🔥 EPISODE 8 — "THE CAGE THAT BREATHES" 🔥
(Slow • Dark • Suffocating • Deep-emotion • Anime-core)
SCENE 1 — WHEN SOUND DISAPPEARS
No wind.
No screams.
No feathers falling anymore.
Only silence.
Aryex is on the ground.
Not kneeling.
Not standing.
Collapsed.
Raven lies in his arms like she weighs nothing — and that terrifies him more than any enemy.
Her skin is cold.
Too cold.
Aryex presses his forehead against hers.
Aryex (hoarse whisper):
"Hey… don't do this.
You're not allowed to leave first."
Her eyelids flutter.
Barely.
Raven (breath breaking):
"…I told you… to run."
His hands tremble.
"I didn't."
For a moment, she almost smiles.
Then—
CLANG.
The sound cuts the silence like a blade.
SCENE 2 — THE CHAINS THAT DON'T RUSH
The chains don't attack fast.
They rise slowly.
From the ground.
From the cliffs.
From the air itself.
As if the world is taking its time.
As if escape was never an option.
Each chain is etched with symbols that pulse faintly — like they're breathing.
Aryex looks up.
His chest tightens.
Not fear.
Helplessness.
He tries to summon Light.
Nothing answers.
The masked girl steps forward, boots silent on stone.
Her white mask tilts slightly.
Masked Girl:
"You held her like she belonged to you."
She gestures.
The chains snap shut.
Not violently.
Gently.
Like hands that already know their grip.
Aryex shields Raven with his body.
Masked Girl (soft amusement):
"Relax.
We're not here to kill her."
She kneels beside Raven, brushing black feathers from her hair.
"She's too valuable."
Aryex snarls.
"Touch her again and I'll burn you alive."
A soft laugh.
"Oh… you will try."
She stands.
"Take them."
Darkness folds inward.
The world collapses.
SCENE 3 — THE CAGE THAT FLOATS
Aryex wakes up choking.
Not from air — from pressure.
Cold stone beneath him.
Above him — nothing.
Bars float around him, suspended midair, forming a cage that hums softly.
Not metal.
Shadow condensed into shape.
Across from him—
Another cage.
Raven.
Chained at her wrists, ankles, neck.
Symbols burned into her skin, glowing faint violet.
Aryex slams his hands against the bars.
"RAVEN!"
No response.
The cages begin descending.
Slowly.
Far below, a massive chamber opens like a throat.
Dark flames line the walls.
Voices chant in a language that hurts to hear.
This isn't a prison.
It's a preparation.
A voice echoes from the dark.
Deep.
Calm.
Ancient.
"You have returned, Shadow Vessel."
A figure steps forward.
Tall.
Still.
Wrapped in shadow like a crown.
The Shadow Clan Leader.
His gaze shifts.
"And… you brought the Light with you."
SCENE 4 — YOU ARE BOTH DISAPPOINTMENTS
The cages stop.
The Leader circles Aryex slowly.
"You're young," he says.
"Fragile.
Yet the Light chose you."
Aryex grips the bars.
"If you hurt her—"
A single raised finger.
Aryex freezes.
Muscles lock.
Breath halts.
Leader:
"Silence."
He turns to Raven.
"She resisted longer than expected."
Raven stirs.
Pain pulls her awake.
Her eyes open — fear flashes — then hatred.
Raven (weak but burning):
"I will never be your vessel again."
The Leader places his palm over her chest.
"You misunderstand."
Dark energy pulses.
Raven screams.
The sound tears through Aryex.
He roars.
Light erupts violently from his body.
The bars crack.
For the first time—
The Leader's expression changes.
Surprise.
"…Interesting."
SCENE 5 — A QUIET THAT HURTS MORE
The pain stops.
The chanting fades.
The cages drift closer together, isolating them from the chamber.
Raven slumps.
Shaking.
Aryex presses his forehead against the bars.
"I'm here."
No response.
"I won't leave."
Her voice finally comes.
Small.
Broken.
"Aryex… if I lose control again…"
She swallows.
"I won't be able to stop."
He answers instantly.
"Then I'll stay until you do."
She looks at him.
Really looks.
Tears spill.
"I've already destroyed everyone."
He doesn't hesitate.
"Then don't destroy me."
A long pause.
Her breath steadies.
For the first time—
She nods.
SCENE 6 — THE CLEANSING BEGINS
The Leader raises both hands.
The chamber reacts.
Symbols ignite across the walls.
Leader:
"Begin the Cleansing."
Raven's chains glow.
Her body arches in pain.
Leader:
"Separate emotion from Shadow.
Extract the Core."
Aryex's chest burns.
The symbol on him ignites.
Leader (turning to him):
"You will watch."
His smile is thin.
"This is how hope ends."
Aryex lifts his head.
His eyes glow gold.
His voice changes — layered, ancient, calm.
"No."
The cage cracks.
Light bleeds into the chamber.
The Leader's smile disappears.
"…So it begins."
FINAL MOMENT
CRACK.
Aryex's cage shatters.
At the same time—
Raven's shadow erupts uncontrollably.
Light and Shadow collide.
The chamber screams.
Fade to black.