It's late. Duncan Carver walks the grounds of the local cemetery in search of an alleged grave-robbing creature. Suddenly, a yellowish gas engulfs the cemetery. Duncan chokes on the chemical cloud before being pulled to safety by Amanda Copeland. Amanda is a journalist with the Brookville Gazette, investigating the illegal venting of experimental gaseous chemicals around the town by Epsen Pharmaceuticals. She is a realist. Duncan is a dreamer. Instantly, they argue.

The next day, Duncan recovers and heads straight for All Things Weird, a local shop that deals in mysterious items and carries an overall knowledge of all things Brookville. Duncan again begs Grady Olsen, proprietor and Brookville expert, for a job. Olsen relents. As Duncan leaves the shop and runs into Amanda. Immediately, they argue about their nighttime encounter. Duncan tells her off and escapes to a local café.

Olsen is visited by a familiar face. His ex-wife, Evelyn Godfrey, arrives with dire news. Deacon, their son is on his way to Brookville in search of a secret power they've protected for years. She relays the story of the library and the discovery a mutual friend in New York City who was unable to conceal the location of the item from Deacon. Brookville.