INT. LUXURY CAR – DAY
(The scene opens with a sleek black luxury car moving along a narrow, tree-lined road. The trees around it are thick and tall, casting long shadows on the ground. LUCAS CALDWELL, disguised as LUCAS CARTER, sits in the back seat of the car, casually dressed but radiating a subtle aura of wealth. He stares out of the window, his face marked by a mix of anticipation and anxiety. His phone buzzes on his lap, a text from WILLIAM CALDWELL, his father, flashes on the screen: "Remember, Lucas, your identity must remain hidden. Everything depends on it.")
DRIVER
(Slightly nervous)
"Almost there, Mr. Carter. Sterling Academy's gates should be just around the bend."
LUCAS
(Quiet, to himself)
"Thanks."
(Lucas fidgets, staring ahead. The car rounds a curve, revealing the gothic silhouette of Sterling Academy—a sprawling, ancient building, its sharp towers disappearing into the fog. The academy sits on a hill, surrounded by dense, foreboding woods. A sense of deep mystery fills the air.)
LUCAS
(Whispering to himself)
"Here we go."
First Impressions
EXT. STERLING ACADEMY – MAIN GATE – DAY
(The car pulls up to the iron gates of the academy. Lucas steps out, adjusting his bag, as he looks up at the grand entrance. The large gates open slowly, creaking, revealing a bustling courtyard filled with students in high-end uniforms. Headmaster ARTHUR GRAYSON approaches him—stern and composed, his sharp eyes taking in every detail of Lucas.)
ARTHUR GRAYSON
(Slight smile)
"Lucas Carter, welcome to Sterling Academy. I trust your journey was comfortable?"
LUCAS
(Politely)
"Yeah, it was. Thanks."
ARTHUR GRAYSON
(Slightly leaning in, voice dropping to a whisper)
"Sterling Academy holds... many secrets, Mr. Carter. You'll learn quickly that not all of them should be uncovered."
(Lucas shifts uncomfortably, catching the weight behind Grayson's words. The Headmaster straightens up, his face returning to its composed mask, and gestures towards the courtyard.)
ARTHUR GRAYSON
"Enjoy your first day. We'll speak again soon."
(Lucas watches him walk away, his mind buzzing with uncertainty.)
Entering the Social Hierarchy
EXT. STERLING ACADEMY – COURTYARD – DAY
(Lucas steps into the courtyard, observing the cliques of students around him. Most of them come from prestigious families, and their wealth and status are evident in the way they carry themselves. He walks slowly, trying to blend in. Suddenly, a voice cuts through the chatter.)
EMMA HARRISON
(Confident, athletic, walking towards him)
"Hey! You must be the new kid. Lucas, right? I'm Emma Harrison. Ever play any sports? We could use a new guy on the team."
LUCAS
(Chuckling)
"Not really my thing, but thanks for the offer."
EMMA
(Grinning, sizing him up)
"You'll change your mind. Everyone gets competitive around here eventually."
(She winks and jogs off to join a group of athletic-looking students. Lucas sighs, shaking his head, but before he can take another step, his attention is drawn to a group of students standing apart from the crowd. ISABELLA MORETTI, with her striking dark eyes and aura of confidence, stands at the center. Her sharp gaze meets his.)
LUCAS
(To himself)
"That's got to be Moretti... Mafia royalty."
(As Lucas tries to break eye contact, SOPHIE RIVERA slides into view beside him, her quiet presence almost eerie. She speaks in a hushed voice.)
SOPHIE RIVERA
"You're staring, Lucas. Not everyone appreciates that."
LUCAS
(Chuckling)
"Noted."
SOPHIE
(Softly, cryptically)
"Sterling Academy isn't what it seems. The curse runs deeper than you know."
(Before Lucas can respond, Sophie slips away into the crowd, leaving him with a growing sense of unease.)
Scene 4: Uncovering the History
INT. STERLING ACADEMY – LIBRARY – LATE AFTERNOON
(Later that day, Lucas finds himself wandering the academy's library, a massive, old room lined with dusty bookshelves and dimly lit by ancient chandeliers. He's drawn to the supernatural and occult section, his fingers brushing over the leather-bound volumes. He pulls out an old tome titled The Cursed History of Sterling Academy and flips through its pages.)
(As Lucas skims through, images of the academy's founders performing dark rituals flash in his mind. He sees symbols tied to curses, bloodline magic, and powerful supernatural beings that haunt the academy grounds.)
(Suddenly, a shadow falls over the pages. Lucas looks up to see CHLOE PARKER, the leader of the Supernatural Society, standing in front of him.)
CHLOE PARKER
"You're digging into dangerous territory, Lucas."
LUCAS
(Raised eyebrow)
"Just curious. What's the deal with this curse, anyway?"
CHLOE
(Looking around, then leaning in)
"The academy's curse is tied to its founders. Every family connected to Sterling has felt its touch. Some worse than others."
