Early February, is the last day of <Eugene Pt 3> shooting day. Early in the morning, after arriving at the set, as if it on a routine, I went to check on my fellow actors and staffs who arrived first. Then, I get myself into costume and put on make up needed for this last scene.

Yesterday, we finished shooting all the action scenes. So today, as per Ziegler's words, 'the intro to the final arc', everybody seemed to get the idea that this scene is the make it or break it.

Me and other actors warming up for the shoot after completing the camera rehearsal and I saw Ferrera zoning out behind Ziegler's chair who is busy monitoring the shots he had envisioned with the cinematographer and assistant director. 

"What's up?" I asked her.

She looked at me and smiled. "Nothing just..."

"Just...?"

"... I can't believe that we actually finishing part 3. Next two month, is the last part shooting. Remember when <Eugene> first out and it seems like there's no way we are gonna get a sequel?"

I chuckled at her words, remembering how low our movie were reviewed by the critiques and media had a field day because of it. But when the movie came out, the results were 180 degree different than what was reviewed. 

Maybe becuse the book itself had a strong fan base? Or that the original writer himself encourage his fans and everybody else to go watch the movie? Or maybe both?

<Eugene> was in itself a book with it's own niche market. But with Ziegler as a star director, it became a center of attention for movie goers, the book fan and public. 

The first part was the story full of character introduction, settings introduction, the world building and so on. So it does not have much of action to attract the public that does not recognize the beauty of the story itself. Ziegler was a director that manage to compress the 500 plus page of the first book into 1 hour and a half runtime. 

From the script that Ziegler wrote and the book that the original author wrote although bare much difference but to be able to get the author to agree to adapt the story after reading Ziegler's script, was a wonder to many. The author of the book was popularly known as a 'nitpicky writer' and that he cherishes his writing so much nobody able to persuade him until Ziegler came.

I too when offered the role in his movie was a bit skeptical. Because I had read the book beforehand that I wonder if the story was at least interesting and fun for me to act. Turns out my concern was baseless and hearing Ziegler's vision for this movie from his selection of actors, sets, make up, costume, camera, music and the vfx, I almost thought that if I hadn't known his work, he might be a scammer. 

But Ziegler is true to his words. He is the kind of artist that the investor hate the most. 

"I think we're able to turn the tide because of your fan, Wren." Ferrera mumbled. 

"Not really. There's a lot of factor to consider," I refuted though I also partly thinks the same. They can be very persuasive when it comes to supporting this actor. At that I am very grateful.

"Eyyy, I almost have a heart attack when I know you're taking a break, you know!" Ziegler chipped in suddenly. "Though it's partly my fault for not informing you earlier that I was planning to shoot part 3 last year. Oh well, I can't imagine any other actor to play Teddy as good as you."

I grinned out of guilt. I don't have any excuse for that. "I'll make sure this part is as accurate as what you envisioned, director!"

"Me too, director! I'll make the best Beau you'll ever see!" Ferrera swore too. 

Everybody who was near us and has been listening to our small talk laughed.

"Okay! Then take position!"

Staffs and actors shuffled to their intended position at Ziegler's call. I too took my place at the mark 'x' albeit hidden from cameras focus. 

"Ready."

I inhaled and set my breathing slow. An image of a boy betrayed by his belief and friends potrayed in my mind. A boy who I once was, in my many previous reincarnation before. Then another boy showed up. He was a charmer. A master manipulator. A boy that I once used to play a role in 'passerby'. 

Both boys shone and combined into one person.

"Action!"

* * * * * 

A battle between two strong figure had ensued for almost 15 minutes and the damage that came with it were as huge as the name they bared. The catastrophe made nobody dareed to approach them as they don't want to be like a frog who died in the middle of the road. 

The only solution is to have someone else who is equal or in greater power than both of those two power figure.

"Enough!" Her voice echoed as far as eyes can see and the battle between the two abruptly stop, held by an unknown hand that they can't see with their eyes. 

