Sins of the Past

Scene: John's Confession

The scene opens with John and Zack sitting around a small fire in the forest. The orange flames dance between them, casting flickering shadows. Zack, still skeptical about John's intentions, leans forward, unable to shake his curiosity.

Zack: "You've got power—more than I've ever seen. But people don't just get that strong for no reason. What's your story, John?"

John's smirk fades, replaced by a cold, distant look. He stares into the flames, as if the fire mirrors the destruction he's caused.

John: "You really want to know? Fine. But don't expect to like what you hear."

Zack nods silently, steeling himself.

John: "I used to be… different. I wasn't always this person you see now. I had a plan—a dream of reshaping the world, of cleansing it of its corruption. But dreams can twist into nightmares."

Zack tilts his head, his intrigue growing.

Zack: "What do you mean?"

John leans back, his expression darkening as he continues.

John: "I wiped out entire cities—hundreds of thousands of lives, gone in the blink of an eye. Men, women, children... it didn't matter. To me, they were all part of a rotten system that needed to be purged."

Zack's breath catches in his throat, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Zack: "You… you're a mass murderer?"

John meets Zack's gaze, his eyes cold and unflinching.

John: "That's what they called me. A monster, a butcher, the destroyer of nations. And they weren't wrong."

Zack shakes his head, struggling to process the weight of John's words.

Zack: "Why? Why would you do something like that?"

John lets out a bitter laugh, the sound devoid of any real amusement.

John: "I thought I was doing the right thing. I believed that the world needed to be reset, that the only way to fix it was to burn it down and start over. But the more I destroyed, the more I realized… I wasn't saving anything. I was just feeding my own darkness."

Zack stares at John, his mind reeling.

Zack: "What happened to you? How did you… stop?"

John's jaw tightens, his fists clenching as memories flood back.

John: "I didn't stop. They stopped me. The government caught me after my last act—a massacre so brutal that even I couldn't justify it anymore. They captured me, dragged me in chains to the center of the capital, and sentenced me to die in front of the world."

Zack leans closer, his voice barely a whisper.

Zack: "But… you're here. How?"

John's lips curl into a cold smile.

John: "Let's just say… death couldn't hold me. I escaped before the execution, and I've been running ever since. But now, I'm done running. I've found a new purpose."

Zack swallows hard, the weight of John's story pressing down on him. For a moment, neither of them speaks. The fire crackles softly between them, the only sound in the oppressive silence.

Scene: Zack's Revelation

Finally, Zack breaks the silence, his voice low and hesitant.

Zack: "I… I didn't think your story could be so dark. But I guess I don't have room to judge."

John raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

John: "Oh? And what skeletons are you hiding in your closet?"

Zack takes a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he begins to speak.

Zack: "I was a nobody—a kid who got bullied every day for five years. They called me names, beat me up, humiliated me in front of the whole school. It didn't matter what I did; they never stopped."

John watches Zack intently, his gaze sharp and calculating.

Zack: "I tried to endure it, tried to tell myself it would get better. But it didn't. One day, I just… snapped. I walked into the school canteen with a gun and killed them—every single one of those bastards who made my life hell."

John's lips twitch into a faint, humorless smile.

John: "You're full of surprises, Zack. I didn't think you had it in you."

Zack looks down, his expression a mix of guilt and anger.

Zack: "I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't take it anymore. After it was over, I ran. I've been running ever since."

John chuckles softly, a dark, almost approving sound.

John: "Seems like we're not so different after all."

Zack looks up, meeting John's gaze.

Zack: "Maybe. But I don't want to be like you—not the person you were. I want to be better."

John nods, his expression thoughtful.

John: "Good. Then you're ready to learn. I'll teach you everything I know—how to fight, how to survive, how to control your power. But know this: the path ahead won't be easy."

Zack's eyes harden with determination.

Zack: "I'm ready. Let's do this."

Scene: The Beginning of Training

The camera pulls back as John stands, motioning for Zack to follow him deeper into the forest. The fire dies down, its embers glowing faintly in the dark. The two figures disappear into the shadows, their silhouettes framed by the eerie glow of the moon.

End of Chapter Title: "Sins of the Past"