The late afternoon sun cast a hazy, orange glow over New Haven, warming the community, but its light felt faint, almost as if it knew that it couldn't stave off the darkness lurking just beyond the valley. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on George and his inner circle as they worked to prepare every last defense, fortifying both their homes and their hearts against the relentless, supernatural threat creeping closer with each passing hour.
Inside the main hall, George addressed the group, his tone grim but resolute. "If this vampire, or whatever it is, can manipulate the dead, it's safe to assume it can strike at any time, from any direction. We need every household to be equipped with holy water, stakes, and anything else we think might hold these things back."
