INT. HERO ACADEMY — EVENING

WEATHER: Heavy clouds rolling in, no rain yet

SOUND: Students talking, lockers closing, distant laughter

MUSIC: Calm… but thin, like it could snap

Liam walks down the hallway with Luke and Tyler.

Tyler stretches.

TYLER

Please tell me we’re not training again tonight.

Luke smirks.

LUKE

You’re the one who said you wanted to get stronger.

Liam doesn’t respond.

His footsteps slow.

Northern light flickers faintly at his feet.

He stops.

LIAM

…Do you feel that?

Luke frowns.

LUKE

Feel what?

Before Liam can answer—

ALARMS BLARE.

Red lights flash along the ceiling.

SYSTEM VOICE (O.S.)

LOCKDOWN INITIATED.

All students report to secure zones immediately.

The hallway erupts into panic.

INT. HERO ACADEMY — LOCKDOWN ZONE — CONTINUOUS

Massive reinforced doors SLAM shut.

Energy barriers ignite.

Students press together, whispering.

STUDENT

Is this a drill?

STUDENT #2

It doesn’t sound like one…

Luke looks at Liam.

LUKE

You sensed this, didn’t you?

Liam nods slowly.

LIAM

Something crossed the perimeter.

Tyler clenches his fists.

TYLER

A villain?

Liam’s eyes darken.

LIAM

Worse.

EXT. HERO ACADEMY — OUTER FOREST — NIGHT

WEATHER: Wind rising, trees bending

SOUND: Metal creaking. Distant thunder

MUSIC: Low, distorted bass

A massive shape moves between the trees.

Heavy footsteps. Slow. Intentional.

THE HELIX.

Its red eyes glow through the darkness.

Sensors nearby flicker — then die.

INT. SECURITY CONTROL ROOM

Screens glitch.

One camera stabilizes for half a second—

A glimpse of pale flesh. Too many limbs.

OPERATOR (shaken)

Sir… it’s just standing there.

COMMANDER

Why isn’t it advancing?

The screen goes black.

EXT. HERO ACADEMY — ROOFTOP EDGE

The Helix stops.

Wind howls around it.

Its head slowly turns.

Not toward the buildings.

Not toward the defenses.

But toward one window.

INT. LOCKDOWN ZONE — SAME TIME

Liam stiffens.

Northern light flares violently.

LIAM

…It’s looking at me.

Luke grabs his shoulder.

LUKE

What?!

Liam’s breath shortens.

LIAM

It knows I’m here.

The lights flicker.

For a brief moment—

Liam’s vision blurs.

LIAM’S POV — THROUGH THE WALLS

Darkness.

Wind.

And then—

RED EYES.

The Helix stares directly at him.

No roar.

No movement.

Just recognition.

Something ancient and wrong locks onto him.

Northern light reacts on its own, spiraling up Liam’s arms.

Tyler steps back.

TYLER (quiet)

Liam… your eyes—