Outline: • Opening Scene: David Espada awakens naked in a hotel bathroom, surrounded by blood, guts, and gore. He has no memory of how he got there. Looking into the mirror, he sees the reflection of a 19-year-old man but can only vaguely recall his name as “David.” Overwhelmed, he takes a shower, trying to cleanse himself of the gore. • Initial Confusion: After stepping into the hotel bedroom, David feels nauseous and disoriented. He collapses and loses consciousness. When he wakes again, he notices a set of clothes neatly arranged on the bed: a black t-shirt, a black button-up shirt, and black canvas work pants. Fumbling through the clothes, he finds a wallet with an ID card. The name on the card confirms his memory: David Espada, born August 1, 2001. • First Encounter with the Stranger: David steps outside into the harsh, blinding sunlight. The setting is a barren desert landscape dotted with sparse housing and businesses, all bathed in an eerie, chlorine-like light. As he stands on the concrete balcony, he hears footsteps behind him. Turning, he sees a man in a trench coat. • The Stranger’s Revelation: The man introduces himself as “just a friendly stranger” and explains the truth about David: he is a ghoul, a being capable of consuming the identities of those he kills. Not only can David take on their appearance, but he can also shapeshift into who the victim’s acquaintances believe them to be, with the effectiveness of the transformation depending on how well they knew the victim. • The Incident: The Stranger reveals that David recently killed a notorious serial killer, though David has no memory of the act or why he committed it. • The Stranger’s Leverage: The Stranger hints that David’s original identity—the person he was before becoming a ghoul—has been hidden from him. The Stranger withholds this information as leverage, warning David not to turn on him. He offers David a deal: if David brings him the person he loves most, he will provide a clue to his past. • David’s Questions: Confused and desperate, David asks the Stranger who he really is. The man responds , “Just a friendly stranger.” David asks the Stranger, where they are even at. The man responds: Outskirts of Las Vegas. Fog Carver name of subway system Deaths are referred to as liqs Name of stranger is Samson or Angler