City of IF

[Christalnightshade]

In the distance the sun was rising. The horizon was pink from the dampness in the air. The seaside was calm. A four by four and two white cars drove up the mound and stopped close to a small beach house. Bu was clothed in a short kaki pants and white T-shirt and Sasha was taking off the car belt.

Sasha: (looking at Chris and Lara at back of four by four.) Hey you guys ready?

Bu: (climbs out of car.) This is going to be the best, huh? Sasha

Sasha: (closes door behind her.) Your right…

Lara: (Jumps out of back of four by four.) This isn’t going to be about just swimming right, how about some music too.

Bu: (Carries Chris out of car and puts him into wheelchair) There enjoy!

Chris: (Rolls his wheelchair, suddenly one of the wheels goes into a sinkhole within the sand.) Little help please!

Sasha: (Pushes Chris’s wheelchair) Few…(wipes forehead) Are you sure we shouldn’t carry you? (Wheelchair bumps and gets back on sand)

Chris: (relieved) Thanks. I’m happy staying in my chair

Lara: (laughs) Are you sure you won’t get stuck again with those oversized wheels?

Chris: (grimace) Don’t hit the lion with a stick

Lara: (surprised) Oh… a lion. I thought you being more of a kitty…

Sasha: (Puts umbrella in sand.) Now come on guys

Lara: (looks at Chris.) Hey Hawken, we’ve got seven whole weeks of vacation. And I’m not going to waste one day. I’m going to muck about.

Chris: You go ahead. I’ll follow as slow as my wheels can take me. (Stops wheelchair under umbrella.)

Lara: Ah… This is the best. Well the sun is going to burn you guys. I got me some suntan lotion…

Chris: (looks at Lara) Care to get me something cool

Lara: You’re already under the umbrella and I’m not going to lotion you. You do it.

Bu: (serious) You guys should stop arguing. Hey Sasha you going to get some drinks? I’ll come with to carry them.

Sasha: Yea. I’m coming. (Takes out purse and looks at it) I’ve got enough for everyone.

Lara: Go buy some then. Can’t wait

Chris: (watches Bu walk off with Sasha over to drink stand) Those two do everything together…

Lara: (happily sits down on blanket) They are good friends…

***

Lara: (watches two white cars and eight people getting out of the cars) Wow… They are overly dressed.

Chris: (speculating) By the way their dressed I think their part of the FBI... (clears throat) Maybe we should get out of here. They look like an unpleasant bunch.

Lara: (nods then stands up and takes hold of Chris’s wheelchair) Come… I’ll take you over to the drink stand.

Chris: (hesitant) Are you sure? Maybe they’ll get offended, or think we’re running from something…

Lara: (reassures) They won’t (Looks at the eight people walking over to them. She starts to hurriedly push the wheelchair.) Eeep! (starts to whisper) They’re following.

Chris: Since it is Christmas holiday maybe their just going to the drink stand and is going to hold a braai here.

Lara: (comes to a stop at the drink stand. Peaks out of corner of eye) Their here… (watch Sasha standing at the red drink stand) Hey my friend. How about you two stop talking and we get out of here…

Sasha: (confused) Why? Did Chris make you angry?

Lara: (laughs) No…otherwise I would have left him in the sun.

Chris: (scratches head) My (sighs) You guys think we fight all the time.

Bu: (Turns around with four drink cans in hand) Finally, the drinks are here (watches two people digging around in the sand, both in suits) Who are the guys in the monkey suits?

Lara: Chris said they look like part of the FBI.

Chris: They look it (looks at other people walking over to their tanning spot) and they sure do act like it.

Sasha: (hearing Lara and Bu following her she strides over to three people rummaging around their spot) excuse me…

Lara: (sees the two men digging around the sand) Hello… having fun are you?

Man 1: (looks up his glasses hiding his expression) This is CSI busyness…

Lara: We knew it, but you know you’re digging in the sand for no reason…

Man 2: What you mean… Did you find the murder weapon?

