Chapter 11 – Scene 1: "The White Cage"
The largest prison in the world.
Not loud.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
Silent.
Too silent.
A pure white room. No windows. No shadows. No sense of time.
Only Rio.
He sits alone on the floor, legs stretched out, casually tossing darts at a board mounted on the wall.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Every dart hits perfectly.
Not skill.
Control.
Too much control.
On the wall beside the dartboard…
A photo.
Rio… smiling.
Next to Ace.
A hero.
A dream.
A life he'll never have.
Rio throws another dart — harder this time.
It pierces directly through Ace's image.
He stares at it.
Not angry.
Just… tired.
Footsteps.
Soft. Calm. Unafraid.
The kind of footsteps that don't belong in a place like this.
The door opens slowly.
A man steps in.
Elegant.
Untouched by the world around him.
Apollo.
Wearing a flawless white suit, a deep blue velvet shirt beneath it, polished shoes, and tinted blue glasses that catch the sterile light.
He looks like he belongs somewhere beautiful.
Not here.
Apollo (smiling lightly):
"Rio… it's good to see you."
He steps further into the room, glancing around like he's visiting a gallery, not a prison cell.
Apollo:
"I won't take too much of your time… I know how valuable it is in a place where time doesn't move."
He notices the darts.
The precision.
Then…
The photo.
He walks closer to it.
Apollo (softly, almost amused):
"You never miss… do you?"
Rio doesn't respond.
He just throws another dart.
It stops mid-air for a second… then gently lowers itself into the board.
Apollo's smile widens slightly.
Apollo:
"Such control… such power…"
(beat)
"And yet… you're here."
Rio finally speaks.
Quiet. Calm.
Rio:
"Don't start."
Apollo chuckles softly, raising his hands in mock surrender.
Apollo:
"Fair enough."
(beat, tone shifts slightly)
"But answer me this…"
He turns, looking directly at Rio.
Apollo:
"Don't you want to be a hero?"
Silence.
Apollo (stepping closer):
"You could save people. Protect them. Change lives."
(leans slightly forward)
"We could do it together."
Rio's eyes don't move.
Apollo (gesturing to the photo):
"You admire him… don't you?"
Rio's gaze flickers.
Just slightly.
Apollo:
"Ace."
(soft smile)
"Your hero."
Rio's eyes widen just a little.
Not with excitement.
With something deeper.
Rio (quietly):
"I am a fan of Ace…"
(beat)
"But you got it wrong."
He finally looks at Apollo.
For real this time.
Rio:
"I don't want to be Ace."
The room feels heavier.
Rio (voice low, honest, almost breaking):
"I don't want to be a hero…"
(beat)
"I just want to be normal."
Apollo watches him carefully now.
Studying him.
Rio (looking away):
"I want to walk outside without people being scared of me."
"I want to talk to someone without them watching my hands…"
"I want a life where I don't have to think before I breathe."
The air in the room subtly shifts.
The walls creak slightly.
Invisible pressure.
Rio closes his eyes.
Forcing it down.
Rio (softly):
"But I can't."
(beat)
"I can't control it."
A faint hum fills the room.
The darts begin to tremble on the board.
Rio:
"So they put me here."
Silence.
Apollo adjusts his glasses.
That same calm smile still there…
But now it feels different.
Calculated.
Apollo:
"…You're not wrong."
(beat)
"But you're not right either."
He reaches into his pocket.
Pulls out a small container.
Apollo:
"I've been working on something."
He gently shakes it.
Pills.
Apollo (smooth, confident):
"Medicine."
Rio's expression immediately changes.
Guarded.
Rio:
"I don't like pills."
Apollo:
"I know."
(steps closer)
"They change you. Your body… your mind…"
(softly)
"They make you feel like you're not yourself."
Rio stays silent.
Apollo (leaning slightly, voice lower):
"But what if I told you…"
"I could give you yourself back?"
A pause.
Apollo:
"I've healed people, Rio."
"Mutations. Instabilities. Things far worse than this."
(gestures lightly around)
"This… is nothing."
He holds the pills out.
Right in front of Rio.
