Future Darkly: Eyes In The Sky

SCENE BEGINS with an unoccupied luggage resting in the centre of a lady's bed. The radio hums in the background and items get tossed in as Alex (Adriana Chechik), a 21-year-old university student, hastily packs for the weekend. It's her anniversary with Derek (Seth Gamble), her long-term boyfriend. He's arranged a cabin in the north and she couldn't be more thrilled to escape from academia and her roommates for some quality alone time. She cleans the frame, filling and refilling items such as clothes, lingerie, hiking shoes, an erotic novel and a box of condoms, and a handmade anniversary card for him. She yearns for it to be an exceptional weekend. As she agonizes over the final items, the camera zooms out to fully reveal her for the first time. A car honks outside and Alex's roommate shouts -- 'Derek's here!' She zips her bag close, turns off the radio with a wide grin on her face, exits her room and dashes to the main entrance. Derek waits outside, by his vehicle, and the camera lingers as she runs out, gives him a warm embrace, and gets in. An aerial view of Derek's car journeying down a road lined with trees, sporadically passing other cars. After a few ambient moments, an overlay of Alex's voice breaks in. She's engaged in a trivia game and Derek is trying to guess the correct responses. CUT TO a closer aerial view of Derek's car isolated on the road, as the sounds of the couple's playful banter and laughter over their game are audible. Eventually, Derek loses and jokingly instructs his girlfriend to turn the app off. CUT TO inside the car. Alex shuts her phone and gazes out the window at the passing trees. The sun is beginning to set behind them and she smiles at the beauty of the scene. CUT TO a front-mounted car shot. Derek notices his girlfriend's gaze and starts to talk up the cabin he booked. It's rustic but right by a lake and near numerous hiking trails. He is certain she's going to adore it. Best of all, there's a hot tub on the deck! Alex turns back to him and gently squeezes his hand. 'I love you,' she declares affectionately. 'I love you too,' Derek responds leaning in to give her a kiss. They continue driving in silence for a few moments, as the camera alternates between angles. Alex ponders what she packed -- the erotic novel she intends to ask Derek to read to her, the lingerie she bought for tonight. She bites her lip in anticipation and sneaks a glance at her boyfriend's lap while he drives. Perhaps she should initiate their celebration a bit early? 'Hey, pull over for a bit,' she whispers in his ear. 'Why? I want to reach before it gets dark and we're still over an hour away,' he responds, not catching her suggestive hint. Alex grabs his groin. 'Not even for a little road head?' She murmurs flirtatiously. Derek looks down at her hand before a smile appears on his face. He shakes his head and pulls the car to the roadside. CUT TO a side shot of the parked car in front of the woods. Inside, Alex is unbuckling Derek's pants while he leans his head back. This weekend is off to a perfect start, he thinks to himself as he prepares for her mouth. But something suddenly catches his attention. A red glowing light in the trees beyond their car. He stops his girlfriend and pulls her back up to her seat. 'Do you see that?' He points. Alex follows the direction of his finger towards the ominous red glow. It seems to be pulsating. 'What the hell is that?' She asks quietly. Derek quickly zips himself up and exits the car. Alex hastily follows him. 'What are you doing?' She asks anxiously. He silences her. 'What if it's an ambulance or something? Maybe someone's injured. Stay there. I'll be right back.' Derek vanishes into the woods, leaving Alex alone by the roadside. The sun has set behind the trees and darkness is settling in. Crickets chirp loudly, and she shivers, unsure whether to get back in the car or not. She calls out a few times but receives no response. Finally, Derek shouts: 'Babe, come here ... you've got to see this!' A dolly zoom emphasizes Alex's reaction as she sees her boyfriend emerge with something peculiar dripping from his hands. They are covered in red slime and he is holding what look like large fish eggs. Alex cautiously walks over to inspect them. As she leans in, the eggs pop and sizzle like something frying. The smell is repulsive. 'Gross! What are those?' She asks Derek. '