The air in The Velvet Lounge turned electric as tension pulsed through the crowd, a stark contrast to the vibrant music that had just moments ago filled the space with laughter and carefree abandon. Belle’s heart raced, the pulse of uncertainty thrumming in her ears as she clung to Dante’s arm, her eyes darting toward the door, which rattled ominously under the weight of an unseen threat.

“Dante, what’s happening?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos that erupted around them. The bar's patrons shifted uneasily, their laughter replaced by wary glances and hushed conversations.