Apollo (smiling):
"Trust me."
A long silence.
Rio stares at the pills.
Then at the photo.
Then back at Apollo.
His hand slowly reaches out…
He takes them.
Rio (softly):
"…Thanks."
(beat)
"I'll… see."
Apollo straightens up.
Satisfied.
But not surprised.
Apollo (turning to leave):
"Take your time."
(half-smile)
"Normal life isn't going anywhere."
He stops at the door.
Without turning back—
Apollo:
"Oh… and Rio?"
Rio looks up.
Apollo (calm, almost playful):
"Try not to miss."
His eyes briefly glance at the dart piercing Ace's face.
Then he walks out.
The door closes.
Silence returns.
Rio sits there.
Alone.
Holding the pills.
The darts slowly fall from the board.
One by one.
He looks at the photo again.
Rio (whispers):
"I don't want to be you…"
(beat)
"I just want to be free."
Fade out.
At the front of the class stands Mandy — no mask, no shadows, no fear.
Just a teacher.
Chalk in hand.
Name on the board.
"Miss Mandy."
Behind her, written in clean strokes:
"Origins of Mutants"
Mandy (calm, teaching tone):
"Years ago… the world went through war after war."
She writes as she speaks.
Mandy:
"And when the atomic bombs were used… they didn't just destroy cities…"
(beat, turning to face the class)
"They changed humanity itself."
The kids watch her closely.
Mandy:
"Radiation altered human DNA… slowly, over generations…"
"Turning ordinary people…"
(soft pause)
"Into something new."
A kid raises his hand.
Student:
"Miss… does that mean mutants are a mistake?"
The room goes quiet.
Mandy pauses.
For a moment… something darker crosses her eyes.
Her past.
Then she smiles gently.
Mandy:
"No."
(soft, but firm)
"It means… they're part of what we've become."
RIIIIINGGGG!
The bell cuts through the moment.
Mandy claps her hands lightly.
Mandy (quickly):
"Alright! Homework—write an essay on how the atomic bombs changed humanity forever. I want real thought, not just facts!"
The kids groan… then laugh… then rush out.
Energy. Noise. Life.
The door slams shut.
Silence.
Mandy exhales deeply, dropping into her chair.
Mandy (stretching, tired):
"Finally… break time."
(leans back)
"I'm already tired of being responsible…"
The door suddenly swings open again.
Emma (excited):
"Mandy!"
She runs in and hugs her tightly.
Mandy (caught off guard, then smiling wide):
"Woah—hey!"
Alya (joining in):
"You didn't think we'd leave you alone, did you?"
The three of them laugh, wrapped in a warm, genuine hug.
For a moment…
Mandy looks… happy.
Really happy.
They sit down together.
Emma:
"So how's teacher life, Miss Mandy?"
(grinning)
"Still planning to go evil again or are we safe?"
Mandy (smirking):
"Relax. I retired."
(leans forward slightly)
"For now."
Alya:
"You actually like it though, don't you?"
Mandy pauses.
Looks around the classroom.
The sunlight.
The empty desks.
The normality.
Mandy (softly):
"…Yeah."
(beat)
"It's… peaceful."
Emma (smiling):
"See? I told you. You needed this."
They start chatting more casually.
School gossip.
Funny stories.
Little complaints.
It feels like…
A real life.
Suddenly—
The door opens again.
A tall figure stands there.
Mr. Zero.
Dark skin. Long braids tied back with a fade on the sides. Muscular build. Wearing sunglasses indoors.
His presence alone shifts the room.
Mr. Zero (calm, firm):
"Emma."
The girls turn.
Mr. Zero:
"It's time."
Emma stands up immediately, energy shifting from playful to focused.
Emma:
"Training already?"
Mr. Zero:
"You want control… or not?"
Emma grins.
Emma:
"…Yeah. I do."
She turns back to Mandy and Alya.
Emma:
"Wish me luck."
Alya:
"Don't blow up the school."
Mandy (smirking):
"No promises with her."
Emma laughs and walks out with Mr. Zero.
As they leave—
Mr. Zero briefly glances at Mandy.
