[Reverend Ezekiel Graves stands beneath a dim streetlight, his black robe billowing in the wind as The Cornerstone Church looms against the dark sky. Graves’ eyes are fixed on the horizon as distant thunder rumbles.]
“Arcadia… a place where the rain washes away blood, but never the sin. You think you know this place, Candy Kane. You walk these streets like a spider, weaving webs with your charm, fooling the unsuspecting. But the truth you seek? It’s far darker than you’ll ever be ready to face.”
[Graves steps forward into the rain, his face momentarily illuminated by lightning.]
“You’ve played the detective long enough—flashing that smile, untangling chaos, making people think you’re in control. But you’re not solving anything, Candy. You’re just staving off what’s inevitable. This city doesn’t need a detective—it cries out for something far more severe: judgment.”
[The camera pulls back, showing Graves walking slowly down the rain-slicked streets. His footsteps echo as he approaches the steps of The Cornerstone Church, resting his hand on the iron railing.]
“I’ve witnessed it up close. Nox believed he could poison Arcadia, thought he was untouchable. But I made him face the fire of his sins. He learned you cannot cheat divine retribution. He was judged and purged of his corruption. I granted him no mercy.”
[Graves’ gaze hardens, rain dripping from his hair as he speaks with chilling calm.]
“Just like Chef Andre. He thought his indulgences would shield him from the reckoning. But when I chained him to the flames, I reminded him: not everyone is welcome in paradise. The gates are closed to those who live in sin.”
[The rain intensifies as lightning cracks again. Graves steps closer to the camera, his presence commanding.]
“Candy, you’ve danced between the drops long enough. You think you can navigate Arcadia’s filth without dirtying your hands. But the storm that’s coming can’t be avoided. You’re stepping into something far bigger than your charm and wit can handle. When we meet in that ring, there won’t be any more clues to follow, no webs to spin. You won’t talk your way out of this judgment.”
[Thunder roars as Graves moves even closer, the intensity in his voice rising.]
“You walk these streets believing you can outmaneuver the corruption, but Arcadia’s rot runs deeper than your cleverness. It’s a sickness only fire can cleanse. And fire is coming, Candy. It’s not a case for you to solve-it’s judgment descending.”
[Graves’ voice lowers as the thunder begins to fade, his tone icy and unyielding.]
“You can chase shadows, twist words, play your games all you want, but in the end, there will be no escape. Judgment will fall on you, as it does on all the unworthy.”
[Graves’ final words drip with finality.]
“Not everyone gets an invitation to salvation, Candy. Some are destined to burn. In that ring, you’ll learn exactly where you stand. Heaven has no place for you.”
[The camera pulls back as thunder fades into silence.]