SCENE: INSIDE THE CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM
(Alia is lying on a soft bed. The room is dimly lit, shadows crawling across the walls where old Russian maps and files hang. Books, newspaper clippings, some monograms, and mysterious instruments are scattered around.)
(Zainkha quietly closes the door behind him. His expression unreadable—cold, but pain lingers somewhere deep.)
(Zainkha presses a button on the wall – the lights warm slightly. He walks slowly toward Alia.)
ZAINKHA
(in a low voice, to himself)
"You don't know, Alia...
You're not just Victor's beloved.
You are a key.
And this war… will end with you."
(He gazes at her face, gently brushes her hair. Alia is still unconscious.)
CUT TO: VICTOR – STANDING AT THE BALCONY, HOTEL
(Victor's face is tense with worry. On his phone, an old message flashes – "If she finds the lake… we lose everything.")
VICTOR
(growling to himself)
"Zainkha! You won't get her!
Alia will escape you."
---
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM – LATE NIGHT
(A warm yellow glow fills the room. Snow falls outside, frost clinging to the windows. Inside—utter silence.)
(Alia slowly regains consciousness. Her vision is blurred at first, then gradually clears.)
(She looks around—wooden walls, strange symbols. Tilts her neck—her hands are tied behind her back with a black belt.)
(She's lying on an old wooden bed. Her shirt is partly unbuttoned—as if someone deliberately left it that way. Alia flushes with embarrassment, averting her eyes.)
(Suddenly, her eyes catch something on her left side—a blue phoenix tattoo. But it's not permanent, just a sticker tattoo she had put on three months ago with a friend, as a joke.)
(But now… it feels strangely important. Did Zainkha know? Is there a hidden meaning in this tattoo?)
---
ALIA
(whispers, trying to sit up)
"My… tattoo?
Why is this… suddenly so important?"
(Her breathing grows heavier. Her heart races.)
(Footsteps echo softly from the corridor. Slowly, Zainkha enters. He's dressed in a black turtleneck, long coat. His eyes are cold, but his face carries an odd gentleness.)
---
ZAINKHA
(sitting on a chair, calmly)
"You are the Phoenix.
You'll rise from your own ashes.
That mark on your skin…
It isn't just a silly sticker, Alia.
It's a signal."
(Alia is stunned. Her lips tremble, eyes wide.)
---
ALIA
(in a whisper)
"Does Victor know?"
ZAINKHA
(smiling coldly)
"Victor is the one who put you in this game.
You're not just his lover.
You're a door.
And inside you… lies the key to Project Emberlight."
Alia is sweating, even in the cold room. She now knows—she's no longer just the heroine of a love story. She's standing at the heart of a vast conspiracy.)
---
ALIA
(tears in her eyes, but voice firm)
"Whatever you are, Zainkha…
You can't use me.
No one writes my story but me."
(Zainkha says nothing. He just stares at her. Then slowly, he steps closer. His hand reaches out, stopping at her chin.)
---
CUT TO: A MYSTERIOUS DIGITAL SCANNER IN THE ROOM
(It activates, scanning Alia's phoenix tattoo. A soft beep.)
ACCESS: PARTIALLY GRANTED
---
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM – NIGHT
(Zainkha comes close to Alia, gently touches her. Alia flinches slightly, tears filling her eyes.)
ALIA
(crying silently, voice shaking)
"I… I can't do this…"
(Zainkha says nothing. He watches her, as if trying to understand.)
(Alia wipes her tears. She slowly moves toward the door, struggling. She's limping, clearly in pain.)
---
ZAINKHA – CONTINUED
(Alia sits on the bed, her restraints now loosened. Her face is filled with fear and quiet defiance.)
(Zainkha enters the room slowly, holding a glass of red wine. The air carries a subtle aroma—aged wood, cold smoke, and something heavy… like blood.)
ZAINKHA
(softly)
"Do you know, Alia…
what fear smells like?"
(He raises the glass toward her… then slowly pours it onto her chest. The deep red wine spreads across her white shirt like blood on snow.)
