"But you're dead!" Nicholas exclaimed, his voice laced with shock and incredulity, pointing at the man who had been the sole speaker since their arrival. "We buried you long ago! To what do I owe this unholy visit?" he demanded confidently.

The man's enigmatic smile never wavered. "It's time," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "I was dead, but my mission remained incomplete. Can you request these individuals to excuse us, so we may discuss matters of utmost importance?"

Nicholas's gaze flicked to me, hesitation written across his face. But I didn't wait for his instruction. With a sense of foreboding, I swiftly excused myself and rushed to the...