After the wire team's verdict, the set entered a fragile ceasefire.
Not peace.
Not safety.
A mutual agreement to pretend nothing was wrong.
Director Mason called it:
"A NORMAL DAY.
WE ARE HAVING A NORMAL DAY."
Everyone nodded.
No one believed him.
The Plan
Ben, the wire coordinator, spoke slowly, like one might speak to a powerful animal.
"Aria. Today we keep everything… standard."
Aria nodded.
"Yes."
"No anticipation."
"Yes."
"No adjusting."
"Yes."
"No correcting the rig."
"Yes."
Ben hesitated.
"…No saving anyone."
Aria blinked.
"…If necessary?"
Ben stared.
"…If not necessary."
She considered this.
"…I will try."
Daniel whispered:
"She keeps saying that like it means something."
Aria's Version of "Normal"
The next scene involved a simple lift.
No height.
No speed.
Just a short vertical rise.
Aria stepped into the harness calmly.
Ben watched every muscle in her body.
"Okay. Remember. Just… hang."
Aria nodded solemnly.
"I will hang."
The lift engaged.
She rose.
Perfect posture.
Perfect balance.
Perfect stillness.
Too perfect.
Ben squinted.
"…Why is she so still?"
Julian murmured:
"She's holding herself."
Daniel hissed:
"TELL HER TO STOP HOLDING HERSELF!"
"Relax," They Said
Ben spoke into the mic.
"Aria, you can relax your core."
Aria responded immediately.
"I am relaxed."
The readout spiked.
Ben slammed the console.
"No you're not!"
Aria looked confused.
"…I stopped engaging."
Ben stared at the data.
"She disengaged after correcting."
Mason pinched the bridge of his nose.
"WHY IS EVERYTHING SHE DOES BACKWARDS?"
The Walk
Next: a ground-level walk across the set.
No rig.
No danger.
Mason clapped.
"THIS. JUST WALKING.
THIS IS WHAT NORMAL LOOKS LIKE."
Aria nodded.
She walked.
Smooth.
Quiet.
Efficient.
Every step perfectly measured.
Daniel whispered:
"She walks like she's clearing a minefield."
Julian smiled.
"She's being careful."
Mason screamed:
"I DIDN'T ASK FOR CAREFUL! I ASKED FOR CASUAL!"
Casual Fails Immediately
Mason demonstrated.
He slouched.
Dragged his feet.
Looked bored.
"LIKE THIS."
Aria watched carefully.
Then copied him.
Perfectly.
She slouched just enough.
Dragged her feet exactly.
Even replicated his annoyed expression.
It was flawless.
Too flawless.
The crew stared.
Ben muttered:
"She's mirroring."
Daniel groaned.
"Of course she is."
Julian chuckled.
"That's impressive."
Mason waved wildly.
"STOP PRAISING IT! IT MAKES IT WORSE!"
The Lie Everyone Sees Through
Later, during reset, a PA asked nervously:
"Miss Lane… are you nervous about the high-altitude rig tomorrow?"
Aria answered immediately.
"No."
Too fast.
Too flat.
Too calm.
The PA blinked.
"…At all?"
Aria paused.
"…I am normal nervous."
Silence.
Daniel slapped his thigh.
"THERE IT IS. SHE SAID THE LINE."
Julian tilted his head.
"Normal nervous?"
Aria nodded.
"Yes.
Like… people."
Ben sighed.
"That's not helping."
Mason's Final Attempt
Mason cornered Aria near craft services.
"Listen to me.
Tomorrow is HIGH-ALTITUDE DAY."
She nodded.
"That is why I am pretending."
Mason froze.
"…Pretending?"
Aria looked at him sincerely.
"To make you comfortable."
The words hit harder than any explosion.
Mason opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then sighed.
"…Thank you."
Aria blinked.
"You are welcome."
Daniel whispered:
"She thinks lying is a courtesy."
Julian smiled softly.
"She's trying."
Closing Beat
As the crew packed up, Ben muttered to Mason:
"She's not hiding anything."
Mason rubbed his face.
"Then why does it feel like she is?"
Ben answered quietly:
"Because when someone pretends to be normal…
it means they know they aren't."
Across the set, Aria adjusted her harness.
Calm.
Prepared.
Watching the ceiling—not with fear—
But with calculation.