CHAPTER THREE: Cry Me a River

Chapter Three: Cry Me A River

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THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MENTIONS AND DEPICTIONS OF: DRUG USE, SEXUAL CONTENT, TOXIC RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS, ABLEISM, MANIPULATION, VOMIT, EXTREME GORE, AND DEATH

Chapter three. Controller stands in front of an EKG monitor crying. Glowy is sitting on the screen of the monitor as it flatlines. A tube of blood connected to Controller's wrist frames the rest of the piece.

Page fifty-one. Panel one, slow beeps are heard among pitch black. Panel two, Controller begins to open her eyes. Panel three, from Controller's perspective, she looks at her hands and notices a heart monitor, bandages wrapped around her wrist with a tube of fluids coming out of it, and a hospital bracelet on the other wrist with her name on it. 'Wh...' She stutters, confused. Panel four, she looks over at Flaggy, who appears exhausted with bags under his eyes, sitting on a window ledge, watching My Little Pony on the TV. Tamagotchi is asleep under one of his arms. 'Flaggy..?' Controller squeaks out. Panel five, Flaggy turns to face her, sweating nervously, saying, 'Oh, you're awake. Thank god.' Panel six, we finally see Controller laying in a hospital bed. Her stab wound is covered with a bandage and she seems out of it. 'We... We're alive..? Where am I..?' she asks.

Page fifty-two, Panel one, Flaggy leans back against the window and says, 'You're in the hospital, dumbass. I drove you here last night.' Panel two, Flaggy continues speaking over a flashback, which is a close-up of his eye. His pupil is in the shape of Tissue Box's silhouette. 'You passed out in my living room. And I looked out the window and... Someone was running right at us. So I hid us in my bedroom until the coast was clear and hauled ass into my car... I could hear her breaking in. I was, well... I was terrified I was about to watch my friend die!' Panel three, Flaggy smiles and clears his throat. He continues, 'Of course, I obviously kept my cool the whole time. Stayed awake with this little booger all night until she fell asleep.' Controller giggles and says, '...While watching My Little Pony? Tama doesn't even like that show.' Flaggy responds, 'Hey, I saved your life, cut me some slack...' He then mutters, 'How was I supposed to know that..? I'm trying my best, man...' Panel four, loud knocking wakes up Tama, who quietly beeps. Panel five, Glowy runs into the hospital room with a worried expression, slamming the door open and screaming, 'Connie!!!'

Page fifty-three. Panel one, Glowy jumps onto Controller's hospital bed and hugs her, which shocks Controller. Glowy says, 'I came as soon as Flaggy called! I'm so glad you're okay!' Panel two, the girls hold hands as Tama leans over wondering what's going on. Glowy asks, 'What happened? Was it scary? Are you DYING?!!' Contorller reassures her, 'Glowy, I'm doing fine. We're all safe now. Besides...' Panel three, Controller laughs and continues, 'I really don't want you to worry about me... Seriously! I mean, the graphics were horrible!' Panel four, Glowy nervously laughs and shrugs. '...Right. Hehe... Heh... I, uh... Um... I don't get it.' Controller, off screen, says, 'Oh...' Panel five, Controller says, 'Um... Sorry.' Glowy smiles and says, 'Hey..! It's all fine, girl! Whatever keeps you happy with all of... Um... This, right?' Panel six, Flaggy butts into the conversation, saying, 'Yeah! And, yknow, we've all had a rough night, so, haha... Yeah... Ha...' Tama jumps down from the window ledge.'

Page fifty-four. Panel one, Tama runs over to the hospital bed. Controller, holding her arms out to grab her, says, 'Oh, Tama, come here...' Panel two, Controller lifts tama onto the bed and hugs her. She says, 'I'll never let you out of my sight ever again. You're the only person who matters right now!' Panel three, Nachos, carrying numerous heavy gifts to the point that you can't see his face, walks in through the open door. He begins to ramble on, saying, 'BABYGIRL!!! Sorry I took so long, I had to grab some stuff... And, uh... I got lost. Very lost. BUT I'M HERE! Hold on, mama, I can't get all this... Heavy junk through the door...' Panel four, Nachos dumps all the gifts onto the bed. Controller squeezes Tama tight and looks at Nachos lovingly, saying, 'Aweee, babe! You're so sweet!' Glowy, concerned, looks over at the gifts and mutters, 'I could have helped if you just asked...' Panel five, Tank Top walks past them in the hallway and shouts out at them, 'We got lost because he was crying the whole way. We almost crashed three times.' Nachos looks back and annoyedly shouts, 'Hey, man! Don't make me look lame in front of my chick, dude!'

