Spotlight's Fade

Part 1

V-TV's Music Notes: The Misfits

By Nick Maro

The initial shock of Jerrica Benton's revelation wore off on Pizzazz. She looked up at the woman who stood before her. She let out the breath she was holding and waved her hand at Jem. "Jerrica….Jem, whatever you want to be called like this, just turn back to Jerrica." She ran a hand through her hair and immediately thought of her brother's habits. Jem's image shimmered with pink light and Jerrica stood before her again.

"Dammit, Jerrica," Pizzazz sighed and looked towards the exit of the alleyway. "I don't know what to say." She felt rage, disappointment and distrust flood over her. She tried to keep her composure under control when she saw how nervous Jerrica looked. "We can talk about this later. It wasn't quite the answer I was looking for, but it's an answer."

"Phyllis, I-I meant to tell you a while ago. It's just that everything got so busy and complicated." Jerrica followed behind Pizzazz with her voice pleading for understanding. "David and Kimber split up. I didn't see you or the other Misfits for a long time. I really did plan on telling you. I knew being Jem," she whispered, "would begin to be a problem. I was starting to feel like I was living a lie to you."

Pizzazz spun around and pointed a finger at the blonde woman. "I have news for you," she hissed between clenched teeth, "you were. I confided in you with my deepest secrets. Now, let's finish this some place more private." She stopped and looked around. Richard and Rio noticed the pair and waved. Pizzazz and Jerrica waved back and put on fake smiles. "I'm going to have Richard drop me off at home," she said without looking at Jerrica. "Meet me at my place in a half hour. We'll take everything from there."

Jerrica nodded slightly. "Tell the rest of The Misfits to come, too. They deserve to know," she whispered as equally as quiet. She hugged Rio as he walked up and kissed the side of his neck. She whispered in his ear. "I told her the truth. She seems mad, but I'll know for certain later tonight."

"Well, Phyllis isn't feeling too hot. I'm going to drive her home and maybe put some raw meat on my eye," Richard said in his joking manner.

The four friends said their good byes and went their separate ways. Richard drove Pizzazz home in relative silence. He picked up that there was something bothering her but decided it was best not to pry. She said her good bye to him and called the other Misfits on their cell phones. They arrived within minutes of each other. Each of The Misfits could tell something was agitating Pizzazz. She refused to tell them what it. She was still angry, but not like she was before. She'd calm down, but she still felt the hurt.

A soft knock came from the front door and Jerrica poked her head in the house. She saw Pizzazz and gave a smile. "Hope you don't mind me coming in like this. I figured your mother would be asleep or something." She walked in when Pizzazz waved her in. "I'm, uh, alone." Jerrica saw Kimber in the living room looking confused. Kimber was with Stormer when she'd gotten the call. "Can I have a word alone with Kimber for a moment?"

Kimber followed her older sister into the study and slid the door closed. Thirty seconds later they both came out. Kimber sat next to Stormer, but didn't look at her or any of the other Misfits. Roxy and Jetta sat next to each other with Roxy leaning against Jetta's side. Pizzazz stopped pacing in front of Jerrica. "Well, show them what you showed me."

Jerrica sighed and looked at each of The Misfits. She closed her eyes took a deep breath and exhaled. Jerrica opened her eyes and looked at her sister. "Showtime Synergy," she whispered. For the second time that night pink light covered Jerrica and she revealed the secret she held for so many years to her once archrivals. Jem now stood before them.

The gasp of shock from the three women sounded as one. Stormer turned to look at Kimber who was trying her best not to look at her. Jem looked at The Misfits with a desperate look in her eyes. "Please, don't blame Kimber. She was just keeping my secret safe. We all were. I told Phyllis tonight and I was planning on telling you. It's just life got busy. I never got around to it."

The four Misfits looked at each other and nodded. Jetta cleared her throat softly. "Just who else knows that you're Jem?"

"Well, obviously Kimber, Aja, Shana and Raya all know. Rio found out the night that accident happened on the pay per view." Jem thought a moment. "David knows. He walked in on me transforming one time. It was kinda amusing. Oh, a former President and an old Tibetan woman. Don't ask. It's really quite stupid." She smiled and tried to laugh.

"That's really not too many then." Roxy said standing up. "I guess you don't trust too many with your secret, huh?" Jem shook her head. Roxy looked down at Jetta then at Pizzazz and Stormer. "So how do you do that? The whole Jerrica turning into Jem bit."

