Shadows of the Past, Flames of the Future COMMUNICATING WITH ZOE?!

[Erika wakes up the next morning in Zoe’s penthouse, startled by her surroundings.]

[The room is a stark contrast to the luxurious, ornate chambers of her past. Sleek black furniture, glass walls, and a giant cityscape stretch out before her.]

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*looking around* What sorcery is this? Glass walls? A box that shows moving images?

[Erika stumbles out of bed, still disoriented.]

[She catches sight of herself in a mirror—a wild-haired woman with sharp features and a confident, dangerous aura stares back at her.]

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*staring at herself in the mirror* This cannot be me. Who is this strange woman?

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

And why do I feel… trapped within her skin?

[She explores the apartment, baffled by everything she encounters: the TV (which she accidentally turns on and thinks is a portal), the microwave (which she believes to be a strange magic box), and Zoe’s extensive collection of weapons.]

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*looking at microwave* What magic is this? A box that heats food without fire?

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*finding the weapons* Good heavens! What manner of life does this woman lead?

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

Is she a warrior? A knight? Or some kind of outlaw?

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*to herself* I must find a way out of this strange world... and back to my own.

[As Erika tries to piece together her situation, she hears a voice in her head—Zoe’s.]

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*in Erika's mind* Hey, princess, you're making a mess of my life.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

Who speaks? Show yourself!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Relax. It's me, Zoe. The owner of the body you're borrowing.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

Borrowing? I did not request this arrangement!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Yeah, well, neither did I. Now shut up and listen.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

You need to keep my life together until we figure this out. Got it!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

But what about your... mafia life? I know nothing about it!

[Erika tries to argue, but Zoe quickly overwhelms her with a barrage of information about the mafia world.]

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Rule #1: don't let anyone think you've gone soft.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Rule #2: stay alive. If you die, I die.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

And Rule #3: don't mess with my stuff.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

Stuff? You mean your... abominable clothing and weaponry?

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Exactly. Especially the guns. Those are my babies.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*alarmed* Guns?!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

You expect me to wield such... such instruments of violence?!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*laughing* Oh, princess. You're going to get yourself killed.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*defensively* I am not a princess! And I will not be intimidated by your... your "instruments of violence"!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*teasingly* Oh, I'm shaking in my boots.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*frustrated* This is absurd!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

I demand to know what is happening to me!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*serious* Fine. I'll tell you.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

But you have to promise to listen and not freak out.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*cautiously* I... I promise

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Alright. So, somehow, our minds got switched. I don't know how or why, but here we are.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*stunned* Switched?! You mean, I am... trapped in your body?!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*calmly* Yeah, that's about right.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*panicked* This is madness!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

We must find a way to reverse this at once!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*laughing* Good luck with that, princess.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

I have no idea how to switch us back.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*desperate* We must try! I cannot continue to live in this... this strange and unfamiliar world!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*teasingly* Aw, come on, princess. It's not so bad.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

You might even learn to like it.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*outraged* Like it?!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

You expect me to enjoy living in a world of... of guns and violence and strange contraptions?!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*laughing* Yeah, something like that.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Now, let's get you cleaned up. You look like you just rolled out of bed.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*alarmed* What do you mean?!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

I am perfectly... presentable!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*laughing* Presentable?

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

You've got bedhead, princess. And those clothes are all wrong.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*defensively* My attire is perfectly fine!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

I will not be dictated to by... by your strange and barbaric customs!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*teasingly* Oh, I love it. You're so cute when you're trying to be tough.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*outraged* I am not "cute"!

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

I am a... a noblewoman of great dignity and refinement!

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*laughing* Okay, princess. Whatever you say.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Alright, let's get you cleaned up. We'll start with a shower.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*hesitantly* A... shower? What is that?

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*laughing* Oh, this is going to be fun. It's a way to clean yourself, princess.

ZOE TAYLOR//ERIKA ASTERIA

*skeptically* Clean myself? With... water? Indoors?

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

*teasingly* Yeah, it's a real novelty.

ZOE TAYLOR'S SOUL

Come on, I'll show you.