Crowned In Crimson
EPISODE 01: THE WITNESS
Rain lashes down over Ravenport City as dusk swallows the skyline. Aria Russo, a silver-haired art student, walks home through the alley behind her campus gallery. Her soft blue eyes shimmer beneath the storm. Just blocks away, Luca Moretti closes a deal soaked in blood. Their worlds are about to collide.
[10:43 PM – RAINY ALLEY, RAVENPORT]
Aria Russo (FL)
Ugh... *pulls jacket tighter around her*
Why did I take the shortcut tonight...?
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sighs softly, muttering to herself*
Just five more minutes. Then tea. Blanket. Sketchbook.
Aria Russo (FL)
Wait... what’s that sound?
[SHADOWS EMERGE FROM THE DARKNESS]
Unknown
*Cold and sharp*
Make it look like an accident.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Freezes behind a dumpster, trembling*
That voice... someone’s there. Multiple footsteps. Is that a body!?
Aria Russo (FL)
*Gasps silently, hand clapped over her mouth*
Oh my God... I just saw someone get shot!
[THE KILLER TURNS SLIGHTLY]
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Voice calm, dangerous*
Dispose of it. No traces.
Aria Russo (FL)
That face... green eyes. Black hair. He looks like— *backs away slowly, accidentally kicking a metal can*
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Head snaps toward the noise*
We’re not alone.
[10:52 PM – ARIA RUNNING]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Heart pounding*
Run, Aria, run!
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sobs*
What the hell did I just see!?
UnknownContactRequest: LUCA.M
Aria Russo (FL)
Wha—? A contact request? Who the hell is—
UNKNOWN MESSAGE
> "Run again and I’ll make sure you can’t walk."
Aria Russo (FL)
*Jaw drops*
He... he knows. He saw me.
[11:21 PM – ARIA’S APARTMENT]
Elena (FL's bestie)
Hey you okay? You’re ghost-pale. Did you run through a hurricane?
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sinks onto couch*
Something bad happened. Really bad
Elena (FL's bestie)
You're scaring me, Ari. What is it?
Aria Russo (FL)
I saw someone get killed. I saw his face. I think... I think he's mafia.
[12:08 AM – MORETTI ESTATE, PRIVATE ROOM]
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Leans back in leather chair, hands bloodied*
Find her. *Quietly* I want to know who she is.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Already on it, boss. She dropped a sketchbook.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Raises eyebrow*
An artist? Hmm.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Murmurs to himself*
Those eyes... she looked terrified. And brilliant.
[NEXT DAY – ART CAMPUS, ARIA’S GALLERY]
Professor Dante
Aria, the dean wants to speak to you.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Frowns*
Why? Did I do something wrong?
Dean’s Office – Minutes Later
Dean
You’ve received a private grant. Anonymous donor. They’ve... requested to meet you in person.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Eyes narrow*
What kind of donor asks for a meeting?
Dean
*nervously* He said,“You’ll know me when you see me.”
[PRIVATE GALLERY ROOM – 5:30 PM]
Aria enters. One man stands at the window. Black suit. Green eyes. Calm danger.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Without turning*
Nice brushwork. You see the world in color. But now you’ve seen something in red
Aria Russo (FL)
*Gasps, stepping back*
It’s... you.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Turns to face her fully*
Yes. It’s me.
Aria Russo (FL)
What do you want from me?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Walks closer, voice cold but smooth*
I want silence. And I want to make sure you live long enough to give it.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Eyes wide, panic creeping in*
Are you threatening me?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Smirks*
No, Aria. I’m offering you protection. From everyone else who’d kill you if they knew you saw.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sarcastically*
Oh, how comforting.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Marry me.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Chokes*
WHAT!?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Calmly*
Fake. Legal. Binding. You disappear behind my name. No one will dare touch you.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Steps back, fists clenched*
Why me?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Quietly* Because I don’t kill artists. And because you looked at me like I was still human.
