Scene 1
Footsteps pound against dry leaves.
The jungle is a smear of tangled vines and ancient wood.
Above, the night sun casts jagged, skeletal shadows. Four men tear through the brush, their lungs burning.
Heavy swords bounce against their backs with a rhythmic, metallic thud.
"We need to reach the Soviet Village," one pants. His breath is a ragged whistle. "Lord Silas ordered us to grab the Scorpion boss's daughter. No delays."
They vault over a rotting, fallen trunk. Boots skid on slick bark.
"The spies say Antar's been gone for days," the lead man says, his voice low. "Pray we don't cross her before we clear the gates."
"And if we do?" another growls. "What's the difference?"
"The difference is your life, fool. Silas was clear—she's an Epic. If she's there, we retreat. Otherwise, none of us make it back to the East."
They surge forward. The dry leaves scream beneath their boots.
SOVIET VILLAGE — CENTRE CITY
The village is a circle of low houses tucked into the greenery.
It smells of woodsmoke and peace. Elders sit in the fading light, their voices a soft hum against the chirping of insects.
A young man cuts through the square, his pace frantic.
He throws open a heavy wooden door. Inside, an old man rests in a creaking chair.
"Mani, have you seen Daisy?"
The old man looks up slowly. "No... she hasn't been by. Is she missing?"
"I haven't seen her all day."
The young man pulls the door shut, the wood groaning. He vanishes back into the street.
Nearby, tucked away from the noise, young Daisy sits on the grass beside Mr. Gomez. She watches his hands. They are wrinkled, like old maps.
"Tell me, Mr. Gomez," she says, her chin resting in her palms. "What is it really like out there?"
Gomez laughs. It's a dry, weathered sound. "Kid, I know you want to see the world."
His face suddenly goes hollow. The warmth leaves his eyes. "But don't ever leave this place. You're safe here. Out there... it's chaos."
He points a gnarled finger toward the flickering stars.
"See how quiet they are? That is peace. It's a mercy compared to the fire waiting beyond the trees."
Daisy frowns. She traces a line in the dirt with her toe.
She doesn't want mercy.
She wants to see.
"I'm tired of being locked up. I want to see the landscape."
Gomez takes a stick. He draws four lines in the dust.
"Four parts to our world, Daisy. North, South, East, and West." He draws a perfect circle in the center. "And this... this is Centre City. The heart. It's where we are."
Daisy's eyes spark. To her, the map looks like a target. "The other areas look so small."
"They are." The stick taps the large area.
"Centre City is as large as a continent."
"Continent?" Daisy asks. "A large place that contains countries?"
"How do you know what a continent means?"
Daisy draws closer.
"I read it in books. From the era of technology. Before the world was a ruin."
"The world has a lot of continents."
Mr Gomez laughs. "And what periods was that?"
"Back in the 3000s."
"You read too many books, kid."
Mr Gomez's face hardens. "Don't believe everything you read."
"Huh.. but–"
"Miss Daisy! Where were you?" The young man from before arrives, chest heaving. "I told you—you have to let me know where you're going."
Daisy looks away. Her lip curls.
He treats her like a pet.
"Why? I'm not a child anymore." She stands, brushing the grass from her gown.
"Where's Antar? I haven't seen her in three days."
She looks toward the jungle path. Antar's stories are amazing. She misses them.
"Antar is working. She'll be back tomorrow."
Daisy grabs the young man's shirt, dragging him toward the houses. "Then you tell me. I want stories."
"I'm not a storyteller, Miss..."
"Doesn't matter. Talk. Tell me about the cities."
As they walk away, Gomez watches them. A low chuckle vibrates in his chest. "Someone raised in peace, begging to see the fire."
His lips curl into a menacing, toothy grin. "Soon enough, child. You'll be a living testimony of what the world has to offer."