PAIN BREEDER – CHAPTER 10: "THE FIRST DROP"
SLOW SOUND FADE-IN:
EXTERIOR. CRIMSON CITY – MORNING
The sun was just rising.
The city's massive walls were bathed in crimson light. The stones still carried the chill of the night, but a growing unease hung in the air. Thousands of footsteps, the sound of horses' hooves, and the clatter of armor — all in the same rhythm.
The large square in front of the Hunters' Main Hall was packed.
Some were on horseback, others on foot. Some wore heavy armor, others carried light weapons. Some were young and excited, others old and experienced. But every single pair of eyes was looking in the same direction: toward the dark forests to the north.
At the top of the highest tower stood Lurek. Behind him were the five great hunters:
Yesser, his crimson hair waving in the wind, stood completely still, as if his red spear had been driven into the ground.
Cain, with his mocking smile, leaned back casually with his hand resting on Keisecan's shoulder, as if nothing in the world mattered.
Hawk Eye (Krovaviy Kogot), with his snow-white hair, dull yet piercing gaze, and hands clasped behind his back, waited silently.
Frostmorne, dressed in black aristocratic clothing, slowly twirled a small round object between his fingers, eyes half-closed, a cold expression on his lips.
Valerius, in his white suit, holding his black umbrella, with a cigarette in his mouth, stood like a shadow indistinguishable from the darkness.
Lurek took one step forward. His magically amplified voice spread to every corner of the square.
LUREK (loud and majestic) THE HUNT BEGINS!
Thousands of swords were drawn at once. The sound of steel rose into the sky, filling every ear.
LUREK: The targets: All Breeders, outlaw hunters, rebels… and anyone who threatens this order!
A minute of respectful silence.
LUREK: You will earn points for every head you bring back. The person who collects the most points will gain direct influence in the Crimson Council. Remember… this is a hunt. And in a hunt, there is no mercy.
Cain smiled. Keisecan stood trembling beside him. Even his small pony whinnied nervously.
CAIN (whispering to Keisecan): This is the Great Hunt, little helper. Watch and learn. Because one day, you will be one of these hunters too.
Keisecan didn't answer. He only looked around in fear.
Lurek lowered his arm.
LUREK: MOVE OUT!
Thousands of soldiers moved at once. Clouds of dust rose, the ground shook under the hooves of horses. Horses neighed, shields clashed. The massive crowd began flowing northward.
Cain turned his horse's head and looked at Keisecan.
CAIN: Come on. We don't have time to waste.
Keisecan struggled to urge his pony forward. Cain rode slowly beside him. Yesser led the way, his crimson spear gleaming in the sunlight. Hawk Eye had already vanished among the trees. Frostmorne rode behind, still twirling his small object. Valerius remained in the shadows — a silent, invisible threat whose presence could only be felt.
INTERIOR. YONCA LODGE – MORNING
Ren woke up.
He lay in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. It was the first time in a long while he had truly rested. Yet a strange unease stirred inside him. As if something was about to happen. As if this peace wouldn't last long.
A knock came at the door.
ERETT (from outside, sternly) Get up. Garrick wants to see you. Hurry.
Ren sat up. His head ached and the room spun slightly. Still, he got dressed.
When he opened the door, Elara was waiting outside. Her eyes were filled with worry. Her hands were trembling, but her voice remained calm.
ELARA: My son… be careful.
REN: I know, mother. Don't worry.
Elara took Ren's hand. She paused for a moment, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Then she let go.
They walked together down the corridor. The lodge was bustling with activity. Soldiers were running, weapons were being prepared, maps were being opened.
INTERIOR. YONCA LODGE – GARRICK'S TENT
Garrick stood at the head of a large table. Behind him was a massive map covered with red pins, black X's, and blue arrows. The other lodge leaders sat around the table.
Garrick's face was serious. Dark circles hung under his eyes. It was clear he hadn't slept all night.
GARRICK: The Crimson Council has launched a massive hunt. The targets aren't just Breeders. All independent lodges, rebels, outlaw hunters… everyone is in danger.
Ren and Elara entered. Garrick looked up and studied them.
GARRICK (continuing): Thousands of hunters have set out from Crimson City. They're all heading north, into the forests. And among those hunters… Cain is there too.
Ren's face tightened.
GARRICK: You and your mother are here now. But that doesn't mean you're safe. The Crimson Council's hunters are everywhere. If they find you… it won't take them long to learn that this lodge helped you.
REN: What do you want us to do?
GARRICK: You will take Yoren's place. You will fight. You will prove yourself. Otherwise… you won't be able to stay here, even temporarily.
Ren remained silent. Elara placed her hand on her son's shoulder. Her fingers were shaking, but her voice was firm.
ELARA: We want to stay.
Garrick nodded and pointed to the map on the table.
GARRICK: Then prepare yourselves. Your first mission is tomorrow. You will go to an abandoned mine to the north. We've heard there's a group of hunters there. Observe them and return. Do not engage in combat. Just watch, take notes, and come back.
REN: Understood.
GARRICK: And one more thing… if you see Cain, do not approach him. You cannot handle him. He is a Blood Count. He is not an ordinary hunter. If you encounter him, there is only one thing you must do… run.
Ren nodded.
EXTERIOR – FOREST – DAY
Cain rode slowly through the forest on his horse. Keisecan rode beside him on a small pony, struggling to stay on and looking around fearfully with every jolt.
CAIN: You'll get used to traveling. Breeders usually hide in the forests. You must learn how to track them.
Keisecan stayed silent. His mind was still on his mother and father — their lifeless bodies, the blood on the ground, the sound of gunshots… His eyes filled with tears. He quickly wiped them away.
CAIN (continuing): Breeders… are pathetic creatures who turn their loved ones into monsters. Their mothers, fathers, siblings… even their own children. Then they torture them to grow stronger.
Cain's voice was cold, as if he were giving a lecture.
CAIN: Pain is their source of power. The more suffering they inflict, the stronger they become. But every power has a price. They pay it too. They lose their humanity, their emotions, their love, their conscience.
Keisecan's eyes filled with tears again, but he didn't cry.
CAIN: The person who killed your family was also a Breeding Specialist. Never forget that.
Cain was lying. But Keisecan didn't know that. He believed him. Because who else could he believe? His family was dead. He was completely alone in this world.
Keisecan nodded. His voice was shaky but determined.
KEISECAN: I won't forget.
INTERIOR. YONCA LODGE – EVENING
Ren and Elara were in the lodge's training area. Ren was swinging his sword, sweating and breathing heavily. Elara sat quietly on the side, watching her son in silence.
Erett approached them, carrying two leather armors.
ERETT: Your first mission is tomorrow. You'll head to the abandoned mine in the north. We've heard there's a group of hunters there. Observe them and return. Do not engage.
Ren lowered his sword and took a deep breath.
REN: Understood.
ERETT: And… if you see Cain, do not approach him. You cannot handle him. He is a Blood Count. One of the most dangerous hunters in the Crimson Council. The difference between him and an ordinary soldier is like night and day.
REN: What should we do?
ERETT: Run. Hide. Don't even breathe. Just make sure he doesn't find you.
Ren nodded.
EXTERIOR – FOREST – NIGHT
Cain's group had set up camp.
The light from the fire flickered on the tree trunks. Keisecan sat near the fire, knees pulled to his chest, trying to warm his hands.
Yesser stood across from him, silently sharpening his spear. Sparks flew with every stroke.
Hawk Eye kept watch from a tree branch, his eyes gleaming in the darkness like a predator scanning its surroundings.
Frostmorne studied glowing magical symbols while twirling the object in his hand. His black cloak fluttered slightly in the wind.
Valerius stood among the shadows, speaking to no one. His black umbrella was still open, and smoke from his cigarette rose slowly.
Cain sat by the fire, holding a small bottle containing a dark red liquid. Blood.
CAIN: Do you know what you'll feel when you find your first Breeder couple?
Keisecan remained silent, staring into the flames.
CAIN: Nothing. Because they are not human. They lost their humanity a long time ago. Feeling pity for them is like feeling pity for a victim.
Keisecan lifted his head. For the first time, their eyes met.
KEISECAN (whispering): Have you ever killed a Breeder?
Cain smiled. He raised the bottle and held it up to the light.
CAIN: I lost count.
He took a sip. Blood trickled from his lips. He wiped it away.
CAIN: Tomorrow we begin our first hunt. Be ready, little helper. Because tomorrow… you will become a hunter too.
Keisecan nodded silently. His eyes gleamed in the firelight. But this time, it was no longer just fear.
It was something else entirely.
EXTERIOR. FOREST – NIGHT (PRESENT)
Cain looked into Keisecan's eyes.
In that moment… something happened.
Time seemed to stop. The crackling of the fire faded. The wind fell silent. The leaves on the trees stopped moving. Only those eyes remained… frightened, lost, broken…
Cain's breath caught for a brief second.
A curtain parted before his eyes. As if the years were rewinding. As if the wind had thrown him back to another time.
FLASHBACK – 80 YEARS AGO
EXTERIOR. UNKNOWN VILLAGE – RAINY NIGHT
Rain poured down as if buckets of water were being emptied from the sky.
The air smelled of mud, blood, and ash.
His crimson hair was soaked and stuck to his face. His hands and face were covered in blood. His eyes were filled with tears, but he wasn't crying. He simply stood there, frozen in place.
People watched him from a distance. Whispers. Fear. Disgust. Curiosity.
VILLAGER 1 (whispering): What is this… what has he done?
VILLAGER 2: Did he kill a Breeder family?
VILLAGER 3 (in disgust): They say he eats human flesh…
Cain was young then. Much younger. Maybe eighteen, maybe twenty. The mocking expression hadn't yet appeared on his face. There was only emptiness and fear.
