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Journals: Book 2, Entry 12 “Night Falls” "Three rivers amidst iron wrought / Barren ground shall be sowed once more / The hunter and hunted are one/ When shadows descend on the twice-blessed man" Followed up on an e-mail to this Web site which led me to the iron city of Pittsburgh searching for possible alien activity. I thought Nostradamus’ mention of barren ground might have been the Soames medical facility, which had been closed for years – wrong move. Made a mistake this time, a big one. The cops were after me. Got caught at the facility, chased out. Down a fire escape, over a fence, they weren’t messing around, took a bullet in the side. Figured the Gua had probably joined the hunt too. I was running out of time. Had to think fast. Taking a hostage was a desperate move, knew it would happen some day and dreaded it. Couldn’t take any chances. No way I’d make it on foot. That’s how I came to take Lena Hansen hostage in her car, not far from her apartment. Had a near miss when Cori, Lena’s nosey neighbor, caught us coming up the stairs. Lena vamped – was convincing. Guess that’s what fear’ll do to you. It makes us want to survive. Lena was terrified. Truth, so was I. I had to cut her to make sure she wasn’t Gua – she didn’t heal – that made me feel worse. I was in this now – deep in, doing stuff I never believed I could. Helicopters, news coverage – the F.B.I. had bumped me up to number nine on the "Most Wanted" list. Lena heard the report – looked at me with fear in her eyes. Fear of what the Gua have made me out to be. It made me hate them even more. Lost my cell running from the cops, had to call Eddie on a land line – he hated the risk. Told him about the set-up, that I was in the eye of the storm. Eddie was freaking, couldn’t believe a quatrain had led us into a trap. Eddie said I’d have to wait ‘til night fall to leave Lena’s, otherwise cops would pick me up. Five hours. Wasn’t sure I’d make it this time. Lena, got free of her binding, tried to make a break for it. Got her back in her chair. Promised I’d leave her alone when it was safe for me to go. That’s when she started with the questions – Why’d I kill my wife? It meant I’d have to give her the speech. Tell her I didn’t do it, how I was framed. And I’m sick and tired of telling people that. After the first hundred or so you feel like you’re wasting your breath. My appearance in Pittsburgh was getting plenty of coverage on the major networks. Add jewelry theft and assault to my fabricated list of crimes – apparently I’d had the time to rob a store and beat up the owner on the run from the cops. Lena heard the report and started to wonder. Told her I was a scapegoat. Asked if I could prove my innocence, would she believe me anyway? Lena didn’t have an answer. People always believe what they hear on the news – problem is, sometimes even the media doesn’t get it right. Felt a little whoozy, was losing a lot of blood. Lena suggested she wrap the wound, said her mom was a nurse. I wanted to trust her, but that’s burned me before. Didn’t know how to help myself with the bleeding, didn’t think I could handle it. Didn’t have much choice – bleeding to death in her place would’ve made it too easy on the aliens. And I ain’t about to let them win. Nosey Cori came by to warn Lena about the serial killer loose in the neighborhood. Cori’d seen me earlier, didn’t think she’d gotten a good look but I couldn’t be sure. Lena got rid of the snoop. I thanked her. Seemed like an act of faith. Lena was being good to me but she wanted some answers. She was being held hostage and wanted to know why. I needed to explain it all one more time but differently. Then it hit me. Told Lena I was doing this for her, for her neighbor, for the misinformed news reporter, even for the cop who shot me. And then I asked her something. Wanted to know what she would do if the building was on fire? Would she bail, would she get the hell out of there or would she wake people up, make sure they knew what was happening? Told her that’s what I do. Problem is most people think I’m the one who started the fire. Lena checked out tParanoid Times on the Web. Said if it wasn’t so crazy she could almost believe me. Then she asked me about Hannah. And the Nostradamus book. That’s when the cops showed up to search the place. And nothing Lena was going to stay could stop them. Read Eddie's Paranoid Times Article: “Night Falls” Writer: Michael Thoma Director: Holly Dale Executive Producers: Francis Ford Coppola, Larry Sugar Created by: Chris Brancato Guest Stars: Roger Cross, Anne Marie Loder. |
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