Jem sat down and explained Synergy to The Misfits with Kimber's help. Afterwards, The Misfits stood in front of Jem and Kimber. Pizzazz looked down at Jem with an unreadable expression. She brought her arm back, hand flat out. Jem instinctively flinched when Pizzazz brought it down and grabbed her hand. Jem stood and Pizzazz hugged her. She stood there confused looking at the other Misfits. They each took turns hugging her.

"I just wanted to thank you for letting us know, Jerrica," Pizzazz said with a small smile. "However, I am feeling a bit betrayed and untrusting of you right now." She smirked when a stray thought crossed her mind as she picked up the phone. "You said my brother has known for a while now, huh?"

Jem nodded in confusion.

David sat at home watching a movie with Kaori when the phone rang. He waited a couple of rings before answering it. He put the movie on pause and picked up the receiver. "[Hello. Ikari household, this is David, how can I help you?]" He answered the phone in a polite tone.

The other end was silent a moment. "David?"

"Phyllis!" David's eyes widened and he smiled hearing his twin's voice. "I've been meaning to call. So much has happe—"

"David, you're an asshole!" Pizzazz screamed before slamming the phone down.

Kaori looked up at David in equal confusion to his own expression. "[Who was that?]"

"[My sister.]"

"[Oh? What did she say?]"

"[She called me an asshole and slammed the phone down.]" David finally hung up his end.

"[Well, is that normal with her?]"

David looked at his new girlfriend with an amused smirk. "[Well, no, not with me, maybe with Eric or Riot yeah.]" He shook his head and kissed Kaori on the tip of her nose. "[Let's just finish the movie.]"

Clashing VideoRats' studio was housed in a small warehouse just outside of the Los Angeles downtown area. The sign above the door was simple. If a person didn't know what it was they would've passed right by the building. Pizzazz and Stormer knew that was just Techrat's style. Pizzazz opened the door and walked right by the receptionist, down the hall where there was the sound of activity.

The receptionist chased after the two musicians. "Excuse me! But you can't go down there." The blonde woman continued to chase after them shaking a pencil. "Excuse me! If you don't stop right now, I'll have no choice but to call the authorities!"

Stormer snickered at the threat of the police being called. Pizzazz stopped in front of an unmarked door and put her hand on the handle. She then glanced at the receptionist and opened the door. She smiled at the woman behind the desk. "Clash, how the hell have you been? It's been ages since we've had the displeasure of seeing your ugly face." She jerked a thumb at the blonde woman behind her. "Mind calling off the goon squad?"

Clash almost burst out into laughter when she saw her receptionist beginning to dial the police. "Carol, put the phone down. These two women are two of my best friends. They never need an appointment." Carol flashed a glare at Pizzazz and Stormer as she left the room. All three women laughed quietly. "I thought you outgrew that shit."

"I'm sorry, Clash, it was my idea actually." Stormer said rounding the desk and hugging her old friend. "I just figured it would be funny. For the record you look great. How's the studio coming along?"

Clash quickly gave Pizzazz a hug and started towards the doorway. "Come on, I'll show you. We're just about ready to start taking clients." Pizzazz and Stormer joined her as she began to walk down the hall. They walked to a door that was next to a giant glass window. Clash opened the door and they heard swearing coming from under a control panel.

"Work you piece of shit! TR and I didn't build you from scratch for you to just stop workin—" The control panel lit up and started flashing lights. The man under the panel shouted. "Take that you heap of shit!" He slid out and dusted off his pants. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled at Clash. Then he saw the two Misfits. "Oh, ah, sorry about that."

"Pizzazz, Stormer, this is Matthew Chip Chase. Techrat and I just hired him last month. He designed the whole recording and sound system with Techrat." Clash put her arm around his shoulders. "He's a genius with electronics. You should see his apartment. Little robots that run around and do his chores. I knew you'd want to meet one of the brains of this operation."

"A pleasure to meet you." Pizzazz shook his hand.

Stormer went to shake his hand and noticed him blush slightly. She smirked and took his hand. "Nice to meet you, Matthew."

"Chip, call me Chip. Everyone does," he said with a squeak in his voice.

