Chapter 15 (The Wrath of Francis)

Chapter 15 (The Wrath of Francis) is the fifteenth chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Wrath of Francis and the fifteenth chapter of the overall Clearwood series. It was written by Donald Newton and was published on June 20, 2020.

Plot
The truth behind the Francis killings is finally revealed.

Full Chapter
EXT. CARTER RESIDENCE - BACKYARD - NIGHT

Scott and Melina walk back to the Carter house after having a romantic walk out together. Scott opens the sliding glass door, allowing Melina to walk inside first before walking inside himself.

INT. CARTER RESIDENCE - KITCHEN

Scott and Melina walk through the kitchen as they laugh and talk. Things appear to be good for them. They walk into the living room.

INT. LIVING ROOM

But upon walking into the living room, they find a critically wounded Iris, all cut up and bloodied. She's alive. But they also find Clarence, Kathy, and Lorraine all tied up. Francis walks in from the den with Andrew as his hostage. Scott and Melina are shocked by this.

FRANCIS: Welcome to the Party, Scott. Now that I have everyone, I can continue.

Francis releases Andrew. Scott goes over to him and the best friends give each other a brotherly hug.

SCOTT: Dude, are you okay?

ANDREW: I'm okay.

SCOTT: (to Francis) What do you want from my family?

Yes, Scott just referred to the Carters as his family. While he still lives with a mother, his mother is a neglective alcoholic, who never cares for her son. Clarence and Kathy actually care for Scott like they are his parents.

FRANCIS: You know why.

SCOTT: Because what Clarence did? You and your secret partner trying to avenge the original Francis killer? Yes...I remember you saying that.

ANDREW: That's right. Who is it?

SCOTT: Who is your partner?

VOICE: (off screen) Me...

Andrew, Iris, Lorraine, and the Carters turn to find Scott suddenly being held at knife. They are all shocked and horrified by what they see. Shocked by the voice saying this, Scott slowly turns to see the truth...something painful for him...the secret partner is -- MELINA!!!

SCOTT: (betrayed) Melina? It's you?

MELINA: Yes.

SCOTT: Why?

MELINA: To continue his legacy. Not for revenge.

ANDREW: Why would you want to continue his legacy?

MELINA: Because of who we are. Who we were to him.

This confuses everyone.

SCOTT: Who are you to the original Francis?

Melina turns to Clarence, who is still shocked to learn that Melina is involved in the killings.

MELINA: Do you recognize me? Do you remember me?

Clarence stares at Melina, observing her facial features. It finally hits him. He recognizes her. Melina is somebody he knows.

CLARENCE: You're...you're...

Melina smiles. She is pleased to know that Clarence hasn't forgotten about her afterall.

MELINA: That's right. Everyone always remembers the legendary Hillary Wagner as the sole survivor. But the new Francis and I...we're the forgotten ones.

It finally hits Scott, Andrew, and Iris to who Melina and the new Francis really are -- THE OTHER TWO CHILDREN that Clarence rescued the night that he killed then original Francis. The other 7 year old girl and the 13 year old boy.

It comes together for Scott as he realizes the truth...

SCOTT: He didn't keep you as prisoners...he was training you.

MELINA: (impressed) Good boy.

As Melina talks, Clarence is loosening up his rope from his wrist.

MELINA: My parents were drug addicts. They sold me to someone for drugs when I was five. The new Francis was only eleven when his abusive parents kicked him out. We were both alone in this world. We didn't meet until we were kidnapped at separate times by Francis. Originally, he was going to kill us. But then he realized what kind of life we had and that nobody would miss us. It reminded him of his own life. You see, the reason nobody knows the original Francis's identity is because he, too, like us, was an orphan at a young age. Never given a name. Never given anything. When he realized we lived like him, he couldn't see us as potential victims anymore. But as the heir to his legacy. So for two years, he taught us how to kill, how to hide, how to make ourselves blend in with people without getting caught. It's how I was able to act like a normal teenage girl to trick you into falling for me and to allow me access to your personal lives. All because of the original Francis's training. Clarence Carter may have killed the original Francis...but he didn't kill his ideals and his legacy. Clarence didn't just kill him easily like a hero. Francis allowed himself to be killed. Because he knew that when we were ready...we'd continue where he left off. And so we begin tonight...killing Clarence Carter and his family...so that Clearwood would see him as the true failure that he is. If Clearwood thought that things were bad before Francis was killed...well, they ain't seen nothing yet. Because we...are...The Wrath of Francis.

Melina goes to stab Scott. But he grabs her wrist. It becomes a struggle between the two. Francis goes to help her. But Andrew grabs a chair and whacks Francis with it. Francis turns and attacks Andrew. But Clarence fully frees himself and tackles Francis.

CLARENCE: (to Andrew as he's fighting Francis) Go help your mother and your sister.

Francis and Clarence fight a good fight. Clarence is using both his military and police skills to fight the large killer. Upon being freed, Lorraine joins the fight with her father. Upon being freed, Kathy attends to Iris.

KATHY: (to Iris) Are you okay, sweetie?

IRIS: (crying) Yeah.

Melina and Scott continue to fight as Andrew, Lorraine, and their father fight Francis together. Despite Scott being bigger than her and being known for being tough -- Melina is owning his ass. They throw each other into the kitchen --

INT. KITCHEN

-- where they destroy the kitchen by throwing each other everywhere. Melina gets the upperhand, throwing and bashing Scott everywhere. Exhausted and weak, Scott stops fighting. Melina throws him on the floor and gets on him.

MELINA: I loved our time together. But that must come to an end now.

Scott feels a steak knife on the floor and grabs it without her seeing it.

MELINA: Goodbye, Scott!

Melina swings the knife down towards Scott. But he catches her wrist with his left hand, then slams the steak knife into Melina's skull with his right hand. Melina Glover, the mastermind and main villain of the story, is dead.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Despite being outnumbered by three to one, Francis is easily beating the Carter family. With Andrew and Lorraine defeated and giving up, it's just Francis and Clarence. Francis grabs Clarence and slams his body onto the floor. He pulls out his knife and wields at the remaining survivors (Clarence, Kathy, Lorraine, Andrew, and Iris).

FRANCIS: You are done!

Francis goes to stab Clarence. SUDDENLY -- FRANCIS GASPS. The giant killer drops to the floor, where it's revealed -- SCOTT STANDING BEHIND HIM. Scott had taken Melina's knife and thrown it into Francis's back. Clarence grabs Francis's knife. Everyone hugs Scott in relief.

Suddenly -- FRANCIS RISES -- But before he can do anything, Clarence throws Francis's own knife and it goes in between his eyes. The impact of the knife being thrown into his face pushes Francis backwards to the floor. THE NEW FRANCIS IS DEAD.

Everyone is relieved that it's over. They; Clarence, Kathy, Lorraine, Andrew, Scott, and Iris have survived this nightmare.

Stay tuned for the final chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Wrath of Francis for a special conclusion that will leave you wanting more.

Deaths

 * CD = Chapter Death (Deaths in the chapter)
 * SD = Story Death (Overall deaths in the story)

Trivia

 * It was revealed that the other two kids that Clarence saved along with Hillary Wagner on the night that he killed the original Francis were actually the apprentices of Francis and took over his legacy after his death.