Chapter 12 (The Wrath of Francis)

Chapter 12 (The Wrath of Francis) is the twelfth chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Wrath of Francis and the twelfth chapter of the overall Clearwood series. It was written by Donald Newton and was published on June 13, 2020.

Plot
Clarence goes on a hunt for Francis. But will he succesfully find the killer or will something else be waiting for him?

Full Chapter
INT. CLEARWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - ENGLISH CLASS - DAY

Cruise is addressing the class about the murders.

CRUISE: This is a hard time for us all. We've lost three of our students. Plus, we've learned about the murders of the two other men in our town. I just want to remind you all to be safe and to look after each other. And I am here if you need someone to talk to.

Cruise gives Andrew a look as if he was directly saying all of that to him. Andrew response with a nod as if to thank him.

CRUISE: But no matter how hard this is. No matter how horrible or helpless it seems...we must move on. So let's work together to move on. Today is the due date of your assignment. So with the exception of Andrew, will the rest of you please come up and turn your assignments in.

And with that, everyone gets up and proceeds to place their papers on Cruise's desk.

INT. CLEARWOOD POLICE STATION - CLARENCE'S OFFICE - DAY

Clarence is having a meeting with three of his deputies about the murders.

CLARENCE: This is no longer just about a killer on the loose in our town. It's now affecting me personally. My family is the target. A girl I saved was killed, my son's best friend was kidnapped, and my son's girlfriend was killed. This killer...this new...Francis...he has his eye on me and family. So I'm telling you, guys. I'm going to personally find this killer and kill him myself like I did the original Francis. Fuck the law. I ain't arresting him.

DEPUTIES: We're with you, Sheriff. We'll even...

CLARENCE: No! You ain't doing anything. You're going to pretend you didn't hear me say this. And you're not gonna touch it. I'm going to do deal with this myself. Got it?

DEPUTIES: Yes, Sir!

CLARENCE: Alright. Now let's get back to work. Dismiss.

The Deputies get up from their seats and leaves Clarence alone in his office. They shut the office door as they leave. Clarence looks through papers as he gets lost in his thoughts. His office phone rings. He immediately picks the phone up.

CLARENCE: Sheriff's Office.

FRANCIS: Hello, Clarence.

Clarence is disturbed by the sinister voice.

CLARENCE: Who is this?

FRANCIS: I heard that you've been looking for me. The man who killed Hillary Wagner, Benny Pike, and Alice Worth.

Clarence realizes who the caller is.

CLARENCE: You son of a bitch! What do you want?

FRANCIS: I want you, Clarence. If you want your kids' suffering to end, then you are to come alone to Woodside, where we can end this once and for all. Come alone...or else the OTHER FRANCIS will kill your entire family.

Clarence is horrified by the comment. There is a SECOND FRANCIS? This is not the first time that we've heard about this.

CLARENCE: Okay. I will meet you. I will meet you and kill you.

FRANCIS: I don't doubt it. Just remember...if you kill me...you'll have another Francis to deal with. See you in half an hour. Or else Kathy, Lorraine, Andrew, and his friend Scott will all die.

Francis hangs up.

INT. CARTER RESIDENCE - BASEMENT

Our main group (Andrew, Scott, Melina, Iris, Jeremy, Cassie, Oscar, Chuck, and Cheri) are sitting in the basement as they discuss their situation. Andrew is thirsty for Francis's blood.

ANDREW: I want to find him. I want to kill him. Show no mercy!

This is the first time that the wimpy dork Andrew has a scary demeanor to him. He really does look like he's about to murder someone. Meanwhile, Iris is using her phone to do research on Francis.

IRIS: Problem is that the original Francis was never identified. So we have no way of knowing who may be doing this. Rather it be a secret accomplice or a relative willing to take over after his death. We don't know anything.

Iris continues to do her research. Something catches her attention.

IRIS: Interesting. I didn't know that.

SCOTT: What?

IRIS: Did you know that Hillary Wagner wasn't the only child rescued that night?

SCOTT: Didn't know that.

ANDREW: I thought Hillary was the only one.

IRIS: No. It turns out that two other kids were found. A seven year old girl and a thirteen year old boy. Both found along with Hillary. It turns out that they had already been held prisoners by Francis for a long period of time.

ANDREW: Weird. I thought he just killed people immediately.

IRIS: Yeah. It's interesting. He kept two other kids longer than most victims.

SCOTT: Does it say whatever happened to them since they were rescued?

IRIS: No. The public seems to forget about them like they never existed. Hillary is the only one that people seem to remember. Like she was the sole survivor.

ANDREW: I wonder whatever happened to them.

EXT. WOODSIDE CLUBHOUSE - DAY

Clarence arrives at the clubhouse in his police car and parks up front. Memories hit him as he remembers the last time that he was here. He saved three lives that night. And in that same night, he killed the original Francis killer.

Clarence gets out of his car and approaches the main entrance. He pulls out his gun before opening the door. He slowly opens the door and looks around.

CLARENCE: THIS IS SHERIFF CARTER!!!

INT. WOODSIDE CLUBHOUSE

Clarence walks in and looks around. He uses his flashlight to light up the dark abandoned clubhouse. He is hoping to find Francis and take him down. He checks every room on the first floor before he goes down the stairs to the basement.

INT. WOODSIDE CLUBHOUSE - BASEMENT

Clarence heads for the same door that Scott was trapped behind a few chapters ago. But upon reaching there, he finds that there is nothing there. All evidence of Scott's imprisonment is now gone.

VOICE: HELP!!!

Clarence jumps into action and runs towards the voice.

CLARENCE: I'M COMING! HANG ON!

VOICE: PLEASE! HELP!

Clarence runs to a door where the screaming is coming from. He attempts to open the door. But it's locked. So he shoots the doorknob, breaking it off. He opens the door only to find -- A TAPE RECORDER. Francis had recorded a female screaming for help.

Clarence realizes that it's a trapped. But's too late -- FRANCIS SNEAKS UP BEHIND HIM WITH A BASEBALL BAT. Clarence turns around -- WHACK! Clarence goes down to the floor.

What will happen to Clarence? Will Francis kill him immediately? Or will he use him for a bigger agenda for later?

Deaths
None.

Trivia

 * It is revealed that Clarence saved two other children along with Hillary Wagner the night he killed the original Francis killer. A seven year old girl and a thirteen year old boy. The public seems to have forgotten about them.