Chapter 1The Debt Awakens
PROLOGUE – THE FEAST (FLASHBACK / DREAM)
They had no eyes.
At least, not ones that looked alive.
Their skin clung to bone like dried parchment. Mouths hung open, teeth blackened and broken, tongues cracked from centuries without water—or mercy.
They crawled out of the dark.
Dozens of them.
Maybe hundreds.
At the center of the ruined ground stood a teenage boy, no older than sixteen.
He wore a mask of a cow—wooden, cracked, stained dark with age. Long horns curved upward, casting shadows across his thin body.
He did not run.
He did not scream.
One of the starving figures whispered, voice like sand scraping stone:
“The debt still breathes.”
Then they rushed him.
Hands tore at flesh.
Teeth sank into muscle.
Bones cracked between jaws.
The boy collapsed, but the mask remained upright, staring at the sky as they ate him alive.
Blood soaked the earth.
The cow mask smiled.
Adeline screamed.
ACT I – THE DREAMER (DAY 0)
Adeline jolted awake, gasping.
The bus rattled beneath her.
Students laughed. Someone shouted. A phone played music too loudly.
She pressed a hand to her chest, heart hammering.
The image wouldn’t leave her mind.
The mask.
The hunger.
The sound of flesh tearing.
Ethan sat a row ahead, talking to Freya.
Adeline watched him for a moment—steady, focused, unaware.
She leaned forward.
“Ethan?”
He turned. “You okay?”
She hesitated.
“I had a nightmare.”
He nodded once.
“Bad?”
She swallowed.
“Really bad.”
The driver suddenly screamed.
A shadow crossed the headlights.
The bus swerved.
Metal shrieked like an animal being skinned alive.
The world flipped.
When Ethan opened his eyes, he was upside down.
Blood ran along the ceiling.
Students were dead—necks broken, bodies crushed between seats, faces frozen in terror. Someone was pinned halfway through a shattered window, unmoving.
Adeline was alive.
That was the first thing Ethan noticed
Adeline was crying, her forehead bleeding.
“Ethan,” she whispered. “I can’t feel my legs.”
He grabbed her, screaming her name.
Then the bus shifted.
The bodies fell.
Bones snapped.
Screams ended.
Silence swallowed everything
Freya, Noah, and Dylan crawled out moments later.
That was it.
Only five crawled out alive:
• Ethan
• Adeline
• Freya
• Noah
• Dylan
Everyone else was dead.
Forty students reduced to broken shapes in the rain.
Dylan vomited.
Noah whispered, “Why us?”
No one answered.
Rain washed blood from Ethan’s hands, but it wouldn’t come off.
Freya kept counting heads.
Noah stared at the corpses, whispering names.
Adeline stood quietly beside Ethan
That’s when the village lights turned on.
We move together,” Ethan said.
“No panic. No running. No one goes alone.”
Everyone agrees...
The villagers arrived without sound.
They did not look shocked.
They did not ask questions.
They only stared at the wreck.
One woman crossed herself and whispered,
“They lived… again.”
Ethan caught that word.
Again.
The villagers led them to shelter, avoiding the bus like a corpse that might breathe.
Adeline clutched Ethan’s sleeve.
“They’re scared of us,” she whispered.
“No,” Ethan said. “They’re scared of something else.”
An old man spoke for the villagers.
“You may stay,” he said. “But when night comes—do not enter the church.”
Freya asked, “Why?”
The man’s jaw tightened.
“Because God no longer listens there.”
Adeline whispered to Ethan,
“This place feels… wrong. Like something followed us.”
Ethan didn’t reply.
He was staring at the church.
The church stood at the edge of the village.
Cracked stone. Broken bell. A cross carved so old it had lost its meaning.
That night, Ethan couldn’t sleep.
Neither could Adeline
Nor rest of the survivors
Ethan staring at the church all alone
Adeline look for him and sat near Ethan
You feel it too, don’t you?” she asked.
He nodded.
“This place knows us.”
She looked down.
“I don’t think we were meant to survive.”
Ethan didn’t argue.
The church pulled at Ethan’s attention all day.
Adeline noticed.
“You’re thinking about it,” she said.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“You shouldn’t,” she said immediately. “Whatever’s in there—it’s the reason this village looks dead.”
“I just want answers.”
Adeline shook her head.
“Answers have consequences..”
Ethan smile and face turn at church
“I keep hearing hooves,” she said quietly.
Ethan hesitated, then confessed,
“I feel like something saved us.”
They looked at each other.
Fear passed between them—but also trust.
DYLAN clears his throat.
DYLAN
Okay… this is officially the worst school trip ever.
No one laughs.
He forces a grin anyway.
DYLAN (CONT’D)
We’re not dead. That counts for something.
So… truth or dare?
NOAH looks at him like he’s insane.
NOAH
Are you serious?
DYLAN
What? You wanna sit here staring at corpses in your head all night?
FREYA shrugs.
FREYA
Fine. Dare.
DYLAN points at ETHAN.
