Erik
Taz, where are you?!
Erik
You said you’d be at the Halloween party an hour ago.
Erik
I’m getting worried…
Erik
And I feel kind of dumb standing here alone…
Erik
Dressed like a piece of toast.
Erik
This costume looks ridiculous without the avocado!
Taz
Hey, sorry, where are you?
Erik
I’m at the frat – where are YOU?
Taz
The woods near the lake.
Taz
I just don’t think I’m up for a party right now…
Erik
You could have told me that before I showed up at this frat house dressed like toast!
Taz
Sorry. I just…I miss Jasline.
Taz
It doesn’t feel right to be having fun without her.
Erik
I can’t imagine how hard it is to lose a sister.
Erik
But you have to try and move on.
Erik
Jaz would want you to be happy. You know that.
Erik
It’s your senior year at Stanford. You should be celebrating.
Taz
If Jaz were here, she’d be pouring us both shots right now.
Taz
But that’s the thing. She SHOULD be here.
Taz
It’s been six months since the accident, but…
Taz
There are still so many things I don’t understand…
Taz
Everything happened so fast.
Taz
None of it makes any sense. How could my twin sister be dead?
Erik
Send me your location — I’ll come get you.
Taz
No, not literally lost!
Taz
Like, all my life I’ve tried to make my parents happy…
Taz
And now I’m applying to med school.
Taz
Just like everyone always said I should.
Taz
But Jaz always told me to follow my own heart.
Erik
So what does your heart say?
Taz
That’s what I’m trying to figure out…
Taz
Anyway, I’ll be there soon, I promise. Wait for me?
Erik
Fine. But what are you even doing out there?
Taz
I just needed to be alone for a minute.
Taz
I feel closer to Jaz out here. She loved the woods.
Erik
You hiked out there in your costume?
Erik
In the corner…that shadow.
Erik
Someone's standing behind you.
Taz turns around, scared, but just sees leaves rustling in the breeze.
Taz
You’re freaking me out. There’s no one here.
Erik
I swear I see someone in the picture you sent.
Taz looks closely at the selfie she took.
Taz
It’s probably just the light coming through the trees. Here, I’ll take another one.
Erik
It’s right behind you now!
Taz whips around, her heart racing.
But again, all she sees are trees swaying with the howling wind.
Taz
Okay, this is seriously weird.
Taz
But I do see someone in the photo.
Taz
Maybe it’s a new Snapchat filter for Halloween?
Erik
I checked my Snapchat — I don’t have it.
Erik
Taz, you need to get out of there.
Erik
Someone — or something — is definitely behind you.
Taz calls out into the darkness, asking who’s there.
Suddenly, the wind dies down, and the air around her gets very still.
Taz’s heart thumps in her chest.
She takes a deep breath and laughs nervously.
Taz
This is silly. There’s no one here.
Erik
It could be an animal — there was a mountain lion sighting on campus last week.
Erik
Whatever is in that photo, it looks dangerous.
Taz examines the picture again.
Taz
That thing doesn’t look like a mountain lion…
Taz
It looks like…some kind of ghost.
Erik
Taz, you’re pre-med. A woman of science.
Taz
Well, Jaz believed in them.
Taz
And she’s not here anymore.
Taz
So I have to believe for her.
Taz
Besides…what if it’s her?
Erik
Taz…that thing is not Jaz.
Taz
How can you say that for sure?
Erik
Because your sister is GONE.
Erik
I’m sorry, but she is. You have to accept that.
Taz
Wait — I have an idea.
Erik
Taz! Can you just get out of there?
Taz ignores Erik and opens Snapchat.
She flips over to the rear-facing camera and looks through the lens.
She turns left and right, slowly surveying the woods around her.
And then suddenly, she sees it.
A ghostly, corporeal shadow, with large glowing eyes.
It’s standing five feet in front of her. And moving closer.
She drops the phone in panic, her hands shaking, and looks up with her bare eyes.
Taz slowly picks up her phone from the ground, and looks through Snapchat again.
There it is. Hovering in front of her.
Taz looks closely into her Snapchat camera, and this time…
She sees words at the bottom of the screen.
Taz takes a screenshot and sends it to Erik.
Just as she does, the shadow jolts and swoops off behind a tree.
Taz
It’s definitely a ghost.
Erik
GET OUT OF THERE NOW!
Taz
No, I don’t think it’s going to hurt me.
