Chapter 4: Claws and Effect
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THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MENTIONS AND DEPICTIONS OF: RIOTS, TRANSPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIC SLURS, DRUG USE, ALCOHOLISM, CHILD ENDANGERMENT, INTIMIDATION, GORE, MURDER, AND DEATH.
Chapter 4: Claws and Effect. The cover centers a Type O Negative blood bag, with Controller's paws reaching up and gripping it. Her claws puncture the bag, causing blood to spill everywhere. Page 73. It's the afternoon of Glowy's murder. Panel one, back in the hospital, everyone is watching a news report on television about riots breaking out at an anti-declawing protest. Panel two, Controller, looking sickly, asks, 'Can we please watch something less violent?' Panel three, Nachos and Tank Top are sitting on the windowsill. Tank Top is drawing while focused on the TV and says, 'They're fighting for a good cause.' Panel four, Flaggy, who is holding something off-screen, smirks and responds, 'I don't see the big deal. I'm declawed, 'n I'm perfectly fine.' Panel five, Tank Top snickers and says, 'Oh, of course you're okay with plastic surgery'. Flaggy turns to face him with an offended expression, and it's also revealed that he's carrying Tama. He says, 'Time out. What did you mean by that?! That's not even funny, man, fuck you actually.' Panel six, Nachos looks awkward and Tank Top is acting defensive. Controller, off screen, says, 'Woah, that was too far, Tank.' Tank Top responds, 'It was a joke! It's dark humor!' Panel seven, Flaggy, looking annoyed and defeated, starts ranting, 'Oh, yeah. Make fun of the trans guy. So dark. Totally funny and necessary, bro. Ha ha. So cool. What a moral compass you-' His ranting is cut off by Tank Top shouting, 'Okay, I get the point!' Panel eight, Flaggy faces Tama and lifts her up, and she begins to giggle and kick her feet with joy. Flaggy smiles and says, 'Whatever, at least my lil' homie here isn't an annoying bitch! Right?' Tama beeps in response. Page 74. Panel one. Controller sweats, looking worried, saying, 'Flaggy, please be careful with-' She's cut off. She stares in horror. Panel two, Flaggy is swinging Tama around in the air, and she's giggling with excitement. Panel three, Flaggy stops as Controller angrily yells, 'Put her down!' Panel four, Controller continues, 'Tama, come here...' Flaggy sets Tama on the ground, who begins walking over towards Controller, looking disappointed. 'Beep,' she says. Flaggy says, 'Jeez, Controller, we were just having fun.' Panel five, Controller glances at Nachos, holding Tama in her lap, and says, 'I don't want her getting hurt is all. Also, babe, you've been real quiet today...' Page 75. Panel one. Nachos looks devastated over something, hands over his face, and groans, 'I've been sober for 24 hours and it's killing me! I wanna be there for ya, babe, but I don't think I can last any longer!' Panel two, Tank Top sighs and closes his sketchbook, remarking, 'Not addictive my ass.' Flaggy retorts, 'Do you have anything better to do than be a snarky bitch?' Tank Top responds, 'No.' Panel three, Controller, grimacing, says, 'Well, I don't want Tama to have a... Bad influence.' Tama looks confused and beeps. Panel four, Fireball can be seen in the doorway, and Flaggy turns around, saying, 'Ugh, speaking of bad influence...' Panel five, Fireball skates into the room, rubbing her eye tiredly, and her legs shaking. She's holding something in her hand but it's obscured. It's implied to bea homophobic slur. She yawns and says, 'Shut up, f-' The text is cut off. Tank Top screams at her, 'Hey! Don't say that!' Panel six, Flaggy annoyedly responds to Tank Top, 'You literally JUST SAID-' Page 76. Panel one, Fireball grins with loopy eyes, yawns again, and moves closer into the room. It's now clear that she's holding a bottle of beer. She says in a shaky voice, 'Umm, okay? Oh! Uh, Hey Controller! I-I just, uh, I'm stoppin' by to uh,- I just wanna say hi 'n stuff, and uh, I love you! And sorry for getting stabbed 'n stuff.' Panel two, she lawns and flops face down onto the floor, groaning, 'Owww...' Panel three, Controller grabs Tama and pulls her close, glaring at Fireball and commanding, 'Fireball! Throw that away!' Panel four, the beer starts pouring out of the bottle and onto the floor and Fireball picks herself up. Panel five, Controller continues, 'Don't drink in front of Tama!' and Fireball complains, 'Tama this, Tama that... Do you ever talk about anything else?' Panel six, her phone dings and she picks it up with a smile, gasping, and asks hopefully, 'Glowy?!' Panel seven, she sighs with a look of disappointment, and everyone else in the room staring at her. She says, 'Nope, just my- Guh- Dad again. Any of you guys heard from her..?' Panel eight, Nachos scratches his chin and says, 'Not that I can think of.' Tank Top