EXT. BLACK MARKET SHOP RUINS – NIGHT
146Please respect copyright.PENANAnVy1rMBjeu
[Moonlight glints off twisted metal. Jason steps out through the cratered wall, surveying the ground. There: long, dark streaks in the snow—drag marks leading into the bowels of a side street.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANACHzW11l0pX
JASON
(under his breath)
“Fresh… someone didn’t carry their buddy.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAi9B7YSHNos
[He crouches to examine the grooves. Fingers brush the icy trail; oil stiffens his joints. He winces, then masks it with a grunt.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANAl2jiaYDstK
JASON
“Great. Ice, oil, and a side of existential crisis. Perfect combo.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAYMDHP7YxDf
[He stands and follows the trail, each step measured. His posture is rigid—arms crossed, shoulders broad—projecting the “nothing fazes me” attitude he’s known for.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANAzNfQ6PfSGs
[As he moves, brief flashes of doubt flicker across his eyes: the toll of endless hunts, the weight of unknown orders, the nagging question—Who’s really pulling the strings?]
146Please respect copyright.PENANADaVLi2wjIE
JASON (V.O.)
“You tell yourself you’re unbreakable. That you see everything. But sometimes… every sensor in your head just feels overloaded.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAj65Q1lOkzI
[He shakes his head, forcing a smirk.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANA3bA4ME6pnM
JASON
(loudly, to the empty street)
“Come on, tough guy—no room for soft circuits tonight.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANArh0PIrHAxI
[He continues, following the drag marks into a darker alley. The wind howls. His right hand hovers near the axe blade, ready—but his movement is slower, more deliberate.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANABJUa6K3n3z
[The drag marks end at a chained grate sealed with a heavy padlock. Jason kneels, examines the lock’s tamper marks, and then glances up—half-expecting an ambush.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANA3rBcgYeQZi
JASON
“So… whoever this is, they want to stay hidden. But not too hidden.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANAkKX8xDDEdt
[He pulls a small pry tool from his belt, flicks it open. His jaw tightens as he works.]
146Please respect copyright.PENANAaTzOT0i27U
JASON (V.O.)
“Being the tough guy doesn’t always mean knowing the answers. Sometimes it’s just faking it…and hoping the next clue doesn’t kill you first.”
146Please respect copyright.PENANATAOdem9igD
[With a soft click, the lock yields. Jason stands, shoulder-checks the grate, and slips inside, axe in hand, ready for whatever’s next.]
ns216.73.216.206da2