DYLAN
You. Leader boy. Truth or dare?
ETHAN doesn’t hesitate.
ETHAN
Dare.
ADELINE stiffens immediately.
DYLAN glances toward the door — then lowers his voice.
DYLAN
I dare you…
to check out the church.
The room goes still.
The oil lamp flickers harder.
NOAH stands up.
NOAH
No. Absolutely not.
FREYA
The villagers literally told us not to go there.
DYLAN raises his hands.
DYLAN
Relax. I didn’t say touch anything. Just look.
ADELINE shakes her head.
ADELINE
Ethan, don’t.
He looks at her.
She doesn’t look angry.
She look scary
ADELINE (CONT’D)
This place feels wrong.
The church feels… worse.
DYLAN tries to laugh it off.
DYLAN
It’s an old building, Adeline. Not a demon.
She snaps her eyes to him.
ADELINE
You don’t know that
FREYA crosses her arms.
FREYA
If he goes, we all go.
NOAH nods quickly.
NOAH
Yeah. No splitting up. Ever.
DYLAN hesitates.
DYLAN
I said Ethan goes alone.
ADELINE stands.
ADELINE
Then he’s not going.
Silence.
ETHAN exhales slowly.
ETHAN
I won’t go alone.
Adeline relaxes slightly — then freezes as he continues.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
But I am going.
She looks at him, slapped him
ADELINE
Why do you always think it has to be you?
ETHAN meets her eyes.
ETHAN
Because if something’s wrong here…
I’d rather it be me who finds out.
She swallows.
Looks away.
Then back.
ADELINE
I said no.
A beat.
Then, quietly—
ADELINE (CONT’D)
But I’m not letting you do this by yourself.
Everyone looks at her.
ETHAN softens.
ETHAN
You don’t have to.
ADELINE
Yes. I do.
DYLAN forces a smile.
DYLAN
Guess my dare worked a little too well.
NOAH mutters—
NOAH
This is a mistake.
FREYA grabs her jacket.
FREYA
Then let’s make it fast.
ADELINE looks at the door one last time.
Almost like she’s listening.
ADELINE (V.O.)
(soft, uneasy)
That was the moment I knew.
Not when we entered the church.
But when I chose to follow him.
The lamp flickers out.
That night, they went anyway.
Not because Adeline agreed.
But because she refused to let Ethan go alone
The church stands at the edge of the village.
Too far from the houses.
Too quiet.
Its stone walls are cracked, swallowed by creeping vines.
The bell tower leans slightly — like it’s listening.
The teenagers stop a few meters away.
No wind.
No insects.
FREYA breaks the silence.
FREYA
Why does it feel like we’re already late?
DYLAN scoffs quietly.
DYLAN
It’s just a building.
ADELINE doesn’t move.
She tilts her head.
Listening.
ADELINE
Do you hear that?
NOAH strains.
NOAH
Hear what?
She hesitates.
ADELINE
Exactly.
ETHAN steps forward.
ETHAN
We look around. Five minutes.
No touching. No opening anything sealed.
He pushes the door.
It opens too easily.
INT. CHURCH – NIGHT
The air inside is cold.
Not night-cold.
Buried-cold.
Their footsteps echo — but not evenly.
Some steps sound… delayed.
Candles line the walls.
All melted down to black wax stubs.
DYLAN nudges one with his shoe.
DYLAN
Guess prayers didn’t work.
The candle rolls.
Stops on its own.
ADELINE grips Ethan’s sleeve.
He doesn’t pull away.
THE ALTAR
The altar is cracked.
Carved into the stone are symbols — crude, uneven.
Freya runs her fingers over one.
FREYA
These aren’t crosses.
ETHAN crouches.
His eyes narrow.
ETHAN
They’re warnings.
NOAH swallows.
NOAH
Warnings of what?
Before Ethan answers—
A THUD echoes from above.
Everyone jumps.
DYLAN
Please tell me that was the wind.
ADELINE whispers—
ADELINE
There is no wind
THE SYMBOLS
Adeline notices something.
Five markings.
One near each pillar.
She traces one with her eyes — The Runner.
Her chest tightens.
She steps back.
Bumps into Noah.
His nose suddenly bleeds.
He wipes it quickly.
NOAH
I—I’m fine.
No one believes him
ETHAN looks at the center of the altar.
A wooden board rests beneath a rotting cloth.
It looks wrong.
Too clean.
Too untouched.
ADELINE shakes her head.
ADELINE
Ethan… don’t.
He hesitates.
For the first time.
ETHAN
If we leave now…
and something happens later—
DYLAN mutters—
DYLAN
—then we’ll wish we checked.
ADELINE looks at Dylan.
Then at Ethan.
Her voice is steady, but scared.
ADELINE
If you touch it…
whatever this is will know you.
Silence.
Then—
ETHAN lifts the cloth
THE BOARD
The symbols are carved deep.
Dark stains fill the grooves.
Not dust.
Not paint.
The air shifts.
A faint sound echoes through the church.
