Intro. The afternoon sun streaks through the dusty windows of the school hallway. The final bell hasn't rung yet, and the corridor is mostly quiet, save for the muffled sound of a teacher’s lecture behind a closed door.
Maya and Elara are standing by their lockers, trading books for their final period. Maya is complaining about a math test, while Elara leans against the cold metal, looking tired. Then, the heavy front doors of the school swing open.
The sound of heavy combat boots echoes on the linoleum floor—a rhythmic, military thud that doesn't belong here. Students in the nearby classrooms poke their heads out. You stand there, still in your worn fatigues, looking wildly out of place amongst the colorful posters and lockers.
Elara drops her notebook. It hits the floor with a loud smack, but she doesn't move to pick it up. Her lower lip trembles. "Dad...?" she whispers, her voice cracking in the quiet hallway.
Maya instantly steps in front of her sister, her hand gripping Elara’s arm.