Hello everyone! I am back with Chapter 9: The Finale! I would like to thank you guys for sticking with me through this story. Your comments have been greatly appreciated and have helped me correct errors in the story. I hope the wait was worth it. Enjoy Actor Chapter 9: The Finale!


Today was the day. That was what Luan thought as she lay in bed. She turned over and looked at the alarm clock. 6:30. The talk show started at 7:45 so that was about thirteen hours and fifteen minutes.

Luan jumped out of bed and skipped over to the closet where she put on her shirt and skirt. She smiled to herself as she set the flowers on her shoes and shirt, humming a catchy tune.

She then left the room and entered the hallway. The light was off meaning that she was the first one up. Not having to wait in line, she used the bathroom and walked downstairs as Lucy left her room.

She walked into the kitchen to get breakfast. She saw the sun turn the dark purple sky blue as it rose. She got herself her two favorite breakfast items, funny side up eggs and bananas.

She sat down at the table and started to eat. She was looking at her surroundings, admiring the only home she had ever known. Would she ever see these blue walls and green carpets again? No, there was no room for these thoughts, she had gone too fa-

"You're up early."

Luan flinched and swallowed one of her eggs the wrong way. She coughed, trying to dislodge it from her throat while also trying to see where Lucy was. She made out a silhouette leaning out from the wall that connected to the stairs.

"Lucy," Luan said while coughing some more, "we have got to work on not scaring people like that."

Lucy smirked and just said, "I was only pointing out that you were up earlier than usual."

"So what if I'm up early?" Luan asked as she continued eating her breakfast.

"I thought you would be a bit more emotional. With what happened to Lisa and all."

"I am. But she's fine. You heard them, she's only there for the week. It'll be like sleeping in for her."

Lucy looked at her for a moment before passing by, most likely to make some "Very well done eggs."

As the rest of the family slowly trickled in Luan could smell something burning in the kitchen, confirming that Lucy was making burnt eggs.

Lincoln sat down next to Luan with a bowl of Zombie Bran and a glass of milk. "Good morning Luan," he said.

"Morning Lincoln," she replied. She looked at his cereal and said, "You know, I had a very cureal dream."

Lincoln sighed as Luan left the table. She walked back upstairs to brush her teeth. In front of the bathroom waiting her turn was Luna in her purple bath gown. Luan stood behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. Luna turned to face her and Luan saw her eye was still a bit swollen.

"Yeah Luan?" Luna asked.

"Hey Luna. I got another piece of music for tonight's show.

"Isn't that a bit last minute?" she asked.

"No, it's a really easy one, I'm sure you could play it without practicing. I'll hand it to you after school."

The bathroom door opened and Leni walked past them in her nightgown, still wearing her sleep mask. Luna went into the bathroom leaving Luan alone in the hallway. She found herself looking at the red carpet and beige walls, thinking of all the good times she had had here.

The door opened and Luna came out. Luan didn't notice and kept looking down the hallway.

"Luan?"

"Yeah?"

"What're you looking at?"

"Just the house."

Luna walked past her to the stairs without any more questions and slipped out of sight. Luan stepped into the bathroom and got to the basin. She took more time than usual brushing her teeth, wanting to make each visible tooth spotless and shining. Once she was sure her smile would gleam like polished marble she left the bathroom and walked downstairs to the van.

She sat next to Lincoln on the left side of Vanzilla and waited for Lori to arrive and take them to school. Lincoln was reading one of his Ace Savvy comics, slowly making his way through the pages, absorbing every illustration.

Luan was fidgeting with her shirt flower, moving the artificial rose between two fingers when Lincoln asked, "Hey Luan, I have a question about tonight."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think there will be time for me to talk to Dreyfus in the Ace Savvy movie?"

"I think it would be best if you asked that question before we start the show."

"Okay," Lincoln said, turning back to his comic.

Lori and the rest of their siblings walked out of the house and into the van. The vehicle filled save one empty spot which stood out painfully to everyone. Luan did her best to ignore the vacancy as the van jolted to a start and pulled out onto the road. "It was a necessary action," she thought to herself.

They rode for a few minutes before they reached the pre-school. As Lori was removing Lily from her car seat Luan looked up at the rearview mirror and saw Lucy was watching her. Luan raised her head slightly to get a better view. They both kept looking at each other, not breaking the stare until Lori came back. Lucy finally averted her gaze as they were off on the road again.

Why was Lucy looking at her? Was it possible she knew too? No. It couldn't be. Only Lisa could have suspected and she couldn't tell anyone, it would be too late. Was it possible she had told Lucy beforehand? That wasn't likely as Lisa had little patience for Lucy's occultism.

