Ourglass

[Scene: In The castle two boys are playing games on the smartphone. From another room the beautiful sound of piano can be heard. After few minutes The Boys started to argue on something and one of them shouted out]

Boy with Wolf Ear: Man Fuck This World.

Boy with Glowing Eyes: Well the world Is getting closer to its doom so yeah it is what is is.

[Scene: A a woman enters the room as both of the boys looks at her and stands up]

Valentina: Virgil & Abram please go to your bed its time. Tomorrow your aunt will be visiting us.{As both boys rolls their eyes and goes to bed but one of them asks the Butler}

Virgil & Abram: Yes Mom.

[Scene: Next Morning The bell rings as one servant opens the door of the mansion as Marisa and her daughter comes in. Valentina comes down to welcome them as she takes them to their room but after few minutes the door bell rings again someone else is there as the butler opens the door they see a man standing in front of it.]

The Man: Greetings Countess I’m here from a publishing company and I’m here to meet Count Vladimir.

Valentina: Count is Downstairs please follow Kurtis he will take you there.

[Scene: As The Man follows Renfield to the downstairs as Renfield takes him to a dark room and knocks on the gate ]

Renfield: Master There is someone here to meet you.

Vladimir: Let him in.

[Scene: As the door opens with a cracking noise the man enters the rooms suddenly the room lights up and the man looks forward to see Vladimir lying on his bed. The man gets closer and a chair suddenly appears behind him as Vlad tells him to sit. The Man sits and brings out a hand note and a pen from his coats inner pocket as he asks?]

Ayush: How are you doing Count? I’m Ayush From The Evergreen Publishing company and-

Vladimir: Yes I know why are you here you are from the world government no need to lie, please sit with ease.

[Scene: As Vlad rises up to sit he is completely visible now. He is old his hair, beards all are as white as it gets. It looks like he is on brink of death. He looks at Ayush as Ayush was staring at him with so many questions in his eyes.]

Ayush: Count What happened? The Last time we saw you was almost 13 years ago when you took that nuke with you in the Indian ocean but how did you went from that to this in just 13 years.

{Vlad starts Laughing}

Vlad: I guess my time is ending after I shackled myself here and denied to help the devil with our deal the effect started to appear.

Ayush: Deal?

Vlad: Yeah the deal of the souls. I killed for him in return he promised me that my soul won’t get accepted in hell and as my soul is stained with blood I’m not accepted in heaven either. After the last was against the holy trinity I locked myself up stopped drinking blood thus this result. I don’t want any harm for my family or to the world but I guess the people is too intelligent to understand.

[Scene: Ayush Stands up then takes a stall in the room looking at all the things on the wall and around him after sometime Ayush returns to his seat and asks Vlad]

Ayush: If you don’t mind there was a child I saw when I was coming here, that child seemed very familiar…. is he?

Vlad: Yes he is who you think he is. After his father’s death I found him and took him in as he was all alone.

Ayush: Are you ok with him being here?

Vlad: I owe his father this much at least what happens next is all in his hands { As Vlad points his finger up }

Ayush: I heard all the histories you were in and the battles you fought as almost all of it is documented but the last one is still haven’t so I came here to take the story from you and carve it in the history book.

Vlad: Well, as you can see, this old man is over 700 years old. I’ve fought many wars, and there are tales of those already in the history books. I fought the War for my love, I’ve fought World Wars, I fought the Ottomans, I fought the holy clans so many times, and the last time, that was a war that broke my heart. The life I live, the curse I bear... you humans can’t even fathom what it did. I rejected the offer of letting you humans treat me and my family like a tool. Evolution is leading you humans to your own doom, and you don’t even understand. I know, but I denied, and your organist tried to wipe me out from the face of the world. Well, looking at your face, I guess an explanation is needed. Let me tell you the story.

[Scene: Waghliya, a town situated in Romania, which is well-known for the disaster that occurred during the time span of two years (1344-1346). 55% of the population were deceased; those who lived had to spend the rest of their lifetime in such a bad situation that they wanted death each and every day. In that time, a boy named ‘Vladimir’ (13y/o) lived in the city with his family of 7 siblings and his parents. 4 of them died from starvation and the plague. Vlad, his big brother, and younger sister were the last 3 to be alive. There was a saying about Vladimir that he could see ghosts or spirits, but no one believed it. Vladimir had to start working to help his father out. There was another thing that was also behind the reason for this city to be famous, which was the house of the wretched. There were rumors about the house that there is a witch living in it, and she lives by drinking fresh blood; thus children and old ones were banned from going anywhere near that house. One day, Vladimir got into a fight with a neighbor’s son. They called his father, then after making things up to the neighbors, Vladimir and his father returned home.]

