TRIGGERFINGER (ORIGINAL STORY) - SEASON ONE

S01E07 You Again?! A Familiar Face! (Part One)

Minister Toridae slowly pulled himself up the ladder and out of the hole, the arrow still in his stomach, his body still twitching from the electrical current. The storm had stopped now, no more rain, no more thunder, and most importantly, no more lightning. He placed a hand firmly around the arrow and with great struggle, his teeth clenching, managed to pull it out. He then dragged himself towards where his pickup truck was supposed to be but it was gone. Those pesky brats must have taken it, he thought to himself. A group of Neighborhood residents appeared and ran over with a stretcher, they were pleased to see him.

"Minister Toridae!" one shouted. "You're alive!"

"Give me your phone," Toridae demanded, wheezing.

The resident nodded, and pulled out his cell phone, handing it to Toridae. The Minister fumbled around for a moment, then dialed in a number. He pressed the phone against his ear and sniffled. It rang for a while, whoever he was calling didn't want to answer. Eventually, someone picked up, the voice of Maximus Paige on the other end.

"Who is this?" He asked. "How did you get this number?"

"It's Minister Toridae," Toridae answered. "I have some bad news. I tried to kill them like you asked but they got away."

"Kill them?! At no point did I tell you to kill them! I told you to CAPTURE them, you fool!"

"I'm sorry Master Paige, I misconstrued."

"Where have they gone?"

"I don't know," Toridae admitted. "Though, the old woman had a keycard to Corporate. My guess is they're heading your way as we speak."

The phone call hung up. Toridae clearly wasn't in Master Paige's good books anymore.

He laid flat against the ground, his arms out like a starfish, breathing heavily, losing a lot of blood. The residents carefully picked him up and put him on the stretcher.

***

Back at Bolt's house, Kore, Scabs, and Marianne were trying to get Serpina to talk. They had her constrained to a chair, Scabs' arms out of his sockets and wrapped around her, holding her securely in place. Marianne was getting more frustrated by the second, demanding she tell them where the entrance to Corporate was but she wouldn't budge. Marianne slammed her fists against the wall and turned to Kore.

"I know you said we couldn't resort to violence," she said. "But at this point, it seems

like it's the only way we'll make her talk!"

Bolt, now with a quiver attached to his back, watched on with Ash, Meadow, and Shade beside him. He wondered if there was something he could do to make his mother talk. He stepped forward and took a knee before her, staring her in the eyes.

"Look, Ma," he said, placing a hand on hers. "I know we're not exactly on the best terms right now. But I know you love me. And though you had a funny way of showing it, I know you loved me from the day I first arrived here. And if you still love me now, then please, help us!"

Serpina started laughing, then cleared her throat, and spat in Bolt's face. Bolt's eyes instinctively closed, as he wiped away the moisture from his cheeks.

"Love you?" Serpina asked rhetorically. "I had no choice but to look after you. Maximus Paige forced us to have you. We had no say in the matter. It built the perfect narrative for your father though, the lovable Minister with a happy family."

"Take that back," Bolt warned. "I know you were both lying to me but not everything was a lie! Was it?!"

Serpina continued laughing, and Bolt took an arrow from his quiver and placed it in his bow. He pulled back the string and aimed it straight at Serpina's face. He was angry, he felt betrayed, all those years of being a son to these people, and it was all a facade. Kore told him to lower his weapon but Serpina encouraged him. Do it! She kept hissing, like a woman possessed. Bolt's arms were shaking, forehead sweating. He wanted to let go of the string so badly but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. In the end, Kore walked over and lowered the arrow for him, giving him a shake of the head.