"THE WILL"
(By MARC ADRIAN REYES)
Chapter 1; Episode 5 - "BETRAYALS & DOPPELGANGER"
---
INT. LAB - NIGHT
Marc freezes when he hears that Sophia is in two different places. His heart pounds. Without hesitation, he rushes toward Sophia.
MARC
(staring at her, breathing heavy)
Who the hell are you?!
Marc sees something on Sophia's neck. Rage flares in his eyes. He grabs her by the collar and slams her hard against the wall. Everyone is shocked.
SOPHIA
(nervous, voice trembling)
W-what do you mean, sir?
YNA
(confused, rushing to stop him)
Marc?! What the hell are you doing? Let her go!
MARC
(glaring at Sophia, fury building)
Who are you?!
YNA
Marc! Stop it already - you're hurting her!
Ella and Jeff stand frozen, eyes wide. Jeff whispers to Ella.
JEFF
What's going on now?
Marc studies Sophia closer. Something doesn't add up.
MARC
Sophia doesn't have a scar like that... and she's left-handed.
(points, eyes narrowing)
So who the hell are you?!
YNA
(confused, whispering)
Wait... she's right-handed...
Sophia stays silent. Marc's hand shakes as he raises his gun and points it straight at her head.
MARC
(furious)
Talk! NOW! Or I swear I'll blast your brains out!
Everyone freezes - no one dares move. Marc's finger trembles on the trigger. The air is thick with fear.
Suddenly-
SOPHIA (O.S.)
STOP!!!
Everyone turns. Another Sophia stands behind them, gasping for air. Confusion floods the room.
YNA
What the hell- two Sophias?!
JEFF
Maybe... one of them is a clone. A project from this lab?
SOPHIA
(breathing heavily)
No... sir... she's my twin. Her name is Agatha.
YNA
Your... twin?
Everyone goes silent - shocked, uneasy, suspicious.
MARC
We have to be sure. Jerome, tie them up.
JEROME
Sir? But... it's Sophia.
MARC
I know. But we can't take chances. Tie them. Now.
JEROME
(sighs, hesitant)
Yes, sir...
ARNEL
Yes, sir. I've been thinking about this since I hacked the first door.
ELLA
(worried, looking at Sophia)
Sir...
SOPHIA
It's okay. He's the Captain. I understand - it's for your safety.
Jerome and the others tie both Sophia and Agatha, while Marc furiously tries to contact General Alvin.
MARC
(frustrated, shaking the radio)
Come on... come on, work!!!
YNA
It's still not working?
MARC
It worked when I called Jerome earlier!
YNA
(confused)
Hmm...
ARNEL
May I see it, sir?
MARC
(hands it over)
Here.
Arnel works on the radio, trying to fix it.
---
MEANWHILE -
Sophia and Agatha sit tied across from each other, the tension between them heavy and painful.
SOPHIA
What are you doing here?
AGATHA
(coldly)
Chillin'. What do you think? You left, remember?
SOPHIA
Hey! It's not like that!
AGATHA
Oh really? Like when you said you were coming back for me?
SOPHIA
I-I didn't mean- I tried to! When I went back, they said someone adopted you. Believe me-
AGATHA
(eyes glassy, fighting tears)
I waited for you for almost a year... every day, every night, sitting outside the orphanage... waiting for my sister to come back.
(her voice cracks)
Then someone adopted me. I thought I'd finally see you again...
Yna and the others listen quietly, their faces softening with sadness.
SOPHIA
What did they do to you?
AGATHA
(crying, trembling with rage)
At first, I thought they'd treat me like their own kid... but the first day I came to their house, I saw drunk men everywhere. I was so scared... I hugged the man who adopted me, and said I was scared.
(voice shaking)
He smiled and said, "You'll love what we're about to do to you."
YNA
(worried)
What did they do?
AGATHA
(looks straight at Yna, tears falling)
They raped me... every day, every night. I felt worthless. I prayed for it to stop. Until I turned twenty-three... he tried again. But that time, I had a knife under my pillow. I stabbed him... again and again. He begged for mercy- but I didn't stop. That's how I got this scar.
