Scream of the Banshee Page #2

Yikes.

Then I guess it's a good

thing I didn't go outside.

Hey, guys.

What's going on?

Anything weird

happened to you

when you got home

last night?

Well, I was gutted to death

in my Commie Commando game

which is terribly strange, because

the only weapons available are guns.

My ear is still ringing and

feeling scabby after last night.

Mmm.

Oh, there was a dead

weasel on my front doorstep.

Otherwise, feeling dandy.

Oh, my God.

Professor,

what is going on?

I looked up Broderick

Duncan's name last night.

He used to teach here.

Retired 10 years ago.

Then I found

all these creepy videos.

I know he's gotta have

something to do with this.

"I am not a god.

I am not a man.

"I am the bringer of darkness.

"The great wielder

of the truth.

"Mankind has long suffered

at the hands of mortals,

"but I am the vessel

for which mankind will bow

"for its forgiveness and

pay for its ultimate sin,

"complacency. "

On the one hand,

he's an esteemed professor

who retired with dignity,

and on the other hand, he's

an end-of-days prophet of doom.

Sounds like psycho whackjob is

a more appropriate description.

Wait. Did you see that?

Look familiar?

The Templar seal.

He's wearing my gauntlet.

My?

That's our connection.

He has to have been the

one who sent us the gauntlet

and that led us

directly to the box.

What a prick.

We have to find

Broderick Duncan.

Janie, where are

the employee files kept?

Section three.

Not again!

I really hate the smell

down here.

Hmm.

I knew something

didn't sound right.

Assault charges.

Erratic behavior.

They offered him a deal.

Retire gracefully

and never come back.

Doesn't have

a current address.

But he does have an

assistant. Dr. Frederick Page.

He was the one

who got him fired.

This guy was heavy

into environmental causes.

Left shortly after Duncan.

Maybe he knows

where he lives.

Let's go.

I'm right behind you.

All right.

Pete.

Pete! Pete!

Otto! Otto!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

What's going on?

You didn't see it?

We didn't see anything.

We just heard you screaming.

Are you all right?

Clearly not.

The police say

it was a heart attack.

What do you think it is?

I think something else

is going on.

We looked everywhere.

Nothing else was

down there with you.

What are you

not telling us?

In the '60s, the government

tested hallucinogenic weapons.

LSD was a by-product.

Maybe something like that was

released when the box was opened.

You're thinking we're experiencing

some sort of mass psychosis?

Sioux wasn't even in the room when

that thing evaporated into the air.

How do you explain

what happened to him?

Did you find anything out

on Page?

I got an address. He lives in

that new, downtown Eco-complex.

Okay. I think

I'll pay him a visit.

Can I borrow the phone,

the one with the recording?

Yeah. Here.

Just keep searching, okay?

Okay.

You know, when she's finished

archiving this project,

we'll be moving.

She already has the next

gig lined up for next month.

How long have you

known about this?

Since we got into town.

And you're just

telling me now?

I know. I'm sorry.

You know...

I just didn't know

I'd like you this much.

Okay. Right.

I was thinking

about staying.

Just thinking?

She'd never let me.

I know her. She'd create

some drama to make me go.

Look, if you do leave,

maybe I'll go where you go.

Why should you have

to follow me around?

You know,

my dad used to walk me down

to skid row once a month.

You know, he wanted to show me what life

would be like if I didn't study hard.

And?

And...

And I still got the

lip ring anyway, chica.

Look, everybody's got their

own reasons for doing things.

And sometimes

they don't make any sense,

like your mom,

most of the time.

But if this is

how you feel,

then I'll support

whatever decision you make.

Good, because I've

already made up my mind.

Oh.

Hopefully she'll listen

to me this time.

What is the only thing you can

break when you say its name?

I don't feel like

I owe anyone an apology.

I am not crazy.

I am not a lunatic.

I just see the world

for what it is.

Among our ruins is justice.

Judgment will be handed down.

Bean Si.

Bean Si?

Is that Spanish for "Yes,

I'd like some beans"?

Bean Si.

It's Gaelic for banshee.

Irish folklore.

A creature whose scream

warns of imminent death.

Banshees were associated

with five royal Irish families

up until about

the 12th century.

A banshee can

take on many forms.

The most common

is that of an old hag.

But there are also stories of people

encountering a banshee as a waif

or a seductress.

And of course,

if you heard

the banshee's scream,

it will haunt you

until you accepted death.

Otto.

What? What's wrong?

So much for

the implausible.

That's pretty much what I saw,

but it had a body this time.

I didn't see anything.

Well,

maybe it didn't

want you to.

I mean, it was

toying with me, it was

messing with my mind, it

was trying to get me to...

I don't know,

it was tricking me into...

Haunting you?

Silence.

That's it.

That's what you break

when you say it.

That's what Duncan asked

in his clip.

When I didn't scream,

that's what saved me.

It couldn't hurt me.

You're starting

to freak me out.

Starting?

Can I help you?

Uh, yes. My name is

Professor Moira Whelan.

Ah, you're with the school.

What can I do for you?

I only need a moment of your

time. It's about Broderick Duncan.

A box...

They're still looking

for that thing?

No. We found it.

Well, if that's the case,

I'm sure you realized

it couldn't be opened.

It would be a good idea

if you wouldn't...

Well, you see,

that's the problem.

We did open it.

No...

Come in.

Hey, guys.

Where's my mom?

She went out,

but she'll be back.

We'll wait. Is there

anything I can do until then?

You want to help?

Yeah.

As always, a little

too late to do that.

No, thank you.

Does this look

familiar to you?

I don't recall Duncan or I ever

finding anything quite like that.

Mmm-hmm.

Well, it was sent to us

and it turned out to be the

thing that opened the box.

Hmm.

Strange things have been happening

ever since that box was opened.

Some very wild

and vivid hallucinations.

Almost like there was some

kind of chemical agent inside.

Perhaps placed there

by Duncan.

My dear Professor.

Broderick Duncan

is a very intelligent man

whose imagination

was his own worst enemy.

The Templar Box was just one in

a long line of his many crusades.

I'm not interested in

any crusade, but this one.

Where can I find Duncan?

I've left that part

of my life behind me.

I didn't like who I became

when I was around him.

But I need you to tell me

everything you know.

Please.

What's wrong?

I'm just worried

about you.

Us.

And that thing.

It.

And?

And Sioux is dead

and we both know

it wasn't a heart attack.

I just... I'm freaked out,

I'm pretty...

Pretty scared.

Maybe...

Maybe we should

stick together tonight.

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