A False End

INT. SMALL TOWN - ABANDONED HOUSE - NIGHT

The town is quiet, the horrors of the factory seemingly a distant memory. However, a sense of unease lingers. The camera moves through the abandoned house, revealing dusty furniture and cobweb-covered windows.

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - BASEMENT - NIGHT

The basement is dark and cold. In the corner, an old wooden crate lies hidden beneath a tattered cloth. Suddenly, the crate begins to shake violently, and the cloth is thrown off as the VENDOR bursts out, its face twisted in an even more grotesque expression of malice.

VENDOR

(whispering)

I’m not done yet...

The Vendor’s strings, now sharper than ever, slither across the floor like living snakes, cutting through everything they touch.

INT. OFFICER RILEY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

OFFICER RILEY is at home, trying to relax after the harrowing events of the past days. She pours herself a drink, but her hands are shaking. The memories of the factory still haunt her.

OFFICER RILEY

(to herself)

It’s over... it has to be over...

As she sits down, her phone rings. She hesitates but answers.

OFFICER RILEY

(on the phone)

Riley here.

UNKNOWN VOICE

(distorted)

You thought you could stop me?

OFFICER RILEY

(tensing up)

Who is this?

The line goes dead. Riley drops the phone, realizing that the nightmare isn’t over.

INT. SMALL TOWN - DARK ALLEY - NIGHT

A man, MARK, is walking through a dark alley, hurrying home. He hears a faint whistling sound and looks around nervously. The whistling grows louder, and Mark’s breath quickens.

Suddenly, the Vendor’s balloon appears from the shadows, its strings lashing out like blades. Mark tries to run, but the strings wrap around him, slicing through his flesh.

MARK

(screaming)

Help! Someone, please!

The strings tighten, and in one swift motion, they cut through Mark, splitting his body in half. The Vendor's face twists into a cruel smile as it watches Mark’s lifeless body collapse.

INT. OFFICER RILEY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Riley hears the screams from the alley and grabs her gun, rushing out of her apartment.

EXT. DARK ALLEY - NIGHT

Riley arrives at the alley to find Mark’s body lying in a pool of blood. She kneels beside him, her heart pounding.

OFFICER RILEY

(whispering)

No... not again...

As she examines the body, she hears the faint whistling sound from behind her. She turns around, her gun raised, but sees nothing. The whistling stops, and the alley falls silent.

Riley stands up, her senses on high alert. Suddenly, the Vendor’s balloon floats down from above, and its strings lash out with lightning speed, slicing through the air.

OFFICER RILEY

(shouting)

Show yourself!

The strings wrap around Riley, constricting her movements. She struggles to break free, but the strings tighten, cutting into her skin. The Vendor’s face appears in the darkness, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.

OFFICER RILEY

(grimacing)

I’m not afraid of you...

The strings tighten further, and with a sickening sound, they slice through Riley’s torso, cutting her body clean in half. Her eyes widen in shock as she collapses to the ground, seemingly lifeless.

The Vendor hovers over her body, its twisted smile widening as it watches her bleed out.

VENDOR

(whispering)

It’s not over... not yet...

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - NIGHT

In a dark corner of the abandoned house, Riley’s body lies still, but the camera zooms in on her face, revealing a faint twitch in her fingers. A small gasp escapes her lips, and her eyes flutter open.

OFFICER RILEY

(weakly)

I’m... alive...

She struggles to move, her body wracked with pain, but she’s alive. The camera pulls back, showing her determination to survive despite the seemingly fatal wound.

OFFICER RILEY

(whispering)

I’m coming for you... Vendor...

The episode ends with Riley’s resolve burning in her eyes, a promise of retribution against the evil that refuses to die.

To be continued...

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