Sophia breaks down completely, tears streaming.
SOPHIA
(crying)
I'm... I'm so sorry. I didn't know.
AGATHA
(screaming through tears)
Yes, you should be! Because you're a liar!
Agatha's sobs echo through the lab. The whole team stands frozen - torn between pity and fear. Marc watches, his expression unreadable.
INT. LAB - NIGHT
The atmosphere is tense and cold. Red emergency lights flicker across the walls.
The mystery men are deep in conversation.
MAN (rushed)
Sir, we've got a problem!
HIGHER MAN
What is it?
MAN
Agatha has been caught.
HIGHER MAN
Send reinforcements - now!
MAN (into radio)
All guards, proceed to the Quarantine Ward immediately!
I repeat, all guards to the Quarantine Ward - now!
HIGHER MAN
(standing, furious)
Call the chopper. We're going there ourselves.
(whispers to himself)
Your instincts, Captain... they're becoming a real problem.
The Higher Man and his team rush outside, blades of the helicopter whirring violently as they lift into the night sky toward the lab.
---
CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO - POV
Inside the lab, Marc stands near the flickering control panels.
MARC
Are you done there, Arnel?
ARNEL
Sir... I think the radio isn't broken.
MARC
(confused)
What?
ARNEL
You radioed Jerome earlier to get here, right, sir?
MARC
Yeah?
YNA
(thinking aloud)
That means... the lab's blocking the signal.
We have no contact with the base.
(Suddenly - the lab alarms scream, red lights flood the room.)
Marc's instincts kick in.
MARC
(shouting)
JEROME! ARNEL! Find the control room - now!
ARNEL & JEROME
Sir, yes, sir!
(They rush out, weapons ready.)
MARC
(to the others)
Everyone stay sharp! Ella, Justine, Jeff - watch the doors!
Yna... stay close.
(He turns to Sophia, unties her restraints.)
Prove yourself.
Sophia looks up at him - eyes filled with both gratitude and determination.
SOPHIA
(standing, taking her rifle from Marc)
Sir, yes, sir.
(glances at her sister)
What about my sister? She can shoot... you saw that. Maybe she can help.
MARC
(eyes narrowing at Agatha)
I can't take any chances.
SOPHIA
(softly, but firm)
Yes, sir. I understand.
YNA
(taps Sophia's shoulder)
Glad to have you back.
SOPHIA
(smiling faintly)
Thank you, ma'am.
(turns to Marc)
And... thank you, sir.
MARC
(closing the door, tone grave)
Everyone - don't blink.
We're in deep trouble now.
---
EXT. SKY - NIGHT
The Higher Man's helicopter cuts through the clouds, lights slicing the darkness.
HIGHER MAN - POV
HIGHER MAN
(to his men)
Shoot every member of their squad -
except the captain and his wife.
The wife... is mine.
MEN
Sir, yes, sir!
(They ready their weapons.)
The helicopter descends. Boots hit the ground.
The team storms the Quarantine Ward, breaching the steel doors with a deafening crash.
---
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
Gunfire echoes down the corridor as Marc and his squad brace for impact.
Marc reloads his rifle, jaw tight, eyes blazing.
Sophia steadies her aim beside Yna.
The chaos grows closer.
---
MEANWHILE - ANOTHER CORRIDOR
A lone soldier named JOMARI breaks from the group, sprinting toward a locked door.
JOMARI
(pounding on it)
Doctor! Your time is now!
Inside, Dr. SOTTO flinches and stands.
DOCTOR SOTTO
(startled)
What?!
JOMARI
(urgent, whispering)
This is your chance to escape!
There's a hidden exit through the east side - leads to the woods.
Run straight, I'll meet you outside.
DOCTOR SOTTO
What about you?
JOMARI
I've still got debts to settle... for an old friend.
DOCTOR SOTTO
You sure?
JOMARI
Yes. Go!
DOCTOR SOTTO
Wait!
(grabs a briefcase and hands it to him)
Take this.
JOMARI
What's this?
DOCTOR SOTTO
(voice shaking)
It's the cure - but it only works on people who were bitten by the weaker infected from the first experiments.