Taz
But this is so weird—
Taz
I can only see the ghost when I look through Snapchat…
Taz
When I look without my phone, it’s gone.
Taz
And check out what’s written on the bottom of the screen.
Erik
So it IS Snapchat. It’s gotta be some new Halloween filter…
Erik
Maybe they only gave it to girls?
Taz
I don’t think so. The ghost is definitely here…
Taz
I saw it moving and staring at me with those eyes…and…
Taz
I can’t explain it, but…
Taz
I can FEEL it standing here, next to me.
Erik
This doesn’t make any sense.
Taz
I know, but I’m telling the truth.
Erik
I believe you. That’s why you need to leave, NOW.
Erik
I’m calling the police. They’ll search the woods and arrest whoever it is.
Taz
No! Don’t call the police.
Taz
I just, I have a feeling about that ghost…
Taz
Let me just try one more thing.
Erik
Taz, no. If anything happens to you…
Erik
Your parents just lost your sister. They can’t lose you, too.
Erik
I can’t lose you either. You’re my best friend.
Erik
And, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…
Taz
No one’s going to lose me.
Taz closes out her chat with Erik.
And opens Snapchat again.
The shadow creature emerges from the trees.
It looks straight at Taz, its brilliant eyes glowing in the darkness.
Then, it darts into the woods.
Taz
Okay, I think it wants me to follow it.
Erik
This should go without saying but, um, don’t.
Taz
It’s leading me toward Lake Lag.
Erik
I’m coming to find you.
Taz
I want to see where it’s taking me.
Erik
And the award for worst idea of the year goes to…
Erik
The girl dressed as an avocado!
Taz continues down the dark wooded path until she reaches the lake.
There, a thick fog hangs over the water.
Lights from nearby lamps create an eerie, ethereal glow…
She starts to shiver — it’s suddenly unseasonably cold.
Taz takes a snap of the strange fog.
And she spots the shadow.
She follows it on the winding path around the lake, and through the thick fog.
The shadow leads her to an old redwood tree…
Her heart races with anticipation.
Her eyes start to fill with tears.
Just as she speaks her sister’s name, the shadow disappears.
Erik
Taz, where are you?!
Taz
Erik…the shadow led me to our tree.
Erik
What tree? What are you talking about?
Taz
Okay, this is going to sound crazy.
Erik
All of this is already crazy.
Taz
There’s this redwood tree on the far side of Lake Lag. It was Jaz and my secret place.
Erik
You never told me about a tree.
Taz
We used to leave little notes for each other inside of it.
Taz
“Good luck on your test!” or “Love you!”
Taz
Erik, the shadow led me here.
Taz
No one else knew about our tree.
Erik
This could all just be a coincidence.
Taz
I think Jaz is trying to tell me something.
Erik
Well, is there anything inside the tree?
Taz ducks inside the tree and feels around.
Taz
Wait. I found something!
Erik
Okay, this is seriously weird.
Taz
Erik. It’s Jaz’s handwriting.
Taz
“Find Dr. Montgomery.”
Taz
I don’t know. I don’t know anyone named Dr. Montgomery…
Erik
Do you remember that professor that went missing our freshman year?
Taz
Yeah…there were police all over campus looking for her.
Erik
Not just police. The FBI.
Erik
There were cadaver dogs sniffing around the woods, looking for her body…
Erik
But they never found anything.
Taz
They never found her body?!
Erik
No. I just ran a search, and that professor’s name…
Erik
Was Dr. Alexis Montgomery.
Taz
I don’t get it. Why would Jaz tell me to find a person who’s been missing for so long?
Erik
But, it’s been three years, Taz.
Erik
There’s no way she’s still alive.
Taz
This doesn’t make any sense…
Erik
Taz, whatever happened to this professor…
Erik
I really think you need to get out of there. Now.
Erik
She disappeared without a trace.
Taz
There has to be a reason why Jaz wants me to find her…
Erik
Maybe the answer is on that flash drive?
Taz
You’re right. I’m going to head to the library to check it out.
Erik
Ditching a party for the library on a Friday night. Typical Taz.
Taz
Hey, I have a good excuse this time.
Taz
I hear someone coming.
Taz
Did you call the police?
Erik
Against my better judgment, no.
Taz pokes her head out of the tree and looks around.
Taz
There are a bunch of cop cars pulling onto the path.
Erik
What color are their lights?
Taz
Men are getting out of the cars…
Taz
And they’re all wearing these strange sunglasses.
Erik
In the middle of the night?
