Episode 1: After The Darkness

Calcane City - Living Unit #4355698

Whimpering. Terror filled whimpering of 14 year old MaiChelle fills the small, dark closet. MaiChelle's frail hands tightly grip the doorknob, holding it closed.

A scream from outside stops MaiChelle's whimpering. Feet loudly, desperately race towards MaiChelle's closet. Someone tries to open the closet door. MaiChelle grips the doorknob tighter. With all of her strength, she struggles to secure the door.

"Open up! Please MaiChelle!," a young girlish voice pleads from the other side of the door.

MaiChelle hesitates and peers through a small hole in the door. It's her sister.

"Mila?" MaiChelle queries with fear and hesitance.

MaiChelle frantically looks around the closet; but the space is so small she can only move her eyes, not her head. There is no space.

MaiChelle begins to sob in defeat.

"Mila…I can't…there's no room."

Mila lets out a glass shattering scream of anguish.

"Please! Big Sister, please open the door!"

"I can't…"

Mila crumbles onto the floor, pressing her head against the door of the closet and crying.

"Why?" she pleads.

"There's no room…Mila, you got to find someplace else to hide." MaiChelle says, fighting back her tears.

"I can't. I'm scared," Mila cries.

"I'm scared too."

"Please MaiChelle, let me in. Let me in!" she yells as she yanks at the doorknob.

The sounds of men, angry voices slowly close in on Mila and MaiChelle.

Frantic and terrified, Mila screams, "They're coming! I don't want to die! MaiChelle!"

MaiChelle grips the door tighter. Her muscles tighten. Her eyes are wild with terror. Mila desperately struggles to open the closet door; but fails. Finally, she stops. She just stands there, staring at the closet. MaiChelle watches her through the small hole in the door.

The angry men's voices get closer.

"Don't worry big sister, I won't tell," Mila says in a now calm, resolute voice as she walks away from the closet and towards the door leading to the hallway. She turns briefly towards the closet, "I love you."

Two men with angry voices enter the room. Their eyes glitter with excitement when they see Mila. Mila drops to her knees, head bowed, sobbing, trembling with terror.

MaiChelle strains her eyes to peer at Mila and the angry men through the crack in the closet door.

Thomas, a haggard looking man with wild green eyes and a coarse beard, greedily leers at Mila. A machete dangles in his ungloved hand.

Mila whimpers, "Please."

MaiChelle's breathing is rapid and heavy with fear as she watches the trio from the darkness of the closet. Thomas, reaches down and clutches Mila's long black braids and yanks her up to face him, eye to eye. He sneers at her, looking, but not quite seeing HER, he says "She might be worth something." Mila's lips quiver with grief.

"Please," she pleads weakly.

This pleading seems to please Thomas, who breaks into a toothy grin.

"Maybe we should take a closer look," he says almost laughing as he rips the buttons from her blouse. Mila screams and lashes out wildly, striking Thomas on his nose. Blood splatters.

Thomas writhes in pain.

Mila staggers backward in fear.

Thomas slowly composes himself, his eyes intense with rage. Machete raised, he roars, ready for the kill.

"No!" MaiChelle yells as she bursts out of her hiding place. "No" she yells, almost commands as she throws her body over her sister.

Shocked, surprised and a little amused, Thomas bellows with laughter. He looks at his partner who simply smiles and grins at the girls. "Well look what he got here! Two for the price of one," Thomas quips. His partner nods in agreement. But suddenly Thomas stops laughing as he kicks MaiChelle in the face, sending her onto her back. Exposed, Mila cowers in the corner. Thomas, slowly, menancely walks towards Mila. He pats his bloody nose and peers at his bloodstained hand. His anger grows and his angry eyes intensify.
"Please" Mila pleads again as she cowers in the corner. Thomas raises his machete. He slashes her.

DARKNESS.

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