Episode 5: Fates Aligned
Written By Karl White
After Orem Black vanished in front of the Order of Wormwood, time was of the essence. What happened to Orem, where did he go? The other mystery would be the MAN appearing in Orem’s place. Who was he? Dressed in a fashion a few centuries removed. The unconscious stranger was whisked to a secure wing of the estate to rest, guarded by members of the Order.
Orem vanishing in front of the Order of Wormwood, 1894 - © 2025 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC
Banerjee would lead the investigation to find out what else had transpired. Orem recited an incantation. He’d never shown any interest in magic, had no natural abilities and was blind to the Order’s true intent. But the spell came from somewhere...and why was he so hell-bent on proving that his father, Reginald, was a deceiver?
Everyone knew of the disharmony between Orem and Reginald, but no one knew the reason. It happened when Orem was just a boy, but seemed more than just natural teenaged rebellion. Rounding up Reginald and Orem’s inner circle, Banerjee interviewed those closest to the father and son...and quickly discovered a shocking and heartbreaking secret. Fredrick Frost, Reginald’s oldest friend, knew the truth and guarded the secret on his behalf…Reginald held a strong belief otherworldly powers were responsible for his prophetic dreams. There were agents of the shadows, bleeding into our world. Hoping to tempt and steer mankind towards darkness and destruction. Saving the world was the driving force behind the creation of the Order.
Paramount to building a legion large enough to fight whatever dark army that may be coming, was keeping it a secret. The element of surprise, developing capabilities and tactics to take on a faceless enemy, was built into the genius of the Order of Wormwood. But operating covertly, meant abiding by the rule of concealing the group’s true meaning from everyone. The result would put strains on relationships. Reginald was no exception. His wife Diane couldn’t understand why his secret fraternity held more importance then his own family...the couple would fight about it often.
But one night a heated argument turned tragic, as during one of their fights, Diane became physical. Reginald defended himself, pushing his wife away, and she hit her head... resulting in Diane’s accidental death. Even worse, was Orem, then just a bright-eyed boy, witnessed the whole thing... As a stage magician, part of Reginald’s act consisted of him resurrecting a dove. A feat performed in reality by his assistant, Banerjee, standing offstage, using his real powers to restore life to the bird. Seeing his mother dead on the floor, Orem expected Reginald to bring her back to life. He was young and naive enough to believe in magic...but it was then Reginald had to reveal he was unable to perform the trick.
Protecting the Order, Reginald couldn’t tell Orem who he really was or why he must conceal the truth. And to Orem, his father was a fraud and so was magic...their wounded relationship divided them further, as Reginald maintaining operational secrecy, perpetuated the Order being more sacred than blood to his own son. It was no wonder animosity existed between them.
Armed with what fueled the fire of Orem’s estrangement, the Order needed to find out how he, of all people, came to possess a real form of magic. Orem joined the Royal Army as soon as he was old enough, leaving London. Both Veera Sarin and Joseph Frost had waning contact with him in the decades following. Orem briefly returned when Reginald took ill in 1888 but left the day following his father’s funeral. No one had seen him since.
But it was discovered Orem had quietly returned a year prior. Discreetly taking up residence in the east tower of Black Manor, the very building the Order conducted it’s business. Swearing the house’s caretaker, William, to secrecy, Orem snuck in during planned renovations. Sheltering in Reginald’s former private study, moving under the cover of night, living like a hermit. He was there for the express purpose of studying something, planning for his big to-do in front of the Order. The mystery was deepening.
Gaining access to the private study, Banerjee, Veera, and Joseph, scoured the large room for clues -- discovering a series of correspondences amongst Reginald Black’s personal effects. Letters back and forth, between father and son. The oldest missive was dated 1881, while Orem was serving in the army during the Boer Wars. After being wounded in battle, Orem witnessed something uncanny.
