Soul Divide

Friday, October 31st 7:25 p.m.
Wildomar, Northern Hills

**The car bumps and bounces around as they're driving up a steep dirt road, nearly a mile up into the hills around town. They've been driving up and down these dirt roads for over an hour.**

**Yuri**: He has his window rolled down, the dark car making his face glow with parts of a skull. He looks back at Lucas nervously, We trust him, right?

**Lucas**: **He just rolls his eyes.** You're sure it was off of Baxter?

**Odie**: That's what everyone at school said. **He seems worried, like they might be lost.**

**Lucas**: There's only two roads off of Baxter that go up into the hills...

**Yuri**: **He takes out a chocolate candy bar and opens the wrapper.** Hey, Odie. What are you supposed to be anyways?

**Odie**: A police officer. **He looks back at the two of them and grins.** Just forgot my most of my stuff, since I was runnin late and all. I wanted to go as Maniac Cop, but I didn't have any makeup

**Yuri**: He shrugs and starts eating the chocolate bar, I'm surprised there's any makeup left in the world after how long it took Lucas to get his on in the bathroom.

**Lucas**: **He groans.** I didn't take *that* long. **In actuality, he spent almost two hours in the bathroom putting it on so that it looked perfect.**

**Odie**: Hey there's a light up on that ridge I think. **He rolls down his window, looking up out of the car.** Sounds like singing or something up there too. **He pulls his head back in.** Looks like this road goes up and around to the other side of the hill. Fifteen minutes and we're there! No problemo.

**Yuri**: **He sits back more and relaxes,** I'll be happy as long as you don't drive off a cliff. Can't see anything out here...

**Lucas**: At least we're fashionably late...

**Odie**: Just relax, we got a great night ahead of us. **He looks up in the rear-view at Yuri.** Right?

**Yuri**: Well, yeah. It's the only time of the year we get to see all the hot chicks in even sluttier clothes.

**Odie**: Damn right. **He smirks as he pulls up around the bend of the road, they can now see a warm light, like that of a campfire, up ahead. There's a large van, a black cadillac, and a few other expensive looking cars parked along the small dirt road. He looks around at all of the other cars, slightly confused and self-conscious, as he drives a hunk of junk car.** Guess everyone got rides from the rich kids... **He pulls off to the side of the road and parks behind some large bushes, almost like he's trying to hide his car.**

**Yuri**: **He steps out, leaving his backpack in the car, he looks around at the small amount of cars here,** None of these cars look familar.

**Lucas**: This feels more like we're pulling up to a private cocktail party. **He looks around as he gets out of the car.** Are you sure this is it Odie?

**Odie**: Who else would have a party out in the middle of nowhere on Halloween? **He pops the trunk and walks around to the back of the car, lifting the trunk up to reveal a stack of 48 cans of beer.** Come back here and help me carry all this shit.

**Yuri**: **He takes another glance around before stepping over to Odie to help him with all the beer,** Hey, Bro. Look around and see if you can find anyone we know.

**Lucas**: **He mumbles.** I don't think we know any Hollywood celebs... **He treks off away from the car towards the light at the top of the hill.**

**Yuri**: **He walks side to side with Odie up the hill, holding on one side of the big case of beer.**

**Odie**: Why did everyone have to park... In the middle... Of the damn road? **He's starts struggling to carry the beer as they get halfway up the hill.**

**Yuri**: **Despite never doing anything athletic he does have more muscle than Odie at least, he looks ahead at Lucas who is nearing the light source.** See anyone?!

**Lucas**: **He looks back at them for a moment, uncertainty on his face, and then walks up behind some of the large bushes out of sight.**

**Odie**: **He's breathing heavily, pausing mid-sentance.** You know I got some weed... For this party... Might have to light that up... Once we get this damn beer up there...

**Yuri**: **He looks at Odie, almost feeling bad for him.** Are you gonna have a heart attack?...

**Odie**: Not used to carrying things... Or moving. **Despite being skinny, he's obviously way out of shape.**

**Yuri**: No, you definitely "carry" a lot more than anyone I know. You're just out of shape.

**Odie**: No reason to run unless someone's chasing you.

**Yuri**: Why would you run when you can fight?

**Odie**: No reason to fight when you can run.

**Yuri**: **He rolls his eyes a little.** Can't always run. But hey don't worry, Odie. I'll protect you, and all that weed you're carrying.

