EXT. PLAINS
THE ROGUE sits on the grass as THE RENEGADE looks over her bandaged hand, THE RENEGADE taking the bandages off as he looks at her.
THE RENEGADE
Let grace be your healer.
THE ROGUE
What the fuck does that mean?
THE RENEGADE
Open your heart, and allow your hand to heal within mine.
THE LONER polishes his revolver as THE GAMBLER was sleeping, THE STRANGER watching THE ROGUE and THE RENEGADE from a few feet away as THE ROGUE huffs and closes her eyes, THE RENEGADE watching as she seems to resist at first, but then slowly seem to forget about it, relaxing as THE RENEGADE runs his finger across the wound, THE ROGUE opening her eyes to see the palm healing as THE RENEGADE turns from her as she holds her hand in bewilderment.
THE ROGUE
I thought you were just full of shit but this is...how...?
THE RENEGADE
Simply part of being angelic, nothing special.
THE ROGUE hugs THE RENEGADE, THE RENEGADE thrown off as he doesn't know what to do as THE STRANGER smirks and sits down next to THE LONER as THE RENEGADE smirks and pats THE ROGUE as she pulls away from him grinning from ear to ear.
THE LONER watches the SUN set as he continues to clean his weapon, THE STRANGER tapping his leg as THE LONER looks at him and then looks away.
THE STRANGER
I gotta ask.
THE LONER
What now?
THE STRANGER
Why'd you save the girl, LONER?
THE LONER
You wouldn't?
THE STRANGER
Oh I always try to save the dame, but you sir, you don't strike me as someone who particularly partakes in playing hero, so...
THE STRANGER taps THE LONER'S leg again, THE LONER huffing as he looks at him.
THE STRANGER
Why'd you make such an effort?
THE LONER
She ran from everything she gained through losing it all. She knows just as much as I do about what it's like to be alone...I admire her strength for someone so fragile, I wish I knew what it was like to feel that way.
THE STRANGER
Fragility?
THE LONER
Sure, your upbringing was the same as mine, to be strong, to never fear anything, to be hidden and locked away from everybody and everything...sure we wanted to run away, but we didn't...we couldn't escape...we had to be strong, there was no room to feel fragile, no significant losses in our lives...other than our humanity, but in the end, what is that really? Only we have the answer, and they're never quite one and the same, are they?
THE STRANGER
Suppose not.
THE LONER
To be able to show weakness, and still power through with such strength, even though we are not capable of what she can accomplish...good thing she is with us.
THE STRANGER looks at THE ROGUE who is preparing to sleep as THE RENEGADE was already out, THE ROGUE noticing him looking as she smiles and looks away as THE STRANGER just nods.
THE STRANGER
Yeah...I guess so.
THE LONER nods and holsters his revolver as THE ROGUE grabs her bag and begins down the PLAIN, towards the river as THE STRANGER eyebrows her curiously before running after her.
THE ROGUE
You're not planning on spying on me so obviously are ya?
THE STRANGER
You don't think it's a bad idea to decide to go and take a night dip after all we went through do you? We're not exactly out of the clear, you know.
THE ROGUE
I'll be fine.
THE ROGUE slips up a few blades and pats THE STRANGER across the face before heading back down.
THE ROGUE
I'll be fine you big perv, try and get some sleep, hmm?
THE STRANGER shakes his head as he watches her continue on, THE STRANGER looking about before heading back up as the sun sets.
EXT. RIVER
THE ROGUE lays naked, floating on the water as she continues to bathe, before wrapping her bath after a little while.
THE ROGUE sits on the grass near a tree as she rings her hair out, THE ROGUE partially dressed as she looks up at the moon and smiles, THE ROGUE noticing something RED from the corner of her eye.
She looks at it quickly, scooting back as she notices that it's an APPLE.
THE ROGUE raises an eyebrow as she grabs her blades and holds them in between her fingers as the hand holding the APPLE was attached to a body hiding itself behind the TREE.
FIGURE
APPLE?
THE ROGUE
who the fuck are you! Show yourself!
FIGURE
Okay, okay, no need to be temperamental.
THE ROGUE watches as a BEAUTIFUL MAN, though bearing heavy scars comes around the corner, THE ROGUE seems almost infatuated but she keeps her blades ready as he smirks at her.
FIGURE
Hello, ROGUE , I've been looking for you.
THE ROGUE
Who are you...?
THE FIGURE
I have many names, but you can call me by the two most favored, LUCIFER, SATAN...
THE ROGUE begins to scream for help but LUCIFER snaps his fingers and nothing comes out of her mouth, as he bites into the apple, THE ROGUE grabbing her throat as LUCIFER chews the apple.
LUCIFER
You won't speak till I know you can act right, now are you going to talk with your inside voice?
THE ROGUE tosses her blades at SATAN but he simply lets the blades hit him, THE ROGUE watches as he flexes his chest and the BLADES pop out of him, landing on the grass as he bites into his apple again.
LUCIFER
That wasn't very nice.
THE ROGUE stands frozen in terror as LUCIFER trots over towards her and touches her face.
LUCIFER
Better.
LUCIFER snaps his fingers and turns his back on her, biting into the apple again as she holds her throat, making sure she is okay as LUCIFER takes a seat under the tree.
THE ROGUE
What do you want...
LUCIFER
I want those three up on that hill...
THE ROGUE
Why not go get them yourself?
LUCIFER
I can't touch them, or else trust me I would.
THE ROGUE
How'd you find us...?
LUCIFER
I have eyes and ears everywhere little girl, It was not hard to find you after your little trip to METROP.
THE ROGUE
What do you want...with me then...?
LUCIFER
Good deduction.
LUCIFER tosses her the APPLE CORE, THE ROGUE dropping it as LUCIFER stands and comes over to her.
LUCIFER
Bring them to me. All I ask, and in return you will be spared once the apocalypse picks back up, and I will grant you the greatest gift of all, never ending life.
THE ROGUE
Why would I ever take a deal like that?
LUCIFER grabs the ROGUE by her throat and lifts her into the air, THE ROGUE'S eyes instantly going bloodshot as LUCIFER no longer had a smirking face.
LUCIFER
Because if you do not I will make you suffer...I will not only kill you, I will strip your soul bare and torture that until the end of time...I will devour your very essence, and then, I'll let you watch as those you have grown close to experience pain and torment unlike anything this world has ever seen. I will have what I want, one way or another.
LUCIFER drops THE ROGUE as she gasps for air, LUCIFER bending down as he touches her cheek and then stands, sniffing the air before coughing and spitting out a green liquid.
LUCIFER
I hate EARTH, I really do...remember my darling, you will bring them to me...keep heading in your direction, I will have something waiting for you all once you get to VALLARIA...
THE ROGUE watches as LUCIFER waves and then disappears into a appearing and disappearing black smoke, THE ROGUE curling up as she begins to cry.
End of Part 17