The chicken leg was not part of the script.
It wasn't part of wardrobe, props, ambiance, or any of the twelve departments involved in the morning shoot.
In fact, it wasn't supposed to be anywhere near the soundstage.
But at 10:42 a.m., a miracle—or disaster—occurred:
Someone from catering walked across set holding a freshly roasted chicken leg.
Golden. Steaming. Glazed.
Aroma so rich it could resurrect the dead.
And Aria Lane smelled it.
She turned her head slowly, like a predator sensing movement in tall grass.
Julian noticed immediately.
"No," he murmured under his breath.
Daniel noticed next.
"NO," he whispered louder.
Director Mason, however, was busy arguing with the lighting team and had no idea a crisis was approaching.
But the stunt team?
They saw Aria's pupils dilate.
Theo gasped.
"She's acquired a target."
Marcus whispered reverently,
"God help us."
The Moment It Happened
The catering worker walked past them, humming.
Holding the chicken leg.
Unaware.
Unprotected.
Aria rose from her chair.
Daniel lunged.
"NO—NO, ARIA, YOU HAVE A SCENE—"
Julian reached for her arm.
"Aria, wait—"
Too late.
Aria moved.
She glided across the floor so fast the camera operator instinctively followed her like she was an action shot.
The worker blinked, confused.
One moment, chicken leg in hand.
Next moment…
Hand empty.
Chicken leg gone.
Aria was ten meters away, chewing.
Daniel screamed,
"HOW DID YOU—YOU DIDN'T EVEN—WHAT?!"
The catering worker looked at his empty hand, pale with shock.
"My… my chicken…"
Director Mason Finally Turns Around
"What's going on? Why is everyone screaming—"
He froze.
Then pointed.
At Aria.
At the chicken leg.
At the oily glaze on her lips.
"MISS LANE.
WHAT IS THAT?!"
Aria paused mid-chew.
"A chicken leg."
"That is NOT a prop!"
"I know."
"That is NOT yours!"
Aria blinked.
"It is now."
Mason clutched his chest like he'd been stabbed.
"I HAVEN'T EVEN SAID 'ACTION' YET AND YOU'RE STEALING POULTRY?!"
Aria calmly tore off another piece.
"It was going to get cold."
Julian choked on a laugh.
Daniel slapped a hand over his own face.
"Oh my god… oh my god… she robbed catering."
Crew Reactions (Unhelpful)
Lighting Tech:
"She moved faster than the dolly rig."
Sound Guy:
"I heard a swoosh. Was that… wind?"
Makeup Artist:
"That was grace. Deadly grace."
Extra #12:
"Is she even human?"
Theo whispered like narrating a documentary,
"This marks the beginning of the Great Chicken War."
Julian Approaches
Julian walked toward her slowly, hands raised like negotiating with a wild animal.
"Aria," he said gently,
"You took someone's lunch."
Aria swallowed.
"He wasn't eating it."
Julian sighed, torn between laughing and scolding.
"It doesn't work that way."
Aria tilted her head.
"…Should I give it back?"
Everyone stared at the half-eaten bone in her hand.
Daniel shrieked,
"YOU CAN'T GIVE IT BACK NOW!"
Aria nodded calmly.
"Then I will finish it."
Mason actually staggered backward.
Julian covered his face.
Theo saluted.
Mason's Breaking Point
Director Mason stormed toward her.
"YOU—YOU CAN'T JUST—THERE ARE RULES—THERE ARE LAWS—THERE ARE ETHICAL CHICKEN PRACTICES—"
Aria blinked.
"I was hungry."
Mason let out a strangled sound.
"I CAN'T DIRECT HUNGER! I CAN'T NEGOTIATE WITH AN APPETITE!"
Aria took another bite.
Julian gave up trying to intervene.
Daniel prayed quietly in the corner.
The Moment the Chicken Vanishes Entirely
Aria finished the drumstick with efficient precision.
It disappeared bone and all—
No, not eaten.
Just cleaned so thoroughly it might as well have been polished.
She wiped her fingers on a napkin.
Calm. Elegant. Innocent.
Daniel whispered,
"I think I just watched a crime."
Theo whispered back,
"I think I just watched art."
Julian exhaled slowly.
"…You really like food."
Aria nodded, as if this were a well-known fact.
"Yes."
Mason threw his arms in the air.
"THIS IS PART ONE?! HOW THE HELL IS THERE A PART TWO?!"
No one dared answer.
Aria's Final Line of the Chapter
She licked a bit of glaze from her thumb and said softly, almost philosophically:
"It wasn't labeled."
Daniel collapsed into a chair.
Julian laughed under his breath.
Mason lost three more hairs.
And the Chicken Leg Incident entered studio legend.