A cold, moonlit night descended upon the quiet town. The old mansion loomed ominously on the hilltop. Its silhouette cast an eerie shadow over the landscape. In one room, a lone figure sat by the fire. His eyes darted nervously around the dimly lit space. A clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, echoing through the silence. He clutched a glass of amber liquid tightly in his hand. Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the tranquility. He sprang up, heart pounding in his chest. As he turned, he saw a dark figure standing in the doorway. The stranger held a gleaming object in his gloved hand. Before he could react, the man lunged forward, the object flashing in the firelight. Then, everything went dark.