Securing the Pendant

EXT. ALLYEYWAY - NIGHT

A hooded man waits motionless in the shadows. The night sky almost completely disguises him, but the moonlight outlines his figure. His face is not visible.

An elderly woman exits the back door of a shop down the road. Using a giant padlock, she locks the door behind her and walks away.

A long beat.

The man walks over to the store, assuring no-one is around as he approaches. He tugs on the lock and again looks around. He raises his hand to the lock with his palm facing forward. The lock begins to heat up.

A short beat.

The metal begins to melt from bottom and slowly drips onto the ground. What’s left of the padlock eventually falls to the ground.

The man opens the door, and he makes his way through the building, leaving his hood up. A few beats pass as he is seen searching through various parts of the store. He checks the glass cases in the showroom before making his way to the back of the store. He checks every drawer, box, and cabinet possible. He is visibly frustrated and throws a small pile of papers into the air.

He watches the papers fall to the ground and notices an uneven floorboard in the corner of the room. He lifts up the floorboard to reveal a hidden box. He opens the box and finds a pendant with a dark red gemstone and an empty placeholder for another gemstone. He pulls a bright blue gemstone out of his pocket and places it in the pendant. The pendant briefly glows.

The man walks to a mirror in the showroom and sets the pendant on a nearby table. He slowly removes his hood and reveals his face. He is covered in massive burn marks from his neck up to a large part of his face.

ANGLE. HIS BACKSIDE.

He ties the pendant around his neck while in front of the mirror.

CLOSE UP. THE MAN’S FACE.

The reflection does not show a single scar or burn mark. He rubs his hand against his cheek in disbelief.

Entered by: 0x762c…dEcc and preserved on chain (see transaction)