A Question of Promise
a
thuyen nguyen
They are calling it the storm of the century.
87.4FM
We've got reports of flooding all across the city.
In 30 minutes, the temperature dropped a record 18 degrees.
87.4FM
Police are urging people to stay indoors.
And this heavy rain appeared out of nowhere.
87.4FM
You'd have to be a mug if you think you can go anywhere right now.
87.4FM
I have never seen anything like this before.
Feels like a hurricane. The wind howl is insane.
87.4FM
87.4FM
We'll wait it out together, unless we lose power.
What's appropriate to play‌ Prince? Eurythmics?
87.4FM
If your radio cuts out, imagine us playing The Carpenters.
Please listeners, stay safe. Stay inside.
I'd suggest "O Fortuna" but we aren't that kind of station.
87.4FM
Hope my dogs are okay.
87.4FM
01
Hope my washing hasn't blown away!
We have to go back.
We can't leave them there by themselves.
Do you hear me?!
Sir? Keep going.
Turn around now!
It'll come for us when it realises we've gone.
We have to get as far away as possible.
Dice, they are going to die-
We need as much time as we can get.
Eden is back there!
02
I'm sure Alvin and McMahon can handle it.
Any ideas?
We have to get out of here before this place floods.
Nope.
Oh God, oh god!
How do we get past tsunami monster?
It’s coming!
Quick, lock arms!
And?
We have to break through the wave.
!
ARRRR
KISHA
Hold your breath. 03
Just like a surfer.
Where are we going?
Not much left in the tank.
You didn't fill up?
We won’t get far enough.
I was waiting for Wednesday. It’s cheaper.
The car's struggling in this weather.
We may need to find another form of transport.
We just need to get out of the city.
somewhere isolated. Less people to see us.
We wouldn't be in this situation if you'd cared about that before.
No, please.
Sir.
04
Go on.
I thought they were going to send another Guardian.
I could have dealt with that.
They want this to end today, no matter what.
Even now, you're trying to find a way out of this.
But they sent something far worse.
To delay the evitible.
It's too late.
And all of this would have been avoided.
Why did you have to cross over?
You should have just accepted your fate.
Not me.
No one gets hurt. Not Eric.
05
I never meant any of this to happen.
I didn't think that far ahead.
You must have known running away would have consequences.
One stupid decision.
This is all your fault. I blame you, sir.
Eve, are you okay?
I don't care what happens to me.
And all of us have to pay for it.
Maybe we should stop-
But I will do everything I can to protect you.
I don't care what happens to Dice.
I don't want to feel this way anymore.
06
What are you doing?
!
ech
eee
scr
Don’t stop! We have to keep-
It's like a pain inside me.
Knowing how this will end.
That we could stay together forever.
I blame myself for falling for the fantasy.
I wish I had never met you.
Forgive me, Eric.
Where are you going?!
Eve, wait!
Dice, where is Eve going?
07
BOOM
Never really wanted to see it coming.
We've had some pretty close calls in our time.
To be honest, when I thought the end had come, I'd close my eyes.
As if the darkness would make the end less painful.
I've never been able to open my eyes underwater.
Now though, I can see nothing but darkness.
I can't breathe. I want to desperately.
I'm holding onto something. I pray it's Eden.
I won't let her go. I promised Eric.
Wow, it is a tunnel of light...
This is it‌ I'm losing it...
08
Get in and drive.
Eric, we have to go.
She's going back, isn't she?
Eric-
We have to help her!
Eve will help the others. That's her job.
We can't. She's got to do this by herself.
we left three people behind. Now you want to leave four?
To run away?
She's buying us more time.
This may be difficult to understand, but nothing we do now will bring her back.
She's on a suicide mission?
Oh my God. 09
I wouldn't call it that.
She can't stop it.
That thing that's chasing us; She's going to stop it, one way or another?
She has her part to play. We have to play ours.
Stop, Eric!
Eve was right. There won't be a nice ending today.
But we have to keep at it, because there's always a chance.
Why did she say that?
It's unfair to be burdened with emotions you've never experienced.
Finding yourself in a situation that you can't control.
10
She wished she had never met me.
I suppose regret isn't only a human thing.
She had feelings for me?
But it was becoming more than that?
As a friend, sure.
Whoa whoa. slow down cowboy.
I wouldn't approve of that.
I didn't know.
Am I that clueless?
Didn't notice.
We all have our own lives to deal with.
We have our own problem right now.
Different problems, different priorities.
We have to go.
I'm sorry, Eve.
11
Are you sure we should go there?
It's poetic. Our end, where it began.
"Our end?" I would still like to get out of this in one piece.
Are you worried about Eve?
What does that mean?
It's like a caterpillar.
Yes and no.
I know the butterfly will come, but I'm not sure about the cocoon.
So she'll be okay? I hope so.
12
You think she can help Eden?
Absolutely.
Has she always been a Guardian?
I went to a beauty school to meet girls.
That's what she does.
Yes...
Ever since I've known her.
She's good at it too.
I have no real world skills.
