15 EXT. HILL OVERLOOKING THE FIFTH CITY - DAY
Maria is standing amidst a scattering of beaten officers, who are lying around. With another swing of her gun, she strikes the back of a man trying to get up, winding him and sending him back to the ground.
MARIA
I said twelve, but I've got some momentum going.
Herod remains flanked by two more officers, but none of the three move. An air of frustration is about them.
MARIA
What, old man? Given up?
Herod ignores her, talking into his RADIO.
HEROD
Second wing, regroup at point.
It gives a rambunctious response.
PETER (V.O.)
Oh, my bad! Guess you needed this!
Herod grits his teeth, tearing his radio off his uniform.
16 EXT. FIFTH CITY - ALLEYWAY - DAY
Down a narrow side street, the thieves have a number of uniformed and plain-clothes opponents pinned. Peter is sat on a fan unit, toying with the procured RADIO.
PETER
Heavy blockade you had waiting for us, didn'cha? Trust the boss to keep the reinforcements up where you are. Can't spread yourselves too thin if you wanna win.
An amused sneer crosses his lips.
17 EXT. HILL OVERLOOKING THE FIFTH CITY - DAY
Herod pulls the RADIO from his uniform, glaring at it.
PETER (V.O.)
She's seen right through your whole play as usual. You ought to be proud--
Herod cuts the line. One of the officers besides his side looks bewildered.
OFFICER #1
Wait, so everything we've been doing up here...
MARIA
You must be new here.
HEROD
We try to dogpile her, they all get away. Surround them all, she wins the fight.
MARIA
Cat and mouse. Sticking together works better every time.
A gust of wind blows over the hillside, and she turns away.
MARIA
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Well, I'm done here. I'm going home.
Herod raises a gun toward her.
HEROD
You think so?
MARIA
If you want to take me on, then we'll do it the old-fashioned way, Dad.
BEAT. He lowers it.
MARIA
Yeah, figures.
She begins to walk down the hill.
HEROD
It won't be so easy next time.
MARIA
Whatever.
She disappears under the slope, leaving only the image of the horizon.
18 INT. VENT SYSTEM - DAY
Joseph is keeping an eye on the walls and ceiling as he moves, occasionally catching glimpses of the moving party of Warpriests in the distorted reflections. The line is intact, and he is using it to check for corners and junctions.
AETHER
So what, precisely, is your plan? Do you actually intend to go up against Sophia? You'd have more luck with the machine guns.
JOSEPH
Can you stop saying machine guns?!
AETHER
Let it be carved into your epitaph: "here lies a petty thief. I told him so".
JOSEPH
What are these walls anyway?
AETHER
Are you trying to work out if you can filch the walls now? Are you so fixated on anything shiny, you magpie?
JOSEPH
I'm serious.
AETHER
Why do you expect me to know?
JOSEPH
Well, you're the one covered in the
weird light trails.
BEAT.
AETHER
They're not the same as those.
JOSEPH
Yes they are.
BEAT.
AETHER
These walls can't be allowed to deform, so they perfectly reflect everything.
JOSEPH
What kind of material perfectly reflects everything?
AETHER
What made you think these walls are material?
JOSEPH
Wait. What does that mean?
AETHER
You're walking on your feet, petty thief.
JOSEPH
I know that.
AETHER
Apparently not.
Joseph pauses, and then stops. Lifting his feet from the floor - or lack thereof - he realises that he is literally walking on his own reflection.
JOSEPH
(flatly)
What the hell is this.
AETHER
So you do catch on. Eventually. By the way, you certainly seem to be rather relaxed about that urgent time limit you're so attached to.
Joseph almost shoots a response, but shakes his head. He looks at the ceiling and down the corridor, but can't seem to see what he's looking for.
JOSEPH
If we're under where I think we're under, there should be a way out somewhere around...
BEAT. Gunfire. The Warpriests finally have a straight shot.
Joseph and Aether barely evade by throwing themselves against the wall. The bullets sail down the corridor, until they hit the far end and strike themselves.
JOSEPH
Okay, we're splitting up!
AETHER
What?
Joseph shoves Aether around the right-hand corner, narrowly avoiding another burst of fire as he runs to the left. Aether watches him flee in shock. Did he just abandon her? She barely has time to react as the marching of the Warpriests speeds up, and she scrambles to flee. Her pursuers are gaining on her.
19 INT. VENT SYSTEM - DAY
Joseph sprints down the vent at full pelt. Ahead is a junction, and in the middle is a protruding silver door. He rushes over to it, moving to grab the handle... but his hands don't grasp anything, instead hitting the wall. He uselessly slaps against it a few times. It's a reflection.
He looks down the junction. The vents here are covered in reflections of the door.
JOSEPH
(breathlessly)
Really?!
ANNOUNCEMENT (V.O.)
Heat exhaust will be released in five minutes. Please vacate the ventilation system immediately.
The tunnel of fake doors looms dauntingly in the face of certain death.
