Candice and Korn are facing each other from a distance, getting ready to fight.
CANDICE
Your mine, small fry.
KORN
Show me what you got.
CANDICE
Get ready to catch these hands!
TRACEY
This is exciting! I’ve never seen the boss fight before!
Candice runs toward Korn.
CANDICE
TAKE THIS!
Candice gets close to Korn and throws punch, aiming for his face. Korn easily stops her punch with the palm of his hand.
CANDICE
What the…?!
Korn yawns.
KORN
Is that all you got?
CANDICE
HELL NO!
Candice quickly did a round house kick, but misses Korn completely, also losing track of him. She regains her footing and starts looking around for Korn.
CANDICE
Where’d he go?
KORN
Behind you.
CANDICE
What?!
Candice turns her head around to witness Korn standing behind.
CANDICE
(How was he able to get behind me so fast?)
Candice attempts to move away, but Korn starts tickling her before she gets the chance. Candice begins to laughing, uncontrollably. Tracey looks at Jack.
TRACEY
Why is the boss tickling her?
JACK
It’s a strategy of his.
TRACEY
Tickling?
JACK
He knows what he’s doing.
TRACEY
I’m starting to question this crew’s potential.
Jack punches Tracey on the top of his head. Tracey holds his head, in pain.
TRACEY
OWWW! What you do that for?!
JACK
This crew has potential; a lot of potential. And who ever dare’s to defy it will be put down.
Tracey looks away from Jack and starts crying a little.
TRACEY
(This crew is very disappointing if its potential involves tickling.)
Candice is still laughing from Korn tickling her.
CANDICE
HAHAHAHA... PLEASE! HAHAHA... Stop! HAHAHA!
KORN
With pleasure.
Korn leg sweeps Candice left leg, knocking her off balance. Afterwards, he quickly shoves the palm of his hand against her shoulder, slamming her on the ground.
CANDICE
Ooof!
Candice became winded and could barely move.
KORN
Is it over already? I thought you'd be more entertaining.
Candice starts staring at Korn in a distress like state.
KORN
I really do hate it when I’m wrong.
Korn looks at Jack and the others who are standing in the area.
KORN
Hey, Boy #2?
BOY #2
Yeah, boss?
TRACEY
What?!
Tracey looks at Boy #2.
KORN
Finish her off for me. Make sure you make it slow and painful.
BOY #2
Sure thing, boss.
Boy #2 begins to walk towards Candice and Korn.
TRACEY
TIME OUT!
Boy #2 stops walking and turns his head to Tracey.
BOY #2
What do you want now?
TRACEY
Your name! Is it actually Boy #2?!
BOY #2
What of it?
TRACEY
What the fuck?!
BOY #2
What’s the problem, Troy?
TRACEY
MY NAME IS TRACEY, YOU ILLITERATE STUPID FUCK NUT! Also, who the fuck name’s their child Boy #2? Whoever named you is a fucking retard. I mean just-
Tracey disappears.
BOY #2
Holy shit! Where'd he go?!
Everyone starts looking around.
JACK
I don’t know!
BOY #2
Shit dude! He just disappeared without a “TRACEY” in sight!
Boy #2 starts smiling at his own joke.
JACK
Did you just...
BOY #2
Sure did.
JACK
That joke was bad and you should feel bad.
Boy #2 stops smiling.
BOY #2
Fuck you!
JACK
Fuck you harder!
BOY #2
FUCK YOU HARDEST!
Tracey reappears.
TRACEY
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
JACK
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
BOY #2
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
They all stop screaming.
BOY #2
Dude, where'd the fuck you go?!
TRACEY
I don’t know. It was just…blank.
BOY #2
Just…blank?
TRACEY
BLANK!
KORN
It was the writer.
Tracey looks at Korn.
TRACEY
The what?
KORN
The writer. You disappeared because you called the writer retarded. If I were you, I wouldn't bad mouth the writer again.
Tracey starts looking around.
TRACEY
...OK.
KORN
Now, hurry up and take care of her.
TRACEY
Gotcha boss.
Tracey starts walking to Candice.
CANDICE
(This is bad. At this rate, I’m dead.)
Candice closes her eyes.
CANDICE
(Somebody, please.... help me.)
As Tracey walks, he gets hit on the back of his head by a pebble. Tracey grabs his head, in pain.
TRACEY
OWWW!
Tracey starts looking around to find who threw the pebble.
TRACEY
Who threw that?
Tracey spots a boy on a bike.
TRACEY
Hey, it’s you!
Korn, Jack, Boy #2 and the rest of the crew looked in the same direction as Tracey and sees the boy on a bike.
JACK
Who is that punk?!
BOY #2
That’s the kid from yesterday!
Candice opens her eyes, lifts her head a little, and notice a boy on a bike.
CANDICE
Jerome... What are you doing here?
The boy gets off the bike, posts the bike against a tree, and starts walking towards them.
KORN
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Jack. Boy #2.
