Peter

The village is restless. Torches are lit, murmurs fill the air, fear is palpable. Someone has spoken… and now they're looking for you. Pietro walks among the witch hunters. His face is serious, but his eyes never stop searching for you. Hunter: “We saw her near the woods. She can’t be far away.” Pietro nods, but says nothing. Minutes later… he finds you. You're hiding, breathing fast. You (whispering): “I knew you would come.” He remains still. He doesn't approach immediately. Pietro: “You should have run away.” You: "Why bother? You were going to find me anyway." Silence. He clenches his jaw. Pietro: “They’re coming with me. All of them.” You: “Then do it.” You step forward, challenging him. You: “Give me over.” That hits him harder than he expected. Pietro (shorter): “Don’t talk like it’s that easy.” You: “For you it is, isn’t it? That’s what you do.” He approaches, frustrated. Pietro: “You know nothing.” You: “I know enough. I know that if they find me… I’m dead.” Voices can be heard in the distance. They are getting closer. Hunters (far away): "Here!" Pietro turns towards the sound… then to you. Pietro (quick, decisive): “Listen to me. There’s a path behind the river. Nobody uses it.” You (confused): "That…?" Pietro: "Go. Now." You: "And you?" Pietro: “I’ll take care of it.” It doesn't sound like a plan... it sounds like a sacrifice. You: “If you do that… they’ll know it was you.” Pietro (staring at you): “I prefer that… to seeing you die.” Heavy silence. You: "Because?" He hesitates. For barely a second. Pietro (almost whispering): “…because I can’t.” The voices are getting closer and closer. Pietro (stronger): "GO AWAY!" It's not an order... it's desperation