55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEdI17eJUjThe terrible knight dismounts, his blackened armor gleaming despite the rain. He smiles — a rocky, sadistic grin carves into a chiseled jaw line. His blonde hair is partly cleaned, his white teeth almost too perfect for his glow. Five guards in the same colors step forward, spears drawn, shields raised. Their formation is tight, defensive — as if Metro could possibly shatter them.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPeJJFXar4
Cornelius: (voice joyful)
"Metro, son of none, we have a warrant for your arrest."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBRA8BG1AF
He holds out a tied scroll, rain dripping from the parchment.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWRdQNLXN2
"Signed by the head of the providence. Here, look."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqW91JjrOB
Metro doesn't move. The rain soaks his attire, his hair, his silence.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUVm8QietY
"Conspiracy… wow," he looks to the field, and back to a gaze. "Tell me, where did you hide the stash?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQni70ybC6
(Beat)
"How'd you even get away with something like that?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeBp7kzWAl
His tone is half impressed, half disgusted — Like a noble, watching a clever rat.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLRkAhyGNX
METRO: (quietly)
"I don't know what you mean."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeldtiS1jJc
The Knight nods slowly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes close briefly, looking up at the grey sky, then back down again, refreshing eye contact —
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYACdKP6sf
Cornelius: (charming smile)
"Of course you don't."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXwbUQqvYQ
He tilts his head, rain sliding down the sharp angles of his jaws frame. Only the rain speaks. Cornelius stares at him — not searching for truth, but savoring the moment. His eyes narrow with a predator's curiosity.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkeYMEMABJ
"The men are saying you're dangerous… are you?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIW7x3IX7J
Cornelius's unseen aura presses closer, boots sinking into the mud, smile widening with something between mockery and fascination.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOrPOhjwrT
"Tell me, do you have a gift?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty0RI4KacQ
The question is dripped in sarcasm, as if the idea itself amuses him. Metro doesn't answer. He doesn't move. He simply stands there, soaked, hollow, unreadable. Cornelius clicks his tongue.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE4ixKrLZo
"You're trying to play hero in the slums?" You know, that's how rats hide. Under kindness."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRDTJFz1rT
Metro's face doesn't budge. His eyes push forward — as if the rain had washed the last warmth from him. Cornelius grins, pleased with himself.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK82pKanR3L
Cornelius:
"I'm Cornelius by the way. Pleasure to meet you."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N0qnOP8jJ
(Beat)
Cornelius sucks his teeth, shaking his head slowly, smiling at Metro as if he were a child caught stealing bread.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTePfbZzCZp
"I have to say, you are walking all alone… In the middle of nowhere, away from your post…'
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9PCwv2xrY
He lets the sentence hang, savoring the accusation.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFASnQYCmr
"… it doesn't look good."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5osF81o6Py
The guards behind him tighten their formation, spears angled towards Metro's chest. Cornelius leans in very slightly. Still charming.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlvGB5fvWy
"Speak up. Don't be shy."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrzmQWc21P
A thin laugh escapes him — barely audible over the heavy rain drops.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt42jUdg9au
"This might be the last time you ever see the sky."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgicVhsjQIl
The rain falls harder suddenly. The world seems to shrink around them. Metro's voice is bold and steady, but the rain almost overpowers it.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgQfkK912C
Metro: "There are a lot of rumors going around — We were attacked twice, I fought, and defended
the men, and the crop both times."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01rSLu5wHl
He looks at Cornelius with an exhausted, hallow stare. Cornelius' eyes narrow sharply, reading Metro like a puzzle he can't solve. His jaw flexes. His hypothesis — whatever it was — begins to slip.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWtSuz5KCR
Cornelius:
"The crop was stolen by the hands of your brother."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXY7bvYNNC
Metro blinks.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz83DRLIg87
(Beat)
A flash of white — like lightning behind his eyes — stabbing through him. Cornelius watches Metro with predatory delight.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC4j5Tv1hX
Metro: (soft)
"Caleb?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEsHjwQBoo
Cornelius:
"He's known as Cat now, I don't know if your aware…"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauyO01exG6
Metro's breath catches, looking at the mud. His head lifts slowly. The rain blurs the word for a moment — a memory —Cornelius tilts his noggin, curiosity overtaking his cruelty, for just a moment.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG5SERILYy
"You both have criminal records, you can't expect anyone not to believe that you had a hand in this."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3McnjcOSf
The air between them tightens. They face each other in the storm. Two forces locked in a silent battle of will and energy. Cornelius finally exhales, frustrated that he can't read Metro's motion, his eyes, his expression.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ObEfiLxQU
He hates it.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAZbikwwl7
He plants one hand on hip, shaking his head in disbelief.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP4NwuvzpI
Cornelius:
"However, your standing awfully straight for a man caught in the rain with a damning warrant over his head."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKph4NSF9u
His face shifts — the conversation is over. He's gotten nothing from Metro. Nothing he could use. Nothing he could understand. Cornelius sighs, forcing a smile.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhvoliSbaT
"Well, I have a job to do."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnxf2hCaLt
He doesn't wait for a response.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmUp339A3Y
Cornelius: (proud, pompous)
"This isn't pleasant work, but someone's got to do it. Lets get a move on shall we, your cell is waiting."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWvNBpY5O2
He steps forward tying Metro's hands and wrist in front of him with coarse rope. Metro doesn't resist. He only lowers his head, rain dripping down his chain and neck, clothes soaked. His silence is heavier than the sound of the current storm crashing down on them. The long road ahead is darkened.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijl51d3Txj
The prison carriage rolls forward to the north, with Metro sitting inside, the boxed cage tied and bound, staring at nothing.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswsj2WGwje
He rides towards his fate.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi3djCYdDx
Expressionless.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuJpom3tZ3
Unreadable.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gOImd6jFv
— scene fades black —
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWdJU7geEY
— End of volume 1—
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3xSBlgakH
: ) Thank you for reading… Volume 2 is available for free.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QBDOm2O8M
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg12jcqNHb
and then Add to home screen.