Sarah woke to a town that seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. The silence, the oppressive quiet that had loomed over Pasir Gudang for days, had lifted. The jasmine scent no longer hung thick in the air. For all outward appearances, the town had returned to normal. But Sarah knew better. The battle at Kilang Senyap had been far from a clean victory.

Her phone buzzed on the table next to her, the screen lighting up with an unknown number. She hesitated before answering.

"Sarah," the voice on the other end was shaky, almost whispering. It was Aisha’s mother. “Aisha... Aisha’s not herself. Something’s wrong with her again. Please, you have to come.”

Sarah’s stomach dropped. She remembered the last time she saw Aisha—locked in a trance-like state, her body still but her eyes wide open. The Penunggu had left Aisha once before, but Sarah had feared that its touch had scarred her forever.