and Jason have gone missing.' The voice replies. 'They are in the Davo Tower right now-'

'Who's this?' Laura demands, taking out another phone. She dials in a set of numbers. 'The President's in danger so you need to evacuate her-'

Laura hangs up. What nonsense was that? She brings her other phone to her ear as she watches Veronica laugh to the entertainer's satirical joke. 'Hello-'

'Laura,' Chief Chambers says. 'We need to bring the President in now. We have an emergency situation.'

'Explain what's happening.' Laura turns around when Veronica's gaze falls on her. 'The Squad's not able to track Carrie or Jason.'

'Wait,' Laura says, as her first phone rings again. 'I'll call you back in a minute.'She places Chambers' call on hold and picks up the other call, 'What?'

'I'm right, aren't I?' The crisp voice answers. He speaks again after a pause, 'If the Squad wants to save Carrie and Jason, dispatch the Epsilon Team to the Davo Tower immediately. Meanwhile secure the President.'

'But the Epsilon Team disbanded years ago-'

'We both know that the team is still active.' The voice replies. 'So quit squabbling and just do what I say.'

'Can I know whom I'm speaking to?' Laura says. 'The President must stay in the secure spot until I call back through this number.' The call disconnects. 'Hello?' Laura says. She places her second phone on her ear. 'Chief Chambers-'

'It's me, Chief Moorhaven.' Sanders answers. 'Listen to the caller's instructions. He's a special informant.'

'So what he said was true?' Laura says, motioning one of the guards to come. 'Jason didn't attend the Sports Meet and Carrie never boarded her flight.' Sanders replies. They're all under danger... 'Yes, Chief.' The guard says. 'We need to evacuate the President now,' Laura says. The guard nods and leaves. 'Sanders, hand the phone to Sophia.'

As she waits for Chief Chambers to reply, she watches the guard approach the President's table. Come on. She hangs up the call impatiently and strides to the host, 'Hey, Andrea.' The host climbs down from the podium, 'What, Laura?'

'Continue with the party,' Laura says, dialing a set of numbers. 'We're leaving.' She rushes out of the hall when she sees the President being escorted by the guard. She picks up the call as she catches up to the president, 'Chief Chambers, dispatch the Epsilon Team to Davo Tower.'

'But that team was created to handle-'

'I don't care,' Laura snaps. 'The informant told me that Carrie and Jason are there.' She hangs up the call. She rapidly dials in another set of numbers. 'Activate the Emergency Operations Room now.' Laura says over the phone and marches behind the President who is enclosed by guards.

...

'So we'll be going out there?' Alexa says, looking at Anthony. Mark examines the lair as he walks around, 'We should be grateful that we aren't getting affected by this.' He turns to look at Anthony. 'That's why we should go and help them,' Anthony replies. 'Them?' Mark says, stepping closer. 'Those people who turned their backs to us when we were desperate for their help?'

'That was thirteen years ago.' Anthony says, 'Right now, children are dying.' Mark lets out a frustrated sigh as he takes a seat. 'How will we go out there?' Alexa says. 'Like you said, it's been thirteen years, so a lot of things would have changed. Plus you're now a dormant.' Anthony casts a balming smile. 'I have to show you something.' He gets up from his table, 'Now you can see me.' He disappears, 'And now you don't.'

'Wow.' Alexa says, flabbergasted. Her eyes shift to Mark who shows an indifferent reaction. 'Why aren't you surprised?'

'Tony, why do we have to do this?' Mark says, looking around. 'It's because,' Anthony appears behind Mark and Alexa. 'We're good people.' Mark rubs his neck in frustration while Alexa jumps in her seat. She glances at Anthony and then back to Mark, now with her brows furrowed. 'You knew about this, didn't you?'

'Mark, time is running out.' Anthony says, pointing to the screens. 'We need to act now.'
He knew. Alexa says, sinking in her seat. Mark nods, 'Okay, let's do this.' Anthony pats Mark's shoulder and heads to the cabinet. 'When did your powers reactivate?' Alexa asks as Anthony pulls out three bags. '15 days ago.' Anthony replies, throwing a bag each to Mark and Alexa. He looks at Mark, 'Today's log is sent to your computer.'