Clash waved her hand again. "C'mon, I'll show you where his royal techness is. I swear, when we first bought this building I couldn't get him to leave for a month. He kept mumbling something about finally having space to work and grow." She glanced over her shoulder to Pizzazz and Stormer. "Video is out at the moment with our film crew. So far our only client is a local car dealership. However, business will pick up."

As the three women got closer to the double doors they slid open to allow them inside. The workshop was almost like Pizzazz and Stormer remembered how it was at the Rat's Lair. The work table was piled with circuit boards and random junk. One wall was lined with working and non-working monitors. Techrat sat with his back to the door. He brought a soldering gun down and a thin trail of smoke came up. Clash cleared her throat.

Techrat turned around and lifted a magnifying lens from his eye. A thin smile crossed his lips. "Pizzazz and Stormer, it has been awhile, hasn't it?" he rasped softly. "What can I do for you lovely ladies today?"

"Right to business as usual, huh?" Pizzazz found an empty stool and sat down. "We're getting ready to put out a new album and we need a recording studio. Can't Dance Studios belongs to Eric Raymond and quite frankly I don't trust his ass. So, I was wondering if you'd do it for us. I'm not asking to do this out of friendship. We'll pay whatever you want."

Clash broke out into a wide grin and nodded at Techrat. He sat in thought for a moment. "Of course we'll do it, Pizzazz. You shouldn't have to ask. Just let us know when you'll want to begin recording and I'll have Chip set everything up. As for payment just give us publicity. That's all I ask."

Pizzazz smiled and stood up. "You got it, Techrat. Thanks." She turned to Clash who obviously delighted to be in business with The Misfits again. "Why don't you show us the rest of the studio? We're going to need to shoot a video, too." Clash nodded and they left Techrat's workshop for a quick tour of their new recording studio.

The man entered the spacious office of Kevin Ross. He walked up to the heavy oak desk and placed a black rectangular shape on it. A thin, evil smile spread across the man's lips. "The special is finished, Mr. Ross. Harriet Horne jumped at the chance to do this. She's still pissed about Ms. Pelligrini's outburst on the air last year or so. She's a woman that can hold a grudge worse than you."

Kevin Ross lifted the unmarked video cassette and looked at from every angle. He then looked up at the man who stood before him. "Good work, Mr. Kite. You know what to do with this. Bring it down to the V-TV studios and bribe the executive producer of Music Notes. Tell them this is to air within the next few days. Let's make it this Friday. That way we have all weekend to watch the aftermath." His smile turned more evil while Mr. Kite took the video and left the office.

Roxy opened the door to the Gabor mansion as she passed the kitchen she waved to Evelyn who greeted her. Roxy made her way to the entertainment room where Pizzazz and Stormer were going over the set list for the new album. She showed her band mates an ad in the newspaper. Both women looked up at her confused. "Yeah. I had the same reaction. What the hell, huh?"

"So it's unauthorized. Big deal, Rox," Pizzazz said looking back at the set list. She pointed at a song for Stormer. "This is done all the time and besides its V-TV doing it. They always do a great job on their specials. I wouldn't sweat it too much." She turned her attention briefly to Stormer. "We need more heavier rock on here, there's too many ballads."

Stormer nodded and brought out a list of songs. "I was kinda saving these. They're pretty dark, but I think they're what you're looking for." She looked up at Roxy and motioned to the couch. "Have a seat and help out. You're a part of this band and we want your input, too." Roxy sat on the edge of the couch and overlooked the list. Stormer spoke without looking at her. "I wouldn't worry too much about this special. It's probably just a fluff piece."

Pizzazz looked over the list. "When does this special air, anyway? I think we should watch it. I mean it is about us."

"Uh, let's see," Roxy scanned the ad quickly. "Friday at eight in the evening." She tossed the paper back onto the couch.

"I say we throw a mini-party. I mean why not, right?"

Smiling at the idea Pizzazz put one of the song lists down and rubbed her eyes. "Okay, I'll go for that idea, Mary. Give us a chance to show Jerrica that there are no hard feelings between us. I still feel like I was played for an idiot all these years, but fuck it." She finally looked at Roxy and Stormer. "We should also invite Clash, Techrat and Video. They are our friends and technically under our employ." She shrugged.

"But what about Eric and The Stingers?" Pizzazz and Roxy both made disgusted faces and fart sounds with their lips at Stormer. "Yeah, you're right, but I'm going to invite that new guy who works for Techrat. That Chip guy, he seems nice."

