#732 Seven Hundred Contingency

The demons in the scene danced wildly, creating chaos around them. It was an appalling sight, and for a moment, it was the perfect distraction. Props, resembling blood drops, struck Renly without mercy. In an instant, Renly's body felt as light as a ragged cloth, and he was sent flying, crashing to the ground.

The sight of Renly's disheveled form instantly triggered laughter from the crew. The sound was loud and infectious. Among the actors, Jennifer and Donald led the charge, exchanging high fives, whistles, and cheers. Finally, they had managed to catch Renly off guard. The impenetrable wall of composure he usually carried had been breached.

Donald even faced off with Rami, running, jumping, and then chest-bumping him. The impact caused a few gasps, and the set erupted in energy. Even Paul Greengrass, standing behind the monitor, couldn't help but look at Andre beside him, shrugging in helplessness, his expression one of apology.

Andre laughed loudly, thoroughly enjoying the chaotic moment. It was an eye-opening experience for him, and it was clear that he appreciated this unpredictable world more than the sterile, virtual spaces he was used to.

Paul Walker tried to contain his smile, but his expression remained stiff. Was he making the right call? Even though the plan had worked, he couldn't shake a feeling of unease. His gaze shifted to Renly, and his stomach sank—Renly remained motionless, lying on the ground. His breathing seemed still.

Paul froze, staring at Renly for a moment longer, but he still didn't move. The silence felt suffocating, and Paul's anxiety began to spiral. He shook himself out of his daze and quickly rushed towards Renly.

By now, props continued to whirl around them, but Paul didn't care. His feet pounded against the floor as he dashed to Renly's side. Lamy, too, sensed something was wrong and shouted urgently, "Stop! Stop!"

The panic in his voice was like a razor, cutting through the air. The crew, once filled with boisterous laughter, fell silent in an instant. The entire atmosphere shifted from exuberant to tense. Only Abina's terrified voice could be heard screaming, "Shut it off! Shut it off! Jesus—damn—Christ!"

Andre's muscles locked in fear. Everything he had been taught—remain calm, stay composed—seemed to abandon him in that moment. His heart raced, and a voice in his mind tried to convince him this was just a prank, but his gut told him otherwise. In a way, it was like rock climbing or extreme sports—accidents could happen at any time, and no one could predict when or how.

Jennifer was frozen, her eyes fixed on Renly. She couldn't see the props that had slowed, nor did she register the staff still around her. All she could focus on was Renly. A wave of guilt washed over her. If she hadn't suggested the prank, if she hadn't chosen this scene, none of this would have happened. But she couldn't cry. She wasn't allowed to. This was her fault.

Paul's heart raced. He knelt beside Renly, hands trembling as he tried to figure out what to do. The concussion or fracture, he thought, shouldn't be moved easily. Moving him could make things worse—internal bleeding could complicate everything. As the thought crossed his mind, his hands started to shake even more.

"Calm down," Paul told himself. He focused on his first-aid training. He had the proper certification, so he needed to act, keep it together, and focus on saving Renly. But this wasn't a stranger. This was his friend.

A movement behind him caught Paul's attention. Someone was coming toward him, but Paul didn't look up. His eyes were locked on Renly, trying to assess the situation. His voice cracked as he ordered, "Back up, everyone back! Let me check on him."

Paul's voice wavered, his worry growing as he noticed something troubling—Renly wasn't breathing. His chest was motionless. There was no rise or fall.

Suddenly, Andre sprang up, all composure lost. He rushed forward. It was as if the atmosphere around him had shattered. When he arrived, Renly abruptly sat up, his back stiff, arms straight—he looked like a vampire rising from the dead. Rami and Jennifer shouted in shock, and even Paul stumbled backward, falling to the ground in disbelief.

Andre hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest, but then he realized—this was a joke. His body relaxed, and he couldn't help but laugh. The tension evaporated, and Andre found himself grinning.

Paul blinked in confusion. Renly had somehow transformed into a zombie or vampire right before his eyes. Jennifer, now realizing what had happened, shouted, "Renly, you bastard!"

She wiped the tears off her face, embarrassed by her own outburst. Anger, humor, and relief collided in her expression, and as she looked at Renly, she was left speechless. She couldn't decide whether to be angry or just laugh.

Paul, still shaken, quickly grabbed Jennifer, trying to hold her back. "Calm down. Renly was actually hit, and we don't know if he's okay."

Jennifer's eyes widened in disbelief. "He did it on purpose! This is just a prank! You're such an angel, Paul!" she cried, her emotions running wild.

Paul nodded slowly. "I know, but he was really hit. Let's make sure he's okay."

Jennifer hesitated, but then watched Paul crouch down beside Renly. "Are you okay? You got hit pretty hard."

Renly smiled faintly. "I'm fine, Paul. It wasn't that bad. I didn't break anything."

Paul sighed in relief, but then added, "You should see a doctor, though. Last year you hurt yourself on set without realizing it."

Renly chuckled but tilted his head in confusion. "Are you mocking me, Paul?"

Paul shrugged innocently, the silent message clear: you decide how you interpret it. Renly, momentarily speechless, wore a rare expression of uncertainty. This left everyone laughing.

Jennifer scowled. "You're not getting away with this prank!"

Renly raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to discuss who started the prank, Jennifer?"

Her expression crumbled, but before she could respond, Paul and Rami shared a knowing smile, their faces momentarily softening. Renly glanced at them, causing their smiles to fade, and they tried to look serious again.

As Renly stood up, he saw Andre behind him. Andre silently gave him a thumbs up, his grin wide.

Soon after, Paul Greengrass and Abby Mills arrived, still confused. They watched as Renly, Jennifer, Paul, and Rami all turned toward them, yelling in unison, "Surprise!"

The bombshell left everyone on set stunned. The silence stretched out for a moment before the crew exploded in laughter and disbelief. Some cursed, some shook their heads in defeat, but everyone had to admit—they had been thoroughly pranked.