'What log?' An oblivious Alexa asks.'He wanted to find out if anyone could reactivate their lost powers. ' Mark answers, unzipping his bag. 'So he conducted various experiments on himself and one day, stumbled upon the cure.'

'What?' Alexa says, clearly agitated. 'So now that my powers are back,' Anthony says, clutching his bag. 'Let's go and save them.'

...

Eliza flips her eyes open. Why can't I sleep? She turns to grab a small container placed on her bedside table and shakes it. But I had two pills already. She places the container back and sits up, checking her wristband. 

'Oh, come on.' Eliza throws her blanket off in disappointment. 'It's not even been thirty minutes since I went to bed.' She moans and turns around to see the sky. 'Gazing at the stars,' Eliza says, leaning her head against the wall, 'is not going to help me sleep.' She gets off her bed and heads out of her room.

Eliza checks her wristband as she walks downstairs. 'I can complete tomorrow's tasks now and take the day off.' Eliza casts a smile of relief as she enters the atrium. She halts when she reaches the center and glances at her surroundings, 'One day, this will all be mine.' She notices a lamp flickering in the hallway leading to the foyer. 'Oh yeah, I had to replace the bulb.' Eliza walks across the atrium and enters the dimly lit hallway.

She reaches the flickering lamp and switches it off, 'Now, I kept the box here somewhere.' She searches for the box, 'I knew I kept it behind the lampstand.' She peers into the atrium. Meanwhile, a box from the dark end of the hallway levitates briskly and places itself beside the foot of the lampstand. Eliza turns around when she hears a beep, 'What was that?' She checks her wristband.

'There are no notifications.' She eyes the box near the lamp. 'It was right there.' She reaches the spot and changes the bulb.

Ping!

Eliza reads the notification screen that pops up before her when she keeps the old bulb in the box.

UP FOR A MOVIE NIGHT?

She chuckles when she taps her wristband to respond. She gets up after checking the next notification and takes the box. 'If he selects E.T again, I'm going to kill him.' She says, walking out of the hallway.

On the other end of the hallway, Anthony, Mark and Alexa emerge. 'I told you someone will notice us.' Alexa says, tapping commands in her tablet. 'But nobody did.' Anthony replies, glancing at the distant lampstand. 'Why didn't you mute the notifications on the tablet?'

'I did.' Alexa says. 'It was me.' Mark says, checking his wristband. 'I was resetting my alarms.'
'Was it important to reset the alarms?' Anthony snaps. Mark nods, his gaze still fixated on his wristwatch, 'I think we should take the Underground Route.'

'Yes,' Alexa says. 'The main door will declare our departure to everyone.' Anthony shakes his head,'No. We'll take the Underground route when we return.' He taps his earpiece, 'Hello, mute the front door lock.'

'Yes, Mr. Banks,' Jessie answers. 'And the name's-' Anthony taps his earpiece again. 'Is the car ready?' Alexa nods, looking at Anthony. 'It's parked out front.'

'Good.' Anthony shifts his gaze to Mark. 'Are you done with your work?'

'Yes, sir.' Mark replies. Anthony feels an unexpected tingle of euphoria when he hears that. Focus. He nods, 'Then let's go.'

The three of them disappear from sight. Anthony whispers as the door unlocks, 'We need to-. 'We know,' Mark whispers back as the main door swings open. 'No talking.'

...

'Now they've dispatched the Epsilon Team,' Tom says, placing his phone back. He marches across the deserted streets of Lisbon, gazing at the inactive Davo Tower before him.

Buzz!

Tom retrieves his phone from his pocket as he enters the frontage.

REINFORCED BORDER FIELDS STRENGTH.

