Stephanie's POV:
The silence in the room was shattered by the sound of the door creaking open, but it quickly returned, heavier than before. My heart pounded in my chest as I felt the weight of several pairs of eyes on me.
Then, from the shadows emerged a woman draped in a flowing black gown. The fabric seemed to ripple like liquid darkness, and her face was painted with makeup so stark it emphasized every sharp feature. Her dark eyes locked with mine, and I felt an icy shiver crawl up my spine, settling in my chest like a weight.
There was something sinister about her—something unnatural. It wasn’t just her appearance; her presence felt suffocating, like a storm cloud had descended into the room. The energy she exuded clung to my skin, cold and oppressive.
“Arise,” she commanded,
