Issue 15:Hunger

Issue 15
Panel 1
There is a man who seems to be eating a piece of meat. The panel should be tight only showing his mouth.
Panel 2
He is wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Panel 3
He is smiling.
Panel 4
His face is now shown. He is a scrawny, balding older man. He has a very worried, scared look on his face.
Man: O dear….
Panel 5
His kitchen is shown. There is blood everywhere. On the stove should be a large pot with an arm shown in the pot. There should be various body parts strewn about.
Man: …I’ve gone and done it again….
Page2
Annie and Michael are sitting at a long desk. Annie is dressed in her costume. Michael in his usual T-shirt and jeans, both look tired. At the other end of the desk are Aurora and Aiden.
Aiden: Guys…I know why we are here, but can we move this along? Rachel is in…
Annie: Shut up. I don’t want to hear it.
Aurora: There’s no need to be…
Michael: ZIP IT.
Panel 2
Michael is glaring at both of them.
Michael: Listen to me, it’s one in the morning. We have three deaths, not to mention what happened to Ryla and Evelyn. These could have been prevented if you had just answered the alarm.
Aiden: You didn’t tell him.
Aurora: Of course not, she wants us to tell him, that way we would have to admit what we did, isn’t that right, Annie?
Annie: No, because I didn’t want it to get around, but as you’ve brought it up….
Michael: What happened?
Panel 3
Aurora and Annie are looking at one another.
Aurora: Well….
Aiden: Uhm….
Panel 4
Annie is staring at both of them. Michael is looking at her.
Annie: Listen, my patience is gone, you brought it up, you did it, now spill it.
Page 3
Annie is flopping down on the couch, Michael is beside her.
Annie: Whew!
Michael: She’s still mad.
Annie: Right now, I don’t care. It’s a bunch of high school stuff that could have cost more lives. An alarm going for fourty-five minutes. They are lucky that Regal wasn’t here. Suspension was a light punishment.
Michael: I have to….tell you something….
Panel 2
Annie is turning her head towards him.
Annie: What’s up? I was going to ask you earlier but…that thing with Evelyn happened…
Michael: What did happen to her….
Annie: I…I don’t want to talk about it, I’m trying not to even think about it, but I’ll tell you.
Michael: O……OK….I guess….
Panel 3
Annie: So what’s up? What’s on your mind?
Michael: Besides the X-Gen stuff….Jeffery.
Annie: Jeffery? I thought you were trying to get over him.
Michael: He kissed me tonight.
Panel 4
Annie is now turning to face him. Her eyes full of surprise.
Annie: WHAT?! He kissed you?
Michael: Yeah…it was pretty awesome, but now I have a question. What happens now?
Page 4
Evelyn is in bed. Her eyes are bloodshot, and she looks much the same as she did before. There is a tray of breakfast food, besides the bed and the newspaper. The Newspaper reads: The Day After by Jessie Robles. Edited by Stephen Blotner, additional character concepts by Michael Floyd and Adam Marshall.
The word balloon should be coming from off panel. The room should be dark and give the impression of light, but the digital clock on the nightstand
Page 5
Tiff is walking into the room, holding a pot of coffee.
Tiff: Evelyn? I brought coffe.
Panel 2
There is no response.
Panel 3
Tiff is walking out of the room, she looks visibly upset.
Panel 4
Same as panel , but should have a blur filter applied to the art. There should be a blue light and a red light.
Blue light: She’s dying.
Red light: You’re being dramatic.
Blue light: Don’t you feel it? We’ve been trapped in this husk for five years.
Red Light: Because of your actions, Nzdezra.
Panel 5
Same.
Red: If it “dies” we are to be released. We will finally be free!
Blue light: Only to be returned to the void. To await judgment again. Do you wish to be cast down in to the pit again?
Panel 6
Same.
Red light: OK, supposing your right, Nzdezra, what do you propose we do?
Blue light: I don’t know ,Azpael. One of us must assume control of the husk and force it to live, hopefully the instinct to survive will take over.
Red Light: This is only a temporary measure, we cannot keep this going. It was only through our presence in the husk that gave us a semblance of life.
Blue Light: Us?
Red Light: Ignore it, angel, so who should take over?
Page 6
Aurora is on the balcony meditating. Annie is walking out of the window attempting to get on to the balcony, she looks visibly annoyed.
Aurora: If you wish to poison yourself with cigarette smoke, you will have to wait until I am finished. I have a lot of stress and free time as I am suspended, so this may take all morning.
Annie: Fuck you, Aurora, I’m lighting up.
Panel 2
Aurora is turning on her.
