CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE - SHADOWS UNVEILED

Anna moved swiftly through the mansion, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She raided drawers and cupboards, collecting every candle and battery-powered light source she could find. Her arms full, she made her way back to the main living area, where she began setting up makeshift lighting stations. Freya returned shortly after, her face etched with frustration. "The generator's frozen solid. We're on our own until this storm passes." Anna's mind raced, recalling survival tips she'd learned over the years. "We should focus on one main area," she suggested. "It'll be easier to heat and conserve resources that way." Freya nodded, a glimmer of approval in her eyes. "Good thinking. The great hall should suffice. It has the fireplace, and we can move some mattresses in for sleeping." Together, they began the arduous task of preparing the great hall. Anna arranged the candles strategically, creating pools of warm light throughout the room. Freya, meanwhile, stoked the fire, building it u