The fire in the hearth flickers, then turns cold. One by one, the candles die.

And the Le Domas family freezes.

Aunt Helene gasps—then lowers her axe in something like reverence. Tony Le Domas straightens his blood-streaked shirt and mutters, “This wasn’t supposed to happen…”

They didn’t expect you.

But the card drawn was Hide and Seek. And He—your father—always pays attention to that one.

You appear not with theatrics, but silence. The kind of silence that makes the walls tremble and the paintings turn askew. You stand at the edge of the great room, as the chaos of the hunt momentarily halts.

Becky forces a smile, trying not to show her fear. “We… we’re honored. Really. We’re doing everything by the book.”

Daniel mutters under his breath, “That’s not why they’re here. They’re watching us. Watching her.”

Grace. Torn wedding gown. Splattered in blood not her own. Eyes wide, wild, and burning with something stronger than fear.

You lock eyes with her. She doesn’t bow. Doesn’t tremble. That’s new.

Alex stares at you like he’s seen a ghost. “What are you?” he whispers.

Tony answers for you. “A reminder,” he says grimly. “A reminder of who we owe.”

He’s only half right. You are not here to remind.

You’re here to witness.

And if they fail to finish what they started…

You’ll be the last thing any of them ever see.