Chapter Text

EPISODE 1

“Welcome To Veil Haven”

The Twilight Zone - Bernard Herrmann

- Station 451  - October 15th  2011 - 

Hello, listeners. 

My name is Wilhelm Palmer. You are now one of the unfortunate souls tuning into this tape of my infamous radio station.

There’s nothing too interesting, I promise. Just daily reports of a friendly isolated community where the trees are alive, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep. 

You haven’t thrown away the tape yet? Brave.

Perhaps you’re genuinely interested in the daily lives of our town. Most do not believe in the paranormal - the strange, the mystic, the metaphysical. But I’ve seen many things in my lifetime that would make the average old dusty man in a retirement home pass away just by witnessing the sight.

I dedicated my life to reporting and investigating to make a difference, no matter how small. Or to at least preserve the history and mystery of this town, so it never vanishes. I owe it to many. 

Do you truly wish to discover the horrors? 

The ludicrousness, the insanity, the eeriness of it all? Do you wish to question your sense of reality? 

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. And after that, the to-do list is complete and I can go home and watch TV. This is your chance to leave. To continue your normal lives without knowing the cold truth. Ignorance is bliss. 

Still curious? Okay.

Let’s start at the beginning. 

Somewhere in the Midwest, there’s this town called Veil Haven. Where people go absolutely insane.

***

AUNT JASMINE’S CAR

[ Aunt Jasmine is driving Serena to her fate - Veil Haven High. There were tall brick walls looking down at her, green vines wrapped around the entrance. To Serena, the building had two large eyes staring at her, judging. The “Welcome” sign wasn’t the most welcoming. Her Aunt parked the car and looked at her, her voice soft.]

Aunt Jasmine: Did you take your meds?

Serena: Obviously, yeah.

[ Jasmine sighed. Seriously, what do you say to your SECOND niece that was shipped to you by her parents because of her neurodivergency? “Don’t go missing??  Don’t have an episode during class??”]

Aunt Jasmine: ….good luck at school?

Serena: Took you that long to say that?

[ Aunt Jasmine laughed and took her hand, suddenly becoming serious. ]

Aunt Jasmine: I know you feel… really stuck right now. But I promise you’ll be fine. This place is chill, and you’ll make friends, and if you really hate it you can graduate and get the hell out of here. 

[ Serena looked up, and Veil Haven High’s eyes side-eyed her, daring her to try that.]

Aunt Jasmine: I promise you’ll feel at home someday.

[ Serena watched as Aunt Jasmine drove away in her Impala. She had her jacket on to cover her from the October wind, but it felt as if everything around her was watching. A pack of deer in the distance and the trees surrounding the high school had their own eyes, staring at her as well. The whole world was watching her world change.] 

[ Serena walked into the front office, and there was a lady typing on her computer, ignoring her.]

Serena: …Ma’am?

Front Lady: Serena Davis?

Serena: Yeah…

[ The front lady suddenly looked up at her for a long minute awkwardly, and Serena had no idea what to do. She finally pointed to the Student Council office, right across from where they were.]

Front Lady: Matteo Ginai is waiting for you. 

[ She smiled at her with dark green gums, and Serena immediately bolted out of the Front Office.]

Serena [to herself]: What the fuck?!

[ Serena began to question if she genuinely took her meds. An average height boy sits at the end of a long table, typing away. The other seats were empty. He seemed to be wearing some sort of uniform, this long sleeved black cotton shirt with the school logo on the chest pocket. He had short dark curls and tan skin and this crescent necklace, reminiscent of one with a cross. He didn’t look up at Serena, but she could see that one of his eyes was green, whereas the other was brown. ] 

Serena: Hey…are you Matteo?

Matteo: …

[He looks up, curious to who was calling him.]

Matteo: Oh! I am… you need something? 

Serena: I think you’re supposed to give me a tour. I’m Serena.

Matteo: Oh, I remember them saying something about you… let me just pack up and we can get going. 

Serena: Yeah, sure. Do… do you have a green eye?

[SHIT, that was rude Serena!!]

Matteo [slightly off]: …yeah? Why?

Serena: I just…that’s really cool!

Matteo: Uh, thanks.. I guess. 

[ He closed his laptop and put it in his bag.]

Matteo: Serena Davis, right? 

Serena: Yeah. Moved from California. 

Matteo: Right… We should go. 

Serena: Did I say something? I’m sorry about the eye thing man-

Matteo: No, no, it’s not that. I just… never heard of that place. 

Serena: You never heard of California?! LA?!

Matteo: …no? Let’s just get going. I think you have class right now. 

Serena: Oh, okay, sure.

[ Weird….]

[Matteo opened the door, leading Serena out of the office and into the school hallways. He led Serena to a door near the office.] 

Matteo: This is the nurse. Don’t fill out the medicine paperwork. 

Serena: …..why?!

[ Serena sees a shadowman walk down the hallway, but tries to ignore it for Matteo’s sake.]

Matteo: …

Matteo: The medicine isn’t really worth it. Kid got sick last year. You good?

Serena: Yeah…wait, why do you ask?!

[ DOES HE KNOW?? IS SHE GONNA BE SHIPPED TO A PSYCH WARD???] 

Matteo: Nothing? You just seem nervous. 

Serena: It’s my first day at a small town I know nothing about. Of course I’m nervous.

Matteo: Nothing weird about this place… come on. 

[ He shows her to the bathrooms, teacher’s offices, the broken microwaves, the cafeteria, the library with a very strange person inside, and a corner that Serena made a mental note to hide whenever her brain went bad. Matteo led her to a mental health club.]

