PANEL 1

FLYBOY

sigh

(cont)

SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T KNOW YOU AS WELL AS SPOOKY DOES.

(cont)

BUT… MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

PANEL 2

FLYBOY

YOU’RE RIGHT. I AM MORE THAN JUST SOME RANDO POWERED KID. BUT BRINGING YOU IN IS A HUGE RISK. ONE I NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE ABOUT.

(cont)

I KNOW YOU’RE ANGRY, BUT CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST ONE MORE MINUTE ALONE WITH MY FRIENDS?

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

AFTER PROVIDING YOU WITH A ENTIRELY NEW LUNG, BOY, I WOULD THINK I HAVE GIVEN YOU MORE THAN ENOUGH ALREADY!

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

SIRCEA, YOU’VE MADE YOUR POINT. AND YOU’RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU WANT. WE’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING.

(cont)

BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, IT’S BEEN, LIKE, FIVE MINUTES AND THIS IS A LOT FOR THEM TO TAKE IN.

PANEL 4

TEEN SPOOKY

LOOK, IF WE’RE GOING TO REALLY STOP THE WALLS BETWEEN HELL AND EARTH FROM FALLING, THERE’S A TON OF WORK AHEAD OF US.

(cont)

AND IT’S BETTER IF WE DO IT ALL AS FRIENDS, RIGHT?

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

I DON’T NEED ANYONE’S FRIENDSHIP. AND IT LITERALLY IS THE END OF THE WORLD IF THE WORK DOESN’T GET DONE IN TIME.

PANEL 5

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

BUT… VERY WELL. I’VE ALREADY WAITED DECADES. AND, AT THIS POINT, I HAVE TRULY HAD MY FILL OF GOING IN CIRCLES IN MY OWN CASTLE TALKING TO CHILDREN.

(cont)

DON’T TAKE ONE MINUTE, SWEETIE. TAKE TEN. I STILL HAVE A FEW PREPARATIONS FOR OUR RITUAL THAT I NEED TO MAKE.

PANEL 6

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

BUT THEN YOU WILL TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE FIGHTING. AND YOU WILL HELP ME AS YOU PROMISED.

(cont)

OR YOU WILL DISCOVER FIRSTHAND THAT THERE ARE VERY UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCES FOR WASTING MY TIME!

PANEL 1

AMANDA

YOU DIDN’T KILL HIM. OR EVEN INCAPACITATE HIM. HE’S STILL OUT THERE.

(cont)

THIS IS BAD.

PANEL 2

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

DIDN’T KILL WHO, SPOOKY? I HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY PATIENT WITH YOU AND YOUR PLAYMATES. BUT AFTER ALL I’VE DONE, IF NOTHING ELSE, I AM ENTITLED TO AN EXPLANATION FOR WHAT EXACTLY YOU ALL WERE UP TO.

(cont)

ESPECIALLY SINCE, AS YOUR MYSTERIOUS NEW COMRADE SO APTLY PUT IT, I AM THE PROTECTOR OF THIS WORLD AND HAVE BEEN FOR MUCH LONGER THAN ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE!

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

MITCH… SHE HAS A POINT.

(cont)

GOD, THIS GUY IS SO STRONG! MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT TELLING HER EVERY-

FLYBOY

NO!

PANEL 4

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

REALLY? AFTER ALL YOU’VE SEEN, YOUNG MAN, YOU STILL DON’T TRUST ME. IT’S GETTING TO BE HARD NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION —

(cont)

— WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE TO YOU?

PANEL 5

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

YOU HAVE ONE OF THE RAREST POWERS IN THE WORLD. YOU HAVE THE POLISHED UNIFORM OF A GOVERNMENT AGENT, BUT YOU AREN’T IN ANY OF THE REGISTRIES. YOU CLEARLY KNOW NOTHING OF MAGIC, BUT YOU FELT LIKE YOU COULD FACE OFF AGAINST NOT JUST ONE, BUT DOZENS OF BLOODTHIRSTY WIZARDS. AND YOU HAVE RESIDUAL ENERGY IN YOUR BODY I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO COMPREHEND!

(cont)

NONE OF WHICH MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL!

PANEL 6

AMANDA

Um, FOR THE RECORD, I WAS THERE, TOO.

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

YOU’RE SPOOKY’S FRIEND. THIS BOY IS A STRANGER.

(cont)

ENOUGH WITH THIS CHARADE! YOU’RE NOT JUST SOME POWERED TEEN WHO’S SOMEHOW MANAGED TO EVADE THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

(cont)

WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU?

PANEL 1

FLYBOY

I’M SURE YOU DID WHAT YOU HAD TO DO, SPOOKY. BUT… WITH WHAT I SAW, THAT STILL MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH.

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

AND WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

PANEL 3

FLYBOY

WHAT’S DOWN THIS WAY?

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

CERTAINLY NOT YOUR MANNERS.

