The Crimson Sketchbook

Chapter 1: Arrival Isla Menon arrives in Mumbai from Kerala, seeking anonymity and escape. She settles into a dilapidated heritage building in Byculla. Introductions to her new life: work, city’s chaos, isolation. Attends an art gallery opening on a whim. Meets Julian D’Souza — warm, perceptive, oddly familiar with trauma. Julian introduces Isla to Roman Fernandes — magnetic and raw. The subtle pull of their friendship begins. Chapter 2: The Triangle Forms Isla grows closer to Julian and Roman; they invite her into their circle. Scenes of subtle intimacy: shared meals, deep conversations, casual touches. The monsoon rains, thunder, and shared balcony sleep scene — all three share a kiss, unspoken but binding. Julian and Roman’s contrasting personas draw Isla into emotional complexity. She senses secrets but is too enamored to pull away. Chapter 3: First Cracks Isla witnesses Roman’s violent assault on a man outside a bar but is gaslit by both men afterward. Julian soothes her with therapy jargon; Roman insists it was justified. Isla finds a strange sketch of herself, sleeping, in Roman’s studio. Uncertainty blooms—she questions her memory and sanity. Small hallucinations and dreams hint at something darker. Chapter 4: Past Lives in Shadows Isla discovers disturbing elements: other portraits of women in the studio, a locket not hers, cryptic initials. She researches missing women in Mumbai and Goa — matches some initials. Fragmented dreams where other women appear, whispering warnings. Julian and Roman become more controlling under the guise of “helping” her cope. Chapter 5: Deepening Obsession The romance intensifies; scenes of simultaneous intimacy with both men blur Isla’s sense of reality. She confronts her trauma, trying to find agency but is trapped in emotional manipulation. An argument where Isla asks for space; Julian insists “you’re safest with us.” Roman’s warning is more threatening. More sketches and diary entries surface, revealing how deeply Isla is watched. Chapter 6: The Sacred Space Isla follows the men to the Versova bungalow. Horror mounts as she discovers the gallery of portraits of herself and other missing women. The list of names, dates, and notes cements the realization: Julian and Roman have a serial pattern. Emotional confrontation: Julian breaks down, confesses love, claims to protect her. Roman enters; the two exchange the chilling smile revealing their conspiracy. Chapter 7: Flight and Collapse Isla escapes into the stormy night, barefoot and bleeding. She reaches the police and tells her story, but evidence is missing. The bungalow is clean, empty, untouched. Authorities doubt her; she’s forced into a psychiatric ward. Chapter 8: The Return Months later, Isla is a shadow of herself in a Thane psychiatric facility. She watches the world outside with distant eyes. Julian arrives as her new therapist — clean, calm, predatory. Roman watches from the observation room, waiting. The pattern is set to begin anew. Themes & Motifs to Emphasize The city as a labyrinth of madness and beauty Obsession masquerading as love and care The artist’s destructive muse Gaslighting and fractured memory Female agency eroded by emotional control The cyclical nature of trauma and manipulation
Story image

Act 1: Act I: The Setup

Isla stood on the threshold of her small apartment, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the floor. The air felt thick with the remnants of the day’s heat, a stark contrast to the cool, damp embrace of the monsoon that had just begun to settle over Mumbai. She took a deep breath, the scent of rain-soaked earth mingling with the faint aroma of spices wafting from a nearby vendor, and stepped out into the vibrant chaos of Byculla.

As she meandered through the bustling streets, her thoughts drifted to Julian and Roman. Their friendship, though new, felt like a lifeline, pulling her from the depths of her solitude. Yet, there was a nagging sensation at the back of her mind, a whisper of unease that she couldn’t quite shake. She pushed it aside, focusing instead on the gallery opening she planned to attend that evening.

Arriving at the gallery, Isla felt the familiar flutter of excitement mixed with anxiety. The walls were adorned with vivid paintings, each a kaleidoscope of emotion, and she found herself drawn to a piece that depicted a stormy sea, waves crashing against jagged rocks. The intensity of the colors resonated with her, and she stood, captivated, until a voice broke through her reverie.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Julian’s warm presence appeared beside her, his eyes reflecting the artwork. “It captures the chaos and beauty of life perfectly.”

Isla nodded, her heart racing as he turned to her, a knowing smile on his lips. They exchanged thoughts about the piece, and soon, Roman joined them, his energy infectious. The three of them flowed through the gallery, engaging in spirited discussions, laughter, and the subtle brush of hands that sent shivers down her spine.

But amidst the vibrant atmosphere, something in the corner of the room caught Isla’s eye—a small, dimly lit alcove that seemed almost forgotten. Curiosity piqued, she excused herself and wandered over, her heart thrumming with anticipation. As she stepped closer, the shadows peeled back to reveal a series of portraits, each one hauntingly familiar.

Her breath caught in her throat. The women depicted in the paintings bore an uncanny resemblance to herself—each face a mirror of her own fears, her own struggles. But it was the last portrait that froze her in place. It was a striking image of a woman with deep-set eyes, painted in shades of crimson and shadow, as if the artist had captured not just her likeness, but her very essence.

Isla felt a chill wash over her. This wasn’t just art; it was a reflection of her hidden truths, her buried traumas. She reached out, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the canvas. A sense of recognition washed over her, and the weight of realization crashed down like a tidal wave. This was more than a gallery; it was a testament to her own existence, her own battle against the darkness she had fled.

