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Chapter 17 - The Monster Inside James

Scene: James and Sofia Investigate in Mexico

James: No... it's useless to keep thinking like this. I already said what I am...

(He walks forward, eyes heavy but voice steady. He sees Sofia at the edge of a crime scene.)

James: Sofia, anything you found?

Sofia: A ribbon. Special kind. I traced it—it's from the market side of Mexico.

James: I see... then let's follow it. Tonight.

(James in voiceover) James (VO): I am the monster. And I will find the other monsters. Because I am not the monster. Not anymore. Not like him.

---

Scene: Christmas Eve — A House in Mexico

(A quiet Mexican household. Outside, snow falls. Inside, lights flicker. Suddenly, a figure in a Santa costume smashes a window.)

Santa (Killer): Ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas!

(Screams. Blood. A boy screams as Santa kills someone. James sprints into the house.)

James: Hey! Santa! Time's up.

Santa: Who the f*** are you?

James: The guy who's about to bury your jingle-bell ass.

Santa: You're alone. I can kill you here.

James: Try it. I dare you.

(They fight. Santa swings a sharpened candy cane. James dodges, lands a punch, then another.)

James: What happened to mercy, Santa? You sick bastard.

Santa: I don't do mercy. I do chaos!

(Santa kicks James. James stumbles but gets back up. A voice whispers in James' mind.)

Inner Voice (Coat Man): Wake up. Choose violence. Or you'll lose everything.

(James' eyes go dark. He dodges a swing, bites Santa's arm, then knees him hard.)

James: Today... is the day you die.

(James stabs Santa's right hand. Then his knee. Santa stumbles, crawls, bleeds.)

Santa: Please... don't kill me. I was just—

James: Human cowardice. Always loudest before death.

(James slowly drives the knife in. Santa screams. James doesn't stop.)

---

Scene: Hospital — James Being Treated

James: My inner self... it hurts. Sofia...

(He sits, bandaged. Then walks to Richard's office, determined.)

James: I want to kill Martin. And after that... I'll kill myself.

Richard: What?

James: That's all I live for now.

Richard: ...You've changed. But I understand. And... I should tell you something.

James: Go on.

Richard: I knew Martin. Twenty years ago. I was 35, on a mission.

(Flashback begins)

Richard (VO): I was at a party. He introduced himself—but not as Martin. He used a false name.

(Martin sips wine, smiles, plays violin in a haunting tune. Richard watches, wary.)

Martin (Flashback): What brings you here?

Richard: A mission. To stop a killer.

Martin: I see. Sounds poetic.

(Two hours pass. Wine flows. Martin plays violin again. Then chaos erupts. Screams. Blood. His allies kill guests silently. Martin never stops playing.)

(Richard points a gun.)

Richard (Flashback): Stop!

Martin: Why should I? You're like me. You kill too. The difference is... perspective.

(He smiles coldly.)

Martin: Next time we meet, I'll kill you, Richard.

(Flashback ends.)

Richard: I never forgot that. Never.

(James nods, eyes cold. Determined.)

James: Then help me. Because this time... I'm going to end it.

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