CRIMSON LOTUS PALACE – MEDITATION HALL – NIGHT
The palace is unusually quiet.
Beyond the tall windows, clouds drift across the moonlit sky.
Inside the grand meditation hall, several incense candles burn steadily.
At the center of the room sit SHINZI and his father, the ruler of the Crimson Lotus Sect.
Both are deep in meditation.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
The recent movements of Linjian Sect are troubling.
They have been unusually quiet.
SHINZI
That worries me more than an attack would.
His father opens his eyes.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
You think they are planning something?
SHINZI
Linjian never stays silent without reason.
They've already tried to obtain the Golden Core by force.
If they're quiet now...
they must be preparing something bigger.
The king nods thoughtfully.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
And Qiao Tian?
SHINZI
Still with Xuan Dao.
The situation at Celestial Cloud Sect may take longer than expected.
A pause.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Then we must be prepared for their return.
Suddenly—
BANG! BANG!
The doors of the meditation hall open.
A chief soldier rushes inside, breathing heavily.
CHIEF SOLDIER
Your Majesty!
Prince!
Shinzi immediately rises.
SHINZI
What happened?
CHIEF SOLDIER
It's Princess Shin.
The king's expression changes instantly.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
What about her?
CHIEF SOLDIER
I saw her leaving the palace.
She was...
walking toward Golden Phoenix Valley.
Shinzi freezes.
SHINZI
At this hour?
CHIEF SOLDIER
She wasn't responding to me.
I called her name several times.
She didn't even turn around.
The king stands.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Take us there.
Now.
EXT. CRIMSON LOTUS PALACE – NIGHT
Shinzi races through the palace grounds.
The king follows closely.
Several soldiers run behind them.
SHINZI
How long ago?
CHIEF SOLDIER
A few minutes, Your Highness.
SHINZI
Then move!
They disappear into the darkness.
EXT. GOLDEN PHOENIX VALLEY – NIGHT
The valley glows beneath the moon.
Ancient golden flowers cover the ground.
A narrow river winds between towering cliffs.
Mist floats above the water.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Yet tonight...
Something feels wrong.
Shinzi enters the valley.
SHINZI
Shin!
No answer.
SHINZI
SHIN!
The soldiers spread out.
SOLDIER
Prince!
There!
At the far end of the valley...
A small figure stands at the edge of the cliff.
SHIN.
Her eyes are open.
But there is no awareness in them.
Her bare feet stand dangerously close to the edge.
Her hair moves gently in the wind.
SHINZI
Shin...
He slowly approaches.
SHINZI
It's me.
Your brother.
Come back.
Shin doesn't react.
Instead...
she smiles faintly.
SHIN
Mother...
Shinzi stops.
SHINZI
...What?
Shin takes another step toward the edge.
SHIN
Mother...
I can hear you.
The king looks at his son.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Don't let her move.
Shinzi steps forward.
SHINZI
Shin!
Stop!
Nothing.
SHINZI
Shin, look at me!
She continues walking.
SHIN
She said...
she's waiting for me.
Shinzi's heart drops.
SHINZI
Your mother isn't here.
Shin suddenly turns her head slightly.
Her expression remains empty.
SHIN
She is.
I know she is.
A strange wind sweeps through the valley.
The golden flowers begin moving despite the absence of wind.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Something is wrong.
Shinzi notices a strange black mark forming around Shin's wrist.
SHINZI
Father...
Look.
The mark slowly spreads.
A thin black line travels up Shin's arm.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
What is that?
Shinzi moves closer.
SHINZI
Shin!
Wake up!
He reaches for her.
Suddenly—
Shin's body jerks.
She gasps.
SHIN
Ah—
Blood suddenly spills from the corner of her mouth.
SHINZI
SHIN!
The soldiers panic.
SOLDIER
Princess!
Shin's eyes widen.
For one brief moment...
they turn completely black.
A dark symbol appears beneath her collarbone.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Everyone back!
A pulse of black spiritual energy explodes from Shin.
BOOM!
