M I L L E N N I U M IT... HAS... BEGUN... NOTHING IS FORSAKEN... Virtual Season Episode #414. "Hollow Scars" written by: Gavin Hunter TEASER BLACK. FRANK (V.O.) Previously on Millennium. There follows a one-minute recap of the events in "Sacrament", beginning with Helen Black's abduction and ending with her rescue and the Mark of Lucifer (star symbol with the zodiac surrounding it) etched in a concrete wall. FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN: EXT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Lightning crackles as rain pours on and off the rooftop of the three-story manor. Legend INDICATES: Baltimore, Maryland October 30, 11:13 PM There are other houses next to it, but none are as uninviting and dilapidated as this. The shallow gust of wind can be heard causing the torn screen door to BANG against the FRONT DOOR. Amid the storm, a faint noise can be heard. MUSIC. Gothic-Heavy Rock. And then we can see pulsating lights and shadows of people moving to and fro behind the curtains. We hold on the Ancient House for a moment before we... CUT TO: INT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT It is dark and void until the music kicks in again. Through the quick glints of light we can discern a mass of people jumping and moving quickly to the garbled sounds. The steady BOOM of bass as the crowd screams loudly inside the house. HARD CUT TO: Six people ENTER the house in blackened, hooded garb dragging a Scared Man across the floor. SCARED MAN (screaming) Get me out of here! Let me go! His cries for help fall on deaf ears as the music plays even louder now. The camera PANS AROUND and reveals a FIREPLACE scorching with flames and fire. It becomes evident as we get CLOSER that the fireplace is the intended destination. CLOSER. The flames are getting brighter with each and every footfall. The camera quickly PANS BACK to one of the SIX as he releases the man's arms and slides a FOOTSTOOL next to the fireplace. The SIX quickly shoves the man to the floor with the man's head resting on the footstool. Another of the SIX steps on the man's neck bracing it in place as a second member bends the man's arms back. The man continues to scream his blood-curdling scream. Our focus turns LEFT as a third member reaches for a FIRE-STOKER which has been resting in the fireplace, but instead of a spearhead at the end of the stoker there is a symbol which is not visible until... The third member suddenly PUSHES the heated part of the stoker onto the man's forehead. Smoke rises up and as the man shouts a most terrible shout, the camera quickly PANS UP as we can see a mobile of several ghosts above the fireplace proclaiming "Happy Halloween!" The camera quickly PANS BACK to the man, tears and sweat falling down his face. As the man's head becomes more visible, we can see the Mark of Lucifer branded to his forehead. Then in one sweeping motion, SHADOWS appear above the man. The camera PANS UP and we notice six arms rising, fingers outstretched touching each other in a tight circle. The same mark on the man has been branded on each of the Six's raised palms. THE SIX (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... Music becomes more erratic and frightening as the Six continue their chant. THE SIX (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... The fourth, fifth and sixth member each pull out a bladed weapon and holds them over the three sections the scared man's body. Neck. Midsection. Legs. THE SIX (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... The scared man turns his head and sees the sharp blades above him. SCARED MAN (shouting) Oh God! No! Please! The camera PANS UP to the weapons as they become a BLUR in the night and the sound of three grotesque THUNKS can be heard. THE SIX (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... CLOSE ON - THE MAN'S LIFELESS FACE with the Mark of Lucifer scorched into his head. The music grows LOUDER and chanting becomes FASTER before we... CUT TO: INT. BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT A pulse of thunderous lightening as HELEN wakes with a cold sweat on her brow. Helen turns and notices TOM sound asleep. Then something catches the corner of her eyes. Slowly and trembling at the same time, she faces her fear head-on. Helen's mouth drops. There, huge and round and spray painted in the center of their bedroom wall is the Mark of Lucifer! Helen GASPS with fright and begins to itch her right palm. Itching her palm becomes noticeably painful as the bed sheets sprinkle with blood. She looks down and notices the same mark on her palm dripping with her blood. For a moment, she remains silent and as the camera quickly PANS AWAY from her heading out the room, Helen screams loudly into the night... FADE OUT. ACT ONE FADE IN: BLACK. "Tell me not, in mournful numbers Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow FADE IN: EXT. BACK ROAD - NIGHT Only lit by the bright moonlight shining down against the backdrop of trees followed by a series of heavy lightening and a sheet of rain. Legend INDICATES: Bristol, Maryland October 31, 1:05 AM HALLOWEEN Finally, a pair of headlights loom in the distance heading towards us a at a fast pace. A couple of seconds go by and the ZOOMS away. The make of the vehicle is a station-wagon and resting on it's roof, a plastic topper used for advertisement by a popular pizza delivery chain. INT. STATION-WAGON - NIGHT A rather pudgy, long haired young man with glasses (20's) is driving alone while banging his head and tapping his fingers on the steering-wheel to the hard rock anthem of Metallica's "Until It Sleeps". Obviously oblivious to the outside world. The camera PANS BACK to see that there are indeed some pizzas waiting to be delivered. EXT. BACK ROAD - NIGHT Rain continues to shower down as the car keeps speeding down the road. Up ahead, we can see a square-like object resting in the middle of the road. INT. STATION-WAGON - NIGHT PIZZA GUY does not seem to notice as he continues to "rock on". FROM OUT OF WINDSHIELD: The object is getting closer. CLOSER. Now we can discern the object. It is a huge rectangular metal cooler. "Until It Sleeps" continues it's heavy rant as Pizza Guy lights a cigarette. As he does, he glances up and sees the cooler. The look of extreme shock is painted on his pale face. Quickly, he pushes on his breaks. EXT. BACK ROAD - NIGHT Due to the slick road, the car has trouble finding surface as the cooler gets NEARER and NEARER to impact. Lightening CRASHES as the car SLAMS into the cooler destroying the front bumper and shattering the headlights. The hood becomes unhinged and flies up towards the windshield. The cooler itself tips over and the top of it slowly slides open and from inside of it, a hand DROPS to the wet pavement. With smoke steaming from the car's engine, "Until It Sleeps" becomes a distant memory. Pizza Guy gets out and stares dead ahead at the tipped over cooler unaware of the limp hand on the other side. PIZZA GUY (sounding as if he has been doing a little bit more than just delivering tonight) Aw man, I'm really going to get it now, man... Pizza Guy approaches the cooler slowly. Lightening CRASHES in the distance and Pizza Guy quickly tenses up. He is shivering and cold air wafts from his nose and mouth. Like a mouse trembling over it's own shadow, Pizza Guy bends down and with both hands shaking, he begins to turn the cooler back to it's stationary position. As the cooler tilts back up, lightening BOOMS from afar and we catch a glimpse of severed human flesh and the remnants of what the gave the body life: blood! CLOSE ON - PIZZA GUY as he nervously reacts by jumping back and holding his mouth. Quickly, he turns his head to the left and right. Paranoid and scared. He shakes his head nervously PIZZA GUY (whispering) Ah man... this is not cool, man... We hold on the frightening image of the cooler for a moment as we... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BACK ROAD - NIGHT The same image of the cooler only now the glare of red and blue lights flash constantly around it. The slight hint of drizzling rain. Legend INDICATES: 1:57 AM We can see RYAN FROST quietly sucking on a peppermint while inspecting the contents with several Police Officers scoping the area. The look of disgust is apparent on Ryan's face as he puts on a pair of latex gloves. OFFICER (O.C.) I'm sorry sir, but this is a crime scene. Ryan turns his head and notices FRANK BLACK standing next to an officer of the law. RYAN (loudly) It's okay. He's with me. The officer reluctantly lets Frank pass. OFFICER Sorry, sir. Frank does not return a reply as he approaches Ryan. RYAN Frank, I apologize for waking you up for this, but it's quite a mess here. Frank kneels down next to Ryan. FRANK It's okay. Jordan's been having nightmares and I've been staying up with her. RYAN Is she okay? Frank nods his head. FRANK Yeah. It's just been a terrible week for the both of us ever since our trip to Ohio. (a beat) You were sketchy regarding details on the phone. What all do you know so far? Ryan shakes his head. RYAN Not much, Frank. Some pizza kid was coming back from a delivery and didn't see this cooler in time to stop. He's pretty shaken up about it and coming off whatever high he was on. Frank displays a smirk on his face. FRANK I'm sure the accident didn't do this much damage to the body though. RYAN No, the kid swears it was exactly... um, like this. We now catch more than just a glimpse of the mutilated body as we hold on the victim's head. Frank's eyes widen as we see a look of shock to his face. BACK TO: The Victim's Head. As we can see the Mark of Lucifer branded on the man's forehead seeped in blackened, dried blood. BACK TO: FRANK As he continues to stare at the horrific sight. FRANK'S INTERNAL POV -- A figure drowning in a sea of flames! -- The Mark of Lucifer's brand forced on a frightened victim! -- Helen screaming for her life and then in a sudden flash, Helen unconscious behind a wall, her face a battered mess and her mouth covered in duct tape! -- A house cloaked underneath the shadows of trees followed by -- Lucy Butler dresses in decades old attire smiling her evil smile until finally uttering one cryptic word: "Phaestos!" Frank jerks back and wipes cold sweat off his face. Ryan braces Frank's shoulders. RYAN (excitedly) Frank, are you all right?! Frank grunts softly and shakes his head. FRANK I've seen that symbol before. Ryan looks at Frank curiously, but at the same time displays a show of temerity. RYAN (softly) You have? FRANK Three years ago, back when me and my family were living in Seattle, my brother and his wife came to visit us for their child's baptism. Helen was abducted soon afterwards. (a beat) It took all our man power and even the Group to locate her. Several more hours and she would've died. RYAN (shocked) Jeez, Frank! But what does that-- Frank moves his arm up, nods his head and continues. FRANK While looking for clues or any hints of evidence, I came across the same markings carved into a wall in a psychiatric hospital. The patient who carved it; his father had branded the same symbol on his son. (a beat) The son began to believe his father 'was' the devil. RYAN So you believe this latest murder is related to your sister-in-law's abduction? FRANK Uh... in a round about way. RYAN Frank, she was kidnapped. This... poor individual was hacked worse than even what Leatherface could accomplish. Frank forces away a smile. FRANK It's too much to just be a coincidence. RYAN Still, Frank-- A different police officer approaches Ryan and Frank. OFFICER Mr. Frost, sorry to bother you, but the boy was wondering if he could go home. He says he's missed curfew or something like that. Ryan looks at Frank as they exchange a smile. RYAN Yeah, he should be okay now. Just tell him to get some eye drops before he runs into anymore coolers and calls us up. The officer, looking quite stupefied, nods his head and walks away. Frank and Ryan watch as Pizza Guy hops in his car and cautiously drives away. Ryan smiles coyly. RYAN Nine to ten that kid'll fire another one up not even a mile down the road. Frank begins to say something when his beeper buzzes loudly underneath his pea-green jacket. He unclips the beeper from his belt loop on his pants and reads the numbers: CLOSE ON: The beeper's display of numbers: '555-1013.' A look of worry on Frank's face. Ryan exchanges the same worried look. RYAN What is it, Frank? What's wrong? FRANK It's my brother's home phone number. Do you have a cell-phone on you? Ryan nods his head and gives the phone to Frank. RYAN You think it's something serious? FRANK (a beat) At this hour in the night serious is all it can be. Ryan flinches as cold rain sprinkles on him and lightening streaks across the hazy sky. Frank begins to dial his brother's number as we... CUT TO: EXT. BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT The usual tranquil home, but now several police cars surround the house as onlookers stand near the street. Legend INDICATES: 2:30 AM Frank pulls up beside the curb and heads towards the FRONT DOOR. A police officer stops Frank from going any further. OFFICER This is a crime scene, sir. FRANK (annoyed) What is this, tonight?! (a beat) It's okay. I live here. Suddenly, JORDAN opens the front door and hugs her father. JORDAN (crying nervously) Daddy! The officer waves Frank by and continues about her business. Frank picks Jordan up and holds her in his arms. FRANK What is it, Jordan? What's wrong? JORDAN It's Aunt Helen. Someone's done something bad to her. FRANK (shocked) What?! Frank rushes inside the house with Jordan in his arms. INT. BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT As Frank and Jordan enter the house a familiar figure comes out from another room and is shocked to see Frank. DETECTIVE OWEN HAGERDY Hey, Frank. FRANK (acknowledging) Detective Hagerdy. OWEN Sorry that this had to have happened, Frank. FRANK Thanks. Where's Tom and Helen? OWEN Oh, in the living room. Frank and Jordan start to pass by. OWEN Don't worry, Frank. We'll find out who did this to your family. I promise. This case is about to take an unexpected turn. Frank turns his head quickly as everything around him seems to start moving in slow motion. Finally, Owen leaves the room with Frank shaking his head. Finally, Owen leaves the room with Frank shaking his head. Frank's vision readjusts and he looks at Jordan who seems unaware of what has transpired. FRANK (under his breath) Whoa. CUT TO: INT. LIVING ROOM - BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT Police officers can be seen checking through closets and cabinets. Tom is sitting with a shaken Helen on the living room sofa. Frank puts Jordan down and approaches them. Tom looks at Frank sullenly. FRANK I came as soon as you called, Tom. Tom rubs Helen's shoulders. TOM It's in the bedroom, Frank. Frank looks down at Helen's bandaged hand. Tom notices Frank's stern appearance. TOM Her hand was cut. It's okay though. Helen picks up her head and opens up her bandage wrap. HELEN (nearly screaming) No, it's not okay, damn it! Helen shows Frank her gashed palm. Frank bends down to get a closer look. HELEN Somebody did this to me, Frank! Someone who knows what happened to me! Frank can