A leaf is being blown across the front yard by the wind. From inside the illuminated house, chatter and laughter can be faintly heard. A bloody, gloved hand reaches out to the house.
END SCENE
7:45 PM (15 minutes before Rosey’s death)
Cloe, Mac, Avril, and Michael are continuing their walk down the trail. They’re almost at the house. Twilight is almost out of the sky, it’s nearly night.
Mac: The minute we get to the house, I’m lighting up again.
Avril: Same… I could really use another high right now.
Cloe rolls her eyes.
Michael: I just need to get some reception around here. I was about to buy a new vest when we were walking, but my stupid phone won’t let me put it in my cart.
Avril: First world problems.
Mac: Mike’s a basic bitch.
Mac, Cloe, and Avril laugh with each other.
Michael: Is this trip just “Gain up on Michael extravaganza” or am I missing something?
Avril: You know we’re kidding, Michael!
Cloe: You’re just an easy person to make fun of…
Avril: I’d stop with “You’re just easy.” (laughing)
Cloe: Avril, you’re actually funny.
Avril: Just making some observations.
Michael looks at Avril, annoyed, then glances at Cloe.
Mac (changing the subject): Uh… Mike, are you going to the fraternity thing next weekend?
Michael: Spend my summer at the frat, too? Are you crazy?
Mac: I’ll take that as a no.
Michael: They’re lucky they got me to go to the convention last month, I’m not about to waste my precious time helping other people-
Avril: Wait! I think we’re here.
The four friends stop. From the distance, they can see the gate to the house.
Mac: I think we are, too.
Michael: Clutch. Let’s go!
Cloe: Who even is all here?
Michael: I don’t know everyone that’s coming, but Bubbles is… (he laughs) That’s enough for me.
They begin their walk across the front yard.
END SCENE
Erika, Justin, and Drew have found the trail and are walking in the direction of the house. Justin is leading the way, not wanting to mess with Erika or Drew.
Drew: Can you please wait up?
Justin: I’m a fast walker. If you can’t keep up, it’s not my problem.
Erika: Okay, Justin. We’re sorry that we tried to be friendly…
Justin swings around.
Justin: You guys were NEVER my friends.
Drew: What? How can you say that?
Erika: Really, though. Like, I’m sorry that you were going through something this summer, but-
Justin: Yeah, I’m sure you’re sorry.
Erika: I AM!
Justin: You’ve been nothing but an entitled, ignorant bitch since I’ve known you.
Erika: Excuse me?!
Drew (stepping in between them): Hey! What is your problem, man? If you have issues with her, you have an issue with me, too.
Justin: That’s what I’ve been saying this whole time. You guys never gave a shit about me. Own it. I don’t need you to act like you care now that we’re spending this weekend together…
Erika (mockingly laughing): Honey… I wasn’t pretending. You can’t expect people to go through leaps and bounds to reach out to you when all you do is push them away…
Justin: Fuck you, Erika.
Erika: Fuck yourself, Justin. I didn’t come here to fight with someone that I don’t even have beef with.
Drew: Why did you even come if you were going to be like this?
Justin: I… (lowering his gaze)
Suddenly, the sound of branches snapping can be heard. The three turn their heads behind them. A person moving quickly across the path can be seen, darting from one thicket of trees to the next.
Erika: Hello?
Drew (whispering): Who was that?
Erika and Drew turn to Justin, who’s disappeared.
Erika: Well, he’s gone…
Drew: What the-
A flying knife comes from the direction of the bushes. Drew and Erika try to duck, but Erika’s a second to late. It sinks squarely into her shoulder.
Erika: AHHHH!
Drew: Erika!
Another knife comes flying toward her. This time, Drew manages to pull her down before it can do more damage. Both are crouching low to the ground.
Drew: We need to go… now!
Drew helps Erika up, who’s still moaning in pain. Another knife comes flying, grazing Drew’s ankle. He screams in pain, before grabbing Erika’s hand.
Drew: Run!
They both break into a sprint.
END SCENE
8:00 PM. In the house, all of the lights have been turned on. Hope is leaning over a record player in the corner of the living room, trying to play some music. AJ, Emma, and Anna are busy in the kitchen. Lizzie, Gwen, and Brody are relaxing on the couch.