Erik
I don’t think those are cops.
Taz
Erik, they have guns…
Taz
They’re pointed straight at me!
Taz runs as fast as she can, pushing through the underbrush.
The strange men follow closely behind, trampling through bushes and yelling out Taz’s name.
SHOTS ring out in the night.
BULLETS rip through the trees surrounding the lake.
Just then, someone shoves Taz to the ground.
Taz falls hard and scrapes her knee.
She feels something brush her wound gently, and then tug at her arm.
It tries to drag her up again.
Taz looks around but can’t see anyone next to her.
But she feels the shadow’s presence, and it comforts her.
She lets the shadow lead her through the winding trees…
To a safe spot in a ditch hidden beneath the leaves.
Taz hides in the ditch and pulls her knees up to her chest, shivering.
She feels a breeze touch her cheek, and then suddenly, everything is quiet again.
Taz pulls out her phone and looks through the Ghost Glass filter, but she’s alone.
Erik
Taz?! Where are you??
Taz
I’m safe. I found a place to hide. But Erik…
Taz
Those men tried to kill me!
Taz
The ghost…it saved me. From getting shot.
Erik
That’s not possible.
Taz
Why would someone shoot me, Erik?
Taz
Maybe it’s the flash drive.
Taz
I have to find out what’s on it.
Erik
Whatever it is, it’s not worth getting hurt.
Taz
It looks like they’re scanning the ground with those weird sunglasses they’re wearing.
Erik
Send me your location. I’ll come find you.
Taz unlocks her phone to send Erik her location…
But instead, Snapchat opens.
A strange, new filter pops up on her screen.
A big glowing arrow appears next to her on the camera, pointing behind her.
Confused, Taz flips the lens to selfie mode.
At the bottom of the screen are the words “Astute Arrow Filter.”
The men have wandered a good distance away from her.
Slowly, she climbs out of the ditch, careful not to make any noise.
Holding the phone out in front of her, she turns in a circle.
But the arrow stays pointed in the same direction.
Urging her toward…somewhere.
Erik
You still have that dumb avocado costume on?!
Taz
I’ll take it off. But…
Taz
Look at the filter — it’s called the Astute Arrow.
Taz
Do you have it on your phone?
Erik
I don’t see any mention of it on tech blogs either.
Erik
It looks like some kind of GPS…
Erik
The shadow and then this?
Erik
Whatever you do, DON’T follow it.
Taz
I need to know, Erik.
Taz
Wherever this arrow’s taking me…there could be answers.
Erik
Or there could be more creepy men with guns, waiting for you. What if it’s a trap?
Taz
That’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Erik
Will you keep texting me, at least?
Erik
So I know you’re safe.
Taz
It’s taking me down this narrow path…
Erik
Are those men following you?
Taz
No. They’re still busy with their scanning devices.
Erik
Maybe they were never after you…
Erik
Maybe they wanted the shadow.
Taz
When I was running away, one of them called out my name.
Taz
And somehow, they knew I was going to be there.
Erik
How? You didn’t even tell me where you were going tonight…
Taz
It doesn’t make sense. None of this makes any sense.
Taz
I’m turning off Campus Drive. Wherever this arrow is taking me…
Taz
It’s not on Stanford campus.
Erik
Turn around. Please.
Erik
Come back to the dorm. Whatever’s going on, we can get through this.
Taz
The arrow disappeared.
Taz
It’s just an empty field…
Taz opens Snapchat to take a picture…
And a new filter pops up on screen.
Taz
There’s a new filter.
Taz
It called the “Spy Glass Filter.”
Erik
What does that mean?
Taz looks through her phone screen at her surroundings.
The field is cast in an eerie, blue light.
In the distance, something glows.
As she runs toward it — still looking through her phone — a room appears below her.
It looks like a bunker hidden under the ground beneath her feet.
She stops to snap a picture, and notices a small, worn trap door…
Concealed by a patch of overgrown grass.
She sends Erik the picture.
Erik
Well duh, but to where? For what?
Taz hesitates for a moment…
Before reaching out and grabbing the door handle.
It feels cold in her hand.
Almost as if it isn’t really there.
Taz pulls on the handle, and the door swings open.
Taz
There’s a set of stairs leading underground.
Erik
I feel like I shouldn’t even need to say this, but DO NOT go down there.
Taz opens the flashlight on her phone and ventures down into the bunker.
Finally, she reaches another door.
