Alisa awoke abruptly from a distressing nightmare, the memories of her parents' tragic demise lingering in her mind since the car accident. She and her brother Camron held themselves responsible for the incident, having engaged in a quarrel in the backseat during a rainy return from church. Their trivial argument had momentarily diverted their father's attention from the road, leading to the catastrophic event. The last thing Alisa recalled before regaining consciousness in the hospital was the sound of her mother calling out her father's name in terror. The anguish of hearing the doctor confirm their parents' deaths overwhelmed her, while Camron suffered severe injuries, including a broken leg, fractured pelvis, and a punctured stomach, though he was expected to recover. Alisa herself had sustained a broken arm along with various cuts and bruises. Following the accident, Alisa and Camron moved in with their aunt Katie and uncle Matt. Now, at 23, Alisa finds herself distanced from her brother, who is 26 and has started his own family. Although they maintain occasional contact, their bond has weakened since the tragedy. A sudden clap of thunder jolted Alisa back to the present, and she noticed her two dogs, Red, an Irish Setter, and Sam, a Duck Tolling Retriever, gazing at her with concern and emitting soft whimpers at the foot of her bed. Her Tabby cat, Bing, entered the room, drawn by the commotion. Red, Sam, and Bing remained her steadfast companions, as most of her friends had distanced themselves after she withdrew from social interactions, and her boyfriend Kyle left due to his inability to cope with her grief. The only friends who remained loyal were Ronnie, Kayla, and Rayna.
 Alisa made the decision to take Red and Sam for a stroll. Although it was approximately 3 a.m., she was aware that sleep would elude her. As she put her jacket on, Red and Sam recognized that a walk was imminent. After attaching their leashes to their collars, Alisa noticed Bing gazing expectantly at his own leash, and she could not refuse him the opportunity to join them. Bing was the only feline Alisa knew who enjoyed walking in the rain. As they proceeded along the sidewalk, Red and Sam eagerly sniffed their surroundings while Bing attempted to catch the raindrops. Alisa found herself absorbed in her thoughts and was startled when a man emerged from the side of a house. The sudden change in her demeanor did not go unnoticed by Red, Sam, and Bing, whose instincts kicked in as they sensed the man's presence. He walked past Alisa in silence, merely observing her, and when he paused, Red and Sam began to growl while Bing hissed. The man continued on his way, and once he was out of sight, Alisa gently pulled on the leashes, leading Red, Sam, and Bing back home, with Red and Sam glancing back intermittently. Upon entering the house, Alisa secured the door and engaged the chain lock. The image of the man's face lingered in her mind, prompting her to prepare a warm mug of hot chocolate, which aided her in returning to sleep. Unbeknownst to Alisa, this encounter would usher in a series of peculiar events in and around her home and throughout her daily life.