MOORE HOME

"Vince, I know you're probably screening your calls, so when you get this message, I want you to call me back," Akilah Moore said, speaking into the telephone as she left a voicemail on her brother's cell phone. Akilah hung up the phone as her mother, Leslie Moore, entered the living room.

Leslie was carrying a bowl of popcorn and sat down next to Akilah. "Did your brother answer his phone?"

"No," Akilah muttered. "He's probably just living it up over at Michael Hanley's evil funhouse."

"Well, your brother can take care of himself," Leslie reassured Akilah. "Besides, I'd like to spend some time with you. I haven't talked to you in forever, it seems."

"I know," Akilah said. "I've been really busy this summer, and so have you."

"Still looking for a job," Leslie said. "No one wants to hire a two-time ex-drug addict, even if one of those times was the result of a psychotic brother-in-law."

Akilah frowned.

"But that's enough about me," Leslie said. "What's going on with you, honey?"

"Well…I met a guy," Akilah said.

Leslie narrowed her eyes at Akilah. "It isn't Alec Bale, is it? Because we've talked about this, Akilah, and I don't think that —"

"No, Alec is old news," Akilah insisted. "I broke up with him."

"You broke up with…wait, you two were dating?"

"Yeah, where have you been?" Akilah demanded.

Leslie laughed. "Off the canvas, apparently. Well, that's good that you're not worried about Alec anymore. Especially since his girlfriend is going around accusing my son of stalking her."

"Oh, they're not dating either," Akilah said. "She was dating Vince for a while, but they broke up."

"Boy, I really have been off the canvas," Leslie said. "What was that you were saying about a guy?"

"His name is Tim Black," Akilah said. "He just moved here."

"And you like him?"

"I think he likes me," Akilah said. "The first time we met, he…well, I figured he did."

Akilah felt that it was better to leave out the events of her involvement with Ariel Hanley so as not to shock her mother even more. And to be honest, Akilah wasn't even sure if she had completely gotten over the shock herself.

"Well then, I suppose that's all that counts," Leslie said. "Keep me posted, huh?"

Akilah grinned and reached for the bowl of popcorn in her mother's lap. "Will do, mom."



EMERALD SQUARE

"Who are you?" Discourse demanded, staring at Alec Bale.

"Look, I know you don't want to talk to me," Alec said, still under the belief he was talking to his ex-best friend Vincent Moore. "But I think that we can finally…you know, mend fences? Become friends again? It's not like Jessica wants to date either of us."

"Who's Jessica?"

"Exactly," Alec said. "She's nobody…I can't even believe I got dumped by two girls in the same week."

"What?"

"Nothing," Alec said, extending a hand. "So, what do you say? Water under the bridge?"

"I will not touch you," Discourse snapped. "Get away from me, you filthy human being."

Discourse attempted to use his psychokinetic abilities to rip Alec's hand off, but found that he couldn't. There was something about this world that was stifling his energy. He hadn't been able to find a reason why there was energy flowing through his prisoner's body, and he certainly wouldn't be able to if he was unable to use his own powers.

"Vince, look…I'm trying here," Alec insisted. "I need you to meet me halfway here."

"Go to hell," Discourse snarled, his eyes glowing a bright red color as he raised his voice. Discourse spun around and headed back in the direction of the church where he had left his prisoners.

"What the…what is up with him now?" Alec wondered aloud, hurrying after Discourse.



MADDOCK HOME

Robert Bale pulled into Melissa Maddock's driveway and parked his car. He leaned over to kiss his girlfriend on the lips and then pulled back, smiling at her. "How was your day?"

"It was great," Melissa said. "Thank you for spending so much time with me."

"It was nothing," Robert insisted. "I love you, Melissa. I love spending time with you."

"Do you want to come inside?" Melissa asked.

"I can't," Robert said. "I have some work I have to finish at the office."

"Really? I thought you were finished with all of your cases," Melissa said. "Remember, you told me that you were hoping we would get more cases in?"

"Yes, you're right," Robert replied. "But I have a lot of paperwork I have to finish up. You know the work of a defense attorney…never done."

"Of course," Melissa said. "I'll see you later tonight, then."