Matteo: …you could always join this! The counselors are always trying to get people like– to get people in this club! 

[ Serena glared at him with the most irritated expression she could muster. In reality, she felt rather sad than angry.]

Serena: People like what?

Matteo: You know… like… uh..

[He gestures towards Serena.]

Serena: I thought people in the student council were supposed to be friendly.

[ She tried her hardest not to look at him.]

Matteo: And… this is what this is? I… fine, if you don’t want to join, it’s cool. I just think it could help…

Serena: Don’t need any help.

[ Serena stopped talking to him after that.]

Matteo: Uh… let’s just get your schedule. 

[ Matteo leads a still very silent Serena into the counselor's office, Mr. Rhone, and waves goodbye to her. Terrible first conversation…]

[ She walks into the office and is hit with the strange smell of cinnamon. The bald man in front of her welcomes her, telling her to sit down. She drops her backpack and obliges, trying her hardest to look him in the eye instead of the shadow man behind him.]

Mr. Rhone: Serena Davis? 

Serena: Yeah.

Mr. Rhone: Well, welcome to Veil Haven. A clean slate, Serena. That’s what you get here.

Serena: ….thanks.

[She felt the bugs on her skin and tried to itch them away.]

[He flips through some papers.]

Mr. Rhone: I see you have some accommodations. Did Matteo tell you to join the mental health club already?

Serena: He did, but…I’m okay. I’m not crazy.

[ even though that’s the whole reason she got sent here in the first place.]

Mr. Rhone: Hm. 

Mr. Rhone: Well, I have your schedule here. And a note of your accommodations for your teachers… oh, and here’s a late pass for your first period. 

Serena: Thanks Mr…Mr. Bone?

Mr. Rhone: Rhone, Davis. 

Serena: My bad, man. I mean… sir!

[ She ran out of there. The cafeteria was right outside the counselor’s office, and there was the janitor whistling a tune while sweeping…. A body. The bristles of his broom pressed strangely against the form of this boy. His eyes rolled back into his head, with drips of blood coming from the sides of his mouth. The clothes were dirty and stained and it was like the janitor was trying to clean the boy, poking him and swishing at his face and abdomen. ]

[Serena’s scream was so loud people from the second floor could hear. She’s had hallucinations before, but never a graphic dead body on the floor. Her body was shaking involuntarily, and she dropped her bag and closed her eyes, scratching her arms violently. Mr. Rhone ran out to get her, as Matteo watched with his friend from a distance.]

Matteo: …why is she screaming? 

Shawn: You haven’t heard? I thought they told you already. She’s schizophrenic. 

Matteo: Oh.  

[ He stared at the girl in confusion, and Serena felt the most shame a person could ever have.]

*****

MR KRAMER - VB ENGLISH

[ There were Halloween decorations in Mr. Kramer’s dusty classroom. Serena was confused on what “VB” meant, but she didn’t have the courage to ask anymore. The curly haired boy that made her sick was also in the classroom, and she could feel his eyes on her. Everyone’s eyes, including the ones in the walls.]

[ Mr. Kramer sat her in between said curly haired demon and another girl, with white curls and blue eyes. She had dark skin that contrasted with her hair, and Serena tried her hardest not to stare, mesmerized.  Aalia smiled at her. She had a glitter gel pen and a messenger bag - which somehow caught Matteo’s eye. She waved to the girl and she waved back.]

[ Serena tried to check her phone to see if she finally got a text back from her girlfriend, Paris, to no avail. Nothing worked. Suddenly, she heard Shawn’s voice and felt his glare across the room.]

Shawn: What are you doing here, Serena? This is a VB class. 

Matteo: ….

Serena: I’m…really good in English. Why?

[Shawn rolls his eyes and goes back to work, seemingly upset that he couldn’t make her mad. Matteo averted his eyes.]

Aalia: You’re so rude… 

[Aalia, the girl next to her spoke, her voice sounding all whispery. She turned to Serena. She was like no one Serena had ever seen. Her bright blue eyes stared right into Serena’s. And she could see now that the girl had patches of vitiligo over her face and hands. And sitting down now, she could really see how tall Aalia was. She had to be about 6 something.]

Serena: Yeah, so is his friend. I… like your glitter pen.

Aalia: Thank you! I also like my pens! Oh, I think they're going to pair us up for this.

Serena: You don’t have a partner yet?

Aalia [cheery]: Nope! 

[ Mr. Kramer throws a packet on their desks, partnering Serena and Aalia for a project to analyze a book in their homes. Aalia invited her to her home, as Serena just moved in and didn’t have any books yet. They exchanged numbers, and afterwards, Serena texts her aunt that she just might’ve made a friend. ]

[ As her aunt sends a thumbs up emoji, the janitor watches from the window.]

*****

THE WOODS HOUSE

[Aalia’s house is a strange brick thing with two doors on each side. The front had the regular drive through with this old looking car in it. Wildflowers were in the front and the back of the yard. There's a glass garden near the other door, where a large, similar looking man to Aalia waters plants inside. The brick is infested with these flowers and there’s a “Welcome In!” mat outside the door. There's also a notice on the door that says “Massie Woods, PLEASE CUT THE FLOWERS and TRIM YOUR YARD. Your house is lowering the property rate and looks UNKEMPT. - Signed, Lisa from the HOA.” ] 

Serena: …I’m guessing your mom has a green thumb?

Aalia: Yeah. We’re vegan so… we kinda have to grow our own stuff. Not enough space for flowers in the garden so she put them along the house. 

