Samantha set her coffee mug down on the garden table, breathing in the crisp morning air. Across the lawn, her beloved cat Juniper frolicked among the daisies, leaping playfully after butterflies. Smiling, Samantha took a slow sip of her coffee, savoring the peace of the sunlit morning.
The day was perfect—bright sun, a soft breeze, birds singing from the trees. Samantha picked up her phone, scrolling lazily through her messages, when a sharp, jarring screech shattered the calm. She looked up quickly, heart stuttering, and spotted a massive eagle circling high overhead.
The piercing cry stirred the neighborhood. Doors opened, neighbors spilled onto their porches, craning their necks toward the sky. Samantha stood frozen, a knot of unease tightening in her chest. She didn’t know it yet, but that golden morning was about to descend into a nightmare she would never forget.