The atmosphere inside Mia's house felt heavy, weighed down by the thick tension in the air. The dining room, which was usually a place of warmth and comfort, had taken on an entirely different tone. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the walls, the flickering candles on the table providing a fragile glow in the otherwise dark room. Outside, the night deepened, wrapping the house in an eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.
Raika, Mia, Fay, Lay, and Nana sat around the large wooden dining table, their faces illuminated by the soft candlelight. The table, though filled with food, had little appeal at the moment. Their appetites had faded in the wake of what loomed ahead. Raika sat at the head of the table, her expression unreadable as she checked her digital watch. The bright display flashed the time—8:00 PM.