General Colley shot during battle, 1881 - © 2025 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC
OREM: Father, we haven’t spoken in some time, but I warily seek your counsel. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard I was shot in battle...this entire campaign has been a bloody mess. We had no business being on that hill. Sitting ducks without a plan. I took a bullet in the side, bled all the way to the medic, but I’ll survive. Father, something profound happened. I remember you once told me, life showed you your destiny. Today, mine was revealed to me.
Volksrust, South Africa, 1881. Night had fallen, but the sounds of war still raged in the distance. In a darkened corner of a medic’s tent, Orem was on a cot, stomach bandaged, quietly resting.
OREM: There were so many wounded, the field hospital was full. Lacking room, I was placed in the Officer’s tent to rest. All was quiet, until General Colley was brought in, a gaping bullet wound in his chest. They forgot I was there...
A field doctor worked by lantern light to revive the General, but it was a lost cause. Orem, beyond the lights reach, watched…a moment later the second in command, Colonel Ashdown, stormed in.
COL ASHDOWN: What the bloody hell happened?
FIELD DOCTOR: He was hit by a sniper.
COL ASHDOWN: Well, fix him.
FIELD DOCTOR: There’s nothing I can do…
The Colonel grabbed the Doctor’s collar from across the table pulling him over the General's lifeless body.
COL ASHDOWN: We’re at a breaking point. General Colley can’t be dead. If you can’t do anything, then fetch the boy.
The doctor would sprint from the tent. Alone with the General’s corpse, the Colonel’s shoulders slumped, desperate. From his cot, Orem stared at the expressionless face of the dead General...Then, the doctor rushed back in with a young African boy in tow. Menzi, 13.
COL ASHDOWN: Use your hocus-pocus and bring him back.
Orem sat up in disbelief...but Menzi, staring at the General’s lifeless body, shook his head, unwilling to follow the Colonel’s orders.
COL ASHDOWN: I’ve seen you do it before with the horses.
MENZI: It is not the same with a person.
COL ASHDOWN: Bring him back and your family will be rewarded by the King of England himself. Defy me and I’ll kill you.
The Colonel pulled his sidearm. Reluctant, the boy would step to the table, raising his hands, holding them over the General’s body. STATIC emanated from Menzi’s fingers. SPARKS of electricity snapped and fired, glowing brighter between his hands and the corpse.
OREM: Father, I’d seen you perform your trick a thousand times with the dove, but this, this was different -- It was real.
The General suddenly sat up, gasping for air. The doctor jumped back in terror. The Colonel watched in awe. Menzi crashed to the ground, unconscious.
COL ASHDOWN: General Colley, sir?
The General sharply looked up, eyes hollow. His movements strange and inhuman. He hissed at the Colonel.
COL ASHDOWN: Sir, are you alright?
The General tried to stand, but crashed to the floor. Rushing to his side, the Colonel attempted to help -- but the General grabbed hold of the Colonel, viciously attacking. The possessed General ripped at the Colonel, tearing into flesh, feeding. Blood went everywhere. The doctor fled from the tent, calling for help. The Colonel’s screams transformed into a hideous gargle as the General ripped his throat out.
Terrified, Orem softly rose from his cot to retreat. But in his haste, tripped and tumbled to the ground -- the sounds grabbed the attention of the General. Frozen with fear, Orem stared into the deep, dark abyss of Collie's eyes...then, the General spoke in a demonic voice.
General Colley possessed - © 2025 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC
GENERAL: OREM BLACCKKKK. YOU WILLLL...FINDDDD...THE BOOOK OF AMARRR...
The doctor rushed in with soldiers, pointing at the General.
FIELD DOCTOR: Kill it!
(SFX – Gunshots)
The General’s re-animated corpse hit the ground, dead again.
OREM: Father, my calling is to find “The Book of Amar”. And despite being a phony parlor magician, surely in all your travels you must know someone who has knowledge of real magic. I ask for your guidance. It’s the least you can do to make things right between us. Yours truly, Orem.
TO BE CONTINUED…