Out on the steps of the warehouse, the skies burned as reality rewrote itself. Sirens wailed in the distance, and helicopters sliced the clouds overhead, reminders that humanity was still alive—and terrified. But this night belonged to something else.
Alexander stepped forward. His body glowed with divine heat. His voice cut through the chaos.
ALEXANDER (steady): Damon—take me. Just leave them and Annie out of it.
The five cloaked lieutenants paused. Damon raised his arm, his red eyes burning.
DAMON (soft): Brother… you always choose the same path.
Alexander held his ground.
ALEXANDER: I've made my choice. Let them go.
His voice shook—but his heart didn't. Jason stepped forward, anger sparking in his veins.
JASON: We're not bargaining with you.
Alexander turned to him, placing a hand on Jason's shoulder.
ALEXANDER (quiet): Jason. Venessa. Protect Annie—protect Lydia. I'll be okay.
Venessa's eyes filled with fire.
VENESSA: No—
But Luka the wind against her back stopped her words. She knew it—this was Alexander's will, his path.
Damon bowed his head, then signaled his men.
A cage of shadow light spiraled around Alexander.
The brothers exchanged one last look.
Jason nodded.
Venessa swallowed.
Alexander turned and walked.
—
🌑 SCENE: DAMON'S FORTRESS — CORRIDOR OF CHAINS
The castle they had breached in Chapter 12 was now Bathed in twisted opulence. Crimson carpets met onyx stone. Shadows breathed. Damon guided Alexander through silent corridors.
Weaponsmen in obsidian armor lined the halls, eyes fixed on the former hunter.
DAMON: You are something else, brother. Stronger. But stronger doesn't mean unbreakable.
Alexander's gaze never wavered. ALEXANDER: I'm only unbreakable if I'm doing this for what's right.
Damon paused, baring his mouth in a smile that twisted his cheekbones.
DAMON: We will see.
He thrust a key into the metal door at the end of the hall.
Alexander walked in.
—
🕯️ INT. TORTURE CELL
A tall, black-wrought cage, arcane symbols glowing on each bar. Alexander was shackled from wrists to ankles, suspended like a lamb in agony's waiting room.
His body burned with divine glow that had turned cold and dim.
Razok entered.
He towered over Alexander — muscles like steel, robes like shadows.
RAZOK (deep): So… my firstborn returns.
Alexander tested his bonds. ALEXANDER: Do what you must, father. None of it can shatter me.
Razok tilted his head. RAZOK: Let's test that.
He raised his hand. A black flame flared down Alexander's spine. Arcane pain exploded through his nerves.
Alexander screamed.
—
🔥 MONTHS OF TORMENT
(MONTAGE)
Rasps of agony echoing in stone halls
Alexander's veins pulsing as Razok draws his power
Tendrils of bloodlight shattered
His body aging months beyond its years
Flashbacks of Lily's fallback from Chapter 9 and his mother's lullaby
Whispered defiance in pain: "I'll never break."
Every day, Razok drained Alexander's strength—extracting divine spark like a candle's flame pulled into a void, feeding the demon realm's darkness. Damon watched coldly.
Alexander never spoke. Never broke.
—
🌗 INT. TRAINING ARENA — RAZOK'S PALACE
Stone benches lined the Dojo-like chamber. Lydia stood tall in dark leathers, golden fire arcane in her veins. Blades of shadow flickered around her—every strike precise, disciplined.
She moved with lethal elegance.
Her transformation sculpted by desperation—by fury. Every morning had begun with her brother's laughter in her memory… and ended with Alexander's screams.
She became a weapon in her own right.
Each spark she summoned tore her soul in two—human hope and demon hunger.
As she landed the final strike on a training golem, RAZOK entered—silent as smoke.
RAZOK: "Control… or consume."
Lydia's eyes met his.
Control.
Lydia (soft): "Yes."
—
🔚 INT. TORTURE CELL — LATE NIGHT
Alexander wept openly—the pain finally breaking his guard. His voice dropped to a whisper.
ALEXANDER: Venessa… Jason… Annie… please…
A guard opened the door. Lydia stepped in. Her fire dimmed to gentle warmth.
LYDIA (voice trembling): Brother… I'm here.
Alexander looked at her. So small... and still a stranger.
She moved forward, touching his face.
ALEXANDER (rasping): Lydia… why?
She knelt.
LYDIA: I can't do more... yet. But I'm trying.
Alexander shook his head. Tears pooled in his eyes.
ALEXANDER: Aren't you afraid?
Lydia swallowed.
LYDIA: Yes.
The noise of chains.
A guard's hush.
Alexander's eyes flicked to the shadow near the cell door.
LYDIA: I... have to go.
Alexander took her hand.
ALEXANDER (broken whisper): Be free. Fight. Don't get lost.
He closed his eyes.
—
⚔️ INT. TORTURE CELL — THE BREAKOUT
Lydia stood gaunt outside the locked cell.
Razok's guards patrolled in broad guard boots.
She loosed her demon fire.
A pulse of golden lines.
The bars buckled—one by one.
Alexander stirred inside.
ALEXANDER (gasp): Lydia?
She rushed in, freeing his shackles.
He fell to his knees, too drained to move.
They crouched together.
ELYDIA (whispers): Let's go.
He nodded once. They pressed toward the exit.
But Razok's voice stopped them.
RAZOK (boom): Enjoy this?
He stepped into the light. Damon behind him, arms folded.
RAZOK: Your revolt... your loyalty... all for nothing.
ALEXANDER (bleak): You'll never break me.
Razok reached out — fire crackled.
Alexander was thrown back.
RAZOK: It's not your mind I'll break. It's your spell.
He snapped his fingers.
The shadowy cage reappeared.
They were sucked back in.
Lydia pitched forward across the stone floor, bruised—and blocked by guards.
They grabbed her arms.
She looked at Alexander—eyes full of sorrow and defiance.
RAZOK (dark): You'll watch him break... together.
The guards shackled her to the wall.
Lydia's demon fire sputtered, died.
Alexander saw her—locked and broken, but still fighting.
He whispered through pain:
ALEXANDER (barely audible): I love you, Lydia.
She nodded.
—
🌑 EPILOGUE — TORTURE CELL NIGHT
Alexander lay on broken stone.
He was drained, deflated—but upright.
A shard of moonlight traced down his face.
We see him scream silently—so loud that it cracks the sky.
ALEXANDER (voice-over):
"They'll destroy my body.
They'll feed on my light.
But they can't break the blade of my heart.
I will return before the world dies."
The screen cuts to black as the final echo of his scream fades.
---
🖤 TO BE CONTINUED…
Razok's fury awaits—and the fire that rises from broken hunters burns