"Yeah and he has a crush on you, Mary," Pizzazz teased her half sister. "I saw the way he blushed and stammered around you."

"Oh shut up, Phyllis. He does not."

"Does too! Does too! Does too!"

Roxy sat back and watched the two sisters tease each other until she grew tired of being confused. "Hey! Who's Chip?"

A big smile broke across Pizzazz's face. "He's the new engineer that works at Clashing VideoRats. When we first met him he turned bright red and stammered like he was in junior high when he met Mary. His voice even squeaked. It was pretty amusing and sweet at the same time."

"Awww! Widdle Mawy has boyfwiend. Isn't that cute?" Roxy made kissing sounds at Stormer and began laughing. She saw how upset Stormer was getting. "Aw come on, Mary. We're just teasing you a bit."

"You guys are such children sometimes." Stormer collected her song lists and left the room slightly angry and annoyed. Pizzazz and Roxy couldn't but help snicker after Stormer had left the room.

The week passed quickly and Pizzazz found herself hosting a decent sized gathering. She thought it felt more like a family reunion than a party. Although, she felt that a few people were missing. She grabbed the phone and headed to the privacy of her room and called her brother in Japan. A soft voice picked up and answered. Pizzazz shut her eyes and tried to remember what David taught her. "[Good afternoon, Ayumi, may I speak to David? This is Phyllis calling from America.]"

Ayumi spoke in her best English, "Your Japanese is improving great much, Phyllis, but I am sorry to tell you that David is not here. He is with Kyoko and the rest watching the special at the Bayushi household. You want he should call back?"

"No, no. That's okay, Ayumi. Just tell him that I called. You take care. I can't wait for you to visit again."

"I too cannot wait. I must go now. Mother is calling me. I tell you said hello." Ayumi and Pizzazz said their farewells and hung up with each other.

"Phyllis! It's starting!" Jetta yelled from the bottom of the steps. Pizzazz half ran and half jogged down the stairs and sat next to her boyfriend Richard Xanthos. The special began a few moments after she sat down.

An hour later the special was over and the entire room sat staring at the television in stunned silence. Pizzazz finally looked around with the shock setting in. She calmly stood and excused herself. She walked out the backdoor and went to the very back of her yard. Once there she yelled at the top of her lungs. "Mother fuckers! Those rotten rat bastard sons of whores! That fucking bitch Harriet Horne!" She began pacing, swearing under breath and dry rubbing her hands together. She made pantomimed choking motions to the air.

"Phyllis," Evelyn said softly in the shadows, "that special was nothing but a fabrication of the truth. All of your friends inside know that. All of your fans know that. Yes, you have every right to be upset. Hell, I'm furious that they could say such terrible things about the girls I love and adore. Yuji called right when it ended and he's looking into who to sue for slander and defamation of character. We'll work this out, sweetie."

Pizzazz wiped the tears from her eyes and blinked a couple of times before running into her mother's arms. She hugged her mother tightly and cried into her shoulder. Evelyn hugged Pizzazz just as tight and rubbed her back gently. She whispered into Pizzazz's ear. They stayed like that for a long while.

Finally, Pizzazz broke the embrace and looked her mother in the eye with an inner fury that Evelyn had never seen before. "I'm not going to dwell on this. I refuse to let whoever is doing this get to me. That is the whole point of that piece of shit we just saw. Yes, this was a personal attack on us in public, but I refuse to let the public see how we fight back." She sat on the stone bench that was near by. "I promise I won't go to their level."

"You don't know how proud that makes me to hear that from you." Evelyn stood before her daughter with a proud, motherly smile. "Why don't you stay out here for a bit? The cool air will do you good. I'll take care of everything inside."

Pizzazz gave a small wave of thanks as her mother went into the house. She sat there for a while thinking of the evil and nasty things she wished she could do to those responsible. A light tap on the shoulder brought Pizzazz out of her daydreaming. She looked up to see Roxy standing there holding a phone out. "It's your brother."

"Great," she mumbled and took the phone from her long time friend. "Hi, David, I take it you didn't like the special either."

David let out a forced chuckle. "Listen, Phyllis. I'm flying out there tonight. Yukio and Kyoko are staying here and so is the rest of Suzaku, but I think I'm needed there more than here. I know there's more than enough room there at the house for me."