Melissa leaned forward to kiss Robert once more. After their kiss, she climbed out of the car and started toward the front door. Robert watched her approach the door and once he saw her reaching for her keys in her purse, he drove away.

Realizing she had forgotten to ask Robert something, Melissa spun around, but found that he was gone. The entire day, they hadn't even discussed Melissa's pregnancy. She knew Robert was excited about having a child with her, but she wanted to make sure it wasn't all happening too soon. Especially since he was still in the process of getting a divorce.

"How sweet. It makes me want to vomit."

Melissa glanced up and saw Valerie Hanley-Holden approaching the door. Melissa rolled her eyes, wondering what it was that Valerie was going to be bothering her with tonight. Melissa reached for her keys in her purse and then stepped forward.

"Hello, Valerie," Melissa said.

"Hello, Melissa," Valerie said. "Coming home from a nice date with Robert, I see."

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes," Melissa responded. "Is there something you wanted? Because I'd like to go inside and forget I've even seen your face today."

"Such a catty comment from a home-wrecker," Valerie snapped. "But then again, I'd expect nothing less from you. You just keep lowering the bar further and further, don't you?"

"This conversation is over," Melissa said, turning around to unlock her door. As she stepped inside the house, Valerie hurried after her to push the door open and follow Melissa into the foyer. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Get out of my house!"

"You like to ruin other peoples' lives, don't you Melissa?" Valerie asked.

"Get out, or I'm calling the police," Melissa insisted.

"No, you're not," Valerie said, clutching her purse. "Because you're not going to do a single thing but stand here and get the slap in the face from karma that you rightly deserve."

Duncan Kincaid climbed out of his car and slammed the door shut. He was finally done with work, and now he would be able to properly investigate the former home of Arthur Loman, the man he believed was responsible for raping and murdering Kelly Crane, his former lover. Of course, Kelly was also the former wife of Duncan's brother, Joel Kincaid.

But Duncan couldn't worry about his relationship with Kelly at the moment. He just wanted to clear his name, and if there was any evidence that suspected serial rapist Arthur was responsible for Kelly's death, then Duncan was going to find it and set the record straight with his brother and anyone else who still didn't believe he was innocent.

Maybe then, Duncan's roommate, Kimberly Black, wouldn't be so terrified of living with him. Because even though she insisted that she trusted him, Duncan could see the looks she gave him at times. He wanted to reassure her completely that he wasn't a murderer or a rapist.

As Duncan reached the front door, he heard someone crying out. Duncan peered through the living room window, where he could see a woman lying on the couch. He moved closer to the window and saw that it was Kelly Crane who was lying on the couch.

"Oh God," Duncan gasped. "Kelly!"

Kelly didn't respond, she merely laid on the couch motionless. A few seconds later, blood began to drip from her wrists. Duncan turned away in shock and dug into his pocket for his cell phone. He quickly dialed his brother's number.

"Come on, Joel," Duncan whispered. "Pick up the damn phone."



GREGORY BLACK'S APARTMENT

"I hate this game," Gregory Black muttered, tossing his X-Box controller onto the ground and rising to his feet. He had been playing Halo 2 with his younger brother all day, now that he was finally on a break from teaching at Marquette Cove High School. Unfortunately, even though summer school was over, the fall semester would be starting soon enough and Gregory would be back to teach English at the high school. "I don't know how you roped me into doing this all day."

"You said you wanted to do something productive with your free time," Timothy Black, Gregory's teenage brother, reminded him. "And there's nothing more productive than this."

Gregory nodded. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."

Greg was about to say something else, but was soon interrupted by a knock at the door. He walked over to the door and opened it, where he found a young teenage girl standing in the hallway. Greg smiled at her.

"Hi, is Tim here?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah, he's right here," Greg said, motioning to the couch. "Come on in."

"Hey Jessica," Tim said, setting his controller down. "What's up?"

"Someone let me in as they were leaving, I hope you don't mind," Jessica said.

"Of course not," Tim said. "I'd never object to a girl showing up at my door unannounced."

"Good," Jessica said. "So look…I'm just going to come out with this, since Stephanie will probably kill me if I do."

