11Please respect copyright.PENANA0XtXHUUndCVILLAGE MAIN GATE- AFTER HOURS
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Metro watches from the shadows as Sam transforms into a trader with uncanny ease. He hauls a wooden cart piled high with vials, the glass poking out the top like strange, glowing fruit. The front‑gate guards look at him with hungry interest.
11Please respect copyright.PENANAUcIhQ8sfOZ
GUARD:
Yeah, yeah! The King’ll take it. I’ll bring the rations myself.”
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They wave him through.
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Mission accomplished.
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Angelo sighs with relief as half his burden disappears into the guardhouse.
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Inside, the guards began celebrating early — loud, sloppy, and drunk.
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Sam slips back to Gregory and Metro.
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Sam:(whispering)
Were out of juice. All of ’em or throwing their heads back. We wait now, as planned.
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They do so for about an hour or so…
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Crickets fill the silence.
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The stars glitter cold and sharp above them.
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When the guards finally stop making noise, Metro leads the way. Sam holds the animals on leashes up the rear, Curly following faithfully behind. Sally and Crook moving in tight formation, Angelo and Tank leashed between them as well.
11Please respect copyright.PENANAfbdqmiHmdi
Metro climbs the gate like he’d been born doing it — silent, fluid, effortless. Gregory follows, lantern around his neck like a glowing charm. He plants spikes into the wall with barely a sound. Next he drops over the fence with ease, inside the village walls.
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Metro’s face hardens towards Greg, his head is seen over the watch tower, shadows cutting across his eyes and features.
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METRO:(whispering loud & dangerous)
“Find the villagers. I’ll open the gate.”
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Gregory vanishes into the dark, cape shedding snow as he moves— almost joyful to be somewhere warmer.
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Metro crawls low, blades drawn, slipping between lantern shadows. Empty vials litter the dirt near the front gate and on the watch tower floors— the guards have drunk themselves senseless.
11Please respect copyright.PENANA4S1F7gDpuW
One guard, barely older than a boy, sleeps with his mouth open. Then it hits Metro again— that same crushing pressure from the cave.
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No whispers this time.
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Just weight.
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Heavy and wrong.
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He forces his eyes away, focusing on the horizon, pressing towards the gates latch. Merto notices every guard is already unconscious —
11Please respect copyright.PENANAYMLiHzUo3t
Hammered and wiped out.
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Metro’s expression tightens. He pulls a black rag over his face and throws his hood up. He cranks the gate open.
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The iron bars groan loud enough to wake the dead. One guard stirs. Metro spins his head quickly, scanning for movement — none.
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He grabs the scout by the torso and hurls him toward the cliff with no hesitation—— Sam appears from below, roundhouse‑kicking the man in the jaw, mid‑air , stopping his fall. The gaurd is out cold .
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Sam drags the limp body into the bushes.
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Metro doesn't waste a second. He sprints back and sees lanterns flickering in the distant night.
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Gregory emerges with a crowd of villagers huddled tight, moving fast. Sam is already moving through the gate with the animals.
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Metro vaults the back fence, gripping the top for a second to shorten the drop. He lands in a crouch, grabbing Angelo’s reins, and guided him toward the families.They work in perfect rhythm — packing supplies, securing blankets, loading the mule and donkey.
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METRO:(quiet, firm)
“Lanterns off. All of them.”
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The maidens obey instantly. They creep through the front gate. Metro guards the rear while Sam leads on Curly.
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Snow falls, heavier now — thick, soft, erasing every hoofprint behind them.
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They don't look back.
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