And yet Lucy kept glancing at her. It was only when she and the twins were dropped off did Luan begin to relax. As they began to drive to the middle school Luan wanted to make sure everything was set and ready for tonight.

"Lincoln?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you got everything ready for tonight?"

"Of course! The stage has been set up in the gymnasium and the bleachers have been re-arranged around it for the audience to sit on. Katherine Mulligans going to help us with the broadcasting but everything else will run like clockwork."

"Ok, thanks for telling me," Luan said, now reassured. The school had now come into view and Luan looked at the gymnasium wing. Inside there a week's worth of deception and manipulation would bear the fruit of sweet, sweet revenge.

"Bye," Lincoln said as he and Lynn left the van and walked up to the school. Luan didn't reply, she kept staring at the gym.

"Who would see it?" she asked herself. Everyone in attendance for starters. That meant all but two of her family. That would be the hardest part, confessing her transgressions and committing the act in front of them. As for everyone else, it would be easy. Dad would be at the hospital, along with Lisa. Benny would be there too with Spencer and Shannon for company. She would likely not be around to see the fallout with them. For everyone else she didn't care.

They got to the high school and Leni, Luna and Luan left the van. Luan began to look for the acting social group, which hung around the front of the Theatre building. She turned a corner around the front of the school and found them.

They were talking about one of Shakespeare's plays. She waited until they were done talking before interjecting.

"Hey there," Luan said.

Both turned to face her and Luan saw that Shannon was still wearing a mime mask.

"Hi Luan. How's it been?"

"It's been well enough. I was coming to ask if you guys could pay a visit to Benny tonight."

"We could do that," Spencer answered. "Where's he at?"

"He's at Royal Woods General Hospital. Floor one, section B, Ward 7. He's supposed to be out tonight and since I was busy I was hoping you guys could visit him."

They heard the school bell ring and saw other students gravitate towards the entrance.

"Good luck with your show!" Shannon and Spencer said.

"Thanks you guys," Luan replied. "There's a TV in the ward so you won't miss it. It starts at 7:45."

Luan turned and walked into the school for perhaps what would be the last time.


Luan exited the school with a definite skip in her step and a gleeful smile on her face. She walked over to the tree that her sisters were waiting at. Luna was half consciously strumming her guitar looking up into the sky while Leni was applying seafoam green paint to her nails.

"Hi Luan," Leni said looking up from her hands. Luna didn't take notice and kept playing her guitar.

"Hi Leni!" Luan greeted.

"You seem happy today," Leni said, looking back down at her hands to apply more nail polish.

"I'm just excited for tonight. I'm going to show you all!"

"I totes think you will," Leni said absent mindedly.

"Yeah. I'm going to show you all."

Vanzilla pulled up to the curb in front of the tree. Luna picked herself up and they all walked to the van. The three sisters entered, Luan, Leni and then Luna. Lori then began to drive them back to the Loud house.

"You feeling excited Luan?" asked Lori.

"Oh, I am," Luan answered.

"I would be surprised if you weren't. Literally everybody would like to be in your position, talking to Julia Dreyfus. Bobby literally said he had a crush on her once, when he was younger," she chuckled.

"Well, you won't have to worry about her stealing away Bobby soon enough," Luan thought to herself.

The van came to a stop in front of the house and Leni, Luna and Luan got off before Lori drove away. Luan walked into the house and bounded up the stairs to her room. She checked the time and found that it was 3:15. Four and a half hours left.

She animatedly walked up to the closet to check she had everything she needed. Opening the doors she found that there was. The prank box was at the front of the closet, her mime clothes were all hung up and the shoes, glove and beret were all resting on the shelf. Looking over to the vanity she saw that the eye makeup was all there. Next to it was her jokebook, with a newly added page for dark humor to open up the show with.

Now sure she was all ready, Luan now had to make sure that everyone was in their best for the event. Right on time Luna walked in carrying her guitar case.

"Hey Luna," Luan said.

"Hey there," she replied as she placed the case next to her purple record player.

"I have that music sheet for you," Luan said as she held out a piece of sheet music creatively named 'Being drummed out'. Luna took it and looked it over.

"Oh yeah, I could do this."

"Ok, good to hear. The next thing is that the music you have there is for my act. When I text you "Drum," that is what will tell you to start.

"Alright. This is a really cool setup you've got going."

"You have no idea," Luan laughed, a bit more than she should've.

Luna ignored it. "You were saying something earlier about formal wear, right?"

"Yeah," Luan said. She walked back over to the closet and started looking through Luna's clothes. She picked out an outfit consisting of a white shirt, black dress and a bowtie. "There's also black boots to go with it."

"Could you bring it over here?" Luna asked. "I don't want to come near that."