She hesitates before pushing it open…
Broken flasks, vials of chemicals, ancient computers, file folders…
They’re all strewn about the floor.
Erik
What did you find down there?
Erik
Okay, that’s seriously creepy.
Erik
Just looking at that picture is giving me tetanus.
Taz
I don’t get it…why did the arrow lead me here?
Taz
It looks like no one’s been here in years.
Erik
Nothing! I’ve just been tracing the geo-tag on every picture you’ve been sending me.
Erik
I’ve been following you. Virtually.
Taz
You’ve been spying on me. Cool.
Erik
I had to do something! You wouldn’t let me call the cops.
Erik
There’s no trace of that bunker online. No lab, nothing.
Erik
Google Maps says it’s just a soccer field. So does Apple Maps, Bing…
Taz
Okay, well, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m down here.
Erik
That’s not possible. It doesn’t exist.
Taz
I’m telling you it does.
Erik
I think you need to get out of there.
Taz
Not before I get some answers.
Taz
I’m trying to find a computer for this flash drive, but none of them are from this century…
Taz continues to snoop around.
She moves a pile of boxes.
Taz
It works…it’s downloading…
Erik
Taz, you have no idea what this place is.
Taz
My sister led me here.
Erik
A Snapchat filter led you there.
Erik
Besides, what would your sister be doing in a lab?
Erik
She was an English major.
Taz
Okay, don’t tell anyone this, but—
Taz
Before she died, Jaz was acting…strange.
Taz
She was worried about something.
Taz
She thought someone was following her.
Taz
But…I was too busy to listen. Too busy to care.
Erik
You were studying for finals.
Taz
She was my twin sister. I should have been there for her.
Taz
And maybe all of these things…are connected.
Taz
Those men in the woods?
Taz
Maybe they knew Jaz, too.
Erik
Taz, what happened to your sister was an accident.
Erik
A really horrible accident.
Erik
But sometimes things just…happen. There doesn’t have to be an explanation.
Erik
And you shouldn’t blame yourself.
Just then, the old computer in front of Taz chimes, and the screen lights up.
The file from Jaz’s flash drive has finished downloading.
Taz
There’s a folder with my name on it.
Taz
There are a bunch of charts…numbers…
Taz
I think…it’s a physics paper.
Erik
The Singh twins — nerds, even in the afterlife.
Taz
Jaz definitely did not write this paper.
Erik
Well, what does it say?
Taz
It’s really complicated…
Taz
Wait. You know that professor who disappeared, Dr. Montgomery?
Erik
Yeah, what about her?
Erik
Um…according to the internet, she was a professor of quantum physics.
Erik
Black holes. Dark matter. That kind of thing.
Taz
Why would Jaz want me to have this? It doesn’t make any sense.
Erik
It says here that Dr. Montgomery was often shunned from the scientific community…
Erik
Because of her belief in the afterlife.
Taz
A physics professor who believes in ghosts?
Taz
But wait… That means that what I saw…
Erik
I’m sure this is all just one big coincidence.
Taz
Wait, there’s a video.
Her sister’s face fills the screen.
Taz stares blankly at the screen, processing what she just saw…
Until a STRANGE VOICE booms from above.
S.A.M.
Hello, Tasneem Singh, and welcome to the PSI Laboratory.
Taz nearly falls over in her chair.
She opens her Ghost Glass filter and looks through it…
S.A.M.
My name is S.A.M., short for Sentient AI Mainframe.
S.A.M.
We were all very sorry to hear of Jasline’s passing.
S.A.M.
I was created to help Dr. Montgomery. By Dr. Montgomery.
Taz
What do you mean somewhat?!
Taz
I need to talk to her — now!
S.A.M.
Would you be so kind as to place your hand on the touchscreen?
It’s hard to imagine a touchscreen of any kind amid these piles of ancient trash.
But after digging for a moment, Taz uncovers one.
She places her hand on the screen.
The room begins to shake…
And the back wall slides open, revealing—
A spotless, state-of-the-art facility with chrome fixtures.
S.A.M.
Yes, the lab Dr. Montgomery built is quite impressive.
Taz
She built all this? By herself?
Taz walks over to a giant tube that seems to stretch on and on, as far as the eye can see.
S.A.M.
A particle accelerator…
S.A.M.
Dr. Montgomery used it to study Dark Matter.
S.A.M.
Yes. Matter cannot be created or destroyed.
S.A.M.
When a human dies, their body decomposes and their soul gets converted into Dark Matter.