Aurora: So that’s how it is, Annie? You won’t respect the powerless person at work, so you’re going to carry it on home? Fuck YOU Annie, I’ve been wanting to really lay into you for a while. And I have been thinking about this for a loooong time….
Panel 3
Annie is blowing smoke in her face.
Annie: I don’t care, I’m pissed by you did, you selfish brat.
Panel 4
Aurora is slapping Annie, breaking her cigarette and knocking her back.
Aurora: You hateful bitch, you don’t even care how this is affecting me…
Annie: Leave it alone, Aurora.
Panel 5
Aurora is slapping her again.
Aurora: What? Is the guilt of not helping me get my magic back, almost killing us? Is that what this is….?
Annie: That’s it, you want to talk about guilt?
Panel 6
Annie is electrifying the metal fixtures, sending Aurora to the ground.
Annie: You want to talk about guilt? Call Evelyn, ask her about that time you were kissing Aiden, ask her what she was doing. Go ahead, then come back and talk to me about guilt.
Panel 7
Annie is walking away, flicking a cigarette at her.
Annie: Bitch.
Page 8
The man from the first page is walking down an alley. He is holding a garbage bag in his hand.
Melvin(thought balloon): Oh, dear!....I really should try and quit….but the meat….the taste….the…need…
Panel 2
He is opening a dumpster and putting the bag in.
Melvin(thought balloon): I have to stop this! I cannot keep this up, I must suppress this sickness, the atrocities I have committed…children, men, and women….O god….the need….
Panel 3
Melvin is looking down the alley and seeing a woman flying. Behind her she is leaving a trail of stars and color.
Melvin: What a delicious display, hmmmm. I have never had a parahuman….what flavors, what sauces….I…I have to eat….
Panel 4
Melvin is walking away in shadow.
Melvin: what fun! Teehee, now I will truly have my feast.
Page 9
It is the boardroom. Annie is standing up at the end of the table. The only one in attendance are Hector, Michael and Jeffery.
Annie: Guys, you can only see that there are only a few of us today and it may be so for a while, Hector, you don’t have to be here, go home to your wife.
Hector: Rylah is well, Annie. Thank you for the concern, but she is expected to recover for her wounds, her only concern is that of Evelyn’s condition.
Annie: I was just getting to that, Hector. Before, I explain why there are only a few of us, let me give the assignments, Michael and I will patrol tonight, Jeffery on backup, and Hector on standby.
Panel 2
Captain Regal is walking in. He is in costume, he has a blank expression.
Captain Regal: Everyone, I see that you have started this meeting, let me get down to the business, I believe we need to….
Annie: T’sari, Thad, whatever you’re calling yourself, I have already started this meeting.
Captain Regal: Yes, well thank you, but it is time to get serious, thank you for beginning and starting. Where is everyone else?
Panel 3
Michael is standing now.
Michael: Annie was about to explain. Are you back on duty?
Regal: I have never left duty.
Michael: Then where have you been? It’s not like we are going to just stop patrolling or having meetings without you.
Regal: Boy, your insolence….
Panel 4
Annie is now in between them.
Annie: Boys! Now, if we can
Regal: Remove your hand from my chest, Annie.
Michael: You going to do something, do it.
Page 10
Hector is standing. Jeffery is already up and pointing.
Hector: T’sari I have had enough! My wife was beaten last night, Evelyn was…where were you?
Jeffery: Yeah, jerkface, where the hell were you? Michael and I watched three people die last night.
Panel 2
Captain Regal looks indignant.
Captain Regal: This is how you deal with leadership? As if leading your previous team into prison wasn’t bad enough….
Panel 3
Hector is calling his shadow self, Jeffery is beginning to blur, and Annie is now bringing forth her lightning.
Michael: I think we better call a vote on our current leadership.
Panel 4
Hector is speaking: All those in favor of Annie aka Glitch taking over full leadership say Aye.
All but Annie and Regal: Aye
Panel 5
Annie is looking at Regal. Regal looks angry.
Annie: And now, I appoint Michael aka Rukus, as co leader of this team. And now T’sari, if you will take your seat….
Panel 6
T’sari is sitting down. The rest of the team is looking at him.
Annie: Thank you, now if I can continue, Regal and Hector on monitor duty. Hector, that’s so you can check on Rylah and Regal, you on reserve. Jeffery is our standby, and Michael and I will take over patrol. Now, as for what happened to Evelyn, Rylah, Aiden and Aurora….All I will say is that negligence on monitor duty put the lives of some of our members in danger.
Page 11
Annie is speaking, all heads are turned in her direction.