see that the wound has been cleaned, but the gash is still deep and red. FRANK Have you seen anyone that looks suspicious recently? Tears roll off Helen's face. HELEN ...uh...no... FRANK (CONT'D) What did you have to eat today? Helen glances at Tom and shrugs her shoulders. HELEN Just some leftovers from last night, why? TOM Yeah, Frank what are you getting at? FRANK Someone may have drugged her, unless-- Helen's eyes turn wide. HELEN (shocked) Unless what?! Frank hesitates for a moment. Frank looks down towards the floor. FRANK Unless it was self-inflicted. Tom and Helen lift up their heads and glare at Frank. TOM (excitedly) What?! HELEN You're out your mind, Frank! Get out of here! Tom looks at Helen. TOM It's okay, Helen. It's a question that has to be asked. HELEN (enraged) No, it's okay, Tom and anyone who thinks I could do something like that to myself can just go to hell! Jordan tugs at her father's pants. JORDAN What's wrong with Aunt Helen's hand, Daddy? Frank's eyes hold on Helen's cold stare. FRANK (quietly) It's just a cut, sweetie. JORDAN Did they make her do it to herself? Frank's attention now falls on Jordan. FRANK (a beat) What, dear? JORDAN The ghosts dad. In the house. FRANK What house, Jordan? FRANK'S INTERNAL POV -- The Mark of Lucifer blazing with fire! -- Another image of the ancient house now looking newer in design! -- A crowd of people screaming in unison with one word falling from their lips: "Phaestos!" FRANK (under his breath) Phaestos? Helen puts her hands above her head. HELEN (screaming) Stop it! The both of you! Helen jumps up and runs out of the room hold her cut hand. Tom gets up and stares Frank dead in the face. TOM (angrily) See what you've done here, Frank? Whatever demons followed you from Washington, please take them back! Frank closes his eyes attempting to hold back his frustration. FRANK Tom. Tom takes a step back and points his index finger in front of Frank's face. TOM I've said it before, but now I really do mean it: 'you are a curse and God helps anything that gets close to you. (a beat) I thought things had changed after Catherine died. Thought you had finally woken up, but I see it's still the same. Frank appears as if he is about to retaliate, yet remains still and calm. TOM (CONT'D) Not only do you put us in danger 'once again', but even your daughter is having nightmares because of the work you tell yourself is making the world a better place. A better place for who?! Certainly not for you and for your family. Mom drove Dad crazy with her 'visions' of angels and now you're doing the same to us! FRANK (loudly) That's enough! Toms nods his head. TOM You're right, Frank. It is enough. I want you out of the house as soon as possible. Please. Tom storms out of the room. Jordan quietly looks up at her father. JORDAN I guess me and Charlie can't go trick or treating now, huh? Frank, gritting his teeth, does not say another word for several seconds. FRANK Stay right here, Jordan. JORDAN O-okay, Daddy. Frank walks out of the living room and passing by the kitchen, he can see Tom and Helen embraced with Helen sobbing in his arms. Frank swallows hard and makes his way to the bedroom. INT. TOM AND HELEN'S BEDROOM - BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT Frank searches for a light-switch, but when he does he notices the lights will not turn on. Slowly, he turns his head and stares in disbelief at the spray-painted symbol of Lucifer on the wall. The star. The Zodiac. Everything which makes up the Mark. And then something else catches Frank's eyes. As he walks closer to it, he can discern eight small letters inside the lines of the star. Frank swallow hard once again upon reading each letter and what horrifying word it creates: "Phaestos." We hold on the Mark of Lucifer and this newfound piece of the puzzle for several seconds before we... CUT TO: EXT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT Rain begins to pour heavier as traffic is almost nonexistent. Legend INDICATES: 4:15 AM INT. MORGUE - BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT The room is softly lit with a green tint and the metal slabs standing on the floor are just as cold as they appear. Lying on top of one the slabs and underneath a white sheet is the mutilated body of the branded victim. Ryan and a man in white doctor's attire are standing over the half-covered body in a quiet stance not knowing what to say to the other. CORONER This, I believe, is going to be one of the most unusual autopsies I've ever performed. Ryan is trembling nervously while staring down at the body. RYAN At least we know the cause of death. CORONER (chuckling) But which stab killed him? The first or the fiftieth? The coroner pulls the sheet up as we turn our focus on Ryan's disgusted reaction. BACK TO: The Coroner as he expresses a look of utter surprise. CORONER Now how did this happen? Ryan peers down and sees the disassembled remains, only now it's skin's texture is leather-like, the color chalk-white with cracks going around it. RYAN (quizzically) This isn't supposed to happen? CORONER (laughing) Heck no, Mr. Frost. At least not until it's been baked in the sun for several weeks. And even then it wouldn't be 'this' colorless or brittle. The Coroner proves his point by touching an arm and it immediately crumbles into tiny pieces on the slab. CORONER You say this was 'not' how you found the body? Ryan shakes his head fast. RYAN Definitely not. Well... it was butchered, but everything else was normal, I swear. The Coroner places down his scalpel. CORONER Well, there's no way now to estimate the time of death on this individual. I'm sorry. RYAN What could have caused this? CORONER The only thing I can ascertain is that heat must induce the deterioration at an exhilarated pace since you say the body didn't get like this until it was taken out of the cooler. RYAN Deterioration is one thing Doc, but the decay of human flesh in the span of a couple of hours is unheard of. The Coroner continues to view the body and happens upon the victim's head. His gloved fingers nearly touch the brand, but hesitates. CORONER What is that burned on his forehead? Looks like a religious symbol of some sort. Know anything about it? Ryan looks away. RYAN It's the Mark of Lucifer or what's it's commonly referred to as a morning-star. It's a symbol of great power used to ward off unwanted spirits or people. The Coroner rolls his eyes. CORONER Sigh... just in time for Halloween. Still though, even with the symbol there's something else separating it from the body. Ryan's eyes widen. RYAN Of course! It's the only part of the body which hasn't started decomposing. CORONER I wonder... The Coroner reaches with nervous fingers to touch the Mark and lets out a sigh of relief when the forehead does not deteriorate. CORONER From this needle puncture I see here... CLOSE ON: A hole in the center of the Mark. CORONER (O.C.) Something was injected into this man's body prior to or during the branding. BACK TO: The Coroner as he takes out a needle and slowly injects it into the symbol. Fluid creeps up the tube and when finished, the Coroner takes the needle out. CORONER I'll have to analyze this further, Mr. Frost. Excuse me. Ryan nods his head as the Coroner steps out of the morgue. Ryan continues to look at the branded symbol for a moment before he slowly lifts up his shirtsleeve. CLOSE ON - RYAN'S FACE as he looks in utter disgust at... HARD CUT TO: Ryan's Left Arm. And we can definitely see the Mark of Lucifer branded close to his shoulder. We hold on this startling image for several seconds before we... FADE OUT. ACT TWO FADE IN: EXT. FOREST - NIGHT The think foliage of trees surrounded by complete darkness. We can hear the sound of leaves crunching in the distance getting closer and closer. HARD CUT TO: A pair of naked legs running across the forest floor, nearly tripping on sticks and branches. The sound of this person breathing in heavy rasps of air can be heard like an echo in an empty room. CUT TO: SOMEWHERE CLOSE IN THE FOREST Where we can definitely hear someone yelling viciously. Another pair of legs can now be seen. Dark stains cover the jeans and hiking boots as he begins walking in his PREY'S direction. BACK TO: The prey's female's legs turning and hiding behind a huge sycamore. We can see the nervousness in the prey as her legs tremble next to the huge tree. The heavy breathing and the sound of crying before... HARD CUT TO: A burly arm suddenly grabs the prey's shoulders and as she is swung around we realize that it is Helen, bruised in the face and shocked beyond anything imaginable. Staring into the eyes of her HUNTER. The Hunter, who is revealed to be the despicable father in the Season One episode "Sacrament" takes out a cigar and lights it, quickly blowing smoke in Helen's face. Helen coughs and puts her hand over her mouth, tears still rolling down her cheeks. HELEN (quietly) Please... The Hunter doesn't say a word, but instead pulls out a roll of duct tape and strips a piece of it across Helen's mouth before tying her arms back with a long length of sturdy rope. Helen attempts to struggle, but the hunter proves he is much too powerful for her as he grips her legs. Helen's gown-covered body falls abruptly to the moist dirt. Her screams are muffled by the duct tape, but it is clear that Helen is in some kind of pain as the hunter begins dragging her back to wherever he came from. CLOSE ON - THE HUNTER'S FACE as he turns and stares at Helen is slow motion. CUT TO: HELEN As she glares back in utter disgust. HUNTER (O.C.) Time to go back in the wall, sweetness! Helen's eyes widen as tears swell before... HARD CUT TO: INT. TOM AND HELEN'S BEDROOM - BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT Helen awakens in a cold sweat and sits up from where she was lying. She puts her hands over her face and begins to cry. Legend INDICATES: 5:14 AM Tom wakes up and notices his wife and the state that she is in. TOM What's wrong, honey? Another dream? Helen takes her hands away from her face and looks at Tom with a forlorn expression. HELEN They... won't stop... haven't stopped since 'he' moved in here. Tom is clearly shocked. TOM We've talked about this. You know it's not his fault that happened to you. HELEN Still, it doesn't help to be constantly reminded of the worst thing that's happened to me just by seeing his face. TOM (retaliating) Well, that face right now is trying to solve this crime before anyone else... you, me, Charlie gets hurt. HELEN How can you be so understanding? I heard what you said to him. TOM He's my brother and he's doing the best that he can. Helen gets up and puts on her bath robe HELEN (angrily) Well, maybe that's just not good enough! Helen storms out of the room and slams the bedroom door. Tom shakes his head and stares at the Mark of Lucifer still stained on his wall. Tom's eyes swell up and in a bit of an uncontrollable rush, he slings a nearby vase into the center of the Mark. The vase shatters against the morning-star. TOM (screaming, sarcastically) We're okay! We hold on Tom's bitter face before we... CUT TO: INT. OFFICE - BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT We see Frank behind a computer screen and judging from his facial expression, he appears quite deep in thought. On the computer screen there are several black and white images of bodies and to the side of them the Mark of Lucifer. Frank clicks the mouse and the top picture becomes enlarged revealing a burnt victim tied to a tree. He clicks the mouse again and the picture becomes larger and the Mark of Lucifer is clearly seen burnt into the victim's chest. Frank shakes his head and moves the cursor down to the next photo. He clicks on it and we can see another victim, this time shackled in an 'X' shape next to a wooden door. Frank enlarges the picture and Mark of Lucifer is shown on the victim's knees. Frank takes off his glasses and holds them in his hands as... FRANK'S INTERNAL POV -- People in shadows dragging a victim! -- The Mark of Lucifer branded on the person's forehead, another person's chest and finally another victim's knees! -- The Hunter standing at the top of the stairs, a cloud of smoke drifting from his cigar and even though his lips do not move, the word 'Phaestos' can be heard! Frank jumps as the phone rings next to him and he picks it up on the second ring. FRANK Hello? CUT TO: Detective Hagerdy sitting in a darkened office. OWEN Hey Frank, hope I didn't wake you. INTERCUT BETWEEN SCENES: FRANK No, I was just going over those pictures you sent me. OWEN (O.C.) Pretty disturbing aren't they? And they've all been happening in the last month. FRANK They're three bodies here, not including the one we found last night. OWEN These people are busy beavers, Frank, I know. But we think we got them this time. FRANK (O.C.) How is that? OWEN The killers didn't mean to lose the cooler in the middle of the road like that. They most likely hit a bump and the damned thing probably fell off the back of their truck. That's our theory, at least and that's all we have to go on right now. FRANK You could be right. Each victim has been meticulously positioned before they allowed anyone to find them. They weren't finished with their latest. OWEN (O.C.) But Frank, there was nothing left to do with it. They made sure of that unless you think those freaks wanted to tie each piece by a string and pretend they were pinatas. Frank suddenly looks up. FRANK'S INTERNAL POV -- A mysterious hand pulling a string to the left! -- Then a string in the middle is pulled! -- Finally, a third string is pulled, but only this time when it is pulled the string tethers and snags in two! Frank puts his glasses back on. OWEN (O.C.) You there, Frank? FRANK (hesitantly) Y-yes I'm here, Detective. Just realizing who's strings are being pulled. OWEN Um...okay. Well, I just wanted to call to keep you informed on the case. If we find out anything more you'll be the first to know. FRANK (O.C.) Thanks. OWEN Oh and Frank? Tell your brother and sister-in-law that we're pulling double shifts till we find the culprits responsible. FRANK I will. The other end of the phone clicks and Frank hangs up. Not even a second later and the phone rings again. Frank picks up the phone hurriedly. FRANK Detective? INTERCUT BETWEEN SCENES: RYAN No Frank, it's me. Did I catch you at a bad time? FRANK (O.C.) No, what's up? RYAN Well, the coroner and I finished examining the body, or should I say 'we finished examining the dust'? FRANK Dust? RYAN (O.C.) Time the coroner touched the body it began falling apart. No reason why except for a tiny hole in the center of the Mark. Something was injected into this poor guy's forehead, Frank. FRANK It's not only a ritualistic symbol, but a preventative measure for being caught as well. Did you find what was injected into it? RYAN Yes. Yes we did, Frank. We don't know the name of it, but whatever it is it's twice the strength of leprosy. FRANK (O.C.) An injected form of leprosy? RYAN I know, Frank. It's all a little too weird for me too. (a beat) L-listen Frank, I hate to ask you this, but can you come to the police department as soon as possible? There's something I need to show you. FRANK It must be important. RYAN (O.C.) It is. FRANK (O.C.) I'll