(Lucas listens, intrigued. Chloe steps closer, her voice lowering.)
CHLOE
"If you're smart, you'll stay away from the island and the underground chambers. That's where things get... dangerous."
(Before Lucas can ask anything more, Chloe slips away, her warning hanging in the air.)
First Encounter with the Supernatural
EXT. STERLING ACADEMY – NIGHT
(The night is quiet, the full moon casting eerie shadows over the academy. Lucas, restless in his dorm room, decides to take a walk. As he steps out into the courtyard, he notices the atmosphere is strangely heavy, the air thick with tension. His footsteps echo through the empty space.)
(Suddenly, a low growl pierces the silence. Lucas freezes. His eyes dart toward the darkened woods surrounding the academy. Out of the shadows, a glowing pair of eyes appear—followed by the shape of a massive, spectral wolf. It's the Astral Wolf, a supernatural guardian tied to the island's curse.)
LUCAS
(Breathless)
"What the hell?"
(The wolf steps forward, its glowing form flickering in and out of existence, as if it's phasing between realities. Lucas backs away slowly, but the creature lunges toward him. Just as it's about to strike, a flash of light surrounds Lucas—Aetheric Ward, an instinctive defensive spell he didn't know he could cast.)
(The wolf snarls in frustration, unable to breach the ward. Lucas stands frozen, heart pounding, as the creature slowly fades back into the shadows.)
LUCAS
(Shaken, staring at his hands)
"What... was that?"
(As Lucas tries to process what just happened, the voice of his father echoes in his mind, reminding him of his hidden powers and the secrets his family has kept from him.)
A Cryptic Message
INT. STERLING ACADEMY – DORM ROOM – NIGHT
(Lucas sits on the edge of his bed, his mind still racing after his encounter with the Astral Wolf. He pulls out his phone and considers texting his father about what happened but hesitates. He knows his father will demand answers he's not ready to give.)
(Just as he's about to put his phone down, it buzzes with a new message. The text is from an unknown number, and the message is short and cryptic: "The island holds the key to your past. But beware—the curse knows no mercy.")
LUCAS
(To himself, uneasy)
"The island..."
(He looks out the window, toward the distant outline of the island that looms in the distance, surrounded by mist and mystery.)
This is the beginning of the screenplay, covering the introduction of Lucas Carter to Sterling Academy, setting up the key characters, the mysterious atmosphere, and the supernatural elements that will drive the plot.
The First Day of Classes
INT. STERLING ACADEMY – CLASSROOM – DAY
(The next day, Lucas walks into a grand classroom with high ceilings, old wooden desks, and large windows overlooking the misty academy grounds. Students are already seated, whispering among themselves. He spots EMMA HARRISON sitting with her usual confident smirk. ISABELLA MORETTI is seated with her elite group, and SOPHIE RIVERA is quietly reading at the back of the room. Lucas sits near the middle, trying to keep a low profile.)
(The class buzzes with excitement as PROFESSOR OLIVIA SINCLAIR, the history and supernatural studies teacher, enters the room. Her presence commands attention. She begins writing on the board.)
PROFESSOR OLIVIA SINCLAIR
"Welcome to Supernatural History. Today, we'll start with a subject many of you may think is just a legend: The Curse of Sterling Academy."
(The room falls silent as Professor Sinclair begins recounting the academy's history.)
PROFESSOR OLIVIA SINCLAIR
(Speaking calmly but gravely)
"Sterling Academy's foundation is rooted in ancient magic. The island it's built on was once the site of rituals to control forces that even now we barely understand. These rituals bound the land, the academy, and its families together with a curse that has lasted centuries."
(Lucas listens closely, his mind flashing back to Chloe's warning the day before. Professor Sinclair continues, her voice taking on a more serious tone.)
PROFESSOR OLIVIA SINCLAIR
"It is said that those who dig too deep into the academy's past risk awakening powers that are best left dormant. This curse has taken many forms over the years, but it is always watching... always waiting."
(Lucas looks around the room, noticing that a few students seem genuinely unsettled by the story. He catches Sophie's eye, and she gives him a subtle nod as if to confirm that the curse is very real.)
A Growing Rivalry
EXT. STERLING ACADEMY – QUAD – LUNCHTIME
(During lunch, Lucas wanders through the academy's quad. The area is lively, with students eating and chatting, but Lucas's mind is elsewhere, still thinking about the curse. He sits on a bench, alone, but his solitude doesn't last long.)
(He looks up to see DAMIAN VOSS, a sharp and arrogant student from the rival academy, flanked by his group of followers. Damian's presence immediately demands attention, and his rivalry with Sterling Academy is well-known. He approaches Lucas with a confident smirk.)
DAMIAN VOSS
(Smugly)
"So you're the new guy everyone's talking about. Lucas Carter, right? Or should I say... Caldwell?"
(Lucas's eyes widen in surprise, but he quickly covers it with a calm expression.)
LUCAS
(Coldly)
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
DAMIAN VOSS
(Laughing slightly)
"Oh, come on. You didn't think you could keep that secret for long, did you? This academy is full of spies and secrets. And I know a rich kid when I see one."
(Lucas stands, his jaw clenched, but he keeps his composure.)
LUCAS
"Whatever you think you know, it doesn't matter."
DAMIAN VOSS
(Leaning in)
"Maybe not. But the mafia connections running through this place? That's a whole different story."
(Lucas stiffens at the mention of the mafia, realizing how much Damian may know about the Moretti family's influence.)
DAMIAN VOSS
(Whispering)
"Stay out of my way, Caldwell, and I won't make your life here... difficult."
(With a final smirk, Damian and his group walk away, leaving Lucas standing tense and alert. He realizes that keeping his identity hidden will be harder than he thought.)
Secrets Unveiled
INT. STERLING ACADEMY – UNDERGROUND TUNNELS – NIGHT
(Later that night, Lucas can't shake Damian's words from his mind. Determined to get answers, he decides to explore the underground tunnels that Chloe had mentioned. Armed with only a flashlight and his curiosity, he sneaks out of his dorm and makes his way to a hidden entrance beneath the academy.)
(The tunnels are dark and damp, the air thick with age. Strange symbols are carved into the stone walls, and the deeper Lucas goes, the more he feels a presence watching him. He hears faint whispers echoing through the narrow passages, but he presses on.)
(Suddenly, he stumbles upon a chamber—a hidden room filled with strange, glowing artifacts and old books covered in dust. As he steps forward to examine the artifacts, a shadow moves in the corner of his eye. Lucas whips around to see SOPHIE RIVERA standing silently in the doorway.)
SOPHIE RIVERA
(Calmly)
"I figured you'd end up down here."
LUCAS
(Startled but recovering)
"Sophie... What is all this?"
(Sophie steps into the room, her eyes scanning the artifacts with a knowing look.)
SOPHIE RIVERA
"This is part of the academy's curse. The Rivera family has been studying it for centuries, trying to understand the magic that binds this place. It's tied to our bloodline."
LUCAS
(Intrigued)
"So the curse... it's real?"
SOPHIE RIVERA
(Softly)
"It's very real. And if we don't find a way to control it, it will destroy everything."
(Lucas stares at the artifacts, the weight of Sophie's words sinking in. He realizes now that the curse isn't just a myth—it's a threat that could consume the entire academy.)
Hidden Powers Awaken
INT. STERLING ACADEMY – LIBRARY – NEXT DAY
(The following day, Lucas returns to the library, unable to ignore what he's learned. He searches through more books on the curse, trying to understand its origins and how it might be broken. As he flips through the pages of an old book, a strange sensation washes over him—his hands begin to glow faintly, and the pages of the book turn on their own.)
(Lucas gasps, pulling his hands away, but the glow doesn't fade. He stares at his hands, realizing that some sort of power is awakening within him.)
LUCAS
(Whispering to himself)
"What is this...?"
(Before he can process what's happening, a voice calls out from behind him. It's CHLOE PARKER, watching him with curious eyes.)
CHLOE PARKER
(Smiling slightly)
"Looks like you're finally tapping into your family's power."
LUCAS
(Confused)
"My family's power?"
(Chloe steps closer, her expression serious.)
CHLOE PARKER
"Your family has deep ties to the supernatural, Lucas. The Caldwell line is one of the oldest magical bloodlines connected to Sterling Academy. Whatever you've been hiding, it's not just wealth—it's power."
(Lucas stares at her, the weight of this revelation hitting him like a ton of bricks. He has no idea what to say.)
CHLOE PARKER
(Continuing)
"You need to learn how to control it. Because if you don't... the curse will take advantage of you."
(Lucas stands in silence, his mind reeling with the discovery of his hidden abilities. He realizes now that his family's legacy isn't just about money and influence—it's about magic, power, and an ancient curse that threatens everything he's come to care about.)
New Alliances and Old Enemies
EXT. STERLING ACADEMY – NIGHT
(That night, Lucas walks the academy grounds, trying to clear his head. The moonlight casts eerie shadows across the courtyard, and the wind whispers through the trees. As he walks, he spots MAYA ZHANG, the academy's martial arts prodigy, practicing in the moonlit clearing.)
(Maya notices Lucas and stops, wiping the sweat from her brow. She gives him a curious look.)
MAYA ZHANG
"You look... distracted."
LUCAS
(Sighing)
"You could say that. Things are a lot more complicated here than I thought."
MAYA ZHANG
(Shrugging)
"Complicated doesn't even begin to cover it. But you get used to it."
(Lucas laughs softly, appreciating her bluntness. They stand in silence for a moment before Maya speaks again.)
MAYA ZHANG
(Seriously)
"Just be careful, Lucas. The academy is full of people who would love to see you fail. And not all of them play fair."
*(Lucas nods, understanding her warning. He knows that between the curse, the mafia, and his own hidden powers,