PHANTOM POSSESSES A CIVILIAN

EXT. VENICE — NARROW SIDE STREET — NIGHT

Rain drips steadily from balconies.

A middle-aged gondola mechanic locks up his shop. Normal. Tired. Human.

He exhales and turns—

The streetlight above him flickers.

Once.

Twice.

Then stops.

The rain freezes mid-fall.

Not ice.

Paused.

The mechanic frowns.

MECHANIC

(confused)

…Hello?

A cold passes through him.

Not wind.

Not fear.

Something stepping inside.

INSIDE THE POSSESSION

The world goes muffled.

His breath fogs—but the night isn’t cold.

A voice speaks from behind his thoughts.

PHANTOM (V.O.)

Don’t fight.

I’m only borrowing the door.

The man’s hands tremble.

His reflection in a shop window lags behind him.

Then smiles.

He didn’t smile.

THE CHANGE

The mechanic straightens.

Pain vanishes.

Fatigue disappears.

His eyes glow faint white—no pupils, no emotion.

He lifts a hand.

A nearby trash bin slides across the street and gently taps the wall.

He tilts his head, curious.

PHANTOM (V.O.)

Such fragile things…

yet they hold so much space.

The man steps forward.

His footsteps don’t make sound.

CUT TO: ROOFTOP — LIAM

Liam jolts awake.

Northern Lights spark violently around his shoulders.

He gasps.

LIAM

Someone just—

Kate is beside him instantly.

KATE

—was taken.

Pele’s fire flares low.

PELE

Not killed.

Used.

BACK TO THE STREET

The possessed man walks calmly toward a crowded canal crossing.

Tourists laugh nearby.

Phantom watches through borrowed eyes.

PHANTOM (V.O.)

Heroes always look for monsters.

The man stops.

Turns.

Looks directly at the camera.

At Liam.

Across the city.

PHANTOM (THROUGH THE MAN)

(smiling softly)

Let’s see how fast you can save everyone.

The streetlight explodes.

Screams erupt.