Just a look.
Quiet.
Measuring.
Then he's gone.
The room settles again.
A moment later—
Another presence enters.
Dr. Morning-Star.
Elegant. Calm. Observant.
Dr. Morning-Star (smiling):
"Well… look at you."
Mandy leans back in her chair.
Mandy:
"Don't start."
Dr. Morning-Star (walking in):
"A teacher. A normal life."
(looks around)
"I almost don't recognize you."
Mandy:
"Yeah well… people change."
Dr. Morning-Star sits nearby.
Dr. Morning-Star:
"And how is it… really?"
Mandy shrugs.
Mandy:
"It's strange."
(beat)
"But… good."
A pause.
Then—
Dr. Morning-Star (casually):
"Has Ace come to visit?"
Mandy freezes.
Just for a second.
Mandy (looking away):
"Nope."
(quickly)
"He's probably busy."
Alya (teasing):
"Busy… or avoiding you?"
Mandy shoots her a look.
Mandy:
"Watch it."
Dr. Morning-Star smiles knowingly.
Dr. Morning-Star:
"Hmm… interesting."
(leans slightly forward)
"You say his name differently."
Mandy frowns.
Mandy:
"What does that even mean?"
Dr. Morning-Star (playful):
"It means… you like him."
Silence.
Mandy:
"…I do not."
Alya (grinning):
"You totally do."
Mandy:
"I don't—"
(stops, frustrated)
"I just… want to talk to him."
That honesty slips out.
Dr. Morning-Star notices immediately.
Dr. Morning-Star (soft smile):
"Of course you do."
She leans back.
Dr. Morning-Star:
"Well… speaking of the outside world…"
"My husband mentioned something interesting."
Mandy looks up.
Mandy:
"What?"
Dr. Morning-Star:
"He had a meeting."
(beat)
"With Damian."
The air shifts slightly.
Alya:
"The mafia boss?"
Dr. Morning-Star:
"The one and only."
Mandy's expression hardens just a little.
Old instincts.
Old life.
Mandy:
"And?"
Dr. Morning-Star:
"Just a conversation…"
(soft smile)
"But conversations like that… usually mean something is moving."
Silence.
Mandy leans back again.
But her mind is elsewhere now.
Alya (quietly):
"You okay?"
Mandy nods.
Mandy:
"Yeah."
(beat, softer)
"…I just thought things were finally quiet."
Dr. Morning-Star watches her carefully.
Then smiles again—light, teasing.
Dr. Morning-Star:
"Well… at least one thing is clear."
Mandy raises an eyebrow.
Dr. Morning-Star:
"You miss him."
Mandy groans.
Mandy:
"Can you not?"
Alya (laughing):
"Nope. We're definitely talking about this later."
Mandy tries to hide it…
But there's a small smile on her face.
A real one.
Fade out.
Sirens echo through the city.
A bank in the middle of downtown—
Surrounded.
Inside—
Panic.
People on the ground.
Masked robbers shouting orders.
Robber:
"Nobody move! Eyes down!"
A civilian trembles, holding their child close.
Suddenly—
The temperature in the room rises.
One robber notices.
Robber:
"…Yo—why is it getting hot?"
Then—
BOOM!
The front doors burst open—
Flames rush in—but controlled.
Precise.
Through the smoke—
A figure walks in.
Ace.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Like he's done this a hundred times.
Ace (casual):
"You guys picked the wrong bank."
A robber turns and fires—
BANG! BANG!
The bullets melt mid-air.
Dripping like liquid metal onto the floor.
Silence.
Fear.
Ace (tilting his head):
"…Still doing this?"
He raises his hand slightly—
Every gun in the room begins to glow red—
Ace:
"Let's fix that."
They melt.
All of them.
Dropping uselessly from the robbers' hands.
Panic erupts.
One robber charges him—
Ace steps forward—
FLASH!
A burst of light—
He's already down.
Another tries to grab a hostage—
Ace appears in front of him instantly.
Ace (low):
"Don't."
A small flame wraps around the man's arm—
Not burning—
Just stopping him.
He collapses.
Within seconds—
Every robber is down.
