A small, dark-skinned black girl dressed in a white dress, with a bow tied around her bun, sits quietly on a rickety wooden bench. The camera gives us an intense close-up of her dark brown face, and we see every detail: the ring of dry skin that loops around the edges of her lips, the sliver of cotton candy on her chin, and the layer of ashy skin from the breezy day. She licks at her lips repeatedly, only for the cold to strip the moisture away again. Her countenance is initially peaceful & rested, but as she bobs her head left and right, taking in her surroundings, the corner of her lip quivers. She is somewhat anxious & troubled. Night has fallen onto the Bronx and the sound of E.R. vehicles whirring through the streets bellows in the Autumnal air. This was a brisk & penetrating cold- the kind that seeps into her skin, the kind that makes her yearn longingly for warmth & shelter. The platform she is stationed in, "SIMPSON STREET" is almost entirely empty now, with the exception of an elderly, brown-skinned hispanic woman sitting across from her, clutching onto her pocketbook, and bowing her head in rest.
CRUSH. CRUSH. CRUSH.
The young girl stirs as the ground beneath her begins to shake violently, and suddenly, the entire station is quaking. She, however, is the only one to perceive the movement. The elder woman keeps her head bowed, and is not disturbed at all. The 6 train finally arrives, pulling into the station, and we hear the announcement of the pre-recorded, white femme voice, as it boasts through the speaker. "THIS IS A PELHAM BAY PARK-BOUND 6 TRAIN. THE NEXT STOP IS. ELDER AVENUE". The young girl and woman board the train, seating themselves at opposite ends of the car.
As the 6 leaves the station, towering forth into the night, the girl perceives a sharp sensation at the very tip of her skull. It feels like someone is tugging her body from the roots of her thick hair and lifting her into the air. She is light headed, and can suddenly perceive the heaviness and density of her body mass, overpowering her spirit. She runs up and down the train, trying to make sense of what's happening to her, but only feels more and more physically disoriented with each lap around the car. She calls out to the elderly lady for help, but the woman does not notice or hear the little girl.
MISS—MIss, PLEASE. I'm gonna die. Oh, jus-SOMEBODY. HELPPPPPPP!!!
SLASH. SLASH. SLASH. The fuse powering the train lights blows out in a brief explosion. A few bright orange sparks, and then darkness.
The train car is now pitch black. The only light present is the one coming from the streetlamps, and city streets surrounding them. Soon enough, that light disappears, and there is complete darkness.
HAHAH. HAHA. HAHA.
POUND. POUND. BOOM.
The sound of children's voices now flood the space. Young laughter -hand games. Nursery rhymes. Quack-diddy-osos, ring-around-the-rosies, miss mary macs. The sounds encircle the young girl. Frightened to the core, she lets out a wail, and frantically pounds the door of the train conductor's car , calling out for his help
[THUMPF.]
MISTA. MISTA.
As she turns to run in the opposite direction, she crashes into another body and falls face-first into the ground. She is surprised that her fall is painless.
DARIUS. SHE'S HERE! , a young voice let's out
A bright red-orange ball of energy now looms over the young girl. Petrified & confused, she steps back.
AHHHH!!
Reaching her hand out, she steps toward the orange figure. Like cold hands over a campfire in the dead of winter, she is eager for the warmth the light radiates. She's surprised to sense the texture of water as she twirls the orange light through her fingers.
HEY. (GIGGLES) THAT TICKLES.
Startled by the booming voice, the girl trips and falls back on the ground.
AHHH ! WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU?, the girl asks
A neon-green ball of energy then emerges like subterfuge from the orange ball. Only, this one, feels like a muddy texture. The green ball of energy bounces off of the orange, and both jump around the space together, letting out exceptionally loud giggles and childish laughter. The sound shakes the train car. Visually, it is like a firework show for the young girl. Stardust & neon lights crackle and fizz through the space.
Overwhelmed by the bright lights, smoky air, & booming voices, the young girl runs to the other end of the train car, seeking her final escape through the Emergency door. Unsuccessful at finding an exit, he watches in amazement as the two balls of light suddenly crystalize into the shape of two human bodies- A young black girl dressed in a baby blue dress and a young black boy dressed in a suit stand before her, with the biggest grins on their face.
HEY. COME PLAY WITH US. the girl & boy ask
I AM NOT LIKE YOU. I AM HUMAN. YOU KIDS ARE FAKE! YOU'RE NOT REAL. I WANT TO GO HOME!!!
WE ARE ALL UNREAL SILLY. LOOK, EVEN YOU HAVE IT TOO!
The girl in the blue dress comes up to the girl and rips a piece of her body off. she is stupefied as her arm falls cleanly off of her body, and disintegrates into a mass of purple stardust. Then, all around the girl is a hue of purple light. Purple dust. Purple glitter. purple existence.
WELCOME, to the STARSEED COLLECTIVE.
