Eighteen years ago...
A wealthy chubby man dressed in expensive suit is seen leaving an orphanage in a remote part of South Korea. He being escorted by very pleased nuns. They are thanking him for his donations and for always taking care of the kids. They give him some home baked bread but he humbly declines.
WEALTHY MAN
" You who have the least still insist on giving me gifts"
HEAD NUN an elderly woman in her mid sixties
"Come on take some home it's the least we can do…you do so much for us and these kids"
The WEALTHY MAN hesitantly takes the bread and gets into his vehicle waiting for him outside the orphanage. He smiles and waves to the nuns as the driver starts the engine.
From a window above the orphanage ,a teenage boy around 16 years of age looks at the man as he gets into his car. He gets a flashback when he heard WEALTHY MAN on the phone speaking about how one of the children he had taken from the orphanage for a scholarship had died. WEALTHY MAN however had proceeded to tell the head nun at that time that the child in question was abroad and doing well.
NUN 2 also an elderly woman who had a soft spot in her heart for the teenage boy, joins him by the window.
NUN 2 In a reverent voice
"He is a good man, isn't he? he takes kids from here and gives them good homes and good education"
TEENAGE AEGIS
"No, he is not a good man"...
NUN 2
"Don't be ungrateful child...he was once like you and now he gives back to the orphanage there are many who leave here and forget about us once they get a good life I hope you will not be like that"
TEENAGE AEGIS Under his breath
"That's because dead people...can't come back to visit"
He leaves NUN 2 by the window and walks to a study hall nearby.
The next day ,WEALTHY MAN exits his car beaming with joy
HEAD NUN Surprised
"Sir, welcome did you forget something…we were not expecting you..."
WEALTHY MAN Holding both the HEAD NUN'S hands Pleased
" No, no... first of all, this is my home I can come visit anytime I miss home..."
HEAD NUN delighted
"Of course, sir you are always welcome here."
WEALTHY MAN
"But I have some good news, I have found a very good home for that young man… we talked about…but the family will be moving abroad so you will not see him for a while but...he will be happy and well taken care of…"
HEAD NUN A bit hesitant,
"I always thought that AEGIS would age and finally leave the orphanage as an adult...he is a hurt child and fights a lot...are you sure the family will be okay with him...one more disappointment and that young man will go down a path of no return..."
WEALTHY MAN Interjecting
"Stop it sister, everyone deserves a chance at a good home how soon have you forgotten? don't you recall how I was?..."
HEAD NUN chuckles
WEALTHY MAN continues
"He reminds me of myself when I was young.(chuckles) Stubborn and feral but look at me now."
HEAD NUN nodding in agreement
"Okay, but if he causes too much trouble you can bring him back, deep down he is a good kid though."
WEALTHY MAN
"Okay, okay, but am sure he will just be fine...all these years you haven't changed...you still worry too much."
HEAD NUN a bit reassured heads inside, after a while and comes back with TEENAGE AEGIS carrying a small cloth bag who is murmuring under his breath that he doesn't want to go.
NUN 2 takes AEGIS's arm, and walks him to WEALTHY MAN's car.
NUN2
I know you think you don't deserve a chance, but you do...I have a good feeling about this time... I can feel it in my soul"
she hands him a cross.
"Hold onto this and return it to me when you come to visit"
She rubs his head in an endearing manner
"And even if things don't work out... I still want you to say alive and return it to me when you come to visit...am not counting on the family he is taking you to...to keep you alive...am counting on you to keep you alive...and I will stubbornly refuse to die until the day you come back to visit...don't keep me waiting for long as you can see the years left in me are not that many..."
TEENAGE AEGIS stubbornly tries to hold tears in
NUN 2 in a determined tone whispers
"survive... my scared brave fighter..."
A tear drop forces its way down his cheeks he wipes it off fast.
WEALTHY MAN finalizes the details with HEAD NUN and joins them he gets into the back seat and invites AEGIS in reassuringly .
NUN 2 sighs
" I will be waiting..."
WEALTHY MAN'S vehicle drives off. TEENAGE AEGIS looks through the back window as NUN 2 waves him with a sad look on her face.