Lizzie: …I just hope he isn’t coming.
Brody: Who’s your ex again?
Lizzie: Michael Justice… you know him? He’s a senior at Westfield.
Brody: Yeah, I know he’s at the same college as us, but I don’t know him well at all. He’s your ex? I heard he’s kind of…
Lizzie: A dick? If so, you heard right.
Gwen: What happened? You guys were a cute Instagram couple.
Lizzie: Yeah, that’s where it ended. I caught him making out with another girl on the night of OUR 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. I just… I don’t even know why I open up to guys anymore…
Brody (smiling): Not all of us are bad…
Gwen looks at Brody and he looks at her. Their gaze lasts much longer than a “friendly gaze” would. Hope looks at them, and back at the record player, increasingly agitated.
AJ enters the living room.
AJ: Dinner’s ready, guys! Don’t expect anything too amazing, we were limited on time and ingredients (looking over to Lizzie).
Lizzie: Sorry I almost drowned and ruined our chances of making a delicious cheesecake…
AJ: I’m just messing with you! But really, it’s about to be five-star. Emma is a fucking wizard in the kitchen…
The door-bell rings.
Lizzie: I’ll get it! Yay, more friends.
Lizzie gets up and walks to the door, swinging it open excitedly. Her face drops to a cold, shocked expression.
Michael: ...hey, Liz.
Lizzie slams the door shut again.
AJ: Lizzie!
Lizzie (locking it): No way, AJ. You invited HIM?
AJ: I didn’t think it would be like this.
Gwen: This is so awkward… I’m sorry, Lizzie.
Hope (walking over to Lizzie): It’ll be okay, just ignore him. Go in the kitchen, I’ll do the talking.
Lizzie sighs and leaves. Hope opens the door, with AJ by her side, revealing Michael, Mac, Cloe, and Avril.
Hope: What a pleasant surprise to see your here, Mike.
Michael (laughing): Yeah, I’m sure it is.
Cloe: Can we actually come in this time, or are you going to slam the door in our faces?
Avril: Give her a break, Cloe, Mike is Lizzie’s ex. I would’ve been the same way…
Cloe: Well, you’ll never even get to date him. Sorry, sweetheart.
Avril (turning to her): Okay, I’m done dealing with you. You’re such a bitch…
Avril storms off into the living room.
Cloe: Someone has issues…
Mac: I’ll go talk to her…
Mac goes inside.
AJ: ...um, come in, guys. Dinner’s ready…
AJ awkwardly hugs Michael and Cloe, shutting the door behind them after they walk in. Her face is full of tension.
AJ: Oh, wait. Bubbles and Rosey are outside…
Cloe: Great.
AJ opens up the door and stands on the wood porch. From her perspective, Bubbles can be seen standing outside the barn door.
AJ (calling out toward the barn): Bubbles! Hey, get Rosey! We made dinner!
Bubbles (calling back to AJ): Okay, hun!
AJ goes back inside.
END SCENE
In the forest, Erika and Drew are running for their lives. The sounds of feet running after them can be heard.
Erika: I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.
Drew: Don’t say that. Just run!
As they’re running, a hunting net from far away can be seen hanging from a tree. As Erika and Drew get closer, we see that Justin is trapped inside.
Erika: Justin!
Drew: No way…
Justin: Guys, help!
Erika stops for a split second as she gets near the net. Drew joins her.
Drew: What should we do, Erika?
Erika: You’re asking me?
Justin (reaching out to them): Fucking help me!
Erika looks worriedly at the net. Taking a knife (one that was thrown at her earlier), she begins to cut Justin down, finding a place in the middle of the net to tear. As she’s rapidly cutting, a knife flies into Justin’s side.
Justin: Ahh!
Erika turns with terror-stricken eyes to Drew, and continues to cut as quickly as she can.
Erika: The rope won’t cut. Damn it!
Drew (grabbing her): We have to go, Erika…
Another knife flies at them, this time into Erika’s hand. She screams.
Erika: Owww!!!
Drew pries Erika’s hand away from the net, and drags her with him as he runs away from the scene. Erika reluctantly joins him in leaving.
