CHAPTER:3

SCENE: ROSEN – A CAGED FLAME

EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS – LATE AFTERNOON

A wide shot of students laughing, lounging in circles, tossing books into the air.

But not her.

ROSEN walked alone — her shoes worn, her books clutched to her chest like armor. Her head was down, but not in shame — in survival. The whispers trailed behind her like ghosts.

> “There she goes, the orphan freak.” “Bet she talks to the stars because no one else will.” “She acts smart like anyone cares.”

She didn’t flinch. Not anymore.

But deep down, every word carved into her like a slow, blunt knife.

INT. LECTURE HALL – MOMENTS EARLIER

The professor had just dismissed class, praising her perfect report on orbital velocity. She stood to leave — alone — when a girl bumped her hard from behind, making her drop her books.

Laughter followed.

“Oops,” the girl sneered. “Gravity’s a bitch.”

Itara just picked up her notes in silence, jaw tight, eyes darker than they should be for someone so young.

EXT. CITY STREETS – EVENING

She walked home. No car. No umbrella. The sky above threatened rain. The sun bled behind glass towers like a dying ember.

Her dream of becoming an astronaut… it lived somewhere far above that dying light.

But here?

Here was hell.

INT. ROSEN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

She pushed open the creaking door to the one place worse than the outside world.

Silence greeted her. That kind of silence that buzzes with danger.

She stepped inside—

—and stopped dead in her tracks.

There he was.

RIN. Her stepbrother. Leaning back on the velvet couch like a coiled serpent, legs crossed, a glass of something dark in his hand.

She stiffened. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“…You’re home early.”

He smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes.

“I was waiting for you, little star.”

Her body tensed. She moved toward her room, instinctively avoiding eye contact.

“I’m tired. I have to study—”

> “No.”

His voice cut across the room like a blade.

“You’re coming with me. Now.”

She turned slowly, confused and already trembling.

“…Where?”

He stood, stepping toward her with calm, calculated malice.

“To meet someone important. He wants to see you.”

Rosen’s breath caught. Alarm bells exploded in her head.

“No,” she said quickly. “I have exams, I’m not— I’m not going anywhere with you—”

> CRACK.

His hand collided with her cheek.

She stumbled back, slamming into the wall.

Her books scattered. Her lip split. Her eyes didn’t even well with tears anymore. She was used to it.

“You think you have a choice?” Rin growled, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her down the hallway. “You're a burden. A pretty little coin I’ve never spent. Until now.”

INT. BEDROOM – LATER

The lights glowed dimly. She sat on a stool, dazed, as a maid Rin hired tightened the last pearl on the back of her dress. Her bruises had been covered with makeup, her hair brushed into black silk waves that cascaded to her waist like ink.

And the dress—

White silk. Full sleeves. It clung to her softly, shimmering like moonlight. The hem kissed the floor. The neckline was modest — but there was something haunting about how untouched she looked.

Like a sacrifice.

The heels felt foreign. Fragile. She hadn’t worn anything this expensive in her life.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

And still… she didn’t scream.

She didn’t beg.

She just stared into the mirror, her own reflection barely recognizable.

EXT. BLACK CAR – NIGHT

Rin shoved her into the back seat of a sleek black car waiting outside. The door slammed shut like a verdict.

She looked out the tinted window as the city lights blurred by.

And for the first time in years…

She felt like she was leaving Earth.

She didn’t know it yet.