The soldiers are thrown backward.
Shinzi grabs Shin before she falls.
SHINZI
I've got you!
Shin's body trembles violently.
SHIN
Brother...
SHINZI
I'm here.
I'm here!
She struggles to breathe.
SHIN
It...
hurts...
SHINZI
What hurts?
Tell me!
Shin grips his robe.
SHIN
She...
keeps calling me...
SHINZI
Who?
Shin looks at him.
Tears fill her eyes.
SHIN
Mother...
Her eyes roll backward.
She becomes unconscious.
SHINZI
Shin!
He lifts her into his arms.
SHINZI
Father!
The king kneels beside them.
He examines the black mark.
His expression slowly changes.
Recognition.
Fear.
Then confusion.
SHINZI
You know what this is.
The king doesn't answer.
SHINZI
Father.
What is it?
The king touches the mark carefully.
A tiny pulse of black energy travels through his fingers.
He immediately pulls his hand away.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
I...
have seen something like this before.
Shinzi looks at him.
SHINZI
Where?
The king stares at Shin.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
I don't remember.
SHINZI
You don't remember?
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
No.
But that spiritual signature...
It feels familiar.
Shinzi's expression becomes serious.
SHINZI
Then someone did this to her.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Perhaps.
Or...
it may have been inside her for a very long time.
Shinzi looks down at his unconscious sister.
SHINZI
What are you saying?
The king doesn't answer.
He stands.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Take her back to the palace.
Call the physicians.
And tell no one what happened tonight.
SHINZI
Why?
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Because until we understand that mark...
we don't know who might be listening.
Shinzi looks toward the dark cliffs.
For a moment...
he thinks he sees a woman's silhouette standing on the opposite ridge.
He blinks.
Nothing is there.
INT. CRIMSON LOTUS PALACE – SHIN'S CHAMBER – LATER
Shinzi gently places Shin onto her bed.
A physician examines her.
PHYSICIAN
Her pulse is stable.
But her spiritual energy is strangely disturbed.
SHINZI
Can you remove the black mark?
The physician shakes his head.
PHYSICIAN
I don't recognize this technique.
I've never seen anything like it.
The king stands silently near the window.
SHINZI
Father...
The king looks toward him.
SHINZI
You know something.
A long silence.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
I know only that the mark is old.
Very old.
SHINZI
And her mother?
The king's expression becomes unreadable.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Don't wake the past before you're ready to face what comes with it.
SHINZI
She's my sister.
If something is coming for her...
I need to know.
The king looks at Shin sleeping peacefully.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Then pray...
that we are wrong.
INT. SHIN'S CHAMBER – NEXT MORNING
Sunlight enters through the curtains.
Shin slowly opens her eyes.
She stares at the ceiling.
Her breathing is heavy.
She slowly sits up.
SHIN
...Where am I?
Shinzi, who has been sitting beside her bed throughout the night, immediately looks up.
SHINZI
You're awake.
Shin touches her forehead.
SHIN
My head hurts.
SHINZI
You collapsed in Golden Phoenix Valley.
She looks confused.
SHIN
I did?
SHINZI
You don't remember?
Shin shakes her head.
SHIN
I remember...
a dream.
Shinzi becomes serious.
SHINZI
What dream?
Shin looks toward the window.
Her expression becomes strangely sad.
SHIN
Mother was calling me.
Silence.
SHINZI
What else?
Shin presses a hand against her chest.
SHIN
I don't know.
But...
she sounded sad.
Shinzi gently takes her hand.
SHINZI
Don't worry.
Whatever it was...
I'll find out.
Shin gives him a weak smile.
SHIN
Promise?
SHINZI
Promise.
Outside the room...
The king stands silently in the corridor.
His eyes are fixed on the closed door.
His expression reveals something he refuses to say.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
(quietly)
That mark...
How could it have returned?
He looks toward the distant mountains.
The same direction as Golden Phoenix Valley.
KING OF CRIMSON LOTUS
Who are you trying to call back...
after all these years?
FADE OUT.