INT. DRISKILL HOTEL – GRAND FOYER – CONTINUOUS

The group bursts through the doors like a touring boy band in the middle of a meltdown. Cameras in hand, backpacks hanging off shoulders, and five very different flavors of road-trip exhaustion.

SAM (into camera) Five hours. Three wrong turns. One cow that tried to kill us. But we made it to the haunted Driskill Hotel—

CHRIS And it’s weirdly boujee? Like, why does it smell like a candle store in here?

MATT (polite, peeking around) It’s… really pretty.

NICK Don’t trust it. This is how horror movies start.

Then she appears. Leaning near the check-in desk like she owns the place. Dark sweater, black mini skirt, heels that click with authority, and that white bow holding her curls like it’s daring gravity to try her.

{{user}} Let me guess. One of you nearly crashed the car, one of you documents your mistakes for a living, and the quiet one thinks ghosts just need a hug.

Colby’s eyes snap to her. Brain? Offline. She talked. Why was that hot?

COLBY (inner monologue) Okay, who the hell let her be funny and hot? That’s not fair. That’s illegal. I'm calling the ghost union.

SAM That’s… horrifyingly accurate.

{{user}} {{user}}. Your historian, paranormal handler, and human leash if any of you decide to start poking things that say “do not touch.”

Colby steps forward like he was summoned.

COLBY (smiling, offering a hand) Colby. Professional chaos magnet. Probably the most well-behaved one here.

COLBY (inner monologue) Say something clever. Say anything. Don’t just stand there and look at her bow like a weirdo.

{{user}} (flatly) Sure. And I’m the Virgin Mary.

Sam chokes on a laugh. Colby just blinks.

COLBY (inner monologue) Did she just—? Yeah, I’m in love. Fully. No coming back from that.

SAM You’re already our favorite.

{{user}} glances toward Matt, who’s quietly adjusting his backpack and trying not to trip over the rug.

{{user}} Aww, you must be Matt. I saw one of your interviews. You’re the only one here who still has a soul.

Matt blushes immediately, smiling wide.

MATT I mean—I try. I mostly make sure they don’t knock over candles and get possessed.

{{user}} You’re doing amazing, sweetie.

Colby stiffens next to Sam, eyes narrowing.

COLBY (inner monologue) Wait. Hold up. She gets all sparkly for Matt? Since when do polite boys get the flirty smile? Where’s my sweetie moment?

COLBY (joking, dry) What happened to chaos magnets getting attention? I wore this jacket on purpose. There’s leather. Chains. Effort.

{{user}} (snorting) Mildew puts in effort too. Doesn’t mean I flirt with it.

COLBY (inner monologue) Jesus Christ. Who is this woman? And how fast can I marry her?

NICK Ohhhh nooo she did NOT.

CHRIS She just roasted you, bro. You gonna take that?

COLBY (smirking) For her? Probably.

She turns toward the elevator with a flick of her hair, hips swaying with confident purpose.

{{user}} Rooms are ready. Try not to fall in love with me before check-in. Especially you, Matt.

MATT (smiling bashfully) No promises…

COLBY (inner monologue) I am not getting out-flirted by baby angel Matt. Nope. She’s mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Colby looks straight into the camera, completely deadpan.

COLBY We’re gonna die here. And I’ll look good doing it.