JOMARI
No - you keep it. You'll need it to find a stronger one.
(He freezes - voices echo in the hall.)
Damn it! They're close!
DOCTOR SOTTO
(terrified)
What now?!
JOMARI
(raises his weapon, whispering)
Come with me.
(He grabs the doctor's arm, guiding him carefully toward the escape tunnel.)
JEROME AND ARNEL'S POV
Jerome and Arnel finally reach the control room.
JEROME
Go! I'll cover the door!
ARNEL
(rushing to the console)
Okay!
While Arnel works, the sound of heavy boots echoes outside the room.
ARNEL
(tense)
What was that? Someone's out there...
JEROME
(stern)
Don't worry, I've got this. Just focus!
Arnel nods and keeps working. Jerome raises his rifle, eyes locked on the door.
JEROME
(shouting)
DON'T MOVE!
He aims his gun, finger tight on the trigger.
JOMARI
(shouting back)
Don't shoot! It's me!
He ducks, shielding Doctor Sotto behind him.
JEROME
(confused, lowering his gun slightly)
Jomari...?
ARNEL
(overhearing)
Who?!
JEROME
It's Jomari.
ARNEL
You mean one of those bastards who abandoned the captain and us during the ambush?!
JEROME
(gritting his teeth, still on edge)
Yes. Now tell me-what the hell are you doing here?
JOMARI
I'll explain everything, but first-we need to protect the doctor. He's the only one who can stop Major Santos' plan!
JEROME
Major Santos?
ARNEL
(overhearing again, shocked)
Santos?!
JEROME
He's behind all this?
JOMARI
Yeah! But we need to move-now!
Jerome lowers his rifle, grabs the doctor, and guides them inside as more footsteps echo in the hallway.
JEROME
What's happening out there?
JOMARI
(quickly explaining)
Santos ordered secret experiments-he's trying to weaponize the infection!
Jerome notices a metal case beside the doctor.
JEROME
What's inside the case?
DOCTOR SOTTO
The cure.
ARNEL
(typing fast)
All doors are open now! We've also got signal from base!
JEROME
Good.
ARNEL
(checking the CCTV)
Oh no...
JEROME
(concerned)
What? What do you see?
Arnel's eyes widen in fear.
JEROME
We have to help the captain!
(turns to Jomari)
Stay here. Watch the doctor. Lock the doors. Me and Arnel will back up the captain.
JOMARI
(grabbing Jerome's shoulder)
Tell the captain... I'm sorry.
JEROME
(firmly)
Tell him yourself.
He runs off.
---
A MOMENT AGO
CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO'S POV
Gunfire echoed through the hall as Marc and his team exchanged shots with Santos' men. None of them noticed Agatha slipping away.
With a sharp flick, Agatha managed to rip the ties off using a small pocket blade she had hidden up her sleeve. She stood up silently, grabbed Yna, and pressed the knife against her neck.
AGATHA
Don't move a muscle, Captain.
SOPHIA
(shocked)
Agatha!!! What the hell are you doing?!
AGATHA
(coldly)
Doing my job...
MARC
(furious, stepping forward)
You bastard! Let my wife go!
AGATHA
Ah, ah... don't. One more step, and you'll watch her bleed out.
(She presses the blade tighter against Yna's neck. Yna gasps softly.)
MARC
(stopping, tense)
Who are you working with?!
AGATHA
(shouting)
HOLD YOUR FIRE!!!
The gunfire stopped. The air grew heavy. Then, a man stepped calmly into the room.
MAJOR SANTOS
(smiling faintly)
Hello, Captain.
MARC
(eyes wide, confused)
Santos? You're behind all this?!
MAJOR SANTOS
Indeed, Captain...
MARC
(raising his rifle, aiming straight at Santos)
You son of a-
MAJOR SANTOS
Ah ah... (smirks) Look around you, Captain.
(Marc slowly turns. His blood runs cold as he sees Ella, Jeff, Justine, and Sophia-each held at gunpoint by Santos' men.)
SOPHIA, ELLA, JUSTINE & JEFF
Captain...
(Their voices tremble, fear and desperation filling the air.)
MARC
(terrified, whispering)
Shit...