Taz
So…Dark Matter is like ghosts?
S.A.M.
I suppose you could say that.
S.A.M.
Unfortunately, one of Dr. Montgomery’s experiments went terribly wrong…
S.A.M.
And, I am afraid that she now exists only as Dark Matter.
S.A.M.
Tasneem, she would have wanted you to carry on her research.
Taz
Wait…how do you know who I am?
S.A.M.
Dr. Montgomery had been watching you, since you were a child.
S.A.M.
Because you, Tasneem Singh, are unique.
S.A.M.
You possess abilities…
S.A.M.
We call it The Touch.
S.A.M.
Others call it a “sixth sense.”
S.A.M.
The ability to sense and interact with Dark Matter.
S.A.M.
No, I am perfectly serious.
S.A.M.
While I do have the capacity for humor…
S.A.M.
Our present topic is no joking matter.
Taz
So I can see dead people.
S.A.M.
With the right tools…yes.
S.A.M.
You will notice that I have uploaded filters onto your phone…
S.A.M.
Which allow you to access your powers more easily.
S.A.M.
Even though you were born with the Touch…
S.A.M.
You must work to sharpen your powers.
S.A.M.
The filters I have given you will help you train.
S.A.M.
With time, and practice, your powers will grow.
S.A.M.
There are elements of your powers that even I do not yet understand.
Taz
But…the shadow…that was real?
S.A.M.
Yes. But only you could sense it.
S.A.M.
And you could see it through the Ghost Glass filter.
S.A.M.
But to anyone else, it was not there.
Taz
But it reached out…it TOUCHED me.
S.A.M.
Yes, that is what makes you extraordinary, Tasneem.
S.A.M.
To my knowledge, no one has ever been able to interact with Dark Matter in that manner before.
Taz
That was Jaz’s ghost, right?
S.A.M.
I have not yet identified who, or what, reached out to you.
Taz
But my sister…she also had the Touch, right?
S.A.M.
There is so much we still do not understand about Dark Matter, but with every encounter…
S.A.M.
Our knowledge grows.
S.A.M.
We need your extraordinary abilities, Tasneem.
S.A.M.
It is all very real.
S.A.M.
Your powers have always been there, lurking beneath the surface…
S.A.M.
If you choose to join our lab, your mission will be to investigate Dark Matter anomalies.
S.A.M.
I will provide you with filters to help you with your missions.
S.A.M.
Just like the Ghost Glass, Astute Arrow and Spy Glass filters you used tonight.
Taz
And what about those men out there? Why were they trying to shoot me?
S.A.M.
If I am not mistaken, they were carrying stun guns — your life was not in real danger.
S.A.M.
But beware of these men in the future — they are indeed willing to kill for what they want.
S.A.M.
They are rogue scientists who wish to steal our research and use it for their own means.
S.A.M.
This is a dangerous path, Tasneem.
S.A.M.
I will not always be able to protect you.
Taz
But if I choose to join the PSI Lab and develop my powers, maybe one day…
Taz
I'll be able to see my sister again?
S.A.M.
I cannot guarantee that, Tasneem.
S.A.M.
But I suppose it is a possibility…
Taz looks around at the lab…
At all of the tools and gadgets.
And a smile spreads across her face.
She’s finally found her path.
S.A.M.
I will be in touch.
S.A.M.
But, before you leave here, heed this word of warning—
S.A.M.
Be cautious when using your powers in public.
S.A.M.
As you have seen tonight, Dark Matter entities become visible to others when you capture them in a photograph.
S.A.M.
Do not reveal your powers to just anyone.
S.A.M.
Tell only those you trust.
S.A.M.
The world is not ready for the things you will see.
Taz emerges from the underground lab…
And for a little too long.
Erik
Taz…I was so worried.
Erik
When you didn’t respond, I ran down here…
Erik
I legitimately thought you were dead.
Erik
What happened in there?
Taz
I don’t even know where to start.
Taz
But he did say I could tell people I trust, so…
Erik
I think we should take you to a hospital or something.
Taz
No, really. I’m fine.
Erik
So tell me what happened.
Erik
We’re best friends. Don’t you trust me?
Taz
You wouldn’t believe me.
Taz
I’m going to see my sister again.
Taz
And now I can prove it to you.
Taz takes out her phone and opens Snapchat…
She pulls Erik in for a selfie…
And a new filter pops up on screen.
Behind them, dozens of shadows appear in the background.
Like ghosts hanging in the air…
