CHAPTER 5: "MASSACRE"
FADE IN:
INT. YONCALAR INN - NIGHT Erett finishes his sentence.
ERETT (serious tone) Yes, as you can tell from what I said… this world is like that. A battlefield. If you want to survive, you have to be strong.
Keise and Setsuko listen carefully. Just as they're about to say something—
SHOUTS FROM OUTSIDE A lot of TORCHES and FOOTSTEPS. Panicked, fast, a crowd.
ERETT (startled, turning to the window) What…
The door suddenly BURSTS OPEN.
SOLDIER (rushing in, panicked) Erett! They're coming!
At that moment— SHUNK!
An ARROW pierces the soldier's back. He collapses at the doorway, bleeding on the floor.
ERETT (angry) Keise… Setsuko… stay here!
He draws his sword and crawls toward the door.
The door opens again. A TALL MAN WITH A SCARRED FACE enters. Chain in his hand. Shadows and the smell of blood behind him.
SMONIR — a filthy grin on his face.
Just as he's about to speak—
SMASH! A GLASS flies into his face. Full of alcohol. His face is soaked.
The people in the inn BURST INTO LAUGHTER.
Smonir's grin freezes. He slowly turns his head. Looks with rage.
INN OWNER — an old man with a white beard, massive build — steps out from behind the bar. His eyes glint dangerously.
INN OWNER (calm but threatening) If you can walk in here like that, you must have some guts, Smonir. Haven't seen you in a while—you've grown.
SMONIR (wiping alcohol, grinning) We'll see if I've grown or not.
He swings the chain toward the INN OWNER.
CLANG!
The chain is caught mid-air.
ERETT (wounded, bleeding) is holding it.
ERETT (panting) Smonir… how did you get in here?
SMONIR (laughing) How? By breaking the door, of course.
Filthy grin widens.
SMONIR (cont'd) And of course… by killing the guards.
ERETT (shocked) You killed Thorsglan's guards? They won't let that slide. And neither will I.
SMONIR (challenging) Let's see if they let it slide or not.
At that moment—
GLASS SHATTERING SOUNDS.
The inn's windows break. SOLDIERS pour in.
Everyone in the inn draws weapons. Swords, axes, chains.
HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
Erett swings his sword. Clashes with Smonir. The inn owner knocks a soldier down with one punch.
KEISE (panicked) Setsuko! Let's run!
They turn to flee.
SHUNK! A soldier slashes the INN OWNER with a sword. The inn owner falls.
The soldier turns, sees Keise and Setsuko.
SOLDIER (shouting) Get over here!
Setsuko hides behind Keise in fear.
Keise draws his sword. His hand shakes. But there's something in his eyes… not fear.
SOLDIER (grinning) A fresh SV, huh? Nice. Fresh echo.
He raises his sword and swings.
Keise freezes. No time to run. No strength to fight.
Just as the sword is about to land—
SUDDEN LIGHT.
The words SURVIVAL appear above Keise.
BAM!
A white light explodes.
The soldier falls dead. Blood splashes onto Keise's face.
Keise breathes heavily. His hand still on the sword. He doesn't understand what happened.
SETSUKO (whispering from behind) Keise… look at your chest.
Keise looks down at his name tag.
KEISE New text has appeared below it:
1SV +
KEISE (to himself) What… does this mean?
The place is still a warzone. Sword clashes, screams. But Keise stands frozen.
KEISE (snapping out of it) Setsuko! Let's go!
He grabs Setsuko's hand. They JUMP THROUGH THE WINDOW.
EXT. THORSGLAN STREETS - NIGHT Outside is worse than the inn.
Houses are burning. Soldiers are being killed. Civilians are running, screaming. The sky is blood-red. Corpses everywhere.
KEISE (stunned, looking around) This place… is hell.
SETSUKO (panicked) Keise! There are horses over there!
They run toward a few horses.
Just as they reach them—
SHUNK!
The horse is CUT IN HALF. Blood sprays.
In front of them stands a GIANT MAN. Two massive axes in his hands. Eyes bloodshot, face full of scars.
GIANT MAN (growling) Where do you think you're going, little SVs?
Keise draws his sword. The man knocks it aside with one swing. The sword spins through the air and sticks into the ground.
The man raises his axes and walks toward them.
Keise freezes. Setsuko trembles behind him.
Just as the man is about to strike—
ERETT jumps in front of them.
CLANG!
Metal sound. Erett blocks the axe with his sword.
ERETT (bleeding, panting) Run! Take the other horse!
KEISE (shocked) But you…
ERETT (shouting) I'LL CATCH UP! GO!
A FIREBALL forms in Erett's hand.
BOOM!
The fireball explodes in the giant's face. The man is thrown back, screaming.
Erett turns and runs toward the horses.
Keise and Setsuko run. They jump on a horse.
KEISE (looking back) ERETT!
Erett catches up and jumps on his horse.
ERETT (shouting) Hold on tight! We're getting out of the city!
The three ride away at full gallop from the burning city.
EXT. HILL - SOME TIME LATER The city burns in the distance. Flames paint the sky red.
Keise, Setsuko, and Erett dismount. Breathing heavily.
KEISE (stammering) Erett… you were stabbed in the back… how?
ERETT (turning, showing his back) It healed.
Indeed, the wound has healed—only a scar remains.
KEISE (shocked) How…
ERETT (smiling) In this world, anything is possible. But explaining it takes time.
SETSUKO (shaking) Those… those men, who were they? Why did they attack us?
ERETT (serious) Echo hunters. They target new SVs like you. Fresh echo… very valuable.
KEISE (frowning) Again with the echo thing. What does it mean?
Erett looks at him. Eyes serious.
ERETT I'll explain tomorrow. Rest now. You're safe.
Keise and Setsuko look at each other. Then at the burning city in the distance.
KEISE (inner voice) Echo… SV… this world… where the hell did I end up?
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 5 END]