A Question of Promise #14 by Thuyen Nguyen

A Question of Promise

thuyen nguyen

Savantigo School of beauty Are you Sure?

I think it's fair, don't you?

I mean, I thought we had a good thing going on.

Yes, we did. Until you did what you did.

This is true.

Eddie and I didn't actually have sex though.

I know, and I accept your apology.

Yes, but you did drink enough to attempt to. I am sorry about that.

But I don't think we can work as a couple anymore.

Thank you. I appreciate that.

So my offer to remain friends is generous, all things considered.

Well then, this case is closed.

We can revisit if I'm thirty and unmarried.

Tic k.

Tic

Enough is enough.

There's no doubt anymore.

We have to tell him-

No.

It's not time yet.

Sir-!

NO!

We need to prepare-

Time is the only thing we have.

prepare for what?

Jumping Jehoshaphat! When did you get home?

Sorry, Eric. We need to-

Just then.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on?

Dude. Eve and I need some private time if you don't mind.

Sir, we can't just-

Ah, sure. I'll be in my room.

Stop.

Balcony.

You should have known it could happen.

You are reckless.

But you did it anyway.

I knew the risks.

And for what?

So you could show off?

He doesn't know I did it.

They know! That's all that matters now!

They'll find us and take us back.

We'll be punished.

No. They will treat you like the runaway that you are.

That's why we have to tell him.

They won't do anything to me.

Not me, though.

Use the time we have left to prepare for the inevitable.

And face our return... Clean.

If you care so much, then you tell him. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not ready.

Oh, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s you.

Eric...

K! OC K! KN KNOC

What's going on?

Eve said you wanted to talk with me?

Nothing much. Eden has forgiven me.

Eric, my man. What's cooking?

Not really. We're just friends now.

Friends?

What does that mean?

Dice would like to speak with you.

Curses.

Good good! Back in the swing of things, eh?

Unattached. no longer a couple. ex-girlfriend.

Are you jerking my gherkin?

What about all of the dates you've had?

I'm not familiar with that turn of phrase.

The time you've spent together?

That weekend? The beautiful journey?

Sometimes things don't work out.

Whoa dude, calm down.

Sometimes things don't work out?!

It's not as if we were getting married.

sonovabitch!

Plenty of fish in the sea, as they say.

After all I've done for you.

Why are you so angry?

I'm sure she'll still pop in to visit here and there.

People break up all the time.

She won't just disappear and we never see her again.

now I can go back to school and not worry about avoid-

I just thought...

I just thought that it was worth it.

You and Eden. I thought that you two were happy.

I hope you're not planning on doing anything tomorrow.

Anything that would... help Eric and Eden.

Thought what?

What was?

I thought that was enough of a reason to do it.

...I guess I was wrong.

Do what? I don't understand.

I've enjoyed my time with you, Eric.

Not just the bubble baths and the multiplayer Tetris.

I've been busy. studying and observing humans.

I thought you were simple. easy to read & understand.

That encouraged me.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to think you tricked me, but I was just wrong.

I did something I shouldn't have done.

And not for the first time, I can hear Eve say.

You haven't killed anyone, have you?

Okay dude. You're scaring me now.

I haven't murdered anybody, no...

I don't like the sound of that pause.

I fear the situation is grave.

It's deadly serious then, I see.

It's a matter of life and death.

I'm dying to hear more.

I suppose we all have skeletons in our closets.

Haunted by memories...?

Ghosts of past actions that catch up with you.

The suspense is killing me.

Just put me out of my misery and tell me!

AHA! HAHAH AHA! HAHAH

HAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHA! I'm going to die soon.

EHE! HEHEH HEH E

HEH

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re DYING?!

Eden! How did you get in here?

Why do you have a key?

I have a key.

Well duh. Girlfriend, remember?

I thought we broke up?

Ah, yes. Sorry, force of habit.

I suppose "dying" isn't entirely accurate.

Dice, what's going on?

The two things I need most now, I can't get: energy and time.

But that isn't important.

I'm not going to be around for much longer.

Either way...

Are you going back to your home planet?

No, you're water.

Noticed what?

I didn't think it was serious though.

And you've become still.

For the millionth time, I'm not an alien, you schmuck.

...You've noticed.

Of course I noticed. I spot stupid things like this.

My love of film has given me an unhealthy interest in continuity.

Noticed what? Someone explain this to me.

Water can be a lot of things. It can change. It can grow.

It can flow and it can crash. But the one thing it can't do...

Still water will break-

It can't stop.

Get off me!

Hey! What the hell?

CRASH!

Keep an eye on Dice.

Is someone trying to break in?!

Man, she's tough!

Argh!

I got her-

Alvin? McMahon?

LAM!

You know this girl?

Eric! Stay back.

Long time, no see.

Eve! Let them go!

I know them!

Where have you guys been? It's been months.

Sorted.

We had to clean up some mess.

The people who kidnapped me?

We need to talk to Dice.

Kind of. Kind of?

Unbelievable.

No, only the people in this room know I exist. I swear.

