Everyone on set had come to accept a few universal truths:
1. Aria Lane cannot be filmed normally.
2. Julian Cross is no help—he encourages her.
3. Director Mason is one meltdown away from early retirement.
4. Never—EVER—touch Aria's snacks.
Truth #4 was the most important.
Because her snack bag wasn't just food.
It was peace.
Stability.
A sacred artifact maintaining balance in the universe.
So when the unthinkable happened—
When Aria's snack bag mysteriously disappeared—
The entire studio collectively panicked.
The Discovery
It began with a simple sentence.
Aria walked onto set, looked around calmly, and said:
"My snack bag is missing."
The world stopped.
Rick the cameraman froze mid-setup.
Daniel dropped his clipboard.
The makeup artist gasped and held her heart.
Julian blinked.
"…Missing?"
Aria nodded.
"I placed it on the table. It is gone."
Director Mason—hearing the words snack bag and gone in the same sentence—ran over at full speed.
"What do you MEAN gone?! How can it be GONE?!"
Aria blinked.
"Someone moved it."
Mason clutched his chest.
"WHY?! WHO WOULD DO THAT?! DO THEY NOT VALUE THEIR LIFE?!"
The Crew Begins Spiraling
Lighting tech:
"It wasn't me! I didn't touch it!"
Props woman:
"I swear on my tool belt, we didn't move anything today!"
Stunt guy Marcus:
"I wouldn't dare. I like living."
Daniel whispered to Julian:
"She looks calm.
…She's too calm.
This is the dangerous calm."
Julian watched Aria thoughtfully.
"She's assessing the situation."
Daniel whimpered.
"That's worse…"
Suspicion Falls
Someone asked timidly:
"Miss Lane… what was inside the bag?"
Aria answered:
"Dried strawberries.
Two chocolate bars.
A granola bar.
And a chicken leg."
The entire room gasped.
Daniel screamed:
"WHO STOLE THE CHICKEN LEG?! THAT'S A DEATH SENTENCE!"
Julian coughed lightly, amused.
"Let's not assume theft—maybe it was misplaced."
Mason yelled:
"NOTHING GETS MISPLACED AROUND HER!"
Aria Begins Her Investigation
She walked silently around the set.
The crew parted like she was the Red Sea.
She touched the corner of a table.
"…Dust pattern changed."
She scanned the floor.
"Footprint direction inconsistent."
She crouched beside a chair.
"Someone sat here recently."
Daniel stared at her.
"She's Sherlock Holmes but scarier."
Julian followed her with interest.
"You're surprisingly good at tracking."
Aria blinked.
"Yes."
Daniel slapped his forehead.
"That wasn't a compliment, Aria!"
The First Conclusion
Aria pointed to the hallway.
"The snack bag was taken that way."
Mason shrieked:
"SHE'S TRACKING A BAG.
A BAG.
A BAG OF FOOD!
WHY IS SHE GOOD AT THIS?!"
Marcus from the stunt team whispered:
"She could track me from across the city."
Elliot the pyrotechnics guy nodded proudly.
"She's built different."
Interrogations Begin
Aria approached a terrified production assistant.
"Did you see anyone enter this hallway?"
The PA trembled.
"I—I—I saw someone walk by but I didn't look up!"
Aria nodded.
"Useful."
Mason shouted:
"HOW IS THAT USEFUL?!"
Aria scanned the PA.
"You are eating something."
The PA panicked.
"It's gum! JUST GUM—I SWEAR IT'S GUM—PLEASE DON'T KILL ME—"
Aria blinked.
"I am not killing anyone."
Daniel whispered:
"Not yet."
Julian Narrowly Avoids Being a Suspect
Julian stepped closer.
"What exactly does your snack bag look like?"
Aria described it.
Julian nodded calmly.
"You mean the little canvas tote with strawberries printed on it?"
Aria froze.
The room froze.
Mason screamed:
"WHY DO YOU KNOW WHAT HER BAG LOOKS LIKE?!"
Julian blinked.
"She carries it every day."
Daniel pointed accusingly.
"That's EXACTLY what a thief would say!"
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"You think I stole her snacks?"
Daniel took a defensive step back.
"I'm not saying yes, but I'm also not saying no!"
Aria watched Julian silently.
Julian lifted both hands.
"I didn't take your bag, Aria."
She blinked once.
"…Okay."
Daniel's jaw dropped.
"WHAT—THAT'S IT?! YOU JUST BELIEVE HIM?!"
Aria nodded.
"Yes."
Julian smiled.
Daniel cried.
Mason Tries to Maintain Control (And Fails)
Mason paced frantically.
"Okay. Okay. Everyone stay calm.
Except you, Aria. You—uh—maybe calm down less?"
Aria tilted her head.
"I am calm."
"That's what terrifies me!"
Then a Voice Echoes From the Hallway
"Uh… guys?"
Everyone turned.
A PA peeked in holding something behind their back.
Aria's eyes narrowed.
The PA gulped.
"I think… I found something."
Julian smiled faintly.
Daniel clutched his hair.
Mason whispered:
"Oh no."
Aria stepped forward.
Calm.
Soft.
Deadly.
"What is it?"
The PA slowly revealed—
A half-eaten chicken leg.
The entire crew screamed.