Amidst the tense atmosphere, a door slowly swings open, its hinges creaking. A heavy silence permeates the room, wrapping itself around every man, rendering any sound incapable of piercing their ears. As the door opens, light from the hallway spills into the unlit bedroom, momentarily dispelling the ink-black darkness that has shrouded every corner.

     Shadows blend into the pitch-black void, with the only light source being from the opened doorway and the soft moonlight filtering through the large window. The dim candlelight from the corridor and the glimmering starlights shine inside the room. Nevertheless, the space persists, cloaked in obscurity and darkness.

     Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany step inside. Then, they look back and wait for Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, George, and Jean to join them in the dim bedroom, their gazes resting on one another. Once everyone has entered, a collective silence settles, their mouths hesitating to utter a single word.

"...Aunt Sophia?" Victoria's voice broke the silence, her glance bashfully directed towards Sophia.

"Yes, dear?" Sophia responded.

Victoria hesitated for a moment before asking, "...What's going on downstairs?"

Sophia smiled. "There's nothing to worry about, kids," she assured them. "But I want you all to be alert and attentive, alright?"

The children nodded.

"Why?" Elizabeth tilted her head.

"It's because it's important to be aware of your surroundings, my dear," Sophia explained.

"Oh, okay..." Elizabeth sighed.

"Now, it's time to get into your beds, children," Sophia spoke softly, her voice carrying a faint timidity. "Make yourselves as comfortable as you want."

     Victoria and Elizabeth went to their canopy bed, carefully climbing onto it. Albert and George positioned themselves on the shared mattress between the other beds, finding comfort in their chosen spot. Meanwhile, Jean walked towards the bed near the window, claiming it as his own. Each child reached for their warm, cosy white blankets, wrapping themselves in a comforting warmth as their heads settled on their soft pillows.

     Edgar approached Victoria and Elizabeth and tucked them in even more snugly. Across the room, Bethany followed suit, attending to Albert and George with the same loving care. Sophia stood by Jean's bed, her hand gently brushing against Jean's head, offering a tender gesture.

     Sarrah made her way towards the large window, her gaze tilting upwards to behold the bright, radiant full moon, resembling a luminous white orb in the night sky. The moonlight cast a gentle glow, reflecting in Sarrah's eyes as she let out a soft sigh. Slowly, her gaze shifted towards the streets below, hoping to catch a quick, fleeting glimpse of the outside world. However, the view remained veiled in an impenetrable cloak of darkness, leaving nothing but an abyss of jet black.

     Unable to discern the road amidst the oppressive darkness, Sarrah narrows her eyes and scans the surroundings, sweeping her gaze from left to right. She waits for a few seconds, hoping her vision will adjust, but the shadows cast by the neighbouring mansions overpower her sight. Sarrah reaches out and grasps the curtains on both sides. Untying the knot, she unravels the fabric, draping it over the window to block any view of the outside world.

     Meanwhile, outside, blending seamlessly into the dark and desolate street, Cal stands motionless. With his eyes locked on the mansion, he watches Sarrah as she unfurls the curtains upstairs. A steely glare forms on his face with his lips tightly pressed together.

"So, is everyone feeling warm and comfortable?" Sophia asked the children, joining her palms.

"I am!" Albert said.

"Me, too!" George grinned.

Edgar's smile widened as he directed his attention towards Victoria and Elizabeth. "And how about you, girls? Are you feeling cosy?"

"Erm... me... I... uhm, I'm not sure," Victoria hesitated, her brows furrowing.

"Ow, why?" Edgar asked.

Victoria's grip tightened on the blanket. "Well... tsk, forget about it," she replied, dismissively avoiding further conversation.

"No, be honest. Why?" Edgar's concern deepened, crossing his arms as he formed a slight pout.

"Eh... we only want to know what's going on downstairs," Elizabeth said.

Sophia maintained her calm demeanour, assuring the children once again. "It's alright, girls. I've already told you that there's nothing to worry about."

"But we can't sleep if we don't know what's truly happening around us," Elizabeth let out a frustrated groan. "How can we even be alert if we don't know what we must be alert for?"

Sarrah interjected, seeking clarity. "So, you just want to know what happened earlier downstairs?" she asked.

"Yeah," Elizabeth nodded politely.

Sarrah glanced at Sophia, Edgar and Bethany. "...We were just talking about army-related matters. It's something we often discuss," Sarrah said.

"Oh!" Elizabeth's face brightened as her doubts cleared away. "So, it's like a meeting?"

Sarrah nodded. "Exactly."

"Hm." A contented smile curved Elizabeth's lips. "I guess I can sleep peacefully now!"

Victoria, reassured by the explanation, joined in. "Me, too," she murmured, resting her head lightly on the pillow.

Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany stepped out of the bedroom, crossing the threshold into the hallway.

"Alright, goodnight, kids!" Sophia bid her farewell, standing at the doorway.

"Goodnight!"

"Bye-bye."

Bethany added. "Remember to stay alert, alright?"

"Okay."

"Oh! And, uh, if you feel something's off, call us immediately," Edgar said, attempting a smile as he raised his thumbs.

"Ed, stop scaring the children..." Sarrah growled, glaring at Edgar.

"I'm just trying to protect them," Edgar retorted, looking at Sarrah with a scowl.

Sarrah sighed, opting not to engage in further argument.

"Hm... well, anyways, sweet dreams!" Sophia intervened, quickly taking charge of the situation. She reached for the doorknob, gently closing the door behind them.

     The bedroom undergoes a transformative shift, plunging into a profound and otherworldly silence that transcends beyond the earthly realm. Not a single glimmer of light nor a faint murmur of sound permeates the air. The corners lie concealed within an impenetrable darkness, while the encompassing stillness blankets every surface.

     The silence becomes a tangible entity, its presence so potent that it weighs upon the air, stifling even the faintest breaths. The bedroom seems disconnected from the fabric of reality, suspended in complete isolation. It is as if the world has stopped, swallowed whole by the consuming darkness.

"I don't want to sleep yet," Elizabeth uttered under the blanket.