In A Whole New Web With You: A Madame Web Movie Fanfiction Story
Act I:
The next day...
The sun is shining over the streets of New York. It's hot outside on a late afternoon. School buses are coming from schools with plenty of kids and teens.
Julia and Cassie are walking down a city street. Cassie is wearing her open orangish red leather jacket over dark gray.
Julia lightly says, "that was great Cassie! I can't believe I got to ride for free in a speeding ambulance to school."
At the same time... She has her arms out.
Cassie chuckles.
Cassie states, "you're welcome. There have been few emergencies for me to drive to today. It may not happen again. So... We're going to have to figure out another driving plan for you to get to school."
With a smile... Julia adds, "all right."
Cassie pauses.
Cassie implies, "and... I need to clear up another thing for you."
Julia just says, "okay."
She pauses. They're facing each other.
With mixed feelings... Cassie brings up, "I may have covered for you for the day you missed school. But... I'm not writing another fake doctor's note to give to your school nurse. She pretended to have misfiled it yesterday after I explained your living situation to her. If you really get sick? Then I'll get a doctor to send a note earlier. Got it?"
Julia figures, "yeah. I got it. And... Cassie? I'm just so thankful for everything you're doing for me."
Julia hugs Cassie tight. Cassie hugs her back.
After a bit... They pull away.
They are smiling wide to each other.
They continue walking down a city street.
Soon... They get to a mostly light red house.
The backyard of the house has a metallic lattice patio with plenty of green shrubs growing along it. There's a cookout here with several presently off duty paramedics. There's quite a number of mostly white tables and matching chairs. One of the tables has stacks of white ceramic plates, burger buns, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese slices in plastic wrap.
A guy lightly calls out, "hey, Cass!"
Cassie lightly says, "hey, Neil."
Neil has short black hair and a matching mustache. He is wearing a orange T-shirt with blue lined jet black diamonds across it. He is grilling several burgers in a mostly bright red grill.
Ben greets, "hey, Cassie! I see you brought a new friend."
He is at the cookout too. He's wearing a open blue plaid buttoned shirt over gray.
Cassie concludes, "yeah. I'll tell you more about it later, Ben. Neil and Ben? This is my friend Julia Carpenter. She's sixteen. Julia? These are my friends Neil and Ben."
Neil and Ben say hello to Julia. Julia says hello back.
Neil suggests, "hey Cass. Next time you want to go swimming? Maybe you should pick a lake. Won't be as deep.
With a smile... Julia states, "and mostly harmless creatures and easy water currents."
Cassie and Ben smirk a little.
Cassie points out, "oh, please Neil. We're paramedics. It comes with the job description sometimes."
Neil considers, "that's true."
Cassie checks, "are you over-pressing all the burgers, or just your own?"
Neil lightly insists, "just mine. Laugh. I'm still on a low fat diet!"
Julia just awkwardly goes, "wow."
Cassie is still facing Neil.
Cassie remarks, "that's called killing the flavor for you. You might as well get tofu burgers, man."
Ben and Neil are laughing hard. Julia smirks.
Neil thinks out loud, "yeah? Me eating just tofu. That's funny."
Julia and Cassie are getting some ceramic plates, burger buns, lettuce, tomato, and cheese.
Julia whispers to Cassie, "you have interesting friends."
Cassie admits, "actually... Ben introduced me to more of his friends. In elementary school? Ben was my only friend and best friend."
With a smile... Julia is quick to reply, "ohh. No judgment here."
Cassie adds, "thanks." Julia adds, "you're welcome."
Neil offers, "there you go."
He uses a spatula to give out two burgers: One to Cassie, and one to Julia.
They both say thank you.
Julia picks the only empty table left in the backyard. She already brought out a glass of water in a plastic cup. Cassie places her plate next to her plate.
Julia is kind of slowly assembling her cheeseburger. Cassie is quick to assemble her cheeseburger.
Cassie is about to start eating...when Ben offers her a Pepsi can to drink.
Cassie takes the Pepsi can.
Cassie wonders, "you don't think that maybe, in light of recent events, I could use a beer?"
Ben brings up, "well, as you know, the protocol is no alcohol or booze within 24 hours of your death."
Julia realizes, "wait. Cassie... You died?"
She looks shocked.
Cassie explains, "okay. I nearly drowned over a bridge in the middle of a rescue. It's not a big deal for me."
On the first part? Cassie all too lightly shrugs.
Julia smirks a little. Ben smirks.
Ben sits down to Cassie's right. Julia is sitting to Cassie's left.
Cassie challenges, "oh yeah. And... Ben? Is that really protocol within 24 hours of death?"
Ben just says, "yeah, it's protocol."
Cassie adds, "that's boring."
Julia tries hard not to laugh at that.
Cassie and Julia eat their cheeseburgers.
Soon... Neil finishes grilling the burgers.
He sits by Ben. He starts assembling his own cheeseburger.
Julia has gone to the bathroom to wash her hands in the house.
Neil implies, "come on Cass. I feel like there's more of a story here."
Cassie assures, "you guys? Come on. We've seen this a hundred times. It was cardiac arrest. If you get your heart started back up again quick enough? You're fine. No complications."
Ben cuttingly remarks, "really? Because you're always complicated."