'They're secure.' Tom says, 'She's safe.' He looks around when he hears a faint, familiar honk. Is it- He hides behind the steel gate when a black sedan races past the building. Tom gapes as the car stops a few meters ahead. Wow. He watches a nauseous Anthony step out of the sedan. I knew he would get out someday. Tom grins, silencing his vibrating phone. He looks away and transmutes into a young boy. 'Now Jason and Carrie are here, so-' The young boy zaps into the building.

Meanwhile, Mark pats Anthony's back as the latter empties the contents of his irritated stomach. 'And he wanted to save people,' Mark mutters. Alexa gets out of the car, reveling in her adrenaline rush, 'I thought I would never be behind the wheel again.' She unlocks the car trunk and carries out a dense metal crate with her left hand while holding the tablet with her right. 'Is he okay?' She asks when she glances at Anthony's condition.

'Yup,' Mark answers, handing Anthony a bunch of tissues. 'Ugh, you didn't chew properly,' He shrugs as he looks away from Anthony's barf. Alexa places the box on the ground and taps commands on her tablet. Oh my. She steps away as her nose detects the stench. 'I forgot that you were a racer once upon a time,' Anthony says, regrouping himself as he straightens. He thanks Mark who hands him a water bottle.

Alexa grins as she taps on the ENTER button, 'But we reached here earlier than predicted.' She watches the crate transform into a drone. Mark gapes as he views the drone soar into the night sky, 'When did you create that?'

'At around the same time you guys decided not to share about your expedition,' She scoffs as she sees the visuals captured by the drone on her tablet. 'I wanted to tell you, Alex,' Anthony says, approaching her. 'But more than that I wanted to show you that I got my powers back.'
Never mind. Alexa muses as she looks at Anthony. You won't understand even after I explain why I'm mad. 'What was that look for?' Anthony asks. 'Um, guys.' Mark says, when he notices a figure fallen on the barren ground before him. 'What?' Alexa says, looking over her shoulder.

'Bring a flashlight when you're coming.' He gets reminded of the barf when he steps forward. Yeah right. He blocks his nose as he extends his right hand. I have to clean up his mess. A yellow glow spurts out of his hand, coating the sordid area. Mark makes out the strange figures as he taps on the ground. Are they? The yellow mass transforms into a lush green patch, a daisy protruding from the center.

'That's much better,' Alexa says, noticing the patch as she approaches Mark. 'I couldn't stand it.' She shines the flashlight into the murky land. The trio are stunned when they see half-buried corpses on the ground. Alexa sighs as she checks her buzzing tablet, 'We're late.' Mark and Anthony step closer to see the scorched remains of Blackstone and Cornwall Manors. 'Check for survivors,' Anthony says, grief stricken. 'They are none.' Alexa says. Mark sags his head, muttering prayers for the dead.

'Oh.' Alexa says as the visuals refresh. She turns around to look at the Davo Tower, 'We have two people on the rooftop there.' She zooms in the footage the drone captures as it hovers above. 'Uh, Tony,' She verifies what she's watching. 'You need to create a safety net now.'

'Why-' Anthony is stunned when he sees the live footage of a young pilot on the edge of the rooftop. 'Mark, can you-'

'Got it.' Mark says, examining the bloody ground. 'God, please guide these souls safely to the afterlife.' He bends down, placing his hands on the loamy soil. A yellow glow emanates from his hands and covers the ground in front of him. Alexa watches the ground transform into a forest, the oak trees representing the dead. She sheds a tear as she looks at the numerous oak saplings. Most of them were kids.

Mark shakes out of his funereal state and hustles to the sedan, 'Alex!' He turns back, 'I need the key.' Alexa nods and taps on the tablet. 'I don't have the key but,' She taps the Enter button and looks at the distant sedan transform into a large SUV. 'Thanks,' Mark says as he gets in.

Anthony enters the frontage and looks up. It needs to be wide and thick. He closes his eyes, centralizing a neon blue fluid that emanates from his hands. Wide and thick.

