Chapter 2: New Beginnings (Part 3)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Huffing and puffing, the behemoth that is Agent Saunders erupts from the main elevator doors of the Hospital.

Saunders
Where did he go!?

He starts to scan the area for Gabriel.

Chang
What do you mean? He never even came down…

Agent Chang is simply baffled; it is unlike Saunders to make mistakes in general, let alone something like this.

Saunders
So, no one saw him running through the halls?

His face begins to redden, he is obviously a little embarrassed by his blunder, but more so, he is angry with both himself, and Gabriel.

Chang
I…don’t really know what to tell you, sir. I’m just as confused as you are.

Chang doesn’t even finish his sentence before Saunders walks past him to get to his partner. The agent punches the wall as he is nearing Bennett, leaving a decent sized dent in the block work of the hospital.

Saunders
Who the hell is this guy?

Bennett
I don’t know, but whoever he is, he’s a pro.

Saunders
No! A pro wouldn’t have missed.

Bennett
Unless he meant to miss

It had been a while since Bennett had a chance to mess with his partner; and despite the severity of the situation, he is kind of enjoying it. There is a slight pause, a single moment where nothing came from either of them.

Saunders
…Who the hell is this guy?

---

Klang! The keys fall from the hands of the ex-nurse as she fumbles with them at her doorstep. “Home sweet home” Carrie thinks to herself as she picks them up. She lives in the top floor of an apartment complex on the corner of Laurier Ave. and Washington Blvd. And although the walk to the top floor was a pain – mostly because there was an elevator that the complex owner hasn’t fixed in several years – she likes where she lives.

She pushes open the door and walks inside. She marches past the living room and into her kitchen towards the refrigerator. She grabs the wine sitting at the back of the top shelf and then a small glass. This is her routine, you see; to come home, have a glass of wine and then get to what needs to be doing.

Gabriel
Hello, Carrie. Mind if I have a glass too?

The calm voice came from behind her in the living room. Carrie screams a terrible shriek and drops her glass before she walks cautiously towards the voice, ladle in hand for protection.

Carrie
W-who is there?

Gabriel
Don’t you recognize me?

It takes her a moment to analyze the man sitting in the chair right in front of her, but the scruffy black hair and deep grey-blue eyes finally strikes her memory.

Carrie
…Daniel?

Gabriel
It’s been a long time.

Carrie
What…how are you…you’re supposed to be dead!

Gabriel
I know. And please, try not to sound so happy about it.

Gabriel reveals his famous sarcasm and the nurse blushes a little.

Carrie
Sorry about that. But, what do you mean ‘I know’!? What happened?

Gabriel
It’s a pretty long and complicated story. First I need to ask you the same question. What happened?

Carrie
With Adam, you mean?

Gabriel nods his head so she can continue.

Carrie
Well that’s another long and complicated story.

Gabriel
I figured it would be.

---

Ryan
What happened to your glasses, mom?

Ryan finally notices that his mother is no longer wearing the glasses that she always wears. They are still driving towards their new home.

Lisa
I uh… I can see better without them.

Lisa explains as best she could. She really doesn’t know what has been happening; she just knows she no longer has that negative-four vision which plagued her family with nearsightedness. Ryan tilts his head as he thinks about this.

Ryan
Then why do you wear them?

Lisa
No, I mean… never mind. Let’s just listen to the radio.

Lisa turns up the dial which seems like such a vintage concept to her after using voice commands for so long. The radio is on a local news station.

Radio
…Our continuing coverage of the incident of LifeSource founder Adam Fields and his wife after they were involved in a deliberate collision. Hours ago, after the police were supposedly close to capturing Mrs. Fields, who has been in hiding ever since. A man was caught by the FBI in the hospital’s Holding Room in which Mr. Fields was being held.

Lisa
Oh my God!

Lisa is losing the calm and cool composure that she was trying to hold for her son. She tries to get a hold of herself quickly, before Ryan notices.

Radio
FBI describes the man as tall, dark hair, a thick, full beard…

Ryan
Mom, that kind of sounds like Gabriel, doesn’t it?

Lisa’s knuckles are white against the steering wheel.

Lisa
Yes, it does.

She doesn’t know whether to feel surprised, or angry, or both; all she can do for now is listen.

Radio
FBI refused to comment on what is going to happen to Mr. Fields but we will keep you posted as this story develops.

Lisa
Alright… let’s find a music station.

---

Gabriel
So he didn’t die then?

Gabriel leans forward in his chair to put his coffee onto Carrie Walsh’s living room table.

Carrie
No.

Carrie takes another sip.

Gabriel
And you really think that’s what they’ll do to him?

Carrie
Well, I don’t know for sure, but I have this feeling like there is something bigger going on that we don’t know about.

Gabriel
That makes two of use.

Carrie
Anything you want to share?

Gabriel
I don’t think it’s anything more than you know.

Carrie
Well, first George Caldwell is killed, then Adam is attacked plus he keeps talking about how LifeSource members have been slowly leaving the company. It just seems like–

Gabriel
Wait... What did you say? People are leaving LifeSource?

