Dua was walking home from the grocery store, her arms weighed down with bags, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. It was an ordinary day—work had been slow, dinner plans were set, and she was already thinking about curling up with a book later. But just as she turned onto her street, a girl sprinted past her, barefoot and wide-eyed, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Dua froze, her heart skipping a beat. The girl’s face was streaked with sweat and panic, her clothes disheveled as if she had been running for a long time. For a moment, their eyes met, and Dua felt a chill crawl down her spine. Something was wrong.