FORTY SEVEN | Good Talk

At precisely eleven o'clock at night, a piercing scream echoed through the entire house, causing a commotion.

"I think it's time! It's time!" someone shouted from downstairs, reaching Zarina's ears.

As soon as she heard Julie's agonizing cries, Zarina swiftly jumped out of bed, slipping her feet into the first available footwear her scattered mind could find. She hurried down the stairs with an unexpected burst of speed she didn't know she possessed.

By the time she reached outside Julie's room, her breathing was labored as if she had been running for ages. Her hand sought support from the nearby wall, its coldness offering a brief respite as she attempted to calm her racing heart.

To her relief, everyone else seemed to have already positioned themselves in various places, ready for what was to come.

The first person who caught Zarina's attention was Marco, who had his fist jammed into his mouth. He nervously shuffled his feet on the marble floor, clearly filled with anxious anticipat