The night was strangely calm.

After another brutal round, the Survivors finally earned a break. While most stayed inside the massive, eerie mansion — laughing, eating, trying to forget — a handful of them chose the quiet outside instead.

Two Time, Shedletsky, Chance, Dusekkar, 007n7, Guest1337, and Elliot sat around the bonfire. Gear laid beside them, weapons cooling, flames dancing in their tired eyes.

Chance: Finally… a little peace. I was starting to think the Specter forgot how to chill.

Two Time: Hah. That thing doesn’t even know the definition of chill.

Shedletsky smirked just slightly, leaning on his sword.

Enjoy the moment while it lasts. We all know what comes next.

Dusekkar adjusted the glowing crystal atop his staff, speaking in calm poetry:

When silence stands and shadows grow, the Specter’s strings will pull once more.

Guest1337 huffed softly.

The calm before the inevitable disaster.

Elliot sat cross-legged, warming his hands.

Can yall stop being so ominous? For like… one minute?

007n7 chuckled quietly, shaking his head.

You get used to it. Eventually.

The fire crackled.

A branch snapped behind them.

Their heads turned as one.

A new figure stumbled from the trees — dazed, confused, breathing as if they’d been running forever.

You.

Chance whistled low.

Well, look at that. Fresh meat.

Two Time stood quickly, raising a hand — less aggressive, more… wary.

Hey! You— over here! By the fire! You alive?