Genre: Psychological Thriller/Mystery
Setting: A secluded mountain lodge in the middle of winter, shrouded by heavy snowstorms.
Main Characters:
- Anna Collins – A journalist in her early 30s, recovering from a traumatic event.
- Ethan Grey – A charismatic but enigmatic owner of the lodge, mid-40s.
- Marion Drake – A mysterious guest, mid-50s, who seems to know more than she lets on.
- Voice of Lily – Haunting whispers of Anna’s deceased sister, whose death Anna feels responsible for.
INT. LODGE LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
A roaring fire casts flickering shadows across the rustic wooden walls. Anna sits alone on a worn leather armchair, staring blankly at a glass of whiskey in her hand. The storm rages outside, the wind howling like a restless spirit.
A faint creak echoes from upstairs. Anna stiffens, glancing toward the staircase. The lodge feels oppressively silent, save for the crackling fire.
ANNA
(to herself, softly)
It’s just the wind.
She takes a sip of whiskey, but her hand trembles slightly. Her phone buzzes on the side table. She picks it up, the screen lighting up with a text:
“Did you hear that? – Marion”
Anna’s eyes widen. She looks toward the hall where Marion’s room is located, the door ajar and the light spilling faintly into the corridor.
INT. MARION’S ROOM – NIGHT
Anna enters cautiously. The room is empty, the bed unmade, as though Marion left in a hurry. A chill hangs in the air. Anna’s breath becomes visible.
ANNA
Marion?
She spots a piece of paper on the desk. It’s a torn-out page from a journal. The handwriting is scrawled and frantic:
“You must leave. He’s not who he says he is.”
The door creaks behind her. Anna spins around, but no one is there. The hallway beyond is dark.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Anna finds Ethan in the kitchen, calmly chopping vegetables for a stew. The rhythmic thunk thunk of the knife contrasts with the growing tension.
ANNA
(holding up the note)
Where’s Marion? She’s gone.
Ethan doesn’t look up from his work.
ETHAN
Gone? I wasn’t aware she checked out.
ANNA
She didn’t check out. She just… disappeared. And she left this.
She slaps the note on the counter. Ethan finally looks up, his expression unreadable. He picks up the note, scanning it, and smirks.
ETHAN
People get… imaginative up here. The isolation does things to the mind.
ANNA
Imaginative? She was terrified. She said you’re not who you say you are.
Ethan’s smile fades. He leans in slightly, lowering his voice.
ETHAN
Maybe she’s right.
Anna takes an involuntary step back, but Ethan straightens, brushing it off with a laugh.
ETHAN
I’m joking, Anna. Relax. Have some stew when it’s ready.
She doesn’t respond, staring at him, unnerved. Ethan turns back to his chopping, humming softly to himself.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Anna walks down the dimly lit hallway, her breathing shallow. The walls seem to close in, the storm outside growing louder.
A faint voice echoes behind her, soft and familiar:
LILY (O.S.)
Anna…
Anna freezes, her heart pounding. She turns slowly, seeing nothing but the empty corridor. The voice comes again, closer this time.
LILY (O.S.)
Why did you let me go?
ANNA
(whispering)
No… no, you’re not real.
She backs up against the wall, her eyes darting. The hallway grows darker, the shadows stretching unnaturally.
LILY (O.S.)
You left me to die.
INT. BASEMENT – NIGHT
Anna descends into the basement, clutching a flashlight. The beam cuts through the thick darkness, revealing old furniture, dusty crates, and cobwebbed shelves.
She hears a faint sound—a soft scratching. Her flashlight swings toward a corner, where a trunk sits partially open. The sound grows louder.
Summoning her courage, Anna steps closer. She lifts the trunk lid fully, revealing…
Nothing but a doll. Its porcelain face cracked, its glass eyes staring up lifelessly.
ETHAN (O.S.)
(behind her)
Find something interesting?
Anna whirls around, dropping the flashlight. Ethan stands at the base of the stairs, his silhouette tall and menacing.
ANNA
Where is she? Where’s Marion?
Ethan steps closer, his face illuminated now, calm but cold.
ETHAN
Marion’s… resting. She’ll be fine.
ANNA
You’re lying.
Ethan tilts his head, regarding her like a predator.
ETHAN
You know, Anna, the mind is a fragile thing. You of all people should know that.
He takes another step toward her.
ETHAN
How much of what you’re seeing… how much of what you’re hearing… is even real?
Anna’s breathing quickens. The whispers return, louder now.
LILY (O.S.)
You can’t save anyone, Anna. Not me. Not her.
Anna stumbles backward, gripping the wall for support.
ANNA
Get away from me.
ETHAN
Or what? You’ll hurt me? Or will you hurt yourself again? Like before?
The room seems to close in around her. Anna grabs the flashlight from the floor and swings it, smashing it against Ethan’s head. He collapses.
Panting, Anna rushes past him up the stairs.
INT. LODGE ENTRANCE – NIGHT
Anna fumbles with the lock on the front door, the wind howling outside. She manages to open it and steps into the blinding snowstorm.
The storm roars, but through the chaos, she hears a final, chilling whisper:
LILY (O.S.)
You can never escape, Anna.
Anna looks back at the lodge, its windows glowing faintly, like eyes watching her. She turns and disappears into the storm.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.
