CURRENT LOCATION: SHEHU COMPOUND — PUBLIC COURT

Few minutes earlier…

The court is alive.

Lanterns hang overhead, casting warm, shifting light across the space. Drums pulse steadily, joined by the sharp rhythm of clapping and the softer strings of traditional instruments. Nobles recline on layered cushions, their robes rich, their posture loose with comfort. Servants move constantly, pouring drink, refilling bowls, keeping the night alive.

At the center, dancers move gracefully.

Shehu sits elevated among wealthy guests, laughing loudly.

A calabash cup raised high.

SFX: DRUM DRUM — CLAP CLAP

The dancers spin and sway.

Nobles cheer.

Wine pours freely into carved bowls.

A well-dressed noble leans toward Shehu, voice respectful.

“Ah, Young Master… may this night mark your glorious coming of age.”

Shehu grins, face already flushed from alcohol.

“Hah! Speak louder — tonight belongs to me!”

The noble leans closer, lowering his voice.

“I hear… you have already secured yourself a beautiful young gem to accompany you tonight.”

Shehu bursts into laughter.

“Yes! Yes! Word travels fast in this town!”

They laugh together.

SFX: HA HA HA

Shehu drinks deeply, then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

“What is power if not enjoyed?” he says, voice thick with pride.

Then—

Distant shouting cuts through the celebration.

“INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS!”

The music falters.

Dancers freeze mid-step.

Guests turn, confused.

Guards around the court snap into motion.

“Move! To the inner courtyard!” one shouts.

Shehu slowly rises.

“…What?” he mutters, confusion hardening into anger.

The shouting grows closer.

“INTRUDER IN THE COURTYARD!”

Guards rush past frightened guests.

Shehu grabs one by the collar mid-run.

“Who dares?! What intruder?!” he demands, fury rising.

“My lord—we are investigating!” the guard stammers.

Shehu’s expression darkens instantly.

“Where is Bature?!”

“I—I will alert him immediately!” the guard answers, sweating.

Shehu shoves him forward.

“Bring him to me! Find out who entered my house!”

His thoughts sharpen.

…The girl? Did she escape?

“WAIT!” he suddenly commands.

Two guards halt instantly.

“Do not kill the intruder,” Shehu says sharply. “Make sure it is not the girl.”

He points toward the residence halls.

“Go to my chambers. Confirm she is still there!”

“Yes, Young Master!” they respond, bowing deeply.

They sprint off.

SFX: RUN RUN RUN

Guests begin whispering.

Uneasy.

One leans toward Shehu.

“…Is everything alright?”

Shehu turns slowly.

Silence falls.

His face goes blank.

But something beneath it is worse.

“NO! EVERYTHING IS NOT ALRIGHT!” he explodes.

The guest recoils, falling backward.

SFX: THUD

“I—I apologize!”

Fear spreads through the crowd.

Shehu scans the court.

Rage contained—barely.

He throws his cup to the ground.

SFX: CRASH

Wine splashes across the floor.

“Everyone — OUT!” he commands.

Panic.

Guests scramble to leave.

Soon—

He stands alone in the center of the court.

Breathing heavy.

Lantern light flickers across his face.

The anger fades.

Something colder replaces it.

“Whoever you are… you chose the wrong night,” Shehu says quietly.

CURRENT LOCATION: SHEHU COMPOUND — OUTER WALL (NEAR SECRET PASSAGE EXIT)
Seven minutes earlier…

The night is still.

Bature stands atop the compound wall, a massive silhouette against the moonlight. Relaxed. Unbothered. A carved calabash rests in his hand as he drinks calmly.

Below him, a lone guard stands at attention.

Wine drips slightly as Bature lowers the calabash.

“Hey—” he begins, looking down.

Suddenly—

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Alarm bells erupt across the compound.

Both men react.

“Sir! I think there’s an intruder!” the guard calls out.

Bature looks down at him.

Cold.

Dismissive.

“‘You think?’ …Tch.”

He drinks again.

“We wait,” he says calmly.

“It is probably the girl trying to escape… We will just catch her again later.”

“Yes, sir!” the guard responds immediately, straightening.

But Bature’s eyes narrow slightly.

Something unsettles him.

A flicker of memory.

A dark tunnel.

Faint shapes in the shadows.

Still.

Watching.

…Hmm.

Two guards rush into view below.

“Bature! Where have you been?!” one shouts upward.

“The Young Master has been looking for you!”

“Didn’t you hear? There’s an intruder!” the guard continues angrily.

He turns to the guard below.

“Why didn’t you bring him?!”

“Enough. Calm yourself—” another guard begins.

Bature turns his head toward them.

Silence falls instantly.

He says nothing.

Only watches.

Then—

He steps forward.

Off the wall.

For a brief moment—

He hangs in the air.

Then—

THUD.

He lands directly in front of the shouting guard.

Dust lifts.

The guard barely reacts.

Bature walks past him calmly.

Behind him—

The guard coughs suddenly.

Violently.

Blood spills from his mouth.

The other guards freeze.

Shock.

The man collapses.

Eyes wide.

He doesn’t even understand what happened.

Bature keeps walking.

Doesn’t look back.

After a second—

The remaining guard hurries after him.

CURRENT LOCATION: SHEHU COMPOUND — PRIVATE CHAMBER (ZAINAB’S ROOM)

Zainab pounds on the heavy wooden door.

“Help! Please! What is happening out there?!”

Alarm bells echo faintly.

SFX: CLANG! CLANG!

The door bursts open.

A guard storms in—

THUD!

He shoves her violently.

She hits the floor hard.

“Stay down and keep quiet!” he snaps.

He slams the door shut behind him.

SFX: BANG!

The lock clicks into place.

“You don’t move unless ordered.”

Silence returns.

Zainab breathes shakily.

Fear rising again.

Her eyes drift slowly.

Toward the curtain.

The alarm continues faintly outside.

She hesitates.

Then moves.

She pulls the curtain open.

Moonlight floods the room.

From above—

She looks down.

Far below—

Duniya and Sadiq.

Running along the outer wall.

Her breath catches.

“…Duniya…?” she whispers.

Hope rises.

Sharp.

Sudden.

Then—

Reality hits.

The height.

The drop.

Stone waiting below.

Her expression falters.

Footsteps approach.

SFX: STEP… STEP…

She freezes.

Quickly—

She shuts the curtain.

Returns to the bed.

Forces stillness.

The door opens again.

A senior guard enters.

Sharp. Observant.

Another stands behind him.

“Make sure the girl hasn’t moved.”

He scans the room carefully.

Zainab sits still.

Barely breathing.

Satisfied—

He turns.

“Search that side of the residence. Find the intruders.”

The guards nod.

“You— stay here,” he orders one of them. “Watch her at all times. The Young Master will arrive soon.”

The door closes again.

Only one guard remains.

Zainab lowers her head.

Her eyes tremble.

Help is close.

But danger is closer.