1. The Game Is Afoot ●

"Do you hear it, Thorne?" Vane whispered, his eyes darting to the window.

: Uses the classic "foggy London" trope to create immediate tension and unease. 1. The Game Is Afoot

"Only the rain, Julian," Thorne replied, not looking up from his medical journal. "Do you hear it, Thorne

: A cryptic delivery (the bloodied chess piece) that demands immediate action. "Do you hear it