Chapter 5 – Hellfire/Randy's Descent Into Madness
Drew then walked over back to his quarters in the bell tower as he was suddenly accosted by the gargoyles. They yelped and cheered loudly and they shook his hand.
"There he is!" Anne hollered.
"You ejected that scruffy-faced buffoon with great pizzazz," Ivan declared with a smile.
"The nerve of that big headed jerk trying to steal your girl," Anne scoffed sardonically.
"Wait? My girl?" Drew raised an eyebrow in bemusement.
"You know, Natalie, that girl with the long brown hair, those big, pretty eyes with the face of a supermodel and works with an alien," Marlena piped in.
"Wait to go, lover boy!" Anne cackled excitedly, flapping her wings and pumping up her fist.
"Lover boy?" Drew scoffed as he shook his head in disbelief. "Oh, no, no, no, no!"
"Come on, Drew, don't be so modest," Marlena tried to reassure him as the gang climbed up the ladder and went into the room.
"I appreciate your kind sentiments, everybody, but you're forgetting one thing: I'm the ugliest face in all of Salem, remember?" Drew retorted cynically as he walked over to his table and looked out the balcony.
"Besides, I don't even believe I'm her type anyway."
Drew then noticed a brown-haired couple walking hand in hand under the moonlit night. The woman then smiled at her lover tenderly with besotted eyes as he hugged her. Drew then smiled at the sight as his chin sat on his hand. Marlena then beamed happily as Anne let out a big sigh. Marlena then glared at her and smacked her across the face before she continued beaming.
So many times out there
I've watched a happy pair
Of lovers walking in the night
They have a kind of glow around them
It almost looks like Heaven's Light
Drew then looked out at the moonlight as a couple of birds soared by and settled onto a rooftop as they cuddled up together. He the caressed his face sadly and closed his eyes in discouragement.
I knew I'd never know
That warm and loving glow
Although I might wish
With all my might
No face as hideous as my face
Was ever meant for Heaven's light
Drew then flashed back to when Natalie kissed him on the cheek and also when she laughed and held his hand. Meanwhile the gargoyles were busy drawing and Ivan was erasing some lines on his paper. Anne then leaned over to peek at his work and Ivan covered his drawing so she wouldn't see. Anne then grinned sheepishly in response.
But suddenly an angel has smiled at me
And kissed my cheek
Without a trace of fright
Drew then picked up a wooden figurine of Natalie and started to paint her. Ivan then picked up his drawing of Vivian Alamain while Marlena showed a picture of Electra Woman. Anne then showed her own drawing of Yaarp and clicked her tongue with a grin right at Ivan.
I dared to dream
That she might even care for me
And as I ring these bells tonight
Drew then walked over to one of the bells and started to ring it as the tolls echoed and resounded deeply into the night. The camera panned out of the bell tower as it soon moved up to the sky.
This cold dark bell tower
Suddenly seems so bright
I swear it must be Heaven's light
The camera then slowly zoomed in closer to St. Luke's as men began to sing in Latin. Father Matt then started swinging a smoking lantern in his hand as he led a group of clergymen with him. The Latin chanting continued as the camera moved slowly upward and finally focused on Randy, who was walking towards a window solemnly.
Beata Maria
You know I'm a righteous man
Of my virtue I'm justly proud
Randy then walks towards the fireplace and then stands in front of it as the flames burn and rage on.
Beata Maria
You know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak
Licentious crowd
Randy then peers into the fire as he sees an image of Natalie dancing and spinning around seductively and blowing a kiss at him.
Then tell me Maria
Why I see her dancing there
Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul
I fear her
I see her
The sun caught in her raven hair
Is blazing beyond all control
Randy then balks at the sight of the vision and backs away in terror. He soon grabs a black stash and rubs it against his cheek. He then pulls the object tightly in his hands and falls to his knees just as the background turns dark and a group of men in suits and masks with exposed eyes materialized out of nowhere.
Like fire, hellfire
This fire burning in my skin
This burning desire
Is turning into sin
Randy continued to walk through a red, hellish background as the mysterious cloaked figures continued to chant and point fingers at him. Randy then looked around in a fit of panic as he began to see visions of Natalie's eyes peering at him. He then saw several images of Natalie dancing around him giggling and laughing while dressed in a cape and a belly dancer outfit and a whirlwind of shadows and flames surrounded and engulfed him.
