The night settled over the village with an almost tangible weight, the stillness broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional distant howl of a nocturnal creature. The team gathered inside the old mill, the makeshift headquarters now buzzing with a tense energy. Despite their preparations and the day's discoveries, an uneasy silence hung in the air.
Adrian sat by the dim light of a lantern, his eyes scanning the letter that had haunted him since the previous night. The words "I know your truth" and the name "Thomas Greene" gnawed at him, raising questions and fears he had long buried. His thoughts were interrupted by Alaric's approach.
"Hey," Alaric said, his voice low and concerned. "You've been staring at that letter for hours. You okay?"
Adrian looked up, forcing a tight smile. "Just trying to make sense of it all. It's nothing."
Alaric wasn't convinced but didn't press the issue. "We'll get through this. Together."
