The morning sun slipped through a gap in the curtains, its golden rays streaming across the room and gently coaxing me awake. As I blinked my eyes open, the events of the night before came rushing back—an unsettling dream, the touch of the old woman, and the presence of Ace and Alex by my side. I sat up, the sense of unease from the dream still lingering like a ghostly whisper.

Despite the sunlight spilling into the room, the chill of the dream clung to me, and I found myself unable to shake off the feeling of dread. I glanced at the clock, realizing that I had barely managed a...