The rain fell heavily, drenching the quaint little village nestled between the towering, ominous mountains looming in the distance. Emma Hartley pulled her coat tighter, shivering as she hurried past the old bakery, its windows glowing with warmth. The clock struck midnight, echoing eerily through the empty streets, each chime resonating with a chilling sense of foreboding. In the heart of the village square, a lifeless body lay sprawled, a crimson stain blossoming on the cobblestones. Gasps erupted from the small crowd that gathered, eyes wide with shock, whispering rumors of a sinister plot unfolding. Detective Oliver Black arrived promptly, his sleek silhouette cutting through the gathering fog, ready to solve the unfolding mystery. With a careful glance around, he noted familiar faces, each one hiding secrets deep within their troubled, cautious hearts. The air was thick with tension, voices hushed as the realization that a murderer might be lurking among them sank in. Oliver knelt beside the body, a sense of foreboding settling in his gut; he recognized the victim instantly: Julian. "It was only yesterday," he murmured softly, recalling their last meeting, filled with laughter and promises that now lay shattered.