shakes his head, saying, 'Nope.' Controller pulls the blanket up to her chin and says, 'Not since yesterday...' Page 77. Panel one, Fireball, now back on her feet, complains, 'Ugh, figures. She's been so distant from me since yesterday...' Controller, off screen, asks, 'What happened yesterday?' Panel two, Fireball glugs her drink and responds, 'Does it matter?' Panel three, she rubs her eyes and says, 'Um, I was gonna ask somethin' else, but, uh... I forgot what. Um, Just tell me if ya see Glowy, 'k?' Tama and Controller both sweat nervously. Panel four, Flaggy smugly leans down to Fireball's level and says, 'Guess it's clear who she chose, huh, meatball?' Fireball points at him with an irritated expression and retorts, 'Don't push it like you're pushing 30, dick.' Panel five, Tama starts shaking and lets out a long beep, visibly uncomfortable with the situation. Page 78. Panel one, Controller also appears uncomfortable and pats Tama's head, saying, 'Yeah, I'll tell you if I see her, um... Look, it's almost 5pm, I think visiting hours are almost over. You guys should probably leave... Panel two, Nachos gives her a kiss on the cheek and she smiles, saying, 'Thanks for visiting. I'm sure I'll be out of here soon...' Panel three, the other four are all leaving the hospital room. Nachos asks Fireball, 'How'd you even get that thing in here?' and she responds, 'I dunno.' Tank Top looks remorseful and tells Flaggy, 'You know I didn't mean anything bad by that joke, right?' and Flaggy, still pissed, responds, 'What else could it mean, dude?!' Panel four, Controller flops down onto the bed with the television remote in her hand. She turns the TV off and says, tiredly, 'Ugh, I'm a mess right now, Tama. I'm going to bed early...' Panel five, Tama starts to panic when Controller tells her, 'Night, Tama...' Panel six, Tama's thoughts begin to race, the phrase 'Night, Tama' repeating over and over again in her mind, and tears well in her eyes. Page 79. Panel one, Tama sadly begins to think about all thegood times she's had with Controller - Dancing, hugging, playing video games together. Panel two, tears fall down her cheeks as she recounts her recent trauma - TB's attack, Controller being injured, and being pulled away from Flaggy. Panel three, she closes her eyes, tears growing larger, and thinks to herself, 'Don't go to sleep.' Panel four, she imagines her own death as the words, 'don't sleep' silently repeat in her mind. Panel five, Tama suddenly snaps out of her thoughts when she notices that Controller is still holding the TV remote. Panel six, Tama shuffles to grab the remote with her foot. Panel seven, Tama struggles to use the remote with her feet, but is able to turn the TV back on with a click. Page 80. Panel one, the TV buzzes and then clicks as it turns on. It's still on the news station, at 5:02 PM, with two anchors - A mace and a mop - finishing a broadcast. Mop says, 'Thank you, Anchor! Now to BB with some breaking news.' Panel two, Controller groggily wakes up and groans, saying, 'Mmhh... Tama, turn that off, please...' Panel three, Tama says, 'Beep!' and looks back up at the TV screen, alerting a confused Controller to look at the screen. The news anchor, off screen, says, 'Thank you, Mop.' Panel four, we now see BB, the news anchor, who is a bottle of beer, reporting at the forested creek near the Big Dog Cafe. She reports, 'I'm here outside the creek near the Big Dog Cafe in El Reno, where a couple walking their dog recently stumbles upon a body in a horrifyingly brutal state.' The creek behind her is blocked off with caution tape. Panel five, the screen now shows a cropped image of Glowy, posing with a smile by a frilly dress. BB continues, 'The victim has been identified by local investigators as 26-year-old Glowy Schtik, a fashion and design student at Inanimate Community College, who's death is believed to be connected to a string of murders in the area...' Panel six, Controller looks completely mortified, shaking, as BB finishes, '...Including the murder of 32-year-old Lampy Postt earlier this week.' Controller responds to the story by shakily saying, 'Oh my God...' Page 81. Panel one, Controller leans forward with tears welling in her eyes, and she stutters out, 'T-this can't be real... This- This is just a nightmare!