That's why we're here. Unfortunately.

Any more, sir? Or will you keep lying?

This just keeps getting better.

Care for some tea?

While we were cleaning up at Int.Dir headquarters, we checked their database.

Shows you how crazy they were, using sea equipment on land.

We were looking for something else, but then we found your data.

They learned of you using a D.A.R.T, a device that normally detects tsunamis.

It worked though.

Records show they detected four triggers.

The first was you, Dice, we assume.

Then nothing, until a few weeks ago.

That is not what worries us.

About a month later, the second trigger, similar to the previous.

The third trigger was ten times the magnitude of Dice.

The fourth trigger, barely measurable, hiding in the wake of the third.

Friend of yours, perhaps?

That sounds very bad.

As if it was waiting for its chance to move.

You'd been gone for so long.

I know how that goes.

We were planning to come back sooner.

You do anything else besides dismantle a global organization?

Life doesn't always work the way you want it to.

I got engaged again.

You?

The opposite.

You made a cute couple.

Shame.

Always awkward though, to be fair.

I just broke up with Eric.

What with the sentient pool of water and all.

Suppose the kidnapping didn't help either.

He got drunk and tried to sleep with another girl.

Personal failing.

We're still friends though.

Classic breakup.

You're a keeper.

Classy.

I knew all of this, of course.

But when someone else says it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to ignore.

Oh, that's easy.

That doesn't sound too bad...?

You said you were dying. One way or another.

Is there Anyway of stopping it?

I'll be punished, but I'll keep ticking.

I go back home.

What do you mean, "for me?"

For me? No.

Well, there are a few caveats.

I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come back.

Why come back when there is a universe to explore?

And?

Eve will be judged and everyone who knows about us will be dealt with.

Eve was sent here to bring me back. She failed, so...

What does "judged" mean?

And when you say "everyone," you mean me?

Yes.

You need to tell us exactly what's going on.

Eden? Alvin and McMahon?

Them too.

The fourth trigger. It crossed over like we did.

Is it dangerous?

It's coming for us.

Absolutely.

What can we do to stop it?

This is my fault, so damn it, I am going to try and fix this.

Nothing.

I suppose now would be a great time for me to sacrifice myself.

What can you do to stop it then?

But I won't do that to you, Eve.

You?

Sir, I am here to protect you-

I crossed over.

I convinced Eve to stay.

No. I'm going to protect you. And Eden, and Eric's stupid face.

I used my power to create the perfect weekend.

Yes. I thought it was a nice thing to do.

Perfect weekend?

So the third trigger was you. An energy burst when you did whatever you did.

We've got to get out of here.

Sir, what do you want to do?

Eric, you take Dice and Eden.

And the fourth trigger was waiting for it, to follow it back to the source.

I still don't understand what's going on.

They're right. We have to get as far away as we can.

We'll follow right behind you.

All for nothing now, since you two decided to break up.

Which means it's coming here.

Better safe than sorry.

It'll be better if we separate.

I am Dice's guardian. I won't leave his side.

That's a bad idea. You and Dice need to split up if it's coming for both of you-

I am not leaving their side!

BOOM

McMahon, what would you say was the temperature when we arrived?

What was that?!

Thunder and lightning. Storm's coming. Warm twenties.

Believe me Eden, I have no idea either.

Wait, I'm not going anywhere. Someone explain this to me!

We gotta go.

Eve, go with Dice and Eric.

BOOM

Nice of them to give us a warning.

It's a battle cry. That's not a warning.

Elevator's out.

tap

Stairs.

tap

It's getting louder.

Which means it's coming closer.

BOOM

It's got to be massive. What the hell's coming?

This can't be happening.

Overkill. To get the job done no matter what.

Didn't know you were so popular, Dice.

Never thought I'd end up protecting a pool of water.

BOOM

Jokes? Really?

Madison was finally right about something.

Looks clear.

Where are we going?

We could try going to what's left of the Int.Dir tanker.

Shipwrecked off the coast.

Where is that?

No. We need to keep away from... water.

Somewhat ironic, I know.

TICK TICK TICK

ash

spl

BOOM The pipes!

Eric, go! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll catch up!

The basement's going to flood.

Eek!

sh la ash l sp

There's water everywhere!

Open, GodDamnit!

Eden, stay between us!

I heard that... inside me?

TEMPUS EST UT REVERTAR

MM!

ROO

BRR

What the hell was that?!

I can't leave Eden here.

Get in! Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go!

Stupid human!

I'm not leaving her, Eve! They said they'll follow us23

Whatever happens, it's been good knowing you.

Stop saying that. You always say that.

Howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this for a first date, eh?

eccch

scree

BOOM

Oh my god...

I hope you guys know what you're doing!

We should have kept those guns.

ARRRR

KISHA

Eden breaks up with Eric, but wants to still be friends. Eve reaches breaking point and wants Dice to reveal what they’ve long suspected is coming. He still isn’t ready to tell Eric, even though it affects him as much as himself. Will the return of Alvin and McMahon force Dice’s hand?