8:20am
Tommy Tammosimo walked up to Cole's house. "Cole! Are you here?"
There was no answer.
He knocked on the door. "C'mon, Cole. We have to go to school.."
The door opened. It was Cole's mother, Lynn. "Tommy? WHAT are you
doing here?!"
The kid replied, "I'm here to walk with Cole to school today. Mr. Cunningham said we should practice safety because of recent crime in the city. Is he ready?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, but he already left."
"Huh? He *left*?"
"Yes, about twenty minutes ago, like he was in a hurry."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure, I think he's been having bad dreams again. He kept saying something about a temple and fire..it's strange. He didn't even have breakfast, which he always does."
"Oh. Okay, then..I guess I'll go to school now. Thanks."
"Sure..can you talk to him about it?"
"Yes..I'll try." He walked away as she shut the door. As he walked on, he thought out loud, "Freak. The teacher always has *me* walk to school with him. He has for several weeks, now today he's alone. This is very weird."
***********
9:02am
ST. ANTHONY'S ACADEMY
The children were in their seats.
The teacher, Stanley Cunningham, sat on the end of his desk-table. He was a thin man, very gentle..very calm and collective, extremely polite. "Okay, class. We're going to do something special today. We're going to draw
pictures."
The students smiled. Good, no homework.
"Now, if you'll all look on your desks, you'll notice a BIG sheet of drawing paper. I want you all to think about something you saw in your dreams. Anything you dreamed about. Rainbows, a plane trip with Dad, going to Disneyland, falling off a tree..anything you had a dream about. Okay..you can start now."
Cole opened his sack and took out his crayons. He doesn't know
what to draw yet, as his hands hover above the paper.
Suddenly, when he looked up, he saw the enemy-ghost standing beside Mr. Cunningham.
Cole was about to speak, when the ghost put a finger to his own mouth, mocking him.
"Shhh! You're in class, child. Not supposed to talk unless you raise your hand."
Cole looked down on the paper, trying to avoid eye-contact with the evil man. He took a few breaths, concentrating on what to draw. Then, he began the assignment. His mind went back to the violent dream he had last night, the images of chaos filled his being. He started drawing..soon, as he was doing it, he was still thinking about his vision. His hands seemed to be moving on their own now. As he drew, he heard the ninja's words to Caine.
["What you cannot possess, you must destroy! You never learned that."]
Cole winced at it. But the image continued to play in his head.
["Discard formal wisdom and knowledge, and the happiness of the people will increase a hundred times. Discard kindness and righteoususness, and the love for family will be restored...what do you say to *that*..Kwai Chang Caine?!"]
He saw them fight.
*******
[The man was beating the priest, but Caine eventually got the upper hand.
He kicked the man, who was knocked over onto a table with candles on it.
The man got up, feeling the right side of his face. "Yahiiee...ahhhhh!!!!" Slightly disfigured, the man ran out.]
[Caine yelled out to his son. "Peter!!"
The column fell on his son.
The stone ceiling collapsed onto Caine..the priest fell to the ground as it rested on him.]
*********
Then, Cole saw the temple explosion. Finally, he dropped his crayons. The violent images had ceased. He layed his head down on the desk, so that no one would suspect what happened.
Mr. Cunningham looked over. "Cole? What's the matter? Are you alright??" The child looked upset.
Cole looked up at the teacher. He noticed that the ghost was walking around the room. "Yes..I'm fine."
Mr. Cunningham walked over to him, close enough to whisper. "Are you sure? Let's see what you drew now." He looked at the picture.
It depicted two men fighting. One was a bald man in yellow robes, with markings on his forearms. The other was a man dressed in all-black, standing in some kind of kung-fu stance, like the Crane: one foot up, both hands up by the head waiting for Caine's move. It showed also the scene around them. The walls, the steps, other monks and priests were on the floor, and the table of candles. On the top left corner was a picture of the temple, with a blaze of fire coming from the roof, like a massive explosion.
"What's this, Cole? Was this your dream?"
He nodded. "Yes. The temple destroyed by evil men. Father and son, separated for fifteen years...they both thought each other was dead."
Cunningham whispered, "Cole, this temple...is it a 'place of light and song'?"
Cole nodded silently.
"I remember..is this Caine's temple? The one that was destroyed in California?"
Cole looked up at him in surprise. "You knew?"
The teacher replied, "I met Caine about five or six years ago. So, would you like to go home early?"
"Yes. I think I need to be alone for a while."
"Okay. You can go in a little bit. I'll call the principal soon to let him know it's okay. Oh, you can take this paper home in a few days. I'll try to find someone to help you." He took the paper up to the desk.
Tommy looked over at Cole. What was that freak so upset about? He looked at his own drawing: it was him on a TV movie set. He caught the picture that Cole drew, as the teacher took it up to the desk. The destruction of the temple. That must be what Cole's mom was talking about. The kid sure had an active imagination.
Cole saw Tommy staring at him. "Stop *looking* at me. I don't like being stared at like that."
Tommy looked away.
Then, Cole put his head down, closing his eyes.