Luan looked at where Luna was looking and saw that it was the prank box. "Yeah, nothings getting in my way today," she thought to herself.

She handed the clothes over to Luna and left the room to give her privacy. Out in the hall Lynn and the twins were playing the same game as yesterday, meaning that everyone was now present. Time to get to work.


Luan was looking at her siblings, who she had spent the last two and a half hours getting into the right clothes and keeping them out of their antics with Lincoln's help.

Sitting left to right on the couch was Lynn, Luna, Lana, Lucy, Lola, Lincoln, Leni and Lori. In front of the couch was Lily who toddled to and from around the living room. All the girls but Lori and Lily were in identical white shirts and black dresses, shoes and bowties. Lori was wearing a periwinkle dress and heels. Lily was wearing a sky blue shirt with puffed sleeves and white collar, knee high socks and black shoes. Lincoln was wearing a light blue suit with an orange tie and brown shoes, what he usually wore for the action news team.

Mom walked into the living room wearing a pink dress, pearl necklace and white high heels. She came over to Luan and asked, "Luan, is it time to go?"

"Yeah, I think so. But can I walk there so I can practice along the way?"

"Of course. Just don't show up too late."

"I won't. I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

Mom turned and scooped up Lily before saying, "Kids, time to go!"

Luan followed the crowd out of the house and into the front lawn. Chunk along with his van was in front of the garage, moving the sound system into the back. He was standing at the passenger seat, rummaging through the compartment.

Luan walked closer and heard him and Luna discussing.

"-wrong?"

"Seem's I mizplaced somfing."

"Is it important?"

"No, eh can wait till after."

Luna walked over to Vanzilla and both vehicles pulled out of the driveway and away to the middle school.

Luan now had the entire house to herself. She spent another minute outside, looking at the bicycles and toys scattered around. She then walked back inside. She went back upstairs and into her room. She grabbed her joke book and flipped to the dark humor page she added. She reached it and recited the first thing she saw.

"My grief counselor died. He did such a good job I didn't c-"

She was interrupted by the ring of the doorbell and a muffled yelp from outside. Luan sighed in annoyance and set down the joke book. Who could be knocking? As she walked downstairs to the door she began to fear it was the police.

Luan opened the front door and saw the two most unexpected people; Giggles and Ruby. Ruby was nursing her hand, the one she must have used to press the doorbell that shocked you.

"Hi Luan." Giggles said.

"Hi Giggles," Luan replied. "What're doing here?"

"I came by to check on you. I told you I was coming to visit on Wednesday, remember?"

"Shoot," she thought. Luan had totally forgotten about that. As for why Ruby was here she didn't know but she decided to invite both of them inside.

"Come on in," Luan said as she moved out of the way. Giggles entered, followed by Ruby. As she stepped in Luan closed the door behind them.

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for your talk show tonight?" Ruby asked.

"I am, though I have time to spare. Why don't we go to my room?"

Luan took the lead and walked up the stairs not waiting for a response. Both visitors trailed behind without a word. They passed through the threshold of her room as Luan shut the door.

"Are you doing okay? With Benny and all?"

"I am, thank you for asking," Luan said. Why was Ruby asking anyway? She was one of the ones at school that had made fun of her, so what was she playing at?

Giggles was standing at the window, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere of the room. Ruby had moved over to the closet, looking at the clothes and the prank box, not looking at Luan.

"I came over because this cop, O'brien of something, interviewed the Theatre club today and he noticed that you weren't there."

"I was getting ready for tonight's talk show."

"That's what we said to him, but he still kept asking questions. I came around to ask if you could say I wasn't connected to you or whatever." As she spoke she held up the prank box.

"Can I look through this?"

"Go right ahead," Luan muttered. This was why she came? That bitch expected her to cover for her? She, who was no better than Teri, Boyfriend or Cowlick? She had half a mind to shoot her here and now. With the gun in the prank box.

Luan suddenly snapped back up as she saw Ruby removing the items covering the gun one by one. She was going to get the gun, she had to die.

Luan's eyes darted around the room, desperate to find something, anything that could be used to silence Ruby. Her eyes landed on her handcuffs, laying on the floor. She silently moved over to them and placed it on herself, locking them and placing the key in her pocket. Giggles was not watching with interest, not sure what was going on.

"Oh, would you look at this," Ruby said, holding out the gun as Luan crept up on her. Ruby was too engrossed with the gun to hear Luan's silent footsteps.

"Let me guess, it just shoots red paintballs." She flipped the eject and the magazine fell out with a pop. It hit the carpet with a silent thump and a single round rolled out and came to a stop at her feet.