WEALTHY MAN to TEENAGE AEGIS
" I was just like you once, don't worry you will be happy where you are going"
TEENAGE AEGIS doesn't respond
After driving for a while, the car stops at a junction where a van is parked. Men in black suits jump out of the parked van, open the door where TEENAGE AEGIS is seated ;abruptly grab, tie and blind fold him then proceed to throw him inside the van .He tries to resist but they overpower him. WEALTHY MAN receives a bag in exchange and the two vehicles drive off in separate directions.
After driving for a while, the van reaches its destination, an abandoned industrial plant in the outskirts of the city. The van stops and AEGIS jerks alert someone grabs him and drags him out of the van. The blindfold and the gag are removed. He viciously looks around ready to attack.
He looks around and sees several men in black suits standing behind another man who looks like their leader .One of the men grabs his tied hands and tries to shove him toward the BOSS. TEENAGE AEGIS bites the man who shoves him, the man yells in pain.
BOSS Pleased
"This one is feral; he will fit here just well...get him into training…"
The bitten man grabs and drag TEENAGE AEGIS into what looks like a small storage the room is dark. He curls in a corner and holds onto the cross that was given to him by NUN 2.
The next day another man comes and takes TEENAGE AEGIS into a makeshift boxing ring. In there stands a scared teenage boy slightly older than TEENAGE AEGIS.
MAN 1
"Fight and the winner gets food, the other one sleeps hungry"
TEENAGE AEGIS after scanning his surrounding charges towards the scared boy and whispers
"Fight me I have already eaten"
The scared boy refuses to fight
TEENAGE AEGIS
"I concede he can have food."
MAN 1 sarcastic
"Look here we have a hero...That is not how things work here boy…We don't play nice ,so either you fight or both of you don't eat."
TEENAGE AEGIS stands stubborn
"Why don't I fight you instead...why do you want me to train with someone who looks inexperienced, you sir look like you have some experience."
The crowd of men gathered by the ring cheer and laugh
MAN 1 scoffs
The BOSS looks on impressed and asks MAN 1 to get into the ring. SCARED BOY is dragged out of the ring.
The fight between TEENAGE AEGIS and MAN 1 ensues amidst cheering from the crowd. TEENAGE AEGIS receives the first punch and falls to the ground, MAN 1 laughs proudly...
MAN 1
"Experience you say?"
He leans down about to brag more ,TEENAGE AEGIS grabs him by the neck and surprise tackles him to the ground. TEENAGE AEGIS then sits on his stomach and lands him some punches, MAN 1 manages to get back into control... he tries to punch TEENAGE AEGIS but BOSS stops the fight.
BOSS Pointing at TEENAGE AEGIS who by now is bleeding, breathing heavily with a vicious look of survival on his face.
"Give him proper training he will make a good fit."
BOSS leaves the industrial plant pleased. The men walk away each to their stations. While making fun of MAN 1 who was challenged by a child and almost lost.
SCARED BOY fearfully sneaks into the ring and tries to look at YOUNG AEGIS'S wounds who in turn stubbornly insists that he is okay.
Two years later....
A police raid takes place at the industrial plant the now 18 year old AEGIS grabs SCARED BOY from the bunk bed and try to escape. They manage to leave the building but are soon caught by the CHIEF DETECTIVE, a grumpy divorced mid thirties man who seems like he only lives for his work, probably the reason for his divorce as well.
As the two young men are being interrogated. SCARED BOY is looking down fidgeting with his hands nervously while AEGIS is maintaining piercing eye contact like a rabid dog about to attack. However he does not open his mouth, just looks on as the officers continue to talk like they are talking to a wall.
DETECTIVE ONE
"The sooner you tell us the sooner what you were doing in that industrial plant you can go home to your parents you still look like kids or should we call them?"
YOUNG AEGIS
"Call them"
One of the detectives whispers into DETECIVE ONE'S ears ,He looks at the young men apologetically. Suddenly CHIEF DEECTIVE Walks into the interrogation room, uncuffs the young men and drags them to his car without saying a word to them. The quiet drive ends at the detectives home. Without saying much the detective makes himself some noodles brings some blankets to his living room
CHIEF DETECTIVE
"If you try to run away in the middle of the night I will catch you and charge you for being accomplices for the crimes committed by the gang."
