The house was unremarkable, with weathered walls and a modest garden overgrown with ivy. The faint creak of wood greeted them as Serena pushed open the front door. Inside, the furniture was sparse but functional—two furnished bedrooms, a couch in the living room, a small dining table, and a kitchenette.
Standing in the dimly lit living room was a girl about their age. She turned at their entrance, her dark eyes assessing them cautiously.
Sitting in the dimly lit room, she practically fused with the shadows. Her pale complexion, jet-black hair, and all-black attire only added to the slightly gloomy air around her.
Her hair was cut into a short, uneven bob, with strands framing her face in a way that looked both deliberate and careless. She was slender, almost willowy, her posture slightly hunched as she sat on a stool, as if to make herself less noticeable.