[ARIA’S APARTMENT – LATER THAT NIGHT]
Elena (FL's bestie)
You’re WHAT!? You’re not seriously considering this!
Aria Russo (FL)
*Staring at ceiling*
It’s either this... or become another body in that alley.
Elena (FL's bestie)
*Angrily* This is insane. You're trusting the man who killed someone.
Aria Russo (FL)
I’m trusting the devil because hell is safer than the real world right now.
[MEANWHILE – MORETTI MANSION, UNDERGROUND OFFICE]
Luca Moretti (ML)
She’ll say yes. They always do when the world offers them nothing.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
And what if she doesn’t?
Luca Moretti (ML)
Then she dies. But something tells me... she’s not stupid.
[THE NEXT MORNING – ARIA’S DOORSTEP]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Opens door groggily*
Wha—
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Stands there, in black, expression unreadable*
I don’t do proposals. But this one’s for survival.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Tense silence, heart pounding*
This is real?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*softly his gaze unrelenting* This is survival, Aria. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Merin
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EPISODE 02: TERMS OF SURVIVAL
Luca Moretti
Age:28
Brooding mafia boss,sharp jawline and green eyes. He is the immaculately dressed heir to Ravenport’s most feared mafia empire.Cold, calculating, and ruled by logic over empathy, Luca believes loyalty is bought, love is weakness, and survival is a game only monsters win.
Aria Russo
Age:21
Silver-haired with hauntingly bright blue eyes and porcelain skin tinged with pink, Aria Russo is an art student who sees the world in color—even when it turns blood red. Fiercely independent but emotionally guarded, she never expected a shortcut home to twist her fate into a dangerous alliance.
It’s the morning after Aria’s life changed forever. The memory of Luca’s cold voice still echoes in her mind. As she sits across from him in a high-rise suite—alone, unarmed, and terrified—he lays out the terms of their fake marriage. But there are rules to this arrangement... and breaking them has consequences.
[8:03 AM – HIGH-RISE PENTHOUSE, RAVENPORT]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sits stiffly on a leather couch, arms folded, eyes sharp*
You had me escorted from my apartment at 6 a.m. without a word. Care to explain why?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sips espresso with maddening calm*
Correction: I sent someone to collect you. Dragging would imply a struggle.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Narrows eyes*
You’re unbelievable.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sets down his cup, tone flat*
This isn’t personal. It’s business.
Aria Russo (FL)
Then make the terms clear. Slowly. Like I’m being held against my will—because I am.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Smirks faintly*
You’re not a hostage, Aria. You’re an investment.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Arches a brow, sarcasm thick*
Oh, great. That makes it all so much better.
Luca Moretti (ML)
The arrangement is simple. Legal marriage. My last name. You don’t leave the city. You don’t speak about what you saw. Public appearances will be required.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Mutters under breath*
What a charming fairy tale.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Deadpan*
No one said it would be.
Aria Russo (FL)
What happens if I refuse?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Leans back, eyes cold*
Then you’ll have a long list of visitors. The police. My father’s enemies. Journalists. Or worse—someone who won’t offer protection. Just a bullet.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Hands tremble, but she straightens her spine*
You’re a monster.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Shrugs slightly*
I’m a survivor. Monsters last longer in my world.
[8:31 AM – PENTHOUSE BALCONY]
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
*Approaches with a folder in hand*
Everything’s in order, boss. The judge is ready when you are.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Snaps*
Is your entire network built on bribes and favors?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Without hesitation*
Yes.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Also… she wasn’t followed. But someone is poking around the alley.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Expression darkens*
Who?
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Detective Calen Dross. Narcotics. He’s not exactly a fan of you.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Good. Let him watch. The more distracted he is, the easier he’ll fall.
[9:12 AM – GUEST BEDROOM]
Elena (FL's bestie)
*text*Ari, where ARE you?! You didn’t come back. I’m calling the cops!