Page fifty-five. Panel one, Tama begins to look irritated while Controller, with a dreamy look on her face and hearts floating around her, says, 'Awe, babe, I'd never think you're lame!' Panel two, Nachos giggles and rubs the back of his head awkwardly, saying, 'Hehe, yeah, I know.' He clears his throat.' Panel three, Nachos turns his attention to Glowy, who is now sitting on the very edge of the bed. He asks her, 'Anyway, the others are hangin' out in the waiting room. Mind if me 'n Controller have some alone time?' Glowy replies, 'Oh- Um, yeah, of course.' Panel four, as Flaggy stands up to leave, Nachos calls for him. 'Hey, Flaggy!' Flaggy replies, 'Huh?' Panel five, Nachos and Flaggy give each other a fist bump. Nachos says, 'Thanks for lookin' out for her, dude.' Flaggy responds, 'No problem, man.'

Page fifty-six. Panel one, as the other two exit the room, Nachos' face becomes one of concern. He says to controller, '...Alright, babe. Cut the act. I can see you're lookin' rough. You need anything? Another pillow? Somethin' to drink? A joint?' Panel two, Controller leans into Nachos and holds his hand. She appears scared and sad. Tama's frustration begins to turn into tears. Controller says, 'I don't need anything... It's just... I feel like a horrible big sister... And... Oh, God. I'm so scared...' Nachos responds, 'I know, I know. You're a great big sister. And a great girlfriend!' panel three, Nachos and Controller kiss. Panel four, Controller softly smiles at Nachos as Tama turns away from them. Controller says, 'I love you to the moon and back, baby.' Nachos replies, 'Love ya too. Ya better take care of yourself, or else!' Panel five, Tama begins crying as the two continue to talk. Controller realizes that Tama is upset. Nachos says, 'Call me if ya need anything. Alright?' Controller replies, '...I lost my phone. ...Tama?'

Page fifty-seven. Panel one, Controller pats Tama's head, who beeps in protest. Controller says, 'I meant what I said, kiddo!' Panel two, Tama turns slightly to listen to Controller as she continues, 'I'm gonna try my best for you, sis. I know it's a lot for a little kid. And I'm not perfect. It's gonna take a lot of time... But I'm gonna try. No matter what. Okay?' Panel three, Controller pulls Tama onto her lap and places a finger on her chest. She smiles and says, 'I'm not going anywhere. Don't worry your little head, Tama!' Nachos chimes in and adds, 'Yea. We love ya, buttface.' Panel four, Controller, Tama, and Nachos are all huddled together. Controller says, 'Even through all of this... I could sit here with you two in silence all day and still be happy.' Tama beeps happily in response.

Page fifty-eight. Meanwhile, in the waiting room. Panel one, an establishing wide shot of Glowy, Fireball, Tank Top, and Flaggy together in the waiting room. Tank Top is drawing in his sketchbook away from everyone else, Flaggy is leaned against the vending machine, and Glowy is talking to Fireball, though it's not clear what she's saying. Panel two, Glowy nervously taps her foot on the ground while Fireball uses herself to light a cigarette. Glowy says, 'I'm just... So... So scared!' Fireball replies with a bitter tone, 'She's gonna be fine. You worry too much, loosen up...' Panel three, Glowy looks over at Fireball with concern. Fireball is nonchalant and doesn't care. Glowy asks, '...Isn't this a smoke free zone?' Fireball scoffs, 'You never let me have fun!'

