They thought they could kill the fire. But the fire had children.
---
6:18 A.M.
Naomi's Apartment — Morning Silence
She wakes to the smell of smoke.
Not real. Phantom.
But the dread is real.
Her window's been cracked.
On the floor is a red envelope.
Inside:
A photo of Sora, moments before the fire.
And a single message written in a child's handwriting:
> "You had the chance to save him."
---
9:33 A.M.
Downtown District — Politician's Conference
Senator Haruki Miura steps up to the microphone.
> "What we are witnessing is terrorism. The so-called Hollow movement has radicalized our youth."
"We will be implementing stricter speech policies in schools — and prosecuting those who harbor or protect these criminals."
Behind the press line, a student in uniform whispers to her friend:
> "They really think we're afraid of rules?"
---
11:47 A.M.
Silas's Studio
Kai watches the broadcast.
Then turns to Silas.
> "He just declared war."
Silas shakes his head. "He invited it."
Kai holds up a printed draft.
A document.
Title: THE TEN TRUTHS
> "We make this public. Today."
Silas reads the first few lines aloud:
> "We do not follow the law. We expose its rot."
"We do not mourn martyrs. We avenge them."
"We are not the Hollow. We are what the Hollow made."
He looks up, eyes glittering.
> "Make twenty more copies."
---
12:19 P.M.
Naomi's Car — Moving through District 9
She's on her way to meet a school principal — one of the few willing to speak out.
But halfway there, her rear window explodes inward.
Gunshot.
She swerves. Crashes into a barrier.
Four masked figures drag her out.
Young. Fast. Coordinated.
One holds a crowbar.
> "You tried to bury Sora."
She coughs blood.
> "I—tried to save—"
CRACK.
The crowbar hits her shoulder.
Another to the ribs.
Before it can go further —
A motorbike screams into the street.
Silas. No mask. Just him.
He throws a flashbang.
Grabs Naomi.
Speeds off.
---
1:06 P.M.
Safehouse – Unknown Location
Naomi blinks awake. Bandaged. Bruised.
Silas stands over her.
> "You were supposed to be untouchable."
She glares.
> "They were kids."
> "You called this a war. Kids bleed in wars."
She sits up, breath ragged.
> "You saving me… why?"
Silas looks down at her, voice flat:
> "Because you're more useful alive."
---
3:19 P.M.
City Center – Giant Billboard
Suddenly, across the city, The Ten Truths light up every screen.
Bold. Uncensored. Branded with a hollow circle.
The internet floods with screenshots.
Hashtags trend:
> #WeAreHollow
#TenTruths
#SoraLives
Teenagers rewrite the words into songs.
Graffiti.
Poetry.
Stencils.
One line appears everywhere:
> "You cannot kill an idea. You cannot silence the fire."
---
5:03 P.M.
Haruki Miura's Estate – Private Office
He pours a drink.
His daughter just messaged him:
> "I'm not scared of you anymore."
Then blocked him.
He downs the whiskey.
On his office monitor:
Footage of him in a bar, laughing about a sealed abuse case.
A new email arrives:
> FROM: Hollow
SUBJECT: Justice. Or Judgment. You Choose.
"You've got 24 hours to confess. Or we do it for you."
---
Final Scene
Naomi stares into a mirror.
Her face is swollen. Her ribs ache.
But her eyes?
Sharpened.
She deletes her old badge number from her phone.
And writes in a new contact.
> Silas Creed – "Last Chance"
She mutters under her breath:
> "You win, Hollow. But I'm not letting you burn this city alone."
---
Final Line:
> In the dark, Kai finishes writing Truth Eleven: "The louder they scream, the guiltier they are."
---