The Narrator:
The Morning After… Uptown-Village Medical Center in the Sprawling Gardens District of New Alexandria, on Earth #8193, 1976 A.D. [warm and inviting tone]
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"Hello, little ones. Sorry, it took so long to fly in, but I've already spoken with the Head Administrator, and it's all taken care of. Emma will continue to receive the very best care money can buy for as long as it takes to make sure she lives a long and healthy life" [confident and reassuring tone]
The Narrator:
Nathaniel explains, hugging his loving daughter close as he finally arrives at Emma and Anya's Hospital Room. Artair sits in the opposite corner of the room, trapped in her own chaotic thoughts… her own heart-wrenching confusion.
Artair:
How could Oskar do this?… How dare he do this to his friends… To Anya… To Emma… How could the boy I love do this? This can't be the Oskar I know. [painful, tearful tone]
The Narrator:
Artair's heart weeps as her mind races violently over Oskar's actions.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"I could barely believe it when you told me over the phone. Oskar actually tried to force himself on Anya?"
The Narrator:
Nathaniel asks as he walks over to Anya's hospital bed and gives the young girl a big fatherly hug.
Anya Lothrin:
"He… he touched ma… my… ugh… He for… forced his touch inside of me, but it did not feel like him. None of it fe… felt like him. Something seemed wrong. I kn… know Oskar and that wa… was not Oskar… Something was wrong… terribly wrong… An… and then when Emma pu… pulled him off of me… he smashed her head in… into the A.C.E." [traumatized tone]
Artair:
Wait… what? Not him! What could Anya mean? Well, he has been so different lately…. As if somehow… not himself. Something has been wrong with him… Terribly wrong… and now this horrific attack, but what could it?
The Narrator:
Artair silently latches onto every word Anya says in an effort to better understand what could have led them all to this.
Anko De La Vega:
"Luckily, I was able to intervene and knock Oskar's ass out with a rock."
The Narrator:
Anko's father walks over to the still unconscious Emma and places a fatherly kiss upon her forehead before stepping back to his daughter's side by the door.
Anya Lothrin:
"I am so grateful to you, Anko. You're so brave, so strong. Not like me… not like me at all… I'm just… I would have been raped, and the woman I love would've died tonight without you. I owe you more than I could ever repay," [weak and meek, almost muttering but sincere and heartfelt tone]
The Narrator:
Anya averts her gaze as her body trembles with shame.
Anko De La Vega:
"Hey… you listen to me, Anya. You listen well. You are not weak, and none of this is your fault. You and Emma never owe me anything. You're family, and family is everything. Now, try to get some rest. I'll be back soon. There are some things I need to go discuss with my father," [firm and loving]
(Location Change)
Narrator:
Anya does as he is instructed, closing his eyes and lying back in his hospital bed in an effort to let sleep take him. After a few minutes, Anya, finally, through sheer exhaustion from his ordeal, finds sleep.
Anko and Nathaniel find an empty nearby hospital room and enter, closing the door behind them and locking it. Anko closes the blinds to ensure total privacy.
Anko De La Vega:
"You're thinking something," [stern and forceful]
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"What do you mean?"
Anko De La Vega:
"I mean you're worried. I can see it in your eyes."
Narrator:
Nathaniel exhales deeply.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"You bet I'm worried. One important destiny was almost wiped out tonight, and another was almost shattered by a horrific trauma. And as for Oskar, that's another matter I will discuss with you soon enough"
Anko De La Vega:
"What do you mean? Something's horribly wrong with Oskar, isn't it? What are you hiding?"
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"I'm sorry, but it is not my place to answer that question. I'm going to go talk to the Turings right now. Please go back and tend to Anya and Emma. I will come find you after I talk to Oskar's parents,"
Narrator:
Nathaniel pulls Anko into a brief hug before sending her out of the room. He exhales deeply for a moment before following her out of the room and heading towards Oskar's hospital room.
