45Please respect copyright.PENANAlFItQrTOKcGREAT HALL PRISON CELL -
— He jolts awake on the stone cold floor— breathing hard, eyes glowing faintly in the dark. But his aura is pure white.
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Metro wakes up in the cold cell, breath fogging the dim air. The iron-bar door stands wide open.
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No guards.
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No footsteps.
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Only dying torches flickering along the corridor.
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His backpack lays untouched in the corner. Metro grabs it, slings it over his shoulders, and steps toward the exit. He pauses, scanning the shadowed corridor one last time.
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Then he runs.
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He sprints down the hall, bursting through the first door he sees, and stumbles out into the dawn-lit street. Mud pools are still seen between stones in the street. A few early risers trudge through the morning gloom, barely glancing at him.
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Far down the road, black‑armored guards stand watch at the front gate.
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Metro keeps his head down and walks like he belongs.
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He slips past a carriage, ducks between market stalls, and climbs a nearby wall — fingers gripping shelves, stones, anything he can hold onto. Slow and precise at first… then faster and more desperate. He reaches the top of the stone wall, hanging himself low over the edge, and winces at the drops landing below.
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A cluster of children in the shacks spot him.
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They shout.
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Metro lets go of his grip and falls into a patch of moss, slapping the ground with both hands, and comes to his feet. The kids burst into laughter as he bolts into the treeline. He runs hard through the forest trail — until a massive red horse skids to a stop in front of him.
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Metro falls backward, heart slamming in his chest.
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A woman sits mounted, green dress flowing and blue eyes fixed on him with sharpness.
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Kathryn:
“You’re Metro, right?”
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Metro:
“Ugh… yeah. Who are you?”
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Kathryn:
“You’re the criminal… right?”
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Metro’s eyes go wide. He smiles — then instantly regrets it.
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Metro:
“No. I mean… yes. Sort of. But not really…”
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He sags. Flustered.
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Kathryn narrows her eyelids.
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Metro takes off running.
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She doesn't rush. She watches him for a beat, then nudges her horse forward and gives chase. Metro doesn't look back — he tears through the wet grass, lungs burning.
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The rope hits him before he even hears it.
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It wraps around his chest, yanking him off his feet. He trips over a root and slams into the ground.
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Metro:
“Ah!”
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Kathryn swings off her horse, tying him in seconds, and flips him onto his back. Metro grunts as she pins him down, straddling him with a triumphant grin.
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Metro thrashes under her grip.
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Metro:
“What do you want?!”
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Kathryn leans in, calm as rain, drawing a knife, pressing cold steel to his throat.
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Kathryn:
“Answer my questions… and I won’t kill you.”
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Her face hovers inches from his, eyes locked on him like she's studying every twitch. Metro’s breath hitches, turning into a panicked hyperventilation.
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Metro:
“O‑okay! What do you want to know?!”
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Kathryn:
“Did you steal the entire crops acreage?”
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Metro blinks, stunned.
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Metro:
“What? No! My friends died! — twice we fought— defending that castle! All I wanted was to help the community. Make a living. If I knew I’d be hunted, tracked, and killed...
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Metro throws his head back like he's in serious pain. He lets out an unnecessary grunt.
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Metro:(breathless)
I would’ve stayed at Ani’s Cottage!!”
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Kathryn slowly withdraws the knife, slides it back into its sheath, and keeps sitting on him like she owns the moment. Her smile grows wide, tilting her head.
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Kathryn:(shaking head)
“You’re too cute to be a criminal.”
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Metro stares at her, horrified.
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Metro:
“What!?”
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She sighs, standing up lazily, and unties the rope. Then she extends her hand. Metro hesitates, but then grabs a hold and pulls himself off the dirt.
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Kathryn:
“You really are Metro. Theron’s looking for you… I’m guessing the trial didn’t go well.”
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Metro shakes his head, pale and ghostlike.
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Kathryn mounts her massive red horse, then extends her hand again.
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Kathryn:
“Come on. I’ll take you where you want to go.”
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Metro grabs her wrist and swings up behind her. The sun is just breaking over the horizon, bleeding gold through the trees as they start down the dark trail.
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Kathryn glances back at him with a mischievous grin.
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Kathryn (squinting, teasing):
“Hold on tight, okay?”
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Metro lets out a tiny, embarrassed whimper and wraps his arms around her waist.
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Kathryn kicks off the road and the horse surges forward.
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Scene end-
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switch scene
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