As Mr. Cunningham put Cole's drawing on his table, the ghost looked at it. "What?! What is this?" He analyzed it, looking at the picture of him and the priest: Caine versus Tan. The fight in the temple. It showed him and his enemy in the exact poses that they were in at that time. "How could he...*how* could he know this?" He looked up at the corner, the part showing the fire. "The temple's destruction. HOW could that boy know of this? The image here is so exact and precise...HOW?!" He decided that it was time for action. He looked over at the teacher. "YOU. Stanley Cunningham. Your life is empty. Without purpose. Your path is monotonous..but that will change." He stepped in front of him, closing his eyes. He had his hands clasped together over his chest. As he goes deeper into concentration, he steps back...right "into" Mr. Cunningham. Tan is nowhere to be seen.
Mr. Cunningham opens his eyes. He looked around. "Yess...it worked." He isn't the same now. He looks at the children with contempt. Well, now that Tan is in his body, he can use the host to further his purpose for revenge. But first, he needed to leave this building. "Class! Look at me."
They all put their crayons down and looked at him.
"You have all done well on your sketches. You are done now. In fact, you may ALL go home now! I'm discharging you all from this place, go home."
They stared with amazement. This was a new development.
The 'teacher' smirks. What, they need more persuasion than this? He commanded solemnly, "Class is dismissed for today!!" He clapped his hands twice, very loud and rough [Clap! Clap!!].
They immediately got up and began filing out. As they left, Cole looked back at Mr. Cunningham.
He's not himself. This man is another person now.
Cole was outside, in the hallway. He took a paper out of his bag. He went up to the pay-phone, dialed a number.
After several rings, an elderly woman's voice asked, "Yes, this the Emergency line for the 101st Precinct. How can I help you?"
"I need to talk with one of your detectives..Peter Caine."
"Sorry, he's busy on a stakeout now, he left a message not to be disturbed.. I can tell him you asked for him. Who is this?"
"Cole Sear. I'm calling St. Anthony's Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-"
She interrupted, "WAIT! How old are you, kid?"
"Nine. It's okay, Peter knows me. Tell him to call me as soon as possible. Things are happening here..bad things. I need for his dad to help me.."
"Well, since Detective Caine isn't at the Precinct, I can pass the message to the Desk Sergeant, and he'll tell Peter to call."
He paused.
"Will that be okay with you? Would you like to do it that way?"
"Umm..yes. Sure. Just tell him I called. Bye." Cole, disappointed, slowly put the receiver back on its hook. That was a dead end. He tried so hard to contact Master Caine through Peter's workplace, but it wasn't good enough. He'll have to write him a note or a letter. He slowly walked out of the building, looking down as he went...
Tommy Tammosimo walked up to Cole's house. "Cole! Are you here?"
There was no answer.
He knocked on the door. "C'mon, Cole. We have to go to school.."
The door opened. It was Cole's mother, Lynn. "Tommy? WHAT are you
doing here?!"
The kid replied, "I'm here to walk with Cole to school today. Mr. Cunningham said we should practice safety because of recent crime in the city. Is he ready?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, but he already left."
"Huh? He *left*?"
"Yes, about twenty minutes ago, like he was in a hurry."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure, I think he's been having bad dreams again. He kept saying something about a temple and fire..it's strange. He didn't even have breakfast, which he always does."
"Oh. Okay, then..I guess I'll go to school now. Thanks."
"Sure..can you talk to him about it?"
"Yes..I'll try." He walked away as she shut the door. As he walked on, he thought out loud, "Freak. The teacher always has *me* walk to school with him. He has for several weeks, now today he's alone. This is very weird."
***********
9:02am
ST. ANTHONY'S ACADEMY
The children were in their seats.
The teacher, Stanley Cunningham, sat on the end of his desk-table. He was a thin man, very gentle..very calm and collective, extremely polite. "Okay, class. We're going to do something special today. We're going to draw
pictures."
The students smiled. Good, no homework.
"Now, if you'll all look on your desks, you'll notice a BIG sheet of drawing paper. I want you all to think about something you saw in your dreams. Anything you dreamed about. Rainbows, a plane trip with Dad, going to Disneyland, falling off a tree..anything you had a dream about. Okay..you can start now."
Cole opened his sack and took out his crayons. He doesn't know
what to draw yet, as his hands hover above the paper.
Suddenly, when he looked up, he saw the enemy-ghost standing beside Mr. Cunningham.
Cole was about to speak, when the ghost put a finger to his own mouth, mocking him.
"Shhh! You're in class, child. Not supposed to talk unless you raise your hand."
Cole looked down on the paper, trying to avoid eye-contact with the evil man. He took a few breaths, concentrating on what to draw. Then, he began the assignment. His mind went back to the violent dream he had last night, the images of chaos filled his being. He started drawing..soon, as he was doing it, he was still thinking about his vision. His hands seemed to be moving on their own now. As he drew, he heard the ninja's words to Caine.
["What you cannot possess, you must destroy! You never learned that."]
Cole winced at it. But the image continued to play in his head.
["Discard formal wisdom and knowledge, and the happiness of the people will increase a hundred times. Discard kindness and righteoususness, and the love for family will be restored...what do you say to *that*..Kwai Chang Caine?!"]
