As Vera and Zach returned home, the weight of their quest settled heavily on their shoulders. They had traveled from country to country, seeking out allies and gathering strength for the battles to come. But nothing could have prepared them for the chilling message that awaited them.
The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm golden light through the windows of their home. The familiar scent of their sanctuary—a mix of wildflowers and woodsmoke—filled the air, wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. But the moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. An eerie tension hung in the air, thick and palpable.
“Did you feel that?” Vera asked, her senses tingling as she stepped into the living room.
“Yeah,” Zach replied, furrowing his brow. “Something’s off.”
As they walke
