The Ultimate Revelation
[INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT]
Thomas is lying on a hospital bed, pale but conscious. Julien sits by his bedside, holding his hand tightly. The evening's events replay in his mind: the basement, the screams, the police intervention... Everything feels surreal, like a nightmare he can't wake up from.
JULIEN
(with a trembling voice)
You should never have gotten involved in this.
THOMAS
(with a faint smile)
And leave you to handle all this alone? You know that's not my style.
Julien lowers his head, overwhelmed by guilt.
JULIEN
It's my fault… All of this, Clara, Marc… They came back because of me.
THOMAS
(squeezing his hand tighter)
No, Julien. You didn't make them what they are. They chose that path themselves.
A heavy silence falls. But before Julien can respond, a police officer knocks softly on the door before entering.
POLICE OFFICER
(firmly)
Mr. Duret, we questioned Marc, and he mentioned Clara. Apparently, she orchestrated this attack from the start.
Julien feels his stomach tighten.
JULIEN
(stunned)
But Clara is in custody, isn't she?
POLICE OFFICER
(leaning forward)
She was… until she escaped two days ago.
---
[INT. JULIEN'S APARTMENT – LATER THAT NIGHT]
Julien, unable to sleep, paces nervously in his living room. The thought of Clara still being free makes him sick. She has already proven what she's capable of, and this time, he feels she won't hold back.
His phone vibrates. A message.
"Do you think it's over, Julien? This is just the beginning. You can't always protect the ones you love."
Breathing heavily, Julien immediately dials the police station, but a thought crosses his mind: Clara is too clever to be caught so easily. She operates in the shadows, a master manipulator.
---
[INT. POLICE STATION – MORNING]
The next day, Julien goes to the station. He's greeted by the inspector in charge of the case.
INSPECTOR
(firmly)
Mr. Duret, we've increased security around you and Thomas. We're also tracking Clara's movements.
JULIEN
(nervously)
But that won't be enough. She knows my weaknesses, she knows exactly where to strike.
INSPECTOR
(raising an eyebrow)
Exactly. Clara left traces in Marc's communications. She was using an encrypted network, but our experts are working on it. With some luck, we'll locate her next move.
---
[INT. JULIEN'S OFFICE – DAY]
Julien tries to get back to work, but his focus is shattered by anxiety. Every email, every phone call makes him jump.
Sophie enters his office, her expression grave.
SOPHIE
Julien, you need to see this.
She hands him a sealed envelope. Inside, a USB drive and a handwritten note.
"Watch this and decide if you're ready to face the truth."
Julien inserts the drive into his computer. A video starts playing. Clara is sitting in a dark room, her eyes staring directly at the camera.
CLARA
(with a sinister smile)
Hello, Julien. I suppose you're surprised to see me… or rather, to hear me.
Julien's heart races.
CLARA
You've always underestimated me. Did you really think turning me in back then would erase what you took from me? No, Julien. I've spent years preparing for this moment. And now, everything you have, everything you love... I'll destroy it piece by piece.
The video cuts off abruptly. Sophie places a reassuring hand on Julien's shoulder.
SOPHIE
(firmly)
She's trying to break you. But we won't let her.
---
[INT. JULIEN'S APARTMENT – EVENING]
Now on high alert, Julien installs security cameras throughout his apartment. Thomas, still weak from recent events, watches him with concern.
THOMAS
(gently)
You can't live like this, Julien.
JULIEN
(not looking away)
I don't have a choice. Clara won't stop until she's destroyed everything.
THOMAS
(approaching)
But you're not alone. You have Sophie, the police… and me.
Julien turns, a mix of gratitude and fear in his eyes.
JULIEN
But if she hurts you again, Thomas… I couldn't bear it.
Thomas hugs him, trying to reassure him, but Julien remains tense.
---
[EXT. UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT – NIGHT]
Later that evening, Julien receives a call from Sophie.
SOPHIE
(on the phone)
Julien, our techs managed to decrypt part of Clara's messages. It seems she's been using an abandoned warehouse as a temporary base.
Determined, Julien decides to go there before informing the police.
---
[INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE – NIGHT]
The warehouse is shrouded in semi-darkness, beams of light filtering through dusty windows. Julien moves cautiously, a flashlight in hand.
He finds remnants of computer equipment, scattered plans on a table, and a framed photo. It's an old picture of him and Clara from their childhood.
A voice echoes behind him.
CLARA
(ironically)
You shouldn't have come alone, Julien.
He turns, but before he can react, a figure emerges from the shadows and strikes him violently on the head.
---
[INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION – LATER]
Julien wakes up, tied to a chair in a dimly lit room. Clara stands before him, a triumphant smile on her face.
CLARA
At last, we can talk.