Lara: Murder weapon…(frightened) what you mean murder weapon?

Man 1: The killer stashed his gun somewhere in the sand, making it impossible to find it.

Sasha: (gasps) Killer… Is he still around here? What happened?

Man 1: (points to himself) Derik and I know the killer is still around this beach. Mr Blake was shot, but drowning in the sea was fatal, that’s what we know.

Man 2: (a woman whispers in his ear and he nods) ok. (takes out badge) by order of CSI. You’ll be going nowhere, until we’ve found the culprit.

Lara: (angry) you can do that, I don’t care (breathes) why? you also going to search the beach house we’ll be staying in…

Chris: (gasps) What if that beach house was the place where the killer lived.

Lara: That can’t be… My uncle Ronny owns the beach house and he never comes to this place.

Man 1: At what time were you at the beach?

Lara: (offended) This is my first time here… I only heard of the beach house from my uncle Ronny.

Man 2: We’ll be talking to you four soon. After we’ve searched your beach house.

Lara: (smiles) Ok… but there is no furniture in there.

Man 1: (questioning look on face) No furniture?

Sasha: Lara is right. We haven’t even furnished the place. Her uncle told us he didn’t have time to unpack the furniture.

Man 2: For now stay here… Do you have the keys to the beach house?

Sasha: Do you have a warrant?

Lara: (nudges Sasha) That’s ok, they can search my beach house as long as they don’t steal my computer.

Man 1: (looks suspiciously Lara’s way) You have a computer?

Bu: (surprised) wow you guys are nosey the computer is still in the car.

Man 1: Oh I apologize. We’ll get a warrant to search around… For now you have to abide by our rules.

Lara: (arches a brow) What rules?

Man 1: The rules are clear… You will not obstruct justice of law…

Lara: (shrugs shoulder) I think you don’t understand. We are giving you guys the chance to search as much as you want to and we won’t run or obstruct justice.

Man 2: Good. Meanwhile we’ll be keeping a keen eye on you four.

Sasha: (sighs) Is there no end to this…

***

Lara: (doubtful) Can I see your badge?

Man 1: (nods) Here… (passes his badge over to Lara)

Lara: (looks at gold and scratches it) looks real enough… CSI (Crime Scene Ivestigation)…230269…. S. Cooper. ID is real… Uh… (points to cop number) Wish I could understand this…

Sasha: (takes badge and whispers) how we supposed to know if it is real…

Bu: (shakes head.) They never say on TV how it’s supposed to look like.

Man 1: (smiles) That is the ID number we have in order to identify a CSI or even a cop. (takes badge) we’re detectives of the CSI, I assure you

Man 2: (stares at clouds hanging overhead) The rain is going to move in.

Bu: Ok I’ll believe you. A little rain isn’t going to hold you guys back.

Sasha: (pulls Bu’s arm) Come we must get our luggage into the beach house.

Lara: (bothered) I…um… (turns to look at Chris) I can’t help, but think that they are looking for something ells. We should better get our stuff into the beach house.

Chris: (laughes) What better way to give you exercise.

Lara:(takes Chris’s wheelchair and starts pushing) You know if you stop eating so much, I’m sure It be easier to push you.

Chris: You love being in front of that computer of yours don’t you…

Lara: (accidentally pushes wheelchair into sandhole) Not again… (starts pushing, wheelchair bumps out of hole and Lara stops to look at sand.) The hole… It must be there. (screams toward the CSI) Hey I think I found it!

Sasha:(walks after Lara) The Luggage is going to get wet if we don’t hurry

Lara: (sweating) Well I think the murder weapon is in that hole(points to hole in sand)

Man 2: (arrives) Yes? You screamed something?

Lara: (points) The gun must be in that hole…

Man 2: (takes out gloves) It better be there… (puts gloves on and shoves hands into sandhole)

Lara: (sigh) So? Is it there?