Page fifty-nine. Panel one, Flaggy chimes into the girls' conversation, remarking, 'Hey, we're all stressed out, but maybe hold off on destroying your lungs, okay?' Panel two, Tank Top also chimes in, demanding Flaggy, 'Hey. Get me some chips.' Flaggy replies, 'Hell nah! Get 'em yourself!' Tank Top says sarcastically, 'If I can fix a car with crutches, you can buy me a bag of chips.' Panel three, Flaggy reluctantly and annoyedly starts punching numbers into the vending machine. He says, 'Fine. But you're paying me back.' Panel four, Tank Top snickers and responds, 'No, I'm not.' Panel five, Flaggy throws the chips at Tank Top, hitting him in the face and knocking the sketchbook and pencil out of his hands.

Page sixty. Panel one, Glowy, off screen, calls out, 'Hey, Flaggy...' Flaggy turns around to face her curiously. Tank Top is eating his chips in the background. Panel two, Glowy has left her conversation with Fireball and approaches Flaggy. She smiles shyly as he blushes and laughs nervously. Glowy says, 'Y'know, I, uh... I just gotta say... It's really brave of you that you helped Connie like that.' Flaggy replies, 'Oh, heh, well- What else was I gonna do, y'know? Heh... Hehe...' Glowy responds, 'I really mean it. I think, uh, I really overlooked you before...' Panel three, Glowy gives Flaggy a kiss on the cheek. Flaggy looks shocked. Panel four, Flaggy touches his cheek and begins to sweat, still appearing shocked. Panel five, Fireball notices the interaction and is angry about it.

Page sixty-one. Panel one, Fireball yanks Glowy away from Flaggy by the arm. She says, 'Glowy, c'mere. Can we chat? Over there?' Glowy asks, 'Huh?' Panel two, Fireball gets up in Glowy's face and starts bickering. She rants, 'What are you doing?' Glowy simply asks, 'What?' Fireball continues, 'Kissing... Him! Why? And why now? Are you mental?' Glowy replies, 'It was just a kiss.' Fireball replies, 'We're here for Controller, not for you to act like a slut!' Panel three, Glowy crosses her arms and blurts out, 'Oh, like you're any better.' Panel four, we see Fireball as Glowy continues. 'You didn't even go in there to see her!' Panel five, Glowy starts walking away, saying, '...I'm going home.' Panel six, Glowy heads towards the exit of the waiting room as the others watch, saying, 'Tell Connie I said bye.'

Page sixty-two. Panel one, an establishing shot of Glowy's house, which is settled on a large ranch with cows and chickens milling about. It's night time. Panel two, Glowy is in her bedroom, humming as she kneels on the floor, hand sewing a dress onto a mannequin. She's wearing glasses. The room is decorated with cute and girly decorations. A rottweiler sleeps on the floor near the window. Panel three, the dog wakes up and growls as pebbles are pelted at the window, making a lot of noise. Panel four, as the dog begins loudly and aggressively barking at the window, Glowy grabs her collar and yells, 'Precious, down!!' Panel five, Glowy opens the window. She and Precious look down at whoever was throwing the pebbles. Precious continues to growl. Panel six, a singular pebble hits Glowy in the forehead. She yells out, 'Ow!' Panel seven, Glowy sees that Fireball, in rollerskates, was the one throwing the pebbles. Glowy yells down at her, 'What are you doing here?!' Fireball says, 'Hey! Get you damn dog trained, why don't ya?!' She then answers, 'I just wanna talk.'

Page sixty-three. Panel one, Fireball drops the pebbles onto the ground. Off camera, Glowy says, 'I don't want to right now...' Fireball replies, 'Dude, what's with all the drama today? I just wanna ask if you're comin' over for a lil' late birthday get-together. Y'know, do some shots, make out, and forget about earlier!' Panel two and three, Glowy clutches her head and becomes angry and bewildered, Fireball doing the same in response to what she says. Glowy says, 'I... I... N-no! Absolutely not! Why would I want to do that when I'm already stressed enough?!' Fireball responds, 'Wh- Because we do everything together?! What, did you just suddenly turn bipolar?!' Panel four, Glowy hangs out of her window and the two start arguing. Glowy begins, 'So y-you want me to just drop everything and go to some drug-infested house party?!' Fireball replies, 'I just thought-' Glowy cuts her off and continues, 'Thought what? That I'll just do everything you say? You never consider what I want!' Fireball shouts back, 'What?! We do your girly shit all the time!' Panel five, the argument continues as we now see Fireball looking up at Glowy from the yard. Glowy says, 'On your time, Fireball. It's always on your time!' Fireball argues back, 'Because you never talk to me! I got nothin' to work with! Every time I try to do anything with you, you get all shy and act like everything is an inconvenience!' Panel six, Glowy begins to rant, tearing up from sheer anger as she speaks. 'Well, Have you ever wondered why I get quiet around you? I-it's because I don't like you, Fireball! There, I said it!! And if you want an example of why, just look at the rocks you threw at my window. You could have hurt my dog! But you don't care, right?? You're loud and rude and selfish! A-and you take me to places and do things around me that you know make me uncomfortable! I can't stand to be aound that! A-and no amount of parties, or functions, or some other word for it will change that! You're barely an adult, b-but... You treat me like a little kid! Oh, but you aren't afraid to insult me. Calling me a 'slut' even though you have sex with everything that moves... Including me! I had burns for a week... You're jealous, aren't you? Well, I-I don't care! I have a life outside of you! Now, get the fuck off of my property!'