Marcus: How many times do I have to tell you to not get into any trouble? Yet you always find a way to get into one! Your mother is ill, I told you to go back and check on her, but you started a fight in the middle of the street. [After arguing for some time, Vlad hears loud coughing noises coming from his mother’s room. Upon hearing the sound, both of them rush into the room, where Vladimir sees his mother coughing blood while his other brother and sister sit beside her. Vladimir reaches his mother, then puts his palm on her forehead to check.]

Vladimir: Fever, she’s burning up. Father, go buy some medicine, go. [Marcus looks at Vladimir's face. Vladimir kind of understands what that face was trying to say.]

Vladimir: Oh mother, if only I could give you the strength to deny fate, I would. If only I could, if only I could. There is darkness in life and there are lights, and you were one of those lights, the light of all lights. [Everything goes black.]

[Scene: A few decades have passed. One night, Vladimir is walking on the street without noticing where he is going until he looks to his right and sees the House of the Wretched. Who knows what came to Vladimir’s mind; he entered the house without even thinking. Upon entering the house, at first, it is pitch dark, but as soon as Vladimir steps inside, one after another, candles light up, spreading light through the whole house. The house looks way bigger from inside than from the outside, or is it some kind of witchcraft? Vladimir enters through the hallway and reaches the stairs, stopping when he feels a cold hand touching his neck. Vladimir turns around, but there is nothing. Something isn’t right, Vladimir feels. Without spending another second there, he runs outside, then takes a glimpse back at the house, then goes back to his home. But he isn’t able to forget what happened there. There was definitely something or someone. Vladimir decides to visit the house another time, but in the daytime. So he wakes up the next morning and comes back to the house.]

Vladimir: Is anyone here? I’m Vladimir. I mean no harm, please don’t kill me. [Laughing sounds can be heard. Then a voice of a woman saying]

Woman: I know who you are and why you are here, Vladimir. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to harm you.

Vladimir: Glad to hear that, but who are you and where actually are you? Are you a ghost? I don’t think you are.

Woman: If I were a ghost, I think you could’ve seen me or my spirit to be exact through the wall of the room, wouldn't you?

Vladimir: You already knew that. I have some questions to ask, can I?

Woman: You are the only person to enter this house in almost three decades. Ask what you want to. [A woman in a red dress comes out walking down the stairs in front of Vladimir. She doesn’t look much older than Vladimir, but there is an aura coming from her that screams of pain, sorrow of hundreds of years. Vladimir is shocked to see the lady; he couldn’t look at anything else except the lady for a few seconds.]

Vladimir: Thank you for giving me the permission. My questions are:

Lady: HM. Before I give the answers, first I want to ask you something. Tell me, Vladimir, what if I could give you the one thing you didn’t have? Would you take it or not?

Vladimir: And what’s that?

Lady: The one thing that you wanted to give your mother. [Vladimir gets stunned for a moment.]

Vladimir: You are talking about the secret to deny death. Is that how you are living this long? I guess I got one of my answers right there.

Lady: I am Valentina, owner of this house. I was born here and had a great childhood until that fateful day. My father, Count Raul, was an inventor, but day by day, he was becoming a madman, trying to invent the cure to the disease that wiped out more than half of the population. He failed, but before he died, he used the solution he made on me, turning me into this. Both of them died. I live alone here. [A drop of blood comes out from Valentina’s eyes as she comes closer to Vladimir.]

Valentina: Do you feel satisfied now? Was I able to answer your questions?

Vladimir: [Shakes his head] Well, life is ruthless; the result is the same, but it bites everyone differently.

[Scene: Valentina sits on a sofa. Vladimir looks at her, then says]

Vladimir: It's not your fault that you are like this. Don’t blame yourself. I wish people outside knew the truth about you before judging. [Valentina smiles.]

Valentina: I think you should leave; the sun is going down. I don’t think you should be here after dawn. And I know you possess something special within you. If you are able to keep up with the world and keep yourself safe, there are greater things to come. One day, I will give you a reward.

