The man, the myth, the legend

Act II, Scene V

Eric's neighborhood)

(Eric rams into a door and falls inside. He recovers and then sits on the floor immediately recognizing the surroundings as his living room. Quickly he gets up and slams the door; locking it before breathing lightly)

Eric: I need salt…. I'm not safe from it yet..(relaxes but becomes tensed immediately) It's too quiet here.

(He makes the sign of the cross and looks around the living room which is untidy. Aside from the closed curtain and obvious power outage, a broken picture frame laid on the floor and a sofa looked moved out of place. Eric approaches the frame)

Eric: There was no reason to use a glass frame but of course they never listen. They never listen!!!.( steps on it angrily and exhales) Why would they let this get wrecked on their watch (pause and look about himself) This morning….. everything wasn't…..

(He looks again and notices the bloody hand prints around the frame; leaving him in shock. He starts hyperventilating before running to a door beside him that led to the kitchen)

Eric:(hysteric) Salt, salt, salt,salt,salt .

(He searches the kitchen hysterically making it untidy only to discover empty utensils and not a single condiment nor foodstuff

Eric: (paranoid, angry) Now this is just great ... .they coulda leave something behind……no salt or…..(quickly searches a fridge nearby but slams it in frustration) no…freaking nothing!!!!…..Damn!!

(He hears a noise from the living room and instinctively he hides. From the utensils scattered around, he sorted a knife, gripping it tight while waiting for the unknown. After pacifying himself, he crawls slowly to the exit; trying to be more inconspicuous than the intruder. He gets up and charges blindly back to the living room: swinging his knife blindly. He trips and falls: clumsily disarming himself, injuring his palm on a glass shrapnel . He screams loudly at the overwhelming pain while the window lourvres shatter; frightening him. He stands up, gripping his palm tightly and runs towards a stair leading to the top floor)

Eric: (frightened) Damn! Damn!! Damn!!! Shi….

(He rams into a room and recognizes it as his parents room. He pushes the door and sits behind it: exhaling)

Eric: (whispers hysterically) They can't possibly be dead, they're somewhere, they must have left…probably I'm the last one to see it coming…it's no wonder I haven't seen anyone around here …it's just me….(Pause) They left me behind. Was I that much of a failure? They didn't bother to pick me up. (Pause and calm down) No …(stands up) They died.. they wouldn't leave me.. not Mom. She wouldn't…She'd stay and watch me .. rise. Rise and make him eat his words ... .make him bow and admit so…so…so (turns and faces the door) They can't be dead …they can't be dead… they can't be dead…. (grows loud with emphasis and kicks the door) they can't be dead!! ….they can't be dead!!!….they can't be dead!! ..they can't be dead!! …..they can't be dead!! ….they can't be dead!

(He stops and wails silently ; moping around as well till he sets his eyes on a tall wardrobe. He rushes towards it with a force that pushes it back before he opens it widely and searches hysterically)

Eric: (throwing clothes and accessories aside) They can't be dead, they're….. she's waiting for me …maybe they left urgently. I'd also check for whatever I can bring along…from my room but it doesn't look like they carried mu…Found it!!

(He retrieves a smartphone and turns away from the wardrobe)

Eric: (calms down) It's been turned off ever since he took it. My demos better be saved… I swear to God (presses hard on the phone's switch) whatever is going on ... .I'd hit him first before asking her any questions….

(He instinctively turns to the door as rapid approaching noises are heard in detail making him freeze; clutching the smartphone tightly as it turns on. He looks around only to realize he was about to be cornered as the room is filled with an eerie atmosphere. While awaiting the encounter, he senses a feeling of hope behind him as if been hinted of grace before a hand grabs his wrist amidst a loud explosion of noise)