PANEL 4

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

I ONLY ASKED BECAUSE WHILE YOU WERE RECOVERING FROM THE FIRST OF MY TREATMENTS, I WENT BACK TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK. I THOUGHT SPOOKY WOULD APPRECIATE ME TYING UP ANY LOOSE ENDS.

(cont)

YOU UNDERSTAND, TO BUILD TRUST.

(cont)

BUT THERE WEREN’T ANY LOOSE ENDS. NO BODIES, NO BULLETS, NO TIED UP DRAGONS. IF I HADN’T SEEN THE ORIGINAL AFTERMATH WITH MY OWN EYES, I WOULDN’T HAVE BELIEVED A MAGICAL FIGHT HAD OCCURRED THERE AT ALL!

(cont)

THAT LEVEL OF CLEANSING REQUIRES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF THAUMATURGIC STRENGTH. PERHAPS EXCEEDING MY OWN.

PANEL 5

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

IN FACT, ONE MIGHT EVEN SAY THAT KIND OF POWER COULD THREATEN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

PANEL 1

TEEN SPOOKY

YOU DON’T NEED HOSTAGES, SIRCEA. I ALREADY SAID I’D HELP YOU.

PANEL 2

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

AND I SAID WE BOTH NEEDED TO BUILD TRUST.

(cont)

I DON’T KNOW THESE TWO. YOU STILL HAVE YOUR SECRETS. AND IN TERMS OF OUR ARRANGEMENT, AT THIS POINT, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING MUCH MORE TAKING THAN GIVING. WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

(cont)

YOU WANT TRUST? THEN TELL ME EXACTLY WHO YOUR MYSTERIOUS NEW ACQUAINTANCE IS.

PANEL 3

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

NO? THEN HOW ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE FIGHTING IN THAT AMUSEMENT PARK? AND WHY YOU WERE WILLING TO RISK YOUR FRIENDS’ LIVES TO DO SO?

PANEL 4

TEEN SPOOKY

THERE’S… NO POINT. HE’S NOT AN ISSUE, ANYMORE.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

THERE SOMETHING I HAVEN’T TOLD YOU GUYS.

(cont)

WHEN YOU BOTH WERE HURT, THERE WASN’T ANY TIME. SO, I USED MY POWER TO CRUSH SHADES WITH THE FERRIS WHEEL.

PANEL 6

TEEN SPOOKY

I… I KILLED HIM, MITCH. I KILLED SOMEONE.

PANEL 1

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

YOU WILL WANT TO TAKE YOUR HAND OFF ME NOW.

PANEL 2

AMANDA

ARE YOU OK?!

TEEN SPOOKY

YEAH… I’LL BE FINE.

FLYBOY

I WAS FIGHTING SOME KIND OF COPY. A DUPLICATE OF MYSELF!

(cont)

AND I COULDN’T SEE SPOOKY AT ALL.

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

YOU WEREN’T WITH ME, EITHER, MITCH.

(cont)

IT’S THE PERFECT DEFENSE. NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE, YOU’VE INSTANTLY MET YOUR MATCH.

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

EXACTLY.

(cont)

AND NOT THAT YOU WOULD EVEN THINK OF LEAVING HERE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT OTHER THAN MY GATES, GETTING PAST THOSE RUNES IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CASTLE.

PANEL 4

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

JUST IN CASE THAT SPEED POWER OF YOURS LETS YOU RUN UP WALLS OR SOME SUCH.

PANEL 1

FLYBOY

WAIT, SPOOKY!

(cont)

NO!

PANEL 3

AMANDA

WHERE DID THEY GO? WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM?

(cont)

BRING THEM BACK! NOW!

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

I’M NOT DOING ANYTHING TO THEM, YOUNG LADY.

PANEL 4

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

IN FACT, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WHATEVER IS HAPPENING TO THEM IN THIS MOMENT IS COMPLETELY THEIR OWN DOING.

PANEL 5

FLYBOY

UFF!

TEEN SPOOKY

UHH!

PANEL 1

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

IF YOU THINK THEY WERE TAKEN FROM THE ARMORY OF THE GODS, THEY ARE EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK THEY ARE.

PANEL 2

FLYBOY

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

TEEN SPOOKY

LEGENDARY ARTIFACTS. DEMON KILLERS.

(cont)

THEY WERE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE DESTROYED.

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

BUT, IN FACT, WERE MERELY VERY WELL HIDDEN UNTIL WE WERE READY TO MAKE OUR MOVE AND RAISE THE WALLS.

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

THE POWER COMING OFF OF THEM IS IMMENSE.

(cont)

GUYS, THESE WOULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING AGAINST, WELL, ALMOST ANY SINGLE DEMON. EVEN A KING OR QUEEN.

PANEL 4

TEEN SPOOKY

WHY ARE YOU LEAVING THEM OUT IN THE OPEN LIKE THIS? I CAN’T BE THE ONLY OTHER WIZARD WHO CAN SENSE POWER. AREN’T YOU AFRAID SOME CRAZY COULD JUST COME AND TRY TO TAKE THEM?