Annie: To respect the privacy of those involved, that is all details I will give. Some of what occurred crosses lines and boundaries. And I think it’s best if some of that is left outside of the team. Rylah will be recovering and as soon as able she will return to the team. Aiden and Aurora are on suspension for 2 weeks at least, until I can further review their actions, and Evelyn….I will need to talk to her before I discuss her situation. Ok, team we have our assignments. Let’s get to them.
Panel 2
Annie is in the elevator with Michael.
Annie: I cannot believe that stupid fuck just walked into a meeting and attempted to take over!
Michael: Annie, look, we all know Regal is an asshole. He was trying to change, but we all knew he was eventually going to go back into asshole mode. Don’t sweat it.
Panel 3
They are exiting the elevator and walking into the lobby.
Michael: OK, so where should we start?
Annie: You pick, I honestly don’t care.
Michael: Calm down, Annie! You are really upset!
Annie: Well, after what happened to Evelyn and then Regal being an ass….
Panel 4
Michael is grinning at her. Annie is giving him a sideways smile.
Michael: Hey, you wanna go back to Marshall’s Folly tonight?
Annie :What and get thrown into a dumpster again?
Michael: You had fun that night!
Annie: No, I mean we’re going, but I just wanted to see what was on the itinerary.
Page 12
Rachel is at her kitchen table. There are multiple books stacked everywhere. She is reading and has her hair pulled back. She is holding one book and sipping from a glass of tea.
Rachel: …during the process, there are four mages in a circle, one representing one of the four pillars…Aiden? Honey, can you bring me some more tea?

Panel 2
Rachel is looking at the book, in the background Aiden is taking her glass over her shoulder.
Aiden: I got it.
Rachel: Thank you, look, as Annie and Michael have given you the next couple of days off, do you want to go see your parents or just bum around here? I mean you took the time off to spend with me, we might as well use it. I mean, I have to go to the Ax building to help Richard do the upgrade on the security system, what do you think?
Panel 3
Rachel is turning her head, taking off the glasses.
Rachel: Aiden, what’s wrong? You and I haven’t really talked in a long time. Is everything alright?
Panel 4
Aiden is pouring tea.
Aiden: Yeah….I’ve just been a little distracted, I’m ok, though Rache, and yeah, we can go see our parents..wait. We have this thing we have to go to tomorrow night. Didn’t you get the message that Deborah left, we have dinner with the rest of the team, at her place, it’s supposed to be formal.
Panel 5
Rachel is making a face, and taking the tea from Aiden’s hand.
Rachel: Yeah, but I thought we could skip out on it, I mean there is nothing that says we have to eat at the boss’s. Plus, besides you haven’t been back to see your family since we moved here, you’re dad has been asking about you…
Panel 6
Aiden is kissing her on the cheek.
Aiden: Yeah, I know, look after the dinner thing we can go for a few days, K? I’m going into town, I wanna see what Michael is doing, maybe play some basketball.
Rachel: I think he’s on monitor duty, look, if you go up to the tower, I don’t want you working, OK?
Page 13
Aiden is almost out the door.
Aiden: Ok, Rache, if you need anything call me.
Rachel: Ok, honey, look, I need to talk….
Panel 2
Aiden has closed the door and left. Rachel is standing up in the living room.
Panel 3
Rachel is sitting on a couch. She is picking up her book again and patting her stomach.
Rachel: Ok, kiddo, just you, me, the bad dreams, and the fact that you are double the size you should be. Ok, no problem.
Panel 4
Rachel is waving her hand. There is a glass of tea that is moving toward her in the air.
Rachel: Well, whatd’ya know?
Page 14
Evelyn is thrashing about on the bed. There are two blinking lights.
Red Light: By the Abyss! The pain…..I….
Blue Light: We have to try…there is something blocking us…
Panel 2
The panel should be Evelyn’s hand gripping the sheet on the bed.
Red Light: We almost have it…..
Blue Light: That blockage…but… I didn’t…..
Panel 3
Evelyn’s eyes are now open. The lights are gone.
Panel 4
She is getting out of bed. She is dressed in the night gown and her hair is a mess. Her eyes are glossy.
Evelyn: The stink of sin is everywhere…..
Page 15
Annie and Michael are in an alley. There are two costumed males, that have been knocked out.
Michael: Why are villains so dumb?
Annie: Well, why do villains even think they can get away with half the crap that they do?
Michael: Ahhhh, the infamous answering a question with a question….
Annie: Sorry, I’m a little distracted. Michael, what do you think of me as leader?
Panel 2
Michael is smiling at her, Annie is attacting manacles to the villains.
Michael: Well, serious answer or smartass answer?
Annie: Give me the serious answer.
