The clock struck midnight as rain tapped relentlessly on the foggy window, casting eerie shadows across the dimly lit room. Detective Sam Harper entered the room, his sharp gaze catching the glint of a knife under the flickering light. A body lay lifeless on the floor, a crimson pool slowly spreading, soaking into the ornate Persian rug. The air was heavy with the metallic scent of blood, clashing with the faint smell of cheap whiskey. An aged grandfather clock ticked steadily in the corner, serving as a ghostly reminder of lost time. Sam crouched down, examining the victim's twisted expression, eyes frozen in a gaze of eternal horror. Outside, police sirens wailed in the distance, echoing through the dreary, rain-soaked streets of the desolate town.