episode 4

PANEL 1 Visual: The kitchen is in complete disarray. Black soot covers everything. The back door glass is still shattered (as seen in image_11.png). Mia is sitting on the floor, head in her hands, coughing faintly. JOHN stands over her. His head is bandaged from his car accident. He is wearing hospital scrubs. He looks absolutely exhausted and broken, staring at the soot. JOHN: Severe smoke inhalation... the fire department said it was a "faulty gas line." We’re lucky you didn't burn alive. MIA: (Raspy, pointing to the empty counter where the doll was) The doll, John. It wasn't the gas. It was her.

PANEL 2 Visual: Close-up on John’s face. He is pale and struggling with the cognitive dissonance. He looks past Mia toward the shattered door. A caption emphasizes the silence. JOHN: Mia, I... the doctor said I need time. I can't... I just can't do this right now. CAPTION: He is drowning, but he’s afraid to take her hand.

PANEL 3 Visual: The next morning. We see John and Mia packing what little they can. They are leaving. Mia’s friend EVELYN (first time we see her) is helping. In the foreground, sitting on top of a packed box, is the Annabelle doll (image_0.png). Evelyn looks uncomfortable as she places a blanket over it

 EVELYN: I think moving is the right choice, Mia. New space. New energy.

MIA: I don’t think energy follows you, Evelyn. I think some things just attach.

PANEL 4 Visual: The back of John’s station wagon. John is loading a box labeled "BOOKS." Mia is sitting in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead. In the back seat, visible through the window, is the Annabelle doll, perfectly upright, smiling vacuously at the reader. JOHN: (To himself, slamming the door) Get it together, John. Science. Reality. It’s just stress. CAPTION: The "Final Piece" is always the one you try to lose.

PANEL 5 Visual: The new apartment building: "THE ANCHORAGE." It’s an older building, lots of dark wood. We see their small apartment. The nursery is smaller, colder. Evelyn helps Mia put some dolls (not Annabelle) on a shelf.

EVELYN: It’s charming. Perfect for a fresh start.

MIA: I’m 8 months pregnant , Ev. There’s no such thing as a "fresh start" right now.

PANEL 6 Visual: Extreme close-up of the Annabelle doll, sitting alone on the floor of the empty nursery of the old house. The SOOT and wreckage of image_11.png are still visible. A cold light hits it. CAPTION: We didn't pack her.

PANEL 7 Visual: Back in the new apartment. John is passed out on the sofa in his scrubs. Mia walks into the smaller nursery. The lights are off. On top of the changing table, identical to panel 6, is the Annabelle doll, a tiny blood drop (from image_1.png) glistening in its eye.

MIA: (A quiet gasp) Oh... Oh, no. SFX: TICK... TICK... (The sound of a heavy clock) CAPTION: We didn't pack her. But she checked in.

THE ARCANE BOOKSTORE / THE ANCHORAGE APARTMENT

(The panels cut between Evelyn’s chaotic bookstore and Mia’s dark nursery.)

PANEL 2 & 3 (Evelyn’s Side): Evelyn is surrounded by old books and microfiche. She looks frantic, pushing glasses up her nose. She has the old police report open.

EVELYN: (Reading to herself, urgent) "...free offering to bind the entity... in return, the host vessel will grant the Disciple power..." (She picks up the phone receiver) Oh, Mia. This is so much worse than we thought.

(The scene cuts to Mia in the apartment nursery.)

PANEL 1 & 4 (Mia’s Side): Mia is alone. The nursery lights are off. On the wall, right where moonlight hits it, the jagged RUNE (image_1.png) materializes as a cold, phantom light. Mia looks terrified.

MIA: (A tired whisper to herself, touching her belly) Location means nothing. Science means nothing. I’m alone, and she knows it.

(The telephone on the small table RINGS.)

MIA: (Startled, grabbing the receiver) Evelyn? John isn’t home.

PANEL 6 (Evelyn’s Side): Evelyn is on the phone. She is holding the book "THE DEMONOLOGY OF MATERNAL SACRIFICE."

EVELYN: (Into phone, voice breaking with urgency) Mia? Mia, listen to me. Listen. I found something. It’s not just a haunting. It’s a contract. Annabelle Higgins didn't just die—she promised something in that nursery.

MIA: (Into phone, voice shaking, looking at the glowing rune) A promise? To who?

EVELYN: To a very old entity. The Disciples of the Ram believed they had to offer a specific kind of 'free sacrifice' to bound it. They thought the entity would grant them the 'Maternal Essence' to become hosts for... well, they just wanted power.

MIA: (Confused, terrified) Maternal Essence? Evelyn, what does that have to do with me? Or my baby?

EVELYN: (Stressed) Don't you see? You and the baby are the sacrifice. The Disciples wanted to trade your child’s essence to the demon as a vessel. The doll is just the anchor—the contract itself.

MIA: (Quiet, realization hitting) They wanted my baby to be its host? But how do they complete a ritual if Annabelle is dead?

PANEL 7 (Mia’s Side): Mia is huddled on the floor. Behind her, the nursery door (seen in panel 1) is slamming SHUT. A multi-limbed, tall, shadowy entity detaches from the ceiling shadows.

SFX: SLAM!

EVELYN: (Over phone, shouting now) It has to be completed by the next maternal line! If Annabelle started it, you... or the baby... must complete it!

MIA: (Screaming into phone) Evelyn! It’s here! The door just slammed!

DEMON (WHISPER - Off-Panel): The pact begins.

EVELYN: (Over phone) Mia? Mia! It must be offered freely! They need your child's essence but they can only take what is given! Do you understand?!

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