Ep. 6: Jack's Beanstalk, Part 6

Transcript by Raina Harper

Kyle (as Piper) 

Get away from it, Jack!

Kyle

A voice sang from inside the song itself. Jack, not knowing where to look, simply shouted into the noise.

Kyle (as Jack) 

Who is this?!

Kyle (as Piper) 

[Chuckles.]

Kyle

The voice sadly laughed.

Kyle (as Piper) 

Have you really forgotten about me already, my muse?

Kyle (as Jack) 

Piper…?

Kyle (as Piper) 

BINGO!

Kyle

The voice rang out alongside a single strum of a lute so loud that it sent ripples through the air so that all of Jack’s senses rippled like a lake disturbed by a stone.

[Threatening ambience begins.]

Kyle (as Piper) 

You know, Jack, I don't know what hurts more, the fact that even now you’re not sure whether it’s me or the fact that you still won’t listen to a friend. Get away from it.

Kyle (as Jack) 

From “it”? Piper, are you talking about—Oh, no-no-no, it’s a misunderstanding.

Kyle

Jack tried to laugh off anxieties that Piper’s voice had never given her before.

Kyle (as Jack) 

This is All. He’s a friend. He’s not harmful at…

Kyle

Jack looked up at All who had turned into a literal walking disaster: his beard a storm cloud, his legs vibrating like earthquakes, small cracks appearing with molten lava dripping down their sides. But this is not what concerned Jack the most. Instead, what concerned her was a question.

Kyle (as Jack) 

Piper, how did you get here?

Kyle (as Piper) 

[Chuckles.] Jack, I don’t think you’re in the—

Kyle (as Jack) 

[Forceful.] How did you get here?

[Long pause. Music/SFX ends.]

Kyle

Silence for a moment.

Kyle (as Piper) 

The same way you did, my muse.

Kyle

Jack frantically patted her pockets. They weren’t here. Probably just because this wasn’t physical space, but… that had to be the reason. There’s no way he would have…

Kyle (as Piper) 

That’s right.

[Evil music begins.]

 Looks like us normal folk can use the beans as well.

Kyle

Jack ran cold, her voice unable to utter words. All had no such difficulty, bellowing out:

Kyle (as All) 

You are not welcome here, intruder! Be gone at once!

Kyle

In response, the lute rang another terrible chord sending ripples that, as they went over All, completely removed his mouth. Jack, like always, found her words in a crisis.

Kyle (as Jack) 

Piper, you need to stop now.

Kyle (as Piper) 

I told you, Jack. It’s dangerous.

Kyle (as Jack) 

You don’t know him like I do.

Kyle (as Piper) 

I don’t. Really? Really, you could replace me that quickly, Jack?

Kyle (as Jack) 

What do you mean, replace you?

Kyle (as Piper) 

I searched for so long to get to the top of this tower.

Kyle (as Jack) 

Well, you didn’t have to. I’m fine.

Kyle (as Piper) 

And how was I to know that?! Did you think to tell me? Did you think to invite me up? Did you think about me at all?

Kyle

From behind her Jack could hear All struggling to stand back up. With another string of the lute, he crumpled back like falling rocks.

Kyle (as Piper) 

I must say…

Kyle

A gloating yet sorrowful Piper sang out.

Kyle (as Piper) 

…it’s not fitting behavior of the heroic Jack.

Kyle

As he spoke, the plucking of the strings got louder. Jack could see in front of her rows of musical strings extending out in all directions. Stepping on those strings, maintaining himself a foot above the ground, was Piper. From his hands she could see more of the strings extending out into the distance, strings that moved with his body in such a way that she couldn’t tell if he was controlling them or them him. Up by his face Jack saw sorrowful eyes from her companion and a smile literally forced open by the strings at the ends of his lips.

Kyle (as Jack) 

What did you do, Piper)

Kyle

Piper’s eyes grew more sorrowful and his mouth more sinisterly giddy.

Kyle (as Piper) 

I took my rightful place, my muse. If you are not to be the hero, then someone else needs to fill that role.

[Music/SFX ends.]

Kyle (as Q-BO) 

[Bloop.] Oh boy, this one’s a bit tricky. I feel like no matter what Jack does something is gonna go wrong. That’s the question I have for you today. How does this encounter go horribly, terribly wrong? You can go into the description to find the Discord link to put your submission. Down there you’ll also find a link to Fiction Podcast Weekly which featured us in a recent newsletter.