As autumn descended upon the landscape, the leaves transformed, igniting the trees surrounding the old house with vivid splashes of crimson and amber. The crisp air carried the inviting scent of wood smoke mingled with the earthy aroma of fallen leaves, signaling that change was upon them. They had found solace in a tranquil routine, but the sudden rumble of a car engine shattering the stillness felt jarring, even intrusive.

Elias was the first to spot the approaching vehicle. He came to an ...