Michael: Well, let me see, first the negative, you almost killed us, Evelyn and Orchid were beaten, I was kidnapped and tortured and you can’t control Regal. How’s that?
Annie: Gee thanks.
Panel 3
Annie is pressing a button on her gauntlet.
Annie: Regal, alert pick up at my location. Thanks.
Michael: Ok, now the positive, you haven’t lost a member of the team, you gave someone a second chance who didn’t deserve it and yet they haven’t proved you wrong, you stepped up when no one would, and everyone, Aurora and Regal included, follow you. That’s a pretty good for an ex-con.
Annie: Yeah, I guess so, but I guess lately everything is getting to me. Plus Regal and Aurora aren’t making things easier. By the way, you aren’t doing too shabby in the leadership department.
Panel 4
Michael is smiling at her.
Michael: Meh, it’s just making choices that no one wants to. So, you wanna start our patrol and then grab a drink afterwards?
Panel 5
Annie is walking towards a large black jeep, Michael is behind her.
Annie: Yeah, but not at Marshall’s Folly, I don’t wanna get thrown in a dumpster again.
Michael: Aww, but c’mon that was the highlight of the night.
Page 16
Evelyn is writhing on her bed.
Red Light: I can’t…..the shell is fighting back….
Blue Light: We may have to it together….
Panel 2
Same as above.
Red Light: Then….hurry, this hurts….the pain is….
Blue Light: We will have to merge….but I don’t know what the implications of…
Red Light: Just do it!
Panel 3
Evelyn is now sitting up on the bed, screaming.
Evelyn: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Panel 4
Tiff is now in the room, shaking, Evelyn. Evelyn is still screaming.
Tiff: Evelyn! Evee, what’s wrong!? Why are you screaming so?...
Evelyn: THIS………………….HURTS………….
Panel 5
Tiff is backing away from the bed, she is holding a communicator. Evelyn is writhing in pain on the bed.
Evelyn: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Tiff: Ax Security Protocol Level Red! I need help with Evelyn!
Panel 6
Annie’s chest embelem and Michael’s belt buckle are both blinking.
Michael: That’s Evelyn!
Annie: Come on, we need to get to her penthouse.
Page 17
Aiden is in a long hallway, knocking on a door.
Aiden: Michael….come on answer the door….
Panel 2
The door is opening, it is Aurora, wearing nothing. She looks surprised to see him. Aiden is in shock.
Aurora: Aiden? What are you doing here?
Aiden: I…I was looking for Michael, uh… I take it by your uhm….he’s not here is he?
Aurora: No, here come on in and I’ll put something on, is everything OK?
Panel 2
Aurora is walking out of the room. Aiden is looking away.
Aiden: Yeah, well no…thought Michael was around so I could talk to him…about stuff…
Aurora: What happened last night with us?
Panel 3
Aurora is back now in a robe. Aiden is sitting on the couch.
Aiden: Uh, yeah…look, I’ll just come back when he’s around…
Aurora: Don’t you think that the best person to talk to about what we did would be me?
Aiden: Yes, well…I don’t know….I mean, why am I suddenly obsessed with you? I mean…
Aurora: Shh…I know what you mean, and why is it, that I cannot get you out of my mind?

Panel 4
Both Aurora and Aiden are sitting on the couch.
Panel 5
Aurora and Aiden are kissing passionately.
Page 18
Michael and Annie are inside of Evelyn’s penthouse. Tiff is sitting down on a chair looking distressed. Michael appears to be listening to something off panel.
Annie: ..ok so after the screaming stopped, she just got up and left?
Tiff: I…it was so…bizarre! She stood, smiled at me and put some trashy outfit together and walked out of here as if nothing happened. I tried to stop her and that look she gave me…
Annie: What look?
Tiff: It was as if…I mean, it wasn’t an angry look, it was just a blank stare, so I backed away and she walked out of here.
Michael: I’m not hearing anything, so she isn’t speaking wherever she is.
Annie: And Regal and Lasombra have both confirmed that her communicator is here at the penthouse.
Panel 2
Tiff is grabbing Annie’s arm.
Tiff: Annie! You have to find her! She’s….different now, I don’t know any other way to explain it! She…that stare, it was that look! Her eyes were…my God, it was looking into Hell….
Annie: Tiff, I’m sure everything will be OK, she was probably just a little shaken. Michael and I will call in Aiden and Aurora to help us track them. I have Lasombra and Regal on heightened alert.
Michael: Regal just signaled, Aiden and Aurora aren’t responding. I have him calling Aiden’s house and our apartment to look for them.
Panel 3
Michael and Annie are now looking at each other in the eye.
Michael: You don’t think…
Annie: No….they better not be…
Tiff: What?
