The Bride they burned

"He gave her a throne of pain.

So she carved it into a kingdom of revenge."

---

NYRA – RAVIAN'S ESTATE, 6:21 A.M.

The smell hit me first—sterile marble, cologne, and the faintest whiff of gunpowder.

He was waiting.

Ravian.

Still polished. Still poisonous.

> "You didn't bring your army," he smirked.

> "I am the army."

I stood tall, all black—boots, coat, eyes.

No mascara. No lipstick. Just warpaint made of trauma.

> "Where's my son?" I asked.

> "He's being treated well. Even has a new sketchpad."

He grinned.

"Only lost one hand so far."

I didn't react.

That scared him.

> "You want revenge?" he taunted. "Then pull the trigger."

I raised the gun.

> "Oh no, Ravian. I want worse than death for you."

---

AARAV – BASEMENT CORRIDOR

The pain in his hand made him dizzy, but the guard was unconscious and his pocket had a key.

The boy moved silently, blood trailing down his sleeve.

He didn't cry.

Not anymore.

He found a vent. Small, rusted. But it led out.

Probably.

> "Please work," he whispered.

He crawled inside.

Behind him—someone watched.

---

SAHIR & LEO – ON THE ROAD

> "You drive like you're trying to kill me," Sahir snapped.

> "That's rich, coming from the guy who let her marry a demon," Leo growled back.

> "At least I didn't kiss her in front of surveillance like a teenage idiot."

> "You jealous?"

> "Of you?" Sahir scoffed. "I came back. You just got lucky she didn't shoot you yet."

The car screeched to a halt.

> "We're here," Leo said.

They looked up.

The mansion.

Steel gates. Private army.

And smoke.

> "She's already inside," Sahir whispered.

---

CELESTE – SECURITY CONTROL ROOM

She wore the dead woman's face like a new dress.

Fake ID. Wig. Contacts.

She stepped over the guard's body and typed into the system.

"Override."

> "Come to me, Nyra," she whispered to the camera.

"If I can't have you whole…

then I'll have your ashes."

---

NYRA – INSIDE THE DINING HALL

Ravian poured wine.

> "Do you remember our wedding night?"

> "You drugged me."

> "You bled red onto white satin."

> "You told me pain was love."

He smiled.

> "And yet here we are again. You and me. Red and white. Fire and forgiveness."

I walked to him.

Close enough to smell the rot behind his cologne.

> "Forgiveness?" I said softly.

"I buried her in your wine cellar. You don't get her anymore."

I pulled the trigger.

Click.

Empty.

He laughed.

> "You really thought I'd give you a loaded gun?"

> "No," I smirked.

"I brought the bullets in me."

---

LEO & SAHIR – BREAKING IN

> "Split up," Leo said. "You find Aarav. I'll find him."

> "And Nyra?"

> "She doesn't need finding. She is the storm."

They slipped in, knives out, past fallen guards.

---

AARAV – NEAR THE EXIT

He was almost there.

Sunlight.

He reached out—

Only to be pulled back by a figure in red.

> "Hello, little prince," Meher cooed. "We're not done with you."

He screamed.

---

NYRA – END OF THE HALL

Ravian pressed her against the wall.

> "You think you're strong?" he hissed. "I made you. I own you."

She laughed in his face.

> "You don't even own your name anymore."

Then she stabbed him.

Once.

Twice.

And whispered:

> "Long live the wife you buried."

---

TO BE CONTINUED…