The Voice Behind the Door [Intro – Dripping water, distant female humming, footsteps] [Female humming stops] [Old Guard – MALE SPOKEN, frightened] "My lord... that door's been locked for three hundred years." [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN] "Then who's singing behind it?" [Verse 1 – Deep rough MALE vocal, cold guitars] Beneath the halls of Nightguard Keep, Where no one walks and no bells ring, An iron door stands in the wall, Seven locks to hold it all. And every night at twelve o'clock, A woman's singing through the door. The guards have heard it all their lives, But none will go down there at night. [Pre-Chorus – MALE harsh vocal, heavy guitars] They say a witch was locked away, And cursed the stones where she would stay. Darokahn takes up a light And walks downstairs alone tonight. [Chorus – MALE lead, deep male gang vocals, crushing riffs] Don't open the door! Don't turn the key! There's something down below That must never be free! Don't open the door! Don't break the chain! When the singing stops, It will rise again! [Verse 2 – MALE vocal, rising tension] He turns one key, then turns the next, The iron groans beneath his hands. Six locks fall upon the floor, One last turn will free the door. He hears her voice, so faint and thin, Still singing from the dark within. The seventh lock falls to the ground— And suddenly there is no sound. [Sudden silence] [Guardian – FEMALE SPOKEN, terrified whisper] "Put them back! Put back the chains! Before he hears the silence again!" [Female voice stops – Drum hit] [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN] "Who's down there?" [Guardian – FEMALE SPOKEN, faint whisper] "Something older than this door." [Female voice stops – Dark guitar drone] [Pre-Chorus – MALE harsh vocal, dissonant guitars] A crack runs slowly through the floor. Something moves beneath the door. The woman grabs him by the hand: [Guardian – FEMALE SPOKEN, urgent] "Lock it now! You don't understand!" [Female voice stops – Heavy drum fill] [Chorus – MALE lead, dark gang vocals] Don't open the door! Don't turn the key! There's something down below That must never be free! Don't open the door! Don't break the chain! When the singing stops, It will rise again! [Bridge – Low pulse, spoken dialogue only] [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN] "Three hundred years? You've been here all that time?" [Guardian – FEMALE SPOKEN, exhausted] "I was here when they built this room." [Female voice stops – Brief silence] [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN] "Why didn't you leave?" [Guardian – FEMALE SPOKEN, fragile] "Because it wakes when I stop singing." [Female voice stops – Brief silence] [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN] "Then come with me. We'll find another way." [Guardian – FEMALE SPOKEN, barely audible] "There isn't time." [Instrumental – Female voice stops, haunting fiddle and hurdy-gurdy, mournful guitar solo] [Verse 3 – Deep rough MALE vocal, solemn] She steps inside and takes her place. He sees the years upon her face. The singing starts. The shaking ends. She looks at him and smiles, just once. He lifts the locks with shaking hands, And seals the door as she commands. The seventh turns. The hall is still. Her voice comes softly through the wall. [Final Chorus – MALE lead, deep male choir, slower crushing riffs] Don't open the door! Don't turn the key! There's something down below That must never be free! Don't open the door! Remember her song! Three hundred years, She's been holding on! [Outro – Distant female humming behind the door] [Female humming stops – Silence] [Young Guard – MALE SPOKEN, nervous] "Was it true, my lord? Was there a witch?" [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN] "No." [Long pause] [Darokahn – DEEP MALE SPOKEN, solemn] "She was guarding us." [Female humming resumes faintly] [Three deep knocks beneath the floor] [Silence]