be there within the hour. Ryan hears the click of the phone and hangs up. We can see him staring at the crumbled body of the latest victim and shivering at the same time. The terror on Ryan's face is evident. We hold on Ryan for several seconds before we... CUT TO: EXT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAWN The rising sun hides a sheet of gray clouds as rain slowly drizzles down on the quiet city. We hold on the gothic-like structure until we see Frank's red Cherokee pull to the side of the road next to it. Legend INDICATES: 6:05 AM CLOSER. Frank gets out of his car and tightens his jacket before heading towards the building's entrance. CUT TO: INT. MORGUE - BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAWN With a loud thump, Frank ENTERS the morgue and is quick to notice Ryan sitting next to the disintegrated remains of the latest victim. Ryan is shaking a tad. RYAN I see you made it. FRANK What did you need to show me, Ryan? RYAN I see you're not wasting your time getting to the point. Frank looks quite flustered. FRANK I haven't had any sleep for the past few days and there's a lot of tension with me and my family right now, Ryan. It's nothing personal. RYAN Wish I could say the same. Regarding this case it's all too personal. Frank gives a look of concern. There is a pause before Ryan pulls his shirt sleeve up and reveals to Frank the Mark of Lucifer branded on his arm. Frank takes a step back and looks at Ryan with a stern glare. FRANK (angrily) You've known what was going on the entire time didn't you? RYAN I couldn't be sure until we viewed the body. FRANK To see it there was nothing left to view right? So no one would ever know and these murders can keep going unaccounted for. RYAN (shouting) No, Frank! I had no idea this was going to happen! It's because the body was removed from the cooler and I had 'nothing' to with that decision! FRANK So what happened, Ryan? How did you get that mark? Ryan takes a deep breath. RYAN It was a long time ago and I thought they had given up after all this time or relocated to another state, whoever they were. Frank leans next to a metal slab. FRANK All right Ryan, you've got my attention. RYAN This isn't easy for me, Frank. FRANK Nothing in life ever is. RYAN Sigh... it was about three years ago back when I was a part of the Force. I was just getting used to earning a reputable paycheck... DISSOLVE TO: A dark alley, steam rising from the mighty buildings. A FIGURE slowly approaches us in the distance. RYAN (V.O.) I had just knocked off of work and taking the 'scenic' route home for a change. I figured, nothing wrong with walking alone in the dead of night, right? The figure's full view is in front of us and we can definitely tell it is Ryan. He is wearing a brown trench-coat and from his mouth and nose a cloud of smoke is exhaled. HARD CUT TO: A CLOAKED MAN lurking, it's watchful eyes on Ryan. RYAN (V.O.) I could have never been more wrong. The Cloaked Man touches Ryan's shoulder and Ryan attempts to swing around. CLOAKED MAN Don't even think about it, Mr. Officer. Ryan is trembling. Afraid. CLOAKED MAN Drop your weapon. Ryan releases the grip he had had on his pistol. The sound of the handgun clanging against the street echoes vociferously. CLOAKED MAN We've seen your work and are quite impressed, Mr. Frost. RYAN (timidly) H-how do you know my name? CLOAKED MAN You are on a need to know basis, Mr. Frost and as of right now and forever more you won't need to know. (a beat) Just be assured we've had our eyes on you for quite a while. RYAN There's more than just one of ya? Instantaneously, others dressed in the same clothes as the Cloaked Man creep from the fog and smoke with their heads bowed. CLOAKED MAN We are countless, Mr. Frost and growing by the day as the true millennium approaches. If one of us should fall there will always be another to take our place. Ryan's eye grow wide. RYAN True millennium? You guys are totally-- CLOAKED MAN Join us, Mr. Frost. With your talent we can rid the world of hollow scars. RYAN Hollow what? CLOAKED MAN Come with us and we can fill that empty void you mockingly call life. The others approach closer with their arms raised and the Mark of Lucifer branded on each of their palms. THE OTHERS (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... RYAN What is this? What are you doing? CLOAKED MAN Giving you purpose, Mr. Frost. CLOSE ON - THE CLOAKED MAN'S HAND as it curls up into a fist and heads towards Ryan's face. The screen suddenly goes pitch black. RYAN (V.O.) And that was all I remembered until I woke up in an abandoned storage closet. INT. BASEMENT - ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Ryan is lying on the ground, his clothes and hair a tattered mess. His face is swollen along with his right eye. Ryan attempts to get up, but a door on the far left swings open the Cloaked Man walks in. RYAN (shouting) Let me go! The Cloaked Man does not say a word while pulling Ryan to his feet. RYAN (yelling) Damn it, let me go! HARD CUT TO: CLOSE ON - A FIREPLACE which is crackling with fire. The camera PANS RIGHT and we can see Ryan, his braced on a footstool and body trembling in fear. CLOAKED MAN (O.C.) Hold out his arms. One of the others lifts up Ryan's arms while another reaches for the fire-stoker. Sweat is pouring off of Ryan's face as the fire-stoker gets closer to his left arm. CLOSER. Closer until Ryan screams as his arm is branded with the Mark of Lucifer. Quickly, the fire-stoker heads for the other arm. Ryan uses these few seconds to his advantage and kicks his assailant with the back of his leg and getting up to his feet. THE OTHERS (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... Ryan looks around the darkened house and sees a window towards the right. Quickly, Ryan DASHES across the room and SMASHES through the window and rolls onto the grass outside. He looks back and can hear the screams and shouts of failure. With a forced grin, Ryan gets up and hurries away. RYAN (V.O.) I did everything in my power and even some that wasn't to find out who those people were and why that house was so important to them. DISSOLVE TO: FRANK Who has moved around the other side of the metal slab. FRANK Is that you were forced out of the department? Because you went behind their backs and opened your own investigation? RYAN Partly. I found out who instigated my abduction and I wasn't pleases. Frank stays silent. RYAN (CONT'D) It was my captain and I guess he had a different religious preference and my advancement was coming too soon for his tastes, I suppose. (a beat) Once he knew that I knew then it was all over. Soon, my credibility was destroyed with lies and botched assignments. Missing evidence. The whole nine yards. (a beat) It wasn't long after that until the Millennium Group found me and asked if I was interested in a candidacy position. Of course, I said yes since my interest in religion and cults were at an all time high thanks to my little experience. (a beat) But... just as luck would have it, time the Group found out that I was indeed 'clean' with nothing to hide, I was given my walking papers and hadn't heard from them until I met you that day in Falls Church. FRANK (smiling) How could I forget that? RYAN (chuckling) That was out of my hands, Frank and you know it. Uncomfortable silence fills the room. Frank looks at Ryan. Ryan seems to know what Frank is about to say. RYAN You want me to take you to that house don't you? FRANK Please. Whatever's going on it's affecting my family and I can't allow that. Ryan gets up and grabs his coat. RYAN C'mon, Frank. It's not too far from