Vladimir: Yeah, thank you for not sucking all my blood out. If you let me, I would like to visit you again sometimes.

[Scene: Day by day, this friendship between Valentina and Vladimir grew stronger. Vladimir’s father passed away after a few years, and he and his older brother and younger sister lived in their house. Both Vladimir (34) and his younger sister (12) started working as their big brother was paralyzed by a disease. People noticed Vladimir’s interaction with the witch, and they even threatened him. If something happens again, they will face the wrath of the whole town. Vladimir didn’t care much about their ramblings. Every time he visited Valentina, he started to bring something as a gift for her. Valentina enjoyed his companionship. Time passed, and Vladimir and Valentina ended up getting married, but in secret. Everything was going pretty well, thanks to Vladimir, until the second pandemic happened, in which almost all of the living creatures within the town died, bodies everywhere. Vladimir’s already paralyzed brother also got infected and died horribly. Seeing this, Vladimir had a flashback of the past. He returned to Valentina’s house with his sister, where he found an enraged Valentina screaming. [As soon as he heard the voice, he rushed to Valentina.]]

Vladimir: Look at me, Val. Tell me what I can do for you. Please come back to your senses. [For a brief moment, Valentina stopped and returned to her normal self. Tears start dropping from her eyes; it’s not blood this time. She hugged Vladimir and said.]

Valentina: Even if I do that for my own need to stay alive, I will live with the regret of killing the one person that cared about me, loved me... I can’t do that. [As she falls on the floor, both Vladimir and his sister sit beside Valentina, as Vladimir puts her head on his lap.]

Vladimir: But you will die. How do you think I will live without you? There is no one else left in this world that I care about more. Please, Val, don’t do this. I can't live without you. [As he tries to pick up the fragile body of Val as she was on the verge of dying.]

Valentina: The situation I’m in, if I take your blood, that won’t be enough to heal me to the fullest, and the world outside isn’t suitable either. I will eventually die. But you can live. I know. Do you remember the first day I told you that you had something within yourself and you must not give up? I promised to give you a reward if you succeed. I think the time has come to give you your reward.

[Scene: A dark room, in it a person sitting on a throne. Suddenly, a lady comes to his door and asks.]

Lady: The hunt is complete. We are ready to transport to the next location.

[The lady in the dark said nothing. He took an hourglass filled with blood and flipped it over. Then he looked at the person. Two red glowing eyes can be seen in the darkness.]

Lady In the Dark: Job well done. I expect no less from my capable little sister. [As the face of the lady can be seen.]

Ramisa: And I’ve located the man-beast as you wanted. As promised, with his heart, you can finally revive Valentina.

Ramisa: If you don’t mind, brother, can I ask you about that Hourglass? You seem to be very fond of it.

Person in Dark: Ah, yes, this one. It was a gift from my beloved wife. She said, "This Hourglass is just like our love for each other." See? [As he flips it once again.] She said that each side of the hourglass represents us, and the blood in it is the love for each other. As the blood goes to this side once, then to the other when I flip, it's like how we give love to each other.

[Scene: As The person in the Dark came out while saying those, he can be seen fully now in the light; it's Vladimir, way older.]

Vlad: I’m still holding onto the love and everything she gave me. I rebuilt all of this just to save her memories from getting lost. Sometimes I don’t understand whether what she did was a blessing or a curse for me... but I, Vlad Dracula, shall continue to rule for the sake of my love as I tear through everything. I killed them, I killed them all.

[Scene: As Vlad looks downstairs, there was a coffin and in it was the dead body of Valentina. We get a zoomed-out shot of outside as we see thousands of bodies impaled on the ground, and crows and vultures are having a feast.]

[Scene: Year 1968. A man named ‘Jonathan Parker’ comes to visit The House of Count Castlevania. Vlad was going by the name “Alucard” in the previous century. He welcomes Parker to his mansion, as he was a world-famous writer and wanted to write the stories of Alucard. Times have changed, Vlad is a well-known and respected person among his class. It’s been almost over a century since his last massacre. Vlad’s sister welcomes Parker into the mansion and takes him to his room. After spending some time there and having conversations with Vlad, they become close friends. On the other side, he and Marisa fall in love with each other. Upon seeing this, Vlad becomes concerned. One day, Parker comes to Vlad’s room to talk. As he walks in, the room goes from dark to bright in a matter of seconds, and Vlad asks him what he is doing there.]

