Candice is on the ground, nervous and sweating while staring at Albert. Albert and Kindra are standing in front of Candice. Candice looks to her side to notice Josaline still unconscious.

CANDICE

Josaline!

Candice spots someone on the ground behind Albert.

CANDICE

Who is that?

Albert looks behind himself.

ALBERT

Oh, that's right. I almost forgot about him. I'm surprised you did, though.

CANDICE

Forget about who?

ALBERT

I'll go get him for you. I'm sure you'll remember once you get a closer look.

Albert walks over to Charlie, picks him up by the back of his shirt, and drags him over to Candice. He throws Charlie beside Candice.

CHARLIE

Ooof.

Candice looks at Charlie.

CANDICE

Charlie!

Charlie is barely moving.

CANDICE

Charlie, are you OK?!

CHARLIE

Candice...is that...you?

CANDICE

(worried)

It's me, Charlie.

CHARLIE

It's been...so long. Frank...and I...missed you. Also...Frank is...still a dick.

CANDICE

(upset)

I know. He's the one who brought me here.

ALBERT

Frank...he's still alive?!

Albert turns away from Candice.

ALBERT

I guess he wasn't a failure after all.

Albert looks at the moon while laughing uncontrollably evil. Candice gets angry and looks at Albert.

ALBERT

Breao!

Albert stops laughing.

CANDICE

How could you do this? To your son? To the city? What made you want to do all this?

Albert turns his head toward Candice while smiling.

ALBERT

Isn't it obvious? Control.

CANDICE

Control? Over what?

Albert turns to Candice.

ALBERT

The world, of course.

Charlie begins to slowly stand up, staggering and in pain while doing so.

CANDICE

Don't force yourself to get up. You're still in pain.

CHARLIE

Don't worry, Candice...I'll be fine.

He turns around to face Albert and as he turns, Candice notice Charlie wearing an eye patch.

CANDICE

Charlie, what happened to your eye?

Charlie does not respond to Candice's question.

CHARLIE

Dad...You don't have to do this.

Albert looks at Charlie.

ALBERT

Look who finally decides to join us.

Charlie looks at Albert and begins to walk toward him, staggering along the way.

CHARLIE

You're so much better than this.

Kindra looks at Charlie and retaliates against him by cocking her leg back and thrusting it toward Charlie's head.

ALBERT

STOP!

Kindra stops her kick inches away from Charlie's face. Charlie stops walking, but is not fazed by the attempted attack by Kindra.

ALBERT

There's no point, Kindra. He's already a goner.

Kindra puts her leg down and allows Charlie to walk toward Albert.

CHARLIE

Think about what you're doing. Think about the people you're hurting. Think about your family.

ALBERT

Family? I don't need a family and having one is a nuisance; a waste of time.

Charlie stops walking and gets angry.

CHARLIE

If you really think that way, then why have one?!

ALBERT

It was a distraction to cover up my true intentions; to take control of this world. Why would I want to have a family when I can have power? Power is the only essential key to living a happy life. Without it, your life is meaningless. You may as well never existed.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

CHARLIE

But dad...

Charlie puts his hands over his left eye in pain and drops to his knees.

ALBERT

It's beginning to take affect.

CHARLIE

What is?! What did you do to me?!

ALBERT

It was so long ago, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to explain it since you will be drawing your last breath soon. I'm a scientist, you see. I have to run test on things that peak my interest. I've decided to look into what makes the human body function properly. While doing so, I stumbled upon an idea; why not figure out how to control people against their will? While researching, I created a drug that would turn people into brainless, hopeless human beings. Your mother was away during the time and your sister wasn't born yet, so you were going to be my guinea pig for the experiment. I injected you with the drug, but nothing happened. Of course, I waited a few weeks, but still nothing. So, I abandoned the drug until I found a way to amplify it's effect on a greater scale. This, I achieved some years ago. But I couldn't use you because I thought you would be immune to it from the last experiment. Thus, your friends were next in line.

Charlie and Candice are shocked to hear this.

ALBERT

Of course, different people will have different side effects. First was Frank; when I injected him with the drug, he freaked out and then he just stopped moving. I considered him a failure and thought he was dead. So, I threw him away. Next was Candice; I injected her with the drug and she showed signs that it was working. So, I tossed her in a room. I was going to use her for further experiments, but she managed to escape. Next was Logan; he grew blades from out of his fists. With this, I didn't need any more test subjects, but I couldn't just let Josaline go.

CHARLIE

(shocked)

Josaline!

ALBERT

That's right. Your precious Josaline was not injected with the drug, but she did become my subordinate and have been for all these years. And there you have it.

CHARLIE

You still didn't explain what's happening to my left eye!

ALBERT

You still don't get it, do you?

