"Sometimes, the flame you lit comes walking back toward you."
---
Scene: The Aftermath – Rooftop
Lucen sits at the edge of a tall rooftop, shirt torn, bruised, smoke curling from his wounds. The city lights stretch before him.
He listens to the distant sirens.
Beside him, Aria stands, watching.
> Aria (softly):
"City's scared again."
Lucen:
"They should be."
Aria:
"Of you?"
Lucen (after a beat):
"...Of what I used to be."
---
Scene: Scarne's Hideout – Underground Boiler Room
Scarne welds something—a large flamethrower tank system. His arms are burned, one eye exposed under the mask. He's bleeding, but driven.
On the table: pictures of Lucen saving people. Graffitied with red X's.
He watches a news clip:
> "Unidentified vigilante causes another explosion while confronting a new arsonist. Citizens question: 'Is the fire devil back?'"
> Scarne (low, bitter):
"Let them question. Let them fear. Then... they'll understand me."
Behind him, he draws a symbol in ash: a broken halo burning from within.
---
Scene: City Streets – Daytime
Lucen walks among crowds, hoodie on, bandaged. The world moves past him, unaware. A child stares at him curiously.
> Child (to mom):
"Is that the man from the fire?"
Mother (pulling him away):
"Don't look. He's dangerous."
Lucen keeps walking—each word like a dagger. But he doesn't stop.
Suddenly, a loud BOOM shakes the block. Fire erupts from a nearby construction site.
Lucen sprints toward it.
---
Scene: Construction Site – Chaos
Workers scream. A crane is collapsing. Scarne stands on top of a half-built building, flame gear strapped across his back like a war angel.
> Scarne (shouting to civilians):
"He saved you once by burning us. Now he watches you burn again!"
Lucen appears mid-speech—flipping through falling beams and grabbing a trapped worker.
> Lucen (yelling):
"Scarne! This ends before someone else pays the price!"
> Scarne:
"You're ten years too late for that."
Scarne ignites fuel drums—blast erupts—Lucen uses his body and quick energy bursts to redirect fire away from people. He fights the flames, not Scarne.
They clash briefly—Scarne faster, more vicious.
> Scarne:
"Come on! Show them what you are! Let loose!"
Lucen (pained):
"I can't."
Scarne:
"Can't—or won't?"
Lucen drops low—sweeps Scarne's legs—but holds back the killing blow.
> Lucen (breathing hard):
"I know pain. But you're not the only one carrying corpses in your heart."
Scarne slashes him and escapes again—melting through scaffolding with flame.
---
Scene: Night – Dreamscape
Lucen collapses at home. Bandaged. Exhausted.
He dreams.
In the dark mist, a figure stands tall—pale skin, black robes woven like shadows. No eyes. Just a mouth that curls.
Morpheus.
> Morpheus:
"Even gods dream, Lucen. But you... you burn even here."
Lucen (in dream):
"what do you want now?"
Morpheus:
"A reminder. Of who you are. And what hell birthed you."
Lucen:
"I'm not them."
Morpheus:
"Not yet. But soon... the ashes you left behind will rise."
He waves his hand—visions appear:
Lucen as a beast, tearing through streets.
Scarne's family in flames.
Lucen kneeling in smoke, whispering "What am I?"
Lucen gasps awake.
---
Scene: Cliffside – End Scene
Lucen walks to a cliff overlooking the city. Alone. Rain falls again.
He holds an old locket—Eshun's gift, carved with monk symbols of balance.
> Lucen (softly):
"What do you do when your past wants a rematch?"
No answer.
Only thunder.
---
END OF CHAPTER 12
Next Chapter:-CHAPTER 13: THE OTHER SIDE OF FLAME🔥