Page sixty four. Panel one, Fireball's expression becomes one of shock and sadness as she lowers her guard. She weakly calls out, 'Glowy...' Glowy responds, 'I-if you don't go away, I'm calling the police..!' Panel two, Fireball once again turns to anger and rears up to skate away. She yells out, '...Fine, I'm going, sheesh!!' Panel three, Fireball hurriedly turns away. Panel four, Fireball skates away from Glowy's house.

Page sixty five. Panel one, Glowy slams the door shut, her fur ruffled with anger, the curtains flying upwards from the momentum. Precious watches. Panel two, Glowy furrows her brow and starts crying. Her tears fall downwards towards the floor. The perspective of the scene makes it seem as though she's crying onto the reader themselves.

Page sixty-six. It's the next day, in the middle of the morning. Panel one, Glowy sits alone at a cafe booth near a window. Outside is a background character walking their dog, and behind the garden planeted near the cafe is what appears to be a forest or creek. Glowy stares down at her menu with a somber look. Panel two, Glowy pulls out a Nokia cell phone, which is incessantly buzzing. Panel three, her phone continues buzzing as it's zoomed in on the screen, showing numerous texts from Fireball. The texts are, 'Hey where are [you?]', 'Call me [right now]', and 'Wanna hang [today]?' Panel four, Glowy shoves the phone into her purse as it continues to buzz. Panel five, a waitress, named Coffin, who has a notable goth appearance, approaches the table and asks Glowy, 'Mmh... Welcome to the Big Dog Cafe. Can, I, like, take your order, or whatever?' Glowy answers, 'Um... Just a vanilla latte...' Coffin responds, 'Gross. Okay, coming right up, or whatever...'

Page sixty-seven. Panel one, Glowy groans and slams her head on the table. Panel two, the camera zoomes out to show the door of the womens' restroom not to far from where Glowy is sitting. Panel three, it zooms in on Tissue Box's eye, scarred from Controller attacking her days ago, as she applies eyeliner using her knife as a guideline. Panel four, Tissue Box looks at her reflection in the mirror, sighs, and complains, 'No amount of makeup will ever fix what that...' Panel five, she continues with an insane, furious expression as she raises the knife out of habit, '...Little brat did to me!! I swear, when I get my hands on her...' Panel six, TB exist the bathroom while sighing. Panel seven, TB notices something across the cafe and raises an eyebrow, thinking, 'Now, wait a damn minute?'

Page sixty-eight. Panel one, TB, recognizing Glowy from days ago, approaches her at her booth with a giggle, covering her mouth with one hand to stifle her laughter. Panel two, TB clears her throat and sits down at the seat across from Glowy. She asks, 'Excuse me, dear. Mind if I join ya? I couldn't help but notice ya seem down in the dumps!' Glowy, crying and shaking, responds, 'Mhmm...' TB continues, 'Care to tell me what's wrong, hun?' Glowy answers, 'Ohh, I'm overwhelmed... I-I'm goin' through a lot right now... Um... I don't w-wanna get into it...' Panel three, TB delicately places her hand under Glowy's chin, lifing her head up to reveal that makeup is now streaming down her face. She says, 'Chin up, hun. let's see that pretty face- I know it's tough seein' your lil' friend get attacked so brutally. I'm sure she'll heal up just fine here in a few months or so.' Glowy replies, 'How did you know that my friend was...' Panel four, Glowy gasps with complete shock as she realizes who she's talking to, stuttering, 'Y-you're- You- You're her-'