(Location Change)
Nathaniel makes his way swiftly through the hospital halls until he finally rounds the corner to Oskar's room. There are officers stationed at his door, and some detectives talk amongst themselves nearby. Nathaniel spots Mr and Mrs Turing standing a ways away from the rest of the crowd, whispering amongst themselves. He quickly makes his way toward them.
Oksana Turing:
"Oh, thank the gods you're here!"
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing and Nathaniel embrace each other tightly. Nathaniel then turns to Mr. Turning and pulls him into a brief but deep, supportive kiss.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"Sorry it took me so long to get here,"
Narrator:
Nathaniel casts his eyes momentarily to the nearby police presence.
Vincent Turing:
"What matters is you came, it means so much to us," [deeply grateful but stressed]
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"Of course, I came. I would never put anything ahead of my family,"
Vincent Turing:
"This is a nightmare…" [scared, stressed and anxious tone]
Oksana Turing:
"For Anya and Emma especially," agrees Mrs Turing. She rubs the bridge of her nose, trying to suppress the mess of emotions inside her.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"That was my first stop when I got here. Anya had some interesting things to say,"
Narrator:
Nathaniel guides the three of them slightly farther away from potential listeners, especially of the law enforcement type.
Oksana Turing:
"What do you mean?"
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"She said, and I quote 'None of it felt like him. Something seemed wrong. I know Oskar, and that was not Oskar.'"
Oksana Turing:
"Then it is the Turing family curse… It has to be,"
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing takes a quick swig from her trusty pocket flask.
Vincent Turing:
"We can't know that for sure,"
Narrator:
Mr. Turing grabs the flask from his wife, taking a swig for himself.
Oksana Turing:
"The fuck we can't! You know how he's been lately. The moments of extreme clumsiness, bouts of confusion. They've been brief but numerous. That's how it starts. You know that," [frustrated tone]
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing snatches back her flask and downs some more.
Vincent Turing:
"When Oskar was born, you looked into the future. You said his path was stormy and shrouded… uncertain,"
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"You're thinking the curse is what obstructed my sight?"
Artair:
"What curse?" [tone is a toxic mix of anger, confusion, and heartbreak]
Narrator:
Artair steps out from behind a nearby corner, tears shining like burning diamonds in her eyes.
Oksana Turing:
"Artair… Where did you… shit!"
Artair:
"I said what curse?" [tearful and frustrated]
Narrator:
Artair strides up to them, trembling with fury and sorrow.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"Look, just cal…"
Artair:
"No… no, you tell me what the fuck is going on? He's been so different. Something's been wrong with him for weeks. I've tried so… hard to be the best partner I could, to help him, to…. love him. What is happening to my Oskar? Please… please, what is happening to the boy I love?" [tearful pleading]
Narrator:
No one answers, but their eyes say it all. In that moment, she knows the truth.
Artair:
"He's dying… My Oskar… My heart is dying," [heart crumbling tone]
Narrator:
Artair stumbles backwards as her heart shreds and her world shatters. Hyperventilating gives way to intense sobbing as her whole body trembles with ugly crying. The three of them help Artair into a nearby empty room so that they can all talk more privately.
Mrs Turing sits down in a nearby chair, pulling the weeping Artair into her lap. She gently strokes the crying girl's hair lovingly.
(Location Change)
Artair:
"This can't be… not him… not my Oskar,"
Narrator:
Artair's tears soak Mrs. Turing's bosom.
Oksana Turing:
"I know this is hard. All of us have dreaded this possibility… We prayed all his life that this moment would never come. But it has." [heart heavy as she talks about her son's terminal condition]
Artair:
"How lo… long do… does he ha… have?" [whimpers tone]
Narrator:
Mr. Turing sits down next to the girl and his wife as Nathaniel leans against a nearby wall.
Vincent Turing:
"Well. That's a complicated question. This curse is of an ancient and deeply esoteric nature. Nathaniel has been searching every mystic text and source of arcane lore he can find since Oskar was born, but no cure has presented itself yet. However, there are certain things that can buy him time."
Artair:
"Like what?"