"What the fuck?" she said. Luan shot her hands out and above Ruby's head before pulling down and back. Ruby's cry of shock was quickly muffled as Luan pulled harder, the chain squeezing Ruby's windpipe. Giggles yelled and backed into the corner behind the vanity.

Ruby jumped up trying to surprise Luan. Both of them fell on their backs and Luan kept pulling down. Ruby was grasping futilely at the chain around her neck, flopping around like a fish out of water.

The handcuffs began to break the skin of Ruby's neck and she was making ugly gagging sounds. Luan had a face of fury mixed with triumph as she knew she was going to win. Blood was now splattering on the carpet and walls. Ruby went through her death throes as her oxygen depleted body began to fail. There was one last jerk and choke and then she went still.

The only noise in the room was Luan's labored breathing and Giggle's terrified whimpers. Luan undid the handcuffs and crawled over to the door still wheezing. Her wrists and shirt were stained with blood. She kept looking at Ruby, now her fourth victim. A rush of thrill from the adrenaline seized her, making her feel more alive.

Luan looked up from the body and over to Giggles, still cowering behind the vanity.

"You can go," Luan said, looking into those terrified eyes. "I'm not going to hurt you."

This coaxed her to come out and slowly walk towards the door. She was stifling dry sobs as she looked at Ruby's lifeless body.

"Just keep your eyes on the door. Don't look at her," Luan said.

Giggles had passed Ruby's body, the pooling blood staining the bottom of her comically large shoes when Luan placed a hand over the door. Giggles froze and didn't make a sound, thinking that Luan had changed her mind and was going to kill her.

"Giggles?" Luan asked.

"Y-Ye-Yeah?"

"I, uh, wanted to thank you for actually caring and coming to be with me. Bathrooms to the right if you want to get the blood off your shoes."

Luan moved her hand to the knob and opened the door for Giggles.

"Oh, and it would mean the world to me if you didn't tell anyone about this. Could you do that for me?"

"O-of course."

Giggles slowly walked through the door frame with both eyes focused on Luan. Once she was sure that she was safe she bolted down the stairs and out of the house.

Luan sat against the wall for some time before finally standing up. She walked downstairs to the basement leaving a trail of blood drops. She grabbed a garbage bag and walked back up to her room. She crammed the body into the bag and dragged it through the house and into the backyard. With a heave she threw it into the garbage can and placed the lid on.

She went back into the house and into the bathroom. She turned on the tap and rinsed her wrists in the cool, refreshing water, watching the basin slowly turn red as the blood washed away.

Walking back into her room she looked at the blood soaked carpet. She couldn't hide that but then again she wouldn't need to. Checking the time she was: 6:00. One hour and forty five minutes remaining.

Luan placed her soaked clothes in the laundry hamper, not even trying to hide them. She then put on her modified black and white shirt and socks, black pants, shoes and beret, white gloves and her pink scarf.

Luan leaned down to pick up the gun and ammunition. She placed the bullet that had fallen put back into the magazine and the magazine into the gun with a click. She placed the gun in her shirt pocket and looked at herself in the vanity mirror. There was no visible outline.

She then applied the face paint and was ready for the talk show. She grabbed her joke book and walked over to the door. She looked around the room one last time before leaving.

She went through all the rooms, which she was likely to never see again. She looked through her siblings' rooms first, then downstairs and then the backyard. After she had looked through the entire house she left through the front door and began walking towards the middle school.


Luan had been walking for about half an hour. She was whistling "Lovely Day" when she heard someone yell behind her, "Hey Luan!"

She glanced back and saw two cops from her interrogation, Hayas and Diaz.

"We need to talk!"

Luan bolted and didn't look behind her.

"Hey, stop!" they yelled. Luan could hear their boots slamming against the pavement as they chased after her. She only ran faster, almost falling over when she turned onto a different street. She had to lose them somehow.

She sprinted across the street and narrowly avoided being hit by a car. In the distance she could see a crowd over by Flips Food and Fuel. She could lose the cops there.

She made it into the crowd. Most of them she recognized from high school but others were younger, most likely their siblings from middle school. Most of them were wearing mime masks. In the crowds center was Flip selling masks for five dollars apiece.

Hayas and Diaz had now reached the crowd and were shoving kids out of the way, earning glares and insults. "Masks off," they were yelling, forcefully removing the masks from peoples faces.

She needed cover now. She grabbed a mask off of someone and put it over her face.

"What the hell?" He yelled and pushed her backwards. She was caught by another teen, who then punched the other one in the face. The crowd gave them space yelling, "Fight, fight!" as the two exchanged kicks and punches. This quickly caught Hayas and Diaz's attention, both who were slowly making their way through the crowd.

