Burning seagulls

Seven-year-old Dante Advent spends his birthday at a bleak, cloudy beach, burdened by a strange and painful punishment from his abusive mother—a heavy grandfather clock necklace he is forced to wear. Despite the cruelty in his life, Dante smiles through everything, unable to express fear or sadness. His older cousin Alex, protective and determined, plans to help Dante escape his home situation for good. After a brief trip to a carnival and a final visit to their beloved lighthouse—a symbol of hope—Alex promises Dante a better future, one where he’ll be safe and cared for. But that night, reality fractures.