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

MY HOMES ARE WELL-CLOAKED. BUT IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I WOULD SHELTER THESE WEAPONS DEEP IN THE GROUND.

(cont)

UNFORTUNATELY, I’VE DISCOVERED THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCE THAT ALL THIS ENOCHIAN ENERGY IS DANGEROUS TO KEEP IN A CONTAINED SPACE.

PANEL 5

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

EVEN STILL, THEY ARE NOT UNDEFENDED.

(cont)

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED, FEEL FREE TO TRY TO TAKE ONE.

AMANDA

I’LL PASS, THANK YOU.

PANEL 6

FLYBOY

YEAH. I’M HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR WORD-

PANEL 1

TEEN SPOOKY

SHE’S TELLING THE TRUTH, MITCH. I’VE RUN TESTS. HER MAGIC IS PART OF THE WALLS BETWEEN HELL AND EARTH. SHE BUILT THEM.

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

WELL, NOW, I DIDN’T BUILD THEM ALONE!

(cont)

BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE LEFT WHEN WE WERE DONE. SO, YES, SINCE THEN, PROTECTING THIS WORLD FROM ALL THE LEGIONS OF HELL HAS FALLEN TO ME.

PANEL 2

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

OR NOW, IF I’M RIGHT ABOUT YOU, THE TWO OF US.

FLYBOY

YOU’RE NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

REALLY. DO TELL.

(cont)

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? AND EXACTLY WHERE DID THOSE EXPECTATIONS COME FROM?

PANEL 4

FLYBOY

WHAT’S DOWN THERE?

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

A LAST RESORT. AND THE PRIMARY REASON I WAS ABLE TO KILL SO MANY.

PANEL 5

FLYBOY

CAN WE SEE?

PANEL 6

TEEN SPOOKY

OH. WOW. ARE THESE WHAT I THINK THEY ARE?

PANEL 1

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

WELL PUT.

(cont)

THIS CHARMER ATE THE EYEBALLS OF BABIES. IT WOULD THEN RETURN EACH YEAR TO SAME CHILD TO DEVOUR THE REST OF THEIR BODY, PIECE BY TINY PIECE, UNTIL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT DESPAIR.

(cont)

SHE MAIMED THOUSANDS, WHICH UNSURPRISINGLY DAMPENED THE MOOD AMONG PROSPECTIVE PARENTS.

(cont)

BEFORE I ENDED HER, HUMAN CIVILIZATION WAS LITERALLY ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.

PANEL 2

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

AH! THIS ONE WAS LESS AGE-IST!

(cont)

IT WOULD LAY EGGS IN ANY HUMAN IT FOUND, PROMISING AN EXCRUCIATING DEATH AND CREATING ARMIES OF WARRIOR DRONES THAT BROUGHT WHOLE CONTINENTS TO THEIR KNEES.

PANEL 3

AMANDA

IF WHAT YOU’RE TELLING US IS TRUE, CLEARLY YOU’RE OLDER THAN YOU LOOK.

(cont)

THERE MUST BE DOZENS IN THESE HALLS. ARE YOU SAYING YOU KILLED ALL THESE DEMONS?

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

AND HUNDREDS MORE, SWEETIE. THESE WERE JUST MY FAVORITES.

(cont)

AND REMEMBER, ALL OF THEM WERE MERE LEFTOVERS. THE ONES TOO WEAK TO GET HOME IN TIME.

PANEL 4

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

THIS IS WHY I NEED SPOOKY’S HELP — TO MAKE SURE THE WALLS BETWEEN HELL AND EARTH DON’T FALL. BECAUSE IF THEY DO, IT WON’T BE JUST HUNDREDS THAT GET THROUGH, IT WILL BE TENS OF THOUSANDS.

(cont)

AND EVEN I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO STOP THE MONSTERS COMING FOR US THEN.

PANEL 5

FLYBOY

WAIT. YOU EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE… THAT YOU ARE… EARTH’S PROTECTOR?

PANEL 1

FLYBOY

BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO SPEED, I HAVE EXTRAORDINARY-VISION. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WHOLE HALLWAY IS FULL OF MONSTERS!

PANEL 2

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

OH. HA! YOU MEAN, MY TROPHIES.

(cont)

I’M RATHER PROUD OF THOSE.

PANEL 3

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

VERY WELL. COME. SPOOKY AND I WILL NEED TO WORK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.

(cont)

AND PERHAPS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE STAKES WILL MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WHAT WE ARE DOING TOGETHER IS SO IMPORTANT.

PANEL 4

AMANDA

WELL, IF YOU INSIST…

PANEL 5

PLATINUM PRIESTESS

HAVE NO FEAR! THEY ARE ALL QUITE DEAD, I ASSURE YOU.

(cont)

CHILDREN, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE SOLDIERS OF HELL THAT WERE STRANDED ON EARTH WHEN THE WALLS WERE FINALLY RAISED.

FLYBOY

HOLY CRAP.