The rising sun bathed the room in a warm, golden light. For a moment, everything felt almost normal again. The quiet hum of the morning was a stark contrast to the chaos they had endured the night before. Yet, there was no denying the tension that still lingered, a weight that pressed down on them all.
Davin stretched his aching limbs, feeling the soreness in every muscle. He hadn’t slept much, despite Mira taking over the watch. The looming sense of dread kept his mind too active, too alert. He glanced over at the others, who were slowly starting to wake.
Marcus was the first to stir, sitting up with a groan. "I feel like I got hit by a truck," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
"You're not the only one," Lisa said, already awake and staring at the ceiling. "I didn’t think we’d make it through the night."
"We did," Davin replied, walking over to the small group that had gathered. "But we can’t get too comfortable. The shadows might’ve retreated, but I don’t think they’re gone for good."
"Always the optimist," Marcus said with a dry smile. "But you’re right. So, what’s the plan now?"
Davin hesitated. They had survived the immediate threat, but they were no closer to understanding why the shadows had attacked them in the first place. "We need more information. We can’t keep fighting blind like this."
Mira, who had joined the group after her watch, nodded in agreement. "We need to find out why they’re targeting us and how to stop them. This… it can’t be random."
Celia, who had been silent up until now, looked up from her spot on the couch. "Do you think someone is sending them? Like, they’re being controlled?"
"Maybe," Davin said, considering the possibility. "Or maybe they’re attracted to something here. Either way, we need answers."
"We should check the town," Lisa suggested. "See if anyone else noticed anything weird last night."
"I doubt it," Marcus replied. "Most people probably slept through it. Remember, they didn’t even see the shadows the first time they attacked us."
"Still, it's worth a shot," Davin said. "We can’t rule anything out at this point."
Mira stood up, her face set with determination. "Then let’s head out. The sooner we get answers, the better."
The group slowly gathered their belongings, preparing for what felt like a long day ahead. Despite the daylight streaming through the windows, there was still an underlying tension that none of them could shake.
As they made their way to the door, Lisa hesitated, glancing back at the house. "What if they come back while we’re gone?"
Davin placed a hand on her shoulder. "We’ll be quick. Besides, we can’t just stay holed up here forever."
Lisa nodded, though her expression remained uncertain. She stepped outside, following the others as they made their way down the quiet streets.
The town felt oddly peaceful in the morning light. People were going about their day as if nothing had happened, completely unaware of the horrors that had unfolded just hours before.
"How can they act like everything’s normal?" Celia whispered, her eyes scanning the streets.
"They don’t know what we know," Mira replied, keeping her voice low. "And maybe that’s for the best."
As they walked, Davin couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. His eyes darted to the shadows between the buildings, half-expecting something to emerge at any moment.
"We should split up," he suggested, glancing at the others. "Cover more ground."
"Good idea," Marcus said. "We can meet back here in an hour."
Davin paired up with Mira, while Marcus and Lisa went in another direction. Celia stayed close, her eyes darting nervously as they walked through the town square.
"You think we'll find anything?" Mira asked as they approached a small shop on the edge of town.
"I hope so," Davin replied. "We can’t keep going like this without a clue. If there’s something—or someone—behind these attacks, we need to figure it out."
They stepped inside the shop, greeted by the smell of fresh bread and the warmth of a fire burning in the hearth. The shopkeeper, an elderly man with a kind face, greeted them with a smile.
"Morning," he said cheerfully. "What can I do for you two?"
"Morning," Davin replied, trying to keep his tone casual. "We were wondering if you noticed anything strange last night. Any odd noises, shadows… anything out of the ordinary?"
The man frowned slightly, scratching his head. "Strange? No, can’t say I did. Slept like a baby, I did."
"Are you sure?" Mira pressed. "No strange lights, no sudden chills?"
The man chuckled. "No, miss. I think I would’ve remembered something like that. Sounds like a bad dream."
Davin forced a smile, but inside he felt a pang of frustration. "Right. Thanks for your time."
As they left the shop, Mira sighed. "I had a feeling that would be a dead end."
"Me too," Davin muttered. "But we had to try."
They continued their search, asking around town, but each answer was the same. No one had seen or heard anything unusual.
An hour later, they regrouped with Marcus and Lisa in the town square.
"Any luck?" Marcus asked.
"None," Davin replied, shaking his head. "It’s like no one else even knows the shadows were here."
"Same on our end," Lisa said with a frustrated sigh. "I don’t get it. How can something that huge happen, and no one else notices?"
"It’s like they’re invisible to everyone but us," Celia murmured, her eyes wide with fear.
"Or maybe," Mira said, her voice quiet, "there’s a reason we’re the only ones who can see them."
Davin frowned. "What do you mean?"
Mira glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to overhear. "What if we’re connected to them somehow? What if there’s something about us that draws them in?"
Davin’s mind raced at the thought. It wasn’t impossible. Ever since the shadows had first appeared, they’d only seemed to target their group. But why?
"That’s… a terrifying thought," Marcus said, running a hand through his hair. "But it would explain a lot."
"We need to figure out what it is," Davin said, his voice firm. "And fast. Before they come back."
Just as he spoke, a cold breeze swept through the square, and the shadows in the alleyways seemed to deepen.
The group tensed, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. "Do you feel that?" Lisa whispered.
"Yeah," Davin replied, his heart pounding. "We need to get back to the house. Now."
Without another word, they hurried back through the streets, the feeling of dread growing with each step. By the time they reached the house, the air was thick with tension.
As they stepped inside, Davin closed the door behind them, locking it tightly. "We’re not safe here," he said, his voice grim. "Not anymore."
Mira looked at him, her eyes wide with worry. "What do we do?"
"We figure this out," Davin replied, his jaw set with determination. "And we stop them. Before it's too late."