INT. "CURIO SHOP" RUN DOWN STORE–DAY

The shop is unusually quiet and the SHOP KEEPER is polishing the statue of the man. DARCY, RANDI and GINA walk into the shop tentatively.

GINA: Um, Vanessa and Jordania...

RANDI: Have other things to do. Anyways, I bet the old guy won't be happy to see me.

DARCY: Um, what am I supposed to do again?

RANDI: You help Gina ask about the letter and I'll be over here, keeping a look out.

GINA: Is a look out really necessary?

RANDI: You might never know with this place.

Randi walks over to the couch and lies down. Randi's eyes shut close and Darcy looks over quizzically.

DARCY: I thought you were doing look out.

RANDI: I am.

DARCY: Dude.

RANDI: What, child?

DARCY: Whatever, let's just ask the questions and go. C'mon, Gina.

Darcy and Gina walk up to the shop keep and Darcy places a hand on the counter.

DARCY: There was a page from a journal here the other day and we wanted to know if you knew anything.

SHOP KEEPER: What did the page look like?

DARCY: It was white and paper... and it exploded in thin air... and I wasn't there for it.

SHOP KEEPER: Ah, yes. That incident.

GINA: Do you know anything of that book before it was destroyed?

SHOP KEEPER: It was part of some old book someone brought to me here once. What a funny story. They called it a "journal of doubt". Tried to sell it to me. As if I would not recognize an obvious forgery. I haven't seen them since dismissing them. Probably out there peddling their misinformation on the streets. I feel bad for those who would get caught in such a ruse.

GINA: Did it say anything?

SHOP KEEPER: Bah. Of course not. Nothing but forgeries.

GINA: You called it the journal of doubt right? Is that the name of the journal?

SHOP KEEPER: There is no such thing as a journal of doubt. Someone else wants to be a part of the course of the universe, wants to play their own game. So they invent these things and take on the appearance of another. And then to try and sell it to me? The nerve. I can't imagine where they went off to afterwards or who else they tried to swindle.

GINA: Who was the person who tried to sell it to you then? Do you know what they look like or their name?

SHOP KEEPER: I would not, unfortunately. Too many that come and go in this shop They were only here a minute before they left as well.

DARCY (to Gina): I feel like we're going nowhere with this.

GINA (pauses): Well, who's to say this establishment isn't false as well?

SHOP KEEPER: Pardon?

GINA: The trinkets, the marks, the mystery of it all. What if it was all misleading us?

DARCY: Yo, I don't think this is a good idea.

SHOP KEEPER: To think I would be pointed at with such accusations. I would have to ask you to leave if you plan to proceed in such a fashion.

GINA: Fine, if you don't want to answer the questions then I guess we'll have to ask Goat Man himself.

DARCY: We said we weren't going to do that...

GINA: Well, too bad. I'm doing it anyways.

Gina runs to the middle of the shop and quickly pulls out a pencil to hastily scribble on the paper. She proceeds to take a match out from her pocket and light it with the sole of her shoe. Randi wakes up from the commotion.

DARCY CONT'D: Gina! Dude, I don't think that's a good idea! You should stop!

RANDI: What is going on?

DARCY: Nothing good, dude.

RANDI: Can you be more specific?

GINA: I've only found out about the gathering of goats and I want to be part of it! Please answer some questions about the journal!

She sets the paper on fire and the flame consumes it in an angry swirl. Wind thrashes around the shop and Gina clutches her chest. Her wandering soul mark peaks from underneath her clothing and she reveals the mark more for it to transform into a goat horn. The angry wind comes to a halt and the shop becomes silent again.

GOAT MAN enters through the door and looks at the girl. She looks at him with a neutral expression and he gives a small round of applause as he walks towards her.

GOAT MAN: Welcome to the club. Now, why have you summoned me?

GINA: I wanted to ask if the journal of doubt is real and whether to trust the vendor. Is the shop just full of lies too?

Goat Man pauses and tilts his head slightly. Everything in the shop is silent as Darcy and Randi observe the scene. The shop keeper continues to clean with a tense expression, glancing at Goat Man every so often.

GOAT MAN: I may dislike the vendor, but it's not because he's a liar.

Goat man turns to leave.

GINA: What about the journal?

GOAT MAN: Maybe, you should ponder on whether you think one of your own is trying to mislead you.

Goat man takes a few more steps towards the exit.

GINA: Wait! Can you answer some more questions?

GOAT MAN: I'm afraid not. Empty eyes are coming. I dislike empty eyes.

Goat man leaves the shop.

DARCY: I think that made things only more complicated.

SHOP KEEPER: Our guest mentioned the empty eyes are coming. I think it would be wise if you children put yourselves into hiding. (Pause) Immediately.

Darcy hesitates before grabbing Gina and Randi. Randi is unhappy and mutters quietly as they all hide behind the couch. A few seconds pass and the door flings open to reveal ISAAC ROCH. The shop keeper does not look away from cleaning as Roch enters.

ROCH: Good day to you, Ambrose.

GINA (whispers): His name is Ambrose?

DARCY: Shhh.

SHOP KEEPER: Oh, good day to you too, Detective Roch. How can I help?

ROCH: Still selling these trinkets? Who even buys them?

SHOP KEEPER: The curious, I suppose. It is a living, right? Like yours...

ROCH: Sure. But they're weirdos if you ask me. You also seem to attract all sorts to this place.

SHOP KEEPER: Well, we are a shop, I can't control who wants to come in. I can't kick you out either for that very reason. (Looks up) But how can I help the police?

ROCH: We're tracking down a couple of leads. Some oddities have been going around Elgin. Rumours, mostly, but worth investigating to keep the peace. I'm curious, have you seen this person here?

Roch holds up a picture and the shop keeper leans in closer for a look. Randi peers to see the picture as well and lets out a small gasp. The picture is in black and white.

SHOP KEEPER: No, they don't look familiar. But so many people pass through here, it's possible they might've come by. I haven't had any thefts or anything like that if that's what this is about.

ROCH: There have been some reports of her in the area. Some folks were talking about seeing them. But nobody has seen them since. I don't like missing persons as much as the next guy. So I would hope you would be forthcoming with any information that could better help us in finding her.

SHOP KEEPER: Certainly! I am always one to help the police, you know that. They are my favourite civil servants, after all. So I would be the first to tell you if I had seen this person. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.

ROCH: Very well. I'll keep an eye on this place, just to be safe. And we'll see if anyone shows up. Wouldn't want to find out this shop is up to no good. I would hate to close you down.

SHOP KEEPER: Of course, sir. Have a good day.

Roch leaves the shop and the shop keeper gives out a large sigh of relief.

SHOP KEEPER (calls out): I'm sorry, things got a little...hectic there. Perhaps a little too much chatter here, now that we have an empty eye watching. I'll still have to ask you to leave.

DARCY: Let's go guys. We have a lot to talk about when we get back.

Randi exits the store with annoyance and Darcy follows. Gina lags behind and looks at the shop keep then at her new mark before leaving.