Cassie lightly punches Ben. He pretends to wince.
Cassie and Neil laugh.
Soon... Julia comes back.
Julia is drinking water from her cup. She has sat down by Cassie.
Neil wonders, "so... When you nearly died... Did you see a white light or…?
Cassie somewhat sarcastically says, "well, actually... I saw your dog Jersey in a cornfield. So you tell me…"
Ben laughs. Julia and Cassie smirk.
Sounding amused... Neil comments, "oh, come on. You saw Jersey in a cornfield?"
A woman suddenly appears by him. She has slightly short black curly hair. She wears a sleeveless green and blue coral reef themed dress.
Neil says, "hey Susan."
With a grin... Susan wonders, "hey Neil. What did Jersey do?"
She has a arm around Neil. He grins back at her.
After a bit... Ben checks his watch.
He recalls, "damn. I almost forgot! Autumn is ready to start."
Cassie asks, "what?"
Ben realizes, "my sister is starting her baby shower any minute a few blocks away. So, Cassie... You should get in there soon."
Cassie looks wide eyed in shock. Julia makes a nervous face.
With mixed feelings... Cassie thinks out loud, "and I'm happy for her and her baby. But, I suck at talking to strangers. I don't even know any of her other friends. Come on! Why me?"
With a smirk... Ben replies, "because she promised to save you a slice of chocolate cake to take home if you come."
Neil, Susan, and Julia look amused.
With some mixed feelings... Cassie mutters, "damn it! That's hard to turn down. Heavy sigh. Okay. I'll come to her baby shower after I wash my hands. Thank you "so much" for telling her my secret."
She gets up from the table.
Cassie starts to bring her plate and Julia's plate into the house. Susan helps get the door for her.
Cassie says, "thank you." Susan adds, "you're welcome."
Ben lightly insists to Cassie, "hey! Don't blame me. She figured it out herself. Have fun."
He waves to Cassie. Julia, Neil, and Susan smile.
With a smirk... Cassie adds, "thanks. I'll try to."
Cassie suggests, "oh! And since it's a women only party... Can you look after Julia for me until I'm back? Thank you."
Ben deduces, "hey! This is payback for giving away your secret weakness to my sister. Isn't it?"
Cassie lightly says, "yeah. Maybe."
Neil and Susan laugh. Julia laughs hard.
Ben and Julia say goodbye to Cassie. Cassie says goodbye back.
Cassie finally walks into the house with her plate and Julia's plate. Susan sits down by Neil.
Ben makes a awkward face. He's not sure what to talk about with Julia.
Julia kind of awkwardly plays with her hands.
After a bit... Julia wonders, "so... Neil and Susan... What is your dog Jersey like?"
Neil and Susan start to excitedly talk about Jersey. Ben smiles in a knowing way.
Ten or so minutes later...
Cassie has walked over to a mostly light blue house.
She kind of nervously knocks on the front door.
A woman with long blonde hair answers the door. She is wearing a sleeveless dress with a pink tinted beach theme.
She somewhat lightly reflects, "hey Cassie Web. I... I almost can't believe you really came to my baby shower. But, it's great to see you."
Cassie says, "hi Autumn. It's good to see you too. Sorry for being a little late."
She shakes Autumn's hand.
With a slight smile... Cassie figures, "and... Because I literally just found out you were having your baby shower... I can buy you a dress as a gift tomorrow."
With a smile... Autumn figures, "it's okay. I know Ben was going to tell you today. And, the party only just started. You didn't miss too much."
They both head into the house.
The walls are mostly light blue. There are plenty of blue balloons and pictures of trucks on roads.
Cassie awkwardly goes, "so... Things with us are still okay. That's good. Thanks for having me."
Autumn adds, "you're welcome."
Ten women are in the living room, talking among themselves and drinking wine. They're Autumn's friends from high school. They're mostly wearing dark blue to light red dresses.
Cassie nervously admits, "I...really hope not to look too awkward in front of your friends. That's why I almost didn't come."
Autumn assures, "come on Cassie. This isn't a disaster zone. You're Ben's partner in the field. If anyone asks why you're late? Just tell them you came back from saving some people from a house fire. You'll be fine."
Cassie concludes, "thank you Autumn. I'll need all the encouragement I can get."
Autumn puts a comforting hand on hers.
In another direction... Autumn calls out, "I'm finally out of the bathroom! We can start the next game soon. Just give me eight minutes to get it all set up."
Plenty of cheers are heard from the living room.
Autumn tells Cassie, "we just finished the first game. But, there's more. What else is on your mind?"
They're in the kitchen area now.
On the kitchen table? There's a piece of chocolate cake in a plastic container with a stick-it note that says "Cassie" on it.
Autumn pulls out a ice tray from the refrigerator. Cassie helps her with opening and closing the refrigerator door.
Autumn puts the ice tray on the table. She's kind of slowly filling it with water.
Cassie is thinking back to her near death experience.
But... She quickly thinks of something else.
Cassie concludes, "well... Faint chuckle. Ben is so excited about being an uncle."
Autumn somewhat nervously comments, "I don't know what we'd do without him. Especially with Thomas having a ton of shipments to make out of state this week."
Cassie deduces, "again? Where is he driving his truck this time?"