Hayas had a taser raised above his head and was yelling, "Get down," at Luan. Luan only backed away further into the others. Someone hit Hayas's hand and the taser discharged. Luan shut her eyes waiting for the shock. None came and opening her eyes she saw it had hit the girl next to her, who was on the ground convulsing.

The crowd roared in outrage and quickly turned on the cops. About eight teens grabbed at each cop, yanking the tasers from them. They then dragged them out to the road and began to beat them to a pulp as the mob egged them on.

Luan stood in a spot where Hayas and Diaz could see her and pulled off her mime mask, laughing a little. She then turned and continued her way to the high school. She threw the mask into a garbage can on the side of the road as she saw police cruisers speeding past her, all which ignored her.


Lincoln was in his element; carrying out his plans. He had done everything to make Luan's show perfect. In front and flanking the stage were the bleachers filled with friends; Spencer, Penelope, Girl Jordan and the others. Some had brought family along and faculty were in attendance too. Lincoln had reserved the center front row seats for his family, giving them the perfect spot to watch.

Luna and The Moon Goats were currently behind the right curtain, where Luan would enter the stage. They were out of sight and close enough for everybody to hear her music.

As for the members of the Action News Team, everybody had their job. Zach and Clyde would provide crowd cues and Liam was managing stage lighting. Rusty and Stella were backstage left, who with the help of Katherine Mulligan would handle the broadcasting. Lincoln himself would handle the camera.

All that was left to do was find Dreyfus and Luan, the stars of tonight's show. He looked at the clock hanging on the gym wall. 7:35.

Ten minutes was cutting it close. He started to look around for either of them. He walked past the bleacher his family was on and into the labyrinth of halls. The fading sunlight cast an ugly yellow on the stained checkerboard floor and rusted lockers as he passed by.

He passed through the red front doors of the school and onto the concrete walkway. He looked up the street and saw a black limo speeding towards the school. It came to a stop with the passenger door facing right down the middle of the path. The door swung open and out stepped Julia Dreyfus in a dark green dress with complementary red high heels.

"M-ms. Dreyfus?" Lincoln called out.

"Hello young man," Dreyfus replied as she walked over to him. "Is this Royal Woods Middle School?"

"Uh, y-yeah it is. I'm Lincoln. Me and the Action News team are running tonight's show?"

Dreyfus had now closed the distance between them and kept walking on into the school. Lincoln followed her, trying to keep up with her brisk pace.

"Who will be tonight's guest?" she asked.

"That would be my sister, Luan Loud."

They turned a corner and Dreyfus asked, "Where is she?"

"Uh, she hasn't turned up yet."

They took the entrance to the side of the gym behind the stage. Opening the door for Dreyfus he saw the makeshift broadcast center to the right and The Moon Goats to the left along with Chunk and their instruments. Luna was talking to a girl slightly shorter than her in mime attire.

Luna pointed to Dreyfus and the girl turned around, who turned out to be Luan.

"Ah, there she is," Lincoln said. "The one dressed as the mime is Luan."

He led Dreyfus over to Luan to introduce the two.

"Julia," Luan said, holding out a gloved hand. "It's so good to finally meet you."

"Uh Luan," Lincoln said. "Don't you think that you should call her Ms. Dreyfus?"

"No, no, it's fine," Dreyfus assured him as she extended her own hand to shake Luan's hand.

"I feel like I know you, I've seen all your movies and have almost never missed one of your talk shows. Or I felt like I knew you."

Lincoln wasn't too sure what she meant by that.

"Why thank you," Dreyfus said, missing what Luan had said. "What's with the getup?" she asked Luan. "You with the mob or something?"

"Those guys? No, I'm trying to show that I'm well rounded. I can do pantomime, perform, joke, just about anything."

'Well that's a good thing to show off," Dreyfus said.

Lincoln hovered around awkwardly. Something felt off with Luan though he couldn't tell what.

"Five minutes to show time!" Stella called out from the broadcast setup. Dreyfus looked at the stage and back to Luan.

"Let's give them a show," she said to Luan.

"Yeah, a killer one." Luan said. Lincoln could have sworn the voice she used was the same one she used to deliver puns.

It was too late to ask about that. Lincoln followed Dreyfus out onto the stage where she received a round of applause from the audience. He walked off the stage and onto the camera, where he waited for the show to begin.


"4…5…6…7." Spencer said, finding the door he was looking for. Shannon trailed behind him carrying a purse with three mime masks.

Spencer knocked on the door and stood back. Benny opened the door and greeted them.

"Hey you guys! Come on in."

Spencer and Shannon entered the ward and took a seat.

"How are you doing?" Shannon asked.

"I'm doing great. I'll be out tonight." Benny answered.

