Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Man in Black

**Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Man in Black** is the eighth episode of Season 7 of *Tales From The Darkside,* and the eighty-eighth overall. The episode aired on December 12, 2023.

## Synopsis

**THE REVEAL OF THE PAST** — As The Group escape from the Rome attack, Katie is confronted on the streets by an unknown man in black that reveals background information about The Group.

## Plot

A few days after the Rome attack, The Group has ended up on the news, with multiple outlets calling them, “terrorists,” “attackers,” “angels of death.” The news gets back to Nelson, with the remainder of The Group seeing the fallout. Suddenly, a man named Matthew Castle stops Katie in the street, and asks to meet with her. Matthew asks, “Do you know these individuals?” He shows her a picture of the team. Katie responds, “Yes, those are my friends.” Matthew then says, “Well, did you know your ‘friends‘ are now wanted criminals? They cause that massive explosion in Rome. As a matter of fact, they’ve been the cause of recent events and deaths. Did you know that?” Katie shakes her head, and Matthew explains, “August 2022. An individual known as Skylar Thompson. Caused a massacre. People said it was supposedly caused by their girlfriend, Emily White, dying a few days prior. Bryson Martinez was a witness. Weeks later, an explosion in Nelson left a certain Evan Hernandez dead. You were there. March and April 2023. The Hamilton musical Nelson High put on. Left individuals Megan and Marta dead. September 2023. You guys fought Kathy Beefer. Tried to take over the universe, killed her thanks to the sacrifice of Angela Nalie. April 2024. The Dark Lord returns, taking over Melissa Walker. Yasmin Gutierrez had to kill her, huh? Tragic, devastating in fact. Flash Forward to your senior year. Bryson hosted illegal street races, but was technically legal because of his Midnight Club. Maybe it made someone go insane. The Dark Lord returns, and you guys kill him, but not without someone else dying. Seven years later, you guys return, and what do you bring? More death, more explosion. Olaf Sambers, Alex Kindley, Javier Weston, Alan Miles. You’ve recruited innocent souls into your family, like Kendra Brates, Alex herself, Sonia Lane, Summer Marley and Marina Colvin. You guys just don’t know how to calm down. You bring destruction and death among everyone. And that’s not to mention how you guys somehow gained supernatural powers and are ‘The Universe Guardians.‘ So Katie Jackson, how do you explain your friend group’s multiple attacks against basically the entire world, huh?” Katie stays stunned, and doesn’t say anything. Matthew says, “I’m here on a mission. I’m here to apprehend these monstrous criminals, and finally bring peace to the people once again.” He leaves Katie, and Katie runs to her house, and tells Kendra, who relays the information to Bryson.

## Trivia

* The episode title comes from the 1950 British thriller film of the same name.
* The episode provides flashbacks to countless of previous events in the series that have led up:
	+ The Nelson Massacre and the explosion that left Evan Hernandez dead.
	+ The Hamilton musical, leaving Megan and Marta Portland dead.
	+ The entire Jackson Cosmology Trilogy.
	+ Jennifer’s rampage last season.
	+ Rome attack from last episode.