Day of Judgment.

Planet Mars, City of Phoenixia,

[The People greet the Ego CT, with MONT, our Sol heading the welcome party.]

CT: This place, still exists? Everyones still alive?

M: Yes, weve been here all along. + I want to thank you. Youve given me the greatest love of all, your attention + acknowledgment. I appreciate this gift. [hugs CT].

CT: Thank YOU [kneels to MONTs height, embracing him]. I love you so much.

CT flinches, then grinds his teeth as his embrace turns into his hands violently clenching MONT s arms. CTs eyes widen, his pupils contract into slits. Then CT screams:

C: I HATE YOU!! I HATE you!

M: Why?

[CT staggers to his feet hysterically]

C: I wan-I want what you are! I should have that kind of power + attention! ME! I-

M: [shrugs his arms out of CTs grasp] But you do, I'm your-

C: NO!! Shut up! I hate you! I want it for my own! It should be mine! ARRRGGGHH!

[The People slowly surround an enraged CT + talk amongst themselves in disbelief. As his shouting grows louder + incoherent, they decide to forcibly restrain him. MONT steps back + hangs his head, clearly ashamed.

Enter: The Alkhemyst, appearing between MONT + CT in the blink of an eye. Dressed in all black, rocking two different colored shoes, both with 3 black stripes on the side. A white shoe on the right foot, a red shoe on the left. He turns his gaze briefly to CT, then crouches down to talk to MONT.]

The Alchemist: I think it's time. [MONT raises his head up out of its gloom, startled at the thought of "it". Looks to CT, then back at the Alchymyst.]

A: [leans in closer to MONT's ear] It's time for him to take up his cross.

One person overhears, then shouts in approval "Crucify him!" One voice becomes 5, then 15, then 100. All unanimously eager to see CT executed.

[CT's rage turns to fear, + he looks to MONT for appeal]

C: No, don't let them do this. I'm sorry! I won'-I didn't mean what I said. [Stuggles to free his arms, to no avail] Let me go!

MONT: stares at CT in silence. [The Alkhymist interjects]:

The Alkhymyst: Let him take up his cross. He needs to die so that he can resurrect.

[MONT sighs + nods in agreement. Almost instantly, the People roar for CT's blood. Most People back away to crowd in a circle around MONT, the Alchymist, CT, + the few People keeping CT restrained by his arms. CT tries to use the opportunity to get free, + the restrainers begin to curse + swing at CT. The Alkhemist signals everyone to step back + raises two pillars from the ground, attaching a jet black carbon chain to each pillar, then using them to fasten CT's hands, keeping his arms hanging + his form in the shape of a "Y" .

As the Alkhymist readies a cat + nine tails concealed under the back

of his shirt, CT pleads to MONT + the Alchemist, his voice swaying...]

CT: Ok! I'll do this. But not now. I'm not ready yet. We can't do this right now!

The Alchemyst: Now is the perfect time [readies the whip + gives CT his first lash.]

CT: [screams in sync with the crack of the nine hooks at the end of the whip ripping into his back, taking shreds of flesh with them. CT's eyes tear up in pain, + tries in vain to pop the chains suspending his arms.

The Alkhemist draws the whip + gives another lash, + CT's screech of agony becomes an almost masochistic pant. CT is beginning to accept his fate. He is going to die a horrible death today.

The Alkhymyst goes on to give CT 6 more lashes, + by the end is barely Conscious.

The Alchymist drops the whip + suddenly has two visible swords sheathed perpendicular to one another on his back. MONT recognizes the two weapons...]

MONT: Did you have those swords before?

The Alkemyst: [turns with a smirk , half facing MONT behind him] No, I did not.

[He draws the longer sword, Truth, from over his right shoulder. The blade of Truth is curved + apparently forged of the same black metal as CT's chains. The Alkhemist swiftly cuts both chains + sheaths the sword as he catches CT before he collapses onto the ground. He signals to the People...]

The Alkhemist: Ok. Get the cross.

[The crowd makes way for a huge wooden cross to be passed forward. The Alchymist lifts CT to his feet. As CT stands + opens his eyes, a crown of barbs is placed on his head.]

The Alkymist: [pats CT on the back.] Come on. [Nods towards the path up the road to the top of the mountain] We'll meet you at the top.

[The Alchemist stands aside as the People prop the heavy cross on CT's back + start pushing him forward, spitting + mocking him as they clear a path. Already covered in blood + dirt + spittle, CT begins the steep climb up the narrow road, dragging the cross up the mountain pass barefoot. Most of the People keep their distance + continue to throw stones + insults at CT.

MONT + the Alchemyst follow far behind CT, avoiding the crowd + observing his progress. The Alchemyst reaches in his pocket + pulls out a clear package of small white candies + pops one into his mouth.]

MONT: What's that you're eating?

The Alchemist: Patience. [Offers the bag to MONT ] You want some?

M: [Looks suspiciously at the candy, then back at the Alchymist ] No thanks.

[The Alchemist eats another morsel of Patience + continues watching with an air of reserved enjoyment.

Meanwhile, CT ascends the left bend of the path, flanked by the rust colored wall of Mount Ierbenu + giant boulders staggered along the edge of a steep cliff. With each step, his cross nudges the spiked "crown", pushing it deeper into the side of his skull. He tries to adjust his head to alleviate the pain, but dislodging the barbs causes a rush of blood + sweat to run down his brow + into his eyes.

As CT stumbles forward while trying to wipe his eyes clean, the dirt from his hands stings his eyes. He flinches, then trips forward landing on all fours, his cross falls + scrapes a chunk of flesh out of his right shoulder. He hears the echo of his agony bounce off the colossal rocks as tears of pain well up + stop just before streaming out to his face.

