SYNOPSIS:

In the 1930's, an adult JAKE JOHNSON recalls a promise he had made to a lover once and his chosen faith in being a hero which he had believed was more important than loving her. The story shifts to the past, 1861, to Jake as a young boy, living at home alone with his caring father WILLIAM, who had lost his wife and daughter some time before. After Jake finishes chores, him and his father go fishing, talking about Jake's beautiful mother and the civil war that's ongoing in the world. After failing to catch any fish, the two venture home when two strangers approach them. Jake is ordered home by his father and told to run to the forest to hide. William meets the two strangers, SAMUEL ‘CHAMP’ FERGUSON and HENRY CLINTON. The two strangers follow William home for a "friendly chat" and soon turn threatening when requesting payment of a "war tax" to help the confederacy in the war. William, too poor to pay, argues his case but is soon shot by Henry. As William dies, Samuel accosts Henry for wounding William before he got his chance. Before William passes away, Samuel reveals he is actually here for a ritual to turn the world on it's head. Samuel promises to deal with William's friends in nearby Etheridge and threatens to kill William's son slowly and painfully. The house is set ablaze and Samuel and Henry leave. Jake grieves for his father as the fire burns and people try to put it out. William's body is nowhere to be seen inside the front room. Five months pass and Jake lives with his UNCLE, ARNOLD and AUNT, MARGARET JOHNSON. They talk over breakfast about Jake joining the school, different from other schools with rumor's of magicians and powerful heroes, known as the SANCTUARY, led by the headmaster DR. GODDEN. Jake enthusiastically agrees to join the sanctuary, just as his father had done and travels with Uncle Arnold there to deliver some packages. While there they talk to the groundskeeper OTTO. Here, Uncle Arnold informs Otto of Jake joining the sanctuary and confirms that Jake meets the requirement - being an orphan. That night, a violent attack wakes up the whole town. The night watchmen HAROLD FLANAGAN tells the mayor CHARLES PRESCOTT is was not some owl attack but something unnatural. Charles asks Harold to investigate and keep it quiet as he has heard of similar attacks in other nearby towns. Jakes uncle and aunt talk about the monster that attacked and how it has "come back". Arnold reasons that Dr. Godden and the sanctuary will be able to deal with the monster once and for all. The next day, Jake arrives at the sanctuary. First meeting the intaker MARY O’MALLEY. She advises him that he has shown up a little late and guides him around the majestic sanctuary. Jake leaves his things in the boy's dormitory and then gets his school uniform before joining his first class. He quickly gets speaking to another boy, ARTHUR GREENE, whose parents have sent him to the school, and quickly become friends. Their next class is P.E with MR. JAMES DAWSON where the teacher explains that some of the students will go on to fight with amazing powers, should they choose to do so. In Mythology class, MS. JUDE gives them a first introduction into what creatures they may fight. By meal time in the dining hall, Jake sits with Arthur and THOMAS GIBBONS and is teased about liking a girl in class, CLARA HUDSON. Arthur lets Jake know that playing the sparring team sport would help with Clara as she loves that. They go onto their next class - Thaumatology with MR. AUGUSTUS TAYLOR. After showing some of his own magic to the students, Mr. Taylor calls on Jake to help him with a demonstration involving Kinesis. As the demonstration is being performed, everyone is frozen in the room except for Jake. An otherworldly voice warns Jake about THE MOUNTAIN. Warning Jake he cannot fight him or run. The voice orders Jake to meet THE SCREAMER in town that night, or else people will die. The voice leaves and the room returns to normal. Jake catches the energy ball in the demonstration and everyone cheers the "hero in the making". Later in the hallway, they run into Clara and have an awkward little conversation before she leaves. Jake tells Arthur about the Screamer and they decide to go out of the grounds, forbidden by the headmaster, to see the Screamer. That night, in the house of George and Mary Peters, the Screamer shows up to take what George owes, their little girl. At the sanctuary, after some poetry from Arthur, teasing Jake about Clara, the boys sneak out. They find the Screamer and follow it and the captured little girl to the forest. Catching up to the hooded creature, the Screamer is interested in the sight of Jake, knowing that he is a Johnson and tells of hos his blood was promised. Before the Screamer can attack, DR. EDWARD GODDEN arrives to battle it and kill the creature. He takes the little girl back to town, assured that the two boys can find their way back to Sanctuary. At the town, George Peters has confessed his part in his daughters murder. Dr. Godden arrives on the scene, delivering the little girl to her mother. Mayor Charles tells Dr. Gooden about George and Dr. Godden reminds Charles of the town's oath not to execute prisoners. Charles reluctantly agrees and declares George Peters will be jailed until a court of law can be assembled. In his office, Charles scoffs at Dr. Godden's warning that the Mountain King may be returning. Dr. Godden leaves the office while Charles reiterates that the town can't keep up their own isolation to hide the sanctuary's existence. Back at the sanctuary, the boys return to their room when Jake realizes that he has a note in his pocket from Clara. The ink smudged, he can only figure out words asking for help. They get some sleep and think about finding about more from Clara tomorrow. In the forest, a man in tribal clothing, SESEMA, leads his people in chanting excitedly over a raging bonfire. The vision of the frightening Mountain King appears above the flames