Scene opens — the base of the Black Tower.Rain pours down. Red lightning cracks in the sky. The tower pulses with energy like it's breathing.
Liya stands at the entrance, fists clenched, heart racing.
Liya:"He's not answering anymore… I'm going in."
Shaggy (grabbing her arm):"Wait. You sure that's what he'd want?"
Liya (snaps):"I don't care. If he dies in there, I die too."
She pulls free and steps toward the entrance. But suddenly—
The dead rise.
Dozens of infected crawl out from the shadows. From the rubble. From underground.
But they don't attack.
They stand still—silent. Watching.
Liya freezes. Shaggy steps in front of her, blade drawn.
Shaggy:"...Something's wrong."
The zombies form a wall, blocking the tower's entrance. Their eyes glow faint blue. They growl low—but make no move to strike.
Liya (confused, tense):"Why aren't they attacking us?"
Shaggy (realization dawning):"...They're not here to kill us."
Suddenly, one of the infected steps forward. A former soldier—half its face missing, but its movements controlled. Intelligent.
It kneels.
Telepathic Voice (in Liya and Shaggy's heads):"Our master is inside.His pain is ours.Our mission: protect his blood."
Liya (shocked):"They're… talking? Through my head…?"
Flashback hits Liya —
She remembers the strange moment earlier when Aran whispered in her mind:"If I don't come back… burn this place."
Now she understands.
Shaggy (whispers):"...He's not just fighting the virus. He commands it."
The zombies part slightly. One reaches out — slowly — and places something at Liya's feet.
A small data chip. Glowing blue.
Telepathic Voice:"The truth… is in his memory.When the tower breaks, show him what he was.So he can become what he must be."
Liya takes the chip, trembling.
Liya:"...Aran. What have they done to you?"
Shaggy (backing up, glancing at the sky):"This isn't just science anymore. This is control. This is power."
Thunder strikes behind them. The ground rumbles. The tower glows bright red. Inside, something is happening.
Final shot:
Liya and Shaggy stand outside the tower, surrounded by a silent army of zombies — guarding them, awaiting orders.
Meanwhile, deep inside, Aran's heart pulses with virus energy as he walks toward the final chamber…
TO BE CONTINUED...