Vlad: I hope you are enjoying your stay, Mr. Parker. [As Vlad appears behind Parker from the shadows.]

Parker: I need to talk to you about some serious stuff if you are free.

[Scene: Vlad looks at Michael with a smirk.]

Vlad: Ah, the myths. They always paint us in such a ghastly light, don't they? But not all legends hold true, my dear Michael.

Michael: So, you're telling me you can stand here unaffected because you're not affected by holy ground?

Vlad: Precisely. But enough about me. What brings you here, Michael? Aside from paying respects to our departed friend.

Michael: The world is changing, Vlad. There's a new threat emerging, one that even you might find concerning.

Vlad: Oh, do enlighten me, Michael. What could possibly be more threatening than the centuries of chaos and conflict I've witnessed?

Michael: It's a force beyond what humanity has ever seen. They call it "The Consortium." A group of powerful individuals, scientists, and religious leaders, working together towards a common goal.

Vlad: And what goal might that be?

Michael: Power, control, dominance. They're seeking to harness forces beyond our comprehension, forces that could tip the balance of the world.

Vlad: Fascinating. And where do I fit into all of this?

Michael: You've always been a force to be reckoned with, Vlad. They see you as a threat, a wild card in their carefully laid plans. They'll stop at nothing to eliminate you.

Vlad: Ah, so the game is afoot. Tell me, Michael, do they know what they're truly up against?

Michael: I don't think they fully understand the extent of your power, Vlad. But they're determined to find a way to neutralize you.

Vlad: Let them try. I've weathered storms far worse than this. But tell me, Michael, what do you intend to do about it?

Michael: I intend to fight. To stand against this darkness, alongside those who still believe in justice and freedom.

Vlad: Admirable. But be warned, Michael. The Consortium plays a dangerous game. They're not to be underestimated.

[Scene: Michael nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. The two men stand together at the graveside, united in their grief and their resolve to face the challenges ahead.]

Michael: Thank you, Vlad. Your warning will not go unheeded. We will face this threat together, whatever may come.

Vlad: So we shall, Michael. So we shall.

Vlad: What do you want to talk about, are you want to talk about getting married to Marisa?

Upon hearing this, a cool breeze flew through Parker’s backbone as he sits on a chair.

Parker: So you knew but that’s not all I have to say. The thing is there was another reason why I came here. The world Government has permitted “Lord Parnell” to create a team of The world’s Greatest scientists & the 3 Big heads of Religious groups in the world. They are making something big, something powerful enough-

Vlad: Something powerful enough to wipe me from the face of the earth. {Both stare at each other}

[Scene: Vlad starts to laugh like a madman and grabs Parker by the throat and slams him against the wall. After hearing the loud noise, Marisa appears at the door and sees the situation then grabs Vlad’s hand and tries to separate both of them. But Vlad shakes her off.]

Marisa: Brother what are you doing? Are you out of your mind brother please.

{Parker loses his consciousness then Vlad loses his grip and lets him go}

Vlad: Out of my mind you say, why don’t you ask your lover here about what he just told me. { Marisa looks at Parker then runs at him to check if he is OK }

Marisa: I know everything Brother and I was going to tell you all about this tomorrow but I guess It was too late.

Vlad: Oh come on for real.

Marisa: There’s another thing Parker also told me that They are also looking for Dr. Michael Van Helsing.

Vlad: What?

Marisa: Yes They want him in their team.

Vlad: Bullshit I don’t believe It.

Marisa: It is true after you rejected their offer they started to plan. The World Organization isn’t joking around. { As she shows Vlad a letter which Parker brought with himself }

[Scene: Vlad Sits on his chair after some time Parker regains his consciousness but he has no memories of what happened before he lost consciousness. Marisa helps him and takes him to his room, as Vlad crushes the letter while sitting and thinking about it. Next morning he calls Marisa and Parker to his veranda then tells them to get married and he approves. After a few days, both Marisa and Parker get married and Marisa leaves The mansion and starts living with Parker as he lived alone because he had no family member left. Vlad alone in the castle lying on his bed]

Vlad: Oh Michael I thought your parents taught you better how to hide yourself.