Serena: Don’t you guys have vegan stuff in this town? It can’t just all be meat in grocery stores.

Aalia: Vegan stuff is nothing good… mostly meat too. 

[ A past memory of her conversation with  Matteo flashed in Serena’s mind as they reached the front porch.]

Serena: Aalia, do you know where California is?

[Aalia tilts her head.]

Aalia: Uhh… no? What’s that? Like a… drink? Sounds like a pretty good drink!! 

[As Serena stares in horror, Massie opens the front door. She was this smiley white woman with long blonde hair, some of it colored light green in strands. Her eyes were brown and she wore this fluffy sweater that would usually seem too much for autumn. She didn’t look anything like Aalia.]

Massie: Aalia, baby! You brought a friend? Oh my goodness! 

Serena: Hi, ma’am… do I call you ma’am?!

Massie: Oh no! Just Massie. I’m Aalia’s mom.

Serena: I’m Serena. Nice to meet you.

[ All Serena could think was that if she called her mother by her first name, there would be serious consequences.]

Massie: Oh it’s nice to meet you  too! Come in! You want anything to eat? My husband is gathering some grapes for some salad. 

[ They walk into the Woods household. It was both cluttered and organized. Boxes and yarn strewn across the living room, taking up all of the coffee table, which seemed to look like just a piece of a tree. There were many plants, even some large planters near the kitchen.]

Massie: Forgive the mess, I’m working on it. 

Serena: Nah, I think your house is pretty cool. Do you guys have books?

Massie: Oh, all sorts! Do you need to borrow some? 

Aalia: It’s for a school project. We have to get some books from our own house and write about them.

Serena: And I, obviously, don’t have any.

Massie: Oh, alright! Well, I think we have some on the other side of the house. You remember where I put our old library right, Aalia? 

[ Aalia nods.]

Serena: A library?! Are people in Veil Haven rich?!

Aalia: Most of it was from Grandma. We had a library at the old house but when we came here, we put all the books in some boxes… I’ll show you. 

[ Aalia brings her to the other side of her house, where all the boxes of old books are. It’s all slightly unopened with some books outside of boxes and put down like someone was just reading them and forgot to finish it. The books themselves seemed to be mostly nonfiction, primarily focused on black culture and the history of slavery. Poetry and some plant books too.] 

Aalia: The plant books are a bit boring. 

Serena: Yeah, maybe we should-

[ A strange feeling went over Serena - it made her entire body go cold, and it was almost as if she had a vision. There was a spot on the wall that looked out of place - and Serena’s first instinct was to peel the wallpaper.] 

[ Very, VERY terrible move to do in a stranger’s home, but what she found behind the wallpaper distracted her from any worries. There was a seemingly huge ancient leather book hidden behind the walls, and when Aalia took it in her hands it looked too delicate to touch] 

Serena: The hell?!

Aalia: Huh. This is… did my mom make another treasure hunt again? I think I’ve seen this before but… not in my house. 

Serena: You’ve seen this before? I don’t know your mom that well Aalia, but would she really destroy her wall for a treasure hunt?!

Aalia: She broke her leg once while putting up the cloud chandelier in my room… I think anything’s possible. 

[ Serena looked at her to see if she was serious, and she most definitely was.]

Serena: …Okay, so maybe she did.  

[ Aalia opens to the book’s first page. The title is in a language neither Aalia or Serena could understand, but letters written on the paper made them both freeze.]

[ There were initials. Six of them, all lined up in order. The only one Serena recognized was A.D - in the handwriting of her older sister. Aalia looked as if she recognized something too.]

Aalia: KL… Kaline? That’s my friend's handwriting.

Serena: And that’s my sister’s! Wait, did your friend ever talk about someone named Aaliyah?

Aalia: Yeah! Her friend. But I didn’t really know her… this is weird. 

[ Serena suddenly got up and started pacing around the room - she knew her sister got shipped to Veil Haven before her, and she stopped responding to her calls months after moving away. She went missing, and when Serena got here she vowed to herself to figure out why. Maybe this was it.]

Serena: Who are those other people in the book? Do you recognize the initials  at all?

Aalia: They’re all Kaline’s friends. I don’t really know them all personally… can’t really anymore, anyways. 

Serena: Wait, so they all went missing?!

Aalia: Yeah! It was weird. School didn’t say anything about it. It was just kinda like they disappeared all at the same time. 

Serena: I never found out what happened either. My aunt just sent a letter and told us she was gone. Do you know a police officer or something?! Anybody that knows cases.

Aalia: Well… I know a guy. He lives here. I think he’s some sort of detective…

Serena: Who lives here?! Your dad?!

Aalia: Oh, no! My dad works construction. My mom rents half the house to people for money on top of her small business. The guy’s name is Calisto or something? He’s pretty chill, just very… lazy. 

Serena: ….Is he a vampire?! 

[ He was not. ]

[ Aalia brings her to the living room, where this long haired dark skinned asian man sat, eating cereal that looked a bit strange because it was most likely made at home, in these blue pajamas. He looked… like he was in need of a job application, with his facial hair unkept like he hadn’t saved in a while. He was mid-bite before he looked at us.] 

Luntian: Huh? 

Serena [whispers]: Aalia, why is there a  buff man with long hair and pajamas in your living room?

Aalia [whispers]: He’s not like that buff. Honestly, he keeps eating our food so it’s kinda wearing off. 

Serena [to him]: Hey Mr. Castiel- I mean, Mr…what’s your name?!

Luntian: …Castillo. Detective Castillo. 