In the air, a girl was floating in the air looking magnificant and dangerously scary at the same time. Slowly she descend to the ground and approach the two supposedly grown up man. Obviously, after looking around of what kind of mess they had made, this grown man are little boys in mind. 

"I can't believe my brother's sacrifice is worth this much to you both," she said in a low voice. Her eyes looked at Charles and Francis accusingly. "10,000 kids..." 

"Beau let us go first, I can explain," Charles pleaded. It was the first time he can't fight Beau telekinesis power. He can even barely lift his finger as if his superhuman strength is no longer relevant. 

"And back then, there's 1,000 kids. 500 of them died. 200 turned mental and the rest... Us, Charlie." Tears streamed down Beau cheeks.

Francis on the other hand started to have pool of sweat on his forehead. Blasting himself away should be a peice of cake but he too constraint by invincible hands.

"I thought we want to be better than them. Than Gustav. But what is this? Another Eugenics project?"

"You don't understand," Francis spoke. His mouth bloody from the previous fight he had with Charles. 

"What is it that I don't understand?!" Her eyes glassy with tears but it looked more clear than ever. "That you tried to make perfect human gene using those 10,000 kids you experimented on? To make another better race that have superpowers? Are you stupid, Francis? You no better than them!"

"Beau please... Holding us down any longer will wear you down. You'll faint."

"You shut up!" She yelled at Charles then she shut her mouth. Looking at the man she loved betraying her trust and hope. She wiped her tears and inhaled steadily. "Francis has always been a shady character since we all first met but you... Everyone's hope. My hope..."

"I don't know it either, Beau. Francis been doing it behind my back! With those Hammock Pharma guys!"

Beau chuckled. "Still, there's your name on that project. You agree-"

"That was before the whole fiasco thing happen! I clearly said to Francis that I don't want Hammock idea to include! I just want us to have better chances at surviving."

"Then you're a fool. A foolish leader, Charlie. You can't control Francis who went behind your back. You can't control the outbreak. You're just..."

Three heads swerved to the direction of the voice. A young man walked leisurely among the debris. Behind him many figures began to appear one by one.

"... a clown. Yes, you promised change and change did you bring. But is it a good change?" Teddy smiled sarcastically as he stand beside Beau. 

"Teddy, you can see the truth. Tell Beau what you see. I didn't mean any of this to happen." Charles looked at Francis who minutes away from slipping away from consciousness. Though he is angry at his friend, looking at him like that made him falter.

"It seemed Francis has cought the plague too. Yet, he wants to go forward with his Eugenics project. Even superpowers like us still can get affected. Gustav until the end, he make us miserable with his dirty tricks."

"What?"

"That's the truth that I see. Gustav eugenics meant to create segregation. He never meant to create miracle medicine. And then, this Hammock Pharma selling stories about superpowers people meant the end of plague. Ha! That was just another segregation propagnda." Teddy's face was full of disgust and disappointment. 

"Then you should have told me."

"Charlie! This eyes can see the truth. You may able to fool Beau and those kids behind you but not me." Teddy shaked his head. "You may say you reject Hammock idea. You may fight countless fights with Francis but deep down you wanted it too. People with powers. Your kind."

"No..."

"That's why Francis did things behind your back. He grows up with you, of course he knows you well."

"Ergh..." Francis tried to open his eyes and looked at the boy who stands in front of him. There was no longer the timid kid who easily scared by the littlest thing. The one that easily smiles too. That brought sunshine to their group. The one that stands in front of him is a young man who has seen every truth of the world and he is disappointed with what he sees.

"Get up and survive." Francis heard Teddy's word. Deep and reverberated. Like a force that holding him down, there's also something else that pushing his body up. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw his surroundings. The heat that started to flare inside him subsided a little. 

Teddy looked at both his friends. Wounded and bruised. They were like his big brothers. Yet, after what he went through and what he saw this past few years, there is nothing can hold himself back. He looked at the crowd that had formed on their perimeter.