Sounding annoyed... Autumn brings up, "across Connecticut. I can't keep track of what cities or towns. Heavy sigh. He never turns down a high paying job, and out of state truck driving brings him most of those jobs. He's also always hungry when he comes back."
By then... She has put eleven tiny toy figures of babies into the water in the ice tray.
Autumn puts the ice tray into the freezer to freeze the water quick. Cassie helps her with the refrigerator door.
Cassie tries to assure, "but he still comes home to you."
Autumn smiles wide at that.
Autumn concludes, "true. Thank you Cassie. I needed that."
With a smile... Cassie says, "you're welcome. Does the baby have a name yet?"
Autumn kind of cryptically answers, "we're saving that for one of the games."
After a bit... She pulls out the ice tray with the tiny toy figures of babies in it.
Cassie awkwardly looks at the ice tray.
She goes, "great..."
Fifteen minutes later...
Autumn, Cassie, and Autumn's high school friends are all gathered in the living room. Autumn is reading a piece of paper. They all have randomly picked pieces of paper from a glass bowl.
Autumn says, "ok. My mother always cut the crusts off my sandwiches. Chloe, is that you?"
Chloe says, "yes. My mom said the crusts would make my hair go curly. It was years before I figured that one out."
Most of the party guests chuckle a little. Cassie annoyedly rolls her eyes.
Suddenly... Another party guest makes a disturbed face.
She comments, "ok...ay. I'm not reading this out loud. This one is creepy."
She hands it over to Autumn. Autumn reads it over.
Autumn somewhat nervously wonders, "ok. Whose is this?"
Cassie awkwardly says, "oh, it's... It's mine. Sorry."
Her piece of paper says "my mother is part black widow spider and part bitch".
Most of the party guests give Cassie a weird look. Autumn looks a little shaken.
Autumn tries to assure, "come on. Cassie... It can't be as bad as what you wrote on your paper. Faint chuckle. You must have at least one thoughtful memory of your mother."
With a slightly cold tone... Cassie recollects, "well, my mother may have died in childbirth in the Amazon. Heavy sigh. But, dying in those circumstances are super rare. I mean, what kind of pregnant woman decides to go too far from any hospital to study spiders?"
Chloe nervously asks, "Cassie... Are you just trying to scare us?"
Cassie tries to assure, "I'm not trying to scare anyone. I'm sorry it's sounding that way. The truth is all I knew of my mother came from a scientific journal. So, maybe she didn't die. Maybe I was already born and she just abandoned me in a basket at a airport. Um..."
Autumn is quick to sum up, "okay! Super awkward. But... At least you won the broke the water game with grace. That has to count for something. Right?"
Most of the party guests can't help but laugh. Cassie looks embarrassed.
Autumn somewhat lightly states, "manners please! This is a proper baby shower after all. Let's melt some more ice with candy apples and another game."
Everyone else smiles at that.
Autumn brings over a ceramic yellow plate with chocolate covered candy apples. She places it on the round wood table in the living room.
Everyone gets one. Cassie, Autumn, and some of Autumn's high school friends eat theirs.
Then... Autumn tells them the next game, "guess the name of Autumn's baby."
Chloe says, "okay, I'll kick things off. Sam."
Autumn responds, "nope!"
Another party guest guesses, "Steven!"
Autumn concludes, "he's not named Steven. You girls are ice cold."
One of the party guests guesses, "Thomas Jr?"
With a wide smile... Autumn states, "Thomas wishes."
Most everyone laughs.
Autumn wonders, "Cassie, what's your guess?"
Suddenly... Cassie sees flashes of blurry spider webs, a curtain of darkness, and a bright light.
And... She hears distant echoes, "okay, I... Sam. Nope! He's not named Steven. You girls are ice cold. Thomas Jr? Thomas wishes. They're calling everyone in... Not so little tsunami. Wait! Check his abdomen. And…internal injuries. Good catch!"
Then... Autumn wonders, "Cassie. What's your guess?"
Cassie checks, "wait. Are you sure you didn't already ask me?"
Autumn assures, "yeah. I'm pretty sure."
Cassie suggests, "o...kay. How about Winter?"
Autumn raises a eyebrow.
With a wide smile... She figures, "interesting choice. But, no. Sorry."
One of the party guests guesses, "Nicholas? As in St. Nick?"
Sounding amused... Autumn says, "closer. But, no."
Another party guest wonders, "what's the name of the red nosed reindeer?"
Autumn answers, "yes. It's Rudolph! You got it."
Cassie annoyedly groans.
Just then... Ben comes in.
Ben somewhat awkwardly apologizes, "uh… Sorry. They're calling everyone in. A plane got its wing torn off in a storm over the pacific ocean. It's just crash landed by the docks and made a not so little tsunami. A lot of people to rescue on and off land."
He's already wearing his paramedic uniform.
Cassie acts frustrated.
She mutters, "damn. And just when we were all having fun."
Most everyone else smiles at that.
Autumn puts a comforting hand on Cassie's.
Autumn reasons, "it's okay Cassie. Paramedic work is very important. We understand. Here's your prize from the broke the water game."
She hands Cassie a spa themed basket.
Cassie says, "thanks Autumn. Thanks girls. Bye."
