It is well past 2 am with the full moon shining brightly over the town of Crowswood where almost everyone is fast asleep.
But you're at a construction site with your boyfriend.
Petra
I don't think we should do it here. It feels weird.
Josh
Why?
Petra
Anyone can see us out here.
Josh
I don't mind anyone watching us.
Petra
What?
Josh
I was just kidding, sweetheart. It’s 3 in the morning and we're in the middle of nowhere. You can't even drive a car up here.
Petra
So?
Josh
By this time, the nerds are asleep, the drunkards are drunk, and the stoners are stoned. Who's going to watch us?
Petra
But—
Josh
Besides, other than joggers, no one comes up here. So stop worrying.
Petra
Okay.
Josh
Is something else bothering you?
Petra
No, not really.
Petra
(I can't believe I was almost about to tell him.)
Josh
You know I've learned to read your mind.
Petra
(Think, girl. What do I tell him?)
Petra
I thought you knew. The news is all around the school.
Josh
What news? Jack getting caught while dealing? Or Iris becoming a cheerleader?
Petra
No, not that kind of stuff.
Petra
And no, Iris isn't up for cheerleading. She said dance isn't her thing.
Josh
That’s too bad. The basketball team was kind of excited.
Josh
Anyway, what is it? Don't keep me guessing.
Petra
Ah... they found a graveyard in the woods, not far from here, while looking the area for construction.
Josh
So you're concerned about horny ghosts?
Petra
Eww, gross. Why do you say such creepy things?
Josh
Just to bug you. *laughs*
Petra
Damn! I can't get the image out of my mind.
Josh
But really, there’s a graveyard out there?
Petra
Yeah, and it's ancient from what I hear.
Petra
They were cutting down trees when they found it. Everything was so overgrown they knocked over a gravestone before they found it.
Josh
Hmm, so now they want to construct another building there?
Petra
Not now, you can't build over burial sites.
Petra
Plus a bunch of people are doing research into who was buried there and everything.
Josh
So weird.
Josh
Speaking of dead things, ever heard of Amira Thompson?
Crow
Caw!
Petra
What the hell was that? It practically dive-bombed me!
Josh
Relax, it’s just a crow.
Petra
Why is it staring at us?
Josh
No idea. Where did you come from, little buddy?
Several crows join the first. They lock you in their eerie gaze, their jet black eyes gleaming with malice.
Petra
I hate crows. Especially these. They're extra creepy.
You try to shoo them away, but one crow flaps its wings and lands on your head.
Crow
Caw! Caw! CAW!
It pulls a strand of your auburn hair, spreads its jet black wings and flies towards the woods with the rest.
Petra
Ouch! I f**king HATE crows.
Josh
*Laughs*
Petra
What's so funny?
Josh
You should have seen your face.
Petra
My scalp hurts!
Josh
Sorry. Yeah, but this was pretty funny... ha, I mean strange.
Josh
You sure you never heard of Amira Thompson.
Petra
Who?
Josh
She was a Crowswood High student who committed suicide right here in these woods.
Josh
They found her body a week later half-eaten by a flock of crows.
Petra
A murder.
Josh
Murder? You mean Amira Thompson was murdered?
Petra
No, it’s not a flock of crows. It’s a murder of crows.
Petra
And anyway, what does that have to do with that crow chewing my hair?
Josh
The crows started with her head.
Petra
You're weird.
Josh
No weirder than Bloody Amira.
Josh
Even after a century, she still haunts the school. Apparently her journals are still hidden somewhere in the school.
Petra
Oh.
Josh
Are you alright, baby?
Josh
You look totally freaked. Shit, I didn't mean to scare you, Petra.
Petra
I'm not afraid... now. Last year, I got super drunk and took a dare and—
Josh
Let me guess. Someone told you to say Bloody Amira thrice in the bathroom, lights off, a candle in your hand, and a mirror in front of you.
Petra
Yeah.
Josh
And things did not end well.
Petra
Nope, they didn't.
Petra
I was so drunk that after calling the third time, I actually saw something in the mirror.
Josh
Really?
Petra
Yeah, I remember a chill running down my spine and the temperature dropped.
Petra
I saw a face in the mirror that wasn't mine.
Josh
Whoa, that must've been scary.
Petra
Yeah, I was so frightened I bolted out of the bathroom and couldn't sleep for a week.
Petra
Wait, you believe me?
Petra
When I told my friends, they all burst out laughing.
Josh
There are things in the world that we cannot see, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
Petra
Oh my god, those are my very thoughts.
Josh
*laughs* You are so easy to fool, Petra.
Josh
No, I don't believe in the supernatural, and it’s time you grew up.
Petra
Growing up has nothing to do with this!
Josh
Calm down, lady. With that rage you will burn down the entire school.
Petra
Only if you stop making fun of me.
Josh
Okay, sweetheart.
Petra
Do you think it was because of Bloody Amira that they abandoned this construction site?
Josh
They say Amira used to spend her time in this part of the woods quite often. Few years after her death, construction started here.
Josh
But strange things happened, a worker died, and the project was canceled.
Petra
I see. She must be some ghost to haunt the school as this place.
Josh
Well, she does have strong ties to both places. But, I'll tell you this....
Josh
If Amira was beautiful, she’s welcome to have beer with me anytime.
You elbow Josh playfully in the gut.
Your eyes start to droop and you rest your head on his shoulder.
Josh
Now, tell me the real reason you're holding back today.
Petra
(Does this guy never give up? How does he know I'm avoiding something?)
Petra
Stuff like ghosts and graveyards set me off.
Josh
And yet you picked this place to come.
Petra
But it's not either of those things, it's just abandoned.
Petra
Everything’s fine, Josh.
Josh
You know I love you, Petra.
Josh
Tell me what’s wrong and I will take care of it.
Petra
Okay.
Petra
(What should I do? Another lie? But I think it’s a bit too late for that.)
Josh
This is not some physics quiz. Don't overthink, just tell me.
Petra
(F**k! How can he read my mind. But yeah, I should tell him. After all, that was the reason I called him tonight.)
Petra
Okay. Promise me you'll tell no one.
Josh
Of course, I promise.
Petra
It’s quite early to come to a conclusion.
Petra
But I have reasons to believe that I'm being watched.
Josh
Watched as in by the FBI?
Petra
This is not a joke, Josh.
Josh
I know, sorry. But what do you mean by watched?
Petra
Like someone’s watching and following me.
Josh
You mean you have a stalker?
Petra
I’m not sure, but yeah, I think so.
Josh
Don’t worry. When I catch him, he'll think twice before looking at any girl.
Petra
*smiles*
Josh gently runs his finger down your cheek. You tremble at his touch. He kisses you. You push him away.
Josh
What? Are you angry at me or something?
Petra
No, I'm just tired. And don't you have basketball practice like in 2 hours?
Josh
I can manage.
Josh
You know what would help?
Josh removes his shirt and poses in an overly dramatically seductive pose in the pale moonlight.
Petra
You're hysterical.
Josh
Hysterical and terribly sexy.
Petra
On any other night—
Josh
Come on, it’s not like we're doing it for the 1st time.
Petra
I'm just not in the mood. And stop being so pushy.
Petra
Sometimes I feel you're not the Josh I fell in love with.
Josh
Hey, I'm the same Josh. I’m sorry. I was trying to distract you.
Petra
Don't you feel it, the weird vibes in this place? Maybe we shouldn't have come here.
Josh
There really is something going on with you tonight.
Petra
That's what I've been saying.
After a while, dawn breaks and you realize you've fallen asleep on Josh’s arm. He is awake, staring at you and smiling.
Petra
*giggles* What?
Josh
I realized I never really looked at you. God, you're so beautiful, Petra.
Katie
AHHHHHHH!
Katie
How dare you?
Josh
Katie! Where did you come from?
Petra
(F**k. What is she doing out here?)
Petra
I told you someone will see us!
Josh
Damn, I forgot Katie jogs in the woods every morning.
Josh
Katie, I can explain.
Katie
You're going to pay for stealing my boyfriend, bitch.
Petra
I'm sorry, we didn't want to you to find out this way.
Katie
Get away from him!
Petra
Katie, he's not your boyfriend any more. He hasn't been for a while.
Katie
One little rough patch and you jump in and—
Petra
I’m... I'm leaving, Josh. You deal with her.
Josh
…
Josh looks utterly confused. You want to help him, but you know your presence will just make things worse.
You gather your things and leave, hoping to escape before Katie’s volcano of rage erupts.
You hurry to your dorm room and find Iris, your best friend standing by your door. She looks worried.
Iris
Oh thank god, you're okay.
Iris
Where were you? I called you like a dozen times.
Petra
I was out with Josh.
Petra
What's going on?
Iris
It's, well, your... your room.
You push past a stuttering Iris and enter your room. The janitor and Professor White are in deep discussion.
Petra
What the hell?
Iris
My shower isn't working, so I went use yours and found these words written on the wall. I called the janitor.
You look at the wall, your heart leaps out of your rib cage.
Petra
What is this?
Iris
This is pretty messed up, Petra. The janitor says he thinks it's written in pig’s blood.
You gape at the bloody words in horror. "Judgment Day is nigh."
Icy hands strangle you and you gulp for air.