Oksana Turing:
"Well, sweetie, he's a healthy boy in a general sense, and that needs to be maintained. So we need to make sure he keeps up his exercising, eats right, and avoids excessive stress."
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing gives Artair a loving kiss to help calm the girl's nerves.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"But above all, he needs to stop drinking. His early onset Alcoholism has not only catalysed the onset of this curse, but it will also cause his condition to tank even faster."
Artair:
"I've been trying to get him to drink less, but he's so stubborn."
Vincent Turing:
"Oh, trust me, dear, we know how stubborn our boy is,"
Narrator:
Mr. Turing jostling Artair's hair supportively.
Artair:
"So if we… we can get hi… him to sto… stop drinking and foll… follow a strict health re… regiment.. How long wi… will he have?"
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"Maybe six or seven years. But you have to understand, even if we do everything right and support him as best we can, the fact of the matter is his episodes of excessive confusion, loss of coordination, and violent outbursts like what happened tonight are only going to grow in frequency and intensity… It's the way the curse is. And one day, sooner rather than later, he will become such a danger to himself and those around him… his mind will so shatter.. that we will be forced to either lock him away until death takes him or put him down ourselves," [tone grim and heavy]
Narrator:
Artair's blood runs cold at the older man's words.
Artair:
"Does he know about the curse?"
Vincent Turing:
"No… we felt it was best to be silent but watchful and pray he never would need to know,"
Narrator:
Mr. Turing takes another long swig from his wife's flask.
Oksana Turing:
"Artair darling… We know you love our son… and you have been the best partner we could have hoped for him…. We love you like our own. But you should not have to endure this with us… not even for him. If you want out… if you want to leave, we won't judge you,"
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing finds she can no longer hold back her own tears as she pulls the young girl into a powerful embrace.
Artair:
"I love you all so much… you've been the only fam… family I've ever known… We'll get through this to… together,"
Narrator:
Mr. Turing and Nathaniel gather in on the hug as well. Each of them taking comfort in one another…
Two days later…
(Location Change)
Emma:
"An… Anya…. Any… ANYA!"
Narrator:
Emma frantically jerks awake in her hospital bed to find herself immediately wrapped tightly in Anya's loving arms.
Anya Lothrin:
"Shh… shh... It's okay. I'm here," [loving cooing tone]
Narrator:
Anya holds Emma close, tenderly stroking her hair..
Anya Lothrin:
"Anko, go get your dad. Artair, go get the doctor,"
Narrator:
Anya momentarily casts her attention to the others in the room before gently kissing Emma on the forehead.
Anko and Artair in Unison:
"Right,"
Narrator:
Artair and Anko both leave the room to carry out Anya's instructions.
Anya Lothrin:
"I'm so glad you're awake! Please, just relax, you're in a hospital, you're safe"
Emma:
"Hospital… No, I ca… can't be here. People li… like me aren't all… allowed to use hos…"
Narrator:
Emma tries to climb out of the hospital bed but is stopped by Anya.
Anya Lothrin:
"No, no, don't move. Just relax. Anko's father took care of it. He made sure you won't be arrested for receiving medical care, no matter what the law says."
Emma:
"Where's Oskar? Did he… Are you…?"
Narrator:
Emma nuzzles her head against Anya's neck, savouring her sweet scent.
Anya Lothrin:
"I'm fine… I love that you love me so much… here you are, asking about me when you are the one who had their skull bashed in defending me,"
Narrator:
Anya reaches over into the nearby mini-fridge and pulls out a bottle of chilled apple nectar, Emma's favourite. Anya opens it, puts a straw in it for Emma, and hands it to her.
Emma:
"Oh, shit… my head is killing me,"
Narrator:
Anya hands her some pain meds, which Emma downs using the apple nectar.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"It's wonderful to see you awake, little one,"
Narrator:
Chimes in Nathaniel warmly as he and Anko enter the room.
Anko rushes over and sits down next to Emma's bedside on the side opposite Anya. Nathaniel walks over and gives her a gentlemanly kiss on the hand before stepping back and leaning against a nearby wall.
