The laughter and cheer that had filled the air only an hour earlier began to fade, replaced by uneasy glances and murmured questions. The shadows deepened, wrapping around the festival stalls and flickering lanterns, as if they were alive and shifting with a purpose. George felt the tension mounting, his senses heightened as he scanned the square. He could feel something building, an unseen presence hovering just out of reach, waiting.
Akari, beside him, seemed tense as well, her hand drifting to the talisman she wore around her neck. "George, this doesn't feel like a normal night. I can feel something… dark." Her voice was low, almost a whisper, as if she feared being overheard by whatever lurked in the shadows.