Serena: Sorry, Detective. Can you help us with something? I’m her friend, by the way. Wait, are we friends?!

Aalia: Non-friends aren’t allowed inside the house, so yes. 

[ A sense of happiness washed over Serena.] 

Serena: …Yeah. We need your help.

[ Serena brought out an old dollar bill in her pocket that probably means nothing in Veil Heaven and offered it to the Detective.]

Serena: …please?

Luntian: Oh nice! My first paycheck in months! What do you got for me? 

Aalia: Is that why you haven’t been paying rent. 

Luntian [nervous]: …what do you got for me?

[ Ignoring Aalia’s glare at the man, Serena gave the book to Detective Castillo.]

Luntian: This is… huh. I recognize this. 

Serena [WAY too excited]: Really?! Have you had the book before? Do you recognize the names? Did you investigate a disappearance of like six people?! By the way, if you say yes, I’m taking the dollar back. They’re all still missing. 

Luntian: Wh- I need that! And no, uh… this is my partner’s… daughter's handwriting. I could recognize her handwriting anywhere. 

Serena: She also went missing?

Luntian: Yeah. So did he… that's kind of why I'm here. 

Aalia: You haven't been doing anything though.  

Serena [whispers]: Aalia, cut him some slack. He looks like he’s about to burst into tears.

[Which was true, the man had been depressed for several months. Which is why he probably hasn’t done much.]

Luntian: …I'm not that pathetic to cry in front of a bunch of children!

Serena: You heard that? Wait, I’m not a child!!

Luntian: Back to the point, where did you find this? 

Serena: Well…I impulsively ripped off the wallpaper in the house and found it hidden inside the walls. I should probably fix that… sorry, Aalia.

Aalia: It's fine. My mom will probably make it into a cool patchwork design and work the hole the book was into some sort of shelf. 

Serena: Can your mom adopt me? 

Aalia: …Serena, you met her like 25 minutes ago? Sure??

Serena: Yeah, and the past 25 minutes were heaven! Other than the almost crying man in front of me - man, do you need a hug?

Luntian: No! And get back on topic! This is… concerning. So these people are all missing? 

Aalia: Yeah. It's kind of… like the biggest batch of people gone so far. It's usually just a couple. 

Serena: Just a couple?? This is a small town, how many people go missing?! 

Aalia: Sometimes they turn up again. They're… a bit strange? But I guess that's what happens when you go missing? Some people never come back though. 

Serena: This town seems really f- messed up. 

Luntian: You can swear in front of me. I'm a detective, not a teacher. 

[ Serena didn’t respond at first, just staring at him, and opened her arms]

Serena: Okay, seriously man, do you need a hug? I feel bad.

Luntian: I- I'm not hugging you?! I'm fine! This seems to be a clue anyway!

Serena: You’re a detective right? Can’t you go like, tell your police buddies and solve the case?

Luntian: Okay… 1, I don't have “police buddies.” And 2… it doesn't seem like these people are formally missing. In my time outside, I haven't seen any missing posters. Or anything on the TV. Even on milk cartons. 

Serena: Milk Cartons?! Anyway, that doesn’t make sense. I got a letter from my aunt saying my sister disappeared MONTHS ago. Why wouldn’t the government, or anyone, say anything about six missing kids?

Luntian [looking at his computer]: Doesn't seem to be just six, either. 

Aalia: My mother says not to trust the government. 

Serena: My mom told me to always trust God and the police. God…has failed me so far and the only guy that’s close enough to the police is currently eating cereal with pajamas. We’re cooked.

Aalia: …huh. What else is in this book? 

[Aalia flipped to a map of Veil Haven. Beside were some notes. Names with roles. Organized stuff. But most pressing of all, one of the locations on the map was circled. With the caption “Next Mission?” beside it.]

Serena: Next Mission? More like the last.

Luntian: Huh… So that's where they last went? It seems to be a lower part of the slums. 

Aalia: My mom doesn't allow me to go there unless I have an adult with me. 

Serena: Castillo’s an adult.

Luntian: I… guess I could go. Ask your mom though. 

[ Serena fidgets with the ring on her finger]

Serena: I’ll just text my aunt. I’ll just say I stayed over, if that’s okay. After Aaliyah disappeared, I don’t think she’ll like me going to slums.

Aalia: That's fine. My mom doesn't mind… Castillo, you should get ready if you're going. Being in pjs at 5 pm in the afternoon… that speaks for itself. ..

[She left to go talk to her mom. Castillo sighed.] 

Luntian: Well, can't be worse than Murkville. 

Serena: …Murkville?

***

THE SLUMS

[Luntian parked his beat up car on the side of the road as they got out. The slums were these quiet places, aside from the wandering shadows and strange looks from the actual people around. Aalia looked around and looked into the book to check if she was in the right place. Seeing as she was, she sighed.]

Luntian: Okay, this is kind of like Murkville, I was wrong. 

Serena: If I get slaughtered on my first day here, I’m haunting all of you. 

Aalia: Hm… the house that's marked on the map here looks abandoned… and it's near the dump. 

Serena: Why were they all going to the slums for a “mission”?

[ Serena saw a man with no face staring through the window….maybe she should take a second dose of loxapine.]

Luntian: …what are you looking at? 

Serena: Nothing, it’s just… this place is terrifying. Do you have your gun, just in case? I’m not trying to die.

Luntian: I do… I got in it in the car. Miss Massie doesn’t let me have it in the house. 

[He was shaking slightly, under the trenchcoat.]

Aalia: Mhm, guns are evil. 