- Why her? Why does it have to be Glowy?!' Panel two, meanwhile, we see the outside of the Applewood Emergency Hospital in Oklahoma City. There are two signs on the side of the hospital pointing towards the maternity ward and the fragile object recovery center. Panel three, we now see a receptionist, named Testy Paige - a sheet of lined paper with a folded corner and an A+ grade written at the top - typing away on her computer at the front desk of the hospital. Panel four, an unseen object wearing heels walks through the door, causing the bell to ring. Panel five, the off screen character asks, 'Excuse me, hun. Can you point me to a miss Controller Piksel?' Testy, looking done with the interaction already, adjusts her glasses and responds, 'Ma'am, visiting hours are over. And so is Halloween, for that matter.' Page 82. Testy grabs the edge of her desk as the unseen object, who appears to be wearing rubber gloves, starts fiddling with the wire to her computer. She's sweating, looking a mixture of confused and worried, as the unseen object says, 'Oh, I think ya misunderstood me, sweetie. I'm not here to visit her!' Panel two, Testy now seems to be terrified and swings back in her office chair, colliding with the filing cabinet behind her, making a loud clang and causing papers to start flying around her. The shadow of the unseen object looms over her and says, 'And I ain't askin', either.' Panel three, minutes later, the object - Who is now clearly wearing a sexualized nurse costume and holding a bloody knife - starts walking down the hospital hallway, leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind her, her heels clicking against the tile. Panel four, the object is revealed to be Tissue Box. She grins, starting up towards the camera, wiping fresh blood off of her face with a wink. She says, 'Time for a real challenge.' Page 83. Panel one, Back in the hospital room, Controller reaches for Tama with a terrified look in her eyes, as Tama worriedly begins climbing off the bed, hearing the clicking heels in the hallway. Controller says, 'Tama, wait!!' Panel two, Controller continues, 'You'll get hurt! Tama!!' as Tama jumps down. Panel three, Tama opens the door with a creak and looks outside. Panel four, Tama shakily beeps and begins to sweat, shadow cloaking her face, as she sees what's out there. Panel five, we now see Tama's perspective, with Tissue Box trotting down the hallway. She says, 'Ohh brats~! Come out, come out, wherever you are~!' Panel six, Tama turns around to see Controller, who demands, 'Tama, get back here!' Panel seven, Controller kneels to Tama's level and Tama turns to face her. Controller calmly says, 'Tama, c'mon, we're going to be okay. We just need to-' Panel eight, Controller screams 'Hey?!' as Tama bites down on her hand. Page 84. Panel one, Tama, still biting down on Controller's hand, swings the door open and begins running, dragging Controller down the hallway. Controller shouts, 'Tama?! Tama!! What are you doing?!' Tama shushes her. Panel two, Controller turns around in shock and finally sees who's behind them. Panel three, TB is seen strutting towards them in complete shadow. Panel four, Controller finally spots them, her face now clean of blood, saying ominously, 'Ah, there you are.' Panel five, Controller crouches to hug Tama, crying, and says, 'Oh God... I... I think this is the end... Tama, I'm sorry... I love y-' She's cut off because Tama spots something. Panel six, Tama runs off and Controller chases after her with TB trailing behind them. Controller shouts, 'Again?!' Panel seven, Tama and Controller turn a corner. Controller says, 'Tama-!' and gets shushed. She continues, 'Stop running off or you'll-' She gets shushed again, this time more harshly. Panel eight, the girls see the door to a storage closet around the corner of the hall. Page 85. Panel one, Tama kicks open the door with a loud slam. Panel two, the sisters run inside, Controller asking, 'H-how did you know this was here?!' Panel three, the two crouch inside the dark storage closet, surrounded by boxes and cleaning sprays. Tama huffs, and Controller asks, 'Is... Is she gone...?' Clicking can be heard outside. Panel four, TB walks by, asking teasingly, 'Aww, did y'all really have to run off~?' Page 86. Panel one, TB holds her knife in her other hand and drags it along the wall, leaving a long scratch. She says, 'Shame... I even got all dressed up for y'all... Don't worry. Or do. I'll find ya, honey. Y'all can count on it.' The clicking of her heels gradually gets quieter as she walks right past the storage closet. Panel two, a broom falls on Controller's head, and with an uncomfortable expression, she says, 'Sounds like we'll be hiding in here for a while... Get comfy, Tama...' Panel three, Controller's face shifts to fear and slight anger as she begins shouting at Tama, claws out, saying, 'Actually, no! I'm- I'm not comfy at all, Tama! Why did you run off like that?! Are you trying to get hurt?! I- You're all I have! I can't lose you!' Panel four, Tama looks caught off guard and sad. Page 87. Panel one, Tama begins to sob, shivering, and says to Controller, 'Shhh- Quiet!' Panel two, Controller, startled at Tama's first word other than 'beep', snaps out of her rage and quietly says, 'Tama...' Panel three, Tama is still quietly sobbing, beeping twice. Panel four. Controller says, 'I- I didn't mean to-' she lifts her hand up and brushes against the wire of a phone hanging on the