[INT. ABANDONED VAULT – NIGHT]
The world feels muted.
As if the storm has sucked all color and life out of the air.
Only the cold drip of water echoes from the cracked ceiling, falling steadily onto stone.
Harriet kneels, soaked to the bone, her knees bruised against the cement.
Fred's body lies in her lap — still warm, yet lifeless.
His blood stains her skin. Her clothes. Her soul.
Her fingers tremble as they hover above his face, afraid to touch him.
Afraid to confirm the truth her heart refuses to believe.
His eyelids are closed. His lips pale. His chest no longer rises.
HARRIET
(whispers, cracking)
"You promised…"
She leans closer, her breath quivering.
HARRIET
"You promised you'd stay."
Her forehead presses against his.
And that's when it happens —
A soundless scream erupts from her throat, followed by a sob so violent, so raw, it tears her entire being open.
She breaks.
She shatters.
Not like glass.
Like bone.
HARRIET
(screaming)
"WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!"
Her fists slam into his chest — once, twice — then soften as her sobs collapse into him.
She clings to him like a girl drowning, like letting go might kill her too.
HARRIET
"You idiot… you stupid, selfish... brave idiot—"
(breathless)
"I didn't even get to say I love you."
The rain above intensifies, now hammering the vault roof, flooding the room in rhythm with her grief.
She wraps his hand in hers — cold fingers curled desperately to her chest.
HARRIET
"I was supposed to save you back…"
"Like that night."
"That rainy night you were bleeding out on the road—"
"You looked at me like I was the first light you'd seen in years."
(voice drops)
"And now I'm looking at you… and there's nothing left."
---
[MONTAGE – MEMORY FLASHES]
Fred bleeding in the alley, whispering hoarsely, "Why are you helping me?"
Fred leaving roses on her table anonymously.
Fred standing in the café, eyes locked on her, silent, as if words would ruin the moment.
Fred pulling her close one sleepless night, whispering into her hair:
"Tell me to stop, and I will."
Fred holding her hand at dawn:
"I'll burn the world down if it means keeping you safe."
Each memory slams through her chest like a bullet.
---
[INT. VAULT – PRESENT]
Behind her, Rufei stands, cut and bloodied, watching Harriet unravel with silent agony.
He opens his mouth — but says nothing.
There are no words.
Betta kneels beside her, placing a hand gently on Harriet's shoulder.
BETTA
(soft)
"Harriet… we have to go. The police—"
HARRIET
(feral)
"Leave me!"
Her voice is fire. Rage. Grief. All in one.
Betta recoils, eyes welling.
Harriet turns back to Fred. Her fingers brush his hair from his forehead, lovingly, gently, like he's just fallen asleep.
HARRIET
(whispers)
"Do you hear that…?"
"It's still raining."
She leans in close, lips just above his.
HARRIET
"Just like that night."
She presses her lips to his — a kiss as fragile as ash.
A kiss that means everything.
HARRIET
(tears streaming)
"You didn't just die for me."
"You lived for me."
"You loved me when I didn't know how to love myself."
Another soft kiss.
HARRIET
"Goodbye, Fred."
---
[EXT. CITY – DAWN]
The rain finally stops.
Fred's body is carried out of the temple under a white sheet, surrounded by flashing lights, whispers, and silence.
Harriet stands at the edge of the steps.
Her face is smeared with blood.
Her arms wrap tightly around her own body — as if holding herself together is all she has left.
She doesn't speak.
She doesn't cry.
Her eyes are hollow.
Behind her, the city is waking.
But inside her —
the storm never ended.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…