[Scene: Few Years have passed Marisa and Parker now have a child it's a baby girl. On a fateful Night 1998 Parker passed away and Marisa and the child return to The mansion. Vampires age slowly so even after almost a few decades the baby looks way younger than her age. On the same year Vlad finally Meets Michael on the Graveside of Parker]

Vlad: I wasn’t expecting you to be here?

Michael: That should be my question, what a heartless bastard like you doing here in the graveyard of my friend.

Vlad: Your friend.

Michael: Yes, he was my friend and someone whom I looked up to.

Vlad: I see.

Michael: But I thought Vampires couldn’t stand on holy grounds without taking burns.

Vlad: Do I look like those numskulls who live on my will? I am the king, and the king has no fears.

Michael: A king always has something to fear.

Vlad: I will take your heart today and fulfill my promise. Don’t you dare run.

[Scene: As both of them transform for battle but stop after seeing Marisa coming down from the car with her daughter.]

Michael: Some other time then, King.

Vlad: Don’t get cocky. { As Michael goes back }

[Scene: The HQ for TWG, a meeting is going on. “Lord Parnell” and other major heads of the operation are in the room having a meeting. The three leaders of Religious Groups are also here; these people prefer to stay in shadow.]

Leader one: For one man, you are proposing this huge mission. If you fail, do you realize what the consequences will be, Lord Parnell?

Leader Two: The plan is simple on paper, but it will take a huge cost, both money and manpower.

Lord Parnell: Keep faith. Aren’t you guys supposed to keep faith in yourself? Why are you guys chickening out right now? I’ve talked with the Russian President. The bomb is ready; all we need is the holy materials and the prayers. Did you forget all the horror that one man created, all the deaths, all the destruction? I don’t care anymore.

Leader Three: It is time. Let’s go finish the job.

[Scene: As all of them ride in a limousine to the war-field, the military commander opens the door and takes them to the bomb. The military commander orders the soldiers to pull off the curtain, revealing the huge man-made abomination known to man, The “T-SAR Bomba”. The 3 leaders with other subordinates start to pray.]

[Scene: Years 2013, October 1. The whole world is on their feet as The World Government announces war against The Count and promises to eradicate him from the world. Dr. Michael Van Helsing arrives at the door of the castle as the door automatically opens.]

Vlad: What do you want?

Michael: Nothing, at least from you.

Vlad: Then why are you here? Did you come here to finish me off on behalf of them?

Michael: You know very well why I’m here. I’m here to pay off the debt.

Vlad: Debt?

Michael: The debt Helsing family owes you.

Vlad: {laughs} So you came here on behalf of her?

Michael: If you think so. Hey, I heard you can teleport this castle to anywhere you want then why not do that.

Vlad: Is there a point of running away like that? I, Vladimir Dracula, am not a person to flee from a war field and nor I kneel before anyone except My Creator.

Michael: Yeah Yeah. Heard this a million times.

[Scene: Suddenly, sounds of helicopters, tanks, and thousands of human feet can be heard coming closer to the Mansion. After a few seconds, a blast from a tank was fired on the main gate. Marisa, the butler, and the maids appear before Vlad.]

Vlad: All of you know what you have to do. I expect success, nothing else from you. This is the last ride. If The Almighty gives us the chance to be together again, we will meet. {As Vlad stands up from his throne then he looks at Michael}

Michael: What? you want me to say something.

Vlad: Guard the Coffin at all costs. I’m counting on you.

[Scene: Butler transforms into a spirit tiger with a mighty roar he jumps onto the soldiers as others also join him. Marisa teleports out of there then suddenly the clouds start gathering, covering the sun. It had begun. Dracula arrives on the Battlefield in his old self just like 500 years ago. On his signal, the undead rise from the ground; a massive scale of battle breaks out, slashing through those mortal necks, chopping up all those limbs, deaths, hundreds, thousands of deaths, it turned into a graveyard in a matter of moments. While the Soldiers of The World Government and the Holy Nation fighting outside, The special Ops were sent from behind to plant bombs on the mansion. But they come face to face with Michael underground, more massacre. On the other side, Marisa looks for the place where “Lord Parnell” and The heads of the operation were hiding. But it didn’t take much time to find the place. Unfortunately for Marisa, Lord Parnell was prepared; the place was purified and protected, and she wasn’t able to enter by forcing through the barrier because she wasn’t the pure vampire like her brother was. But she is no one to be underestimated.]