CT rises to his feet + embraces his cross once again, now able to see an end to the narrow corridor just ahead. He sees the mountain side bathed in the setting sun, no longer blocked by fallen rocks. His moment of solace is broken by the sound of The People approaching from the top of the spiraling path up Mt. Ierbenu.

They turn the corner + roar in protest at the sight of him. CT looks to the edge of the cliff + considers ending his life now.]

The People: He's trying to jump!

[The crowd surrounds CT + pushes him far from the cliff's edge. He slams into the face of Ierbenu, sandwiched between the cross + the mountain side. The People again clear a path up to the peak, + nudge CT forward. Just up the hill is Ierbenu terrace, + the road leading up to the peak, where MONT + the Alkhymist await.

Families peek out of windows + doors as CT walks the road between their homes. Most yell + throw shoes + junk at CT. A few children run out + hurl stones as big as their head. CT falls to one knee + a young boy runs up to him smiling. CT lifts his head, + the boy strikes his left eye with a club. The mob erupts in cheers + laughter, while CT holds his eye as it pulsates + begins to swell shut. He leans on the cross + gets up to fix his impaired gaze on the mountaintop. As he approaches the end of the road, he notices the silhouette of a man + child standing to his left. CT knew this was the ones who

condemned him to this fate, despite his view being obstructed by injury + the sun in the background.

CT drops his cross before The Alchemist + MONT standing alone at the top of Ierbenu, then falls flat on his face.]

The Alchymist: [lifts CT's head + examines his wounds] Very good. He's still conscious. Let's get him on his back.

[MONT helps to roll CT over. CT pushes MONT into the Alkemyst, then quickly draws an eight pointed star on the ground with his blood.]

A: Here they come...

CT: [mutters the names of his 8 demons under his breath, summoning them to his rescue. They appear behind CT, + the Alchemyst rushes forward + grabs CT, restraining him with one arm.]

The Alkhemist: You know why this has to happen, right? [Looks to the 8] Are you in or out?

[TH, the most powerful of the spirits, steps up the Alkemhist while CT + the other 7 anxiously await her move.]

The Alkhemyst: [Looks TH in the eye, using CT as human shield.] YOU of all people understand what we're doing here. He HAS to die, in order to live. Now are you IN, or not?

[TH comes face to face with the Alchymist + whispers something in his ear...]

The Alchemyst: Alright. Here. [Drops CT at TH's feet, stands back beside MONT. Crosses his arms in anticipation.]

[TH leans forward + gently grabs CT's bloody + battered head. She removes the crown of barbs + throws it to the side. Her long, black fingernails run down his face, wiping the blood from his one good eye. As CT looks up at her, TH kisses her fingers + presses them against his lips. + before he can even let out a word of relief from behind his bruised smile, she snatches his right eye out of his face. CT hits the ground screaming + squirming, now unable to see at all. The fluid he feels running out of the socket is not his blood, but a thick, black watery substance. TH holds his eye in her hand, careful not to crush it. She signals the other 7 demons to assist with the crucifixion.

ASRNT + JRLNDSL restrain CT + lay him out on the cross. JNWRTH holds his arms down while TH pulls out three strands of her hair + turns them into nails as long as her hand. MONT notices PDRVNA, CT's guardian angel + a member of the 8, weeping off to the side of the group. He tugs on the Alkemyst's pant leg + points to her.]

The Alchymyst: [puts his arm around PDRVNA's folded brown wings + pats her shoulder] I'm sorry, but if you don't participate--

PDRVNA: I know. + I will. It just...hurts. He's suffered so much. [Takes a deep breath as the Alkhimist guides her back over to the cross.]

[PDRVNA keeps her hand on CT's legs as LNDSL hammers the first nail into his hand. It goes straight through + into the cross with only one strike. The other hand is nailed just as easily. The last one goes through both feet, + takes LNDSL two hammer blows. PDRVNA tries not to look at CT's face or at the blood spilling from his feet.

STN lifts the cross up + plants it into the ground. CT groans as his body weight adds pressure to the nail wounds. A small edge on the seat of the cross prevented his asphyxiation.]

MONT: Now what?

The Alkimyst: He's not dead YET. [Eats a few pieces of Patience + looks over to MONT] Now, we wait.

[MONT puts out a hand, + the Alkhemyst gives him a little white morsel of Patience]

*3 hours later*

The Alkhymist: [draws the Sword of Truth] He'll need his body, where he's going. So we're going to take it down to him [Points the sword at TH]. Open us a portal.

[TH snarls at the Alchemyst, then signals BQR to create a passage to the Underworld. The enormous alligator-like creature opens it's mouth wide with a growl + expels the same black liquid that came out of CT's eye wound. A sizzling puddle forms, then becomes a bottomless pit.]

The Alkemyst: [looks up at CT] "It rises from Earth to the Heavens, then descends back down to the Earth, reclaiming the combined authority of both the Above, + the Below." See you on the other side, friend. [stabs CT through the heart. The blade pierces his body + the cross. CT gasps his last breath, + the nails disintegrate. The Alkhemist catches CT over his shoulder + sheaths the Sword of Truth. He carries him over to the mouth of the pit + addresses the 8]

The Alkhymyst: You can't follow him to the Arcana, so just seal this up behind us. [Looks over his shoulder to CT's lifeless body.] See you on the other side, friend. [Takes MONT by the hand, + the 3 of them jump down into the abyss.]

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

CAST (in order of appearance) The People Citizens of Phoenixia CT - The Ego MONT - The Soul The Alkhemyst The "Eager 8" 1 TH 2 ASRNT 3 JRLNDSL 4 JNWRTH 5 PDRVNA 6 LNDSL 7 STN 8 BQR

To Be Continued.

Part 2: One Who Adheres To The Black [Coming Soon]