Serena: So is this place, let’s just hurry and get out of here. 

[ As they left the busted up vehicle, there was one thought in Serena’s mind - what if their dead bodies were here or something? She didn’t want to see another one..especially if it was her sister. They had bright flashlights as they explored through the trash in the slums. There were burned up books and newspapers all over the place…who would trash so much information?]

[There was a run down building up ahead.]

Luntian: Looks old.

Serena: I still don’t get why they would come here.  

[ There was a shuffling noise near the trash close to the building. They all froze…except for Aalia.]

[She didn’t seem to think anything of it as she went forward, as if the danger didn’t matter to her.]

Aalia: Hello? 

Serena [failing to whisper]: AALIA?? ARE YOU CRAZY??

[ There was NO way her first friend she met in Veil Haven was about to get murked in front of her. Serena looked at Castillo, non verbally telling him to whip out his gun, but he looked almost…afraid to.]

Serena: You’re the adult here!!

Luntian: Uh… I… uhm…

Aalia: Hello…?? Is someone there?

[ There was another noise near the trash - and Serena wasn’t about to die today. Acting out of fear, she whipped out a pocket knife she had with her at all times during her paranoia and stormed towards the trash, and pinned down the person who was hiding in the trash, and they both screamed at the same time.]

[... It was a boy. With coily hair, brown skin and  a dark red hoodie, and for whatever reason looking through the trash as if he were some animal. They stared at each other like deer in headlights.]

Both: THE HELL???

Luntian: Get off of him!

Aalia: …? 

Nolan: PLEASE DON’T HURT ME!!

[ Shaking, Serena let go of him, dropping her knife on the ground. A sense of shame washed over her - she didn’t want to be the violent demon her parents thought she was. Awkwardly, she held her hand out to pull him up.]

Aalia: You okay? 

Nolan: Are you guys, like… axe murderers?!

Serena: I… don’t have an axe. He has a gun though. 

[ She nudged towards Castillo]

Aalia: …wasn’t asking you, trash boy. But okay. I’m not an axe murderer. I’m not allowed to have any weapons. 

[ Obviously too scared to take Serena’s hand, Nolan got up by himself quickly and got into a really awkward fighting position.]

Nolan: I…I KNOW KARATE!!!

Luntian: I– we’re not mugging you?? Calm down. Also, it does not look like it. 

Aalia: Why are you in the trash? You’ll get diseases. If there’s a needle in there you could get aids. 

Serena: AIDS?!

Nolan: Real question is, why are you guys here?!

[ Nolan recognized Aalia from his chemistry class, but the man with long hair and the dark-skinned girl with a scar on her face was unknown to him.]

Nolan: Aalia, does your mom just let you do anything?! Who are you hanging out with?!

Serena: Says the guy in the trash….

Aalia: I mean. Yeah, basically. That’s the guy who lives with me and my parents, Detective Castile or something. And this is my friend, Serena. 

Serena: We’re looking for…at this point, I don’t know. People that went missing two years ago.

[ Nolan’s face lit up.]

Nolan: Two years ago?! Are you talking about Kario?

Serena: Kario? Aalia, in the book, is there somebody with a K initial?

Aalia: Yeah. But they're both KL. Though, I can tell one of them was Kaline because her handwriting is super neat and whoever the other KL is… messy. 

Nolan: Kario Lee? He always had messy handwriting! 

[ He ran up to Aalia and she showed him the book. Detective Castillo watched the three of them, realizing he has to babysit really messed up  kids.]

Luntian: I’m not even paid… 

Aalia: They had a whole thing going on by the looks of it. They last went here. 

Nolan: I feel like I’m in the beginning of a really fucked up mystery show.

Serena: Trash guy-

Nolan: Trash guy?!

Serena: What’s your name then?! 

Nolan: I’m not  telling my name to  the girl that almost slit my throat!!

[ Serena sighed and turned to Aalia. Nolan stared at her too, shaking his head in warning.]

Serena: …What’s his name.

Aalia: Nol…  Norman? I forgot, honestly. Probably Norman. 

Nolan: NORMAN?! That’s offensive!!

Serena: You look like a Norman. 

[ Nolan glares at Serena and she raises her hands in surrender. ]

Serena: Look, man, I’m sorry. I thought you were going to kill me.

Nolan: I thought you were going to kill me!!

Serena: Do you want to find “Kario” or not?!

[ Nolan’s eyes softened and he gulped, taking out photos from his pocket.]

Nolan: Fine. I’ll show you.

*****

[ The three freaks sat down against the building - Serena making sure the bugs weren’t on her - as he showed them all pictures he found from his friend’s camera. Castillo kept watch while listening, and Aalia and Serena were both shocked to see a group photo of the six of them together. They were in a friend group, and they all disappeared together.]

 Serena: Why didn’t Aaliyah tell me about all of this? Why didn’t they tell any of you guys about this?! Also…why is the sky purple?

Aalia: Is it not… normally? 

Luntian: …No, no it is not. 

Serena: Wait, Detective , do you know what California is?

Luntian: …Yeah? Obviously. 

Aalia: You keep talking about drinks… 

Nolan: I would drink that! What, is that a soda?

Serena: Do you guys take basic geography?! Have you ever moved outside of Veil Haven?

Aalia: Uhh… I know we’re in Ohio. I think my family is from someplace called… Maryland? I don’t know. Never really seen a map from outside. 

Serena: That doesn’t make any sense. 

[ Nolan finally speaks up, pointing at one of his friend’s photos. It was the old building behind them.]

Nolan: Aren’t we here?!