He saw them fight.
*******
[The man was beating the priest, but Caine eventually got the upper hand.
He kicked the man, who was knocked over onto a table with candles on it.
The man got up, feeling the right side of his face. "Yahiiee...ahhhhh!!!!" Slightly disfigured, the man ran out.]
[Caine yelled out to his son. "Peter!!"
The column fell on his son.
The stone ceiling collapsed onto Caine..the priest fell to the ground as it rested on him.]
*********
Then, Cole saw the temple explosion. Finally, he dropped his crayons. The violent images had ceased. He layed his head down on the desk, so that no one would suspect what happened.
Mr. Cunningham looked over. "Cole? What's the matter? Are you alright??" The child looked upset.
Cole looked up at the teacher. He noticed that the ghost was walking around the room. "Yes..I'm fine."
Mr. Cunningham walked over to him, close enough to whisper. "Are you sure? Let's see what you drew now." He looked at the picture.
It depicted two men fighting. One was a bald man in yellow robes, with markings on his forearms. The other was a man dressed in all-black, standing in some kind of kung-fu stance, like the Crane: one foot up, both hands up by the head waiting for Caine's move. It showed also the scene around them. The walls, the steps, other monks and priests were on the floor, and the table of candles. On the top left corner was a picture of the temple, with a blaze of fire coming from the roof, like a massive explosion.
"What's this, Cole? Was this your dream?"
He nodded. "Yes. The temple destroyed by evil men. Father and son, separated for fifteen years...they both thought each other was dead."
Cunningham whispered, "Cole, this temple...is it a 'place of light and song'?"
Cole nodded silently.
"I remember..is this Caine's temple? The one that was destroyed in California?"
Cole looked up at him in surprise. "You knew?"
The teacher replied, "I met Caine about five or six years ago. So, would you like to go home early?"
"Yes. I think I need to be alone for a while."
"Okay. You can go in a little bit. I'll call the principal soon to let him know it's okay. Oh, you can take this paper home in a few days. I'll try to find someone to help you." He took the paper up to the desk.
Tommy looked over at Cole. What was that freak so upset about? He looked at his own drawing: it was him on a TV movie set. He caught the picture that Cole drew, as the teacher took it up to the desk. The destruction of the temple. That must be what Cole's mom was talking about. The kid sure had an active imagination.
Cole saw Tommy staring at him. "Stop *looking* at me. I don't like being stared at like that."
Tommy looked away.
Then, Cole put his head down, closing his eyes.
As Mr. Cunningham put Cole's drawing on his table, the ghost looked at it. "What?! What is this?" He analyzed it, looking at the picture of him and the priest: Caine versus Tan. The fight in the temple. It showed him and his enemy in the exact poses that they were in at that time. "How could he...*how* could he know this?" He looked up at the corner, the part showing the fire. "The temple's destruction. HOW could that boy know of this? The image here is so exact and precise...HOW?!" He decided that it was time for action. He looked over at the teacher. "YOU. Stanley Cunningham. Your life is empty. Without purpose. Your path is monotonous..but that will change." He stepped in front of him, closing his eyes. He had his hands clasped together over his chest. As he goes deeper into concentration, he steps back...right "into" Mr. Cunningham. Tan is nowhere to be seen.
Mr. Cunningham opens his eyes. He looked around. "Yess...it worked." He isn't the same now. He looks at the children with contempt. Well, now that Tan is in his body, he can use the host to further his purpose for revenge. But first, he needed to leave this building. "Class! Look at me."
They all put their crayons down and looked at him.
"You have all done well on your sketches. You are done now. In fact, you may ALL go home now! I'm discharging you all from this place, go home."
They stared with amazement. This was a new development.
The 'teacher' smirks. What, they need more persuasion than this? He commanded solemnly, "Class is dismissed for today!!" He clapped his hands twice, very loud and rough [Clap! Clap!!].
They immediately got up and began filing out. As they left, Cole looked back at Mr. Cunningham.
He's not himself. This man is another person now.
Cole was outside, in the hallway. He took a paper out of his bag. He went up to the pay-phone, dialed a number.
After several rings, an elderly woman's voice asked, "Yes, this the Emergency line for the 101st Precinct. How can I help you?"
"I need to talk with one of your detectives..Peter Caine."
"Sorry, he's busy on a stakeout now, he left a message not to be disturbed.. I can tell him you asked for him. Who is this?"
"Cole Sear. I'm calling St. Anthony's Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-"
She interrupted, "WAIT! How old are you, kid?"
"Nine. It's okay, Peter knows me. Tell him to call me as soon as possible. Things are happening here..bad things. I need for his dad to help me.."
"Well, since Detective Caine isn't at the Precinct, I can pass the message to the Desk Sergeant, and he'll tell Peter to call."
He paused.
"Will that be okay with you? Would you like to do it that way?"
"Umm..yes. Sure. Just tell him I called. Bye." Cole, disappointed, slowly put the receiver back on its hook. That was a dead end. He tried so hard to contact Master Caine through Peter's workplace, but it wasn't good enough. He'll have to write him a note or a letter. He slowly walked out of the building, looking down as he went...