Elijah seemed serious about his plan. A few days later, he took me to Oak Valley, a small town between Pinecrest and Alderwood.

I couldn't understand why he insisted that I come with him. Although this matter had nothing to do with me, I refrained from protesting or questioning his motives.

We arrived in Oak Valley, a quiet, peaceful town. Surprisingly, most of the stores were closed for lunch, so the streets seemed almost deserted. Unlike Alderwood, where noon was the busiest time in town, this place felt quiet yet eerily still.

We soon reached a large estate in the center of town. From the outside, it was clear that...