CHRISTOPHER — EPISODE 3

Christopher — Episode 3

Written by Kingson

[ Morning arrived slowly over Aelm Village.

The rain from the previous night had stopped, but the village still felt heavy, as if the storm had left something behind.

People whispered while cleaning muddy streets.

Some spoke about the stage performance.

Others spoke about the outsider.

“The man near the stage…”

“He doesn’t look normal.”

“Did you see his eyes?”

Fear spread quickly in villages like this.

Especially when strangers arrived.

Meanwhile, near the edge of the village, Michael stood alone beside a river washing blood from his knuckles.

The drunk villager from last night had returned after the crowd disappeared.

This time with friends.

They tried surrounding him.

It didn’t end well.

Michael stared at the water silently.

No pride.

No emotion.

Violence to him felt ordinary.

Almost empty.

Behind him, footsteps approached carefully.

“You could’ve killed them.”

Michael didn’t turn around.

He already recognized the voice.

Sakhare stepped beside him, holding an umbrella against the weak morning drizzle.

“They attacked first,” Michael replied calmly.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Silence.

The river continued flowing between them.

Sakhare studied him carefully.

Most men in the village were loud.

Emotional.

Easy to understand.

But Michael?

He felt closed off like a locked room.

Dangerous.

And somehow sad.

“You’re not from here,” she finally said.

“No.”

“Then why come?”

Michael looked toward the mountains.

“Work.”

Sakhare laughed softly.

“You speak like an old man.”

Michael ignored the comment.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then suddenly—

Voices echoed nearby.

“SAKHARE!”

A group of village women hurried toward them nervously.

“There’s another fight near the land!”

Sakhare’s expression changed immediately.

Without hesitation, she started walking.

Michael followed silently behind.

—

The disputed land stood between both villages like an open wound.

One side had placed a wooden cross into the ground.

The other side had planted temple flags.

Now both groups screamed at each other again.

“This land belongs to us!”

“No—it belongs to our people!”

Children watched from far away while frightened women pulled them back.

At the center stood Father Joseph, trying desperately to calm everyone.

“Please listen—”

But nobody listened anymore.

Hatred had become louder than reason.

Then—

Sakhare stepped forward.

“STOP THIS!”

Her voice shocked both sides into silence briefly.

She pointed toward the land angrily.

“You fight every day over this place like animals!”

A man shouted back:

“Because it matters!”

“Yes,” she replied sharply.

“It does matter.”

Then she said something unexpected.

“So why not build something both villages need?”

Confused murmurs spread.

Sakhare looked around firmly.

“A school.”

Silence.

Children nearby slowly looked up.

“A place where both villages can study together.”

Some people looked uncertain.

Others angry.

A man from Evid scoffed.

“We need a church.”

Another from Aelm shouted:

“We need a temple!”

Sakhare shook her head.

“No.”

Her eyes hardened.

“You need a future.”

The words hit harder than expected.

Even Father Joseph looked surprised.

For a brief moment—

The fighting actually stopped.

Then a horse’s आवाज echoed from behind.

Everyone turned.

Three police jeeps rolled toward the land violently, crushing mud beneath their tires.

Fear spread instantly.

People stepped back.

Because everyone recognized the symbol painted on the vehicles.

Police.

And where police came—

Trouble followed.

The jeep doors opened slowly.

Armed officers stepped out first.

Then finally—

A man wearing dark glasses emerged.

Calm.

Smiling.

Terrifying.

Laxman.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Even the wind felt colder.

Laxman removed his glasses slowly, scanning both villages like a man inspecting animals.

“Well…”

He smiled faintly.

“Looks like children are fighting again.”

Nobody answered.

Nobody dared.

Laxman walked toward the disputed land casually.

“You know,” he continued, “if people can’t decide who owns land…”

He looked up slowly.

“…then maybe nobody should own it.”

Fear appeared across several faces.

Because everyone understood what that meant.

Confiscation.

Seizure.

Loss.

Father Joseph stepped forward carefully.

“Inspector, the people are emotional right now. We can solve this peacefully.”

Laxman stared at him for a few seconds.

Then smiled.

“Ah yes. The priest.”

He walked closer.

“You still believe peace fixes everything?”

Joseph stayed calm.

“I believe people can still choose humanity.”

Laxman laughed softly.

“Humanity is expensive, Father.”

His eyes slowly moved toward Sakhare.

“And some people make things worse by filling heads with ideas.”

The crowd became nervous instantly.

But Sakhare didn’t back down.

“If education scares you,” she replied calmly, “then maybe you fear intelligent people.”

Several villagers looked shocked she spoke to him like that.

Laxman’s smile disappeared slightly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Then—

His eyes shifted toward Michael.

The outsider stood silently behind the crowd.

Watching.

Laxman studied him carefully.

“Who’s he?”

Nobody answered.

Michael stepped forward himself.

“Michael.”

The two men stared at each other.

And for the first time—

Michael felt it.

Recognition.

Not from memory.

From instinct.

Something about this man felt rotten.

Like blood hidden beneath perfume.

Laxman smiled again.

“You’re not from here.”

“No.”

“Then be careful.”

His tone remained polite.

But the threat beneath it was clear.

“Outsiders disappear easily around these villages.”

Michael didn’t react.

But inside his head—

Rebecca’s scream echoed again.

For one dangerous second—

He imagined killing the man standing before him.

Laxman seemed to notice something in Michael’s eyes.

And strangely—

He enjoyed it.

Then suddenly—

A small boy accidentally ran between the police officers chasing a ball.

One officer grabbed him aggressively.

“Move!”

The child cried out in fear.

Before anyone reacted—

Michael moved.

Fast.

His hand locked around the officer’s wrist instantly.

The entire area froze.

Nobody even saw him move.

The officer winced painfully.

Michael’s voice stayed calm.

“He’s a child.”

Tension exploded across the land.

Police officers reached for weapons immediately.

Villagers backed away in panic.

Father Joseph looked terrified.

But Laxman…

Laxman smiled.

Slowly.

Curiously.

Like he had finally found something entertaining.

“Well now…”

He stepped closer.

“This village just became interesting.”

Far above them—

Clouds gathered once again around Demon Mountain.

Watching silently.

Waiting.

]

END OF EPISODE 3

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