here. Frank gets and follows Ryan out of the room. CUT TO: EXT. ANCIENT HOUSE - DAY Ryan pulls his car next the run-down mansion. Legend INDICATES: 7:30 AM Frank gets out and walks around to Ryan's side. FRANK You coming in? Ryan is clearly afraid. RYAN Please Frank... I-I can't. FRANK Well, wait for me then. I won't be gone long. Ryan nods his head and watches Frank walk up the cobblestone path heading towards the FRONT DOOR. CLOSE ON - FRANK as he fiddles with the doorknob. Not surprisingly, it is unlocked. Slowly, Frank stumbles in unaware of the VOICES around him. VOICES (whispering, constant) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... The huge door CREAKS and SLAMS shut followed by the sounds of thunder rumbling in the distance. We hold on the huge door for a moment before we... FADE OUT. ACT THREE FADE IN: CLOSE ON - A PAINTED CANVAS OF A YOUNG LADY which looks quite disturbing and one could even say it appears to haunted. INT. HALLWAY - ANCIENT HOUSE - DAY Frank enters the hallway and shivers from the cold chill in the house. He gets out a flashlight from his jacket pocket and searches around the large room. Decades old pictures lavish all four walls. Mostly black and whites, very few colored photos. The mansion is quiet except for the pitiful sighing of the floorboards and the constant wailing of underground pipes. Frank swings the flashlight and we can see blood smeared across the floor heading towards... HARD CUT TO: THE FIREPLACE which, besides the burnt logs, is covered in black soot. Frank stares at it for a brief second until... FRANK'S INTERNAL POV -- The same fireplace, only now it is blazing with fire and a potential victim is positioned on a footstool next to it! -- The chanting of people in the background: "...Phaestos... Phaestos...Phaestos...!" Frank moves away from the fireplace and heads towards the entrance into another room. Repetitively, we can hear garbled voices, none of their haunting words making any sense. Frank looks around attempting to pick out some of the words echoing in the house, but to no avail. He ENTERS the next room and in slow motion, the walls around him begin morphing from a dusky black to a gilded yellow. What was once dark is now new and polished. The voices are more coherent now and it sounds as if there is a celebration of some sort. HARD CUT TO: INT. LIVING ROOM - ANCIENT HOUSE - DAY There are several people sitting on a sofa, all of them laughing and full of cheer. Upon their bodies are ornate costumes. The WOMAN as a fox. MAN #1 as a lion and MAN #2 as a dog. A mysterious game is in session. BACK TO: Frank as he approaches the gathering of people. They do not seem to notice him and continue about their business. FRANK'S POV A young woman stands up from the sofa with Man #1 and Man #2 still sitting. WOMAN Well gentlemen, it looks as if I've lost this round. Anyone care to unmask me? Man #1 stands up and touches the woman's face. MAN #1 Allow me... Man #1 begins to pull off the mask. MAN #1 (CONT'D) ...Miss Martin. The woman's face belongs to none other than ANNIE MARTIN a.k.a. LUCY BUTLER! CLOSE ON - ANNIE MARTIN'S FACE as she clearly looks as evil and seducing as she always has. ANNIE You boys have traveled far just to see little old me on Halloween. Are you disappointed? MAN #1 AND #2 (together) No ma'am. MAN #2 But what are we going to do about him? The camera quickly PANS TOWARDS the floor and we can see a body -- still and seemingly without life. ANNIE It's 1907, my dear. Of you three, he was chosen to bear the Mark before the true millennium's beginning. MAN #2 Your incessant talk of this millennium has got to cease, Miss Martin. You will have the locals thinking you're off your rocker. Annie smiles. ANNIE Nonsense. They're nothing by hollow scars anyway. Who cares what they think. The two men look at each other curiously. ANNIE (CONT'D) Anyway, Phaestos is strong during Hallow's Eve. We mustn't waste our time. Quickly now. Annie and the two costumed men hold their hands in a tight circle and look upon their fallen comrade. CLOSE ON - THE VICTIM'S BODY and we can plainly see the Mark of Lucifer branded to his forehead. ANNIE, MAN #1 AND #2 (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... Faster they chant. ANNIE, MAN #1 AND #2 (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... HARD CUT TO: The Front Door SMASHES in and an INTRUDER looking quite similar yet younger than Frank ENTERS the house. He enters the living room. ANNIE (shouting) What is the meaning of this? Why have you invaded my house? INTRUDER I've been tracking you down ever since you vanished from Arizona, Miss Martin. ANNIE (angrily) And you are?! INTRUDER Oh! Sorry. The name's Marx. Detective Marx. Where is he Annie? ANNIE Where is who? MARX The man who kidnapped you. Marx looks down and sees the deceased body lying in such a grisly state. Annie stares at Marx with contempt in her eyes. MARX Is that him? Annie pushes the two other men down. ANNIE (shouting) Shut up! Shut up! You have no idea what's going to happen! Annie runs out of the room and before Marx follows, he cuffs the two men to each other. Marx smiles. MARX There, that should hold you. Marx hurries out of the room. CUT TO: INT. BEDROOM - ANCIENT HOUSE - DAY Annie runs into the room with Marx close behind her. Annie turns around and slaps Marx in the face. ANNIE You think you can stop it, but you don't know who he was and what he did to me! (a beat) But I know you, Mr. Marx. MARX (sarcastically) You 'do'. ANNIE We come from two different worlds, but ultimately they're linked. There's no denying it, Mr. Marx. Marx remains quiet. ANNIE (CONT'D) We were put here to fill the new world with our seed. Fate has allowed us this opportunity. We shouldn't tempt it. MARX How do you know this? ANNIE My dreams. He tells me. MARX He? Annie begins to caress Marx's face. ANNIE He said it's up to us since the world is filled with hollow scars. MARX (a beat) I beg your pardon. Annie smiles. ANNIE It's a soulless world, Mr. Marx. Hollow. Empty. And the scars upon it; deep and gouging. MARX And that mark you made on that guy's forehead? (a beat) That wasn't? ANNIE That's to preserve whatever's good in the soul from seeping out. MARX And the man you killed. There was good in him? ANNIE I don't judge or question Phaestos. I just do his bidding. MARX You might think of asking him sometime, Miss Martin, but you may not like the answer you get. Marx attempts to cuff Annie, but she is much too fast and moves to the other side of the room. ANNIE (yelling) Join us, Detective Marx because in the next life you might not be as strong. MARX If I believed in all that, whatever I come back as will be just as determined as me. Annie smiles an evil smile. ANNIE We shall see when your name is Frank! BACK TO: Frank as he looks in shock as Annie's final words hit home. Suddenly, a loud knock echoes loudly in the house and everything surrounding Frank slowly becomes like it was... dark and void. The knocking continues until... HARD CUT TO: INT. STAIRWAY - ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Where we can see Frank's eyes open wide as the knocking grows louder. He turns and stares at... THE FRONT DOOR which is the source of the incessant noise. Quickly, Frank gets up and looks out the closest window to the door. It is Ryan standing outside! Frank brushes against something hanging, but pays no attention to it and opens the door. RYAN (startled) Where in the hell were you, Frank? I was about to bust the door down. Frank is clearly shocked. FRANK What do you mean? RYAN Frank, look around. It's nighttime. (a beat) I left the house for