EXT. OUTSIDE CITY HALL–DAY

Crows are perched on city hall and MIN looks into the black notebook.

MIN CONT'D (mutters): The rewriting is really taking up lots of energy.

ERLE is squatting on the ground mixing a concoction in a beaker. In another hand, Erle holds a book. He drops some of the concoction onto a flower bud and the flower grows taller before blooming. Min notices the boy playing with the book and walks over to grab it from his hand. Min checks the book and becomes angry.

MIN CONT'D: Where the hell did you get this?

ERLE: It was lying around in Goat Man's basement so I thought it would help with us find a way—

MIN: This is alchemy! Equations I worked on for years to perfect and it's not even ready yet!

ERLE: It's not a big deal.

MIN: Alchemy isn't a toy that you can mess around with!

ERLE: I thought I was allowed since it was—

MIN: You should've asked!

ERLE: I was careful. I followed all the instructions.

MIN: You didn't take the proper precautions! What if you spilt it on the wrong thing and cause an explosion?

ERLE: I read the warnings. I know what I'm doing! I'm not incompetent.

MIN: What were you trying to do?

ERLE: I thought it would help find a way home!

MIN: Well it's my book, my formulas that I worked hard on to improve!

ERLE: I don't see your name on it. It has some weird old guy's name.

MIN: That's my mentor and he has taught me alchemy because that's his fucking job.

ERLE: You didn't create it. You learned it from some old dude.

MIN: Being an apprentice means I'm going to take over his job if he croaks! It's his formulas and my improvements!

ERLE: It's not yours. No one can own a formula.

MIN: Yes, they can.

ERLE: Oh? Are you the inventor of alchemy? I didn't see your degree hanging anywhere.

MIN: I could strangle you

ERLE: You aren't tall enough.

MIN: You've sunk low enough for me to reach

Min reaches for Erle and he holds up the beaker in warning. JORDANIA enters the scene and steals the beaker before separating the two.

JORDANIA: What's happening? Why are you fighting?

MIN: He stole some of my alchemy formulas!

ERLE: It isn't yours! Anyways I'm using your magic so we can get back home!

MIN: It's science not magic.

JORDANIA: Conner, give Min back their book.

ERLE: The hell, do you really want to stop us from finding a way home?

JORDANIA: If alchemy opened up a portal to other dimensions we would've done so already. If Min doesn't know then Min doesn't know, you shouldn't be playing around with that stuff anyways, it's dangerous.

ERLE: To hell with that. Lucy has been homesick for the longest time and she keeps getting spooked by everything that crawls here.

JORDANIA: Stealing Min's crap will only get you in trouble.

MIN: Jesus Erle, you must really hate me.

ERLE: Well, I don't. I just want to get home as soon as possible and I don't care what it takes.

JORDANIA: Everyone has been on edge. It's really not a good idea to go around doing whatever you want. You should really stop this.

ERLE: Then make me.

CUT TO:

EXT. GRASSY FIELD–NIGHT

Lightning strikes the sky, illuminating parts of JORDANIA and MIN's faces as they stare at the robot statue in front of them. Min holds up the lamp to get a better look of the area.

JORDANIA CONT'D: Are you sure we can contact Goat man this way?

MIN: He took away the post board. This has to be the way.

JORDANIA: How did you find this out?

MIN: The robot has a slot and I saw him check it from time to time.

JORDANIA: So he uses this as a mailbox?

MIN: Essentially.

JORDANIA: You got the paper?

MIN: Of course.

Min takes out a pencil and paper from their satchel and Jordania takes them with shaky hands.

JORDANIA: Should I or...?

MIN: Go ahead.

Jordania pauses.

JORDANIA: What do I write?

MIN: Mention how everyone is on edge and we need a break from the mystery. Probably bring up how everyone needs to focus on the elections or something.

JORDANIA: Okay.

Jordania scribbles on the paper quickly and thunder rumbles louder. The nearby trees rustle loudly due to the violent wind and Jordania shivers. The robot glowers over the two as its eyes glow dimly. Jordania finishes and looks to Min for approval.

MIN CONT'D: Ready?

JORDANIA: Ready.

Jordania walks towards the statue and Min watches at a distance. As she gets closer, the lamp extinguishes. Min looks at the sky as the moon transforms into a dark purple. The robot's eyes glow brighter and Jordania slowly puts the note into the slot. The ground cracks slightly beneath her feet and Min starts to panic.

MIN CONT'D: Jordania!

Min takes a few steps forward and the ground cracks more.

MIN CONT'D: Jordania!

Min starts to run towards her frantically and they toss the lamp to the side. They shout louder than they ever had prior as fear consumes them.

MIN CONT'D: Jordania!

The note disappears into the slot and the world reverts back to normal. Jordania stands still and Min runs towards her.

MIN CONT'D: Jordania, are you alright?

Min turns Jordania around and her eyes and veins are black. Min screams.

CUT TO BLACK: