FADE IN:

EXT. PERTH'S HOUSE - DAY

Perth walks towards his house, backpack on his shoulders, lost in thought.

CUT TO:

INT. PERTH'S BACKYARD - DAY

Perth enters the backyard, notices a shimmering portal, and approaches it curiously.

PERTH:

(whispering) What the...?

A hand reaches out from the portal. Perth hesitates, then takes the hand and steps into the portal.

CUT TO:

INT. PORTAL DIMENSION -

Perth finds himself in a strange, dimly lit space. He sees Leo standing still, looking confused.

PERTH:

(awed) Who are you?

The Boy:

I...I'm Leo

Perth:

where are we

LEO:

(equally perplexed) I...I don't know.

Perth feels an inexplicable connection to Leo, as if they share a deep bond.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appears in the background, and a voice echoes.

VOICE:

Perth, wake up! Wake up!

CUT TO:

INT. PERTH'S BEDROOM - DAY

Perth wakes up with a start, realizing it was just a dream. He looks around, disoriented.

PERTH:

(to himself) Why do I keep dreaming about this guy? And why do I feel like I know him?

CUT TO:

INT. PERTH'S KITCHEN - DAY

Perth's mom calls out to him.

PERTH'S MOM:

Come down and eat your breakfast, Perth! You're running late for school!

Perth gets out of bed, still lost in thought, wondering about the strange dream and the mysterious connection he felt with Leo.

FADE OUT.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Perth sits in class, distracted, staring out the window.

TEACHER:

Class, I'd like you to welcome our new student, Leo.

The door opens, and Leo walks in. Perth's eyes widen as he takes in the familiar face.

LEO:

(nervously) Hi, everyone. My name is Leo. I'm excited to be here.

Perth's eyes lock onto Leo's, and he feels a jolt of recognition.

PERTH:

(to himself) Wait...I know that voice. It's the same voice from my dream.

Leo's eyes meet Perth's, and they share a moment of mutual understanding.

TEACHER:

Leo, why don't you take a seat next to Perth?

Leo walks over to Perth, and they sit down together.

PERTH:

(whispering) Leo? Is that really your name?

LEO:

(smiling) Yeah...why?

PERTH:

(hesitant) No reason. Just...coincidence, I guess.

Leo looks at Perth quizzically, but Perth quickly looks away, trying to process the surreal moment.

FADE OUT.

Let's continue with the next scene:

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Perth and Leo sit together, trying to focus on the lesson. But they can't help sneaking glances at each other.

PERTH:

(whispering) Leo, can I ask you something?

LEO:

(equally quiet) Yeah, what is it?

PERTH:

Do you...do you ever have dreams that feel really real?

LEO:

(hesitant) Yeah...I do. How did you know?

PERTH:

(Impatiently) Never mind. Just...just tell me about your dreams.

LEO:

(looking around nervously) Okay...I dream about a portal, and a hand reaching out. And I feel this connection to someone...someone I don't know.

PERTH:

(Eyes widening) That's my dream too!

LEO:

(Surprised) What? That's impossible!

Their conversation is interrupted by the teacher, but they share a look that suggests their connection is deeper than just coincidence.

FADE OUT.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Perth and Leo are deep in conversation, but the teacher interrupts them.

TEACHER:

Alright, class, that's enough for today.

Leo packs up his things, and Perth follows him out of the classroom.

PERTH:

(holding Leo's hand) Hey, wait up.

LEO:

(turning around) Yeah?

PERTH:

(looking around nervously) Can I ask you something?

Luka, Perth's friend, interrupts them.

LUKA:

Whoa, you two are getting pretty close, huh?

Perth quickly lets go of Leo's hand, looking flustered.

PERTH:

(nervously) No, no, it's not like that. He's just a new student, and I was showing him around.

LUKA:

(skeptical) Okay, sure. Nice meeting you, Leo.

Perth and Leo share a lingering glance before Luka drags Perth away.

CUT TO:

INT. PERTH'S BEDROOM - DAY

Perth sits at his desk, lost in thought.

PERTH:

(to himself) What's going on? Why do I feel this connection to Leo?

He can't shake off the feeling that there's something special between them.

FADE OUT.

CUT TO:

INT. PERTH'S HOUSE - DAY

Perth and Leo are hanging out at Perth's house, laughing and joking around. They're so comfortable with each other that they don't even notice how close they're sitting.

PERTH'S MOM:

(smiling) You two are getting pretty close, huh?

PERTH:

(blushing) Mom, we're just friends!

LEO:

(equally embarrassed) Yeah, Mrs. Perth, we're just studying for our exams together.

PERTH'S MOM:

(teasingly) Studying? Is that what they're calling it these days?

Perth's mom winks at them, and they both realize that their feelings for each other are becoming harder to hide.