Hooves.
Soft.
Slow.
Very far away.
FREYA backs toward the door.
FREYA
Okay. Five minutes are up.
NOAH whispers—
NOAH
We shouldn’t have come.
DYLAN forces a laugh.
DYLAN
Guys… come on—
The board creaks.
Just once.
As if settling.
ADELINE steps forward
Places her hand over Ethan’s.
ADELINE
Please.
He looks at her.
Really looks.
Then—
ETHAN
We leave.
Relief floods the room.
They turn toward the door—
The church bell rings.
Once.
No one touched it.
The sound shakes dust from the ceiling.
ADELINE closes her eyes.( relief)
The board rests on the altar again.
Ethan places it down carefully, like returning something borrowed.
The air feels tight.
As if the room is holding its breath.
Adeline steps forward fast.
She grabs his wrist.
ADELINE
Ethan, please. Don’t read it.
He looks at her hand on his arm.
Then at her face.
For a moment, the leader is gone.
He hesitates.
Then—he smiles. Small. Almost apologetic.
Adeline tightens her grip.
ADELINE
Promise me—you won’t read it.
Ethan swallows.
The church creaks softly.
ETHAN
I promise.
The board moves.
Not visibly.
But Ethan flinches.
A sharp intake of breath
Adeline looks down.
A thin cut has opened across Ethan’s palm.
Too clean.
Too deliberate.
Blood wells.
Drips.
One drop lands inside a carved symbol.
The carvings glow.
A deep, dull red.
The air shudders.
Ethan tries to pull back—
But his hand won’t lift.
His jaw tightens.
His throat convulses.
The words tear out of him, violent and wrong:
ETHAN
“Gozu Tennō, ushi no kami yo,
Ushirogami, akuma no tsuno!”
The church doors SLAM SHUT.
Dust explodes from the walls.
Freya screams.
The board pulses.
Ethan’s voice deepens—layered.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
“Āgaccha, mahā-bhīma-gāuḥ,
Cornū ferox, ex abysso surge!”
The bell rings.
Once.
Not loud.
Not near.
The sound stretches, bending.
The candles gutter inward.
Shadows lean toward the altar.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
“Kūfuku no kage, ware o tsukame,
Gozu yo, ideyo—ima, akumu no mon!”
The air folds.
The church seems to collapse inward without moving.
Adeline covers her ears.
Not from sound—
From pressure.
Then—
Silence.
No demon.
No roar.
No explosion.
Just the smell of iron.
And breathing.
Not theirs.
The others stand frozen.
The board is dark again.
Ethan collapses to his knees.
Adeline rushes to him.
He looks up at her.
Terrified.
ETHAN
I didn’t…
I didn’t mean to—
She grips his face.
Forces him to look at her.
ADELINE
I know.
The bell rings again
Closer this time.
Adeline turns slowly.
Listening.
EXT. CHURCH – NIGHT
They stumble out of the church together.
No one speaks.
The doors close behind them on their own.
The village is still.
Too still.
Freya looks up first.
FREYA
Is it just me… or—
The sky is black.
Not storm-black.
Endless-black.
No stars.
No moon.
No hint of dawn.
Ethan checks his watch.
It ticks.
But the time doesn’t change.
NOAH
It should be morning by now.
Adeline listens.
Her face tightens.
ADELINE
It doesn’t want morning.
They walk back toward the house where they were staying.
Every step feels watched
INT. VILLAGE HOUSE – NIGHT
They gather under a single flickering bulb.
Exhausted.
Shaking.
No one sits.
Dylan wipes sweat from his neck.
Then freezes.
DYLAN
Hey… Noah?
Noah looks up.
Blood drips from his nose.
He doesn’t feel it.
Dylan points with a trembling finger
DYLAN (CONT’D)
Your arm.
Noah looks down.
An eye-shaped symbol, split down the middle, is burned into his wrist.
Raw.
Pulsing faintly.
NOAH
I—I didn’t do that—
He panics.
Freya grabs her sleeve
Pulls it up.
On her ankle — the Runner’s Mark.
Sharp.
Angled.
Like it’s pushing forward.
FREYA
Get it off.
Get it off me.
Dylan backs toward a cracked mirror.
His reflection moves a fraction too late.
He looks down.
A jagged mirror-mark crawls along his forearm.
DYLAN
This isn’t funny anymore.
All eyes turn to Adeline.
She looks at her arms.
Nothing.
But the bulb flickers.
Her shadow stretches unnaturally long.
She turns slowly.
The shadow bends.
Its edges curl inward.
She swallows.
ADELINE
It’s listening.
They turn to Ethan.
ETHAN
What?
He lifts his hands.
No marks.
No burns.
No symbols.
Relief flickers across his face.
Then—
The light flickers again.
His shadow stretches up the wall.
Two faint horns curve outward from its head
Not sharp.
Not solid.
But unmistakable.
Everyone steps back.
Ethan doesn’t see it.
Adeline does.
She doesn’t tell him
- By Erebuszzz