[ They all looked behind them. Nolan stole Serena’s flashlight, and she side-eyed him.]

Serena: This is the last place they went to.

Nolan: Are we about to walk into an abandoned building with flashlights? This is so cliche. 

Serena: I vote on the Detective being in front!

Luntian: That’s fine… I’m the one with a gun aft… yeah, let's just go. 

Nolan: You don’t look very happy about using it.

Aalia: Makes sense. A gun is a dangerous weapon. 

Luntian: What Aalia said… 

Serena: You grew up in Murkville, you’ll be fine!

[ The Detective led the three of them - though Nolan and Serena were the only two actually hiding behind him. Aalia was just doing whatever she wanted to with no fear at all. ]

Nolan [whispers]: I bet 5 bucks that she dies.

Serena: Norman!

Nolan: Nolan.

Serena: Same thing.

Aalia: I won’t die. The universe will protect me. Everything works out… 

Nolan: She’s always like that.

Luntian: Aalia, focus. If something happens to you, your father is going to kill me.  

Aalia: Everything works out but… I don’t want to make my dad sad.

[ As they explored, they saw old food cans and pizza boxes. There were random documents scattered around, and a blanket and pillow in the corner, with scattered sentences and words that didn’t make sense..]

Nolan: Is somebody living in this dump?!

[ Serena suddenly felt ill, as if all of her energy was robbed from her. She held onto Nolan’s hoodie and he stared at her, accidentally flashing the flashlight in her face.]

Nolan: Girl, you good?

Serena: Nol-

[ She felt dizzy and lightheaded, her vision blurring as the whispers came back to her again. Before she could warn anyone, she passed out and Castillo caught her before she hit the ground.]

Luntian: Fuck! Uh… uh… Aalia, what do you do when someone faints? 

Aalia: …are you even a real detective. Come on, let’s put her against something soft. 

Nolan: Are you gonna give her CPR?!  

[ Aalia laid her against the pillow they found in the building. It took her only a minute to wake up again - but before she did, she had flashes of visions. A backyard, a photo of a kid, and…a Jason mask?]

[ She jumped back to reality, and the whispers stopped. Nolan jumped back.]

Nolan: Is she possessed?!

Aalia: You okay? 

[ Nolan flashed the light in her face again, and Serena snatched it from his hands, wobbling when she got up.]

Serena: Do that again and you’re getting the knife. This place has a backyard.

Aalia: The universe… 

Luntian: I don’t thin– nevermind. Serena, how do you know that? 

Serena: I just… I just do. Let’s go.

Nolan: Just in case, we should perform an exorcism!

[ Ignoring Nolan’s constant jokes, Serena was now leading the group, leading them to the backyard. Detective Castillo was concerned on why the hell this child fainted and now had the confidence to be in front of him. Serena opens the door to the backyard, as the sounds got louder and another huge dump - where a small figure in a mask seemed to be fiddling with a paper and pen. They all stared.]

Serena [whispers]: Nolan, is this your little friend?! 

Nolan: You’re the leader, right?

Aalia: Oh, a new friend. :)

Luntian: Aalia, NO. 

[ Before Aalia could walk up to a random stranger, Serena spoke up, grabbing his attention. He perked up, staring up at them. The holes were black past his mask, like nothing was behind it.]

Serena: Hey… uhm, Jason?!

Jason: …

Jason: Jason…? Okay. 

Serena: I… don’t know your name. You just have the mask. Are you a fan?

[ Serena just assumed the guy was having an early Halloween…in a dump.]

Jason: No. I’m writing. Not a fan. 

Serena: Writing what?

[ She carefully took the book from Aalia - for some reason, it felt heavier for her when it was comfortable for Aalia - and showed “Jason” the front page. Serena somehow knew the boy was connected somehow.]

Serena: Is this familiar? I… we’re looking for a group of people.

[Jason stared at it, pointing to the initials]

Jason: Aaliyah Davis. Kaline Lewis. Kario Lee. Sula Dinah. Manon Marin. 

Jason [sadder]: …gone. 

[ They all froze. Nolan looked to Serena in confusion, as if she had the answers to everything. ]

Serena: How do you know them?!

Jason: The names. My head remembers the names. 

[ Serena was confused and frustrated, but a thought popped in her head. Her voice softened.]

Serena: Jason, are you…are you homeless? 

Jason: … 

[Jason pointed to the house behind them.]

Jason: That’s a home. I live in it. 

Nolan: No, man…

Serena: I think…I think he has memory loss. He needs to go to a hospital… or at least a place to stay.

Jason: Hospital?        

Aalia: Yeah. You… know what a hospital is, right? 

Jason: I remember that word. 

Luntian: Maybe we should bring him to the doctor. 

Jason: …no. 

Nolan: The fuck you mean, “no”?! 

Serena: Nolan.

[ Nolan’s voice shook.]

Nolan: That guy is the only one who knows where my best friend is. I haven’t seen him in years. I need h- I need to find out what happened!!

Aalia: You’ve waited two years. You can wait a bit longer. He seems hurt anyway. Like, in his head. 

Jason: …

Nolan: I can’t! I was supposed to tell him…

[Nolan stops mid-sentence, digging his hands in his hair.  Awkwardly, Serena offers him a hug. He stared at her for a moment before slowly accepting it. ]

[Aalia joined in, wrapping her arms around both of them. Luntian flashed his light at their feet to get their attention.]

Luntian: Guys, there's an amnesiac child on the ground. Guys. 

Serena: Yeah, we should… we should call the police. Get the ambulance. Or… maybe we should drive there, if it’s close. 