**Lucas**: **He suddenly pops out from one of the bushes.** I don't think this is the right place.

**Odie**: **They're almost up at the top of the hill,** Of course it's... The right place...

**Lucas**: Everyone is dressed in some black robes and they're singing, like straight out of a cult scene in a horror movie.

**Odie**: It's a Halloween party Lucas... **He's obviously so tired from carrying the beer that he doesn't want to listen to reason regardless of what Lucas says.**

**Yuri**: **He puts the case of beer down and goes up to Lucas.** Any girls? **He peeks through the bushes, he looks confused when he notices they're all adults.** ...The fuck?

**Odie**: Hey don't put the beer down we're almost there! **He obviously can't carry it himself.**

**Lucas**: Will you be quiet! **He looks back at Odie and then hunches down as he peeks up next to his brother.** See they're... Just standing around something. This isn't a party... I don't think we should be here.

**Yuri**: What are they saying?...

**Lucas**: It's not English... Maybe it is -I don't know. **Odie lets out a loud hacking cough from being so out of breath, and the chanting immediately stops. Several of the people turn and look in their direction.**

**Yuri**: **His eyes widen and he freezes, not from fear but just in case moving gave their hiding spot away even faster.**

**Odie**: Did they stop the- **He's suddenly hit on theback of the head by something so hard that it makes an audible clack, like a rock someone threw against the sidewalk. He immediately falls over, unconscious.**

**Yuri**: **He hears Odie's voice cut off and he turns around towards him,** Wh...

**Lucas**: **He turns to look, and as he does both he and his brother are immediately slammed in the back of their heads by something unseen, knocking them out.**

**Yuri**: **He was already reaching for his pocket knife but falls to the ground along with his brother, going unconscious before he can do anything.**

**A few minutes later they both slowly wake, Lucas and Yuri are tied to a long black wooden table with thick rope. They can see that Odie is stuck to a large stone, easily twelve feet high, and covered in a black tar-like substance that seems to be sticking him to it like glue. He's awake but seems to be sickly, while pale, almost green skin. The robed figures are standing around them in a circle. There must be nearly thirty of them, but it's hard to tell, all of them are wearing masks that look almost like a normal man's face, but completely black. Only three of the cultists stand out, wearing deep red robes instead of black. They stand off to the side of the stone, one of them is carrying a silver dagger that is long enough to be considered a short sword. The one in the middle has a simple iron staff with metal rings that jingle softly as he moves.**

**One of the cultists in the crowd speaks out. Though the voice is muffled, it sounds like an older man, probably in his late 50's** What are we to do with them?

**Another voice responds, this one sounds like a middle aged woman.** They're a gift to us, on this night. A sign the ritual should be done now!

**Yuri**: **He struggles against the ropes when he's realizes what happened after waking up, he looks at Lucas as the cultist are talking to see if he knows what's happening.**

**Lucas**: **He looks groggy, not fully aware of what's happened yet.** ...Wha...

**Yuri**: **He struggles even harder against the ropes before giving up and looking at the cultist, clearly angry now.** This some sort of fucking prank? I swear to god when I find out who put you assholes up to this...

**Cultist with the Staff**: **A deep and raspy, but obviously old man's voice rumbles out from behind mask.** These two boys are strong, but the time is not right for the ritual.

**Middle Aged Woman**: I disagree! Tonight is the perfect night! The world lay closer to the edge, more now than any other night of the year! **A few murmurs seem to agree with her.**

**Yuri**: **He looks at the tar covered person and realizes who it is.** Odie! What... **He sees his skin is white and sickly like he's dying.** What the hell did you assholes do to him?

**The cultists seem to slowly break out into an argument.**

**Cultist with the Staff**: I will not perform the rites tonight. The oracle has said that it is not the time! Folly is it to think we can control something from the other side on a night like this!

**Middle Aged Woman**: You're wrong you old fool! There is not time better than now! I think you've become cowardly of the things we set out to do. This is a boon! A sign! Tonight is the night! The Dark Paradise begins here!

