The Book Of Origin: Codex Architectus

Chapter 1: The Threshold of Ink and Madness

FADE IN.

EXT. ABANDONED CARNIVAL – NIGHT

The dilapidated carnival stands like a monument to forgotten dreams, its rusted rides creaking in the wind. Neon signs flicker weakly in the distance, casting fleeting glimmers of color onto the cracked asphalt. The carousel spins slowly, hauntingly. The sound is like the hum of a dying heartbeat.

A figure moves through the shadows, silent and unseen. THE JOKER.

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THE JOKER
(whispering to himself, grinning)
"How long have I been waiting for this? A real challenge... This is going to be fun."

He steps into the light, a mad king in his own domain. The hostage, bound to the center of the carousel, trembles beneath his gaze.

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THE JOKER
(tilting his head, looking at the hostage)
"Now, my little pawn. Let’s see if the game ends in flames or in a beautiful, slow burn."

His eyes shift, narrowing, and he sees him. THE ARCHITECT.

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The Architect steps into the circle of light. There’s no flash, no grand gesture. Just the weight of presence. A shadow cast in the shape of purpose. The Joker watches him closely, grinning like a wolf about to pounce. The tension thickens in the air.

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THE JOKER
(laughing softly)
"Finally, the man of the hour. I was beginning to think you might be just another figment of my imagination. But you’re real. Good. I was getting bored."

THE ARCHITECT
(quiet, calm)
"You're the one who’s bored. I can see it in your eyes. The trick is not letting your game consume you, Joker."

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THE JOKER
(smirking, twirling a knife between his fingers)
"Consume me? Oh, I’ve been consumed long ago. I am the chaos, the unpredictability of life itself. But you? You’re just a man, hiding behind a mask of control."

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He strides closer, his footsteps slow, deliberate. He’s savoring this.

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THE JOKER
(whispering with a dangerous gleam in his eyes)
"But I’ve always wanted to see how someone like you would react to a real game."

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Suddenly, the Joker’s hand snaps forward, releasing a flurry of blades. They twirl and spin, cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. The Architect barely moves, the blades whistling past him—he’s already calculated the trajectory. He steps to the side with flawless precision, and they miss.

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THE JOKER
(laughing louder)
"Impressive! But it’s not enough to dodge! You need to outthink me, outwit me. Do you have it in you?"

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The Joker’s eyes dart toward the hostage, who is still bound to the carousel, now spinning faster. He presses a button on his belt—the carousel begins its deadly rhythm, faster, tighter, the edges of the circle becoming a blur.

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THE JOKER
(grinning like a madman)
"Do you feel it? The pressure? Tick-tock, my friend. You’ve got a minute to save her. But you’ll need to break the rules to do that. Do you dare?"

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THE ARCHITECT
(quietly, unfazed)
"I’ll save her. You won’t be able to stop me."

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