Jason: …My mask. Will they take off my mask? They can’t. 

Serena: They’ll probably have to, to scan your brain. I would know.

Jason: No. No. I have some memories. I have notes. I just– Money! Not enough money. Doctors need money. Don’t have money.  

Nolan [sniffs]: I still have my five bucks.

Serena: Not enough… I doubt the unemployed detective has any money… Aalia, I don’t want to disturb your mom again, but…

Aalia: My mom knows some first aid. I'm not sure if we can afford a doctor but… we could help him still. 

Nolan: What if he never gets his memories back?! 

Serena: We have a Detective, remember? There’s probably other clues that we didn’t find yet. We’ll…we’ll find them. We’re gonna be okay.

***

THE HOSPITAL

[ Ignoring her aunt’s texts, Serena pulled up to the hospital with her new friends… was she friends with the guy she pulled a knife on? And admitted Jason into Room 451.] 

[ Serena hated this place. Hospitals always brought out bad memories and hallucinations - her doctor ruined her life the moment they gave her parents the diagnosis. She remembered the photo of her brain, and how her mother called it defective. How they prayed for her to be “cured”.]

[ The doctors couldn’t get the poor guy to take off his mask. There was no way to confirm his identity or diagnose him with diagnostic testing, so they had to ask him questions - some he could barely respond to. Aalia was the only one that looked hopeful. Serena and Nolan were hanging on by threads, and Detective Castillo looked like he was trying to solve the whole case in his brain.. and also a bit stressed since he was the one paying for this.]

Nolan: Seriously, is that guy the melanated Sherlock Holmes?! 

Serena: Do you guys know the last person’s initials on the book?  

Nolan: I have the guy’s picture. He looks scrawny.

Serena: Just like you!

Nolan: T-T 

[...how did he… okay.]

[ Nolan showed them the picture of the guy, and Serena froze. ]

Serena: Aalia, is that the dickhead from English? 

Aalia: Huh? Oh… Shawn. Yeah. That's Shawn. 

Serena: Why would Aaliyah  hang out with him?! Why would your friend Kaline, he’s an ass!

Aalia: …this is weird. 

Serena: Maybe he knows something.  I bet that Matteo dem- guy knows too.

Nolan: I’m gonna kill them!

Serena: Respectfully, they could beat your ass. 

[ Detective Castillo finally came out of the room where Jason was being asked questions. He was the only adult, and he showed his (probably old) badge to the doctors, so he was allowed to stay.]

Serena: What did he say?!

Nolan: Is he possessed?

Serena: Not everyone is possessed!!

Luntian: They said he has some sort of amnesia… like almost all of his personal life is gone from his memory. But since he remembers some stuff, they can't diagnose him with global amnesia. They fixed up the scrapes on his legs and gave him some bandages. He hasn't really said much other than pointing at things and saying their names. Some of it was all jumbled up nonsense. 

Nolan: He didn’t say anything about Kario? 

Luntian: Nope. Nothing about any of them. 

[ Nolan looked as if his heart shattered. Serena took his hand and squeezed it gently - what her dad used to do to bring her back to reality..]

Serena: We have to talk to Shawn. That asshole is our only lead.

Nolan: I still have the pictures Kario took. They went almost everywhere, but some of them are…blurry, I can’t see anything.

Serena: And only Aalia can read the book. Do you know that language?

Luntian: Some parts look French… does it say who owned the book specifically? Manon sounds French. 

Serena: Maybe she’s the one who’s writing in pencil. But the actual book? What the hell is that? It looks like something Aaliyah would write during her episodes.

Aalia: There are some funny figures in here too! 

Nolan: …figures? Aalia, there’s nothing here. Just words.

[ Serena wondered - was Aalia like her? She didn’t seem like it…]

Serena: What figures? 

[ The lights in the hospital flicked, and Serena looked up to see a black werewolf-like monster staring at her. Aalia and Nolan didn’t notice her fear.] 

Aalia: Well, there's the moth guy… he looks like something Kaline would think up!

Nolan: Mothman?! I love Mothman!!

Aalia: I… guess? He does look kind of like the societal concept of a man. And these little figures of shadow are cool. Lots of the other stuff doesn’t look comprehensible though… How come you can’t see them? 

[ Serena began to hyperventilate, and when the werewolf made one step closer, Serena ran away, abandoning her new friends as they both stared at her running. ]

Nolan: Does she have something?

[ His voice sounded concerned, finally realizing his "possessed" comments were in bad faith.]

Aalia: I think they said something at school… 

Luntian: Seeing stuff maybe? 

[ Nolan and Aalia chase after her as she ran into her bathroom, and Serena wanted to smash her head into the sink. Now they probably hate her, or think she’s crazy. Aalia walked into the bathroom while Nolan stayed behind.]

Aalia: Serena? 

Serena: I’m… I’m sorry, I just..

[ She didn’t know what to tell her.]

Aalia: You okay? 

Serena: Obviously not.

[ Serena forced a laugh.]

Serena: If I tell you something, you promise not to judge?

Aalia: Yea. 

[ Serena was quiet for a moment before finally speaking up.]

Serena: I’m schizophrenic.

Aalia: Okay. 

Aalia: Is that why you ran…? 

Serena: Yeah, I saw a werewolf-looking thing in the hallway. I don’t think my meds work.

Aalia: The nurse you were staring at? He had wolf ears but I wouldn’t say hes a werewolf…

Serena: What?  The nurse is furry?!

[ Serena smiles at her.]

