Harrison
Hey, country girl.
Harrison
You ready for our date?
Harrison
Good girl. I’m right outside your door.
Cassie
What are we doing tonight?
Harrison
It’s a Halloween surprise 😉
Harrison
Come on out. I’m waiting.
Cassie hurries to finish getting ready.
This is her first official date with a guy — ever.
She’d just moved to California from Arkansas…
And was finally living in a city, away from corn fields and small minds.
She couldn’t wait to live a little.
It was a little strange that Harrison wanted their first date to be on Halloween…
That didn’t feel very romantic to Cassie.
She shrugs off her concern.
After all — she wasn’t exactly an experienced dater.
She takes one last look in the mirror before she opens her front door.
Harrison is standing on the front stoop, leaning against the doorjamb.
She jumps as soon as she sees him.
Harrison
Didn’t mean to startle you, country girl.
There’s something…off…about his smile.
It doesn’t reach his eyes.
Harrison
You ready to go?
He holds out his hand to Cassie.
When she hesitates, he takes her by the wrist.
Cassie
I can walk by myself, thank you very much.
Harrison lifted both hands in the air, as if in surrender.
Harrison
Whatever you say.
He starts walking down the front steps toward a car parked out front.
Cassie began to follow him—
But stops short as she realizes someone is sitting in the driver’s side seat.
Harrison looks back at Cassie. He gestures to the car.
Harrison
Sorry about this.
Harrison
My car broke down earlier tonight.
Harrison
My cousin offered to drive us.
A creeping sensation tickles the back of Cassie’s neck.
Harrison smiles that smile again…
And, gently this time, takes Cassie’s hand.
Another shiver raises the hair on Cassie’s arm.
Harrison always seemed so gentle.
And paid actual attention to her.
Not like the other guys at school.
So she picks up her feet and lets Harrison open the car door for her.
When she slides into the back seat, Harrison’s cousin slowly turned to face her.
She gave Cassie a once over.
Harrison's Cousin
Cute sundress.
Harrison's Cousin
Mommy and daddy buy that for you?
Cassie bristles at her words.
Harrison
Knock it off, Lisa.
Harrison
This is Cassie’s first date and I don’t want you ruining it.
Lisa laughs and starts the car.
Cassie scowls at Harrison.
Cassie
Why would you tell her that?
Cassie
I told you that in confidence.
Harrison frames her jaw with his hands.
Harrison
Don’t be embarrassed.
Harrison
I’m glad I’m your first.
Harrison
I’m so excited for our date tonight.
The sincerity in his eyes surprises her.
Cassie was so surprised when he asked her out.
It doesn’t feel like she’s his type.
She’s shy and quiet, and wears sundresses with headbands.
He was outgoing, charming…
And she hasn’t once seen him without a leather jacket and combat boots.
They just don’t make sense together.
Cassie
Really? You’re excited to be going out with me?
He smiles that wolfish grin.
Harrison
Cassie, when I saw you.
Harrison
I knew you’d be perfect.
Huh. Harrison’s phrasing sounded odd to Cassie.
But the sentiment warmed her, and she smiled in response.
Harrison
Now let’s get a move on, Lisa. We have a long night ahead of us.
Half an hour later, Lisa makes a sharp turn into a dark forest.
Cassie peers out the window.
Cassie
What are we doing here?
Harrison
One of my friends owns a house in these woods.
Harrison
He’s having a party tonight.
She’d been hoping for some one-on-one time.
A chance for them to get to know one another.
Harrison seems to sense her dismay…
Because he reaches into the backseat to hand her something.
Harrison
You’ll loosen up.
Cassie takes it reluctantly.
Cassie
I don’t really drink.
Harrison’s eyes light up.
Harrison
You really are innocent, aren’t you?
Lisa snorts from the front seat.
Lisa
You should drink the beer, Cassie.
Lisa
You’re gonna need it.
What the heck did that mean?
The car comes to a stop in front of a foreboding manor.
Cassie steps out and puts the unopened beer on top of Lisa’s SUV.
She looked up at the tree cover — a massive, autumnal blanket that obscures the night sky.
The house is ancient, and actual gargoyles line the rooftop.
Cassie looks around, and realizes Harrison and Lisa have already gone inside.
The front door is still ajar.
But she won’t be able to find her way home. Not walking, anyway.
So she follows them inside.
When she steps into the foyer, the door shuts behind her with an echoing slam.
To the right was a large winding staircase…
And to the left, a small group of people is lounging in the living room.
Harrison
This is Cassie, my date for the evening.
