METRO 1497 - (Hours later) -CAMP BARN-

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(Hours later)

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-CAMP BARN-

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Everyone is asleep in their bags inside the main hall tent. Lanterns glow faintly through the carpeted walls, and the wind outside hums against the fabric.

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Metro can’t sleep.

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He slips out of the tent quietly, boots crunching in the thin snow. The horse fire crackles low, barely alive.

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He stops.

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Kathryn stands beside her horse, her black hood pulled low over her face, unwrapping and rewrapping gear with sharp, frustrated movements.

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Metro walks over.

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Metro:

“What’s up?”

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Kathryn jumps, hand flying to her chest.

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Kathryn:

“Jeez— you scared me…”

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She turns away, jaw tight, stuffing blankets into Mandy’s saddle bags. Metro watches her for a moment.

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(a beat)

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Metro:

“I think you should stay.”

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Kathryn smirks without looking at him, still packing.

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Kathryn:

“And why’s that?”

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Metro crouches by the fire, feeding it sticks until the flames rise.

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Metro:

“We need you here. You're talented.

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(beat)

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‘…You’re charming… and funny.”

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Kathryn slowly turns her head, eyes narrowing. She steps forward and crouches next to his face closely.

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Kathryn:

“Oh, you think I’m charming, do you?”

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Her expression shifts—playful gone, serious returning like a mask sliding into place. She looks down at him as he sits by the fire.

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Kathryn:

“I don’t think your girlfriend wants me here.”

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Metro smiles up at her, still poking at the fire.

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Metro:

“That’s because you’re a beautiful girl.”

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(another beat)

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‘Rose knows I love her. She should know I only have eyes for her.”

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Kathryn freezes, stunned.

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Kathryn:

“That’s exactly my point. I don’t want to cause stress. Or to become a home‑wrecker.”

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Metro:(looks offended)

“That’s extreme.”

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He spears a fish head on a stick and holds it over the flames.

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Kathryn:

“It’s the truth.”

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Metro:

“What is?”

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Kathryn:

“That I can have any man I want.”

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Metro laughs—loud, unfiltered.

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Metro:

“You’re delusional.”

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Kathryn’s eyes widen.

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Kathryn:

“Excuse me.”

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Metro:

“You heard me. Get your mind right, or get out of here.”

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Kathryn yanks her bow off Mandy’s saddle and draws an arrow, aiming it right at Metro’s face.

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He doesn’t flinch.

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Metro:

“Did I offended you? Why is your bow drawn?”

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Kathryn:

“Because you’re a prick.”

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(a short silence)

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Metro:

“Maybe.”

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He tears off a piece of the cooked fish head and holds it out to her.

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Metro:

“Fish?”

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Kathryn’s face scrunches in disgust.

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Metro:

“Suit yourself.”

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The fire pops. Snow drifts down. Kathryn lowers her bow—slowly—and Metro keeps eating like nothings happened.

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The night settles around them.

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Kathryn lowers her bow slowly, the string relaxing with a soft thrum. She exhales hard through her nose, annoyed at him, annoyed at herself, annoyed at how easily he gets under her skin.

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Then—without asking—she drops down beside him.

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Not close.

But not far either.

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Just… beside him.

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The fire crackles between them, throwing orange light across her hood and his face.

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Kathryn pulls her knees up, arms wrapped around them, staring into the flames. She pulls her hood back fully now, letting the firelight hit her face. Her breath fogs in the cold air as she stares into the flames, voice low and rough around the edges.

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Kathryn:

“I’ve never really fit in anywhere. People always turn on you in the end. It’ll happen the same here too… just give it time. I don’t wanna be here when things get out of hand you know?”

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Metro doesn’t interrupt.

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He just looks at her once, then takes another slow bite of the fish head, chewing like he’s listening with his whole body.

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Kathryn hugs her knees tighter.

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Kathryn:

“My brother told me about your skills with magic… but he never mentioned how kind you were.”

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She glances at him, almost accusingly, like kindness is a trick she’s trying to catch him in.

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Kathryn:

“ Though I see what you’re doing here. With the group. With Rose. With everyone. You’re building something. And I’m willing to help…’

“But why are you really asking me to stay?”

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The question hangs in the cold air as Kathryn stares into him.

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Metro inhales slowly, eyes on the fire as it pops and sends sparks drifting upward.

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Metro:

“Because I trust you.”

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He says it simply, like it’s a fact he’s lived with for a while.

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Metro:

“And… I like you.”

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He gestures vaguely, searching for the right words.

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“You’ve got a decent heart. More than you let people see.”

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Kathryn looks away, jaw tight.

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Metro keeps going.

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Metro:(voice low, honest conviction)

“I’m always surprised at your charity. Even though you’re afraid of commitment. Afraid of staying anywhere too long.”

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He pokes the fire with a branch, watching the flames rise.

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Metro:

“I get that. I’ve lived that way too. Running. Keeping distance. Telling myself it was safer.”

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He finally looks at her — really looks.

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Metro:

“But for the first time… I’ve found decent people around me. Not perfect. But a family. Something real.”

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(beat)

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Metro:

“I want you to stay… because I believe in you.”

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The words settle between them like warm embers.

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Her voice softens, barely above a whisper.

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Kathryn:

“I just don’t want to be a burden to anyone…”

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Metro shifts, poking the fire until sparks jump upward. He doesn’t rush his answer. He never does.

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Finally, he speaks.

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Metro:

“You’re not a burden.’

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(another beat)

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‘Your a blessing…”

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Kathryn smiles, unsure.

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They both look at the fire.

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Kathryn’s voice is barely above a whisper, but it cuts through the cold.

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Kathryn:

“I believe in you…but you shouldn’t trust anyone.”

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Metro exhales through his nose, not annoyed — just steady.

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Metro:

“Well, I beg to differ...

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He looks at the fire.

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Tonight’s been… enlightening. I'll keep your words in mind, if you do mine.”

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He stands, brushing snow off his pants.

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“Let’s exchange more in the morning. It’s warmer in the main tent. Come on.”

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He extends his hand.

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Kathryn turns away sharply, hood shifting with the movement — pissed, defensive, embarrassed, all of it tangled together.

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Metro’s expressions releases annoyance then he throws his hand out again, more stubborn this time.

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He doesn’t say anything.

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He just waits.

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Hand stretched forth.

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Kathryn stares at his hand like it’s a trap.

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Then she sighs — long, dramatic, stiff.

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But she grabs, and holds.

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He pulls her up gently, and they walk toward the glowing tent. Inside the warmth hits immediately — lanterns flickering, carpets muffling every sound, bodies bundled in sleeping bags like cocoons.

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Metro steps over people quietly and drops down beside Rose, curling into his bag. He exhales, eyes closing almost instantly.

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Kathryn finds an empty sleeping bag near the far wall. She doesn’t even bother unrolling it neatly — she just drops into it, hood half‑off, exhausted.

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Silence settles.

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Except for Rose’s

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Her eyes are open.

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She’s lying on her side, facing Metro. Her gaze flicks past him — to Kathryn settling in across the tent. Then back to Metro.

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Her expression is unreadable:

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Just… watching.

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Studying him.

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Studying Kathryn.

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Studying the space between them.

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Metro breathes slow and even, already drifting.

Rose doesn’t blink. The lantern beside her flickers, casting shadows across her face — soft, warm, but alert.

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