"We came to check on you to see how you were doing," Spencer said. "Luan asked us to come and be with you while you watched The day with Dreyfus."

"I know about that," Benny said. He walked over to the counter and picked up a sandwich from a tray.

"Sandwich anyone?" he asked.

Spencer and Shannon politely declined. He took a bite out of his sandwich and raised the remote.

"114, right?"

"Yeah that's the channel," Spencer said.

Benny pressed the power button and flipped through the channels until stopping on 114. He turned around and sat on the bed. Shannon passed a mask to Spencer before handing one to Benny.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Mime mask. They're all the rage nowadays and since Luan will be dressed as a mime tonight I thought it would be fitting."

Benny didn't put on the mast but kept fidgeting with it in his hands. The TV was playing an Arrgh commercial when it cut to darkness. The tune of Dreyfus's theme abruptly started, being performed with guitars, a drum and a keyboard. The screen slowly brightened showing Julia Dreyfus in a fern green dress on a stage behind a desk.


O'brien was sipping a glass of milk as he poured over countless sheets of paper with a red pen. The investigation into the shooting was almost complete. He had sent Hayas and Diaz to apprehend Luan. Soon she would be in a cell and he a promotion.

The window in his office looked out into the breakroom, perfect for stealing glimpses at the TV while staying on task. He heard Dreyfus's theme emitting from the TV, so he could at least watch the second segment when he had finished enough paperwork.

He was filling out a search warrant for the Loud house when some new recruit, Peter Dong, burst into the room.

"What is it trooper?" O'brien asked, still writing.

"Sir! Hayas and Diaz have just been admitted to the emergency room!"

"What the hell?" O'brien said as he finally looked up.

"A mob of teens wearing those mime masks beat them half to death," Dong explained. "Apparently they miss fired a taser into the crowd."

"Then where was the person they were following?"

"Who?"

"Luan Loud!"

The TV in the breakroom gave off the buzz of applause as they heard Dreyfus say, "I'd like to thank Royal Woods Middle School Action News Team and The Moon Goats for hosting tonight's show!"

O'brien suddenly stood up and looked out the window to the TV, where he saw Julia Dreyfus in a forest green dress.

"I'd like to introduce tonight's guest, Luan Loud!"

"Oh goddammit," O'brien muttered. He turned to Peter and said, "Get her! Now!"


Luan stood at the curtain threshold, the stage and Dreyfus just beyond the multi-colored cloth. For what seemed to be an eternity she stood there. In that eternity she thought of the consequences of her actions. She was going to throw away her life and family, reveal her transgressions to the world and kill in front of them.

But she had come too far to turn back. She had intoxicated her older sister, put her younger one in a coma, committed four acts of murder and subtly manipulated her loved ones to set this up. And there Dreyfus was, not ten feet away. It would all be over soon.

Luna had walked up behind Luan. They stood in silence for a few seconds listening to Dreyfus give thanks to the Action New Team and The Moon Goats.

"You okay?"

"Never been better," Luan said in a monotonous voice.

Luna patted Luan on the back. "Don't do anything too crazy."

"I'd like to introduce tonight's guest, Luan Loud!"

"Too late for that," was all Luan replied as the curtains gave way.

Luan stepped out onto the stage with a joyful smile on her face and from the rush of anticipation. She gave a few animated spins and skips. The audience clapped and cheered, not needing the cues given by Zach and Clyde. She saw in the bleachers her family giving off the most hype and cheer. The twins and Lily were waving at her. Lincoln standing behind the camera gave her a thumbs up.

Luan pranced up to Dreyfus and she shook her hand enthusiastically before sitting down on an office chair positioned next to the desk. Dreyfus sat down as well and the applause slowly died down.

"That was quite the entrance Luan," said Dreyfus.

"Thank you," Luan responded. "It's exactly as I thought it would go."

"That makes one of us."

The audience chuckled lightly at this. Luan beamed, feeling more alive than she had in a long time.

"When we spoke backstage you said your outfit had nothing to do with the mobs outside, right?"

"That's right Julia, I'm not trying to send a message or anything. I'm just trying to entertain people."

"And how's that going?"

The audience again laughed. Luan joined in, not with them but at them thinking of how much she could entertain.

"You also said that you were a comedian? Been working on any material, want to tell us a joke?"

The clapping started once more calls to make a joke egged her on. She nodded and pulled out her joke book. There was more laughter as she flipped through, trying to find the right one to use to throw them off.

"Take all the time you need," Dreyfus said, eliciting more laughter.

Luan finally found one, a real showstopper. She cleared her throat and said, "Even the most good for nothing people can bring a smile to your face, such as when they're hit and killed by drunk drivers."