about two hours to check on a hunch only because Detective Hagerdy said he would stay here. FRANK Detective Hagerdy? RYAN Yeah. You know him or something? FRANK I helped him on a case a couple of months ago. Where is he? RYAN You haven't seen him? He said he was going to get you out of here since I couldn't stand this place. FRANK What kind of a hunch were you following, Ryan? RYAN I wanted to see about the original owners. I'm still trying to figure out why it was so damned important to me. FRANK And apparently I've been asleep all day, but I don't remember sitting down to rest anywhere. RYAN We've been manipulated since the start, Frank. The victim, your sister-in-law, this house. It's all about 'us'. Suddenly lightening crashes in the background as thunder rumbles in the distance. A faint creaking sound can be heard as Frank and Ryan remain silent. Frank turns around slowly as Ryan stares up in utter shock. FRANK (exasperated) Oh! RYAN (sarcastically) You can't tell me you didn't see that on the way to the door, Frank. Frank shakes his head. FRANK I didn't. HARD CUT TO: DETECTIVE HAGERDY as his cold, lifeless body hangs off the wall in a bloody state. There is a deep gash going from one side of his neck to the other. Lightening flashes as a torn piece of paper attached to his shirt comes into view. FRANK'S INTERNAL POV -- Bob Bletcher hanged in the same fashion. Frank gulps and looks at Ryan then reaches for the paper. He reads the paper and turns away in disgust. RYAN (curiously) What does it say, Frank? FRANK (quickly) What do you think? Frank shows Ryan the piece of paper. CLOSE ON - THE TORN PIECE OF PAPER which has only one word on it written in a cursive style: "Phaestos!" Thunder crashes as Frank and Ryan look at each other and the horror their current situation hits home to all us. CUT TO: Detective Hagerdy's limp corpse for a moment before we... FADE OUT. ACT FOUR FADE IN: EXT. PARK - NIGHT A huge park surrounded by a deep moat. We can see a few people walking and running. Legend INDICATES: 8:45 PM CLOSER. To one PERSON in particular who is in Army fatigues. From the way he is breathing we can tell he is beginning to tire. JUGGING MAN stops and puts his hands on his knees. Quietness except for the sound of crickets. Then the ruffling of bushes. Suddenly, five people jump out from the thick foliage and pull the jogging man down to the ground. PERSON #1 He's the one! The final one! The jogging man's screams are muffled, but we can tell he is pain. He punches Person #2 and lunges for another's stomach. His elbow SMASHES into a third person and he begins to overcome his opposition until Person #4 BASHES him in the head with a large nearby rock. The jogging man falls unconscious as the others regroup. Quickly, they pick him up and head back to where they came from. We hold on the path where the jogging man had been and as crickets are heard again we... CUT TO: EXT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT The silent, haunting mansion. INT. HALLWAY - ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Frank is sitting on the staircase with Ryan walking around the house. Frank looks at Detective Hagerdy's body (which is now lying on the floor) again and turns away. FRANK Someone was in here with me. Could still be in here. RYAN That's why we've got to get backup ASAP. FRANK Do you have your cell-phone on you? RYAN I do, but it's out of power. The sudden flash of lightening. RYAN (CONT'D) You? FRANK I left it at home. Ryan looks at Frank. RYAN According to the neighbors around here, this house has a nasty reputation for attracting teenagers for local raves. FRANK Places like this usually do. Ryan approaches Frank. RYAN I've been doing some research on this house, Frank. Do you know old how it is? Frank shakes his head. RYAN (CONT'D) Over a hundred years and the original design wasn't even built here. Frank's attention is all on Ryan now. FRANK Where was it built? RYAN Somewhere in Arizona. Used to belong to these people who's daughter got kidnapped. (a beat) After a few years, her parents sold their house and the new owners tore it down and rebuilt it here. FRANK Why bother tearing it down? Why didn't they just buy a house here instead of Arizona? RYAN I wondered the same thing so I pulled up their public records. Apparently, these people loved the house, but felt keeping it there would continue it's alleged haunting. They claimed they could always hear a young lady screaming in the guest bedroom. Always at night too. Never during the day. FRANK Annie Martin. RYAN Frank? FRANK Annie Martin. That was who the people said they could hear. The original owner's daughter. RYAN (a beat) Yeah, Frank. How'd ya know? Frank is wearing a slight smirk to his face. FRANK Lucky guess. RYAN (a beat) We need to get backup, Frank and I'm sure Detective Hagerdy's family would like to know what happened to him. Frank nods and gets up. Both of them start for the door when peculiar lights shine from the outside and the sound of vehicles approach the house. HARD CUT TO: EXT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Rain starts pouring down as two cars and one truck pull to the side of the house. The driver of the Ford Dodge truck is the first to notice Frank's Cherokee. He motions to the others. Each of them gets out of the vehicles and pull the jogging man out from the trunk of the truck. PERSON #1 You think we have company? PERSON #3 Yeah, somebody could've found that body we lost yesterday. Person #2 who is revealed to be Captain Asendorf that Ryan once knew smiles a gut-wrenching smile. ASENDORF More sparks to the flames. CUT TO: INT. ENTRANCE - ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Ryan hurries and closes the door from the inside. RYAN They've seen your car, Frank. FRANK I know. Come on. Frank and Ryan duck down and rush to another section of the mansion. HARD CUT TO: THE FRONT DOOR as the Cloaked People ENTER the house with the jogging man in their grasp. Cloaked Person #4 approaches a stereo system and turns the volume all the way to the max. Heavy gothic-style music starts blaring loudly throughout the house. The jogging man suddenly wakes and attempts to squirm out of their clutches. JOGGING MAN (yelling) Come on, what have I done?! Cloaked Person #5 kicks the jogging man in the abdomen. CLOAKED PERSON #5 You're a hollow scar just like the rest of them. The jogging man grunts in pain as they approach the fireplace. CUT TO: INT. CLOSET - ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Frank and Ryan are standing, watching the heinous even unfold. RYAN (whispering) What should we do, Frank? Our odds are totally against us. FRANK (whispering) We stay still. Ryan's eyes immediately grow wide. RYAN (whispering) Oh my God, Frank. I recognize one of them. FRANK (whispering) Which one? RYAN'S POV Where we can see five cloaked people in a tight circle around the jogging man. The cloaked person to the far left of the jogging man is held on Ryan's undivided attention. CLOSE ON - ASENDORF who is wearing a black robe and appears to be in his late 40's. RYAN (whispering) That's Captain Asendorf, the man I told you who gave me this damn scar. FRANK (whispering) Everyone else looks like they're in their twenties or younger. RYAN (whispering) That's what he does, Frank. He gets them while they're young so their more vulnerable. That's why he tried to get me. BACK TO: Frank and Ryan still standing in the closet. FRANK (whispering) Are you positive it's him? RYAN (whispering) I've never been more positive about anything else in my entire life, Frank. (a beat, then louder) It's him, Frank. Frank attempts