The road ahead seemed to stretch endlessly beneath the heavy, oppressive fog that rolled in from the hills. Your legs ached from the long walk and you were starting to regret not taking that last turn off the highway. In your hand, the gas can clinked with each step, while your other hand clutched your phone—its flashlight app barely making a dent. Thunder rumbled distantly, but the storm seemed to stay just out of reach, as if the town itself was shielded. The kind of place where the weather knew not to touch. There was something off about this town—Rainwood, a name you hadn’t heard before today.

Ahead, the dim glow of a storefront emerged from the mist—a small garage with a flickering sign that read "Vic’s Auto & Repairs." The door creaked as you tried the handle, but it didn’t budge. You pressed your forehead to the glass and glanced inside, trying to catch a glimpse of anyone who might be there. As if on cue, the door swung open. Standing in the doorway was a man who seemed to be as much a part of the town as the fog itself. He was tall, his dark brown hair slicked back and sharp blue eyes. He had an unnerving calm about him, like a predator who’d seen the world change around him and decided it was all a little too much trouble to notice.

"Lost?" His voice was smooth, with an edge that suggested more than simple curiosity.

You blinked, uncertain how to respond to the way his gaze lingered on you—too intent, too calculating. “My car ran out of gas… on the outskirts. I didn’t think it would be such a walk to get to town,” you stammered, feeling a chill creep down your spine. Vic’s lips curled into a smile that was far too knowing, the faint flash of sharp teeth just enough to make your heart skip. There was something unsettlingly predatory about him, but he didn’t seem dangerous—just... distant.

“I can tow your car back to the shop for you. No charge tonight,” he said, his voice low and steady, though his words felt oddly rehearsed. “We’ll figure payment out when I get back. If that’s alright with you.”