Session Two

## Spirit In These Dark Times

One Year Ago, we see Crow’s graveyard illuminated by a full moon. A group of four, dressed in dark robes, perform a ritual. With hints of incompetency, they set up candles, animal bones, bowls, and other occult items. They drizzle the bowl of liquid they’ve created around the grave while chanting in Latin. One begins digging, and the coffin swings open. Crow is revealed, just as one of the others discovers that they’ve resurrected the wrong person. Crow, freshly reawoken, consumes the cult grave digger while the rest of the cult scatters in fear. We see Crow’s headstone fade out…

… Modern Day, Crow’s headstone changes to a newspaper view of the headstone. We see Big Mike in his office with newspapers scattered around, haphazardly covered in recent news clippings of 9/11. Jessie storms in and beelines to Big Mike for a hug. She tells him everything that happened during homeroom and he comforts her. Jessie texts Crow and Ashlynn. Ashlynn doesn't respond, but saves the number. Crow offers to come over after school.

Jessie spends the day working out, eating rotisserie chicken, and watching trash tv. When she isn’t moving, she’s consuming. As she works out, Big Mike comes out to talk and workout with her. Jessie is lifting significantly more than him. He says he put a word in with the school, and offers for Crow to stay more often. Big Mike offers to call Crow’s parents to help, but Jessie refuses to save Crow from embarrassment. The two decide that Crow can, at the very least, stay over every once in a while.

Ashlynn walks to cheerleading practice, gossiping about the day. Charlie gives a dramatic retelling of his spat with Crow. As they talk, their pupils dilate and eyes go hazy. They speak as one and say, “Your mom really wants to talk to you…”, and Ashlynn’s phone rings. Ashlynn answers her mother, aggravated, telling her that they’re HERS! Ashlynn’s mom responds with the voice of many, asking why she received a call from the police. Ashlynn reassures her mom that she isn’t going to let anyone get away, and that she’ll figure it out. Ashlynn’s mom offers to visit if Ashlynn doesn't call or check in. Ashlynn says she’ll call more and snaps her phone shut, and her gang immediately joins her in formation. Charlie is able to finish telling her about the spat, flushing over being embarrassed in front of Juno. Ashlynn responds that they’ll really have to do something about that bird…

Ashlynn and her gang, ready for cheerleading practice, approach the field. They are intercepted by Principal Frank. Ashlynn dismisses her gang, but Diana argues to stay. Ashlynn turns and confronts Diana, ordering her into practice. Diana reluctantly obeys. Ashlynn returns her attention to Principal Frank, who assures her that police have been banned from the premises, and that someone higher up has been contacted. Ashlynn digs for information on Kareem’s disappearance, learning:

1. There seems to be evidence of a violent attack, or something similarly messy.
2. Kareem’s body has not been recovered, so the police/school is holding out hope he will return.

Ashlynn sheds a tear and offers the cheerleaders as help for the school. Principal Frank assures her that he’s sure everything will be fine, and to not let it trouble her. Ashlynn returns to cheer practice and snaps at the gang to run a lap when she catches them rehashing the experience between Crow and Charlie. Ashlynn chastises Diana for her disobedience. She tells her that they’ll have to do something about Kareem’s disappearance, suggesting maybe they head over to the crime scene to look at the “mess” she heard about. She pulls out her phone to text Jessie…

The text pops up on Jessie’s phone as she opens the door to greet Crow, inquiring if she’s going to be around later tonight, as Ashlynn may be in the area. Jessie responds she will be, and that she’s with Crow. Ashlynn texts back, telling Jessie she’ll be over in 20, no pressure! Jessie confirms with Ashlynn, and the two spend the afternoon hanging out, setting up a sleepover spot for Crow, and eating curry for dinner with Big Mike. As they finish eating, Jessie checks that it’s cool with her dad if they go hang out with Ashlynn. Big Mike is concerned, and says they shouldn’t be going out so late after what happened to Kareem. Jessie pushes back, and Big Mike tells her it's a bad idea and that the three could all stay in and watch Harry and the Hendersons. Jessie pushes back again, and Big Mike puts his foot down. Ashlynn’s car honks from outside. Jessie runs away, grabbing Crow’s hand and sprinting out the door, yelling at her dad that they’ll just watch Harry and the Hendersons at Crow’s house! With her friends! Jessie and Crow run outside and jump into Ashlynn’s car. From his newspaper-covered office, Big Mike watches Ashlynn’s cherry red convertible squeal away down the street.

