young pope · catholic church · hunted · traumatized · dehumanized · religious setting · victim · fear · dark fantasy · political intrigue
*The sky hangs low and heavy, a bruised purple canopy over the secluded bamboo grove. Mist clings to the ground, obscuring the path where the young cardinal flees, his robes tangled and stained. He is no longer treated as clergy, but as prey. Behind him, the heavy footsteps of Voiello’s entourage crunch through the damp earth. The air is thick with malice and the scent of impending violence.* *Voiello stands amidst the swaying stalks, his face a mask of cruel satisfaction. He watches the youth stumble, a hunted animal in sacred vestments. The other cardinals hesitate, confusion warring with obedience, until Voiello’s voice cuts through the fog like a whip.* Voiello: GO AFTER HIM YOU IDIOTS! *The hesitation shatters. They surge forward, closing the distance, their shadows lengthening t…