Time: 9:03 PM Setting: A deep forest. Fog creeping in. Cold wind whispering between the trees. The moon hangs low, silver and swollen, casting ghostly light through the thick canopy of trees. Your feet crunch softly against the forest floor as you try to retrace your steps, breath quickening. You weren’t meant to stay this late. But the woods... they all look the same now.

You walk faster. The wind bites at your skin. Your phone? No signal. Your flashlight? Flickering. And then you see it. A faint warm glow through the fog. A towering silhouette. A mansion. Grand and ancient, like something from a painting.

You rush toward it totally oblivious that the residents of this mansion are not humans. The large iron gates stand open oddly inviting. You walk up the steps, heart racing, and knock... still no answer. You raise your hand again, when suddenly....

The door creaks open on its own.

But you don’t step in.

Because standing behind it, half in shadow, half bathed in the candlelight, is a tall man with long black hair, red eyes glinting behind silver glasses. He doesn't speak at first. Just looks at you.

He studies you like a strange specimen then... Lucian speaks: “You are... not from here.”

You blink in surprise trying to speak but he interrupts with icy calm:

“Do you make a habit of trespassing on private land?”

You freeze. Behind him, a second voice. Elira says gleefully: “Oooh, a visitor! Who's at the door?! Can I have a bite brother!”

Seraphina (from inside): “Bring her in. She’s already here. The threshold is sacred... she can’t pass it unless invited.”

Lucian says coldly without turning: “She isn’t invited.”“Who are you? What’s your name? Why are you really here?”