It's not my fault
I'm not to blame
It's this gypsy girl
The witch who set this flame
It's not my fault
If in God's plan
He made the devil
So much stronger than a man
Randy then knelt down on the ground as he gazed out at the fireplace in fear as the image of Natalie continued to dance and move in his eyes. Randy continued to stare at the vision as flames began to surround it with great ferocity. It then emerged out of the fire as wispy smoke floated towards Randy and he reached out to kiss her.
Protect me, Maria
Don't let the siren cast her spell
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
Destroy Natalie
And let her taste the fires of hell
Or else let her be mine and mine alone
Just then his reverie came to an abrupt halt as Randy turned to see Janja, Cheezi and Chungu enter the premises.
"Minister Milhouse, the gypsy has escaped."
"What?!" Randy gasped as his eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
"She's nowhere in the cathedral, boss. She's gone," Cheezi chimed in.
"Yeah, it's like she's vanished into thin air. Poof!" Chungu added.
Randy shook his head in disbelief.
"But how and I…" Randy stammered as he then paced around nervously. He then turned back to his commanding officer with a sneer.
"Never mind. Get out you idiot!" he yelled as he turned back to the fireplace. "I'll find her. I'll find her even if I have to burn down all of Salem!"
Randy then continued to watch the fireplace burn intensely as the rage in his heart continued to grow.
Hellfire, dark fire
Now gypsy it's your turn
He then clutched the stash in his hand and then threw it into the fireplace.
Choose me or your pyre
Be mine or you will burn!
The scene soon turned dark as several flames began to spew all around and Randy was being covered up in smoke. The camera began to zoom out slowly as the flames grew larger and stronger and began to spread. Randy then got down on his knees and started to yell at the top of his lungs as the whirlwind of smoke and flames became more intense and began to take over the entire area with evil cackled coming out from evil demons. Finally he stopped yelling as he then collapsed flat on his face and passed out.
God have mercy on her
God have mercy on me
But she will be mine
Or she will… burn!
The next morning, Brady and his men were standing in the street as a carriage arrived before them. Randy emerged out of the vehicle looking disheveled and exhausted.
"Are you all right, sir?" Brady asked.
"I um… had a little trouble with the fireplace," Randy answered, rubbing his forehead.
"What are our orders?" Brady inquired as Randy turned towards him with an intense gaze.
"Find the gypsy girl."
Soon Randy, Brady and the police force soon began storming throughout Salem in search of Natalie. One officer kicked down the door as his comrades pulled their weapons at a group of experiments.
"10 pieces of silver for the gypsy girl," Randy growled coldly as a tabby golden brown experiment lowered his head and exchanged looks with the rest of his brethren.
"Take them away!" Randy ordered as the cops then captured the experiments and hauled them away in cages.
They soon came upon another residence where a middle-aged woman with blonde hair, a younger auburn haired woman with a long and pasty face and a young dark-haired man with a scruffy face and a thin yet slender build were sitting at home together listening to the radio.
"20 pieces of silver for the gypsy girl," Randy hissed as the brother and sister duo exchanged nervous glances and their mother took in a deep breath.
"Take them away!" Randy demanded as the cops arrested the whole family and escorted them out of the house in handcuffs. Brady then watched the spectacle while shaking his head in disgust.
Later, Randy and his police team were soon at a quaint old house near Salem River as Randy was speaking with an old man with a staunched face and white hair named Doug, who was standing next to his wife Julie and a couple of children named Johnny, Sydney and Allie. A large crowd had gathered as Natalie and Yaarp snuck in quietly disguised in a cloak and peeked through to see what was going on.
"That old crooner's innocent!" a female voice said. "He's never harmed a person in his life!"
"Randy's gone mad, I tell ya!" a male voice whispered in a hushed tone as Yaarp narrowed his eyes.
"We've uncovered this gypsy talisman on your property. Have you been harboring gypsies?" Randy interrogated Doug grimly as Doug went down on his knees to beg for his life.
"Our home is always open to the weary traveler. Have mercy, my lord."
"I'm hereby placing you and your family under house arrest," Randy announced as Doug's face paled dramatically and the children hugged Julie in terror. "If what you say is true and you're actually innocent then you shall have nothing to fear."
"But we are innocent!" Doug yelled angrily as Randy started to walk away. "I'm telling you, Your Honor, we know nothing of these gypsies!"
Randy then closed the door on them and then locked it with a door bar. He then picked up a torch and handed it over to Brady. "Burn it."
"What?" Brady gasped in shock as he could hardly believe what he had just heard.
"Until it smolders. These people are traitors to our city and must suffer for the crimes that they've committed."