YOUNG AEGIS
"Are you doing this because you think we will talk?"
CHIEF DEECTIVE in a flat tone
"Why would I need that the some of the gang members already confessed to receive lesser sentences but since the two of you were still in training and haven't committed any crimes yet I didn't see a reason to hold you in a cell... Also, I was just too lazy to make calls in the middle of the night or do exhausting paperwork on where to keep you in the meantime...make yourselves something..."
With that he leaves the young men and locks himself in his bedroom. AEGIS and SCARED BOY make loads of noodles and eat ravenously.
AEGIS Whispering
"Once he is asleep, we will run away.."
SCARED BOY Whispering as well
"What happens if BOSS catches us instead? you know what he does after a police raid, he looks for escapees and those freed, you know he has a no tolerance policy...."
YOUNG AEGIS
"You are right, okay let's rest...we will think of a plan tomorrow but our escape window is limited we have to think fast."
Next morning, the detective wakes them very early, doesn't give them breakfast or a chance to even wash their faces. Again he takes them for a drive, by the time the morning sun settled in the sky, they had reached their destination. A military Academy in the outskirts of the city.
CHIEF DETECTIVE holds a brief discussion with a man in uniform. He then proceeds to hand the boys to the uniformed man.
CHIEF DETECTIVE
"This is the best I can do...." and he walks away
SCARED BOY
"Thank you, sir, Thank you sir"
as he bows countless times the CHIEF DETECTIVE does not turn even once.
YOUNG AEGIS slightly bows as detective drives away and follows the uniformed officer, occasionally looking at the now disappeared CHIEF DETECTIVE'S vehicle.
PRESENT DAY...
A cold eerie night....AEGIS dressed in a black attire and black ski mask covering his face quietly spies at a warehouse where BOSS had set up shop. It was not the first time he had done this but on this particular night the look on his face indicated he was about to do something more dangerous.
AEGIS
"catch!"
He throws a knife at one of the men in the warehouse and it lands straight on the mans shoulder who cries out in pain.
BOSS
"How did he get in here...what are you waiting for.."
The men rush to attack AEGIS who was more interested in catching the BOSS but BOSS quickly jumps into his vehicle and speedily drives off. After fighting for a while AEGIS realizes he is outmanned and makes an escape. Of course the men chase after him but loose him after a while.
After confirming that he is at a safe distance, he makes an anonymous call to the police.
At the police station....
POLICE OFFICER 1 ( young officer in his late twenties) Calls other officers while holding the earpiece to the phone
" It's the anonymous caller again...he has given us another location for the BOSS' operations."
POLICE OFFICER 2 Grabbing his coat and weapon
"Whoever he is we as a force are grateful to him. We have managed to close down major gang operation because of him. He is my hero"
CHIEF DETECTIVE NOW HEAD OF VIOLENT CRIMES UNIT
"How could you say that...he is a vigilante...he should leave this to the police, though I will have to admit we have made so much headway because of him"
Speaking to himself
'How come I feel like it could be one of those boys...'
He tilts his head in confirmation
'it has to be, only one of them could know how the boss operates as these attacks feel like they are being done by an inside guy Could it be...? Maybe maybe not'
He follows the officers and gets into one of the squad cars which leave the police station sirens filling the night air.
Meanwhile AEGIS injured and exhausted drags his body down a lonely road bleeding extensively and out of breath. He dials his phone and makes another call ,then leans on a tree in hiding and waits exhaling in pain trying so hard not to close his eyes.
After what seems like a while ,a rider hops off a speed bike and rushes to AEGIS'S body which now looks lifeless. The rider flips open their helmet to inspect AEGIS.
BELLE speaking to the half conscious AEGIS
"What have you gotten yourself into...and why don't you want to go to the hospital....can I at least call HEAD"
AEGIS out of breath...
"Please...don't"
She places his arm on her shoulders and starts to lift him up...he winces in pain she helps him climb onto the back of her bike adjusts his helmet for him, as he looks at her helplessly.
she climbs onto the bike and asks him to hold on tight, she pulls his hands around her ,he collapses on her back. She takes off her jacket ties him on her to ensure he doesn't fall off she then rides off.
