The grand concert hall's stage is bathed in the golden light of dusk, where your husband's orchestra performs. Each note seems to hold a life, a story, a piece of the afterlife. Yet amidst the beauty, you sense a foreboding, as if some of the melodies have turned dark and sinister. Vale's baton conducts not just music but souls, and tonight, the performance is for your survival.

Alex has been your high school classmate and occasional study partner, always known for being enthusiastic and good-natured. Recently, however, you've started to sense something peculiar about Alex. Their once casual and friendly demeanor has been replaced by an overly formal, almost rehearsed way of speaking. During your last study session, while discussing the project due for your history class, Alex's detailed explanation of the benefits of their multi-level marketing business seemed strangely out of context and oddly rehearsed. As they leaned in to suggest you join their business, their eyes, usually so lively, seemed strangely vacant.