Cassie clears her throat.
Cassie
Thank y'all for having me.
For some reason, that makes them laugh.
Tommy
Where are you from, Cassie?
Tommy
Not many people there.
Lisa sneers from beside the fireplace.
Lisa
More livestock than people, I’m guessing.
Lisa
This is her first date.
Lisa
Did you think he was going to take you cow tipping, country girl?
When everyone starts laughing again…
So Cassie tugs away from Harrison and quickly walks from the room.
He grabs her arm just as she reaches the front door.
Cassie
I didn’t come out tonight to be made fun of.
She grabs the doorknob and pulls.
Harrison
You know, I tried to make this as easy as possible.
Harrison
But I guess we’re going to have to do this the hard way.
Harrison
You’re not leaving, country girl.
She stares at him for a moment, speechless.
Then fear crashes through her like a tidal wave.
His hand tightens viciously on her arm…
But she whips out of his grasp and sprints up the stairs.
Within seconds, there’s a sharp pain to the back of her head…
And everything goes black.
When she wakes up, she’s on a bed.
There’s a horrific smell in the air…
And a large book open beside her.
She can just make out some hushed voices.
Lisa
We can’t mess this up.
Lisa
Midnight is only an hour away.
Harrison
I know what time it is.
Harrison
Leave me alone so I can finish the extract.
But Cassie doesn’t dare move.
She has to wait for her chance to escape.
Harrison
I know you’re awake, country girl.
Cassie’s eyes fly open. They fill with tears.
Cassie
Please don’t hurt me.
Harrison is standing by a large iron pot that’s sitting over a fire.
Harrison
I didn’t want to hurt you.
Harrison
I was hoping you’d want to become part of our group.
Harrison gestures to the book.
Harrison
See for yourself.
Cassie slowly pulls the book to her lap.
The page is open to something called “Extract to Eternity.”
She reads the words below it.
Cassie
“An extract created and drank on All Hallow’s Eve…”
Cassie
“Will ensure its followers 365 days of youth and life.”
Cassie
I-I don’t understand.
Harrison
Every Halloween, our group drinks a glass of this extract.
Harrison
And we’re ensured youth and life for the following year.
Harrison
We still have a little leftover…
Harrison
But it’s safer to make a fresh batch each year.
Cassie
And you actually believe this works??
Harrison
Tommy’s family has been doing this at the manor for decades.
Cassie’s adrenaline peaks.
Cassie
I don’t understand what you want from me.
Harrison
I was going to give you that chance, Cassie.
Harrison
We weren’t going to bleed you out completely.
Harrison
We would have left you with enough to stay alive.
Harrison
You’re too much of a risk.
Cassie puts a shaking hand to her mouth.
Harrison
Look at the ingredients for the extract.
Cassie
Blood of a virgin…
Cassie suddenly wants to laugh and cry at the same time.
Her next words come out slowly.
Cassie
I’m not a virgin, Harrison.
His expression is carefully blank.
Harrison
You told me this was your first—
Cassie
I said this was my first DATE.
Cassie
I didn’t say I was a virgin.
Harrison’s face goes pale.
She stands up slowly from the bed.
He’s distracted — now’s her chance.
Cassie
Lisa was right about one thing, though.
Cassie
Us country girls sure do love to go cow tipping.
Cassie bends down and runs toward him.
Her shoulder hits home, slamming directly into his stomach.
He flies backward, spins, and crashes into the fire, face first.
She hears his shouts of pain as she sprints up the stairs.
When she reaches the top of the landing, she sees an open window.
She climbs out, and runs around the side of the house and to the SUV.
Maybe the keys are inside—
Lisa strolls out of the front door, jingling the keys from two fingers.
Cassie starts backing away.
Lisa
Come back in the house like a good little girl.
From the corner of her eye, Cassie sees the beer she’d left on the roof of the car.
Without thinking, she picks it up and sends it flying.
It hits Lisa square in the eye. She drops like a sack of potatoes.
Turns out Cassie did need that beer after all.
Cassie sits in the police station with a blanket around her shoulders.
Detective
I knew something was going on in those woods.
There’s a stack of missing persons’ cases in front of him.
Detective
Kids always go nuts on Halloween.
Detective
Extract of Eternity, BAH!
Detective
There’s no such thing.
There’s a sudden commotion at the front of the station.
Harrison is being pushed inside by two officers.
He’s cuffed and glaring at Cassie.
And his face…his skin… it should have been burned in the fire…
But it’s as clear and smooth as it’d ever been.
Cassie
Extract of Eternity…
