Horror: Home Invasion - Basement Bargain

Basement Bargain: The Roommate from Hell

Story Dossier + Outline

Premise:

Struggling homeowner Daniel Vaughn rents out his basement to a seemingly ideal tenant, Patricia Lowe, only to find her "helpful" overtures mask a sinister plan to take over his entire house through manipulative politeness and escalating terror.

✨ Genre: Home Invasion Horror

✨ Tropes/Themes: Invasion from Within, Trusted Guest, Subtle Boundary Violations, Escalation Through Politeness, Social Obligation Traps Victim, Violence Breaks Etiquette, Redefinition of Safety, Economic Desperation

✨ POV & Structure: 1st Person Present Tense Single POV, 4-Act structure

✨ Vibe: Grim and relentless, with a raw edge that builds from financial stress to visceral horror. It's a stark, plot-centric tale of entrapment, featuring intense psychological strain and bloody climaxes without romance. The vibe underscores economic vulnerability, delivering a bleak commentary on survival in tough times.

✨ Book Size: Novel (60,000-100,000 words)

✨ Chapter Count: 44 Chapters

✨ Word Count: target 1800-2200 per chapter

✨ Heat Level: No Romance (plot-focused, no romantic elements)

What you get:

✅ Complete Premise with core concepts and Narrative Physics Architecture

✅ Complete Story Dossier — including detailed characters, relationship arcs, locations and objects, world rules and histories, multiple subplots, and market researched genre and style guides.

✅ A detailed 44 chapter outline.