The significance of the portraits began to unravel in her mind. They weren’t mere representations; they were warnings, echoes of the past she had tried so desperately to escape. The artist, the gallery, Julian and Roman—they were intertwined in a narrative she hadn’t yet fully grasped. The threads of her life, her traumas, were woven into the very fabric of this city, and she was standing at the precipice of a truth she wasn’t ready to confront.

Suddenly, Julian appeared behind her, his voice low and soothing. “Isla, are you alright?” He stepped closer, concern etched on his face.

She turned to him, her heart racing, the weight of the revelation heavy in her chest. “Julian, who painted these?” Her voice trembled, a mixture of fear and urgency.

He hesitated, the warmth in his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “They’re the work of Roman. He captures the essence of those he paints, their struggles and their beauty. It’s... a gift and a curse.”

Isla’s mind raced. Roman had seen her, had captured her vulnerabilities before she even knew them herself. And in that moment, she realized that the sanctuary she thought she had found might just be another layer of the labyrinth she was trapped in. The boundaries between safety and danger blurred, and as she looked back at the haunting portraits, the first seeds of doubt began to take root.

Writer's Intent: FLEEING INTO THE LIGHT Isla Menon, 26, arrives in Mumbai from Kerala under the guise of a new job in interior design. But she’s really running—from a suffocating childhood, a father’s emotional tyranny, and a secret she can’t name yet. She rents a small apartment in Byculla, in a heritage building with peeling walls and lattice balconies. Her days are silent. Her nights are restless. She drifts through the city with no roots—until she meets Julian D’Souza. Julian is everything she’s not: well-spoken, assertive, and strangely comforting. A trained therapist working with trauma patients, he meets Isla at a gallery opening and speaks to her like he’s known her pain for years. He introduces her to his best friend: Roman Fernandes, a Goan painter with wild eyes and a presence that unnerves her. They are inseparable—Julian calm and composed, Roman erratic and raw. And slowly, Isla is pulled into their gravitational field.
AI Summary: Isla steps out of her apartment in Mumbai, feeling the contrast between the heat of the day and the onset of the monsoon. She reflects on her new friendship with Julian and Roman while heading to a gallery opening. At the gallery, she becomes captivated by a series of portraits that resemble her, particularly one that seems to capture her essence. When Julian reveals that Roman is the artist, Isla realizes that the portraits reflect her hidden traumas and fears, leading her to question the safety of her newfound connections and the reality of her situation.

Act Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (mentioned)

Scene 1: Introduction to Characters & World

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present)

Writer's Intent: Isla moves into the decaying Byculla Heritage Building; she meets Roman and Julian, two intense men whose presence unsettles and intrigues her.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 2: Inciting Incident

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: At a rooftop party in the Byculla building, Roman sketches Isla intensely in his battered Crimson Sketchbook, marking the start of their twisted connection.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 3: Call to Adventure

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Isla is drawn into a passionate and dangerous love triangle with Roman and Julian, feeling both seduced and threatened by their intensity.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 4: Refusal of the Call

Writer's Intent: N/A
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 5: Meeting the Mentor

Writer's Intent: N/A
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 6: Crossing the Threshold

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Isla commits to exploring the dark passions and secrets of Roman and Julian, stepping deeper into their world inside the Byculla Heritage Building.
No content written for this scene yet.

Act 2: Act II: Confrontation

Generated act for Act II: Confrontation

Act Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (mentioned)

Scene 1: Rising Action

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Isla experiences subtle gaslighting from Julian and volatile passion from Roman; their obsession deepens, and the Crimson Sketchbook’s disturbing portraits haunt her.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 2: Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Scene Elements:

Julian D’Souza (present)

Writer's Intent: Julian’s quiet menace surfaces during a tearful confession in a hideout; Isla struggles to discern friend from foe amid their manipulations.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 3: Approach to the Inmost Cave

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Roman prepares to confront Isla in a violent alleyway, blurring lines between protection and control; the Crimson Sketchbook’s pages turn darker.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 4: The Ordeal

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Isla faces her terrifying truth: she is merely the latest muse in Roman and Julian’s twisted cycle of seduction and control as she breaks down in the art-stained studio.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 5: Reward (Seizing the Sword)

Scene Elements:

The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Isla steals the Crimson Sketchbook, uncovering cryptic notes revealing the destructive cycle and her role as the newest ‘divine’ obsession.
No content written for this scene yet.

Act 3: Act III: Resolution

Generated act for Act III: Resolution

Act Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (mentioned)

Scene 1: The Road Back

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present), The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Fleeing the Byculla building, Isla is pursued by Roman and Julian’s dark influence, her grip on reality slipping as the past haunts her.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 2: Resurrection

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present), Julian D’Souza (present)

Writer's Intent: In a final confrontation behind psychiatric ward glass, Isla meets Roman’s chilling gaze and Julian’s cold ultimatum: surrender or be lost forever.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 3: Return with the Elixir

Scene Elements:

The Crimson Sketchbook (central focus)

Writer's Intent: Now confined but internally burning, Isla holds the Crimson Sketchbook’s secrets, resolved to break the cycle from within the psychiatric ward.
No content written for this scene yet.

Scene 4: New Normal

Scene Elements:

Roman Fernandes (present)

Writer's Intent: Isla’s blank but burning stare through the ward glass hints at a new, defiant chapter as Roman and Julian’s obsession loses its hold.
No content written for this scene yet.