Hold The Line

(Narrators : unknow)

[Intro — whispered narration]

The screens came back in pieces.

Half a warning. Half a lie.

Someone said the worst was over.

Someone else said, Not tonight.

Across the world, three questions crossed the ice:

What is happening?

What do you believe?

Are you safe?

[Movement I — recited]

Carole found Will first.

Safe.

Then she opened every channel she still had.

How much can we still move?

Money. Power. Roads.

Whatever could keep somebody warm,

somebody fed,

somebody moving home.

Gabriel watched her work

until she finally looked at him.

Are you safe?

You're standing right here.

I know.

For a second, that was enough.

[Refrain — distant female cry]

Hold the line between us.

Hold the line between us.

When every road divides,

don't let the fear decide between us.

[Movement II — murmured litany]

Some called.

Some counted.

Some prayed the signal through.

Some held the ones beside them

as if distance could be folded into a room.

What is happening?

I don't know.

Are you safe?

For now.

Richard killed the feed.

His own face had lied enough for one night.

Solène checked what they had,

then took his hand

and placed it where tomorrow was already growing.

Jane stopped recording.

Solana was beside her.

Some moments need no witness.

Some moments need you there.

[Refrain — broken chant]

Hold the line.

Hold the line between us.

Whatever side they give us,

hold the line between us.

[Movement III — narrative over widening drones]

One man checked his money

before he checked a name.

One hospital counted hours.

One government did the same.

Everybody measured

what they could not bear to lose.

Who do you believe?

I don't know.

Adrien heard the numbers:

power,

hospitals,

transport,

food.

Millions of lives inside four words.

Then quieter:

And Elise?

Safe.

[Interlude — breath and wordless cluster]

Ah—ah—ah—

O—o—o—

Stay near.

Stay near.

[Movement IV — stark melodic cries]

Across the city,

Elise asked about her parents

before she asked what the markets had lost.

Then she read the reports again.

Not only who attacked—

but what will we do

because we believe they did?

Lucas sat beneath a wall of explanations

and understood none of them anymore.

My parents—

Already secured.

Don't worry.

You're safe.

I don't know what's real anymore.

[Refrain — ceremonial, expanding]

Hold the line between us.

Hold the line between us.

Not the border.

Not the wire.

The line between us.

[Movement V — whispered procession]

Somewhere in California,

David waited for a door

that could not answer.

Geneviève asked about Emma.

Aurora stayed close.

Across the ocean,

Anna and Daniel waited for Marek.

And underground,

three signals remained alive.

Are they safe?

They're still here.

Emma knew nothing of the warnings.

Marek knew nothing of the borders.

Hana knew nothing of the markets falling.

Inside the Garden,

there were no sides yet.

[Final Movement — escalating litany]

Some saved photographs.

Some saved passwords.

Some saved everything they could.

Some thought first of money.

Some thought first of blood.

Some had someone far away.

Some held them in their arms.

Nobody knew what morning meant.

So they asked the oldest question

fear had never changed:

Are you safe?

I don't know.

Stay with me.

[Final Refrain — severe melodic cry with wordless choir]

Hold the line between us.

When every road divides,

don't let the fear decide between us.

Hold the line,

whatever side they give us.

Hold the line between us.

Hold the line.

Hold the line.

Not the border.

Not the wire.

The line between us.

[Outro — fading whisper]

The line between us.