Albert pulls out a remote control from out of his pants pocket and presses a button on it. City Hall begins to mildly tremble, making Charlie and Candice lose their balance. The part of the roof that is behind Albert, opens up and a giant machine slowly rises from out of the building. Charlie and Candice are even more shocked to see something of this magnitude being held here at City Hall. When the machine stops moving, City Hall stops trembling.

ALBERT

Behold, my creation. Witness your utter demise

The machine stands 20 feet tall and is 10 feet wide. It is directly behind Albert.

ALBERT

WITNESS AND BE AMAZED!

Kindra looks at Albert and starts clapping.

CANDICE

WHY ARE YOU CLAPPING?!

Kindra stops clapping, turns to Candice, and kicks her in the side.

CANDICE

OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Candice grabs her side in pain and Charlie looks at Candice.

CHARLIE

Candice!

KINDRA

Only speak when you are spoken too.

CANDICE

(Cough) ...fuck you.

ALBERT

Now, now. Let's not start before the party begins.

Charlie looks at Albert.

CHARLIE

Shut up and tell me what's going on?!

ALBERT

You will know in good time, Charlie.

Kindra notice something in the corner of her eye. She jumps back, avoiding a bullet and lands beside Albert. She looks at the roof's entrance.

KINDRA

Show yourself.

Charlie and Candice turn their attention to the roof's entrance. Someone opens the door and walks onto the roof. In their hand is a pistol with a silencer attachment. Charlie and Candice are shocked to see who it is.

CANDICE

Cindy?!

CINDY

It's been a while, hasn't it?

CHARLIE

Cindy! What are you doing here?

Cindy looks at Charlie.

CINDY

What do you think I'm doing here?

CHARLIE

To give me another manga book?

CINDY

Are you nuts? I'm here to save you.

CHARLIE

That's gre-

CINDY

And to give you another manga.

CHARLIE

I knew it.

CANDICE

We don't have time for this, guys.

Cindy runs to Candice and helps her back on her feet .

CANDICE

Don't think that this changes any.

CINDY

Good to know because you still get on my nerves.

ALBERT

Kindra, please deal with them.

KINDRA

Yes, sir.

Charlie looks at Albert and Kindra.

CHARLIE

What?!

Kindra begins to run toward Candice and Cindy.

CANDICE

Let's put our differences aside for now. We have a bigger threat to deal with.

CINDY

For now, anyway.

CANDICE

I'll take the lead.

Candice charges toward Kindra while Cindy aims her pistol at Kindra. When Candice and Kindra gets close enough to each other, Kindra throws a kick toward Candice's head.

CANDICE

NOW!

Cindy shoots at Kindra. At the last second, Kindra dodges the bullet, but her kick misses Candice, leaving her off balance. Candice takes the opportunity and punches Kindra in the stomach. Kindra flies back, but regains her balance and lands on her feet.

CINDY

Damn! She's fast!

CANDICE

I know. Earlier, I fought her and got my ass handed to me. In order to have a chance at beating her, we have to work together.

Kindra starts patting her stomach.

KINDRA

That was a pretty strong punch.

CANDICE

(worried)

She probably didn't even feel that.

CINDY

What is she?

CANDICE

I don't know, but we have to beat her in order to get to Albert.

KINDRA

Round 2, ladies. Don't disappoint me.

Kindra charges toward Candice and Cindy again.

CINDY

She's coming again. Be careful.

CANDICE

Right.

Kindra engages Cindy and Candice in battle.

CHARLIE

Candice! Cindy!

ALBERT

You have bigger problems to worry about.

Charlie looks at Albert.

CHARLIE

What do you mean?

Charlie continues to have his hands over his left eye.

ALBERT

This is...SPECTACULAR! Soon, that eye of yours will help me achieve my goal.

CHARLIE

NO! I will not help you!

ALBERT

You actually believe I need your approval? You are going to help me whether you want to or not.

The pain in Charlie's eye worsen.

CHARLIE

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

ALBERT

Yes. Just face the fact that you're too helpless to do anything.

Suddenly, Frank bursts through the roof. He lands beside Charlie, but Charlie's in too much pain to notice him. Afterwards, Frank charges toward Albert and throws a punch at him. Logan appears in between Frank and Albert and blocks Frank's punch with his head. He retaliates with a punch of his own, but Frank jumps back, avoiding the attack and lands beside Charlie. Kindra stops her fight with Candice and Cindy and charges toward Frank. Frank looks behind himself and sees Kindra running toward him. Kindra attacks Frank with a flying kick, but he ducks, causing Kindra to fly over his head. He quickly grabs Charlie and makes his way over to Candice and Cindy. He drops Charlie on the ground, breaking Charlie out of his painful state.

CHARLIE

Why the hell...

Charlie is shocked to see Frank beside him. Frank looks at Charlie and smiles at him.

FRANK

Long time, no see, buddy.

CHARLIE

FRANK?!