Man 2: (digs around) Wait, I feel something (digs deeper) A few rocks. (digs deeper) There are many rocks buried here… (pulling out a pistol in the sand) Thanks… How did you know?

Lara: I play CSI games on my computer its obvious that something be hidden very badly if the person is also trying to run away.

Man 2: I’ll tell them you helped, your name is?

Lara: My name is Lara

Man 2: I guess games do play a vital role in educating the human beings in the world…

***

Man 1: (walks over to them and halts in front of Lara) Well… (looks at gun in his friend’s hand) You found it. (turns to Lara) Is there anything you should tell us?

Lara: (shrugs shoulders) No, nothing…

Man 1: How did you know it was there?

Man 2: (clarifies) She saw the sand-hole and then asked me to dig through it. I believe I would have done the same. (whispers to his friend) She can’t be the killer. She is so young.

Man 1: (whispers back) She might remind you of your own kid, but that don’t take out the possibility of her being the murderer (looks at Lara) How old are you?

Lara: (amazed) I’m twenty five, sir.
Man 2: (a small laugh escaping) Ok (looks at friend) Come, better give the weapon in…

Man 1: (still standing in one place) I think you should come with us… (motioning Lara to follow) Follow us. You can call me Cooper and my friend here Derik

While the other CSI investigators were mulling away at all the evidence. Sasha and Bu had taken Chris toward the beach house. After putting Chris inside the beach house they immediately started unpacking the four by four. Entering and exiting the beach house as they packed everything inside. The last thing they carried was the computer. Lara and the two CSI agents were walking outside on the beach. The sun was hidden behind dark clouds and the agents looked serious.

Lara: (sigh) So? Ask what you will of me…

Man 1: (walking next to Derik) We don’t want to ask you questions. We want to show you something…

Lara: (puzzled) What is it you want to show?

Man 2: (walks into the beach’s cave) Some of our men have been going in this cave and haven’t been coming back. There are still a few that are searching this cave…

Lara: (steps back) I’m sorry I can’t help you…

Man 1: (takes Lara’s shoulders) We know who you are? You’re the wiz kid. The one that helped solve three murders.

Lara: (pushed hands off shoulders) I’ve stopped solving a long time ago…

Man 1: I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that there wasn’t really a person that died of a gun, but it’s strange to know that a gun was hidden there.

Man 2: Meaning we hid it there only to make you help us…

Man 1: What Derik is trying to say is that we need you to help us.

Lara: (turns around) Look I’m not smart. I have my own job to do, so do you…

Man 2: I want to know if you believe in creatures that are so formidable that they actually induce fear within strong men…

Lara: (looks at Derik with an interesting look) What you mean?

Man 2: There are said to be a werewolf in that cave and your uncle had seen it.

Lara: (confused) My uncle knows about of such creature?

Man 1: That is why he never could unpack or live there.

Lara: Why did he even send me and my friends to this place?

Man 2: We asked him to give you the chance to become the investigator you once was. Plus, we are also keeping an eye out for the creature or person that killed our men.

Lara: (steps back even further) I’m sorry you must be crazy… I’m not going to help you guys. I’m no mythologist and I don’t believe in such jokes…

Man 1: Look, I know you don’t believe us… but the truth can be that it is a man that is killing the people in the cave…

Lara: I don’t care. I’m not doing you guys a favour…

Man 2: I guess she isn’t what we expected her to be, Coop.

Man 1: (watches Lara run off) I guess we’ll just have to lure her inside…

***
The beach house was in a mess with all the furniture and plastic laying about. Lara entered the beach house. Chris was sleeping on one of the 5 sofas, his wheelchair standing lonely in a corner. Lara could hear Sasha within the kitchen and Bu was standing in the doorway close to the sitting room.

Lara: (sits down on a wheelchair) I don’t believe those people! (starts rolling around)

Bu: (walks over to Lara) What did they do?

