EPISODE 04: THE FIRST CUT
𝑰𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒆,
𝑯𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒔.
𝑨 𝒈𝒖𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝒂 𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒎,
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒎.
𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒎𝒆,
𝑨 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒃.
The day after the intrusion, Aria begins training under Luca’s eye. The lines between protection and control blur. As Aria discovers just how far Luca’s enemies are willing to go, a sudden ambush forces her into action—and blood is spilled for the first time. But it won’t be the last.
[2:12 PM – MORETTI BASEMENT DOJO]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Throws a punch, breathing heavy*
Is this some kind of punishment?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Parries her with ease, voice calm*
No. This is survival. You need to know how to fight—because you’re not just a bystander anymore.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Wipes sweat from her brow*
I didn’t choose this.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Steps closer, lowering his voice*
Neither did I. But here we are.
He presses a blade into her hand. The weight is real. The responsibility heavier.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Staring down at it*
This feels... final.
Luca Moretti (ML)
It’s the first cut that changes everything.
[4:25 PM – MORETTI ESTATE COURTYARD]
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
*Pulls Luca aside*
There’s movement downtown. Zora’s men.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Jaw clenched*
I thought she’d wait longer.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
She’s testing you. And her timing’s perfect.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Because Aria’s untrained.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Or because she wants to make you choose: her or the empire.
[6:02 PM – ARIA’S BEDROOM]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Slipping off her training clothes, staring at her bruised ribs in the mirror*
He’s trying to make me stronger. Or trying to break me.
Her phone buzzes. A message from an unknown number:
> If you want to live, meet me at 7. You’re being lied to.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Eyes narrowing*
Here we go again.
[6:59 PM – ABANDONED CHAPEL, OUTSKIRTS OF RAVENPORT]
Aria steps into the chapel, heart pounding. Stained glass windows cast violet shadows across the broken pews.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Calling out*
This better not be a trap.
Unknown
*Emerges from the shadows, tall, red lips, dark eyes*
You’re prettier than I expected.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Fists clenched*
And you are?
Unknown
Zora. The woman your husband betrayed.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Inhales sharply*
You’re real.
Zora (Villainess)
Oh, darling, I’m very real. And Luca? He’s the reason you’ll die in that mansion.
Aria Russo (FL)
You sent a man into my room.
Zora (Villainess)
*Smiles coldly*
I sent a message. But I can offer you a deal. Help me bring him down, and I’ll give you your life back.
Aria Russo (FL)
And if I refuse?
Zora (Villainess)
Then you’ll watch the world burn from inside your cage.
Suddenly, gunshots echo through the chapel. Smoke grenades crash through the windows. Chaos erupts.
[7:08 PM – SAME LOCATION]
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Storms through the smoke, gun drawn*
Aria!
Aria Russo (FL)
*Coughing, ducking behind a pew*
Here!
Zora’s men close in. One lunges at Aria with a knife.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Instinctively slashes with her blade—blood splatters across the marble floor
eyes wide, shaking*
I didn’t mean—
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Grabs her, shielding her*
He would’ve killed you. You did what you had to.
They run through the side entrance. Explosions shake the ground behind them.
[7:42 PM – SAFEHOUSE, HIDDEN LOCATION]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Still trembling, arms wrapped around herself*
I stabbed someone.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Bandaging her hand carefully*
He was a killer. And you? You survived.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Voice cracking*
I don’t want to be like this.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Quietly*
Neither did I. But the world doesn’t care what we want.
He pulls her into a gentle hug, one hand cradling the back of her head. She doesn’t resist.
Luca Moretti (ML)
You were brave tonight.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Whispers into his chest*
I was terrified.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Bravery and fear aren’t opposites. They’re partners.
Their eyes meet. The tension simmers. For a second, the world outside fades.
He leans in, lips brushing hers. She doesn’t pull away. Not this time.
Zora (Villainess)
*Watching security footage from a drone, sipping from a glass of wine*
She bled. Good. That means she’s one of us now.
Zora (Villainess)
No. I planted a seed. Now we watch her grow.
Merin
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