n's laughter echoing through the streets as they played in the fields. It was a town that knew nothing of monsters or shadows, a place where life moved at a gentle pace, free from the horro

ace him, her expression was unreadable, but Luke could see the fatigue in her eyes. She had been through so much already, and the weight of their world seemed to be bearing down on her more each day. "Mary," Luke said, his voice quiet but firm. She glanced at him, her eyes flickering with something he couldn't quite place, something between annoyance and concern. "I didn't think you'd be here," she said, her tone cool. "What do you want?" Luke tried to ignore the harshness in her voice. "I came to talk," he replied. "About the town. About the plans." Mary didn't answer immediately, instead turning her attention to Andrew, who had been silently observing them both. His presence grated on Luke, a reminder of everything he couldn't have. "We've already discussed the plans," Andrew spoke up, his voice smooth and confident. "There's nothing new to say." Luke's jaw tightened. "That's where you're wrong. The town's getting more nervous by the day. We need a real strategy. We can't just keep hiding in fear." Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't respond. Mary, on the other hand, crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze sharp. "I'm not hiding, Luke," she said, her voice tinged with irritation. "And neither are the Shadows. We're doing what we can to prepare for the worst. The people in this town aren't warriors, they're farmers and craftsmen. They've never had to face something like this before." "And that's why they need us," Luke countered, his voice growing more urgent. "They need us to lead them, to show them how to fight back." "We're already doing that," Mary snapped, her eyes flashing. "But not everyone is capable of fighting, Luke. And not