Lara: (looks up) Well, they believe I can solve a murder about a werewolf, or a person dressed as a werewolf. You know I don’t want to solve anything right…

Bu: (sits down) Maybe you should help them out for old time sake.

Lara: (smiles) You think I should help them?

Bu: Yes

Sasha: (walks into room) Sure help them… (dusts self off) You know maybe they’ll give you something in return…

A knock comes on beach house door.

Lara: (walks over to door and opens it) Yes? (looking at a mysterious looking woman)

Woman 1: We really need your services… Mr Blake was the last to die inside that cave…

Bu: (pushes in front of Lara) Wait, wait. You said nothing to us about a cave. We thought the murder was about a drowned and shot guy called Blake.

Lara: (confused) I’ll help, but please let me get some rest first. I need to run everything through my mind. I’m sure it isn’t a werewolf, but in fact a human being doing the killings.

Woman 1: Please excuse Cooper and Derik, they play jokes on people. The gun is in fact a weapon used for killing. So you helped us a lot. What did they exactly say to you about the weapon and the killer?

Lara: (even more confused) I think he said that they planted the gun in the sand in order to get me to help. I guess they were checking if I was the right Lara they were looking for.

Bu: Oh ok…

Woman 1: Even worse agents lying. It goes to show that you can’t trust anyone… The gun is a murder weapon. The last recording we got on Mr Blake’s cell phone was a gun shot. We would like to offer you to become part of the CSI, if you still want to help us?

Lara: (nods) I’ll be part of this? (smiles) Ok. At least I can drop my job for something of more interest. (waves goodbye to lady and shuts door)

Bu: Wow, they actually offered you a job… That is something new…

Lara: (sits down on couch and shoves face into pillow) Aa! (looks up) Do you think if I never solved those murders that I wouldn’t have met you guys?

Sasha: I remember how you solved your very first murder. It was poisoning right and the wife did it. Me being a journalist I came to you about the second murder, which I wanted your help. I’m sure we would have met somewhere and become the friends we are today.

Lara: You guys make me feel all happy all over again.

[Christalnightshade]

replies?

[The Meaning Of Fear]

Oh my... a script. How interesting.

A couple of things:

Quote: Man 1: (points to himself) Derik and I know the killer is still around this beach. Mr Blake was shot, but the fatal blow to his death was drowning in the sea, that’s what we know.

Drowning is not a fatal blow. It is fatal, but the sea does not deal you a blow when it drowns you. Reword it.

Quote: Man 1: I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that there wasn’t really a person that dead of a gun, but it’s strange to know that a gun was hidden there.

Only person that died of a gun, not dead of it.

[Christalnightshade]

Quote: that dead of a gun

Oopsie. didn't see that. Will fix it.

[Christalnightshade]

Chapter 2 part 1

Night fell. Lara, Chris, Bu and Sasha were outside. The smoke rose from the fire, meat was on it. The smoke twisted in the wind. Lara stood next to Chris. Bu was turning the meat around and Sasha was sitting on a plastic chair. This was a peaceful night without the agents snooping about. Tomorrow they’ll come.

Lara: (uneasy) I’ve made up my mind. I’ve thought through everything. I’m not going to help the agents.

Bu: (studying the sky) Fine, it’s up to you.

Sasha: (smiles) Ok (pulls Bu’s arm) Do you want to swim?

Lara: (raises eyebrow) You two go ahead. Enjoy yourselves. Me and Chris will be watching the lamb.

Chris: Have fun (watches Sasha and Bu walk off and rolls chair closer to Lara) You think they’ll be alright?

Lara: (nods) They’ll will be fine. The sea is calm. (walks over to bag, takes out two blankets)

Chris: (laughs) I see.

Lara: (throws blankets Chris’s way) There. They’ll need it soon. (turns around over to fire and turns lamb around.) There is nothing like medium well Meat.

