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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