2b: Home is Where The Heart is

Verity tilts her head slightly before she slowly says, I've been at the celebrity retreat... Aren't you here to take me back?

You... are here to take me to the retreat?

Verity turns and slumps to sit on the bed her gaze fixed on a framed picture of her and her parents. She mumbles softly Oh... I can't go back... I can never go back... She reaches out a hand and pokes the frame, then seems lost to her self as she rubs her finger back and forth across the smooth black plastic.

Harrow stands up and begins undoing the nut holding the lampshade on the lamp on the bedside table. She carefully replaces the nut on the lamp and turns the lamp on. It reveals more of the odd arrangements of mundane items throughout the bedroom. She delicately and seemingly reverently places the lamp shade on the floor, standing with her hands on her hips and walking around the lamp shade looking at it intently. As she performs this inspection she answer's Blake, I'm not allowed... I'm supposed to stay at the retreat... For the good of the Church. She stops her pacing and walks over to David. She reaches a gloved hand up to stroke David's face.

Her hand is ice cold, it sends shivers down David's spine as she delicately strokes from cheek to chin. Would that we could have been closer... David. I know we couldn't... but maybe... we could have been the characters, and our actors could have truly been in love...

Verity pauses before she snaps her hands on David’s wrists and speaks in a rush. David, let’s run away. Just you and I. Let’s find a place where we can just… be. Be who we are without anyone looking over our shoulders and telling us what we ought to be. David, please. Take me away from… from… all of this... the pleading in the woman is evident as she seems to be edging closer to the door, trying to tug David along.

Something changes in Verity quite abruptly as she releases David and stands straight. I was wrong to come here. I need to get back. She turns and moves to walk out of the apartment.

Verity stops to touch a kitchen towel laying on the floor, crisply folded. She rubs her fingers across its surface as she says impassively. The movie is done. Or rather… I’m done with the movie. I wonder what audiences will think… she turns to look at the group, although the trajectory of her gaze seems slightly off. Worries give way to anxiety, anxiety to fear, fear to desperation and desperation to collapse. You need not worry… just give it all to the Void and in the end you will find peace. Verity turns and begins walking out the door.

Spencer’s arm blocks Verity’s exit. She stops abruptly and she looks down at the blockage tilting her head oddly.

Let?

She reaches out icy fingers to stroke along Spencer’s forearm. As she does so, Spencer feels an odd prickling of his skin.

She turns her face to look at Blake, her gaze settling on his neck. I’m not okay.

Verity shakes her head returning to look at Spencer. Again the trajectory of her gaze seems slightly… off. I know what you want, Mr. Shull. A way to quiet the memories… a way to let go of those you failed to save… a way to… forget. I am here to tell you your deliverance is coming. Soon all will be taken and you will finally have… peace.

The lights in the apartment begin to flicker intermittently and the chill air seems to become distinctly colder.