Clouds gather above.
SHIN YAGAMI walks quickly, hoodie up, hands buried in his pockets.
His jaw is tense.
SHIN (V.O.)
Okay. No more demons.
No more blades.
No more haunted jewelry.
I’m done.
He rounds a corner and freezes.
Stops in the middle of the sidewalk.
Looks ahead.
SHIN (quietly)
...No way.
Nothing.
Just a blank wall.
Like the shop was never there.
No sign.
No door.
No windows.
Not even the blue neon.
Just bricks.
Solid, cold, and wrong.
SHIN
What the hell…?
He runs his hand along the wall.
Solid.
SHIN
No.
No no no no—this is where it was!
Right here!
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
Looking for something?
SHIN
WHERE IS IT?!
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
Gone. Like smoke.
Or better yet... like a bad dream you woke up too late from.
SHIN
This isn’t happening…
He punches the wall.
Pain jolts through his hand.
He growls, turning in circles, searching.
SHIN
There has to be something—
anything—
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
There’s nothing, Shin.
There never was.
SHIN
SHUT UP!!
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
You’re mine now.
It’s time to stop pretending you have a choice.
Shin rips the pendant off his neck,
throws it across the alley.
It clinks against the ground.
Doesn’t bounce.
Just sits there, dark and silent.
SHIN
I’m done.
You hear me?!
Get OUT of my head!
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
You think you can abandon me?
SHIN
Watch me.
He picks up the orb again,
storms down the street.
Shin stands over the railing.
Water churns below.
He holds the orb over the edge, ready to drop it.
SHIN
Goodbye.
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
Go ahead.
Toss me.
You’ll still hear me scream when the Wraiths rip you in half.
SHIN
I’ll take my chances.
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
No, you won’t.
Shin’s arm shakes.
Sweat on his brow.
The orb suddenly glows—burns his palm.
He cries out, dropping it.
But it doesn’t fall.
It floats.
Hovers in place, black tendrils of shadow curling around it.
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
You can’t run.
You can’t hide.
You’re marked.
You’re chosen.
And now?
You’re stuck.
The orb floats back into his hand.
Locks itself around his neck with a faint click.
SHIN (through clenched teeth)
...Son of a bitch.
He slams his fist into the railing, breath ragged.
The rain begins to fall.
SHIN
Fine.
You win.
I’ll play your stupid game.
Thunder cracks above.
Shin walks off the bridge, shoulders low, storm building behind him.
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
You’ll thank me... eventually.
SHIN
Don’t count on it.
He disappears into the rain.
FADE OUT.
Cue intro music...
The bell rings for the start of class.
It's the first lesson of the day.
SHIN is on the school roof.
Sitting on the floor.
Thinking hard.
SHIN (sighs)
Great.
Got myself into a massive mess, thanks to this orb.
SHIN pulls out the BLACK EDGE.
It's pulsating and glowing again.
SHIN
Well, let's hope I don't get offed.
MR. NAKASHITA comes up from the door leading to the roof.
He instantly looks at SHIN with annoyance in his eyes.
MR. NAKASHITA (annoyed)
YAGAMI!
Just what in Neptune's name do you think you're doing?
SHIN sighs.
Leans back onto the wall.
SHIN (rolls eyes)
I call it sitting on my ass.
What about you?
MR. NAKASHITA grits his teeth.
He walks over slowly to SHIN.
MR. NAKASHITA (shouting)
DON'T YOU TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME!
(composes himself)
Get yourself to class. Now.
SHIN (grumbling)
Whatever, man...
It’s not like I’m learning anything in there anyway.
MR. NAKASHITA (firm, low)
You’re one screw-up away from getting expelled, Yagami.
One.
SHIN (smirking)
Cool.
Maybe I’ll finally get some peace and quiet.
MR. NAKASHITA
This isn’t funny.
You’re not untouchable.
One day, that attitude’s going to come back to bite you.
Hard.
SHIN (quietly, under his breath)
It already has...
MR. NAKASHITA
What was that?
SHIN (nods, standing up)
Nothing.
I’ll head to class.
He brushes past Nakashita, eyes shadowed.
But the fire is building behind them.
BLACK EDGE (V.O.)
You can’t ignore it forever, Shin.
The others are coming.
Whether you're ready or not.
SHIN (low, to himself)
Then I better be ready.
He walks off down the stairs, hoodie up.
Lightning flashes in the distance.
His expression hardens.
SHIN (V.O.)
Pawn shop’s gone.
Answers are buried.
But I’m still breathing.
So I’ll keep moving...
Until I figure out what the hell this thing really wants from me.
FADE OUT.
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