Aria Russo (FL)
*texting*Don’t. I’m safe. Please trust me.
Elena (FL's bestie)
*text*Safe? You were nearly murdered last night!
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sighs heavily, dropping the phone on the bed*
What the hell have I gotten myself into…
Luca Moretti (ML)
*from doorway*You’re adapting faster than most.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sarcastic*
Yeah. Just another perk of being emotionally numb.
[LATER – REGISTRY OFFICE]
Clerk
Sign here... and here.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Staring at the pen like it’s a weapon*
So this is how it begins.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Signs without flinching*
It began the moment you stepped into that alley.
Clerk
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Moretti.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Through gritted teeth*
We’re not celebrating. This isn’t love—it’s leverage.
[EVENING – MORETTI MANSION FOYER]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Steps into a grand hallway lit by antique chandeliers*
This place feels more like a fortress than a home.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Exactly. And fortresses have rules.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Softly*
So do prisons.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Turns, meets her eyes*
Don’t test me, Aria. You won’t like the outcome.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Fierce*
Then don’t expect obedience. I’m not your puppet.
[LIVING ROOM – MOMENTS LATER]
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
She’s got fire. Reminds me of your mother.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Darkly amused*
Let’s hope she doesn’t have the same aim.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
You telling her about tonight’s drop?
Luca Moretti (ML)
Not yet.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Why not?
Luca Moretti (ML)
Because she still flinches when I enter the room. Let’s not scare her with the truth. Yet.
[MIDNIGHT – UNKNOWN LOCATION]
Zora (Villainess)
*On phone*So… he made her his wife?
Unknown
*On phone*Legally. She’s a civilian.
Zora (Villainess)
Innocence is a weapon if used well. We’ll use her.
Zora (Villainess)
No. To break him.
[12:33 AM – ARIA’S NEW BEDROOM, MORETTI MANSION]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Lying in bed, unable to sleep*
I should feel safe. But I don’t.
*She rolls over. Hears the soft creak of wood.*
Aria Russo (FL)
*Tense whisper*
...Is someone there?
A dark shadow moves behind the curtain. Something metallic glints.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Panicked whisper*No… not again.
Merin
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EPISODE 03: SHADOW IN THE DARK
The mansion sleeps, but Aria doesn’t. A shadow slips through her new bedroom like a whisper, forcing her instincts to take over. Luca’s world is colder than she imagined—dangerous even behind locked doors. Tonight marks the first real test of her survival... and her defiance might just draw blood.
[12:34 AM – ARIA’S BEDROOM, MORETTI MANSION]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Freezes in bed, barely breathing*
Who's there?
The curtain stirs again. A tall, hooded figure steps out of the shadows.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Scrambles for the bedside lamp, knocking over a book*
Don’t come any closer!
Unknown
*Voice rough, amused*
You’re jumpier than I expected, Mrs. Moretti.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Fumbles behind her for anything sharp*
I’m not your anything.
The figure lunges—but before he can reach her, the bedroom door bursts open.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Aims his gun with ruthless precision*
Move again, and I’ll decorate the wall with your brains.
Unknown
*Takes a step back, hands raised*
Easy, boss. Just a message.
Luca Moretti (ML)
You broke into my house.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Heart racing, still clutching the lamp cord*
Your security sucks.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Ice in his voice*
Tell Zora if she wants to send messages, she can call me. Or I’ll start sending corpses.
Unknown
*Vanishes out the window with a mocking salute*
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Stares at Aria, chest heaving*
Did he hurt you?
Aria Russo (FL)
*Still trembling*
No. But he could’ve. Who the hell is Zora?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Mutters*
A mistake. One I should’ve buried years ago.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Glares*
She sent someone into your home to attack me. What kind of enemies do you even have?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Grim*
The kind who don’t play by rules. The kind who see you now as a weakness.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Fists clenched*
Then make it clear—I’m not your weakness.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Softly, almost surprised*
No. You’re not.