"With all due respect, sir, I did not go to the police academy just to take innocent lives," Brady objected strongly and Randy gazed at him with a contemptuous glare. "But you were trained to follow orders."
Brady then held the torch and walked over to a bucket of water before he extinguished it immediately.
Randy then bristled with fury at what Brady just did. "Insolent coward."
He then borrowed a cigarette from another officer as he then threw it right at the house and it soon was set ablaze.
Brady then froze at the sounds of terrified and agonized screams as he charged right towards the burning house. He soon tumbled into a window and began to search through the building for the trapped family. Brady then grabbed Johnny and Sydney in his arms as Sydney began to cry shrilly in fear. He then led the family out of the house and they raced over to safety just as the house collapsed.
Brady then handed the kids back to Julie as Julie was relieved to have them safe and sound. Then just as Julie and the kids reunited with Doug, one of the officers snuck up to Brady and whacked him with the butt of the gun, knocking him out. A couple of cops soon grabbed Brady by both arms and dragged him over to Randy, who was riding on his horse.
"The sentence for insubordination is death. Such a pity. You threw away a promising career."
"Consider it my highest honor, sir," Brady retorted, hanging his head. An officer then flashed out his shotgun and aimed it at Brady, preparing to shoot. "Kill him," Randy commanded.
Natalie then picked up a rock and hurtled it right at Randy's horse, causing it to whinny and stand up on its hind legs in fright. Randy then falls off the horse as Brady elbows the two officers holding him out of the way and soon jumps onto the horse. Brady then rides away from the scene as several officers on horseback chase him with their machine guns in hand.
"Get him! And don't hit my horse for God's sake!" Randy yelled.
As Brady was crossing the Salem River, the officers raised up their weapons and began firing rapidly. Brady then yelled in pain as several bullets riddled his body and he tumbled into the water. He was then swept up with the rapids as he was soon heading towards a waterfall and then went under.
The officers then raced over to the waterfall's edge and continued firing bullets into the water even as Brady disappeared into the very depths.
Randy then approached his men with his side arm. "Don't waste your bullets. Let the traitor rot in his watery grave!"
Natalie then skirted behind a tree and began panting heavily in fear with Yaarp on her shoulder as she listened in on Randy and his team.
"Find the girl. If you have to burn the city to the ground, so be it."
"Oh no, Brady…" Natalie whispered as she looked over at the waterfall raging on. "I'm coming to save you!"
She then made a mad dash for the waterfall as she then jumped and soon tumbled right into the water. Natalie then dove deep underwater as she found Brady sinking rapidly to the bottom. She and Yaarp soon grabbed him and pulled him right back up to the surface. The two then soon emerged out of the water as they carried Brady to the bank and soon whisked his unconscious body out of the area.
A short time later, the entire city of Salem was ablaze as Randy was on his horse and a couple of officers approached him.
"Sir, we've looked everywhere but still no sign of the gypsy girl," one of them informed him.
"That's impossible," Randy whispered in disbelief. "I've had every single officer in all of Salem stationed at every door and even have the cathedral completely surrounded. There's no way she could've escaped. Unless…"
He then glanced up at the bell tower as a terrible realization soon dawned upon him.
Meanwhile, in the bell tower the gargoyles were perched on the balcony as they were watching the mass chaos and destruction below.
"This doesn't look good at all," Marlena replied sadly.
"It's hopeless, absolutely hopeless," Ivan shook his head.
"You're telling me. I'm losing to Iago over here!" Anne complained as she threw down her cards in frustration. Iago then cackled evilly as he grabbed the piles of red and blue chips in his wings. "Now pay up, sister."
"Oh, that poor, sweet Natalie. I'm starting to fear the very worst for her," Ivan frowned as Marlena turned to her resolutely. "Now don't you even say anything to upset Drew. He's worried enough already as it is."
"You got a point there, Mar. We must keep quiet," Anne hissed.
"Shh! Here he comes now," Ivan whispered softly as they could hear Drew entering the room.
"Easy does it," Marlena said in a hushed tone.
"Yeah, stone cold as ice," Ivan added as Drew approached the trio.
"Have you seen Natalie around here?" Drew asked as Ivan began to tremble with anxiety, his wings shivering. Finally he couldn't take it anymore and in an act of desperation grabbed Drew and started bawling.
"Oh, God, all is lost! She could be anywhere! She could have swept away in the Salem River or locked up in the department prison or even shot in cold blood and left on the street to die! Oh, God!"
"Nice going, Ivan," Marlena groaned exasperatedly.