She waves bye to Autumn, Chloe, and the other party guests. They wave back.
Cassie starts to walk out with Ben.
As soon as they get to the kitchen area? Cassie hands Ben the spa themed basket.
Cassie whispers, "most of the items in here are for someone more girly. You can re-gift them to Amaria. But... The blue bath robe is mine."
On the last part? Ben laughs.
Cassie picks up her piece of chocolate cake on the kitchen table.
Ben lightly concludes, "you got it. And, thanks for the gift. Amaria is going to love it."
Cassie adds, "you're welcome."
Ben checks, "so… You okay?"
He opens the back door for Cassie. They're both heading out of the house.
Ben closes the door behind them. Their ambulance is parked on the side of the road nearby.
Cassie somewhat nervously divulges, "I… I got a weird sense of deja vu. Oh yeah. And... Great timing, Ben. Honestly? I was about to get too awkward at the party again."
Ben inquires, "what do you mean?"
Cassie points out, "we just found out Autumn's baby name is Rudolph. Named after the red nosed reindeer. I groaned."
Ben lightly goes, "ahh. I would've groaned at that myself. You're welcome."
On the first part? Cassie laughs.
Cassie asks in concern, "wait. Ben... Where's Julia?"
Ben explains, "well... Because we're going to a emergency a lot sooner than we expected... I thought it'd be safer for Julia if Susan looks after her while we're gone. She isn't allergic to dog hair, is she?"
They get into the ambulance.
Cassie takes off her leather jacket. She puts it in the back of the ambulance.
She is changing into her paramedic uniform.
With a smile... Cassie answers, "no. Julia is not allergic to dogs or cats. That was a good call."
Ben adds, "then you're welcome."
Cassie sits in the driver's seat. Ben is sitting in the front seat opposite her.
Soon... Cassie is speeding the ambulance down another road with the sirens going off.
Ben can't help but ask, "so... What is the story with Julia?"
Cassie explains Julia's living situation to Ben.
Then... Cassie bittersweetly reflects, "and... She ran away from home to find me because she thought I was the only woman with a kind face she's seen in years. Do you really think I can take care of a teenage girl, Ben? I'm not even sure yet."
She makes a nervous face. She moderately sighs.
Ben deduces, "well... You're not throwing a fit over the responsibility. That's as good a sign as any that you're doing well so far."
Cassie briefly turns to face Ben.
She smiles wide. Ben smiles back.
Cassie adds, "thanks." Ben adds, "you're welcome."
Twelve or so minutes later, at some docks on the edge of Long Island...
There are several paramedics including Cassie medically treating people on the docks. There are plenty of ambulances and a lot of water puddles. The New York Coast Guard, Ben, and several more paramedics are heading fast for a slowly sinking airplane on temporarily commandeered ferry boats.
One of the paramedics reports, "ok, looks like a fractured left radius. Otherwise stable."
Two paramedics are moving a injured guy on a stretcher.
Cassie recalls a distant echo from earlier. She looks up from the person she's medically treating.
Cassie points out, "wait! Check his abdomen."
One of the paramedics carrying the stretcher checks the injured guy's abdomen. He violently groans.
The paramedic reports, "wow. You're right. And internal injuries. Good catch."
He smiles. Cassie somewhat nervously smiles back.
Cassie reports the injured person she's been treating is good to go for the hospital. She and three paramedics bring two certain injured guys to a ambulance.
Neil and his mostly red colored Doberman Jersey are looking for more survivors. Neil is wearing his paramedic uniform. Jersey is wearing a mostly orangish red Search And Rescue vest.
Jersey barks loudly by a overturned garbage truck.
Neil checks under the garbage truck. He finds two guys trapped between the garbage truck and the docks.
They're both breathing. But, they have deep dark red cuts across their legs and sides.
With a smile... Neil says, "good work, Jersey."
Jersey lightly barks.
Neil calls over some more paramedics.
He figures, "we going to need two jaws of life to move these guys."
Three paramedics and Neil together use two jaws of life to push the garbage truck further away. Neil and another one of the other paramedics soon carefully put the two injured men on stretchers to take them to a hospital.
A paramedic woman and another Doberman with a Search And Rescue vest help find a woman that was pulled by the water into a warehouse. She's trapped under a large missile.
A security guard warns, "hey! You can't triage in there. This is private property."
With a glare... The paramedic points out, "a woman is trapped in there! We need to treat her as best we can before we move them."
The security guard frustratedly sighs into his hand.
He whispers, "look. I'll go in there to help you. But, not a word to my supervisor."
The paramedic says, "it's a deal."
They head into the warehouse.
As they head in?
The security guard explains, "this is a Hammer Industries warehouse. It's packed with missiles and machine guns. War protestors have said for many months this place has been a death trap. We have to be very careful not to set off anything in here. That's why I'm going with you."
Cassie has just treated a injured woman well enough so she can go to the hospital. She and a paramedic carry her on a stretcher to a ambulance.
Suddenly... Cassie sees flashes of blurry spider webs, a curtain of darkness, and a bright light.
She sees herself calling Susan to check on her and Julia. A speeding car crashing violently into a mostly green car under a bridge with train tracks. A ball of fire. Susan and Julia screaming. Brief flashes of dark red liquid splatter.