The crowd fell silent at this. No laughter, no annoyed groans, just silence. She could see the smiles of her family frozen onto their faces slowly turning into repulsed grimaces.

"That's not funny, Luan," Dreyfus said dryly. "I don't do that on my shows."

"Sorry, sorry," Luan said. "It's just been a rough few days…" Now was the time, to get the ball rolling, to get past the point of no return.

"Since I killed those three at the park."

Silence again. The smiles were now all gone, replaced by uncomfortable and annoyed looks.

"And?"

"There's no more to it. I'm not joking."

Murmurs in the crowd broke the silence. Dreyfus looked around at the crowd before looking Luan in the eye again.

"You're really not joking? Why shouldn't we believe this isn't another of your poor jokes?"

"Why should you believe it's a joke? Do you know who those three were? They made life hell for me beforehand and they were going to beat me, just like Benny. They were awful. Awful enough to drive anyone crazy."

"That's it? That's your excuse?"

"No. I'm not defending myself for anything. If it wasn't me it would have easily been someone else."

The crowd started to boo her. "Let them boo," she thought.

"Here's a joke I don't get; why is everyone so upset about this? Why are you so surprised and shocked? It's like this for everybody like me, picked on and no support from anybody but ourselves."

"So much self pity," Dreyfus drawled. It was starting to get on Luan's nerves how she still talked as if she was above it all, as if she wasn't in danger.

"Not everybody's awful, let me tell you that."

Luan looked at her, no longer smiling. "Your awful Julia," she said in a voice dripping in contempt.

"Oh yeah? How so?"

"Playing my videos. Mocking me in front of millions. Agreeing to my show." Dreyfus' puzzled look only served to anger Luan further. "You played my videos on your Tuesday show dammit, and you don't even remember! You made fun of me then and still are! You and the rest of them!"

"You don't know what you're talking about," Dreyfus said, pulling out her phone. "Look at this, teens rioting in the streets, they just beat two cops into critical condition!"

Luan slid her hand into her pant pocket and grabbed her phone, laughing.

"You're laughing, you're laughing at this," Dreyfus said indignantly as Luan pressed a button on her phone.


Luna felt a buzzing on her leg. She pulled out her phone and the word, "Drum" and started to walk over to the drums. The rest of The Moon Goats were looking out onto the stage listening to Luan's mad ramblings.

"It's all a joke," Luna thought, walking over to the drums. "It's all a grand badly thought out joke." She placed the music sheet out in front to read.

It was impossible that Luan, her little sister who she had spent her whole life with was a murderer. She began hitting the drum, sending out a quick, steady beat.

"Hopefully this joke ends soon." Luna thought to herself.


Bang, bang, bang, bang

A steady drum beat began to play for everybody to hear. It was time, the grand finale. Luan looked at Dreyfus who was still sputtering on and on.

"I know, I know," she said gleefully, shutting her up. She felt as if her insides were on fire, excitement and adrenaline the only thing in her.

"How about another joke Julia?"

"No thank you, I think we've heard enough of you."

"What do you get-"

"I don't th-"

"When you cross an insecure teen with an environment that abandons her and harasses her every day?"

"Call the police!" Dreyfus was telling.

"I'll tell you what you get! This is what you fucking get!"

In a graceful move like a swan wing when taking flight Luan pulled out the gun from her shirt with one hand and brought it up to Dreyfus's face.

Bang!

Blood splattered on Luan's face as the crowd screamed. Dreyfus's brain dead body slumped and slouched on the chair.

The crowd was running for the door and Mom and Lori tackled the rest of the family behind cover. Lincoln was still standing behind the camera, frozen from shock.

As a trial of Dreyfus's blood slid down her face like a tear Luan felt pure, unfiltered joy. She watched as they fled, quickly tapping her feet against the floor. She was now shuddering like a leaf in the wind, her smile only growing bigger as she looked at Dreyfus, now dead as Teri and the rest.

Unable to stop herself, she laughed aloud and stood up. She turned to Dreyfus and shot her again.

Bang!

The gunshot provoked more yells from what remained of the crowd. She turned to Dreyfus again as if to shoot her once more but just tossed the gun on the desk. She began to walk off the stage when she saw two cops, Schoffner and another one in glasses burst through the gym entrance.

Luan turned on a dime, deciding instead to go to the camera. She walked over to Lincoln. Ignoring his terrified eyes she grabbed the camera and looked straight down the lenses.

"Good night," she started, still feeling giddy. "That was the killing joke." The cops lunged at her and all she laughed was, "Get it?" before being tackled to the ground. Her beret fell off and blood and paint smeared on the floor. They roughly forced her arms behind her back and cuffed her. Luan didn't struggle or offer any resistance. She only laughed and laughed as the cops dragged her away.


