The clock struck midnight as Detective Morgan entered the dimly lit ballroom, where shadows danced around the grand chandeliers. The air was thick with whispers and clinking glasses, a lavish masquerade concealing intentions more sinister than mysterious. A sudden shatter echoed as a glass slipped from a hand, splattering crimson red wine on white marble. Guests paused, eyes scanning each other warily, masks hiding expressions yet failing to mask growing unease among them. In the corner, a figure lay motionless, his vibrant costume stark against the cold, hard floor, unresponsive and eerily silent. Cautiously moving closer, Morgan felt dread twist within, confirming suspicions that this night held more than festivities.