Chapter 2: The Voice in the Dark

EXT. BIKE RACK – RAINY MORNING

SHIN YAGAMI sits on a ledge under a shelter. Rain patters above. He looks down at the ORB around his neck. It glows faintly.

SHIN (V.O.)
Weird.

ORB (V.O.)
Take me.

SHIN jerks his head up, scanning around.

SHIN
Who's there?!

A hollow, eerie LAUGH echoes.

ORB (V.O.)
It’s me, you idiot. Look around your neck.

SHIN stares at the orb, eyes narrowing.

ORB (V.O.)
There you go. Now you see me. What’s up?

SHIN
WHAT THE HELL?!

ORB (V.O.)
Not the welcome I was hoping for... but I’ll take it.

SHIN grabs the orb, inspecting it.

SHIN (V.O.)
Can anyone else hear it?

ORB (V.O.)
No. Only you.

SHIN
Wait... you can hear my thoughts?

ORB (V.O.)
All of them. I also heard you trying to sell me back to that old guy. No gratitude these days.

SHIN
WELL I'M SORRY FOR NOT WANTING SOME CURSED OBJECT!

ORB (V.O.)
You’ll change your mind soon. Once you see what I can do.

SHIN tucks the orb beneath his hoodie.

SHIN
Yeah, whatever, pal.

He steps from the ledge. The rain thins. SHIN walks toward the main street.

EXT. STREET CORNER – MOMENTS LATER

SHIN pauses. The air shifts. Tension builds.

Across the street, beneath a flickering streetlamp, stands a TRENCHCOAT MAN. Wide-brimmed hat. Motionless.

SHIN
...The hell?

The man steps forward slowly. The orb vibrates beneath SHIN’s shirt.

ORB (V.O.)
He's sensing me. Or maybe... I’m sensing him.

SHIN
You know this creep?

ORB (V.O.)
No. But he knows what I am.

The man stops at the curb. Rain drips off his hat.

TRENCHCOAT MAN
You’re the one who picked it, huh? Didn’t think it would choose someone so... ordinary.

SHIN
Who the hell are you?

TRENCHCOAT MAN
Let’s say I’m a Watcher. And you, kid... you’ve just made yourself very interesting.

He turns and walks away. Vanishes.

SHIN
What the hell was that...?

ORB (V.O.)
Trouble.

SHIN
Was that a threat?

ORB (V.O.)
No. That was a warning.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE – MOMENTS LATER

SHIN enters. Grabs a sandwich and drink. The place is quiet. CASUAL CASHIER dozing.

DISTORTED VOICE
Shin.

SHIN freezes.

DISTORTED VOICE
Return the key. Return the vessel.

SHIN turns. Lights flicker. Down the aisle stands a WRAITH. Shadowy. Misty. Flickering.

SHIN
Oh crap.

ORB (V.O.)
That’s a Wraith.

SHIN
A what?!

ORB (V.O.)
A cursed spirit. You’re attracting them now. Because of me.

SHIN
How do I UN-attract them?!

ORB (V.O.)
Too late. Get ready.

Lights explode. WRAITH lunges. SHIN grabs the orb.

ORB (V.O.)
I’ll lend you some power. Try not to die.

SHIN
Lend me power?! How?!

ORB (V.O.)
Focus. Let it flow. Imagine what you need.

SHIN
I need a weapon—NOW!

BLACK ENERGY erupts. Shin's body surges with spirit energy.

TWO BLACK KATANAS form in his hands. Obsidian-like. The katanas swirl with black spirit energy.

SHIN
What the hell...?

ORB (V.O.)
Nice choice. Let’s see if you know how to use them.

WRAITH attacks. SHIN deflects with one blade. Sparks fly.

ORB (V.O.)
You’re synced. Lose focus, lose the blades.

SHIN
No pressure.

SLASH! SHIN strikes the Wraith. Then again. A final X-slash across the chest.

The Wraith explodes into black mist.

The blades flicker. FWOOSH. They vanish.

ORB (V.O.)
Not bad, rookie.

SHIN drops to his knees, panting.

SHIN
What... the hell... is my life right now?

CUT TO BLACK.