Page sixty-nine. Panel one, Glowy is frozen with fear as TB speaks to her off camera, mocking her and then explaining what she needs her for. She begins, 'I'm- I'm her- I'm the- I- How very observant you are! And I guess the skinny one's a snitch, too. But that ain't important. What's important's that ya surely know where the lil' escape artist is at now.' Panels two and three, TB glares at Glowy with determination, and pulls the knife out of her purse as an intimidation tactic. She continues, 'I don't expect you to cooperate... So I'll give ya a thirty second head start.' Panel four, Glowy begins to sweat, but ultimately jumps up from her seat and behins to run away. Panel five, Glowy stops in her tracks when Coffin returns with her coffee, saying, 'Um, you need to pay for your drink, or whatever.' The cafe seems to be empty aside from Coffin, Glowy, and TB. Panel six, Glowy swiftly turns back around and hands Coffin some cash.

Page seventy. Panel one, Glowy runs out of the Big Dog Cafe, the bell ringing behind her, as she takes a sip of her drink. Panel two, Glowy starts running deep into the creek, terrified and panting. While the trees block out most sunlight, making the scene dark, she illuminates her immediate surroundings. Panel three, Glowy trips on a large rock in the creek, covered in moss. Panel four, Glowy falls face first into a small river, dropping her drink and letting out a loud, 'Oof!' Panel five, Glowy lifts her self back up onto her knees. Glowstick fluid leaks from her scraped knees. She lets out a quiet grunt and says, 'Fuck...', her arms weakly trembling. Grass crunching is heard getting progessively louder. Panel six, Tissue Box comes up behind Glowy and steps on the back of her head, pushing her face back down into the water. She exclaims, 'Time's up, beautiful! If ya don't wanna drown, then start talking!~'

Page seventy-one. Panel one, TB, now kneeled behind Glowy, grabs her handle and lifts her out of the water. TB is smug, while Glowy seems angry and determined. She says, 'I-I'm not telling you anything!' TB responds, 'You'd rather die than sacrifice one little friend, huh?' Glowy replies, 'Y-yes. I won't let you hurt her...' Panel two, TB shoves Glowy back into the water and says, 'How brave... And anticlimactic. Not the answer I was looking for, though.' Panel three, Glowy springs back up from the water and is now sobbing and begging, absolutely frightened for her life. She coughs and shouts, 'W-wait! I-I lied! I... I don't want to die! She... She's in Applewood Emergency! The one in Oklahoma City!' TB smiles and says, 'Aw, good girl!' Panel four is zoomed in on Glowy's face as she continues to sob. She's covering her mouth with her fist and wiping away her tears. TB is presumably walking away, as she remarks, 'Gotta say, that's pretty far away from here...' Glowy replies, 'I-I'm sorry. My friend is an idiot.' She then thinks to herself, 'What have I done? I think I'm gonna...' And begins to gag. Panel five, Glowy projectile vomits into the water, coughing, gagging, and sobbing.

Page seventy-two. Panel one, Glowy falls onto her back with heavy breaths. Panel two, a dark shadow cloaks Glowy's face, and her eyes become wide with shock at what she seems looming above her. Panel three, TB is holding up the large, mossy rock that Glowy tripped over that initially caused her to fall into the creek. She says, with a menacing grin, 'Sorry, love. Can't have ya tryin' to be a hero.' Panel four, the rock rapidly descends onto Glowy's face, cracking her head on impact. Heavy amounts of glowstick fluid sprays in every direction. Panel five, TB walks away from Glowy's lifeless body, the glowstick fluid covering everything: The rock, her body, and the floor below. Her limbs have gone limp. TB says, smirking, 'That was almost too easy! Didn't even need my knife!' Panel six, the glowstick fluid flows along the grass, emulating the very river she was murdered near. TB, off screen, continues, 'Poor, sweet girl... I don't envy the cops that have to clean her up. No more monologuing~ I have a hospital room to paint red!~' End of chapter 3.

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