wall. Panel five, the sisters both look up in surprise as they realize that the phone is there. Page 88. Panel one, Tama watches Controller frantically tap a number into the phone's number pad, muttering, 'C'mon, c'mon, c'mon...' nervously. Panel two, meanwhile, we see the inside of a small bedroom with someone under the covers snoring loudly. The mattress has a tear in the corner, the sheet is partially undone, there's a moster of a marijuana leaf on the wall, and there's a bong on the nightstand. Panel three, now in the kitchen, which looks rather grimy, a house phone rings loudly. Panel four, we can now see that this is Tank Top and Nachos's house. Nachos groggily steps out of his bedroom. Tank Top, off screen, shouts, 'Nachos, get the phone!' Nachos replies, 'Comin', Tank...' Panel five, Nachos leans against the kitchen counter and picks up the phone, greeting, 'Y'ellow?' Over the phone, Controller shouts, 'Nachos!' and he replies, 'Sup, babe? I thought you lost your-' Controller cuts him off to plead, 'Come get me!! You- You need to help me!' Page 89. Panel one, Nachos's eyes widen with fear as Controller says over the phone, 'She's here...' Nachos says with urgency, 'Say no more! I'm on my way!' Panel two, the outside of the storage closet can be seen, with Nachos saying over the phone, 'I'll be there in a few minutes!' Controller responds, shocked, 'Okay, got it- Wait, MINUTES?!' Panel three, yes, minutes. Nachos, off screen, yells, 'Baby! Tams! HURRY!!' Tama and Controller open the closet door and run out, Controller saying, 'Okay, Tama- BOOK IT!!!!' Panel four, Nachos is outside in his van, smoke pouring out of the front engine, as he honks the horn repeatedly, shouting, 'I'm here! Hurry!' Panel five, Controller and Tama are almost to the front door, Controller reaching out, sweating, and breathing heavily. Tama turns around with a worried look. Panel six, Controller now looks relieved, tears in her eyes, as she clutches her head and says exasperatedly, 'We did it! Again! I can't believe-! Hah... We... Tama...? T-Tama...?' Tama has now stopped running and is facing something on the other end of the room. Page 90. Panel one, TB leans over with shadow cloaking her grinning face, as she says, 'Found ya.' Panel two, Tama croaks out, 'Beep...' with a terrified expression, mirroring TB's evilness. Panel three, Controller walks up to Tama as she now sees what Tama saw, saying, 'Oh my God...' Blood is spilling towards their feet. Panel four, the camera pans to show the aftermath of TB's confrontation with the receptionist. Papers in the office behind the check-in are scattered all over the floor, and Testy is sprawled out on her back, arms dangling down, and ripped in half with blood splattered and spilling everywhere. Panel five, a close up shot of Testy's body shows that her lips are slightly torn, she has several other cuts on her body, and her wrists are slit. Her name tag is placed neatly on top of the corpse. Somebody screams in horror. Panel six, Controller swiftly turns around, grabbing Tama in her arms, shouting through tears, 'Come on! Come on!' Tama, in surprise, yells 'Beep-!' Page 91. Panel one, the sisters successfully run out of the hospital entrance, Nachos leaning out of the passenger side door shouting, 'Hurry!' as Controller reaches out to grab his hand. Panel two, TB stops in her tracks, visibly irritated, and says 'Shit-!' Panel three, the sisters cram themselves into Nachos' van, making a loud banging noise as they enter the vehicle. The three of them are all visibly shaken. Panel four, Tama sits in Controller's lap. Controller faces Nachos and says, 'Heh... Second time I've needed to be rescued... Kinda sad, huh?' Panel five, the camera pans back to Nachos, who's now driving away. Controller continues, 'So... How long 'til we're at your apartment..?' Nachos replies, 'If I run the red lights and drive over this roundabout... I'd say five minutes...' Page 92. Panel one, it's later in the night. The van pulls into a parking spot with screeching tired, and Controller asks, 'So... What now?' Panel two, Nachos unlocks the door to his apartment and responds, 'I guess we just chill... Not like that box of dust can keep up, we totally lost her.' Panel three, the three of them quietly walk into the apartment. Controller and Nachos are holding hands and Controller is also wrapping her arm around Tama. She laments, 'I don't like running away. This feels too familiar now...' Panel four, they shut the door, Nachos responding, 'Here's hoping this is the last time...' We see the back of the van from outside the apartment complex. Panel five, the camera pans to show the full view of the back of the van. We can also see that TB is hiding under it, hanging upside down, sweat dripping onto the concrete below. End of chapter four.
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CREATED BY VISCERA ZOMBIE