Panel 4
Annie is sitting her down gently.
Annie: Don’t worry, Tiff, we will find her. Michael, let’s go.
Michael: Roger that.
Tiff: Annie, Michael?
Michael: yes?
Panel 5
Tiff is now looking down.
Tiff: There was one thing that she said before she left…
Annie: What was it?
Panel 6
Tiff is now looking up at both of them.
Tiff: She said’ I can smell the taint of sin….’
Page 19
The man is in his kitchen. There is a woman(the same woman who was flying earlier) who is gagged and is tied down. The man has a syringe in his hand.
Man: Don’t worry, this will all be over soon. I’m so sorry, so very sorry, but it has to be this way. Once this goes through your system…
Off Panel Voice: You can add more to your collection?

Panel 2
Evelyn is now walking into the kitchen. She is wearing an even more revealing outfit, there are silver studs all through the uniform. Her long ponytail is gone, her hair is short. She has a whip around her waist.
Evelyn: What? Didn’t expect that you’d be caught, Gordon?
The Man(Gordon): Wh-who are you, what are you doing in my home?

Panel 3
Evelyn is untying the woman, she doesn’t seem to be paying attention to Gordon.
Evelyn: The stench of sin called you to me. There you are, dear, no go to the Ax Tower and tell whomever is there what has happened. Tsk, Gordon, you aren’t even sorry for what you’ve done, even in the lowest depths of the pit, remorse is found. Granted, it is Hell, but…
Gordon: S-Stop! What are you doing!? I..I wasn’t going to hurt her….
Panel 4
Gordon is stabbing the syringe into Evelyn’s arm. Evelyn is laughing.
Gordon: Y-You! Take T-That!
Evelyn: My…my little wonderful little murderer and cannibal, this body is not organic, it doesn’t have veins, sedatives don’t have the same effect. If you are sincere about wanting to stop, turn yourself in and…
Gordon is hitting Evelyn with a frying pan.
Gordon: You cost me my meal, you cocky bitch! One way or another, I am going to eat.
Panel 6
Evelyn is standing now. Her nose is bleeding.
Evelyn: So, no? Then let me show you what awaits you. Gaze into the abyss.
Page 20
Gordon is screaming. Evelyn is holding his face, making him look her in the eyes. The background is different. There should be multiple scenes of Hell, torture and screaming.
Evelyn: Is that what you want, Gordon, is it? If you truly want it, continue to gaze, I am the doorway.
Page 21
Aurora is naked laying next to Aiden, who is also naked, she is screaming in pain.
Panel 2
Lasombra is in the monitor room, his darkness tendrils are shooting wilding.
Panel 3
Rachel is clutching her stomach in pain.
Panel 4
Laura is screaming, James is trying to calm her down.
Panel 5
Evelyn is tossing Gordon to the ground. Gordon’s face is white, he seems to have permanent expression of fear.
Evelyn: So…Gordie? Didn’t like what you saw….and that’s not even the deepest level…..
Panel 6
The panel is Evelyn’s face in shadow, her face should seem different, darker, yet happy.
Evelyn: Shall I show you? Do you want to see? What the true nature of evil is? Come on , Gordie…
Page 21
Panel 1
Three panels, two small one large.
Michael and Annie are in the conference room. They are both talking to a person in a chair.
Michael: So….you took him to the police station afterwards?
Annie: I have a question, how did you know where to find him? Tiff said something…
Evelyn: Annie….Michael…look, I recovered from a traumatic experience, I thank you ever so much for your concern, but now I really, I am well, I mean aside from emotional trauma, but I don’t want any concern or thought given to it.
Panel 2
Michael and Annie are both looking at her with surprise and confusion.
Annie: Evelyn, look, no one expects you to return to active duty, or even to the team, but I just want you to know that we are here for you, and.
Evelyn: Stop. I am well, end of story.
Michael: Evee…
Evelyn: Michael, Please, I will deal with this in my own way. Let it go, at least for now.
Panel 3
Evelyn is now standing. She is wearing a modified version of her costume. She has a smile on her face. Her body shape should look different, as if she has once again altered it.
Evelyn: Besides, you never know what else is going to come up….
Page 22
Panel 1
Aiden is naked in bed, he is holding Aurora. She is asleep, his face is remorseful.
Panel 2
Richard is looking at a screen.
Panel 3
His face is one of surprise.
Panel 4
Richard is grinning and beginning to laugh.
Panel 5 and 6
The panel should be split down the middle.
The panel seems to be a security tape. It is the monitor room. The words “PAUSE” with a time marker at the bottom, should be evident. The scene is Aiden and Aurora kissing…..
End Issue