Marisa: You pathetic fools.

[Scene: As she gets closer to the barrier, the guards start shooting. All the guards arrive in the HQ. The Leaders and Lord Parnell notice that something is wrong; everything starts shaking.]

Marisa: The ground you’re standing on right now, do you even realize how many dead bodies are buried underneath? “Rise, O the creatures of night.”

[Scene: On her signal, the dead start coming out from underneath, ripping through the ground. The dead grab the legs of the soldiers, chaos breaks out, everyone starts shooting, the electricity goes down, everything shuts down. Marisa enters the HQ where she confronts the Leaders as she rips them one by one, but she was late; “Lord Parnell” just pressed the button of the Bomb. The Bomb is on its way. Seeing this, Marisa jumps onto Parnell and rips his head off then rushes to the castle, but after she reaches there, she is shocked to see what went down. The castle is no more; it's been blown up into pieces, not a single soldier alive, the dead bodies of the maids lying on the ground, and the butler is standing on one side, one of his arms is gone. Dracula is sitting on his knees in front of him, the coffin of Valentina and beside that a near-dead Michael.]

Michael: Well, that was something.

Vlad: You went that far to keep your promise.

Michael: I’m A Helsing after all, and I do have one more thing left.

Vlad: One more thing, what are you talking about?

[Scene: Before Vlad could Finish his line Michael shoved his hand inside his chest and ripped out His heart. Marisa falls to her knees after seeing this as they all look at Michael who then squeezed his heart on the coffin bit by bit the blood dripped out all over the coffin.]

Vlad: Michael You.

Michael: Vlad, will you do me a favor? I know I won’t be able to repay you this time, but this is my last request. {As Michael whispers something to Vlad’s ears}

[Scene: Michael’s lifeless body falls on the ground as Vlad realizes that The bomb is coming. As He looks back he sees The Bomb is in the horizon Vlad tells Marisa and The Butler to stay and Guard This place as Vlad teleport himself slightly near the bomb and he tries to push the bomb out of its route but its too close. Vlad takes a look back at others then touches the bomb teleporting it on the Indian-ocean and the bomb blasts upon his touch as the whole world watches. Valentina regains her consciousness and cries out as she could feel Vlad’s existence Disappearing.]

[Scene: Vlad opens his eyes; he is surrounded by darkness, can’t see anything. Suddenly a voice calls Vlad.]

Voice: Vladimir.

Vlad: Who’s there? Are you the Devil? Or Are you My creator? Where am I?

Voice: I’m neither the Devil nor the Creator. I’m nothing but a humble servant of The Almighty, and I’ve been sent here to take you back.

Vlad: Take Me back? Back where?

Voice: Back to where you belong. Don’t you think you’ve lived long enough?

Vlad: I didn’t want this life. I didn’t want to live all these hundreds of years with pain & suffering. Now when I was on the brink of the glory, it was snatched out from me. Why, I ask The Almighty Why?

Voice: Life is Unfair, yes, I know what you went through and what you had to do wasn’t in your hands, but surely there is a final destination even for you.

Vlad: I don’t know if I could believe in any of those tales that those priests preach, but in the deepest part of my heart, there is always room for the only person I kneel before. Tell Your creator that I don’t want the heavens because my heaven is there waiting for me.

Voice: So The Dracula Lives. But Be warned as The Almighty warns all. I know you will live your life wisely as you should know-

Vlad: That no one is immortal; everyone has an expiry date, some have longer than others, that’s it. {Vlad Smiles as the voice fades away}

[Scene: After the smoke cleared, There is a whirlpool appeared on the place the bomb dropped. After a few seconds, something was materializing from nothing to something piece by piece, all came together like a puzzle as the whole world saw the revival of The Dracula. Dracula vanishes in thin air then appears in front of a room then goes inside through the walls as he sees a baby boy sleeping on his bed in the dark room.]

[Scene: The Sun has gone down. Vlad looking at the window as the night sky appears Ayush stares at Vlad. Vlad speaks out]

Vlad: You See, Once one Man Said to me “I became a monster because I didn’t want to cry, when humans cry and their tears dry up, they become monsters, dried up inside.”

[Scene: Upon saying this, tears start rolling out from Vlad’s eyes. He takes the hourglass in his hands as Ayush closes his notebook and puts it back in his pocket.]