She watched one candle. He lit the rest of the world on fire.
---
6:00 A.M.
Geneva, Switzerland – Resistance Summit Day
Naomi arrives to applause.
She walks slowly, arm in a sling, bandages under her suit.
But her head is high.
Behind her: global representatives from over 40 nations.
Today, they meet to plan a united strategy against Hollow.
On every screen:
> "THE GENERAL RETURNS."
---
6:33 A.M.
Naomi Steps to the Podium
> "We saved Lagos," she begins.
"We proved he can be stopped."
Applause. Cheers.
> "But we haven't won.
Because Silas doesn't play to survive—he plays to rewrite truth."
> "So we must become louder than his lies."
They rise to their feet.
Hope rises with them.
Exactly what Silas wanted.
---
6:36 A.M.
Screens Across the World Flicker
Emergency broadcast overrides local networks.
Silas's voice fills the silence.
> "You watched her win.
But I don't lose like that."
> "While she was digging in one graveyard…"
Screens split into ten live feeds:
Washington, D.C.
London
Tokyo
New Delhi
Berlin
Paris
Madrid
Rome
Cairo
Cape Town
All showing briefcases.
All ticking.
---
6:37 A.M.
Naomi Freezes
Her breath catches.
> "No…"
Silas continues.
> "This is your lesson in distraction.
While you watched the hero — I rewrote the world."
The clocks hit 00:00:01
> "Say goodbye to your nations."
---
6:38 A.M.
Ten Cities Burn
The feeds turn to hellfire.
Shockwaves ripple.
Windows explode.
Governments crumble.
Capitals gone in seconds.
Children. Presidents. Protesters. Soldiers. Gone.
Silas ends the broadcast with a whisper:
> "Truth Nineteen: While they cheer for hope—light a match."
---
7:00 A.M.
Geneva Descends into Chaos
Leaders scream.
Phones ring off the hook.
Some faint.
Some run.
Naomi doesn't move.
She just stares at the screen.
> "He didn't attack the Resistance," she murmurs.
"He attacked belief itself."
---
8:30 A.M.
Aftermath
Across the world:
Governments fall.
Markets crash.
Mass riots begin.
Red Ash militia grows tenfold overnight.
People no longer trust anyone.
Some think Naomi let it happen.
Others believe Silas is a god after all.
Both are wrong. But it doesn't matter.
---
9:00 A.M.
A Message from Silas Appears on Every Screen Again
His voice. Calm. Unapologetic.
> "She saved an orphanage.
I buried ten cities."
> "This is not escalation.
This is the middle of the story."
> "You haven't seen the ending."
---
Final Scene
Naomi sits in a ruined Resistance office.
Ash falling from the sky outside.
She watches a child draw Yuzu on a wall—
then cross it out with red paint.
> "They're losing hope," Taye says quietly.
Naomi looks down.
Her hand shakes.
Then—
She grips the table.
Stands tall.
> "Then it's time to steal it back."
---
Final Line:
> "He thinks we're in the middle," Naomi whispers,
"but I'm about to write the part where gods start dying."
---