ALIA
(shocked, whispering)
"No… Zainkha… don't do this..."
(She backs away, eyes filled with panic. Zainkha stays quiet for a moment, then softly smiles—not viciously, but almost mournfully.)
(He kneels beside her. His lips hover near her chest, but he doesn't kiss her—just exhales, as if some memory is buried there.)
ZAINKHA
(whispers in her ear)
"There's fire in your body…
but I only came to touch the shadow."
(Alia trembles. Tears roll down her cheeks—half shame, half rage.)
---
ALIA
(fierce, eyes blazing)
"I'm not a project.
Not Victor's, not yours."
(Zainkha moves back. He sees now—this girl hasn't broken.
She's starting to burn.)
---
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM – NIGHT (CONTINUED)
(Alia slowly moves toward the door. It's closed. She's exhausted. Her legs hurt. She can barely walk. Her face shows pain and helplessness.)
ALIA
(voice trembling, holding back tears)
"I… I can't walk…"
(Suddenly the door creaks open. Zainkha enters, slow and quiet.
His eyes are filled with a strange guilt.)
ZAINKHA
(standing by the door, softly)
"Alia… I shouldn't have done this to you.
I made a mistake."
(He hesitates, then gently lifts Alia into his arms.
Her tears fall freely now—but she doesn't resist.)
ALIA
(whispers, voice trembling)
"Zainkha… I'm… scared."
(Zainkha gently strokes her hair, then starts walking out of the room. He closes the door behind him.)
ZAINKHA
(speaking, more to himself)
"I didn't want to hurt you.
I just… wanted to save you."
(closing his eyes, whispering)
"Exactly what we needed."
---
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – MAIN FLOOR – NIGHT
(Victor is frantically searching room after room, his face pale, filled with fear and pain.)
VICTOR
(voice cracking, calling out)
"Alia… my princess… where are you? Are you safe?"
(He wanders blindly, every sound from within his bones breaking him down.)
VICTOR
(softer now, to himself)
"Please… come back…
Come back to me…"
(He collapses to the ground, shoulders shaking, wiping his eyes with trembling hands.)
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM – NIGHT
(Victor leaves, his eyes filled with despair and pain. He doesn't look back.)
(The room falls silent, the only sound is the faint whistling of the wind outside. Alia is asleep in Zainkha's lap, her body completely relaxed. Her face is peaceful—fear and pain seem to have faded.)
(Zainkha gently strokes Alia's hair, a soft smile on his lips, as if he, too, has found a moment of peace.)
ZAINKHA
(whispering softly)
"Peace... you'll find it... just hold on a little longer."
(The camera slowly pans out. Through the glass window, the cold Alaskan night light quietly seeps into the room.)
---
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM – LATE NIGHT
(The snowfall outside has stopped. The frost on the windows is slowly melting. Moonlight casts shadows into the room.)
(Inside—warm light, utter stillness. Zainkha is sitting on the floor, leaning back. Alia lies in his lap. Both are deep in sleep. Their bodies, exhausted by pain, emotion, and conflict, now rest in sync, breathing quietly.)
(Alia's face shows no fear now—only peace. Zainkha's face carries a sense of surrender, of gentle vulnerability—like a warrior finally at rest.)
(The camera gradually lifts. Outside, the night sky glitters with stars.)
FADE OUT.
---
SCENE: ALASKAN CHALET – BASEMENT ROOM – PRE-DAWN
(The air in the room is heavy. Outside, snow begins to fall again. Inside, under soft lighting, Zainkha and Alia lie close together.)
(Alia is half-awake, but there's no fear in her eyes—only a calm exhaustion.)
(Zainkha moves in close, places a soft kiss on her forehead, then pauses. His eyes hold something unspoken.)
(His fingers move gently to the buttons of Alia's shirt. He undoes them one by one—not with haste, but with a quiet reverence, as if each layer holds a memory of sorrow.)
