Director Mason prided himself on having a strong heart.
He had survived production delays, diva tantrums, exploding props, and a lead actor who once refused to film because his horoscope said "avoid confrontation."
But nothing—
absolutely nothing—
prepared him for Aria Lane.
And today…
today was the day his heart officially filed a resignation letter.
It Starts Innocently
They were rehearsing a chase scene.
Simple.
Controlled.
Safe.
Aria only needed to jog down a hallway while Julian followed behind her.
Mason repeated the instructions twelve times, staring directly into her soul.
"LIGHT jogging. LIGHT.
As in… barely moving.
Barely.
Moving."
Aria nodded.
"I understand."
Daniel whispered to Mason,
"She doesn't understand."
Mason patted Daniel's shoulder.
"It's okay. I don't either."
The Scene Begins
"Action!"
Julian jogged.
Aria jogged too.
For exactly two seconds.
Then a crew member accidentally bumped into a metal ladder behind them.
Just a tiny clatter.
Barely a sound.
But Aria heard it.
And Aria reacted like someone had fired a bullet.
She BOLTED.
Not jogged.
Not ran.
BOLTED.
She shot down the hallway like a high-speed missile.
Julian froze mid-step.
The cameraman screamed.
The boom operator ducked.
Someone yelled,
"SHE'S BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER!"
And Director Mason…
Director Mason grabbed his chest.
"Oh no.
Oh no no no—
MY HEART—"
The Real Problem: She Didn't Stop
Aria zoomed around the corner.
Past extras.
Past props.
Past two assistants who screamed and jumped aside.
She outran a golf cart.
She outran a stuntman on a bicycle.
She outran security.
Mason staggered after her, wheezing.
"STOP—
STOP RUNNING—
SOMEONE—CALL—AN AMBULANCE—
FOR ME!!!"
Daniel ran after him.
"ARIA, SLOW DOWN! YOU'RE NOT IN COMBAT! THIS IS FILMING!"
Julian jogged behind them calmly like this was normal.
The Moment Mason Truly Breaks
Aria finally stopped at the far end of the lot.
Calm.
Barely winded.
Not a hair out of place.
Mason arrived 40 seconds later, drenched in sweat, clutching a lamppost like it was holding him upright.
"Huff—huff—MISS LANE—
WHAT IN THE NAME OF CINEMA—
WAS THAT?!"
Aria blinked.
"You said run."
"I SAID JOG!
JOGGING IS NOT—
WHATEVER THAT DEMONSTRATION WAS!"
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"I heard a noise."
Mason grabbed his chest again.
"YOU—CAN'T—JUST—ACTIVATE—COMBAT MODE—WHEN YOU HEAR—NOISES!"
Aria blinked once.
"…Oh."
Julian, hands in pockets, added:
"It was impressive."
Mason turned on him.
"STOP!! STOP PRAISING HER!! PRAISE IS FUEL! SHE RUNS ON PRAISE AND CALORIES!"
Aria nodded politely.
"That is accurate."
Mason whimpered.
Medical Staff Gets Involved
A set medic rushed over.
"Director Mason? Are you alright? Your heart rate is dangerously high."
Mason gasped, pointing at Aria.
"She—
she teleported—
I swear—
she disappeared—
my soul left my body—"
Aria frowned.
"I didn't teleport."
Daniel raised his hand weakly.
"She… kind of did."
Julian nodded thoughtfully.
"I'm pretty sure she outran physics."
The Crew Reaction
Lighting Guy:
"That wasn't running. That was ultra-running."
Makeup Artist:
"I felt the wind she left behind."
Stunt Team:
"She's one of us. One of us."
Cameraman:
"I have motion blur trauma."
Aria's Attempt at Apology
Aria stepped closer to Mason.
He flinched.
She said gently:
"I'm sorry. I won't run too fast."
Mason wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Good…
Good…
How fast is 'not too fast'?"
Aria considered.
"I will run slower than I can."
Mason grabbed the medic's arm.
"GET THE DEFIBRILLATOR."
Julian Tries to Calm Him Down
Julian patted Mason's shoulder.
"She did great, actually."
Mason stared at him like he was possessed.
"JULIAN.
I AM DYING.
PLEASE DO NOT FLIRT WITH DEATH."
Julian blinked.
"I'm not flirting."
Daniel pointed between them angrily.
"STOP SMILING AT EACH OTHER AND SOMEONE GIVE THE DIRECTOR WATER!"
The Final Straw
As Mason tried to steady his breathing, Aria quietly took out a snack from her pocket.
A crunchy one.
CRUNCH.
Mason's eye twitched.
Daniel whispered,
"…oh no."
CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
Mason whispered hoarsely:
"…This is how I die."