Chris: Yea

Lara: (starts humming and turning around the meat again) You shouldn’t worry about what the agents said, there is no such thing as a werewolf

Chris: What you mean werewolf?

Lara: I was talking to myself. The agents said that there is a werewolf in the cave.

***

Bu: (runs into dark cave in hopes Sasha was there) Sasha are you here?

Voice 1: I’m in here…

Bu: (walks deeper inside)… where are you?

***

Lara: (hears screaming) What? (drops everything) Chris back inside the cave… I mean go back inside the beach house.

Chris: I want to come with.

Lara: You can’t.

Chris: I understand (rolls wheelchair inside beach house)

Lara: (runs off toward cave) It came from the cave. It was Bu. (comes to a stop in front of the cave looking around) Where are you guys? (sees Bu and walks over to him) Hey what is going on?

Bu: (turns around) Hey! Sasha just scared me.

Lara: Where is she?

Sasha: (walks over to Bu) I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.

Lara: (relieved) Don’t scream like that. You gave me heart attacks… Wait… (glares at something behind Bu) What is that behind you Bu?

Bu: (not turning around) funny joke

Lara: (Walks forward looking directly at claws of some kind of beast) There is something. Get out of the way.

Bu: (turns around and hears a roar coming from the beast) Aaa!

The beast was seven feet tall and black fur. It was hard to see what the beast looked like. Its claws was as red as blood and Its eyes had a golden look to it.

Lara & Sasha: No!

Sasha: (runs away, while pulling Lara’s arm) Come run!

Lara: (hesitant) No we have to help Bu. He can still be alive!

Sasha: The beast bit his neck!

Lara: (starts running) I’m going to get my revenge.

Sasha: We will

***

The beach house was silent as Lara and Sasha rushed inside. Slamming the door they looked around, only to see Chris sleeping on his wheelchair and being awakened from the bang of the door.

Sasha: (breathes deeply) I can’t believe, there is such a creature (tears streaming down cheeks) What will we do?

Lara: The only thing we can do… help the CSI put an end to the creature.

Chris: (boggled) What’s going on?

Lara: There is something we should tell you (walks over to Chris) Bu died, he was attacked by a monstrous creature!

Chris: (laughs) Funny joke… Seriously where is he?

Lara: You tell him Sasha

Sasha: Why don’t you believe us when we tell you that? (wipes tears away) There was this werewolf behind him, the thing bit his neck.

Chris: (Rolls wheelchair over to door) Is he outside?

Sasha: (jumps in front of Chris, blocking the door) He is gone, don’t you understand that. Our friend is gone.

Chris: (rolls wheelchair back) Did you kill him, Sasha?

Sasha: No. It was a werewolf, it lives in the cave.

Chris: (rolls wheelchair forward and pushes Sasha out the way) He is still alive. (opens door)

Lara: No! Don’t open it!

Chris: (looks at the darkness) Bu! Are you there!

Lara: He is not here.

Sasha: (runs into her room) I’m not going to see another die

Chris: (shuts door and turns wheelchair around) Where is he Lara?

Lara: He died a horrible death right in front of our eyes

Chris: You mean that this is no joke?

Lara: Yes! (relieved) I thought when you opened the door that the creature might show up.

Chris: (rolls wheelchair over to telephone) Should we call the CSI?

Lara: Yes as fast as we can!

Chris: (picks up phone and looks at Lara) What is their number?

Lara: (gives card) That is their number. They dropped it at the front door, probably when I shut the door in front of the woman’s face.

Chris: (dials and then a knock comes on the door) Who is that? (puts down telephone)

Lara: (sneaks over to door) Who is it?

Woman 1: (serious) I’ve heard of what happened!

Lara: (curiously opens door) How do you know that?

Woman 1: (takes off sun glasses and looks down) My condolences… (looks up, golden eyes shining brightly)

Lara: (tries and shuts door) Bye!

Woman 1: Wait! (shoves foot in way of door) Don’t leave me outside!