The Secret Beneath Her Name

Chapter 5: The chest

INT. MASTER BEDROOM DOORWAY - CONTINUOUS

The CHEST BREATHES. ROSARIES form a net over it. NYX holds the SKELETON KEY. It’s glowing faintly now, like a coal.

Nyx presses the key to the rosaries. They SNAP one by one. TIK. TIK. TIK. They fall.

The chest INHALES. Dust flies. All the CLOCKS in the house SHUDDER.

Nyx braces and OPENS THE LID. The hinges SCREAM.

The smell hits: TALCUM. BLOOD. COINS. FIRE.

Inside: DOZENS OF CHILDREN’S LEFT SHOES. She digs. Finds the LEDGER.

The cover is PALE SKIN. Stitched.

She opens it.

INSERT: 1899: Esteban Revenar – Blood for Time…

INSERT: 1920: Clara A. De Los Santos – crossed out – Clara A. Revenar – Paid in full.

INSERT: 1998: Lilia A. Cruz – crossed out – Lilia A. Revenar – Paid in full.

MATEO (O.S.)

You weren’t supposed to find that until I was dead.

Nyx looks up. MATEO stands in the doorway. Wearing BLACK. Face GRAY.

NYX

What is Aurelia? Why is it on every page?

MATEO

Because gold… gold is what you pay with when you have no blood left.

He drops to his KNEES.

MATEO (CONT’D)

You died in 2008, Nyx. The real you. I was the angel. I found you in the fire. No name. Lilia said, “Name her Aurelia. Make her gold. Buy us time.”

Nyx holds up the BURNED RED BALLET SHOE. It fits her hand.

NYX

So I’m not Revenar. I’m not even De Los Santos.

MATEO

You’re whoever survives tonight.

The HOUSE GROANS. ALL CLOCKS STRIKE 3:03. Deafening.

FROM UPSTAIRS: WHEELCHAIR MOVING FAST.

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

The WHEELCHAIR sound stops outside the room.

DON SEVERINO (O.S.)

(Old. Wet. Amused.)

Mateo. You talk too much.

MATEO doesn’t turn around. He’s still on his knees, looking at Nyx.

MATEO

(whispers)

Run.

NYX looks at the LEDGER. The last page is BLANK. The BONE INKWELL next to it is FULL. Red. Wet.

DON SEVERINO (O.S.)

Come in, apo. It’s time to pay the interest.

Nyx closes the ledger. The SKIN COVER is warm now.

NYX

(to Mateo)

What’s the interest on 18 years?

MATEO

You.