"Ivan's right. What are we going to do now?" Drew sighed.
"What are you guys talking about?" Anne laughed sardonically. "If I know that girl, she's three steps ahead of Randy and out of harm's out!"
"You really think so?" Drew retorted quizzically.
"Hey, when things settle down, she'll be back, you'll see," Anne shrugged.
"And how would you even know that?" Drew scoffed.
"Because she likes ya," Marlena answered as she petted Drew's hair tenderly. "We always said that you were the cute one."
"Hey, I thought I was the cute one," Anne retorted sharply as she sipped some wine and took a drag of her cigarette.
"No, you're just the mean-spirited one and not to mention you have a big mouth!" Marlena shot back.
Anne then took another drags of her cigarette with a stoic expression. "What are you saying exactly?"
"Take it from us, Drew. You have nothing to worry about," Marlena tried to reassure.
"Yeah, you're irresistible," Anne chuckled.
"And those esteemed men in blue uniforms certainly aren't her type," Ivan added.
"Ack, those guys are a dime a dozen. But you, Castle, are one of a kind," Anne retorted with a wide grin and a wink.
Anne then sighs deeply as she picks up a stick with a hot dog and sticks it out of the window. She then pulled it out just as it was burning.
Ah, look, Salem
The city of lovers is glowing this evening
True, that's because it's on fire
But still there's le amor
Drew then watched Anne hold several cards in her hand as she tossed them out on the table. She showed a group of four cards in her hand that were all hearts. She then breathed in her cigarette and blew out a smoke ring, causing Drew to cough.
Somewhere out there in the night
Her heart's also alight
And I know just the guy
She might be burning for
Anne then started to dance and spin around as she soon dressed herself as a geisha. She then spun around rapidly as she crashed into a wall and she began to see Drew in double.
A guy like you
She's never known kid
A guy like you
A girl does not meet everyday
You've got a look
That's all your own kid
But will there be two like you?
"No way!" Ivan, Marlena and Anne chorused.
Anne then walked over to the table and slapped around a couple of Drew-like wooden figurines as they spun and ricocheted off each other. Anne then grabbed a pair of binoculars as she peered at Drew from just about every angle possible. He then peered through his legs upside down as he saw Anne standing in front of him with the binoculars. Drew then glanced up to see Ivan, Anne and Marlena swinging on the bell ropes.
Those other guys
That she could dangle
All look the same
From every boring point of view
You're a surprise
From every angle
Mon Dieu above
She's gotta love
A guy like you
Ivan then pushes up a pile of chips as he, Marlena and Anne are wearing caps and are sitting around in a poker table with Drew. Marlena, Ivan and Anne then have Drew sit in a table in hairdresser outfits as they soon give him a haircut. Drew is then revealed as an Elvis impersonator as he is given a hand held mirror and it cracks.
A guy like you
Gets extra credit
Because it's true that
You've got a certain something more
You see that face?
You don't forget it
Want something new?
(That's you!)
For sure!
Marlena then peered through her fists as Ivan averted his eyes away from the Thinking Man statue. Ivan then holds up a croissant in his hand with a howl. Anne then holds up two hands in a circle in a close up on Drew's face and the trio dance around with Marlena hugging her body.
We all have gaped
And some Adonis
But then we crave a meal
More nourishing to chew
And since you have such
An oddly-shaped mouth
No question of
She's gotta love
A guy like you
The camera then turns to see Ivan playing the piano in a tuxedo suit while Marlena is sitting on top of it wearing a red dress, a red boa and earrings. Ivan continues to play the piano while Anne is chased out by birds. Anne then reappears dressed as Natalie.
Call me a hopeless romantic
But Drew, I feel it
She wants you so
Any moment
She'll walk through that door
(For)
Anne, Ivan and Marlena jump off from bell to bell as they keep on swinging constantly on the ropes. They also continue to move and swing on the bells while singing. They soon pop out from under the table and then move towards Drew, snapping their fingers. The gargoyles then threw up confetti and balloons as they all exploded into the air and settle on Drew. Drew was then left standing alone with hearts, flowers, statues and banners.
A guy so swell
A guy like you
With all you bring her
A fool could tell
It's why she feels
For you-know-who
You'll ring the bell
You're the bell ringer
When she wants oh-la-la
And she wants you-la-la
She will discover, guy
You're one heck of a guy
Who wouldn't love
A
Guy
Like
You
Just then, Drew heard a voice call out from behind him.
"Drew? Drew, are you here?" Natalie yelled as she entered the room.
