The first rays of morning filtered gently through the thick glass window, filling the room with a soft, golden light. The team stirred awake, rubbing their eyes and stretching, the quiet hum of dawn settling around them. Unlike the night before, there was no tension now — just the comfort of being together after a long, restless night.
Grandma moved quietly between the beds, carrying steaming trays filled with a variety of breakfast dishes — fluffy rice balls, freshly brewed tea, crispy toast, and a special Indian curry just for Ethan. The smell alone was enough to pull smiles from even the groggiest faces.
"Good morning, my brave little ghosts," Grandma said cheerfully, setting the trays down on the long table. "I hope you're all hungry."
Ethan's eyes lit up when he saw the Indian curry. "You remembered! Thank you, Grandma."
"Of course," she replied with a knowing smile. "I know what you like."
The team gathered around the table, laughing and chatting as they dug into the breakfast. Liam teased Kaito about his snoring, Aiko playfully flicked a bit of sauce at Ethan, and Echo made ridiculous "tractor engine" noises, causing a burst of laughter.
For a while, everything felt normal — warm and safe, a brief escape from the looming mystery surrounding the abandoned house.
Then, amid the clatter and chatter, Ethan's voice cut through gently but clearly.
"Last night, I noticed something," he said, his gaze drifting to the row of dreamcatchers hanging near their beds. "Someone's dreamcatcher was broken."
The table fell quiet. All eyes turned toward Ethan, then to the broken strings and beads hanging limply.
Yui shifted uncomfortably in her seat. After a moment, she looked down and whispered, "It was mine."
Grandma's expression grew serious as she carefully lifted the broken dreamcatcher from its spot.
"This is not something to take lightly," she said, her voice low. "If the dreamcatcher breaks, it means the curse has reached that person's dreams. The nightmare has begun to work on them."
She glanced toward Liam, who raised an eyebrow, confused.
"You asked why we must prepare so carefully," Grandma said, looking directly at him. "Without preparation, the curse's nightmares could trap someone like you for a lifetime — or worse, cause them to disappear, lost in the darkness."
The group swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling heavily in the room.
"But that's why we made the dreamcatchers," Grandma continued, her voice softening. "They catch the nightmares before they can take hold. They're a shield, a promise that we will not fall without a fight."
Yui looked up, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "I didn't know it broke… I felt so scared last night. The walls of the house… they moved. I couldn't scream, couldn't move."
Ethan reached over, gently squeezing her hand. "We'll protect you," he promised. "We're all in this together."
Aiko smiled, trying to lift the mood. "Well, at least now we know we're not just imagining things."
Liam laughed nervously. "Yeah, and if the nightmare catches me, someone better be ready with a baseball bat."
The tension broke as everyone laughed, the joke easing the unease for a moment.
Grandma smiled warmly. "Remember, if you ever feel scared or something strange happens, tell me immediately. We have to watch out for each other."
Ethan looked around at the team — the friends he'd grown close to over these few days — and felt a surge of determination.
"We've got this," he said firmly. "No matter what the curse throws at us."
Outside, the wind whispered softly through the trees, carrying secrets from the abandoned house. Inside, the team prepared to face whatever came next, united and stronger than ever.