"Let's head out," he signaled to those who 'will' follow him.

One by one, kids, teenagers, and adults alike stepped out and walk past by Charles and Francis. There were so many that some left behind were puzzled. 

"W-what's happening?" Charles asked.

"We're leaving," Beau answered. She has finally calmed down and even after a long use of her power, she still able to stand firm and relax. She approached Charlie and put a silver band on the ground. "I'm sorry I can't keep my promise to you. Goodbye Charlie."

Charles stunned and snapped right away hearing Beau retreating footsteps. "No... Beau where are you going? Beau! Beau!" He struggled to let himself out of Beau's power but it was useless. Tears streamed down his cheeks. A glimmer of silver on the ground catched his eyes. It was their engagement ring. 

"Teddy what have you done?!" he roared.

The one who is still unbudge, Teddy stood watching his two friends and the crowd. Making sure nobody who wants to follow him, left behind. "I did nothing, Charlie. I simply taking a preventative steps."

"What are trying to accomplish here?"

Teddy shrugged his shoulder. "You know hydra. You cut one head, two comes out. Literally." He looked at Charles and Francis. "What happened if you cut it again? 4 will comes out." Then his eyes instantly went to 4 teenagers lurking behind a debris. "I can't let that happen."

Teddy walked away. Beau is waiting for him together with others.

"Stop!" Charles yelled. "You come back here and explain to me what are you going to do! Teddy!"

Teddy stopped walking. He had a calm expression on his face when Beau and others look at him. Those who agreed with to follow his decision. Slowly the calm expression he wore changed. It looks sad but determined. It was the decision he had reached after careful look into the truth. 

The power he had not use since last time fighting Gustav, he used it again this time albeit in small dose. Those who have low immunity against his power will instantly fall. Teddy looked behind his back. His eyes dull.

"Annihilation."

Wind blew past carrying his words to ears nearby. 

A hand carrying a pistol pull a trigger to his head.

A hand carrying a knife stab himself to death.

Even a hand with harmless tools become a deathly weapon to themselves. 

Those left become witness to the beginning of the end.

* * * * *

"Cut! OKAY!"

Cheers explode inside the set. Bloody extras that laid on the ground instantly stood up and celebrate together. Miles and Farris hugged ech other and welcomed me into their hug too.

"You gave me chills man!" Farris said while rubbing the top of my head.

I laughed shyly at his compliment. "You both did great too."

"Maybe I should do more at the part I call Beau's name? Is it enough?" Miles thinked and instantly revoked by me and Farris.

"Too much would look overbearing."

"I can see the desperation in your eyes."

"Really?"

Farris and I nodded at the same time. It's good that Miles always considered his acting to be lacking but too much can led to excessiveness. Years acting together made us know when to pull the break for Miles. 

Miles puckered his lips as he thinks before his eyes turns to half moonshape. "Maybe I should asked Ziegler."

Farris and I looked each other and slapped our foreheads. We follow behind him as he called the director.

Ziegler was rewatching the scenes they had taken on the monitor. He stopped doing so when Miles approached him and they talked a little. 

We had been doing this scene for many takes as to cover the necessary shots needed for this scene. When farris and I reached the monitor screen, Ziegler asked me a question. 

"Is it okay with you if we take another?"

Well, if the director also thinks that it's better to retake, I had no qualms about it. "Okay."

Farris also nodded.

"Then, everybody gather here." Ziegler calls everybody to gather for short briefing. 

There's one person among the crowds that I noticed, missing.

"Ready?"

Ready for what?

"Congrats for nomination!"

Someone pulled party poppers and whistling near me. Colourful papers float and fell around me. Ferrera appeared behind Ziegler with a cake on her hands.

"Congrats for Millain Awards nomination for best actor!" she said while presenting me with a cake. 

I looked at her dumbfounded. Nominated for what?