THE DOOR SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO OPEN

A Cinematic Mystery Story

FADE IN:

INT. BROOKE’S HOUSE — LIVING ROOM — EVENING

Rain taps against the windows.

BROOKE, pale and exhausted, stands near the door. Her hands tremble as she listens to the footsteps outside.

The door opens.

SHARRA enters, carrying a small bag. She stops when she sees Brooke.

SHARRA

Where were you for the last two days?

Brooke says nothing.

Sharra studies her face, noticing the fear in her eyes.

SHARRA

Brooke… I’m asking you. Where were you?

Brooke slowly looks away.

BROOKE

I needed some time.

A heavy silence fills the room.

SHARRA

You disappeared for two days without telling anyone.

BROOKE

I didn’t know how to explain it.

Sharra steps closer.

SHARRA

What happened?

Brooke swallows hard.

BROOKE

I made a mistake.

Sharra freezes.

SHARRA

What kind of mistake?

Brooke’s eyes fill with tears.

BROOKE

The kind that changes everything.

A distant thunderclap shakes the windows.

SHARRA

Tell me the truth.

BROOKE

I was with someone.

Sharra’s face goes cold.

SHARRA

Who?

Brooke doesn’t answer.

SHARRA

Who were you with, Brooke?

BROOKE

Someone I trusted.

Sharra’s anger rises.

SHARRA

And you think you can just come back home after disappearing for two days?

BROOKE

I didn’t know where else to go.

SHARRA

You should have thought about that before.

Brooke’s tears finally fall.

BROOKE

Please… don’t make me leave.

Sharra points toward the front door.

SHARRA

You can’t stay here.

BROOKE

What?

SHARRA

You heard me.

A painful silence follows.

BROOKE

Where am I supposed to go?

SHARRA

Anywhere but here.

Brooke slowly shakes her head.

BROOKE

This is my home.

SHARRA

Not anymore.

Brooke’s face collapses.

Sharra opens the front door. Cold air rushes inside.

BROOKE

You don’t even know what happened.

SHARRA

Then tell me.

Brooke opens her mouth—

But no words come.

Her phone suddenly vibrates.

Both women look down.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

The screen shows an unknown number.

Brooke’s face turns completely white.

SHARRA

Who’s calling?

BROOKE

No one.

SHARRA

Answer it.

The phone vibrates again.

Brooke steps backward.

BROOKE

I can’t.

SHARRA

Why?

BROOKE

Because if I answer… you’ll know why I disappeared.

Sharra slowly closes the front door.

The anger in her eyes is replaced by fear.

SHARRA

What did you do?

Brooke stares at the phone.

It stops ringing.

For a moment, everything is silent.

Then a message appears.

UNKNOWN NUMBER
HE KNOWS YOU CAME HOME.

Sharra looks toward the windows.

BROOKE

That’s why I couldn’t stay away.

A sound comes from upstairs.

Both women freeze.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Coming down the stairs.

SHARRA

You said you were alone for two days.

BROOKE

I was.

The footsteps stop.

Silence.

Then a man’s voice comes from the darkness upstairs.

UNKNOWN MAN

Brooke?

Brooke grabs Sharra’s arm.

BROOKE

Don’t answer him.

UNKNOWN MAN

You shouldn’t have come back.

THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT.

CUT TO BLACK.

A final sound echoes through the house—

THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS BY ITSELF.

FADE OUT.

But the real question remains…

WHO WAS WAITING UPSTAIRS?