Chapter 5 Faster, Vegas! Faster!

Richard tries yelling out the window again, but his voice is lost in the loud music and cheering below. The school bus is racing towards the crowd at full speed.

Richard pulls away and speeds down the hall.

REPORTER LADY

Mr. Beltran?!

Richard ignores her as he runs down the hall. He raises the thin wooden wand, tapping his head with it.

RICHARD

ABRAHCADABRA, SHALAMAR!

He zaps himself several feet forward. He looks back, sighs sadly, spins back around, and keeps running.

RICHARD

What? I need to get downstairs, NOW!

He swings the wand around again.

RICHARD

ABRAHCADABRAH, SHALLAMAR!!!!

He taps his head with the wand again, but this time, he unexpectedly finds himself embedded in the wall.

The Reporter lady unleashes a scream as she looks down the hall and sees Richard. The cameraman has the camera trained right on him.

The reporter carefully walks up to Richard, looking at him with a mix of terror and fascination.

REPORTER LADY

What-in-the-hell?

A hard crashing sound comes from outside. The crash sends a shock wave through the building and makes it quiver.

Another scream from the reporter, and she falls backwards. She trembles as she makes it back to her feet, still looking at Richard, half-fused into the wall.

She stands and grabs the cameraman's arm.

REPORTER LADY

Let's get out of here!

RICHARD

WAIT!

The reporter and the cameraman stop in their tracks and look back at Richard.

RICHARD

(Cries)

Please...send someone to help me!

REPORTER LADY

(Yells)

What happened to you?

Richard hangs his head and starts to cry.

RICHARD

(Cries)

I botched the spell! I tried to get downstairs with a spell, but..

The camera man grabs the reporter's shoulder.

CAMERA MAN

We gotta cover that school bus! The way it was racing towards the school, I know that's what made that crashing sound!

REPORTER LADY

(Nods and turns to Richard)

I'll send someb-

She turns back to Richard and sees he's hanging there, limp, passed out.

She and the cameraman hurry through the door that leads to the staircase.

They quickly dash downstairs.

EXT. FRONT YARD OF THE SCHOOL HOUSE – DAY

We see Richards' body lying on the grass, as if cast away and bound in rope. There's a soft glow from a nearby fire on him.

As the scene opens, Richard awakens. And as it opens up wider, we see Seth and Chris also bound up in rope, lying near Richard, sobbing and crying.

Eddie is on Richard's other side with his back turned to everyone. The glow of the fire highlights his face and body.

Richard fully comes too and sits up. He hears Chris's voice, a bit muffled at first, as he steadies himself, it clears up.

CHRIS

--You idiot!

SETH

You're blaming me for this?!

CHRIS

It's Eddie's fault too!

CHRIS

(Cries)

I told you we should have crucified the little "Teen Jesus" dip shit! I told you! The Christians woulda loved it!

EDDIE

SHUT UP, CHRIS!

RICHARD

(Breathing hard, eyes opened)

The people...on the school bus?

CHRIS

They're fine! No thanks to you!

EDDIE

(Mutters)

It's ok, no one got hurt in the accident, thank God. But a huge chunk of the school got destroyed.

Richard struggles in his binds to turn around and face the school. Smoke billowed from the beautiful school building. A school bus jutted out from the lower right side, while flames erupted from inside.

Police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances surrounded the scene. A big crowd stands by, watching the chaos. There were other news reporters and news vans now.

Richard starts whimpering and struggling harder to get free.

RICHARD

What's going on? Why are we tied up?

He looks at Seth and Chris crying.

RICHARD

Where's Professor Diaz?

Eddie doesn't answer the last question. Instead, he raises his chin to the bonfire. His serious look remains as he watches what's burning.

Richard follows Eddie's eyes and lets loose a scream as he finds Professor Diaz tied to a stake, being burned alive.

Seth lets loose a trembling wail as tears slide down his face.

Chris's face was red and shiny with shame as he sobbed, turning away from his professor, who was about to be executed.

EDDIE

...They tied us up because they didn't want us to try to save our teacher.

Richard gawks up at Diaz in disbelief. Then his eyes fell to look at the bedlam all around him.

PROFESSOR DIAZ

(Terrified but fighting it)

D-don't cry, children. Everything will continue to go a-as scheduled. As your Teacher, I will g-g-grade you boys on your performances today!

In spite of the horror and drama, all four boys look up at Diaz, confused.

CHRIS

What?

EDDIE

You're about to die, though.

PROFESSOR DIAZ

Duty calls, and I will perform my duties till the very end!

His glasses are falling down his nose. He tries to wiggle them in place. He's sweating profusely. The glasses fall off, and he realizes he has bigger worries.

PROFESSOR DIAZ

Eddie, the idea for the illusion was beautiful and brilliant! For thoughtfulness, you get an "A." Seth, you're amazing, I have never seen so much power coming from a s-sound mage, you also get an "A". And Chris, ahhh, my Christopher Robyn!

PROFESSOR DIAZ

(Cries)

Chris, you are the strongest illusionist I've ever seen for such a young age! "A+" for you!

PROFESSOR DIAZ

And Richard...

Richard looks up at his professor with his face wet with tears, still trying to get out of the rope.

Professor Diaz's face strains as he looks at this beautiful, precious young man, trying to find something uplifting to say to him.

But he finally gives up.

PROFESSOR DIAZ

F@#! YOU, VEGAS!!

Then he screams out and flails his head back and forth frantically as the fire starts burning his feet. His screams sound like mad laughter.

Richard gawks up at him, heartbroken and confused.

The other three boys look away, unable to take the horrible screams of their master.

...except Chris, who starts chuckling after Diaz curses Richard out.

As the camera continues to pan out, some older Christians dance as a hippie-looking guy plays a guitar.

Adam was still on his down mecha taking nap in the setting sun. Mission accomplished after all.

And some other protestors banged happily on tambourines as they celebrate the burning of the witch of Menzai...