The Closed Mall

Opening (Hook) A man wakes up on a mall bench. The last thing he remembers is falling

asleep waiting for his girlfriend to finish shopping. But now it’s night. The lights hum faintly.

No people. The air smells like chlorine and metal. The exit signs still glow red,

but every door he tries leads back into the mall. Middle (The Shift) He walks past the

food court — trays half-eaten, soda still fizzing. An announcement comes over the intercom:

“Attention shoppers… the mall will be closing in ten minutes.” But it’s already dark.

It’s been dark. He looks up at a second-floor display — mannequins lined in a fashion store

window. He swears they weren’t facing him before. When he blinks, one of them is closer.