Kira
We’re here. The intersection where it all happened.
Heather
There’s glass everywhere, but no truck. Did the police have it towed away?
Kira
If my extensive knowledge of Law and Order is accurate, then yes—
Kira
The truck was evidence. Ugh, I hate being in this empty space though…
Kira
This day just keeps getting creepier.
Jax’s phone pings loudly multiple times in a row.
Jax
I just got like 30 texts to my phone from you. All from today.
Heather
Wait, Jax? You are getting my texts now?
Heather
What is going on?
Jax looks up from his phone and shares the news with the group.
In his excitement, Prof. Thomas practically shouts.
Prof. Thomas
I was right!
Prof. Thomas
This place is a borderland.
Prof. Thomas
It’s like a gateway between dimensions.
Prof. Thomas
Here, the walls separating the different dimensions is weaker than usual.
Prof. Thomas
That’s what makes it easier for us to contact Heather here.
Heather nods her head along with Professor Thomas’s explanation. And then she realizes…
It doesn’t sound like she’s underwater anymore.
She could hear him speak!
She tries to shout — as loudly as she can.
Heather
Guys, can you hear me?!
Kira
Oh my God! Heather, I swear I just heard your voice.
Jax
Me too. It was like a scream but it was only as loud as a whisper — like it was far away.
Prof. Thomas
Excellent! The border is even weaker than I expected here.
Heather
Yes!! You guys can hear me!
Jax
Barely, but still…it’s so good to hear your voice.
Jax
Now we look for clues. For instance, there are some empty beer cans on the side of the road…
Jax
I wonder if those match the ones the police found in the truck. I bet the driver got scared—
Jax
Maybe he ran away without even throwing them out.
Heather gets a text from Kira.
Kira
You notice anything weird?
Heather
This whole situation is weird.
Kira
No, I mean…anything weird about our group.
Heather
Wait…where did Prof. Thomas go?
Heather
Isn’t that him over there, by the tree line?
Heather
But what’s that in his hand?
Heather
Looks like some sort of scanner.
Kira
Shoot, I think he caught me looking.
Heather
Just try and play it off. And show these texts to Jax.
Kira does as she’s told. Then she texts Heather an update.
Kira
Okay, Professor Thomas is coming closer now…
Kira
Wait, why is he smiling?
Jax addresses Professor Thomas, speaking loudly so Heather can hear him.
Jax
There’s nothing here. What is going on?
Prof. Thomas
I believe I found the culprit!
Prof. Thomas
Yes. It’s for Oscar Henderson of Binghamton.
Prof. Thomas
Says here the license is restricted with a DUI?
Kira gets another text from Heather.
Heather
Kira. It wasn’t him.
Heather
There’s no way Oscar Henderson killed me.
Kira
How can you be sure?
Heather
Because that man’s picture was in the paper.
Heather
It was in the article just below the one about my accident…
Heather
Trust me. The image of the entire page is burned into my brain.
Heather
He was a volunteer firefighter. He died the day before of smoke inhalation.
Kira
What? How is that possible?
Kira
I’m going to get to the bottom of this.
Kira lifts her head up, addressing Professor Thomas.
Kira
Wait, don’t you think it’s strange that the police would miss such an obvious piece of evidence?
Heather starts texting Kira furiously.
Heather
Kira, no! What are you doing?
Heather
Prof. Thomas is lying — he could be dangerous!
Heather
Seriously, don’t trust him.
The professor smiles a slimy grin.
Prof. Thomas
The police miss things all the time. They are overworked and underpaid.
Kira
I guess. But…how did a dead guy’s ID end up on the scene?
Prof. Thomas
What are you talking about? Oscar Henderson isn’t dead!
Kira shows the newspaper article to Professor Thomas and Jax.
Kira
You knew all along that he was dead.
Prof. Thomas
What are you implying?
Kira
What were you really doing by the tree line over there?
Kira
What was that thing in your hand?
The professor hesitates for a moment before he lets out a sigh.
Prof. Thomas
It seems there is no use in trying to hide it any longer.
Prof. Thomas
Yes, I knew about this borderland.
Prof. Thomas
I knew about the weakened wall between dimensions.
Prof. Thomas
Yes, I’ve been studying borderlands for almost a decade!
Prof. Thomas
I invented this device…beautiful, isn’t it?
Prof. Thomas
It lets me find where the wall is weakest. So I can cross over.
Prof. Thomas
Oh, there’s Heather again, shouting at us over the borderland. Hello Heather! You’ll want to see this part…
Prof. Thomas
I’m going to cross…OVER.
Kira
Heather, he just straight-up vanished.
Heather screams over the borderland.
Heather
Guys, he didn’t vanish…
Heather
He’s in here with me!
Prof. Thomas
Yes, Heather. I just told you I can cross over.
Prof. Thomas
Although it will be much harder for you to cross back.
Heather
What’s going on? What are you doing?
Prof. Thomas
I’m sorry. I needed you to be my guinea pig.
Prof. Thomas
The energy from the car accident was needed to propel you from that plane to this one.
Prof. Thomas
It also created a tear that was big enough to allow me through.
Heather
What are you talking about?
Prof. Thomas
You still haven’t figured it out, Heather?
Prof. Thomas
That’s disappointing. You were one of my brightest students.
Prof. Thomas
I suppose I need to spell it out for all of you.
Prof. Thomas
I stole the truck.
Prof. Thomas
Yes. I caused the accident.
Prof. Thomas
I planted the evidence and staged the scene — including the body of a teenager I stole from the morgue.
Jax flashes Kira a shocked look. With the border so thin, they can hear everything the professor says.
Kira
Heather, you should leave…
Heather
But Professor, why? why did you do this?
Prof. Thomas
To validate my research.
Prof. Thomas
To attain a higher state of existence.
Prof. Thomas
Who knows? Maybe in this dimension, one can attain immortality!
Prof. Thomas
Now you know my secret—
Prof. Thomas
I was the one who trapped you here.
Prof. Thomas
And now, I cannot let you exist any longer.
Prof. Thomas
This time, there will be no return for you, Heather.
Prof. Thomas
Now you die for real.