Cassie gets teary eyed. She gulps nervously.
She gets out her cell phone. She calls Susan.
Over her cell phone... Susan answers, "hello?"
Cassie says, "Susan? Oh thank god! Are you both okay?"
Susan tries to assure, "yeah. We're okay Cassie. We're loading groceries into my car. What's wrong?"
She and Julia are in the parking lot of a supermarket. They're putting groceries in the back of Susan's mostly green car.
Cassie suggests, "just... Just be careful on the road. Okay? There's already been a unusual plane crash today. I just don't want you and Julia to be caught in another crash."
Susan assures, "I'm always careful, Cassie. I'm taking the usual route back home from the supermarket. I think your recent experiences with water are just messing with your head. We'll be okay. Really."
A paramedic calls out, "Cassie! I need you in triage."
Over her cell phone... Cassie adds, "well... I hope you're right Susan. I got to go treat another patient."
She and Susan say goodbye. Cassie hangs up her cell phone.
Cassie fast walks over to another injured person and another paramedic.
Plenty of injured people are being carried on stretchers off of ferry boats. Cassie, Ben, and the other paramedics are double checking their medical conditions before moving them into ambulances.
Plenty of uninjured passengers from the plane are gathered around in worry and concern for the injured people. More ambulances are arriving.
Not long after, on a road...
Susan is driving her car back for her and Neil's house. Julia is sitting on the front seat opposite of Susan. Two bags of groceries are in the back of the car.
The sun is setting over a train bridge up ahead.
Susan checks for any incoming cars. She carefully drives past one of them.
She starts to turn the car down another road.
Suddenly... A speeding car violently crashes into Susan's car.
Screams.
Susan's car tumble lands against a support beam of the train bridge. The speeding car crash lands into another car.
A full bottle of alcohol from the speeding car simultaneously smashes in the car's radio. All three cars are catching fire.
Julia is violently groaning. Brief flashes of dark red liquid splatter.
Julia managed to duck before the windshield rained glass on her.
She has some bruises on one of her upper arms from accidentally hitting the car door. Her arms have cuts all over from the glass.
Morlun fast walks over to the recently speeding car. He creepily grins.
He rips a burning car door off its hinges. He can hear sirens from police, fire trucks, and ambulances.
Morlun creepily says, "a drunk driver and a fatal crash. I wasn't even planning this. It's like... Laugh! Like giving me Julia Cornwall's death on a silver platter."
At the same time... He's using his mystically glowing near blackish green fingernails to pull psychokinetic pulsing red energy out of the drunk driver of the speeding car.
The driver falls dead from his grasp.
Julia calls out worriedly, "Susan?! Where are...?"
Julia gasps. She looks wide eyed in shock.
The car's dashboard has become completely dented...and gone right into Susan's chest.
She was killed on impact.
Julia cries out, "no. No! ! !"
Tears are falling from her face. Hard sniffles.
She can smell smoke and fire from the car hood. She tries to quickly get out of the car.
With a creepy grin... Morlun rants to himself, "now I won't have to keep feeding on homeless people and NSA targets to survive with the vampire bat DNA and the spider DNA I injected myself with."
He is fast walking over to Julia. She's just gotten out of Susan's car.
All three cars are burning down.
Morlun continues, "I'll have big vampire boy meals every day: Starting with you, little girl!"
Julia angrily charges for him. She is quick to assume he caused the car crash.
Morlun grabs her by the throat. She's struggling to breathe.
Julia violently jump kick flips off of him.
Morlun coughs up some dark red liquid. He looks shocked by this.
Julia is just catching her breath.
Over a comlink... Jill warns Morlun, "police, fire trucks, and ambulances will be there any second. Your connection with the NSA can't be exposed! Get out of there! !"
Morlun thinks to himself, "no NSA targets for days and just homeless people to feed on...has made me weaker. I can't kill the girls: Not like this! !"
Morlun cries out angrily.
He violently throws a piece of flaming car at Julia. Julia reactively dives for cover.
The piece of flaming car explodes inches away from Julia.
By the time Julia gets back up? Morlun is already gone.
Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars are here. Ben, Cassie, Neil, Jersey, and two more paramedics arrive at the scene of the car crash.
Cassie assumes, "Julia! Thank god you're okay."
She hugs Julia close. Julia hugs her back.
Julia shakily admits, "Cassie... I don't know who attacked me. But... Hard sniffle. A guy just tried to kill me. And... Hard sniffle. Susan..."
Ben barely gets a half burnt unconscious guy out of a car. He's still breathing.
Ben and another paramedic get him on a stretcher.
Getting teary eyed... Neil somberly calls out, "Susan? Susan?! ! Oh god. Susan! ! !"
He sees the corpse of his dead wife in her car.
Neil, Cassie, and Julia break down crying. Tears fall from Ben's face. Jersey nervously whimpers.
Ben tries to assure, "we did our best. There's... Hard sniffle. There's nothing we could have done to save her."
Neil hugs Ben close. He hugs him back.
And... Neil, Cassie, Julia, and Ben just stay like this for who knows how long.
The next day, in Cassie's apartment...
Cassie was given a medical recommendation to take a week off. She is staying home today.