I don't think I'd actually become a beautician though.
Must be nice to be good at something and know it.
Your time at the school wasn't a total waste. You met Eden.
Took me months before I decided to ask her out.
Remember that day?
Came home all hyped but you were angry at me about something.
Should have made up my mind earlier about her.
13
Too indecisive. Maybe we wouldn't have broken up.
Even though we're running for our lives, Dice, I just want to say‌
For creating the perfect weekend for Eden and me.
For what?
Thank you.
It was flawless. We had such a wonderful time.
Probably the best weekend I've ever had.
Well, I'm to blame for that.
But for those two days, it was heaven.
You knew that using youR magic to change the weather would expose you, right?
It's not magic.
14
Fat lot of good it did now that you two aren't together.
I know where I’d rather be.
It's some sort of superpower, though.
I'm not Storm from the X-Men if that's what you mean.
No. I just played around with water. Splish splash.
You did push a storm away.
But you can't do it anymore? Think we'd be in this car if I could?
You put your life on the line for me and Eden.
I took a calculated risk. I misjudged it obviously.
In more ways than one.
For inviting a stranger into your home. For taking care of me.
I thought it would be a nice way to pay you back.
what for?
For letting me have my freedom back, however fleeting.
Don't suppose you could finally tell me why you crossed over?
15
I was given a responsibility that I didn't want.
since I couldn't refuse, I left, using the role that had just been forced on me.
Are you God?
No.
Ironic, I know.
Are you a God?
Compared to you, yes.
Not really.
Which you exhausted by helping me and Eden?
But you have God-like powers?
Pretty much.
All in an act of gratitude?
Yep.
16
Leaving you unable to stop them from taking you back?
... You're welcome.
We're here.
We’ll have to walk from here.
You coming?
What happened?
I… need a little help.
You're stiff. like an ice cube.
Still water… that's probably a band name. I've got you.
Keep going straight.
I don't really know where-
17
Never thought I'd come back here again.
Were you ever homesick? Had thoughts of returning on your own?
She reminded me of things.
Not until Eve came.
It's hard to go somewhere new and not miss what you've left behind.
Stuff you missed?
I had a feeling I would.
to be honest, I simply forgot some things which I shouldn't have.
Poor form on my behalf.
Turn here.
Can’t see a damn thing.
BOOM
18
if you're leading me to a secluded place to murder me...
Instead, I sit on your face.
You're doing a pretty good job.
‌ Seriously?
I've had plenty of opportunities to murder you in your sleep.
Ever wondered why your cheeks are so smooth?
That explains my pores.
The girls at school always asked me what I use.
Perk up. People pay cash money for this kind of treatment.
I thought you spent your nights chatting on that net forum?
On the Internet, no one knows you're not human.
Lovely bunch of people on that board.
I'll miss their banter and conspiracy theories.
Oh my God.
I should have revealed myself. would've blown their minds.
19
There it is.
In case of emergency.
I wonder if someone actually lives here.
Well, I guess it is now, no matter what.
I thought it was a safe house or an evacuation spot.
ck kno knock!
I need a towel. I'm soaked.
k! clic
Wow, the rain sounds louder inside than out.
What’s wrong?
Dice?
20
I'm starting to… see things.
Things?
BOOM Bad things?
Not long now…
Dice, stay with me buddy.
What's the plan?
I would still like to get out of this in one piece. Plan?
We're here for a reason, right?
… I'm seeing things I normally don't see.
Not really... Means I'm losing control...
That sounds good?
21
!
AP
SL
Dice!
Argh! Hard as a rock…
I’m... sorry...
Sure you do, right? Double storey, big garden.
I... Live with...
I live with Eve…
No, no, no. Not yet!
Hey, tell me about your home. You live in a house?
Bench under the tree. Sit there on warm evenings drinking beer.
Invite friends and family over for a party.
Silly me, why would you need to invite family over?
You live with mum, dad, grandma-
She’s... my daughter.
Of course you do-
Wait, why?
22
Well… I say daughter… We don't have offspring like you do…
Are you freaking kidding me?!
Would it matter?
Why didn't you tell me?
No, but… I could have been your son-in-law!
Why you son of a… I'm going to kill you myself!
Anger! Good! Stay focused! Ah, I've lost it.
I can't, Eric… Not much left…
Damn it!
BOOM
Please, Dice. There's got to be a way.
Don't you hear outside? It's coming for us.
23
Let's make a last stand, together.
Alvin!
BOOM Not without us.
Thank God you're okay.
Where's Eve?
Eden!
That's her scarf....
Dice, she gave us thirty minutes.
A question.
She said you had a plan.
You have a decision to make.
24
No, not a plan.
Eric, Eve and Dice make their escape, leaving the others to defend themselves. Eve lets her feelings known, and after clashing with Dice, abandons them to deal with the monster. Eric and Dice return to the place where they first met. Will they all make their last stand together?
Story, Art and Created by Thuyen Nguyen Copyright Š2015 Thuyen Nguyen devinquest.com | aquestionofpromise.com