After the Ashes

PILOT EPISODE Title: Shadows of the Past EXT. CITY STREETS – NIGHT Wide shot: A dark, rain-slicked street. The distant wail of sirens cuts through the silence. Dust rises as a figure dashes forward, leaping over a chain-link fence. Streetlights flicker overhead. CUT TO: SIDE ANGLE Azel, athletic and scarred, sprints, vaulting gates, dodging trash cans. His hands are cut and bloody. Flashing red and blue lights chase him down narrow alleys. He slips off the main street, ducking behind a crumbling brick building. He crouches, gasping, pressing his palms to his knees. Blood and dirt mix on his skin. AZEL’S POV – FLASHBACK Soft, golden light. Azel runs alongside his mother in an empty field. She’s teaching him self-defense, her hands guiding his punches. mother (Voice) Keep your guard up, Azel. Always protect yourself. They laugh, forgetting danger for a moment. The memory flickers and fades. CUT BACK TO PRESENT A sharp voice pierces the night. officer (O.S.) Hey! Hey! Azel snaps back, crouching lower, fists ready. His jaw tightens. He bolts again. EXT. DARK ALLEY – NIGHT As he rounds a corner, a hand grabs him from behind. He’s yanked sideways into a narrow passage. London, 19, brown hair in a side part, tattoos on her arms, pulls him quickly along. (azel) Aye—woah—who the f**k are you? She drags him into an abandoned warehouse. Metal doors slam behind them. She lets go and studies him calmly. (london) Oh… you don’t know me? ( she smiles slightly) Your dad hasn’t told you yet? Azel freezes, shocked. (azel) What does my dad have to do with this? (london) Everything. (She pauses, and tilts her head) So… you know who your dad really is, hmm? (azel) Yeah—I mean—no. I know he’s rich, that’s it. Wait—how do you even know my dad? (london) Look, just come with me. No arguing. Or I take you back and let the cops finish what they started— trying to lock you up for robbery. (azel) How—how did you know—I— (london) I’ve got my sources. You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. (She gestures Azel the to warehouse ) Now let’s go. I tried the easy way. Azel hesitates… then follows. The warehouse swallows them in darkness. INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT London checks the corners. Satisfied, she presses a button. An old elevator groans open. They step inside. INT. ELEVATOR – CONTINUOUS The doors slide shut. The elevator descends slowly, cables rattling. Tension hangs in the air. Neither speaks. INT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE – NIGHT The elevator doors open to a dim concrete garage. A brand-new black truck gleams under the garage lights. London unlocks it, tossing Azel a hat and dark glasses. (azel) No—no way. I’m not putting this on. london You either put it on or you get caught. You’re a runaway juvenile, remember? (azel) Wait—how did you know I was a runaway? My dad doesn’t even kno— london (shushing him) I’ve got my sources, mate. Now let’s go. I’m never late, and I’m not starting today with you, Mr. pretty boy. Azel sighs, looking her up and down then putting the hat and glasses on. He walks to the truck and climbs in. London starts the engine. Music cue: KEHLANI – “GANGSTER” fades in as the truck speeds out of the garage, city lights reflecting off its black paint. EXT. CITY STREETS – NIGHT The truck roars through the streets, weaving between traffic. Sirens fade in the distance. Azel sits back, tense but intrigued, watching London drive with confidence. The end of the song fades as the camera pulls up to a big mansion it was multiple looked like a city the camera fades