CUT TO:

INT. LEO'S HOUSE - DAY

Leo's mom is asking him about his day, and he can't stop talking about Perth.

LEO'S MOM:

(laughing) Leo, you're really smitten with this Perth guy, aren't you?

LEO:

(sheepishly) Mom, I don't know what you're talking about.

LEO'S MOM:

(smiling) Oh, Leo, I know you too well. You can't hide it from me.

Leo looks down, realizing that his mom is right. He's fallen for Perth, hard.

FADE OUT.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Perth and Leo sit at their desks, listening to the teacher drone on. Suddenly, Leo's eyes widen, and he nods discreetly towards the window.

PERTH:

(confused) What's wrong, Leo?

LEO:

(urgently) Look outside.

Perth turns to see the sky turning dark and the sun reddening.

PERTH:

(alarmedly) What's happening?

LEO:

(grabbing Perth's hand) Come on!

Leo pulls Perth out of the classroom and into the nearby bathroom.

PERTH:

(scared) Leo, what's going on?

LEO:

(breathlessly) I don't know, but I think it's connected to our dreams. We have to hide.

Perth looks around, bewildered, as Leo locks the bathroom door behind them.

FADE OUT.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Perth and Leo hide in the bathroom, listening intently. The footsteps get closer and closer, until they stop right outside the door.

PERTH:

(whispering) What do we do?

LEO:

(equally quiet) Shh. Wait.

The door handle starts to turn, and Perth's heart races with fear.

PERTH:

(terrified) Oh no...

LEO:

(protectively) Don't worry, I've got you.

Suddenly, the lights flicker and the bathroom is plunged into darkness.

FADE OUT.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY (BLACKOUT)

Perth and Leo are trapped in the darkness, trying to escape. Leo struggles to open the door, but it won't budge.

PERTH:

(desperate) Leo, we have to get out of here!

LEO:

(grunting) I'm trying, I'm trying...

Suddenly, a voice echoes from the darkness behind them.

VOICE:

Hello, Perth. Hello, Leo.

They both spin around, their hearts racing.

PERTH:

(terrified) Who's there?

LEO:

(equally scared) Show yourself!

The voice chuckles, and the lights flicker back to life. Perth and Leo blink in the bright light, and that's when they see him...

FADE OUT:

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Perth and Leo stare at the figure before them, shocked.

PERTH:

(stammering) A-Arises?

ARISES:

(smirking) The one and only.

Leo steps forward, protective of Perth.

LEO:

(angrily) What do you want, Arises?

ARISES:

(leaning against the wall) Oh, I just wanted to drop by and see how my favorite twins are doing.

PERTH:

(confused) Twins? What are you talking about?

ARISES:

(grinning mischievously) You'll figure it out soon enough.

With that, Arises vanishes into thin air, leaving Perth and Leo stunned and confused.

FADE OUT.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Perth and Leo stare at the note, then at each other, minds racing.

PERTH:

(awed) Destiny? Key and lock? What does it mean?

LEO:

(equally perplexed) And who is this guy, Arises?

Before they can ponder further, the bathroom door swings open, and Luka and their teacher rush in.

LUKA:

(concerned) Guys, are you okay? We heard strange noises coming from in here.

TEACHER:

(sternly) What's going on? Why were you hiding in the bathroom?

Perth and Leo exchange a nervous glance, unsure how much to reveal.

PERTH:

(hesitantly) We...we were just going to restroom, and...and we got locked in.

LEO:

(supportively) Yeah, it was an accident.

The teacher eyes them skeptically, but Luka seems to buy their story.

LUKA:

(helpfully) Yeah, it can get pretty weird in here sometimes.

As they exit the bathroom, Perth and Leo can't help but wonder what lies ahead, and what this mysterious destiny has in store for them.

FADE OUT.

INT. PERTH'S BEDROOM - DAY

Perth sits at his study table, while Leo lounges on the bed, processing the events of the day.

PERTH:

(still trying to make sense of it) I can't believe what happened in the bathroom. That guy, Arises...he was so weird.

LEO:

(equally perplexed) And what was with that note? "Key and lock"...what does it even mean?

PERTH:

(frustrated) I don't know, but I feel like our lives are getting more and more complicated by the minute.

LEO:

(supportively) We'll figure it out, Perth. Together.

Perth smiles, grateful for Leo's presence.

PERTH:

(determined) You're right. We need to research, find out what this "destiny" thing is all about.

LEO:

(nodding) And what's with this "portal" business?

As they delve deeper into the mystery, their phones buzz with an unknown number.

PERTH:

(curious) Looks like we've got a message.

LEO:

(equally curious) From who?

Perth's eyes widen as he reads the message.

PERTH:

(alarmed) It's from Arises. "Meet me at the old oak tree in the park at midnight. Come alone."

Leo's eyes lock onto Perth's, filled with concern.

FADE OUT.