Carrie
Adam has been saying that there has been a lot of people who have been leaving; key people who have been there for years mostly. They usually say they found better opportunities or they’re worried about their family because of the Protesters and their threats…

Carrie’s voice slowly starts to fade as she notices the worried look on Gabriel’s face.

Carrie
What is it? Are you okay?

Gabriel
Yeah, I’m fine; but I have a theory. Has anybody come to you lately? Anyone from the government or even the FBI?

Carrie
I’ve only been questioned about what happened the other day, but I’ve been lying to them just as Adam had asked.

Gabriel
Alright, well I’m going to need you to do something for me.

Carrie
I don’t know…

Carrie is hesitant but she already knows she wouldn’t have much choice in the situation.

Carrie
I’m still dealing with the last favour I promised someone.

Gabriel
Exactly. Sooner or later they’re going to come to arrest you.

Carrie
Great.

She rolls her eyes as she drops her back into the seat.

Gabriel
Calm down. Hopefully, the FBI will be even quicker than they are.

Carrie is confused.

Carrie
What’s that supposed to mean?

Gabriel
There may be people asking you to help them work on something in secret in return for them clearing up any charges you have to avoid being arrested.

Carrie
How do you know this?

Gabriel ignores the question.

Gabriel
I told you. I have my theories. Now, I don’t think these guys are up to anything good but you should accept their offer and work with them. Pretend you’re on their side and see what’s going on. You’re better off with them than in prison.

Carrie
I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if that’s true…then I agree. I’d rather be doing something questionable than stuck in a prison cell.

Gabriel
If we’re right about this, we could be uncovering something big.

Gabriel is both excited and worried by the conspiracies he is trying to work through in his mind.

Carrie
Speaking of which, are you going to tell me how you’re still alive?

Gabriel
I told you, it’s a long story, but if I tell you everything it will make a lot more sense.

Carrie
Well, let’s see how much you can tell me before they come to arrest me.

---

Saunders
So how much camera footage are we talking about here?

Saunders knows that watching footage is always a tedious task.

Bennett
Well between the hospital cameras and the cameras of the buildings close to the motel…

Saunders
In that case…I’ll go make some popcorn.

Chang
Sir!

Agent Chang calls out as he bursts through the door.

Chang
We found out the cameras were disabled.

Bennett
You mean the night of the crash? We already know.

Chang
No, I mean from today. The cameras were out when this mystery guy escaped. Every camera in the hospital.

Saunders’ head drops at the news.

Saunders
I’m not having a good day Chang…I blame you.

Chang
What the hell did I do!?

Saunders
You wore that stupid tie.

---

Ryan
How much farther, mom?

Ryan is getting tired of being on the road.

Lisa
Actually, we’re here.

Lisa pulls into the driveway of their new home. It is a raised ranch with a large bow window in the front. It has an attached garage and a white front door in the center of its red brick walls.

Ryan
I don’t like it.

Lisa
You haven’t even seen it yet.

Ryan
Well, our old house was bigger.

Lisa
I already told you this one would be smaller.

Ryan
I know, but I never said I would like it.

Lisa
No, I guess you didn’t. Come on, grumpy, let’s go inside.

Lisa unlocks the car doors and pops the trunk. She steps out and meets Ryan behind the car to grab all their stuff.

Ryan
Um, mom…

Lisa takes a moment to look around and sees a family of four walking towards them from next door carrying a cake and masked with enthusiastic smiles.

Lisa
Relax, honey, let’s see what they want.

Mary
Well hello, neighbour! Welcome to your new home!

Lisa
Thank you. I’m Melissa and this is my son Ryan.

Mary
Nice to meet you, I’m Mary; this is my husband, Tom, my son, Mason, and my daughter Charlotte.

Lisa
Nice to meet you.

Lisa inspects the family; Mary has jet black hair and is wearing a blue dress next to her husband who has on a brown suit with elbow patches that reminded her of her eleventh grade history teacher. Finally the children each have their mother’s black hair and share her massive smile.

Mary
I’m surprised you came here so quickly.

Lisa
I’m sorry?

Mary
Well, just the other day we saw a moving truck at Mr. Bondy’s house and asked him what is going on. I guess he inherited a lot of money and couldn’t wait find a new house.

Lisa
Ah, yes. We were very lucky to see he was selling and he gave us a good price, so we decided to move right away.

Mary
Well, I guess we should leave you to take a look at your new home.

Lisa
Thank you. It was nice meeting you all.

Mary
Don’t be a stranger, come over anytime. We can make play dates for the kids.

Lisa
Sure, that sounds fun.

Lisa and Ryan return to their new home and walk through their new door. As the door closes, Ryan looks up at his mother.

Ryan
A play date? I’m not four.

Lisa
Ryan, be nice; you might have fun.

Ryan
I thought we were supposed to be hiding?

Ryan rolls his eyes.

Lisa
Sometimes blending in is hiding. Its better we get along with each other than avoid them.

Ryan
Alright.

Lisa
Come on, let’s go unpack.

To be continued...

Can't wait for more? The writers answer your questions and discuss more about the story on the second podcast. You can download the MP3 or subscribe to the feed. If you just want to read the short Q&A portion of the podcast it is transcribed here!