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Hello, Gaians, and a very happy Friday to you all! We here at the EI Labs are celebrating our favorite day of the week with a little party! As head of the Labs it’s up to me to play the perfect host, and I think I’ve done an excellent job. I’ve set out pizza, brownies, little festive hats, and punch that I made especially for the little shindig. But I’m never one to let an opportunity for SCIENCE pass me by, so I’ve dosed all the food with a variety of highly volatile medicines we’re currently testing, and I’ll be studying the reactions of all the party-goers as the night goes on! Haha! Kidding! It’s all normal food and drink that I definitely haven’t tampered with in any shape or form! At least, that’s what I wrote on the poster. Anyway! This week we’re celebrating the evolutions of Monstrosity, Haute Modena, and Aria Dannata, so let’s take a closer look!

Monstrosity: Many of the journal's early pages are gone or illegible, ink washed out with strong chemicals, pages pasted together with dried blood. At last, far along in the book, a set of pages has been preserved, some lines and words laboriously blacked out. It begins…

"Today I have made a grand breakthrough. My research into ██████████ has revealed a key process which has not yet been tested. I have kept it carefully hidden from my colleagues at ██████ ███████, and have decided to set up research in my own attic. Some of the methods I will have to employ are of questionable moral implication, but necessary, if I am to be successful.

"Perhaps if I had pursued medicine over medical research, if I were less of a scientist, I would not have the stomach to do what is required. But as a man of science, given the opportunity to know the unknowable... I am resolved."

Haute Modena: Meilland had to have Elina at any cost! During a private rehearsal on the runway with Etoile, Meilland walked side by side next to his beautiful wife. At the edge of the runway, Meilland leaned over Etoile and whispered gently into her ear, “I always get what I want, sweetheart. But you’re in my way.” Smirking, Meilland gave Etoile a rough shove that sent her tumbling off the runway. Her head cracked against the floor with a sickening thud, her body limp and twisted. It was over: Etoile’s neck had snapped, and she had died instantly. Meilland claimed that it was an unfortunate accident during rehearsal and played the part of the bereft husband perfectly. The public mourned, but no one even remotely suspected foul play. Thinking he was in the clear, Meilland decided enough time had passed and he returned to work -- this time as Elina’s manager. Things seemed to be going well, until he started hearing voices during work… “Revenge! Revenge!” The voice was a haunting wail, and Meilland instantly screamed in terror in the dressing room. Elina ran in to comfort him, thinking he was overcome with grief over having lost Etoile. After a few months, however, Meilland stopped hearing voices. He successfully managed to woo Elina and take her as his new business partner and lover, and things seemed to be proceeding as he had planned. Meilland was pleased that everything had worked out so perfectly.

Aria Dannata: A breaking point has been met as far as the Playwright’s sanity is concerned. She cannot return home, cannot go to the authorities, and her love, her poor, dear fiance has now been dead for over a month's time. The terror and anger is ebbing, replaced by a sense of emptiness and woe. She makes her way to a large cathedral near the theater. Walking the deserted rows of pews she feels a sense of calm settle over her. What is there to fear now? The play is almost ended, and only she knows the truth, the real ending of the story. Her eye is caught by the flickering of a single candle flame. As she approaches the flame changes and seems almost ghost-like. Before she can go any closer, however, a large burst of light blinds her. She steps back, raising an arm to her eyes to shield herself. The light is almost painful, and she can feel a distinct heat on her skin.

With the death of the Count’s kin and all close acquaintances his great estate rests in a state of limbo. His lawyer, a man plagued with greed, is working hard to manipulate the will and court to his favor. He takes it upon himself to explore the Count’s home at night, examining the riches that may soon be his. Still, the lawyer can’t help but feel somewhat uneasy. With so much death and tragedy surrounding the home, some have began to whisper that the house, along with the Count’s belongings, are cursed. Still, the call of the Count’s fortune is too strong to ignore. The lawyer decides to enjoy a glass of fine wine in one of the lower rooms where he’s lit a large fire for himself. The fire crackles as his eyes drift closed.

The lawyer awakes to an odd dripping sound. He opens his eyes to see a puddle on the floor before him and the distinct shape of wet footprints across the floor. All the candles have gone out, but the fire still burns happily. Suddenly, he hears the sound of a match being lit. The lawyer jumps in his skin, screaming into the darkness that silly parlor tricks won’t work on him. Slowly a figure comes into view. A pale blue flame halos a gloved hand. The figure, instead of being illuminated by the ghostly light, is shrouded in darkness. It moves closer and closer to the terrified man, raising the match to light a silver candelabra held in the figure’s adjacent hand. Drawing ever closer to the light of the fire, the lawyer can see pale feet soaked in water, thin legs, a slight build leading to the mangled mess of hair and the dead staring eyes of the Count’s late lover who had drowned himself weeks ago.

The Playwright jumps away from a loud explosion to her right. Suddenly she is surrounded by flames. The entire church---no, not the church, the opera house is ablaze. Not knowing how or why she is here she begins to rush away from the burning rafters, screaming in terror for her own life. She’s in the main hall, near the stage, near the place she had not been in so long, not since her love was lost here. She rushes towards the exit, frantic to free herself and grabs at the doorknob without a care. The hot metal burns her hands, but her fear forces her to pull, to get the doors open. She coughs and wheezes, banging on the door for help when she hears a cackle of laughter rise above the roar of the flames. She looks behind her and sees a tall figure standing there with a large candelabra. Somehow she feels a connection to the specter -- it’s not the lover from the play, looks nothing like the actor. The specter may be male, may be female, their hair is similar in color to hers, their face like a mirror all but for the sickening expression on their face. There is no terror there, never was, only humor and violence. She can no longer stand to stare at them, and ripping her gaze away she gives the door a sudden push with all her might. The door gives finally, and she spills out into the street, gasping and coughing as the Opera burns to dust behind her. The faint sound of laughter rises from the smoke and billowing flame.

Wasn’t that great, science fans? But unfortunately, I have to run! The party is about to start and -- oh, I’m really, really looking forward to it. Especially seeing that intern Donny stuff himself full of “Dr. Singh’s Speciality” pizza. I can’t wait to see that smug, smug smile wiped off his face… Well then! If you’d like to see these beautiful evolutions up close, be sure to visit La Victoire and give them a good once-over! And don’t forget to vote in the Weekly EI Poll! See you all next Friday!