THE DARK ROOMS - PART 2
THE DARK ROOMS — PART II
CLASSIFICATION: █████████
FILE: E-11
SUBJECT: JOSHUA CRISOSTOMO
KNOWN ALIAS: ELLAVENZ
The same room. Forty-eight hours later.
The file from the previous meeting sits untouched on the table.
DIRECTOR:
Open the secondary file.
ANALYST:
We already reviewed everything.
DIRECTOR:
No. We reviewed Ellavenz.
He looks toward the analyst.
DIRECTOR:
Now we’re looking for Joshua.
The analyst opens a second folder.
ANALYST:
Joshua Crisostomo. That’s his real name.
SECOND ANALYST:
Then why Ellavenz?
ANALYST:
That’s what we couldn’t determine.
DIRECTOR:
You didn’t ask the right question.
ANALYST:
Which is?
DIRECTOR:
Not who is Ellavenz?
Pause.
DIRECTOR:
Ask why eleven?
The room becomes quiet.
SECOND ANALYST:
Eleven?
ANALYST:
The name comes from the number 11.
DIRECTOR:
Exactly.
SECOND ANALYST:
So the alias is intentional.
DIRECTOR:
Everything about it appears intentional.
The analyst writes on the board:
JOSHUA CRISOSTOMO
→ ELLAVENZ
→ 11
ANALYST:
But eleven is just a number.
DIRECTOR:
To you.
ANALYST:
And to him?
DIRECTOR:
We don’t know yet.
The Director walks toward the board.
DIRECTOR:
That’s what concerns me.
SECOND ANALYST:
Because we can’t connect the pieces?
DIRECTOR:
Because the pieces connect perfectly when he wants them to.
Silence.
ANALYST:
What exactly are we trying to find?
DIRECTOR:
The difference between Joshua Crisostomo…
He points toward the first name.
DIRECTOR:
…and Ellavenz.
Then toward the second.
DIRECTOR:
And whether there actually is one.
SECOND ANALYST:
You think Ellavenz is another person?
DIRECTOR:
No.
SECOND ANALYST:
Then what is it?
The Director stares at the board.
DIRECTOR:
A decision.
ANALYST:
A decision?
DIRECTOR:
Joshua had a name.
DIRECTOR:
Then he created another.
DIRECTOR:
Most people change names because they want to escape something.
He turns around.
DIRECTOR:
I’m beginning to think he changed his because he wanted to become something.
The analyst slowly closes the folder.
ANALYST:
And what exactly is he becoming?
The Director doesn’t answer.
The lights above them flicker.
SECOND ANALYST:
Director?
DIRECTOR:
Erase the board.
ANALYST:
Why?
DIRECTOR:
Because we’ve been asking what Ellavenz is capable of.
He looks at the number written in the corner.
11
DIRECTOR:
We should’ve been asking what Joshua is capable of becoming.
The room goes silent.
ANALYST:
And the number?
DIRECTOR:
Leave it.
ANALYST:
Why?
DIRECTOR:
Because somehow…
He looks directly at the “11.”
DIRECTOR:
…I don’t think we’re finished with it.
END OF FILE E-11