The young boy encounters a lit room when he scans the twenty-fifth floor. Tom returns to his original form as he retrieves his phone. They're on the rooftop. He eyes the room before him, taking out a device from another pocket. He places the activated device on the floor and races back to the staircase. That will hold them in.

Jason walks forward when he spots a silhouette standing on the extreme edge of the rooftop. 'We've already commenced with our descent procedure into Willow Airport. We expect to land at 01:00 GMT, two hours before our scheduled time.' Carrie announces over her phone. 'Carrie, get down,' Jason says, lowering his shaky tone as he slowly approaches her.

'The weather here in London is cloudy and there's a moderate chance of heavy rainfall.' Carrie says as she steps back, tears flowing down her sallow cheeks. 'Carrie, this way,' Jason says, motioning her to come back as he reaches her. 'On behalf of the crew, I thank you all for choosing Hemingway Airlines and wish you a pleasant stay in London.' Carrie says as she steps back and falls.

'NO!' Jason grasps her left hand just in time. He steadies himself on the railing before him as he holds on to Carrie. 'Don't let go,' He yells as he tries to pull her up.

'Let go of me, you idiot!' Carrie protests, her orange eyes flashing red now. Jason starts to slip from the railing as Carrie tries to pull her hand away. He winces in pain as Carrie digs her nails in his arm.

Tom enters the rooftop. No. He transforms into a middle-aged man as he rushes to Jason who slip down from the railing. 'Hope we meet again soon,' Carrie says as she releases herself from Jason's grip. 'No!' Jason shrieks as he watches his sister descend from the thirty-story building. Tom lifts Jason off the edge and places him carefully on the rooftop floor.

Tom transmutes back to himself as his phone vibrates again. I have one last chance. He looks back at the edge. What? He is astounded when he sees Carrie laying on a glinting safety net. 'Carrrie!' Jason says, trying to shake off his shock. Tom rushes to Jason and stops him from getting up, 'She's safe.'

'No,' Jason says, oblivious of the stranger before him. Tom takes out a green wristband from his pocket and straps it around Jason's uninjured hand. You need to get treated. Tom places a call on his phone as Jason falls on his lap. 'Hello?' He says. 'I'm bringing in an emergency patient.'

...

Present Day (February 9th, 2018. 12.25 am)

Veronica plays with the food in her plate as she listens to soothing sounds through her headset. 'Why did I order food?' She says and reclines in her chair. Her gaze falls on the family portrait hung on the wall before her. 'I know you were hypnotized.' She says, looking at Carrie's beaming face. 'I'm sorry it took so long,' Veronica wipes off a tear. 'But we're almost there.'

A telephone rings in the distance. Veronica straightens as Laura opens the door, 'The call's coming from the facility.' She points to the ringing telephone on the table beside her. It must be Tom. Veronica gets off her seat and strides to the table, 'Sanders is taping this, right?' Laura nods, 'I'll be listening to the call too.' She shows her phone.

Veronica forces a deep breath when she holds the telephone. Calm and confident. She exhales slowly as she picks up the call. 'Tom-'

'Hello.' A female voice answers. 'I am Elizabeth Banks, the Owner of Pearl Manor.'

Veronica recollects the update she received earlier. Her name is Elizabeth Banks. We found it in one of the medical reports.

'How do I know you're Elizabeth Banks?' Veronica asks, looking at Laura who stands beside her. 'I don't think I need to prove myself as I'm aware you've traced my call.' How does she know? Veronica looks at the telephone. 'I am calling you tonight to tell you that it was me who orchestrated the January attacks.' Elizabeth says over the phone. 'And it was I who killed your daughter that night.'

Veronica's eyes widen as her blood boils with rage. Calm. Focus. 'The other residents weren't a part of this expedition.' Elizabeth says, 'I will share more information in our next meeting. Tomorrow in Pearl Manor, 9 am sharp.' The call gets disconnected. 'Hello?' Veronica says, speaking into the phone. She looks at Laura who pulls her phone away from her ear. They both stare at each other for a moment. Is this the end?