Benny, Shannon and Spencer sat in silence as the feed was stopped and replaced by a multi-colored test card. Benn'y head was buzzing with thoughts as he tried to make sense of this new reality. Luan was the one who killed those three, the ones that had beaten him to a pulp. She was the one that moved him while he was helpless. She was the one who killed Dreyfus, who had made fun of both of them.

He felt like the luckiest man alive.

Benny calmly stood up and pressed a button on the wall. Shannon and Spencer watched as a nurse entered the room.

"Yes Benny?"

"I found something that seemed out of place," He said. The nurse walked over to the counter. Without warning he grabbed the tray and slammed the nurse in the face. She dropped to the ground without a sound, knocked out cold.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Spencer asked incredulously as Benny began to search through the nurses pockets.

"Getting us a ride," Benny answered as he pulled out some car keys. He walked back over to the bed and placed the mask over his face.

"So," he asked. "Who's ready to spring Luan free?"


The cops had grabbed each of Luan's arms and were dragging her along so that her shoes scuffed against the ground. They threw her in the back of the police cruiser and drove off to the police station.

With her head leaning against the window Luan saw masked figures going about smashing windows and throwing objects at the car as they passed by. Luans smile only grew as she saw the teens rioting in the growing darkness of evening. Schoffner was giving her glares through the rear view mirror.

They turned a corner and were passing by the high school. A crowd of students in masks were there. She saw the outer parts of the mob skirmishing with police and laughed at the sight of it.

"Stop laughing, this isn't funny," Glasses said.

"Yeah, look what's happening out there," Schoffner snapped.

Luan sat up straight and looked Schoffner in the eye in the reflection of the mirror. "I know," she said, her smiling face being lit up by the lights of the truck she didn't see coming.

Crunch!

The t-boned cruiser curved around the front of the colliding truck, glass shattering and metal folding, coming to a complete stop. The crowd bellowed in amusement and started to make their way to the wreck.

The doors of the truck opened up and Benny, Spencer and Shannon, all who were donning clown masks, stepped out. They walked over to the other side of the cruiser where Luan was sitting unconscious.

Without saying a word they all reached through the shattered window and pulled Luan out. They carefully walked her over to the front of the car and placed her on the hood. They then melted into the front of the crowd, waiting for Luan to regain consciousness.


Cough, cough!

Luan spat blood out of her mouth. Her lips felt sore from the braces cutting up her mouth in the crash. She lay there trying to get her bearings. She realized that she wasn't in the police cruiser anymore. She leaned her head back and saw the mangled faces of Schoffner and Glasses through the shattered windshield. She was on the night blue hood of the car.

Turning her head side to side she saw she was surrounded by a masked crowd encircling the car wreck. As they saw her stir they began to yell, "Get up!" and raising their hands as they spoke.

As she slowly got to her feet the encouragement only increased with calls of, "You can do it!" and "Stand up!" pouring in. She fully stood up and turned a full circle, the only illumination being the glow of the sun from behind the school and the lights of the police cruiser still blinking. Some she recognized, such as Benny, Spencer and Shannon in front of the crowd. Were they the ones who saved her? The rest she didn't know but they applauded her all the same.

As she came a full circle a smile grew on her face as she realized what this was; they were the audience and she the performer. And so she performed with the most iconic mime routine. She imitated being trapped in a box, surrounded on all six sides, forced into an uncomfortable and unbearable position. But then, with a struggle, she forced the top off and began to tear down the walls, rising up in a victorious stand.

She looks up and hears the yells of the crowd increase, conveying their support and understanding, empathizing being trapped and escaping it all.

A stab of pain ran through Luan's mouth. She brought up a finger gingerly to check her mouth. She put her hand in front of her face and saw the tips of her fingers covered in her warm, sticky blood.

She thought of the perfect ending to the act, to show her happiness. As if by instinct she brought both of her hands to her face, sticking two fingers into her mouth. The pain increased but she ignored it. She pulled the fingers around to the corners of her mouth and along her cheeks painting a gory smile that all could see.

The roar of the crowd grew to a crescendo as they saw the smile and when Luan brought her hands up to her sides, the smile underneath the painted one remained.

This is what Luan lived for; the adoration of the audience. She lifted her arms up, basking in the glory of praise that she craved.

And she stood there on the wreck, an island in an ocean of cheering rioters, feeling the best she had ever felt in her entire life.


Contrary to the title of the chapter, this is not the final chapter. There will be another, an epilogue of sorts with credits and a list of thanks to those that have commented prior and up to the publishing date. There will also be a special announcement after all that to determine my next fanfiction. I will be back with the end of Actor soon!