Disarmed.
Alive.
The civilians are frozen.
Watching.
Ace turns to them—
His expression softens.
Ace (gentle):
"You're safe now."
He walks over, helping an older man to his feet.
Ace:
"Take a breath… it's over."
A child looks up at him.
Child:
"Are you a hero?"
Ace pauses.
Just for a second.
Then gives a small smile.
Ace:
"…Something like that."
Sirens grow louder.
Police storm in.
"Clear the area!"
"Secure the suspects!"
Officers take control quickly.
Ace turns—
About to leave—
Voice (sharp):
"Ace."
He stops.
Standing behind the police line—
Detective Kite.
She walks toward him, calm and focused.
Kite:
"You always show up… and disappear."
Ace (half-smirk):
"Timing is everything."
She stops in front of him.
Kite:
"Or maybe you just don't want responsibility."
Ace raises an eyebrow.
Kite:
"Why not work with us?"
"With the government."
"You clearly have the ability."
She gestures around.
Kite:
"You could do this the right way."
Ace looks at the scene.
The civilians.
The police.
Then back at her.
Ace:
"The right way?"
He steps closer.
Ace:
"You mean waiting."
"Waiting for clearance."
"Waiting for orders."
He gestures to the people behind him.
Ace:
"They needed help now."
Kite (firm):
"And we would've handled it."
Ace:
"Would've."
(beat)
"I did."
Tension builds.
Kite:
"You don't see the bigger picture."
"You inspire people to act like you."
"Untrained mutants… making things worse."
Ace's expression hardens slightly.
Ace:
"I'm in those streets every day."
"I see the bigger picture."
He leans in slightly.
Ace:
"I'm fighting the good fight."
A pause.
Ace (quiet, direct):
"Are you, Kite?"
Kite doesn't back down.
Kite:
"I know exactly what I'm fighting for."
"You're just making it harder."
"A spanner in the system."
Ace exhales.
Almost like he expected that.
Ace:
"People keep asking for a revolution…"
Heat begins to rise around him again.
Subtle.
Controlled.
Ace (low, powerful):
"I'm not here for that."
He looks her straight in the eyes.
Ace:
"I'm here for a revelation."
WHOOSH!
Flames ignite—
Ace shoots into the sky—
Gone.
Silence.
The wind settles.
Kite stands there, watching.
Thinking.
Police move around her, finishing the job.
Kite (quietly):
"…And that's exactly the problem."
She turns and walks away.
Behind her—
People whisper.
"Was that Ace?"
"He saved us…"
"He's amazing…"
Others—
"…He's dangerous."
Above—
Ace disappears into the clouds.
A hero.
A problem.
A symbol.
Fade out.
Night falls.
The city is quieter now.
Inside a small apartment—
Ace lands on the balcony.
He steps inside…
Removes his mask.
Now—
He is Roman.
He exhales, tired, dropping onto the couch.
Roman (quietly):
"…Another day."
He leans his head back.
Closes his eyes.
Trying to rest.
CUT TO:
The Prison
The largest prison in the world.
Silent.
Cold.
Inside a white room—
Rio stands alone.
The pill in his hand.
Shaking.
He stares at it.
Rio (whispering):
"…Trust me, he said…"
He swallows it.
Silence.
Then—
Pain.
THUD!
Rio drops to his knees.
Rio (gritting his teeth):
"W-What… is this…?!"
His body trembles violently.
Rio:
"Why… does it feel like…"
(clutching his head)
"…he's waking up…?!"
The lights begin to flicker.
Rio (terrified):
"No… no, no, no—!"
His voice cracks.
Rio:
"I can't let him take over!"
"If he comes out—"
FLASHES of destruction.
Bodies.
Chaos.
Rio (screaming):
"He'll destroy everything…!"
A deep voice overlaps his own.
Dark Voice:
"…Not everything."
The lights start violently flashing.
The room shakes.
Rio (screaming):
"APOLLOOOOO!!!"
BOOM!!!
The entire prison trembles.
Rio's blond hair begins turning black.
His green eyes—
Shift…
Into glowing red.
His skin darkens.