Justin: Wait! Guys! Please!
Erika (calling back, tears in her eyes): I’m sorry...
Another knife flies into Justin, this time in his leg. He moans in pain, squirming around in the net. An old, middle-aged man, with scabby skin, wearing boots, jeans, and a western-style shirt approaches him. Justin raises his head.
Justin: Just kill me now. Please…
The man bellows with a wheezing, deep, disgusting laugh. He wipes his brow.
Man: Your friends made me really work to catch them. But… I guess I didn’t catch ‘em. Caught you instead.
He runs his hand through Justin’s short hair.
Man: The weak link. That’s what you are. Let’s see if I can make you a little… stronger.
He begins to laugh again, pulling one of the knives out of Justin’s side. Justin screams.
END SCENE
In the house, everyone is either grabbing food out of the crockpots in the kitchen, or beginning to sit down in the living room. Avril is crouching by the record player with Hope.
Avril: I think if we just… (she turns a knob; “My Sharona” by The Knack starts playing) There! Got it!
Hope (smiling): Glad I could enlist a hipster to help me out.
Anna is handing Lizzie a crumpled piece of paper as Lizzie puts it into the fireplace. They’re both looking at Michael, who’s leaning against the wall, flirting with Bubbles.
Anna: I’m sorry he’s here, Lizzie.
Lizzie: Thanks… I’m sorry Rosey’s here.
Anna: It’s whatever. I really feel bad about what happened, but… you can’t change things. The past is the past.
Lizzie: If she stays out in that barn like she has been for the past half hour, maybe you won’t be seeing much of her after all.
Lizzie lights a match and throws it into the fireplace. The paper ignites, and it the wood catches.
Lizzie: Guys, tonight is about to be warm and cozy!
Emma, who’s been chatting with AJ by the window, claps her hands.
Emma: You have all the survival skills, Lizzie.
Lizzie: I mean, I don’t want to brag, but…
On the staircase, Mac and Cloe are sitting next to each other, talking.
Mac: So… what are your plans for this evening?
Cloe (looking at her nails): I dunno yet. Got anything good?
Mac (whispering): I think I have what you’re looking for.
Cloe: Mac, if… say, you and I went upstairs now, into the bedroom… do you think anyone would notice?
Mac: Maybe…
Cloe: Let me rephrase that… do you think a certain someone (eyeing Michael) would notice?
Mac: I doubt he even cares if we-
Cloe: He would. I know he would…
Mac: Since when do you care what HE thinks?
Cloe: I just like to avoid any unnecessary drama.
Mac: Okay, that’s not the biggest lie I’ve ever heard…
Cloe: Ok, whatever. Screw it, let’s go.
Cloe takes Mac’s hand and leads him up the narrow staircase. Upstairs, the hallway is even narrower, and the paint is even more chipped on the walls. She opens the first door on the right, revealing a dark, dusty Queen-sized bed, and some old, dirty drapes and a wardrobe. She flicks on the lights.
Cloe: How… quaint.
Mac locks the door. Cloe takes off her shirt, revealing a pink bra.
Cloe: Your turn.
Mac takes off his shirt, revealing a thin, but nice body.
Cloe: Okay, old sport. Let’s get-
Suddenly, the lights turn off.
Cloe: Why did you-
Mac: I didn’t do anything.
The voices downstairs start making lots of noise. Emma’s voice can be heard above the rest.
Emma: Who turned the lights off?
Cloe makes her way over to Mac, who’s by the wall. A figure brushes past her back, pressing itself against her. She feels Mac’s hands, and gasps.
Cloe: We need to get the fuck out of here.
Mac: What? Why?
Cloe begins to run for the door, but her legs are pulled down. She falls.
Cloe: Help me!
Mac (grabbing for her): Cloe! Cloe!
He opens the door.
Mac: Shit, the power must be out everywhere.
Turning on his flashlight, he scans the room. There’s no trace of her anywhere, save for the pile of clothes by the bed.
END SCENE
----------------
QUESTIONS:
What happened to Cloe? Is she okay?
Thoughts on the Justin/Erika/Drew situation?
Who is the man that managed to trap Justin? What is he going to do?
Favorite character(s)?