"Oh no, wouldn't want that," Tim said, standing up and walking to the door.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

Greg started laughing.

"Shut up, Greg," Tim snapped. "Don't mind my brother. He's heavily medicated."

"Oh, you'll fit right in then," Jessica said nervously.

"No, I don't," Tim said, answering Jessica's question. "I don't have a girlfriend."

"Okay…then do you want to go out with me?" Jessica asked.

"I'd love to," Tim replied.

"Really? Wow, that was easier than I'd thought it would be," Jessica said.

"And now, you don't have to die," Tim said. "Unless…hey, have you ever played Halo?"



ABANDONED CHURCH

Vanessa, one of Discourse's cult members, stood next to Julia Mitchell as she stood over Vincent Moore and Blake Thomas. Both were bound and gagged, while on their knees in the center of the church. Julia frowned, watching as her friends were helpless to save themselves.

"I'm sorry," Julia said. "But because you refuse to join Discourse, then you're going to have to die. I don't know how I could possibly spell it out for you anymore."

Vince tried speaking, but he couldn't get any words out through his gag.

"Oh well, maybe we won't have to kill you," Julia said. "Maybe Discourse's appearance in our world will cause some sort of inter-world explosion or something. I don't know. You tend to hear stuff like that when you join a group."

As Vince squirmed in his restraints, Discourse returned to the church and stormed down the aisle. He approached the pew and angrily caused it to collapse by balling his hand into a fist. He turned back to face Vanessa.

"Leave us," Discourse snapped.

Vanessa nodded and quickly grabbed Julia's arm to lead her away from them. Julia reluctantly followed Vanessa, leaving Blake and Vince alone with Discourse. Vince was so wrapped into being angry that he was unable to see that Julia was trying to help him, but now it appeared as if he and Blake would be on their own.

Discourse stepped forward and grabbed Vince by his shirt, lifting him into the air. "I want to know what secrets you have inside of you."

He tossed Vince into the back of the church, sending him flying across a row of seats. Vince landed on his back near the church's entrance, just as Alec Bale stepped around the corner. He quickly ducked out of view, as not to be noticed by Vince or anyone else.

"What the hell is going on?" Alec wondered.

Discourse continued walking toward Vince, his eyes glowing a bright red color as he prepared to rip Vince apart and see if the secrets he wanted to uncover were inside him. But as Discourse approached him, Vince suddenly began to feel different. His own eyes were beginning to glow.

He was no longer in the heart of Discourse's lair…Vince was closer to his own world. Vince's face curled into a smile as the knife from Ronarr's lair materialized next to his arm. Discourse had just unwittingly made this a fair fight.



MADDOCK HOME

"You're nuts, Valerie," Melissa said. "If it weren't so pathetic, I'd feel sorry for you. Instead, I'm just disgusted. So get out."

"You'd love nothing more than to feel sorry for me, wouldn't you?" Valerie demanded. "But you're not capable of human emotions. You didn't care when you ruined Felicia's marriage, and you certainly didn't care when you conspired with my father to ruin my life!"

Melissa sighed. "Not this again. Valerie, I still have no idea what it is that I did to ruin your life nearly twenty years ago, but if you refuse to enlighten me, then I really couldn't care less."

"You know what you did," Valerie insisted. "You told lies and you kept things secret and then you ruined my life! You ruined my life and my family's life and the lie, it didn't just go away. Because it eats away at me every single day, Melissa. It's there in my face, every goddamn day."

"Valerie, get the hell out of my house!" Melissa shouted.

"It's there every day, just like your own dirty little secret," Valerie said. "You're nothing but a high-priced whore, Melissa, and I've finally got the proof to back that up."

Melissa frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Valerie released her grip on her purse and prepared to remove the envelope she had stashed away with the evidence on Melissa's past, when Felicia Bale stumbled through the front door. She was walking on her crutches, but just barely.

"Am I the only person who didn't know about the party at my own house?" Melissa demanded. "And Felicia…have you been drinking?"

Felicia ignored Melissa's comment and started toward Valerie, barely able to stand. "I came as soon as I could."

"You're just in time," Valerie said, not even noticing the strong smell of vodka that surrounded Felicia. "This is the moment we've all been waiting for."