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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