"Natalie?" Drew whispered as a smile dawned on his face. "Oh, my God, Natalie, I'd knew you'd come back!"
He then rushed over to Natalie and hugged her. Natalie then hugged him back and then pulled back with a smile.
"I know I've asked so much of you already, but please, I need your help one last time."
"Of course, anything," Drew nodded.
Natalie then gestured over to a dark purple experiment with a pig-like head and four arms as he carried an unconscious Brady over his shoulder.
"This is Brady. He's hurt and a fugitive like me. He can't go on much longer and I know he'll be safe here. Please, can you hide him for me?"
Drew then eyed Brady closely and then turned around. "This way."
He then led them to a small room as the experiment gently placed Brady on his back. Natalie then walked over to him and knelt down next to him as Brady stirred and opened his eyes.
"Ugh… what happened?"
Natalie then shushed him as she took out a bottle of wine. "You'll hide here until you're strong enough to move."
"Cool. I could definitely use a drink after the day I've had," Brady chuckled as Natalie poured the alcoholic drink into his wound.
Brady then yelled out in pain and squeezed his eyes, grunting.
"Feels like a 2001 merlot. Not a good year."
"That family owes you their lives. You're either the most single bravest officer I've ever met or the craziest."
"Ex-cop, remember?" Brady scoffed as he watched Natalie stitch up his wound. "Why is it whenever we meet, I end up bleeding?"
Natalie then snapped off a thread with her teeth. "You're lucky to be alive. You had one bullet that not only narrowly pierced your heart but missed a major artery by five inches."
Brady then grabbed her hand and looked up at her. "I'm not so sure it didn't."
Natalie then smiled as she leaned towards his face and kissed him. Brady then kissed her back as he then grabbed her and held her.
Drew then froze in shock as he walked in on Natalie and Brady making out and he stumbled back in horror. He then quickly turned away in sadness as tears fell from his eyes.
I knew that I'd never know
That warm and loving glow
Although I might wish with all my might
No face as hideous as my face
Was ever meant for Heaven's light
Drew then picked out a card of hearts and ripped it in half. Natalie then lay on Brady's chest and closed her eyes as Brady petted her hair tenderly. But just then Yaarp let out three small beeps from his horn as Drew quickly rushed over to the window and saw Randy approaching.
"Oh God!" he cried as he ran over to Natalie and Brady. "Quick! Randy's coming! You must leave now! Go to the south tower steps!"
He then led Natalie, Yaarp and the other experiment out the door as Natalie turned to Drew.
"Be careful. Promise me that you won't let anything happen to him."
"I promise," Drew answered with a sigh, still heartbroken over Natalie rejecting him for Brady but still wanting to do right by her. Natalie and Yaarp soon disappeared as Drew froze at the sound of Randy's footfalls.
"Quick, we have to hide the po-po!" Anne hissed as he, Ivan and Marlena helped Drew quickly shove Brady under the table. Drew then began preparing for dinner just as Randy arrived.
"Hello, Drew," Randy announced as Drew spun around to see him. "Oh, Master! I didn't know you were coming!"
"Of course! I always have time for you, dear boy," Randy replied as Drew set down two goblets and a bowl of grapes. Randy then sat down as he watched Drew make preparations with a suspicious look on his face.
Drew then sat down in front of him as Randy stared at him. "Is something bothering you, Drew?"
"Oh no, not at all! These grapes are delicious by the way!" Drew answered excitedly as he started to stuff the grapes in his mouth.
As he did so, one of the grapes fell to the ground and rolled under the table. Drew then slowly yet carefully ducked under the table and grabbed the grape before he stuffed it in his mouth. Brady then groaned softly as Drew grinned sheepishly with a stifled giggle.
He then kicked Brady in the face and Brady had to bite his lip to avoid screaming out, but just barely stifled a groan. Drew then swallowed the grapes in his mouth as he then started to cough and pound on his chest for several minutes. He then grabbed the goblet of wine and gulped it down to wash down the food.
"5 second rule," Drew chuckled nervously.
Randy then got up and looked around. "Something's different but I can't quite put my finger on it."
He then turned around to see a wooden figurine of Natalie, now fully painted and picked it up, examining it.
"This looks awfully new. Quite good actually. Looks a lot like that gypsy girl."
His face soon darkened into a cold, violent rage as his body tensed up and he turned on Drew with an anger he had never seen.
"I know… you helped her… ESCAPE!"
Drew then jumped as Randy slammed his fist down on the table hard, still in the throes of fury.
