Sydney Prescott, a teacher and self-taught scholar, never wants to be married or have children and dreams of leaving their small town to travel the world. Yet, her dreams were weaved by her mother.

Then, she meets Bret Carson, the mysterious hermit who lives by the rapids with Vicki, his young daughter. As hard as Sydney tries to fight her feelings for him, she falls in love for the first time and finally finds the happiness that she was looking for.

But Bret is suddenly arrested for kidnapping and murder. Sydney is shocked and heartbroken. She’s also appalled by his actions and insists upon taking Vicki back to the east coast to reunite her with her mother. Yet, she soon discovers the deadly secrets at Holbrook Manor and to protect Vicki, she is trapped there with no way out.