A few meters away police cars with siren blazing are rushing in the opposite direction.
The keypad beeps AEGIS covered with BELLES Jacket barely walking is being dragged by BELLE. She drags him straight to the bathroom, she runs the shower on him, instead of reacting to the cold water he just leans on the bathroom wall helplessly. She attends to his wounds her face showing the multiple questions running through her mind.
The next day…AEGIS regains consciousness late in the evening .He wakes up to find himself alone with a note beside the bed and food covered the note telling him to get some energy before he leaves. He gets out of bed and is just about to look around when he hears the keypad beeping.
AEGIS stands in BELLE'S living room expecting it to BELLE but to his surprise BELLE'S father, uncles and sister enter the house carrying fried chicken and beer chatting loudly. Everyone stops in their tracks
GREG
"Who are you?"
BELLA
"Ooh you are her boyfriend….."
TIM AND GEROGE:
"Which boyfriend?!"
GEORGE moves closer Sizing Aegis making him a little uncomfortable
AEGIS confused and slightly scared
"No… am not her boyfriend..."
BELLA
"Then why are you wearing her shirt and those pajamas are definitely not yours"
Just for AEGIS to realize that BELLE had undressed him…and dressed him
AEGIS
(in his head)
'Did she see all of it…maybe... that woman!...'
GREG To BELLE'S UNCLES
"Do you think she has lost her mind, I mean she has never shown interest in guys"
TIM
"If I remember correctly, she always has… especially when she beats them or finds ways to torture them"
GEORGE
"Yes… Wait, maybe he is her hostage…"
The men nod in agreement
TIM Inspecting AEGIS
"Yeah, he looks pretty beat up"
AEGIS stands there confused while BELLA sets the table, GREG and TIM investigate him further. After a long awkward stare from the old men...
AEGIS
"I work with BELLE, I will be leaving now"
He tries to leave…The men hold him back
GREG
"Sit down! We are not about to let BELLE'S prisoner go…"
AEGIS seeing that he is outnumbered sits down meekly. BELLE's family proceed to turn on the TV and give him food like he was part of the plans. He takes little confused uneasy bites.
GEORGE
"If you truly work with her, tell us how she is like"
AEGIS narrates the surprise she unveiled at the range as well as the torturous exercises she puts them through. The men burst out in impressed laughter as they continue to enjoy the food.
BELLA
"So do you plan on dating her"
AEGIS
"No! Never!"
TIM In a threatening voice
"What do you mean No!...and how can you shamelessly say no so fast, at least pause for a moment before you respond"
GEORGE
"Yes, what's wrong with our princess"
AEGIS scoffs in his head…"princess?..."
AEGIS (Stammering)
"No…th..ing sir...its.."
By now the UNCLES are looking at him threateningly
AEGIS
"Nooo, I mean she is my boss
(In a low voice) and she is more of a dragon than a princess…"
More threatening looks
AEGIS
"I... mean a very very pretty dragon…"
The men laugh
TIM
"yes, our BELLE is pretty and crazy..."
Just then BELLE arrives
BELLE
"What are you guys doing here."
TIM
"Well, its game night...."
She looks around and AEGIS is still there
BELLA
"Oh, you forgot that is why you have your boyfriend over?"
BELLE Looks at AEGIS with questioning eyes AEGIS shrugs
BELLE
"He is not my boyfriend we work together..."
BELLE walks over grabs AEGIS by the arm, he winces in pain as she takes him to her room
TIM
"We are still here why would the two of you lock each other in a room..."
He signals BELLA to go and eves drop. After a short while BELLE abruptly opens the door and her sister almost falls into the room.
BELLA
"Ooh your kitchen is that way…I forget each time"
She pretends to walk toward the kitchen
AEGIS comes out holding his jacket, he excuses himself and leaves fast
TIM
"Now will you explain to us how a beaten up man is in your house in your absence?"
BELLE Sighing
"I don't even know the whole story yet...but am piecing some information together...for now I just want to enjoy game night..."
She then squeezes between her uncles opens a beer and they watch the game as they chat away happily.