[1:12 AM – WAR ROOM, BASEMENT LEVEL]
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
*Lays photos out across the steel table*
That wasn’t just a threat. That was bait.
Luca Moretti (ML)
She’s provoking me. And if she knows about Aria, she knows more than she should.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Then it’s time to shut her down.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Not yet. Not until I know what she wants.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Boss, the girl’s not ready for this.
Luca Moretti (ML)
She doesn’t need to be ready. She needs to be alive.
[MORNING – 6:47 AM, ARIA’S BEDROOM]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Wakes up with a start, sunlight slipping through the blinds*
Was it all a dream?
She looks to the window. It’s open, curtain fluttering. The broken latch on the frame confirms it wasn’t.
She walks to the mirror, eyes tired, lips pressed tight.
Aria Russo (FL)
*inner voice*You’ve survived worse, Aria. You’ll survive this too. One day at a time.
She lifts her chin and walks out of the room.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Reading a newspaper, coffee in hand*
You look like hell.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Grabs a croissant from the counter without looking at him*
You would too if someone tried to kill you in your sleep.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Dryly*
Technically, he wasn’t trying to kill you. Just scare you.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Turns, face hard*
Then he failed. Because I’m still here.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Studies her with unreadable eyes*
I don’t know what’s more dangerous. That someone broke in... or that you’re still standing like it didn’t break you.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Smirks faintly*
Maybe I’m the monster you should be afraid of.
[8:10 AM – GARDEN TERRACE]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sits on stone bench, looking over rose bushes*
How many people hate you, Luca?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sits beside her, distant*
More than I can count. And more than I’ve buried.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Quietly*
And now I’m one of the targets.
Luca Moretti (ML)
You became one the moment you saw me pull the trigger.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sighs, looking up at the cloudy sky*
I didn’t ask for this life.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Neither did I. But we’re in it now.
[9:30 AM – ELENA'S APARTMENT, ACROSS TOWN]
Elena (FL's bestie)
*Texting*Still nothing. Her phone’s on but no answer.
Detective Calen Dross
*Leans back in her chair, sharp-eyed*
I warned you about her getting close to dangerous people.
Elena (FL's bestie)
*Teary-eyed*
She’s not dangerous! She’s just... trapped.
Detective Calen Dross
No one ends up married to a Moretti by accident.
Elena (FL's bestie)
Then find her. Please.
[10:47 AM – ARIA’S BATHROOM, MORETTI MANSION]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Studies herself in the mirror, touching a bruise on her wrist from the night before*
I’m not breaking. Not yet.
She twists her silver hair into a braid and walks out like armor is stitched into her spine.
As she passes the hallway, she hears hushed voices in Luca’s study.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Inside*If she dies, it’s on us.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
That’s why we have to train her.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Not yet.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Then she’ll get herself killed before the week ends.
[11:15 AM – TRAINING DOJO IN THE BASEMENT]
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Hands Aria a wooden training knife*
Hold it like this.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Hesitates, then copies him*
What am I supposed to do with this? Paint threats away?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Laughs under his breath for the first time*
Cute. Try not to stab yourself.
They circle each other, tension thick. Aria lashes forward. Luca dodges easily.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Growls, tries again—better this time*
I’m not afraid of you.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Blocks her strike, grabs her wrist, pulls her close*
Then you’re dumber than I thought.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Heart pounding as they stand chest to chest*
Or maybe I just see what’s behind the monster mask.
They stare, breath mingling. Then Luca steps back, composed.
Luca Moretti (ML)
We’re done for today.
Zora (Villainess)
*Watching footage on a laptop, sipping red wine*
She didn’t scream. Impressive.
Unknown
He’ll tighten his security now.
Zora (Villainess)
Let him. Let him trap her in his golden cage.
Zora (Villainess)
Then we break them both. Piece by piece.
Merin
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