**Cultist with the Staff**: I will have no part of this. You idiots can perform the rite yourselves and the lot of you will wish you hadn't! **He turns and quickly hurries off around the side of the rock. The two other red-robed individuals follow after him, but one of them stops, looking back after a moment.**

**Middle Aged Woman**: Yes! Prospero -You can feel it can't you!? There's purpose in the air this night. Power! We've waited so long for a sign like this!

**The man with the dagger looks to the side of the rock, the other two red-robed figures are gone, seeming to have vanished.**

**Prospero**: **His voice sounds younger than the others, like someone in their mid-20s.** I will perform the Rite. **The cultists seem to half-cheer, half-laugh, all of it in a disturbing and almost insane manner. As Prospero reaches the table he raises his hands and begins to speak a strange language, the crowd joins in fervently, chanting louder and louder as Prospero raises the long silvery dagger over them, as if he's going to stab downwards with it. Yuri and Lucas immediately feel sickly as their strength drains until they are unconscious,**

**Lucas**: **He opens his eyes slowly. His head hurts and his throat burns, like he's eating food that's far too spicy. He coughs lightly. He's laying face down in the dirt, and after a moment he gets the strength to roll onto his side. He now feels that all of his muscles are aching, and his fingers and hands are sore, like he's been clutching a robe for too long and too tightly. He coughs again before speaking.** Yuri? **The morning sun will be rising just over the next hill within the next five minutes, causing the sky to glow a dim blue, even though some of the brighter stars can still be seen. Yuri is about five feet away from him, also laying face down in the dirt.**

**Yuri**: **He coughs out, blowing dirt away from his mouth before he starts to get up,** Yeah, I'm...awake. **He spits dirt out.**

**As the two of them slowly sit up, they realize that they're laying where the black table once was. The table appears to have been violently ripped apart, almost like it exploded. Around them in a circle are the bodies of the black-robed cultists. They're horribly mutilated. Except for the small area in which the twins were laying, the ground is blanketed in muddy and bloodied dirt, tattered clothing, shredded organs, and broken masks. The pieces of the black table itself seemed to have been used to brutally murder every last one of the thirty or so robed figures they saw earlier.**

**Yuri**: **As he's looking around at all the death he has to keep himself from throwing up, never having before seen death in person.**

**Lucas**: **He immediately vomits when he sees what's happened, but nothing comes up, just the reflex. After a few minutes he stops and wipes spit from his mouth. He immediately tastes blood, and looks down at his hand, which is covered in it. He almost immediately panics as he pulls up his other hand, which is still tightly clutching a long splinter of wood.** ...Y-Yuri. **Yuri's hands are also completely drenched with blood, and his hands have a few small splinters of the black wood embedded in the skin of his palms.**

**Yuri**: **His hand shivers as he looks down at it, radiating pain from all the splinters. He closes his eyes for second from the horrible feeling and lowers his hand again,** What the hell happened...?

**Lucas**: **He shakily stands up, dropping the piece of wood.** We didn't... I don't remember... I remember the... Cloaked people... Some lady talking... I don't remember anything after that.

**Yuri**: **His mind pieces back together what happened last night and he suddenly turns towards where Odie was.**

**Odie is completely divided into two halves, though there's no blood at all, he looks empty, as if he'd just shed his skin and clothing. Despite how gruesome their surroundings are, the look of Odie's face shriveled up into two halves and plastered over the strange rock is the most disturbing sight in view.**

**Lucas**: **He immediately hunches over and vomits, spitting onto the ground as nothing comes up.**

**Yuri**: **He looks away from the corpse, unable to think or say anything for a long moment before he looks down at his brother,** We can't...help him. We need to get out of here before someone finds us.

**Lucas**: **After a moment he seems to recover enough of his senses and nods.** ...Let's go... We'll try to figure out what happened when we get home...

**Yuri**: **He quickly looks around at the surroundings, trying to ignore all the blood and bits of cultists before seeing the bush they were hiding behind. He stays with his brother and walks towards it back to the car.**

**As they walk down the dirt road, they see that all of the cars, including Odie's, are gone. Both of them silent, it's obvious that they will need to walk all the way back home.**