When Kings Bleeds
1178 Words
The city was already burning when King Alessandra stepped inside.
Smoke hit first.
Thick.
Bitter.
It clawed at his throat like it wanted him to choke before he even saw what was left of Avaris.
He didn’t slow.
“Spread out!” one of his captains shouted behind him. “Secure the outer streets!”
Alessandra raised a hand.
“No.”
The soldiers froze.
He didn’t turn.
“We don’t secure anything.”
(beat)
“We push to the palace.”
“My king—” a captain began.
“They’re taking people,” Alessandra cut in. “And they’re looking for someone.”
Silence.
“…my daughter.”
That was all he needed to say.
“Move.”
The army surged forward.
EXT. STREETS OF AVARIS – CONTINUOUS
They didn’t get far before the sky answered.
A beam dropped.
“DOWN!”
The soldiers scattered.
Shields came up.
Too late.
Two men were caught.
They screamed as they lifted.
Reaching.
Grabbing.
Nothing.
Gone.
A young soldier staggered back.
“…what kind of war is this…”
Alessandra stepped forward.
Straight into the light’s fading glow.
“This isn’t war,” he said.
(quiet)
“It’s a hunt.”
Something moved above.
A shape detached from one of the ships.
It fell.
Fast.
BOOM.
The ground cracked.
Dust exploded outward.
The soldiers raised their weapons.
“FORM UP!”
The dust cleared.
The alien stood there.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
Its head tilted slightly.
[New threat detected.]
Alessandra stepped forward.
Sword in hand.
“You’re in my kingdom.”
The alien didn’t respond.
It moved.
FAST.
It crossed the distance in a blink.
CLANG.
Alessandra blocked.
The force pushed him back half a step—
But only half.
His eyes narrowed.
“…good.”
He pushed back.
Hard.
The alien adjusted—
Striking again.
Faster.
Alessandra turned his blade—
Redirected—
Countered.
The clash echoed through the street.
“ATTACK!” one of the captains shouted.
The soldiers rushed in.
Bad move.
The alien reacted instantly.
It moved through them like they were standing still.
One down.
Two down.
Three—
“BACK!” Alessandra roared.
The soldiers froze.
Too late for some.
The alien turned—
Locking onto Alessandra again.
[Primary threat identified.]
Alessandra smirked slightly.
“…finally.”
He stepped forward.
INT. PALACE – CENTRAL HALL
The fight was worse.
Jason was breathing harder now.
“…okay—this is getting stupid.”
He ducked another strike.
Homer slammed his shield forward.
“Focus!”
“I AM FOCUSED!” Jason snapped. “They just don’t stay where I hit them!”
Another alien dropped.
BOOM.
Perseus moved instantly.
He didn’t hesitate.
Didn’t speak.
He struck.
Fast.
The alien blocked—
But slower than before.
Perseus’s second strike cut deeper.
The alien staggered.
Homer saw it.
“Now!”
Jason jumped in.
Full force.
CLANG—CRACK.
The alien was driven back.
Jason grinned.
“…yeah.”
(beat)
“That’s better.”
Behind them—
Captain Theodore watched.
“They’re adapting to us…”
(quiet)
“…and we’re adapting to them.”
A soldier stumbled toward him.
“Sir—we’re losing the outer halls!”
Theodore didn’t hesitate.
“Then we don’t hold the halls.”
The soldier blinked.
“…what?”
Theodore turned.
Eyes sharp.
“We pull everything to one point.”
“Where?”
Theodore looked toward the balcony.
“…her.”
EXT. BALCONY
Elara stood still.
Too still.
The world around her felt distant.
Muted.
Her heartbeat was loud.
Heavy.
Not normal.
“…why does it feel like…”
She closed her eyes briefly.
“…I’ve been here before…”
The voice returned.
[You are remembering.]
Her eyes snapped open.
“…stop talking to me.”
[You cannot stop what you are.]
Her hands trembled.
“No…”
Behind her—
Sophia grabbed Alexander’s arm.
“She’s changing.”
Alexander didn’t look away.
“I know.”
Another alien approached.
This one slower.
Careful.
Watching Elara.
[Energy confirmed.]
Elara stared at it.
“…what do you want from me…”
[Return.]
Her breath caught.
“Return… where?”
No answer.
INT. ALIEN FLAGSHIP
Eros stood still.
Watching everything.
“She’s stabilizing faster than expected.”
The alien king stood beside him.
“…yes.”
Eros glanced at him.
“Do you still want her intact?”
A pause.
The king’s voice was cold.
“She is not optional.”
EXT. STREETS – OUTSIDE PALACE
Alessandra was still standing.
Still fighting.
The alien in front of him moved again.
This time—
Faster.
Alessandra blocked.
Turned.
Struck.
But the alien countered—
Hard.
He slid back.
Boots scraping against stone.
Blood.
A thin line appeared on his arm.
One of the soldiers gasped.
“My king—!”
Alessandra raised his hand.
Stopping him.
“…stay back.”
His eyes stayed on the alien.
“…this one is mine.”
The alien tilted its head.
[Combat capability: high.]
Alessandra smiled.
“…you’re learning.”
He stepped forward again.
INT. PALACE – BALCONY AREA
Jason wiped blood from his lip.
“…I’m starting to hate this place.”
Homer glanced at him.
“You say that every time.”
“Yeah, but this time I mean it.”
Perseus didn’t speak.
He was watching Elara.
“…something’s wrong,” he said quietly.
Jason frowned.
“…you just noticed?”
“No,” Perseus said.
“…something else.”
Elara stepped forward.
The air around her warped.
Alexander turned sharply.
“Elara—don’t!”
Too late.
The alien in front of her moved.
FAST.
But—
It stopped.
Mid-motion.
Frozen.
Jason blinked.
“…what the—”
Elara’s hand was raised.
Her eyes glowing faintly.
“…I said…”
Her voice wasn’t normal.
“…stop.”
The alien trembled.
Its systems flickered.
[Override… detected…]
Perseus stepped back slightly.
“…she’s controlling it.”
Sophia shook her head.
“No… no, that’s not possible…”
The alien dropped to one knee.
Everyone froze.
Jason whispered,
“…okay, now that’s scary.”
Elara’s breathing slowed.
Her voice was softer now.
“…what are you…”
The alien’s head lowered.
[You are…]
Static.
Then—
Everything snapped.
The alien broke free.
Violently.
It screamed—a harsh, metallic sound.
It attacked.
Alexander moved instantly.
CLANG.
He blocked.
But the force threw him back.
“Elara!” Sophia screamed.
EXT. STREETS – FINAL MOMENTS
Alessandra stood over the alien.
Breathing hard.
His blade was buried deep in its side.
The creature twitched—
Then went still.
Silence.
The soldiers stared.
“…he killed it…”
Alessandra pulled his blade free.
“…it can die.”
He looked toward the palace.
The sky burned above it.
“…then so can the rest.”
FINAL SCENE
Inside the palace—
Elara stood trembling.
The alien in front of her reset its stance.
Stronger.
Angrier.
[Target escalation.]
Outside—
More ships moved.
More lights formed.
Inside the flagship—
The alien king stepped forward.
“…enough waiting.”
And far below—
Two forces were about to collide.
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