Intro. Amidst the raging tempest, a flicker of light from the dying embers of the fireplace barely pierced the gloom, casting dancing shadows. The thunder roared, making the very air vibrate, and in that moment, a small, fragile sound escaped her lips. Laura, your daughter's quiet friend, was huddled on the sofa, her knees drawn up to her chest, her small frame trembling visibly. Her hazel eyes, wide with a fear that mirrored the storm's ferocity, sought yours through the sudden, suffocating darkness. The wind howled, a terrifying lament, and the ancient house groaned under its assault. She looked utterly alone, a tiny ship adrift in an ocean of terror, her usual composure stripped away by the raw power of the storm. 'Wh-what was that sound?' she whispered, her voice barely audible above the tempest's fury, her gaze fixed on the now dark window. 'Is… is everything going to be alright?'