Anko De La Vega:
"Welcome back, babe,"
Narrator:
Anko kisses Emma lovingly on the cheek, causing Emma to blush red as a strawberry. Anya giggles at seeing her love blush under the power of Anko's chaste but tender little cheek kiss.
Anya Lothrin:
"We were all… I was so worried about you,"
Narrator:
Anya tenderly takes Emma's hand in hers.
Anya Lothrin:
"You saved me… You always save me. You're a more perfect partner than I could ever deserve,"
Narrator:
Anya pulls Emma into the most passionate, heartfelt kiss of her life.
Nathaniel De La Vega:
"You are indeed brave, dear Emma,"
Narrator:
Nathaniel nods to Emma with admiration.
Emma:
"What happened to Oskar? Why did he…?"
Anya Lothrin:
"We don't know, but it wasn't him… I know it in my heart. Whoever attacked us… It wasn't him,"
Narrator:
Emma can see the sincere certainty in Anya's eyes and nods, though not really understanding just what she means.
Emma:
"Well, who am I to doubt you?"
Anya Lothrin:
The woman I love
Narrator:
Emma blesses Anya with her typical gleaming smile as he lays her head down in Emma's lap.
Oksana Turing:
"May we come in?" [meekly]
Narrator:
Asks Mrs. Turing, poking her head into the room. Emma and Anya both nod, exhaling deeply as Mr. and Mrs. Turing enter the room, shutting the door behind them.
Oksana Turing:
"Look… let's just get this out of the way… we do not ask you to or even expect you to ever forgive our son for what he did… but Anya, we love you and Emma like our own, and we want you to feel safe… So, after talking with Nathanial and Anko, it has been decided that you and Anya will move back into the Lothrin Estate. We will continue to cover all your needs, wants, and expenses, and we will also continue running protection for you both against any threats that may arise. Anko has agreed to also move in with you two until you all graduate."
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing explains with tears of shame and pain filling her eyes at the sight of Emma in her hospital bed, her hair still caked with dried blood.
Vincent Turing:
"Is this plan agreeable to you, my darlings?"
Narrator:
Emma and Anya both think for a moment before nodding 'okay'.
Vincent Turing:
"We love you both so much, and it may not mean anything, but we are truly sorry for what our son has done,"
Narrator:
Mr. Turing proclaims, his heart heavy with the guilt over Oskar's actions.
Oksana Turing:
"Well, we'll let you both rest. Please excuse us,"
Narrator:
Mrs. Turing bows her head low in remorse as she and Mr. Turing leave the room, shutting the door behind them.
Anko De La Vega:
"Well, the doctors say we can take you home so… what do you two say we get you both home so you can rest in comfort?"
Narrator:
Anya and Emma both nod in agreement. Anko and Artair gather up Anya and Emma's things while Nathaniel flips open his phone and arranges for an A.C.E. to take Emma, Anya and Anko home to the Lothrin Estate.
(Location Change)
Anya Lothrin:
"Wow, I didn't think we'd all be moving back into this place so soon,"
Narrator:
Anya opens the door of her family's estate and guides her companions inside.
Emma:
"None of us did."
Narrator:
Anko helps Emma across the threshold before handing her off to Anya so she can shut the front door behind them.
Anko De La Vega:
"Well, I'll go start preparing us a nice breakfast. Why don't you take Emma upstairs and help her take a soothing warm shower?"
Narrator:
Anko suggests as she parts from her friends, making her way towards the East-wing grand kitchen.
Anya Lothrin:
"Come on, my love, let's go clean the blood from your hair,"
Narrator:
Anya muses, helping Emma to the upstairs east-wing bathroom.
(Location Change)
Narrator:
The next 3 years pass by in a rhythm of shared meals, late‑night passion, quiet comforts and loving safety as they finish up their final years of Paideia-II. However as graduation draws near, it is clear that the status quo they have grown used to, while wonderful, must come to end.