She ran as fast as she could, her breath ragged and chest heaving, trying to escape the shadows that seemed to reach out with hungry fingers. Desperately, she lunged toward the thin beam of light at the end of the abyss, only to feel a grotesque arm of black, rotting flesh clamp down on her ankle, yanking her into the darkness. As hundreds of shadows pounced, ready to devour her, she caught glimpses of familiar yet unrecognizable faces. Her vision faded, and she was swallowed whole by the encroaching blackness.

With a start, Ophelia jolted awake, her eyes snapping open as she sat up in bed. The light, transparent curtains of her canopy bed rustled softly, brushing against her cheeks. Her fists clenched tightly near her chest as she tried to steady her racing heart. The nightmare's lingering dread sent chills down her spine, exacerbated by the storm raging outside.

Ophelia turned to the large Palladian window, watching as sheets of rain pounded against the glass, obscuring the courtyard beyond. Thunder rumbled ominously, and lightning flashed, illuminating the turbulent sky. She rose from her bed and moved closer to the window, peering into the stormy chaos. "What an ominous way to greet the dawn," she murmured to herself. Gazing at the dark, cloud-laden horizon, she couldn't help but wonder what new torrents of fate awaited her.