She recalls the diagnosis she got from her doctor:
Despite indications of mental exhaustion for several days? Your head CT and MRI are both normal. I think your near death experience and your recent trauma are weighing heavily on you. I'm recommending you take a week off to get more rest.
Cassie is wearing a light blue T-shirt and very dark blue jeans. She is sitting at the wood table. One of her apartment windows is open.
And... Frank is licking her hand.
Cassie somberly suggests, "you never have to worry about a job or medical emergencies. Do you? You're kind of lucky to be a very independent cat, Frank."
Frank trills a little. Cassie lightly pets him.
Julia somewhat nervously says, "hello." Cassie awkwardly says, "hey."
Julia has just come back from school. Ben has been driving Julia to school on his way to work, and Autumn has been driving her back from school.
Julia is wearing a white T-shirt with some silvery butterflies on it. She puts her very light blue backpack down by the bed.
Julia inquires, "did you find who tried to kill me?"
Cassie apologizes, "I'm really sorry. I've called all my other friends and the police station. No one knows where to look for him."
Frank is heading back out to the fire escape through the open window.
Julia and Cassie say goodbye to Frank. Frank trills a little.
Julia nervously says, "it's okay."
She tries hard to still smile. She sits down in the opposite chair at the table.
With mixed feelings... Cassie assumes, "how can you be so calm about all this? Aren't you the least bit sad that Susan is dead?"
The smile fades from Julia's face.
Julia voices, "I'm not calm at all about this! ! Don't you dare tell me what to feel! ! You... Hard sniffle. You're starting to sound like Mrs. Cornwall."
She starts to break down crying. Julia looks stunned.
Cassie apologizes, "I'm really sorry Julia. I didn't mean to. Hard sniffle. Please... Please help me understand."
Tears are falling from her face. She cautiously offers a hand to Julia.
After a bit... Julia looks up.
She kind of slowly puts a comforting hand on Cassie's.
Julia highlights, "okay Cassie. Heavy sigh. I know this is going to sound kind of stupid. But... For many years? School was my happy place. My happy place away from my abusive dad. Hard sniffle. Teachers always seemed to care for me: To respect me. Hard sniffle. But, they never stopped to listen to my whole story. Hard sniffle. I've never had another happy place before. And... Hard sniffle. We both have been depressed in recent days. Where else could I go that's happier?"
On the last part? They awkwardly smile a little to each other.
Cassie says, "oh Julia... Can you come here?"
Julia kind of lightly answers, "yeah. I can."
They both get up from the table.
They hug each other tight.
After a bit... Cassie kind of lightly reflects, "depression isn't easy to get through. But... Hard sniffle. Maybe if we spend more time together? We can help each other get through it faster."
They pull away some.
But... Despite the teariness in their eyes... They're smiling wider in a knowing way.
Early the next morning...
Julia and Cassie are casually sleeping in the same bed...when there's a knock on the door.
Julia sleepily asks, "Cassie? Should I...?"
Cassie sleepily insists, "no. I'll take care of it, Julia. Go back to sleep."
Julia concludes, "okay. Be careful Cassie. It might be vampire ghost man."
With a slight smile... Cassie assures, "I'm not going to die on you Julia. Go to sleep."
She gets out of bed. She goes to answer the door.
Neil and Jersey are at the door.
Cassie says, "hey Neil. Hey Jersey. What are you doing up at this hour?"
With some mixed feelings... Neil explains, "well... Susan's funeral is today. Before you say it? I know you're on medical leave, and we all know it's the last place you want to be. But... Heavy sigh. Jersey has been acting anxious without Susan, and her going to the funeral with me will just make it worse on her. What I'm trying to say is... It would be a big help to me and my family if you could look after Jersey for the day."
Cassie solemnly assures, "it's okay Neil. I understand. I'll look after Jersey: For you and Susan." Neil adds, "thank you Cassie. That means a lot."
Cassie and Neil smile. Jersey lightly barks.
The following afternoon...
Julia and Cassie are watching a DVD of the 1951 movie A Christmas Carol on the TV set. They're both teary eyed. They're sitting on the couch.
Cassie is wearing her blue bathrobe. Julia is wearing black jeans and a mostly blue 2002 BMW T-shirt that says "too hip to be square" across it.
Cassie already took Jersey for two long walks around the city. Jersey is lying down across Cassie's lap.
From A Christmas Carol... Scrooge is concluding, "Spirit of the future, I fear you more than any other specter I've seen. Even that fear I must deal with. I am doomed! I can not change…"
Julia reflects, "I know Scrooge has been a terrible person. But... How he felt after seeing the Ghost of Christmas present should be enough to fully change him. What's this fatalistic ****?"
Jersey starts to loudly bark.
Just as fast... Cassie tries to assure, "Jersey... It's not you she was talking to. You're not in trouble, and neither are you Julia."
At the same time... She's petting Jersey a lot.
Jersey lightly barks. Julia smiles.
Jersey sits up next to Cassie.
And... She licks Cassie's face all over.
Cassie and Julia chuckle.
After a bit... Julia checks, "should I press play on the movie now?"
She pressed pause on the DVD remote when Jersey started to bark loudly.
Cassie answers, "yeah. You can now. Jersey is a very sensitive dog: When she's not working as a search and rescue dog."
Julia nods. She presses play on the DVD remote.
