17:50 - RYAN BRANDEIS-WHITE - THE ENGINE ROOM

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

On the way out, you glance at the window. The world outside looked to be

a flat matte-painting. Figures.

You step outside-- the green screen room is gone. You are standing on a

driveway covered in dead pine needles. A dark-green, 1998 Ford Contour is

parked next to you. You are holding a chunk of concrete and your white t-shirt

is drenched in blood. It gleams vividly in the noonday sun. A car drives by,

juttering over the cracked pavement. The woman inside doesn't notice you.

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

OZko8Mr9+2
+1···

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

Well played. Anesthetic gas? Hypnotics? And here I thought we might really be on the same page about getting me back to Mills.
Tim.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Your breath was coming fast, where you'd been feeling relatively calm just a

moment ago. Your heart was thudding in your chest, your limbs weak and

tingly. All these physiological symptoms of stress, yet your mind was confused

at worst. A shot of epinephrine? That wasn't legal or ethical at all. The blood

on you was still hot, hotter than your own chilled body. The smell was so powerful,

it seemed that it would go wafting across the street, and that woman sitting on

her porch would smell it. She was faced away, talking on her phone and smoking.

You were going to get caught if you stood in the open like this. But maybe you did

want to be caught?

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

Yes, your honor, I was framed by my client's cult followers, and I didn't totally deserve it for defending a baby killer. The jury will eat that up.

I searched my immediate vicinity for a sign of where I had come from, a trail of blood probably. Hopefully any bodies were inside the house or at least in the back yard.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

A few drips of blood led inside the house. Something was keeping the door

from latching, and a puddle was forming at the edge, threatening to spread

out onto the stoop. You hear a car approaching, slowing down...

Someone was headed for the driveway.

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

This was obviously a recreation of Tim's murder spree. How closely did they capture the building and surroundings?

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

A silver Honda Civic slows down at the base of the driveway, maybe the

driver was wondering what the extra car was all about. It all seemed

quite realistic, down to the bright light of August, the muggy air making

sweat cling to your skin, along with the dog's blood. Your fingers tighten

around the chunk of concrete as you hear a car door close.

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

If the investigator's timeline was accurate, there was already at least one body in the house. I wondered briefly if the actors knew what they were getting into. I also wondered how much evidence was already planted against me in the house.

I retreated to just inside the front door, ready to waylay the new arrival.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

You nearly trip over the mangled corpse of a dog, right next to the front door.

Presumably, that's where the blood on your shirt came from. It smells horrible,

combining with the smell of melted plastic from the backyard. Footsteps crunch

over the dead pine needles on the driveway.

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

If the police were right, this would be the father coming home. Probably just answered an ad on Craigslist. Idiot.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

You heard the footsteps stop outside the door. A pause, hesitation? Then the

jingling of keys. Of course, you'd already unlocked the door.

Keys in the lock, turning.

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

I had no intention of murdering a random actor, but I wasn't going to let them run without answering some questions first. I waited behind the door, ready to close it behind after they entered. I had forgotten about the bloody weapon in my hand, but dropping it now would just alert them to my exact location (I was assuming the actor was expecting someone to be here).

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

The door opened, a slightly chubby man with glasses did a double-take at you,

eyes widening with shock.

[Dr. Maneep Pamplemousse]

I pushed the door closed behind him.

Ryan--
"Hello, my name is Ryan and I'm being framed.
Who hired you to come here? What did they tell you would happen?"