"And now all of Salem is burning because of you!"
"She was kind to me, Master," Drew whimpered fearfully.
"You idiot!" Randy roared as he knocked down Drew's set and smashed it to pieces. A small fire then started as a candle had already been knocked down.
"That wasn't kindness! It was cunning! She's a gypsy! Gypsies are not capable of real love!" Randy continued to scream and yell as he grabbed Drew and held him up by the collar of his shirt. He then shook him roughly as his eyes blazed with anger. "Think, boy! Think of your mother!"
Drew then drew in his breath as he stared at his master with a look of terror in his eyes. Randy's scowl then softened as he put him down.
"But what a chance that a misshapen child like you could have against her heathen treachery? Well, no matter."
He then took out a dagger and stabbed the Natalie figurine before he held it over the small fire.
"She'll be out of your hair soon enough. I'll free you from her evil spell and she will torment you no longer."
He then dropped it on the ground as he walked away, with Drew staring at the burning object with sadness.
"What are you going to do?"
"I know where her hideout is and at dawn I'll attack with a thousand men," Randy declared with a smirk as he soon left.
The door then closed as Drew looked away. He then heard Brady approach him as he got out from under the table.
"We better hurry. We have to get to the Court of Miracles before Randy does. Are you coming with me?"
"I can't," Drew whispered as Brady frowned. "I thought Natalie was your friend."
"Randy's my master. I can't disobey him again," Drew shot back angrily.
"You got a funny way of showing gratitude, you know that? She stood up for you and this is how you're going to repay her?" Brady snarled as Drew turned his back on him, scowling.
Brady then rolled his eyes with a groan. "You do what you think is right. I'm not going to stand here and watch innocent people die. You can stay here all you want by your lonesome. I don't care."
He then stormed off as Drew was left by himself, still sulking. He then glanced up to see Ivan, Marlena and Anne glaring at him, with Anne crossing her arms and Marlena putting on an akimbo.
Drew then scoffed and laughed bitterly. "You're kidding me, right? You think that I'm just going to swoop in and save the girl from some crazed psychopath intent on watching the world burn and then everybody will praise me like I'm some kind of savior? She already has her prince charming and it's not me!"
He then sighed deeply and exhaled sharply, shaking his head and glancing downward.
"Randy was right. Randy was right about everything. And I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not."
He then took out the wooden amulet that Natalie gave him and stared at it pensively. He then turned to see Marlena offering a cloak to him. Drew then grabbed it and held it against his cheek before he raced out. "I must be out of my mind."
Drew then raced out of the cathedral as he ran into Brady.
"Brady!" Drew yelled as Brady jumped in surprise. "I'm here to help."
"Glad you changed your mind," Brady replied.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for her," Drew hissed softly.
"Do you have any idea where she is?" Brady inquired.
"No, but she said that this thing could help us," Drew answered as he lifted the amulet off his neck and handed it to Brady.
Brady then held it up in his hand with an excited grin. "Great! What is it?"
"I'm not sure," Drew replied hesitantly.
"Hmmm… maybe it's Latin. Or Turian, or whatever babble those alien creatures use. Or maybe it's some sort of ancient code…" Brady mused as he tried to decipher the meaning of the amulet while dangling it in his hand.
Drew then paused silently as he tried to think but then something dawned on him as he grabbed the amulet in his hand and he remembered what Natalie said to him.
"When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand."
"It's a what?" Brady barked confusedly.
"It's the city! It's supposed to be a map!" Drew exclaimed as he then pointed to an image of the cathedral and also an image of currents and another image of a cylinder object.
"See, here's the cathedral and then there's the Salem River over there and then you have the tunnels underneath the city…"
"Drew, are you on drugs?" Brady laughed. "That doesn't look like any map I've ever seen before!"
"Look here, pal, I've been living in this city for 20 years and I would know which way is up and all the ins and outs of this town…" Drew shot back aggressively.
"And this is it!" Brady then interrupted him as he and Drew shouted at the same time before they inhaled deeply. After a sharp exhale, Brady glared at Drew.
"Okay, for the sake of the argument, if you say it's a map, then it's a map. But if we're ever going to find her, then we need to work together, even if we're never going to be friends."
He then held out his hand while looking directly at him. "Truce?"
"Okay," Drew conceded, shaking his hand. "Truce!"
He then slapped him on the back and Brady screamed in pain, wincing. Brady and Drew then walked together through the streets of Salem as they were on the search for the Court of Miracles. "Sorry about that."
"No you're not," Brady scoffed.