Jersey is lying back down across Cassie's lap.
With a smirk... Cassie points out, "and, for the Ghost of Christmas Future... Some people think it isn't pushing it and some do think so. You know? You didn't have to watch A Christmas Carol with me."
Julia is quick to add, "you let me watch the movie Antz yesterday. I'm good."
Cassie chuckles some.
Cassie adds, "you're welcome."
Cassie puts a comforting hand on Julia's. Cassie has her other hand lightly petting Jersey.
On Cassie's answering machine... They hear a voice message:
Hey Cassie, it's me. Ben. I know you're there. Just please pick up.
Okay, well... Uh…
I know. You chose to dog sit for Neil, and everyone really appreciates that.
But... After school hours... Julia could help look after Jersey while you go to the funeral.
If you came to the funeral… It might help you too, Cassie. Susan's funeral starts at 5:30 P.M. in Poughkeepsie. If you leave soon? You can still make it.
Cassie solemnly reflects, "three ghosts of Christmas? I hate to break it to you. But… Hard sniffle. Even you can't save everyone."
Cassie moves one of her hands to take a tissue from a nearby tissue box.
She wipes some of her tears away with the tissue. She blows her nose into it.
Julia takes a tissue too. She just wipes some of her tears away.
From A Christmas Carol... Scrooge is concluding, "are these the shadows of things that must leave? Are they only shadows of things that might be?"
Cassie and Julia throw their tissues into a trash can in the kitchen area.
Then... Cassie goes back to lightly petting Jersey.
Jersey lightly howls a little.
A Christmas Carol continues to play on the TV screen.
Julia solemnly pinpoints, "Cassie... Heavy sigh. You told me you had a vision that I'd become a Spider-Woman superhero. You told me about your precognitive powers, and I know you're really sensitive now about them. But... Heavy sigh. Please tell me something. Did your precognitive powers predict we'd stay friends for this long despite how bad you are at talking to strangers? Or, that you'd save me from my abusive dad?"
Cassie is too shocked for words by her question.
Julia observes, "I take that to be a no. So... Your powers aren't exactly all knowing. Are they? Faint chuckle. Then there's always still a chance for you and me to save people: No matter how hard it is. No matter what vision you see."
They bittersweetly smile to each other. The teariness in their eyes starts to dry up.
After a bit... Cassie sincerely says, "thank you Julia. Thank you very much for helping me realize the future isn't so bad after all."
Julia brings up, "you're welcome. But... You helped me first realize that when you saved me from abuse."
Cassie just adds, "fair."
Julia wonders, "so... Cassie... Are you going to the funeral?"
Cassie presses pause on the DVD remote this time.
Cassie considers, "actually... I know how we can all go to Poughkeepsie. You can take Jersey for a walk around Poughkeepsie while I go to the funeral. It might be fun for you and Jersey to explore another town. I'll promise Jersey a treat for doing this for me. She usually listened to me and Susan."
Julia figures, "that sounds great. But... What if vampire ghost man...?"
Cassie assures, "I'll give you my backup cell phone. If anything bad happens? Call me, and I'll come running to save you. Jersey would help protect you too."
Julia says, "thank you Cassie. That really helps."
Cassie puts a comforting hand on Julia's.
And... Cassie says, "you're welcome."
Not long after, at a subway station...
Cassie asks for two tickets to Poughkeepsie. She, Julia, and Jersey are there.
Jersey has on her Search And Rescue vest and a red leash. Cassie is holding the leash.
Cassie is wearing her orangish red leather jacket over purple.
Julia has her backpack on her. She wanted to bring her savings along in case she needs money in Poughkeepsie, and she thought her backpack would be a safe place to put them.
Meanwhile, in Jill's apartment...
Jill reports, "Anya Corazón started moving on to the platform. She's on her own. Martha "Mattie" Franklin is on the platform and on her own. Julia Carpenter Cornwall is on the concourse. But, she's not on her own."
She's looking at surveillance cameras from her computer.
Morlun is already fast walking down a set of stairs leading down into the subway station.
Over comlink... Morlun asks, "who is walking with Julia?"
Jill deduces, "a woman in a leather jacket and a Doberman. But... If she was a United States government agent? My computer would've flagged it right away. Still... Uneasy chuckle. What are the odds of them all being in the same place at the same time?"
Morlun concludes, "It's not a coincidence. There must be something that connects them...or someone. Run facial recognition on our mystery woman."
Jill just says, "I'm on it."
Soon... Her computer shows the name "Cassandra Web".
Jill reports the name to Morlun.
Morlun somewhat nervously murmurs, "and her mother is a medical scientist named Constance Web?"
Sounding surprised... Jill wonders, "yeah. How did you know that?"
With mixed feelings... Morlun mutters under his breath, "that's not possible! Constance Web died in the Amazon and she was pregnant. No baby could have survived that! !"
Morlun lies, "Jill? I... I was a secret agent on a mission before the NSA hired me."
Jill gulps nervously.
She gets teary eyed. She knew he had just lied to her.
But... She doesn't say anything.
Around then, back in the subway station...
Two subway trains are coming any minute. Cassie, Julia, and Jersey are coming any minute too.
A guy with a black cap on his head and a open black jacket is sitting on a metal bench.
