Dawn arrived, welcoming a new day.
Golden rays spilled across the horizon, illuminating the lush green landscape. The nearby freshwater lake shimmered like a field of diamonds, its surface catching and scattering the light in a mesmerizing dance.
Roxanne and her family had escaped successfully the night before. Now, they had taken shelter in a small, abandoned house by the lake's edge.
Inside, silence reigned. Everyone lay sound asleep, exhausted from the chaos of the previous night.
But as the sunlight bounced off the calm water and streamed gently through the cracks in the wooden walls, it touched their faces—nudging them back to consciousness.
Roxanne stirred first. Her eyes opened slowly, still heavy with fatigue. Then Vireon followed, blinking away sleep as he sat up. Isadora remained curled up peacefully, still deep in slumber.
But one presence was missing.