Least favorite character(s)?
Extra thoughts?
Reminder that the focus on storylines shifts from episode-to-episode. If you weren't featured heavily in this one, you will be in the next one!
Thanks for reading. Get ready for an action-packed episode next time!
Comments
QUESTIONS:
What happened to Cloe? Is she okay? I feel like there is a group of people out to get these partygoers, and the person who got Cloe is in leagues with the person who caught Justin.
Thoughts on the Justin/Erika/Drew situation? See above statement. I do feel sorry for Justin, but he really shouldn't have run off like he did. I hope Drew and Erika make it out okay.
Who is the man that managed to trap Justin? What is he going to do? I feel like Justin could turn into some kind of wendigo.
Favorite character(s)? I don't really have a favorite
Least favorite character(s)? I still don't like Bubbles
QUESTIONS:
What happened to Cloe? Is she okay? I doubt it, she might either die next episode that'll make Avril very happy hehehehe
Thoughts on the Justin/Erika/Drew situation? Justin is an asshole and he deserves for Erika and Drew to ditch him, he can get fucked ha!
Who is the man that managed to trap Justin? What is he going to do? I have no idea, maybe Judith's therapist? He might rape him, IDK.
Favorite character(s)? I'll do an assessment later
Least favorite character(s)? ^
What happened to Cloe? Is she okay? Um where did she even go! Through the floor?
Thoughts on the Justin/Erika/Drew situation? I think no matter what they should have helped Justin, and not just leave him regardless of the situation, even if he was being rude
Who is the man that managed to trap Justin? What is he going to do? He is probably going to genetically change him into a super mutant like a wendigo
Favorite character(s)? Lizzie
Least favorite character(s)? Erika and Drew and Bubbles this episode
Not finished reading this yet. I'll answer the questions once I'm finished reading, but I just wanted to point out how funny I found it when Lizzie mentioned that Michael cheated on her and then Brody was like "Not all men are cheaters," and he shared a really moment of eye contact with Gwen, which was described as "much longer than a “friendly gaze”." Idk. Just got a real laugh out of that and wanted to type it out before I forgot xD
Questions:
1. I have no idea. Reminds me of Mike and Jessica's somewhat steamy scene in Until Dawn. No power, bit of drama in regards to an ex, and someone gets dragged off at the end. I hope she's okay. /=
2. Really messed up. I feel so bad for Justin. He's gone through so much. ):
3. I have no idea. You seemed to be foreshadowing that the man is going to rape Justin. I really hope Justin survives and leaves this whole situation with an ounce of mental stability left. ):
4. Of those still alive, AJ and Lizzie. Rosey would be up there too if she hadn't passed. /=
5. Aside from the killer, probably Cloe. I despise her using Mac to make Michael jealous. I wish Mac would open his eyes and leave her.
6. Really loving this so far. Excited to see how the story progresses. (:
I hope she's okay, this kinda reminds me of Mike and Jessica
I wish they could have helped him escape
Idk, he might turn justin into a wendigo
Fav: Emma, AJ, Mac, Cloe, Gwen, Avril
QUESTIONS:
What happened to Cloe? Is she okay?
Cloe could either be dead or going to be used to lure the others somewhere
Thoughts on the Justin/Erika/Drew situation?
It sucks that Justin got trapped, but if he wouldn't have been such a jerk he probably could have been spared. I love the #Drika interaction.
Who is the man that managed to trap Justin? What is he going to do?
Probably the guy who put the house up on Craigslist and plotting a night of wicked humor
Favorite character(s)?
Erika, Justin, Drew, Cloe, Mac, AJ
What happened to Cloe? Is she okay? I feel like there is a group of people out to get these partygoers, and the person who got Cloe is in leagues with the person who caught Justin.
Thoughts on the Justin/Erika/Drew situation? See above statement. I do feel sorry for Justin, but he really shouldn't have run off like he did. I hope Drew and Erika make it out okay.
Who is the man that managed to trap Justin? What is he going to do? I feel like Justin could turn into some kind of wendigo.
Favorite character(s)? I don't really have a favorite
Least favorite character(s)? I still don't like Bubbles
Extra thoughts? Looking forward to Episode 3 ^_^