WOUNDED: UNHEARD CONFESSIONS — THE SOUL VAULT Written by 12Gauge858 Dark Cinematic Intro / Ad-Lib Sequence — Twelve × Da Beast [BLACK SILENCE — 2 seconds] [very faint heartbeat] thump… thump… [deep underground room tone slowly fades in] [a single heavy chain drags across concrete] scrrrrrape… [silence] [chain shifts again] clink… clink… DA BEAST — barely audible, deep whisper Twelve… [Twelve breathes slowly through his nose] DA BEAST — whisper You hear me. [chain pulls gently against metal] DA BEAST Let me out… [long pause] TWELVE — calm, almost under his breath No. [heartbeat slightly louder] DA BEAST — soft, almost reassuring You need me. [metal creaks somewhere behind the door] I know you do. TWELVE Not today. [Da Beast quietly chuckles] DA BEAST Not today… [chain drags closer] That’s what you always say. [BANG — one sudden strike against the vault door] [Twelve inhales sharply] DA BEAST — still controlled Who stood up when you were afraid? [chain tightens] Who walked toward it when everybody else backed away? [BANG] Who kept you alive? TWELVE — firmer You did. [silence] DA BEAST — almost tender Then open the door. TWELVE No. DA BEAST Just a little. [fingertips scrape slowly down the other side of the metal door] You don’t have to let me all the way out. [whisper moves from left ear to right ear] Just… enough. TWELVE — quiet That’s what scares me. [silence] DA BEAST Why? TWELVE Because you don’t know what “enough” means. [heartbeat stops] [DEAD SILENCE] DA BEAST — voice suddenly colder I know exactly what enough means. [CHAIN SLAMS AGAINST THE DOOR] DA BEAST Enough is when the threat can’t get back up. TWELVE — immediate No. [BANG] DA BEAST — louder I protected you! TWELVE And I thanked you. DA BEAST I MADE YOU SURVIVE! TWELVE And then I had to learn how to live. [chains begin moving violently] DA BEAST YOU STILL NEED ME! [BANG — BANG — BANG] TWELVE — voice beginning to strain I need your strength. DA BEAST THEN LET ME OUT! TWELVE I DIDN’T SAY I NEEDED YOU IN CONTROL. [violent metallic impact] [door hinges groan] DA BEAST — growling You called me before… [CHAIN PULL] You’ll call me again… [BANG] Because when they come for you— [BANG] when they corner you— [BANG] when somebody touches the people you love— [ALL CHAINS SNAP TIGHT] DA BEAST — roaring WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GONNA CALL?! [Twelve breathing heavily] TWELVE — whispered through clenched teeth You. [everything instantly stops] DA BEAST — tiny satisfied whisper Exactly. [long silence] [one chain drops onto the floor] DA BEAST — seductive whisper So turn the key. [metal lock quietly rattles] TWELVE No. DA BEAST Twelve… TWELVE — stronger No. DA BEAST — anger rising LET. [BANG] ME. [BANG] OUT. [BANG — entire vault shakes] TWELVE — shouting NO! [CHAINS ERUPT — METAL THRASHING — DOOR POUNDING] DA BEAST — full roar I AM YOUR PROTECTOR! TWELVE YOU WERE! DA BEAST I STILL AM! TWELVE THEN PROTECT ME BY STAYING BEHIND THAT DOOR! [sudden silence] [heartbeat returns slowly] thump… thump… TWELVE — exhausted, almost breaking The strongest thing I ever learned… [deep breath] wasn’t how to fight. [chain trembles softly behind the door] It was how to stop. [long silence] DA BEAST — barely audible One day… [Twelve closes his eyes] DA BEAST …you’re gonna open this door too far. [Twelve exhales] TWELVE — low whisper Maybe. [vault lock turns] CLICK. TWELVE But it won’t be today. [Da Beast begins breathing harder behind the door] [chains slowly tighten] DA BEAST — whisper becoming a growl Twelve… Twelve… TWELVE… TWELVE! LET ME OUT! YOU NEED ME! I AM YOUR PROTECTOR! [CHAINS HAMMERING THE DOOR — HEARTBEAT ACCELERATES] DA BEAST / TWELVE — voices begin overlapping LET ME OUUUUUUUUT— HORRIFIC HUMAN SCREAM AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!! [SCREAM abruptly cuts to absolute silence] [3 seconds silence] [forest wind slowly enters] [distant birds] [foggy outdoor ambience] [wooden bench creaks as Twelve sits down] TWELVE — exhausted whisper Anyway… [deep breath] You wanted to know why I come out here. [pause] Now you know. [cello enters — one low wounded note] TWELVE Welcome to the bench. [whisper] All is welcome. [MUSIC BEGINS]