to shush his partner. CUT TO: THE CLOAKED PEOPLE who are positioning the jogging man on the footstool. His throat is the intended target. JOGGING MAN (screaming) Please! Cloaked Person #5 takes out the stoker. CLOSE ON - THE FIRE-STOKER which we can definitely see the Mark of Lucifer emblazoned on it. JOGGING MAN (shouting) No! THE CLOAKED PEOPLE (together) ...Phaestos...Phaestos...Phaestos... The fire-stoker gets closer to the jogging man. CLOSER. CLOSER. JOGGING MAN (screaming at the top of his lungs) Please! God, no! BACK TO: Frank and Ryan as they watch in despair. RYAN (whispering) That's 'it'! Suddenly, Ryan rushes out towards the cloaked people. FRANK (shouting) Ryan! No! The brand in one inch away from the jogging man's neck as Ryan pushes himself onto Cloaked Person #5. The other cloaked people gang up on Ryan and he quickly falls to the floor. The jogging man looks around and sees Frank motion for him. He stands up and hurries over to Frank. JOGGING MAN Who are those people? Frank does not say a word. BACK TO: Ryan as Asendorf punches him in the face. Ryan lets out a deep moan. Asendorf looks at Ryan and his eyes widen. ASENDORF (surprised) I 'know' you! Asendorf quickly pulls up Ryan's sleeve. CLOSE ON: The Mark of Lucifer on Ryan's arm. ASENDORF (O.C.) I see you still bear the Mark. RYAN (angrily) Not by my damn choice! ASENDORF Fate has brought you back here. There's no denying it. RYAN No, an unsolved murder with your name on it has. ASENDORF Oh. That. We were wondering what happened to him. RYAN (shouting) You bastard! ASENDORF You should've stayed away from here, Ryan! Asendorf picks up the fire-stoker off ground and shoves it in Ryan's face. ASENDORF (yelling) You shouldn't have come back! HARD CUT TO: FRANK AND THE JOGGING MAN as they watch in horror. Finally, Frank steps out into the open. FRANK (to Asendorf) Hey! Hey! Stop it! Asendorf looks at Frank and sneers. ASENDORF And who are you?! FRANK Just someone who's gonna put an end to all of this. Tonight. ASENDORF And how do you suppose to do that? FRANK By common sense. You're going to get caught this time. No crime goes unpunished. ASENDORF If it's crime you think we're committing then you are surely wrong. FRANK (sarcastically) It that what Phaestos tells you?! ASENDORF (angrily) You have everything all wrong! FRANK Do I?! Ryan starts to get up, but Cloaked Person #3 sticks a sword close to his throat. RYAN (in a hoarse voice) Frank-- FRANK Don't move, Ryan. Suddenly, the entire house fills with light. Everyone looks around. Shocked. HARD CUT TO: THE FRONT DOOR as it is SMASHED in from the outside. A group of Police Officers storm the house, all carrying a handgun. Officer #1 turns off the blaring music. OFFICER #2 (to Asendorf) Freeze! Don't move! Asendorf drops the fire-stoker on the floor causing it to roll underneath a dusty, old chair. Ryan quickly gets up and faces the COMMANDING OFFICER. RYAN It's Daniel Asendorf. Maybe you all will believe me this time. The Commanding Officer looks at Ryan strangely as the other officers arrest the cloaked people. COMMANDING OFFICER Have you seen Detective Hagerdy? He notified us a few minutes ago what was going down. Swiftly, the officers move the cloaked people, including Asendorf out of the house as Ryan and Frank face each other with a weird look. Frank points towards Owen's body. FRANK Detective Hagerdy's dead. His body was found hanging on the wall behind you. The Commanding Officer looks at Owen's corpse morbidly. FRANK (CONT'D) We had no time to reach you before they showed up. COMMANDING OFFICER Oh Christ! He was one of the good ones. As the Commanding Officer attends to Owen's body, Ryan turns to Frank. RYAN Can we get out of here, Frank? I'm sick of this house. Frank's eyes are stern and focused on Owen's body. He shakes his head at the horrible sight of his friend. FRANK You and me both, Ryan. CUT TO: EXT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT Frank and Ryan head towards Frank's Cherokee and get in. After a moment, Frank cranks the engine and they slowly drive away as officers surround the house with yellow police tape. We hold on Frank's Cherokee as it drives away in the distance as we... DISSOLVE TO: INT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT CLOSE ON - THE FIRE-STOKER as it starts to burn the dried wood under the chair. A small hint of fire starts to creep up the rotten upholstery. CLOSER. We hold on the Mark of Lucifer's end of the fire-stoker, still looking as penetrating and evil as ever before we... CUT TO: EXT. BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT Silent and calm and the rain has come to a halt. Frank's Cherokee pulls into the driveway. Legend INDICATES: 10:30 PM INT. BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT Frank unlocks the door and walks inside. The house is eerily quiet until Tom walks out of the kitchen and notices Frank. TOM You missed taking your daughter trick or treating. Frank looks down. FRANK I know. I wanted to be back here sooner. TOM No harm done. Helen and I took her and Charlie around the neighborhood. She had a great time. (a beat) Listen, Frank. Things can't continue they way they have been. You've got to slow down especially if you want Jordan to have a father when she gets older. She's already lost her mother. She 'cannot' afford to lose her dad as well. Frank focuses on Tom. FRANK I know. I've been giving it some thought myself. And you're right. But I can't. TOM Sigh... I knew you were going to say that. FRANK How's Helen? TOM Doing better. She was real happy to know that her cut wasn't too severe and it won't leave a scar. Frank smiles. FRANK That's great news. TOM Yeah and we're going to be getting our bedroom repainted along with the rest 0of the house. It needed it anyway. (a beat) Frank, we're sorry for the way we acted. My wife especially. She just can't handle what happened to as well as she would like. FRANK It's okay, Tom. I've been looking around for other places for me and Jordan. It's just taking a little bit longer than I thought. TOM That's fine, Frank. Tom starts to walk away and turns around. Tom smiles. TOM Happy Halloween. Frank smiles back. FRANK Happy Halloween, Tom. We hold on Frank appearing quite solemn before we... CUT TO: INT. OFFICE - BLACK RESIDENCE - NIGHT Frank ENTERS the office and picks up the ringing phone. FRANK Hello? RYAN (O.C.) It's me, Frank. Have you heard the news? INTERCUT BETWEEN SCENES: FRANK (O.C.) What news? RYAN The house. It caught on fire and burned down. FRANK Are you sure? RYAN (O.C.) Just received the news from the local PD about it. It's nothing but burnt firewood now, Frank. Whatever evil was in that house, it's gone now. FRANK (O.C.) What about the people they arrested? RYAN They're going to be gone for a long time, Frank. Believe me. FRANK (O.C.) Glad to hear it, Ryan. RYAN Well, just thought you'd like to know. FRANK Thanks. RYAN (O.C.) Talk to you later, Frank. Ryan's end click and we hold on Frank as he hangs up the phone and listens to the beginnings of another shower of rain. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ANCIENT HOUSE - NIGHT The mansion is nothing but a haunted memory now as a pile of ashes lie where it used to stand tall. CLOSER. The pieces of scorched, blackened wood. CLOSER. To one particular piece of wood. Suddenly, we can hear a little girl's voice giggling and chanting something incoherent at the same time we notice the Mark of Lucifer etched into the wood. The giggling and chanting grows louder as the Mark of Lucifer fills the screen. We hold on this last frightening image before we... FADE OUT. THE END