Pizzazz felt herself smile and a wave of relief wash over her. "Of course there is. To be honest, I do need you here. I can't run Misfits Music like you did. You have dad's calming business sense. I just have his shrewdness." She ran her hand through her hair. "Anyway, I'll have a car ready to pick you up at the airport." She looked up and grinned at Roxy.

"That's fine. I'm going to need two rooms though."

"Two rooms?" Pizzazz asked confused.

"Uh, yeah, I'm bringing my new girlfriend with." Pizzazz could almost see her twin rubbing the back of his neck. "We still have to pack, but trust me, you'll love her. Her name is Kaori."

"Great. I'll see you soon then. Have a safe trip." Pizzazz hung up the phone. "Well, I have two rooms to prepare. David and some chick named Kaori are flying in to stay." She stood and ran her fingers through her hair; afterwards she looked at her hand then at Roxy. They both gave a short laugh. "I have to stop doing that! Anyway, let's get inside. I've been rude enough to my guests as it is."

Roxy put her arm around Pizzazz's shoulders. "Phyllis, I need to buy you a new TV. I kinda broke the screen after you left." Pizzazz looked at Roxy sharply in shock. "I'm just fucking with you! Geez you're so tense. This whole thing is going to blow over before you know it." She gave Pizzazz an overly dramatic kiss on the cheek.

Pizzazz wiped her cheek and laughed. "Yeah, you're right. My mom is right. David is right. Everyone is. We've bounced back from worse." She reached the back door and looked at her longtime friend. "Hell, we've come back from the dead! This is a bump on the road." She opened the door and headed to the entertainment room. It was empty except for Jetta and Stormer. The television screen was shattered and smoking a bit. Pizzazz looked at Roxy and pointed at the screen. "I thought you were kidding with me."

"I was. I didn't break it," Roxy chuckled. "Jerrica did. She left her credit card with Evelyn and she says she's sorry." The other two Misfits started laughing as Pizzazz shook her head. "I'm telling you, Phyllis, I've never seen her so pissed off. It made one of your outbursts look tame."

"Why don't you go to bed, Phyllis. Sheila, Roxy and I will clean up here." Stormer began picking up glasses.

Pizzazz nodded. "Yeah, I'll see you guys later. Thanks. Night." The other Misfits said their farewells and waved. Pizzazz walked up the stairs, looked at David's old room and the free room next to it and decided to clean them when she woke up. She heard her friends cleaning up and laughing downstairs. For some reason that made her feel better.

David packed his suitcase and listened to his girlfriend shout at her editor on the phone. Kaori winked at David while she yelled. "[Listen to me, Takashi. Hey! Takashi! Shut up a minute! I'm going to Los Angeles because my boyfriend asked me to go with. I can do the book there and send you the pages via express mail.]" She listened to her editor a moment and rolled her eyes. "[Hang on. I said shut up and hang on. Hey David! Are there tables and art supplies in America?]"

"[Last I checked there was,]" David said both confused and amused at once.

"[Hear that? They have tables and art supplies. Now shut up again.]" Kaori looked at David with a big smile. She was trying not to laugh out loud. "[Hey David, the mail gets sent here to Japan right?]"

"[Yeah, but it's tough because all we have is the pony express and the ponies always seem to drown.]" David sat on the edge of the bed and watched Kaori cover her mouth and laugh quietly. "[But, yes, America delivers mail here. A little soggy and late, but it arrives.]"

Kaori took a deep breath and brought the phone back to her ear. "[Takashi, I'm going and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. If you fire me, I'll just take my series to another magazine.]" She listened for a few moments and nodded. "[Thank you. Thank you for finally listening to me you stubborn ass. For the next two weeks just say I'm on vacation and I'll start sending the pages. Yeah. Bye.]" Kaori hung up and sighed. "[Goddamned ex-husband. Why did I marry him in the first place?]"

"[Don't look at me. I'm just packing. By the way, I'll teach you some English on the plane. We'll have enough time.]" David gave Kaori a one armed hug and kissed the top of her head. She smiled at him and began packing for her first trip to America. She hoped that it would be exciting.