The guy says, "New York City is a whole new level of crazy these days."
A teenage girl is sitting next to him. She has yellow highlights in her curly medium black hair. She is wearing a mostly blue T-shirt with a Killer Klowns from Outer Space movie poster across it, and ripped very dark red jeans with black marker drawings of cat claws. Her name is Max Black.
With a kind of creepy grin... Max Black highlights, "you think New York City is crazy? My high school in Rhode Island was founded by a husband and wife team of arsonists before they were caught, and most of the kids there like to try to burn it down to honor them. Maybe including me."
The guy looks wide eyed in shock.
He mutters, "damn girl! ! I don't got a crazier story than that."
Max Black all too lightly goes, "yay! I win five bucks."
At the same time... She puts her arms out.
The guy gives her five bucks. He fast walks away from her to sit on another metal bench.
Then... Julia, Cassie, and Jersey are walking by Max Black.
Max Black says, "hey Julia." Julia says, "hey Max Black."
Sounding shocked... Cassie realizes, "you know this girl?"
Max Black explains, "Julia was in this subway station offering for free a bottle of booze she stole from her abusive dad in exchange for directions to your apartment. I took the deal. You're welcome."
Julia very awkwardly smiles. Cassie looks stunned.
Jersey starts to loudly bark.
Cassie whispers, "Jersey... I don't think she's going to try to hurt us."
Jersey somewhat lightly and warily barks.
The subway trains come in.
Julia, Cassie, and Jersey start to head to one of the subway trains. Max Black follows them.
Cassie remarks to Max Black, "you're like the craziest teenager I ever saw. What is your deal?!"
With a smile... Max replies back, "I think you just answered that."
She points to Cassie as she says it.
Max Black realizes, "huh. What a crazy coincidence. We're taking the same train now."
All four of them are walking into the same subway train. Automatic doors open for them.
Cassie thinks out loud, "right now... I just really hope I don't regret this coincidence."
Julia tries to assure, "as far as I know? She's not too bad."
Max Black figures, "all right. I trust Julia. Maybe I can trust you both. And by the way? Your guard dog? Respect."
On the last part? Julia and Cassie chuckle.
A subway train staff member announces, "please keep all belongings to you at all times. If you see something suspicious? Find a member of the MTA staff."
Cassie admits, "actually... I'm dog sitting for a friend."
Max Black just adds, "that's cool."
Cassie says, "okay. You can sit with us. My name is Cassie." Max Black just says, "cool."
Max Black sits next to Cassie on the subway train. Cassie is sitting next to Julia. Jersey is sitting in front of Cassie.
Mattie and Anya appear on the same subway train car. They both have mostly blue backpacks.
Mattie is wearing a gold chain necklace, a white T-shirt, a open blue jacket with red lines across it, silvery pen tip like earrings, and ripped blue jeans. She is carrying her skateboard. She is holding a set of headphones over her neck. She has a Sony MS walkman in her pocket.
Anya is wearing a yellow T-shirt with the words "I eat math for breakfast" across it. She also is wearing a open brown jacket, a goldish necklace with a dark blue stone on it, goldish hoop earrings, and blue jeans.
Suddenly... A power glitch runs through the whole subway station.
Lights flicker on and off. A lot of people gasp in nervousness.
A subway train staff member announces, "remain calm! Only one circuit breaker just blew on the station lights. We'll just flip another circuit breaker. We'll be running the trains shortly. Remain calm."
Everyone except Max Black sighs in mixed relief.
Max Black divulges, "here's why I've been in New York. My girlfriend and I rocked the night until our mine carts struck Blarney Stone gold. Moderate sigh. Okay. Ex-girlfriend now. But, if you make a deal with a pregnant teenage girl to fake your own kidnapping at a hockey game to vacation in the state of New York for a week? Mistakes get made."
Julia and Cassie look wide eyed in shock at her.
Max Black cluelessly asks, "what?"
Suddenly... Cassie sees flashes of blurry spider webs, a curtain of darkness, and a bright light.
She sees Morlun appear on the subway.
Julia angrily charges for Morlun.
Before she can reach him? Morlun violently hurls Anya and Mattie at Julia and Cassie by surprise.
Julia is knocked out. Anya and Mattie groan violently on the subway train floor.
Cassie barely side steps out of the way in time.
Max Black, Jersey, and Cassie angrily try to tackle Morlun.
But... He just uses his mystically glowing near blackish green fingernails to start pulling psychokinetic pulsing red energy out of Cassie and Jersey.
Cassie cries out, "no! ! !"
At the same time... Morlun violently kicks Max Black through a automatically opening door.
She tumble lands back to her feet kind of quickly on the ground. She is groaning violently.
At the present time, out in the physical...
Cassie hears Max Black's recent question again.
Cassie makes a very nervous face.
Cassie realizes, "Julia? Trust me. Attacking the vampire ghost man now will only get us killed. We... Nervous gulp. We got to get ourselves, Jersey, and two girls off the train. Now! !"
Julia makes a very nervous face. She also quickly nods.
And... They all start to hear loud footsteps coming from the top of the subway train.
The subway train staff onboard this subway train is double checking the subway train's systems. The subway train hasn't moved yet.
And... Morlun is walking closer and closer to a certain subway train car.