A woman lay on the ground. Her eyes were open. She was pale. Covered in blood. She looked very much like him. She could have been his mother. Maybe his sister. Maybe someone he loved.
Cain's hands were trembling. His lips moved, but no sound came out. Only the sound of the rain remained.
END OF FLASHBACK
EXTERIOR. FOREST – NIGHT (PRESENT)
Cain returned to the present. He blinked. For a moment he stared into empty space. Then a soldier's voice brought him back.
SOLDIER (respectful but urgent): Sir… We've detected animals being used for breeding nearby. Their numbers are unknown. What should we do?
Cain slowly stood up. His expression changed. The mocking smile returned, as if nothing had happened.
CAIN (calm and composed): Very well… let the hunt begin. The fastest ones get the points.
In that instant, all five great hunters moved at once.
Yesser grabbed his crimson spear and vanished between the trees. His red hair blazed like fire in the wind.
Hawk Eye silently dropped from his branch and moved like a shadow without touching the ground. His eyes gleamed even in the darkness.
Frostmorne tossed his object into the air. It suddenly emitted light and enveloped him. The next moment, he was at the top of the trees.
Valerius closed his umbrella. He dropped his cigarette. He took one step… and disappeared. All that remained was the feeling of a cold breath.
Cain mounted his horse and looked at Keisecan.
CAIN: Stay back. Watch. Learn.
Then he too vanished.
EXTERIOR. FOREST – A FEW MINUTES LATER
Five Breeders were running wounded through the forest.
A woman in a white cloak had lost an arm. Blood poured from the wound. Her face was pale. Her breathing was ragged. Her companions were in the same condition. One had a severed leg, another had an eye gouged out, and flames rose from the back of the third.
WOMAN IN WHITE CLOAK (panting, stopping): Stop… there's no point in running. There's nothing we can do. They're going to kill us.
BREEDER 2 (covered in blood, trembling): But… maybe we can still escape…
WOMAN IN WHITE CLOAK: We can't. They are… the best of the hunters. The five great hunters. And Cain…
Her voice shook.
WOMAN IN WHITE CLOAK: Cain… the Blood Count. No one escapes him.
At that moment, a crimson light flashed between the trees. The sound of a spear. A scream.
A bright red spear pierced through Breeder 2's chest — entering from the back and exiting from the front. The man collapsed. His eyes stared into nothingness.
Yesser silently dropped from a tree branch. He pulled out his spear. Drops of blood fell onto the leaves.
YESSER (cold, emotionless voice): One.
Hawk Eye fired an arrow from another branch. The arrow whistled through the air and pierced Breeder 3's throat. The man took two steps and fell face-first to the ground.
HAWK EYE (cold, emotionless tone): Two.
Frostmorne raised his object. Symbols glowed. Breeder 4 suddenly froze in ice. The man screamed as he froze, then his body shattered into pieces.
FROSTMORNE (cold, emotionless voice): Three.
Valerius emerged from the shadows, standing behind Breeder 5. No one had seen him. He opened his umbrella. One swift move. Breeder 5's head fell to the ground.
VALERIUS (cold, emotionless voice, exhaling smoke): Four.
Now only the woman in the white cloak remained.
She knelt on the ground. She had lost her arm and was bleeding heavily. But there was no fear in her eyes. Only surrender.
WOMAN IN WHITE CLOAK (weak, trembling voice): Please… make it quick…
The sound of a horse approached from between the trees. Cain slowly rode forward, his mocking smile still in place. Beside him, trembling Keisecan sat on his pony.
Cain dismounted and walked over to the woman. He leaned down and looked into her face.
CAIN: What is your name?
WOMAN IN WHITE CLOAK (weak, cold voice): It doesn't matter anymore.
Cain's smile widened.
CAIN: Good girl… you've learned your lesson.
He raised his sword.
SLASH!
The woman's head fell to the ground.
Cain wiped his blade and looked at Keisecan.
CAIN: That's how it's done, little helper. Breeders… do not deserve mercy.
Keisecan's eyes filled with tears. But he didn't cry. He simply watched.
In the distance, among the trees, five Breeders had been killed in seconds. And now it was too late.
Cain turned around and looked at Yesser.
CAIN: How many points?
Yesser checked the small tablet in his hand.
YESSER (cold, emotionless voice): Five Breeders… each worth 10 points… total 50 points. Divided equally among the five great hunters… 10 points each.
Cain smiled.
CAIN: Only 10 points? Where's the fun in that?
HAWK EYE (cold, sharp voice): We've only just begun.
FROSTMORNE (twirling his object): There are bigger hunts ahead.
VALERIUS (exhaling smoke): And bigger points.
Cain mounted his horse and looked at Keisecan.
CAIN: Come on, little helper. We're not done yet.
Keisecan silently urged his pony forward.
Cain's group began moving deeper into the forest.
Behind them, only five lifeless bodies and the smell of blood remained.
FADE OUT.
[END OF CHAPTER 10]