(Alia keeps her eyes closed, still. Her breathing grows slightly deeper.)
(Neither of them speaks, but the room understands—there is no force here, no demand—only a quiet touch built from long-held ache.)
(Zainkha places his hand softly over her chest, but he doesn't kiss her. He waits, as if listening—for permission, for silence, for truth.)
FADE OUT –
Snow continues to fall outside.
Inside, silence—but not emptiness.
---
SCENE CUT TO: LUXURY MOUNTAIN RESORT – MASTER SUITE – MORNING
(Through the large windows, the snow-covered mountains stretch endlessly. Sunlight floods the room with golden light. A luxurious room—wood and gold entwined in its design. A soft bed, flowing drapes, and scented candles still burning.)SCENE: LUXURY MOUNTAIN RESORT – MASTER SUITE – MORNING
(Alia slowly opens her eyes. She looks around, dazed and confused. It's as if she can't quite tell—whether this moment is real or a dream.)
(Beside her, Victor is sleeping peacefully. His breath is calm, his face tired, but there's a sense of security in his presence.)
(Alia slowly sits up. She looks at her own body, then glances at Victor—her eyes showing a mix of shock, uncertainty, and a hint of silent resentment.)
ALIA
(softly, to herself)
"Zainkha…?"
(She gets out of bed and walks toward the window. Outside, the resort's pristine courtyard glows under the early morning light, reflections dancing on the pool. Everything looks perfect, but something in her eyes suggests an absence—something missing.)
(From behind, Victor stirs awake, rubbing sleep from his eyes.)
VICTOR
(gently smiling)
"Are you alright, princess? We're safe now."
(Alia says nothing. Her eyes remain fixed outside, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.)
---
SCENE CONTINUES – MASTER SUITE – EARLY MORNING
(Alia suddenly starts to cry, trembling.)
ALIA
(tearfully, voice shaking)
"What's happening to me? Victor... tell me, what are you doing? Victor, tell me..."
(She runs to him, grabbing him tightly, desperate.)
ALIA
(shouting slightly)
"Victor... help me. I don't understand..."
(Just then, the door opens. Zainkha steps in—his face full of sadness and concern. He rushes to Alia and embraces her. Despite her fear and panic, an unexplainable calm washes over her.)
ZAINKHA
(softly, grief-stricken)
"I'm here, Alia... It's going to be alright."
(Victor stands frozen, stunned—unable to believe what he's seeing.)
VICTOR
(voice trembling)
"Alia, what's going on? What's wrong with you?"
(He moves slowly toward her, eyes full of uncertainty and concern.)
---
SCENE CONTINUES – MOMENTS LATER
(Zainkha holds Alia tightly. Her eyes are wet with tears. His expression shows deep sorrow and regret.)
ALIA
(voice heavy with emotion, eyes brimming)
"I... I can't do this anymore..."
(Zainkha remains silent for a moment, holding her. Then he gently lets go and stands up. Pain ripples across his face.)
ZAINKHA
(whispers)
"Let me go my way... Do what you must, for yourself."
(He walks slowly to the door, then closes it gently behind him.)
(Alia slowly sinks down, her body weakening. Her tears keep flowing. Her breathing becomes shallow—she faints.)
(Victor rushes over in panic, kneels beside her, and places his hand on hers.)
VICTOR
(worried)
"Alia? Can you hear me? Please... say something..."
---
SCENE: MASTER SUITE – NIGHT
(The room is silent. Alia is lying in deep sleep, her body finally resting. Victor stands by the door, eyes burning with helplessness and rage. He clenches his fists, fighting a war inside himself.)
(He walks slowly toward her, his expression intense. His hand rises—as if to strike—but then he stops.)
(Tears begin to gather in his eyes. He breaks down, struggling to breathe as he cries.)
(He kneels beside her, takes her hand, and weeps softly.)
VICTOR
(low, sobbing)
"I... I don't want to lose you again, Alia..."
(He strokes her hair gently, trying to calm himself. The rage is gone. What's left is only grief.)