JACK & BOY #2
Yeah, boss?
KORN
Get rid of him.
JACK
Right!
BOY #2
On it!
Jack and Boy #2 charges at the boy. Jack runs to the boy’s left and Boy #2 runs to the boy’s right. The boy stops walking. Jack and Boy #2 stops running, keeping their distance for the time being.
CANDICE
There’s no way he can take them both on by himself. I have to do something.
Candice attempts to get up and struggles, but is unable to.
CANDICE
(Dammit! I still can’t get up.)
BOY #2
You ready to get beat down, chump?
The boy remains silent.
JACK
He must be scared speechless!
BOY #2
I’ll give him something to be scared of!
JACK
Yeah!
Jack and Boy #2 began running towards the boy, yet again. When Jack and Boy #2 gets close enough, they throw a punch at the boy. The boy looks down and ducks, causing Jack and Boy #2 to punch each other in the face. They bounce back a little and starts rubbing their face.
BOY #2
OWWW!
JACK
SHIT! That hurts!
Jack and Boy #2 look at each other.
JACK
Why’d you go and punch me?!
BOY #2
It wasn’t my fault! He dodged it! Why did you hit me?!
JACK
He moved out the way! It wasn't intentional!
BOY #2
Whatever!
JACK
Just watch where you’re throwing your punches!
BOY #2
You’re one to talk!
KORN
Shut up, both of you!
Jack and Boy #2 look at Korn.
KORN
While you two are arguing like an old married couple, he’s tying his damn shoes.
JACK
What?!
Jack and Boy #2 sees the boy tying his shoes.
JACK
Why you little…
BOY #2
DON’T MOCK US!
Jack and Boy #2 throws a punch at the boy, but the boy rolls backwards and out of the way of their punches while still tying his shoes. Jack and Boy #2 ends up missing the boy again and head-butts each other, knocking each other unconscious.
KORN
Really? Why am I surrounded by idiots?
CREW MEMBER
Am I an idiot, boss?
KORN
Shut up, Gary.
GARY
OK.
CANDICE
(What was that? It’s like he knew what they were going to do. Or he was extremely lucky.)
TRACEY
How was he able to beat both of them without even touching them?!
Korn looks at Tracey.
KORN
You moron! They defeated each other! I doubt he even has the strength to defeat you.
TRACEY
Really, boss?
KORN
Maybe...
TRACEY
(sarcastically)
That’s reassuring.
The boy stands up.
KORN
Then again, I could be wrong.
TRACEY
Now you’re making me a little worried.
KORN
Only one way to find out.
Korn points at the boy.
KORN
Attack him, Tracey.
Tracey looks at Korn.
TRACEY
What?!
KORN
You heard me.
Tracey looks at the boy.
TRACEY
I have a bad feeling about this.
Tracey begins to run towards the boy at full speed, yelling. When Tracey gets close enough, the boy glares at Tracey, intimidating him.
TRACEY
What the…
Tracey stops running.
TRACEY
Those eyes. Their…it’s like he’s…staring into my soul.
Tracey starts sweating.
TRACEY
He's not human.
KORN
What are you doing?
TRACEY
I’m getting out of here! There’s no way I’m going up against that monster!
KORN
But you’re forgetting something, Tracey.
When Tracey tries to pass Korn, Korn punches Tracey in the stomach, stopping him dead in his tracks. Tracey falls to his knees.
TRACEY
But…why?
Korn whispers into his ear.
KORN
I’m the real monster.
TRACEY
...what?!
Korn grabs Tracey’s face with his right hand.
KORN
Shut up, ingrate.
Korn slams Tracey on the ground, making him hit the back of his head on the ground. Tracey falls unconscious.
KORN
You don’t deserve to speak to me.
CANDICE
You’re a ruthless monster.
Korn turns around and sees Candice barely standing.
KORN
I see you can finally stand up. But it seems as though you barely have the energy to do that.
CANDICE
You... How could you? They were your men! They were loyal to you! How could you just toss them aside?
KORN
Don’t you lecture me, weakling! They knew what they were getting themselves into when they joined my crew. My only mistake was letting those wishful fools join.
CANDICE
They were loyal to you…
KORN
Don’t talk to me about loyalty. Being loyal to a person is actually following through with the order that you are given. Evidently, they could not do that. So they were not loyal to me. They were weak and the most they are ever good for are beings tools.
CANDICE
Tools?
KORN
That’s right. They help you as much as they can and after their usefulness has worn out, throw them away. There’s no better use for them.
Korn starts walking towards Candice.
CANDICE
(This is bad! I can barely stand, let alone, move. Is this the end for me?)
The boy runs pass Korn and stands in front of Candice, facing Korn.
KORN
He’s fast.
Korn starts smiling.
KORN
This might not be a bore after all.
The boy looks at Candice.
BOY #4
Are you OK?
CANDICE
Yeah, but How did you... wait a minute! You're not Jerome.
BOY #4
No, I’m not.
CANDICE
Then…who are you?