Spreading—
Like living shadow.
His body rises slowly into the air.
Silence.
Then—
He speaks.
But it's not him.
Dark Rio (deep, distorted):
"…How dare you…"
His head tilts unnaturally.
Dark Rio:
"…try to keep me locked inside you."
Dark energy pulses around him.
Dark Rio (smiling):
"We are not like them."
He raises his hand slowly.
Dark Rio:
"They hate us."
The walls begin to crack.
Dark Rio (whispering):
"So let me show them…"
The ceiling rips apart.
Dark Rio (cold):
"…pain."
BOOOOOOM!!!
The prison explodes outward.
Walls collapse.
Guards are thrown back.
Entire sections are destroyed.
Dark Rio floats upward—
Breaking through the roof.
Into the night sky.
CUT TO: CITY
He descends.
Slow.
Terrifying.
He lands in the middle of the street.
BOOM.
The ground cracks beneath him.
People scream.
Cars stop.
Chaos begins instantly.
Dark Rio walks forward.
Lifts his hand—
Cars rise into the air.
People are thrown back by invisible force.
Buildings begin to shake.
The road tears apart.
CUT TO: ROMAN
The TV flashes on.
NEWS REPORTER (panic):
"Breaking news! A massive prison break—unknown mutant—extreme threat level—!"
Roman's eyes widen.
On screen—
Dark Rio.
Roman (shocked):
"…Rio?"
Fear hits him immediately.
Roman (whispering):
"…No… that's not him."
He stands up fast.
Grabs his mask.
Roman:
"Wait—how is this possible…?"
He doesn't wait.
WHOOSH!
He's gone.
CUT TO: SCHOOL
Teachers gathered around a screen.
Silence.
Horror.
Mr. Morning-Star is shaking.
His eyes wide.
Mr. Morning-Star (whispering):
"…Not again…"
His voice cracks.
Mr. Morning-Star:
"Rio… what did they do to you…?"
Other teachers cover their mouths.
Emma stands there—
Confused.
Scared.
Emma:
"…What is that…?"
No one answers.
Because they know.
CUT TO: CITY CHAOS
Buildings collapsing.
People running.
Mandy—
In normal clothes.
Not Lady Moon.
Just Mandy.
She catches a falling civilian mid-air.
Mandy:
"I got you—don't panic!"
She moves fast—
Saving another.
Then another.
A child cries out—
Child:
"Mom!"
Mandy turns—
Sees a small boy trapped.
Her eyes widen.
Mandy (softly):
"…Mitchell."
She rushes forward—
Grabs him—
Pulls him away just before debris crushes the ground.
She holds him tightly.
Mandy (shaking slightly):
"You're okay… I got you…"
Her face—
No mask.
No lies.
A real hero.
CUT TO: SKY
A streak of fire tears through the clouds.
Ace.
CUT TO: GROUND
Dark Rio stands in the middle of destruction.
Everything around him is breaking.
Then—
Fire lands in front of him.
BOOM.
Ace stands there.
Facing him.
Silence.
Smoke.
Tension.
Ace (calm, but serious):
"Rio…"
Dark Rio doesn't respond.
Ace steps forward slightly.
Ace:
"Snap out of it."
Nothing.
Ace (stronger):
"We can help you."
A pause.
Ace:
"You don't have to carry that pain alone."
For a split second—
The shadows flicker.
Rio's real voice breaks through.
Rio (weak, desperate):
"…Save me…"
Ace's eyes widen.
Ace:
"I got you—!"
But—
The darkness snaps back.
Stronger.
More violent.
Dark Rio (cold, final):
"…Rio is dead."
Silence.
Dark Rio:
"The pain he felt…"
(voice deepens)
"…was beyond anything this world deserves."
The ground trembles again.
Dark Rio:
"So now…"
He raises his hand.
Dark Rio:
"The world will feel it."
Buildings crack.
Air distorts.
Dark Rio (whispering):
"I will end it."
Ace clenches his fist.
Fire ignites around him.
Determination.
Pain.
Understanding.
Two forces.
Standing opposite each other.
This is thr full chapter