The first scream came from the back of the minibus.

Then the lights went out.

For three long seconds, nobody moved.

Outside the windows, the road was completely dark.

YAYA

“Nobody panic.”

Her voice was calm, but her eyes were fixed on the darkness ahead.

AMBER

“Why did we stop?”

DAVE

“We didn’t stop.”

Everyone looked at him.

Dave slowly pointed toward the dashboard.

The engine was still running.

But the minibus was no longer moving.

And then, from somewhere outside…

came three slow knocks against the rear door.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

Nobody spoke.

Just hours earlier, everything had been different.

The living room was filled with luggage, excitement, and the kind of energy that only came before a long-awaited vacation.

Suitcases were open everywhere. Clothes were folded on couches. Travel bags sat near the door.

Everyone had been waiting for this moment for days.

Turks and Caicos. Blue water. White beaches. Warm sunlight. Freedom.

Then Wayne walked into the room with an expression that instantly changed everything.

WAYNE

“Guys… we have a problem.”

The room became quiet.

AMBER

“What happened?”

Wayne hesitated.

WAYNE

“The trip is cancelled.”

Silence.

For a moment, nobody seemed to understand what he had said.

SHAYLA

“What?”

DINISHA

“Cancelled?”

WAYNE

“Yeah. Something came up. It’s not happening anymore.”

The excitement disappeared from the room.

YAYA

“Wayne.”

Wayne looked at her.

YAYA

“We’ve been waiting for this trip for so long.”

WAYNE

“I know.”

YAYA

“No. I don’t think you do.”

She stepped closer.

YAYA

“Everyone here has been talking about Turks and Caicos for days. We’ve planned everything. We’ve packed everything. We’ve been counting down.”

YAYA

“We can’t just cancel now.”

WAYNE

“Yaya, it’s not that simple.”

YAYA

“Then we’ll make it simple.”

Everyone looked at her.

YAYA

“We go.”

AMBER

“She’s right.”

SHAYLA

“We’ve already come this far.”

DINISHA

“Exactly.”

ANTHONY

“I’m not unpacking.”

DAVE

“Neither am I.”

Wayne looked around the room. One by one, everyone’s excitement started returning.

WAYNE

“Alright.”

WAYNE

“But if we’re doing this… We do it now.”

The room exploded into movement.

Suitcase wheels rolled across the floor. Bags were zipped shut. Phones were being charged. Travel documents were checked.

ANTHONY

“Whose bag is this?”

SHAYLA

“Mine!”

ANTHONY

“What did you put in here? Bricks?”

DAVE

“She’s bringing half the house.”

Everyone laughed.

Outside, the minibus waited.

The luggage was loaded into the back.

AMBER

“Don’t forget this.”

YAYA

“My sunglasses.”

AMBER

“You were about to leave without them.”

Wayne closed the rear door.

WAYNE

“Turks and Caicos.”

DAVE

“Finally.”

The minibus rolled away from the house.

The streets slowly disappeared behind them.

Music played through the speakers.

YAYA

“We actually did it.”

AMBER

“I told you we would.”

WAYNE

“Nobody is allowed to say the word ‘cancel’ again.”

ANTHONY

“New rule. No bad news until we reach Turks and Caicos.”

They laughed.

The road stretched ahead.

The sun began to lower.

Golden light poured through the windows.

For a while, everything felt perfect.

Hours into the journey, Amber’s phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked at the screen.

Her smile disappeared.

AMBER

“Guys…”

There was a message from an unknown number.

DON’T GO TO TURKS AND CAICOS.

SHAYLA

“Who sent that?”

AMBER

“I don’t know.”

YAYA

“Show me.”

Another message appeared.

TURN BACK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

DINISHA

“Maybe it’s a prank.”

DAVE

“Who would know we’re going?”

Everyone looked at Wayne.

Night had fallen.

The road ahead was almost empty.

The minibus moved steadily through the darkness.

AMBER

“Wayne…”

Amber showed him the screen.

THIS WAS NEVER A VACATION.

WAYNE

“Delete it.”

YAYA

“Why?”

WAYNE

“I said delete it.”

The tension inside the minibus became unbearable.

DAVE

“Do you know something?”

Wayne remained silent.

ANTHONY

“Wayne.”

WAYNE

“I got a message too.”

Everyone stared at him.

SHAYLA

“When?”

WAYNE

“Before we left.”

DINISHA

“What did it say?”

WAYNE

“Don’t bring them.”

Nobody spoke.

The only sound was the engine.

Then suddenly—

the headlights flickered.

Once.
Twice.
Then went completely dark.

SHAYLA

“Wayne!”

WAYNE

“Stay calm.”

Wayne tried the headlights again.

Nothing.

ANTHONY

“What’s happening?”

WAYNE

“I don’t know.”

Everyone checked their phones.

DINISHA

“We’re completely out of service.”

Then came the sound.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

YAYA

“Don’t open that door.”

WAYNE

“We don’t know who’s out there.”

YAYA

“Exactly.”

Amber’s phone suddenly lit up.

Everyone looked at it.

HE KNOWS YOU’RE ALL INSIDE.

AMBER

“Who?”

Wayne said nothing.

THIS IS WHY WAYNE TRIED TO CANCEL THE TRIP.

YAYA

“Wayne…”

Before he could answer—

the rear door handle began to move.

Slowly.

Once.
Twice.

Then the lock clicked.

Everyone screamed.

The door began to open.

An inch.

Then two.

Cold air rushed into the minibus.

Nobody could see who was standing outside.

Then a shadow appeared in the doorway.

UNKNOWN VOICE

”