Feeling a twinge of guilt for tricking the guard with a hologram, Jem leaned against the elevator wall and waited for the elevator car to stop. The car stopped at the floor Kevin Ross office was located. She exited and walked up to the office door and opened it without knocking. Kevin was sitting behind his office desk and looked up in mild shock and confusion. The members of Illegal Limit were also present. Kevin broke out into a wide grin. "Hello, Jem. What can I do for you this evening?"

Jem walked past the female rock band and slammed the palms of her hand on the desk. She looked at Kevin with an inner fury. "I just want to know why. Why are you trying to hurt The Misfits again? The special that aired tonight had your stench all over it and I'm not about to watch you drag them through the mud again."

Kevin smirked. "What do you care, Jem? After all the hurt and pain they gave you, why do you care so much? They're your rivals. And now I understand that your lovely bandmate Kimber isn't even involved with that dangerous man David. Yes, he is dangerous." Kevin leaned back in his chair.

"They're my friends and they're my family, Kevin." Jem watched a tear fall from her cheek to the desk. "You've been weighing on my conscious for far too long. I'm asking you in Jerrica's father's name, your friend, to quit it." Jem shuddered with rage.

For a long moment Kevin thought about what Jem had said. "Fine, I'll bother The Misfits or the Gabor family no more. But, know this Jerrica's father was never a friend of mine. He was a tool for me. Jerrica is not my friend and she never has been. She was a resource so easily exploited and manipulated. Now please get off my property before I have you arrested for trespassing." Kevin stood and pointed at the door.

Jem stared up at him, turned around and left without a word. Kevin snapped his fingers, the four women in the room looked at him. "Teach her that she doesn't fuck with Kevin Ross. I don't care how. Just make sure she gets the message." The four women nodded and left the office quietly.

The lonely stretch of road was one that Jem always hated. She drove along it so that she could calm down. There were usually no other cars to worry about, but it was the curves that made her uneasy. The whole stretch was without street lights.

Jem slipped in a CD into the radio and began to relax as the music began. Out of nowhere two cars sped up beside her without their lights on. Her stereo was on too loud so she didn't hear the roar of the engines come up behind her. Jem saw a person pop out of the passenger side window of each car. She saw that it was Thorn and Madison of Illegal Limit with the Gemini twins driving the vehicles.

Madison and Thorn both grinned evilly and pulled out two handheld mini-crossbows. Jem watched them point and aim the crossbows down. Madison pointed and fired her bolt. Jem heard her front tire explode. She pumped the brakes and tried to keep control down the steep slope. Thorn fired her bolt which hit the rear tire. Jem kept the car under control until she saw the metal barrier coming at her.

Even with slamming on the brakes Jem hit the guard rail. Her car flipped the rail and rolled into the field beyond. The two cars stopped to survey the damage done then sped off into the night fleeing the scene as fast as they could.

Robert Stevens sang along with his car radio. He slowed to make the sharp turn when he saw that the guard rail was damaged. As he got closer he thought he saw lights from a car in the field beyond. Robert slowed his car to a stop and grabbed his cell phone to dial for emergency help. He hopped the rail and gave the operator the information she needed.

The operator said that police and the emergency rescue crew would be on their way. Robert interrupted her when he found the body of a woman with pink hair ten feet from the car. She appeared to be still breathing. The operator told him to stay with her until the emergency team could arrive. He nodded even though she couldn't see it and hung up. Fifteen minutes later police and EMS showed up.

The EMS team rushed through the emergency room of the hospital shouting orders. A doctor stepped forward and took the pink haired woman's arm and checked her pulse. He looked at her while he timed it. He stopped and rubbed his eyes. "Anyone else see her just flicker?" The others around him just stared at him for a moment. "No more double shifts for me. Okay, let's get in the O.R. We need to patch her up fast!"

The nurses grabbed the gurney and ran with it to operating room number four. Once inside, the nurses and doctors went through the routine of preparing her for surgery. One of the young nurses recognized the woman. "Holy shit! This is Jem!"

An older nurse came along and moved the younger nurse out of the way. "Yes, it is. C'mon, we have to save her life. Not gawk and ask for autographs. Take those earrings off her." The younger nurse listened and took the earrings off as they fell apart in her hand. When the nurses turned to look at her, the illusion of Jem had vanished to reveal Jerrica Benton on the table. The emergency staff let out a soft gasp.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "I AM…"

PART 2 OF SPOTLIGHT'S FADE