Dark Horse

Dark Horse

Genre: Psychological Thriller/Drama

Short Story:

In the small, fog-drenched town of Black Hollow, everyone knew the legend of the "Dark Horse." It was said that once every decade, a mysterious black stallion would appear at the edge of the Whispering Woods, its eyes glowing like embers. Those who dared to approach it would either vanish without a trace or return with their deepest desires fulfilled—but at a terrible cost.

Eleanor, a reclusive artist with a haunted past, had always been drawn to the legend. Her life had been a series of disappointments: her career had stalled, her marriage had crumbled, and her only child had died in a tragic accident. She had nothing left to lose.

One evening, as the moon hung low and the fog rolled in, Eleanor ventured to the edge of the woods. There, standing amidst the shadows, was the Dark Horse. Its mane shimmered like liquid night, and its eyes burned with an otherworldly light. Without hesitation, Eleanor approached it, her heart pounding in her chest.

The horse lowered its head, and in that moment, Eleanor felt a surge of power coursing through her veins. She made her wish: to bring her daughter back to life.

The next morning, Eleanor awoke in her bed, the events of the previous night feeling like a dream. But as she walked into the living room, she saw her daughter, alive and well, playing with her toys. Overjoyed, Eleanor embraced her child, but something felt... off. Her daughter's laughter was hollow, her touch cold.

As days passed, Eleanor began to notice strange occurrences. The townsfolk whispered that the Dark Horse had returned, and with it, a wave of inexplicable tragedies. People disappeared, crops withered, and the once-thriving town began to decay.

Eleanor realized too late that the Dark Horse had not granted her wish—it had twisted it. Her daughter was not truly alive; she was a shadow, a remnant of what once was. And the horse? It was no savior. It was a harbinger of doom, feeding on the despair of those who sought its power.

In the end, Eleanor made the ultimate sacrifice. She returned to the edge of the Whispering Woods, where the Dark Horse awaited. With tears streaming down her face, she begged it to take her instead, to spare her daughter and the town. The horse's eyes flared, and in a blinding flash of light, Eleanor was gone.

The town of Black Hollow returned to normal, but the legend of the Dark Horse lived on. And in the depths of the Whispering Woods, a new shadow began to stir, waiting for the next desperate soul to make a wish.

Film Script:

INT. ELEANOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The camera pans across a dimly lit room filled with half-finished paintings. ELEANOR (40s, disheveled, with a haunted look in her eyes) sits at a wooden table, staring at a photograph of her daughter, LILY (8 years old, bright and full of life).

ELEANOR

(whispering to herself)

I just want her back...

She clutches the photo to her chest, tears streaming down her face. The wind howls outside, and the sound of distant hoofbeats echoes through the night.

EXT. WHISPERING WOODS - NIGHT

Eleanor stands at the edge of the woods, the fog swirling around her. The hoofbeats grow louder, and from the shadows emerges the DARK HORSE—a massive black stallion with glowing red eyes. It stops a few feet away from her, its breath visible in the cold air.

ELEANOR

(voice trembling)

I... I wish for my daughter to come back.

The Dark Horse lowers its head, its eyes locking onto hers. A surge of energy passes between them, and Eleanor collapses to the ground, unconscious.

INT. ELEANOR'S HOUSE - MORNING

Eleanor wakes up in her bed, disoriented. She hears laughter coming from the living room. She rushes out to find LILY playing with her toys, just as she remembered her.

ELEANOR

(tearfully)

Lily...

Lily looks up, her smile wide but somehow empty. Eleanor hugs her tightly, but something feels wrong. The room grows colder, and the shadows seem to deepen.

EXT. BLACK HOLLOW - DAY

The town is in chaos. People are disappearing, crops are dying, and the once-bustling streets are now eerily silent. The townsfolk whisper about the Dark Horse, their faces filled with fear.

TOWNSFOLK 1

(whispering)

It's back... the Dark Horse...

TOWNSFOLK 2

(whispering)

It's her... she brought it upon us...

INT. ELEANOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Eleanor sits in the dark, clutching a knife. She looks at Lily, who is now staring at her with hollow eyes. The room is filled with an oppressive silence.

ELEANOR

(whispering)

I’m so sorry, Lily...

She stands, determination in her eyes, and heads for the door.

EXT. WHISPERING WOODS - NIGHT

Eleanor returns to the edge of the woods, where the Dark Horse waits. Its eyes burn brighter than ever as it watches her approach.

ELEANOR

(pleading)

Take me instead. Please... just let her go.

The Dark Horse rears up, its mane flowing like liquid shadow. It lets out a deafening neigh, and a blinding light envelops Eleanor. When the light fades, she is gone.

EXT. BLACK HOLLOW - DAY

The town begins to recover. The crops grow again, and the people return to their normal lives. But in the distance, the Whispering Woods remain shrouded in fog, and the legend of the Dark Horse lives on.

FADE OUT.

TEXT ON SCREEN:

"Beware the Dark Horse... for it grants not what you want, but what you deserve."

THE END.