thirst the quench

All comic panels are on a light blue background; characters are in thin black linework.

[FIRST PANEL: External shot of Hatchetfield's Church, surrounded by trees and greenery.]

Grace Chasity: Mom, Dad you guys go ahead.

[SECOND PANEL: Ext. Church zoomed in to Grace standing outside the church doors. Her parents walk away, Karen waves goodbye to her. Grace waves back.]

Karen Chasity: Are you sure, sweetie?

Mark Chasity: Oh, let her pray, mother.

Karen: She's so devoted. Alright dear, we'll see you at home.

[THIRD PANEL: Int. view of Grace's side profile, lowering her hand, smile faded. Behind her on the wall is a stained glass window depicting Eve Tempted By The Serpent by William Blake. All the glass pieces are varying shades of blue, navy, muted light and dark teals. The only thing in vivid color is the apple in lime green. It hangs above Grace's head before she walks back inside, revealing the whole painting. She kneels at a pew and sighs.]

[FOURTH PANEL: Front-on view of Grace, hands together in prayer. There's a ping of a notification, and she opens an eye to look.]

[FIFTH PANEL: She glances over to a group chat. In it are Max, Grace, Ruth, Richie, Pete, and Steph. The texts read as follows:

Max Jagerman: hey nerdz, party @ Kyle's

Richie: We're invited??

Max Jagerman: txt 1- ya U saved my life dumbazzes lol. just dont b lame / txt 2- will u b there, Grace / txt 3- two flirty face emojis

Grace slams the phone face down.]

[SIXTH PANEL: Grace holds her hands in prayer tighter, looking grumpier and grumbling under her breath. Her head perks up at a voice; a black speech bubble with lime green text appears on the right.

Man: This world needs a cleanse, don't it?]

[SEVENTH PANEL: Grace over to her left, our right. Beside her Wilbur Cross, palms together in prayer obscuring a smirking face. Side profile of Grace trying to refocus but she can't help but side eye.

Grace: I don't know if you're new here, but for future reference: it's rude to interrupt somebody in prayer.

Wilbur Cross: Oh, but God's always listening anyway, ain't he? He knows what's in your heart.]

[EIGHTH PANEL: View over Wilbur's shoulder; devious eyes, serpent smile.

Wilbur: Maybe I know what's in yours, too.

Grace grabs her things and stands up to leave.

Grace: You, sir, don't know anything. Now please, if you'd excuse me.]

[NINTH PANEL: Grace, walking away, is stopped in her tracks when Wilbur next speaks.

Grace (mumbling): Criminy, some people...

Wilbur: That Maxy-Poo really got to your pretty little head there, Amazin' Grace.]

[TENTH PANEL: Grace looks back, altar behind her. Wilbur leans back and laxly rests his arms on the pew.

Grace: What... you...

Wilbur: Not so hasty now. Come on, sit yourself down, I won't bite.

Grace hesitates, then sits down a few pews ahead of him needing distance but... listening. Pew by pew, Wilbur inches closer.

Wilbur: I'll cut right to the chase, Grace. This world is... dirty. Lot of Jagermen out there making OUR jobs a whole lot harder. What job is that? Serving the Powers That Be. Now, I get the feeling that this is really tearing you up inside. And you hold it all on your shoulders, 'cause no one understands.]

[TENTH PANEL: Wilbur, synthetically sympathetic face, puts a hand to his heart. Grace looks over her shoulder and looks troubled.

Wilbur: But I do. And I say it's okay. UNLOAD that burden.]

[ELEVENTH PANEL: Shot of Grace from the lips down, legs crossed tight and body tense. Accompanied are an image of Max, a close-up of Wilbur's eyes in which his view of Grace is reflected in full color, and a close-up of her hand flexing and wanting. Her speech bubbles, originally a buttery yellow, start fading to green.

Grace: Ever since that creep-- MAX JAGERMAN-- started bothering me, things have gone to all heck. I'm feeling things that are so... u n n a t u r a l. My mind's been POISONED.]

[TWELFTH PANEL: Close-up of Grace's hand by her crucifix necklace. She reaches for her cross, Cross reaches for her.

Wilbur: And this is what makes us kindred spirits, you and I. That thing in your heart. WRATH.]

[THIRTEENTH PANEL: Grace front-on, quiet fury on her face. The page is colored dark black at the top and fades back to light blue towards the bottom. His words surround her from all sides.

Wilbur: Don't it just burn you up inside? The injustice? The grime? The FILTH? ... 'Course, it doesn't have to. You can make it go AWAY.]

[FOURTEENTH PANEL: Grace has a tentative expression, wanting to believe. Behind her Cross smiles and gets up. He's won his kill

Grace: I... I can?

Wilbur: 'Course you can. After all...]

[FIFTEENTH PANEL: Wilbur behind her, leaving. Grace is still looking forward contemplative. Her speech bubbles have become Wilbur's inverse, lime green on black text.

Wilbur: YOU, Grace Chasity, are the most important girl in the world.

Grace (confused, whips head): Me? What are you--]

[SIXTEENTH PANEL: Wide shot Grace looking over her shoulder, church interior sprawling behind her. Pews, high ceilings, crucifix statue behind an altar table. Back to front-on shot of her. She looks forward and then downward.]

[SEVENTEENTH PANEL: Atop her phone is a green apple that wasn't there before. Close-up view that takes up most of the panel of her hand holding the apple. View zooms out, all surroundings have faded, save for Grace from the torso up assessing what's in her hand. One step closer to darkness.]

bonus version bc i couldn't make up my mind

and the ref: