Dean: Ten years… and it still feels like yesterday.
Close-up of young Dean (age 10), covered in soot, eyes reflecting orange flames. A scream echoing in the background. Dean's mother (Zoey) trapped under a beam, reaching out with trembling fingers. Her face is tear-streaked, eyes glassy.
Zoey (weakly): …Is our Dean safe…?
Zack screaming over his shoulder, coughing, holding Dean in his arms near the exit.
Zack: Wait for me outside… I'll bring her back!
Now 20 years old, Dean rolls aggressively in his sleep. Sweat on his face, brows furrowed. He's clearly in distress. "I hear their voices. I see the flames. Over… and over…"
Cristina, now in her 50s, opens the bedroom door. A tray of breakfast in her hands. She stops in the doorway, worried.
Cristina (softly): Dean…?
Dean kicks the blanket off, gripping his head. Breathing heavily. A small shout escapes his lips in his sleep.
Dean (sleep-talking): Mom… Dad… No!
The tray shakes in her hands. A cup falls and shatters.
Cristina (alarmed): DEAN!
Dean shoots upright, eyes wide, breathing fast. Sweat drenched, face full of panic. A scar can be seen on his left arm.
Dean (screaming): AAAAAARGH!!!
Cristina stands at the door, hand over her chest, tears slightly forming in her eyes. Dean clutches his head, panting.
Cristina (softly): …It's okay, sweetie. It's just a dream…
Dean lowers his head, eyes shadowed. A single tear drops from his chin.
Dean (whispers): Then why does it still feel so real?
Cristina gently touches Dean's shoulder, her expression soft and worried as he wakes up from the nightmare.
Cristina (tenderly): Dean… are you okay?
Dean looks up, still breathing heavily from the dream. He nods faintly.
Cristina (off-panel): Was it… that dream again?
Cristina pulls him into a motherly hug. Dean doesn't resist—his face hidden in her shoulder.
Cristina (whispering): You're safe now… everything's okay. (gently, pulling back) Now come on, get ready for breakfast. (smiling warmly) I love you.
Cristina exits the room, leaving Dean in a quiet, thoughtful moment. "She always says it like she means it… like my real mom would've." Mikey leans on the doorframe, arms crossed, with a half-smile on his face.
Mikey: You plan to keep that bed warm all day, birthday boy?
Dean lets out a small smirk, his posture relaxing.
Dean: Took you long enough to show up.
Mikey: Happy 20th, kid. (grinning) Today's not just any day it's your first time going to the city.
Dean: The city?
Mikey: There's a festival today…music, lights, chaos. Stacy and Bryan are already up and waiting
for you in the living room. They've never been to the city either.
As Mikey opens the door, light from the hallway frames his figure.
Mikey: Get ready. Go make memories with your siblings. (smiling) I love you, son.
Dean looks toward the window where the morning light shines in contemplating, but grateful. "I lost everything once... but somehow, I found something just as real." Dean stands up from bed, stretching, now with a calmer face. His earlier tension is replaced by a small, peaceful smile. "Their love… it really does make it easier to breathe."
He starts getting dressed. Focus on him slipping his left arm into the sleeve slowly revealing faded scars and bruising. "Time to move forward…"
Mikey's voice echoes through the wooden house.
Mikey (calling out): Stacy! Bryan! Let's go!
Stacy, already dressed up, leans out from the living room.
Stacy (grinning): I'm ready, Dad!
Mikey squints with a mild scowl.
Mikey: ...Bryan?
Bryan (yelling): Alright alright, old man Mikey, keep your pants on! Geez!
Dean, Bryan and Stacy gather at the living room. Dean looks a bit reserved but calm. Bryan's smirking lazily. Stacy is already buzzing with energy.
Stacy (teasing): Y'all ladies or what? What took you so long?
Without waiting, she tugs them both toward the door with excitement.
Dean: Hey…calm down would ya
Stacy: Come on! First city trip! We are NOT going to be late!"
Mikey's arm wrapped around Cristina's shoulders. Both smiling proudly like parents seeing their kids off.
Mikey: Make sure you leave space in your stomach
Cristina (smiling): Because we're celebrating mountain-style when you get back!
They both wave as the trio walks off. Cristina's eyes shine. Mikey smiles proudly.
Both (in unison): We love you guys so much.
"For the first time… the mountain wind carried something new… freedom, laughter, and the start of something bigger." Far in the distance, two shadowy figures, a man and a woman stand half-hidden among trees, watching the home silently.
"But not all eyes were filled with love that morning…"
The woman peers through binoculars focused on Mikey's house. The man beside her writes something in a small notebook, eyes sharp.
Mysterious Man (low voice): He built himself a cozy little nest out here…
Mysterious Woman (flatly): Still… the boy survived. Just like he said.
Dean rides a shotgun, Bryan hops in back. Stacy gives a proud smirk with the keys in her hand.
Stacy: Let's hit the road, boys!
The figures remain perfectly still in the brush. Their expressions are unreadable as they observe Mikey's house, not chasing just watching. "They weren't here to stop him… not yet."
Stacy drives Mikey's old but well-kept SUV through a scenic mountain route, windows down, wind blowing through their hair. Dean sits in the front seat, Bryan in the backseat yawning with arms crossed.
Stacy (grinning): Next stop: civilization!
Bryan: If this city sucks, I'm blaming both of you.
Dean (smirking): Let's just hope it has good food.
The siblings enter a bustling city district decorated for the annual festival. Streamers, lanterns, food stalls, and street performers flood the streets. "For the first time, the mountain kids
tasted the city's heartbeat…" Stacy hops out excitedly while Dean stretches. Bryan lazily steps
out, rubbing his eyes.
Stacy (pumped): Alright! Time to blow off some steam!
Dean (smiling softly): Let's make some memories.
Dean eats Takoyaki for the first time, wide-eyed.
Stacy joins a dance circle, dragging Bryan in.
Dean wins a mini game and hands a plushie to a random child, smiling.
The trio take a selfie under glowing lanterns, laughter all around. His eyes closed, carefree, truly happy for once. Dean laughed without fear… without weight…
Back home, Mikey's house glows gently in the dusk. A faint shadows moves among the trees behind it.
…not knowing that back home, something dark had already begun.
"Another horrific event was about to take place…"
(Dark, shadowy room – unknown masked man seated on a throne-like chair): His face is hidden under a sleek black mask, only his glowing red eyes visible through the shadows. A single dim light flicks overhead. He holds an old phone to his ear.
Masked Man (coldly): Proceed with the plan.
(Cut to the mountains – the two mysterious figures): Their phone vibrates. The man answers quickly. The woman is already on alert.
Mysterious Man (on phone): Yes… understood.
The call ends instantly.
A glimpse of a strange symbol on a gadget. The man adjusts a strange ring on his hand. Both figures start walking toward Mikey's house from the woods. The shadows began to move…
The two sit on a bed made neatly, soft lamps glowing beside them. Cristina gently folds clothes as Mikey stares out the window thoughtfully.
Cristina (softly): Do you think… we raised them well, Mikey?
Mikey (smiling): They've become stronger than I ever hoped for.
Suddenly his smile vanishes. His fingers dig into his scalp. Cristina quickly leans in, alarmed.
Cristina (worried): Mikey? What's wrong?!
Mikey trembles, eyes wide open but seeing nothing.
Cristina: Are you… are you having a vision again?
No response. Mikey's mind fades out
(Vision world – blurry, greyish haze): A child stands alone in the middle of a void, crying. We can't see their face clearly — it's all warped and shadowed.
Mikey (voiceover, echoing): …The same vision again. But why does it keep coming back…
A huge house appears behind the child, engulfed in fire. Mikey watches from a distance, eyes wide with shock.
Mikey (voiceover): Wait… this wasn't here before…
His eyes widen, his mouth barely moves, but one phrase escapes as he stares at the burning house.
Mikey (whispers): "No… that's our house… this can't be real"
Cristina is shaking Mikey, panic on her face. The room glows orange from outside flames flickering through the curtains.
Cristina (yelling): Mikey! Mikey, snap out of it!!
(Mikey gasps back to consciousness) He grabs Cristina's hands, disoriented but alert. She sighs in relief, holding him tightly for a second.
Cristina (tearful): Thank God… you're back…
Through the window's smoke-glazed glass, he sees two shadowy figures standing silently outside, no emotion just watching as the fire builds around the house.
Mikey (internal): They're here… just like in the vision…
Flames begin to creep up the wooden walls. Gasoline burns in a ring around the property. The figures watch from a few meters away, their faces hidden.
"They came to erase what was once a safe haven…"
The living room is filled with smoke and embers. Cristina stands beside Mikey as smoke rises through the floorboards. They both look at the windows and doors all blocked by debris or flames.
Cristina (softly, trembling): …This was your vision, wasn't it?
Mikey slowly nods, his face shadowed with guilt.
Mikey: Yes…
Cristina closes her eyes, holding back tears.
Cristina: Then… we can't escape it, can we?
She grips Mikey's hand tightly. He looks at her with quiet resolve… Mikey responds, clenching his jaw.
Mikey: The vision didn't show me how to stop it… But we must try.
They run from room to room, they check windows, doors, even try the attic but every route is burning or blocked. The house is a trap.
"But fate had already made its decision…just like last ten years ago"
Coughing, surrounded by fire, they stumble back to the living room. Mikey grabs his old phone; Cristina wipes her face. Mikey opens the FAMILY group chat.
Mikey (voice breaking): There's no way out… everywhere is blocked (tears fills his eyes) but… we can still leave them something.
Flames dance behind them. Their eyes are teary but steady. Cristina rests her head on Mikey's shoulder as he hits 'record.'
Mikey (to the camera): Hey there… our little treasures (trying to hold his tears) we're sorry…
sorry that we won't be with you guys for the rest of your wonderful journey (tears break out) If
you're seeing this… then we didn't make it.
Cristina (softly, smiling through tears): We love you… all of you. Don't ever forget that.
Her voice cracks, but she smiles through tears. They sit close together on the couch, flames flickering behind them, the orange glow painting their faces with warmth and sorrow. The phone's timer shows the minutes slipping away.
"The timer hits 00:08:30"
Mikey shares an unknown truth.
The timer hits 00:00:59, the screen glows with final embers. Mikey and Cristina turn toward each other. They share one last kiss, gentle and filled with pain and peace.
Cristina (whispers): …Let's meet in heaven.
Mikey (softly): I'll be waiting.
Outside the house, a flash of light through the smoke-filled window as the phone sends the
video.
"And then… silence."
(Dark room, back to the masked man sitting in front of monitors) A dim glow lights the masked man's face as his burner phone rings. His gloved hand picks it up.
SFX (Phone): Ring… Ring…
Masked Man (coldly): "Speak."
On the other end, the two mysterious figures stand in a forest clearing.
Mysterious Man (through phone): Job done.
Masked Man (grins beneath his mask): Splendid work…
He lets out a low, wicked laugh.
Masked Man (continued): I'll transfer your money through.
*SFX: Click. (Call ends)
Back to the festival sunset begins turning the sky overcast. Crowds are starting to thin out. The trio, still smiling, walks along a row of food stalls. Unaware of anything wrong.
"Meanwhile, at the festival…"
Dark clouds gather above, casting long shadows over the colorful booths.
"The clouds began to turn… and so did fate."
Rain starts falling as thunder rumbles – light drizzle at first. Dean looks up, as raindrops land on his face. Bryan makes a comment, annoyed. Stacy starts pulling out the keys.
Bryan: Well… that ruined the mood.
Stacy: Come on. Let's head back before it gets worse.
They return to Mikey's SUV, parked by a forested lot nearby. Stacy unlocks the door while Dean and Bryan hop in, still laughing. Dean's phone is still off in his pocket.
"Their phones… still off. The final message from home undelivered."
Stacy at the wheel, starting the car, she glances at the rearview mirror where Dean is seated, humming. Bryan is playing with a keychain he won.
Stacy: Let's go surprise the old man.
SUV driving off through the rain-soaked road, thunder echoes in the distance as they leave the city behind, unaware of the horror awaiting them at home.
"They drove toward the mountains… smiling, laughing… not knowing their world had already burned."
Rain pours hard. As they get closer, smoke still lingers in the air. The headlights cut through
the mist. As they reached the house… the remaining smoke poured out, filling the air… and
their hearts… with dread. The trio steps out of the car, faces pale with fear. Stacy grips the car
door tightly. Bryan stands frozen. Dean's eyes are wide, heart pounding.
Fear took over. Each of them imagining the worst…
Dean starts running toward the ruins of the house, his breath heavy, the rain soaking him, but
he doesn't stop. The smoke clears as the last flames die under the storm.
"But Dean… ran."
What once was home now lies in blackened rubble. Charred, silent, and empty. And when they saw what remained… their worst fears came true.
Stacy falls to her knees, crying uncontrollably.
Stacy: N–no… No!!
Bryan stands stiff, fists clenched, lips trembling as he fights back tears.
Bryan (whispering): Old man… Mom…
Dean has a flashback, quick flashes of Mikey, Cristina, the house in flames… his parents ten years ago… overlapping.
"Not again… not again… not again…"
Dean drops to his knees, clutching the wet earth tears mixing with the rain. He throws his head back and lets out a raw, broken scream that echoes loudly through the mountains.
Dean: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!
"And just like that… Dean's world burned for the second time."
To be continued...