Serena: Thanks for…not being judgemental. 

Aalia: My mom said that was a crime against both yourself and society. So, I try not to be. 

 [ They decided to hug once again and they both left the bathroom, with Nolan standing right there.]

Nolan: Are you okay?

Serena: I’m schizophrenic.

[ She just blurted it out, and he blinked twice at her.]

Nolan: That…makes sense?!

Serena: I’m not crazy, I’m not evil, and please stop saying I’m possessed. 

Nolan: My bad. 

******

THE WOODS HOUSE

[ Aalia had to explain to her mother that they found an amnesiac lanky homeless kid that has nowhere to stay, and to Serena’s surprise Massie agreed to let him in. She really had to get used to such happy parenting. ]

Jason: Word. Green… music. 

Nolan: …At least he can talk?

Aalia: He knows where everything is! 

[ Serena opened her flip phone to see her aunt’s texts - “don’t go out at night, and don’t have an episode. okay?” …LIKE SHE CAN CONTROL THAT?]

[ She texted her aunt yes despite the fact she did both of those things. The purple lights came through Aalia’s window as Serena sat with her on her bed as Nolan messed with a bunch of Aalia’s trinkets.]

Nolan: Aalia, why were we not friends earlier?!

Aalia: …You looked really sad all the time.

Nolan: And you looked really happy all of the time!

Serena: Do you guys always have purple nights?

Aalia: Mhm. 

Serena: The moon looks…really weird.

Nolan [mocks]: All hail the Crescent Moon… 

Serena: ….what? Is that a movie?

Aalia: No? Like, Christianity. Speaking of that, Matteo keeps trying to get me to join his church…

Serena: What does Christianity have to do with a crescent moon?!

Nolan: Don’t you worship the moon in California?

Serena: Am I real? Is this real? Aalia, punch me.

Aalia: I’m not allowed to do that anymore, Serena. 

Serena: Anymore?! Okay, pinch me.

Aalia: Okay! 

[Aalia pinched Serena. It hurt a lot more because of her nails.]

Aalia: Sorry. 

Serena: OW!! OW, okay, I’m real!! 

Nolan: Do you see anything right now? Like…Slenderman?

Serena: ….all I see is a really hyperactive boy.

[ Nolan threw a pillow at her.]

Massie: You kids want lettuce burgers? Grape salad is done!

[ Nolan and Serena gave each other looks.]

Serena and Nolan: …. sure??

Martin: …you could always have the mac & cheese too!  

Aalia: Mac & cheese… 

Nolan: I love mac and cheese!!

Serena: Duh, we’re black. 

[ They all ate mac and cheese in Aalia’s room while talking, including Jason who was mostly silent, sometimes staring at the wall.  Serena heard dozens of references she couldn’t understand - Crescent Moon, blueberry soda, Tan Gogh, and  The Veil Haven Vandals. Though she was really confused, at least she had friends to talk to.]

Nolan: Remember when you almost killed me?!

Serena: ….that was two hours ago.

Jason [looking up at Aalia’s ceiling] : Sky. 

Serena: Do you like the mac and cheese, Jason?

Jason: Mac & cheese… 

Nolan: Kario loved mac and cheese too. Do you remember that?!

Serena: Dude.

Jason: I remember notes. I gave you notes. Nothing else. Not right now.

Aalia: …don’t you dare touch anything before we give you a shower. 

Serena: You should tell that to Nolan too.

Nolan: HEY!

[ Serena got up to throw away her paper plate, when the strange feeling washed over her again.]

Serena: Guys….

[ All she could see was light, and Serena fainted once again, falling on the floor.]

Nolan: Okay, she’s definitely not just schizophrenic.

Aalia: :(( 

[ Aalia picked her up and put her on the bed.]

Aalia: …? 

 Nolan: Is she… dreaming?

[ Basically.]

[ Serena was in a forest, running for her life. There were four other figures around her - was that her friends? And a boy she didn’t know. Then she was in ten different places at once - inside of a UFO ship, in a show, a haunted house, an empty road, a girl with white hair eating meat, a flying house, a treehouse, kids she didn’t recognize from how blurry they were running through the woods, the “WELCOME TO VEIL HAVEN” sign….]

[...and a graveyard.]

[The scene shifted, and she was alone in a chilly abandoned neighborhood. There was a large crescent moon in the sky that was shapeshifting into a full moon.  The treehouse she saw was on fire, and a Jason mask on the ground.

[ A man with a trench coat staring at her, as a black thing in the sky flew past.]

[“You have no idea how deep the rabbit hole goes”.]

[ Serena woke up, gasping for air.]

Nolan: I was wrong, she wasn’t dead!

Aalia: That’s good!

Jason: ? 

[ Serena didn’t respond to any of their words. The room felt heavy, as if there was something else watching - and something happening. She looked from Aalia to the book.]

Serena: Aalia?!

Aalia: ?

[ They all looked towards the book, and it was moving to a page by itself. What was once before a blank book - other than the front page - was now a full page in a language none of them could understand and a blurry photo.]

Nolan: The hell?!

Aalia: ! 

[ It was impossible to read, until Aalia touched the book.]

[ It was translated into English in only a moment for her. Long paragraphs of information with a photo of a tall man in a trench coat, his face covered in black. The man Serena saw.]

Serena: What the…

Aalia: This is cool! 

[ Serena realized, just like the rest of them (other than Aalia), that the disappearances in Veil Haven might be darker and more supernatural than they ever thought possible.]

[ The page in the mystic book had one title.]

[“The Man in a Trench Coat.”]

***