PHANTOM REACTS

INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION — SUBMERGED HALLWAY — NIGHT

Silence.

A long, flooded corridor stretches into darkness. Water floats in the air instead of falling, suspended like glass.

A television flickers to life on its own.

On-screen:

Ash being loaded into a police transport.

Wilson dragged away, sketchbook sealed in evidence.

The footage glitches.

A shadow bleeds out of the screen.

PHANTOM emerges.

Not fully solid.

Not fully gone.

His feet never touch the floor.

PHANTOM

(amused, echoing)

So… gravity breaks.

Stories end.

How disappointing.

The water in the hall ripples sideways.

THE WORLD IS JUST A DOOR

Phantom lifts one hand.

A guard in another room suddenly stops breathing—not choking, not panicking—just frozen.

Phantom steps through the wall like mist.

PHANTOM (CONT’D)

Ash believed control came from force.

Wilson believed it came from fear.

He smiles.

A wrong smile.

PHANTOM (CONT’D)

They forgot possession is patience.

He presses his palm against the guard’s chest.

The guard’s eyes glow faint white.

Phantom is gone.

The body slumps.

Still alive.

CUT TO: ITALY — ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING VENICE

Liam sits on the edge, wrapped in a jacket.

He’s exhausted.

Northern Lights barely flicker—unstable.

Luke and Tyler join him.

No one talks at first.

TYLER

…We won, right?

Liam doesn’t answer.

Kate and Pele stand back, watching.

Kate’s expression is tense.

KATE

No.

The wind shifts unnaturally.

A distant church bell rings—once—then stops mid-note.

PHANTOM’S WARNING

In the reflection of a nearby window—

Phantom appears behind Liam.

Only for a second.

Enough.

Liam stiffens.

Turns.

Nothing there.

But frost creeps across the glass.

A whisper lingers.

PHANTOM (V.O.)

You pause elements.

I live between moments.

Liam’s fist clenches.

LIAM

(low)

He’s still out there.

Pele steps forward, fire flickering.

PELE

And now he knows your name.