Man Cave — Night
Everything feels… off.
Too quiet again.
Like the calm before something ugly.
Christina sits on the couch.
Dry hoodie.
Bruised knuckles.
Staring at nothing.
Henry stands nearby.
Watching her.
Not saying anything.
Ray is at the console with Charlotte and Schwoz.
Trying to focus.
Failing.
Jasper whispers—
"…I don't like quiet."
Charlotte mutters—
"Yeah. That's when things explode."
Henry Finally Moves
He walks over.
Sits beside Christina.
Careful.
"…You okay?"
She exhales slowly.
"…Yeah."
He doesn't believe her.
"…You don't have to lie."
She glances at him.
"…I'm not lying."
A beat.
"…I'm just tired."
Henry nods.
"…Yeah. Same."
Silence.
Then—
Christina whispers—
"…She was right, you know."
Henry frowns.
"…No."
She shakes her head.
"If something happens to you—"
Henry cuts her off.
"It won't."
Christina's voice cracks slightly.
"You don't know that."
Henry leans closer.
"…Then I'll take the risk."
She looks at him.
"…Why."
Henry hesitates.
This time—
No jokes.
No sarcasm.
Just truth.
"…Because I love you."
Silence.
Everything stops.
Christina blinks.
"…What."
Henry swallows hard.
"…I didn't plan it."
He laughs nervously.
"…You showed up, wrecked everything, insulted me, almost killed me like three times—"
She lets out a small laugh.
But her eyes are wide.
Henry continues—
"…and I still—"
He shakes his head.
"…I still choose you."
Christina's breathing slows.
"…You're serious."
Henry nods.
"…Yeah."
She looks down.
Then back at him.
"…You're an idiot."
Henry smiles softly.
"…Yeah."
A long pause.
Then—
Christina leans in.
And kisses him.
Not rushed.
Not chaotic.
Soft.
Certain.
Real.
Henry melts instantly.
For a moment—
Nothing else exists.
Across the Room
Ray sees it.
Freezes.
Schwoz whispers—
"…Oh."
Charlotte slowly looks over.
"…Well."
Jasper gasps—
"IT'S HAPPENING."
Ray exhales slowly.
"…He's dead."
Charlotte grabs his arm.
"NO."
Ray mutters—
"…Later."
Then—
The monitors glitch.
Violently.
Everyone turns.
Charlotte frowns.
"That's not normal."
The screens flicker.
Then—
Bianca appears.
Standing beside—
The Hunter.
And someone else.
A shadowed figure.
Voice distorted.
"…Touching."
Ray's expression darkens instantly.
"…Show yourself."
The figure steps forward.
Face finally visible.
And Ray's blood runs cold.
"…No."
Christina frowns.
"…Who is that."
Ray's voice is barely there.
"…The one who took you."
Everything freezes.
Christina's heart drops.
"…What."
The figure smiles.
Calm.
Cold.
"…Hello, Christina."
Her hands start shaking.
"…You."
The mastermind tilts their head.
"You've grown."
Henry steps in front of her instantly.
"…Stay behind me."
Christina doesn't move.
She can't.
The voice continues—
"You were never meant to come back."
Ray steps forward.
"…You don't get to say that."
The mastermind smiles.
"I made sure of it."
Christina's breathing turns uneven.
"…You took me."
The figure nods slightly.
"Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
The Truth Hits
Christina whispers—
"…Why."
The mastermind's voice is calm.
"Because you were leverage."
Ray's fists clench.
"…You ruined her life."
The mastermind shrugs.
"I improved mine."
Henry's voice is sharp—
"You're done."
The mastermind chuckles.
"No."
They press a button.
The screen splits.
Multiple locations.
Bombs.
Across the city.
Charlotte gasps.
"…No way."
The mastermind continues—
"Now we finish what we started."
Christina's voice shakes—
"…You're not taking anything else from me."
The mastermind smiles.
"We'll see."
The screen cuts.
Gone.
Silence
No one moves.
Then—
Ray speaks.
Voice deadly.
"…We're ending this."
Henry nods.
"…Yeah."
Christina steps forward.
"…I'm coming."
Ray looks at her.
Long moment.
Then—
"…I know."
No argument.
No hesitation.
Just acceptance.
Outside the city—
The mastermind watches from a distance.
Bianca beside them.
The Hunter behind.
The mastermind whispers—
"…Let's see if he chooses her again."