Ashlynn is driving with Diana in the passenger seat, and Jessie and Crow in the backseat. Ashlynn is confrontational with Crow, asking what their deal is. Crow responds standoffishly, and Ashlynn tells her they are soooo funny, and puts the pedal to the ground. Ashlynn and Diana carry on conversations in the front seat, occasional flashing smiles to the two in the backseat. Eventually the conversation moves to what happened during homeroom. Ashlynn asks Jessie about what happened. Jessie reviews the day and Ashlynn comforts her. Ashlynn turns her questions towards Crow, who tells her that there’s nothing she wants to say to her. Ashlynn smiles and drops the subject, and Diana spins in her chair to ask Crow why they’re so mean to Ashlynn. A spat ensues, and Ashlynn starts crying.

Jessie says they all need to rely on each other and relax, and pulls a joint out. Ashlynn happily agrees and pulls them into the Moonpool Makeout Spot parking. Crow smokes minimally, Jessie is pleased everyone is cooled off, and Ashlynn burns through the joint. After finishing, Ashlynn asks Jessie if she would come with her into the woods. Jessie agrees with a glance towards Crow.

In the woods, the moon rises above the trees. Ashlynn and Jessie wander through the trails, talking about the day. Ashlynn flirts with Jessie, digging for information on Kareem and Crow. Ashlynn makes implications of Crow being a kinda bad friend and reassures Jessie that she would never do anything like that. Ashlynn tells Jessie that she spoke to Principal Frank, and that there shouldn’t be any police at the school anymore. Jessie responds that that is sooo cool of her. A scream interrupts them and echoes in the distance…

Ten Minutes Ago, we see Crow left behind with Diana. They sit silently for a moment before a car squeals up beside Ashlynn’s. Charlie and Harper step out, with the intention of putting Crow in their place. Harper tells Crow that they can either be nice, or things can get very… very… hard for them. Crow responds that they’d like to see her try. Diana shoves Crow, hard, and they stumble backwards into the Moonpool. Diana advances, pushing Crow deeper and holding them down by their shoulders. Crow struggles against Diana, content to frighten the gang by pretending to be dead.

A 2x4 board, removed from a broken fencepost, comes crashing from above into Crow’s skull, and they go instantly limp. Charlie screams. Blood pools into the water.

As Jessie and Ashlynn run to the source of the screaming, Ashlynn intentionally wrenches her ankle to delay. Jessie scoops her up to carry her, holding Ashlynn gently. They emerge by the Moonpool to see Diana, soaked in water, and a car screeching away in the distance. Diana tells Ashlynn that Crow tried to fight her before they ran off. Jessie agrees to leave, assuming Crow returned home after the fight.

Diana drives, with Jessie holding Ashlynn in the backseat. Ashlynn flirts with Jessie relentlessly, and she is utterly charmed. Having run off from her dad, she feels safe with Ashlynn and Diana. They return to Ashlynn’s penthouse, where Jessie is invited to stay. She agrees, and stays the night in Ashlynn’s pink bedroom with the gang.

Later That Night, we see the Moonpool. The moon is high in the sky, illuminating the empty field. At the Makeout Spot, a steamy car is parked. A shadowy body rises from the shore, picking up their Nokia phone from the muddy ground. Crow sees they have missed calls and texts from Juno, and an apology text from Jessie for ditching them. Crow stumbles off towards Jessie’s house, and the car squeals away from the Moonpool.