It was a quiet night in the suburban neighborhood, the kind of stillness that makes even the smallest creak of a floorboard sound like thunder. John and Lisa had long ago perfected the art of sleeping soundly through the chaos of everyday life. Their bedroom, tucked at the back of their house, was a sanctuary of comfort: thick curtains kept out the streetlights, the mattress had just the right amount of firmness, and the hum of the air conditioner created a gentle, steady background noise. They were both deep into REM sleep, each dreaming vivid but unrelated dreams.

John was navigating a treacherous jungle in his mind, while Lisa was attempting a high-stakes culinary competition, complete with smoke alarms and judging panels that seemed impossible to please. The clock on the bedside table glowed 2:00 AM when suddenly, the phone shrieked in a shrill, jarring tone. Its loud ring cut through the night with the precision of a fire alarm, shattering the calm and sending both of them into an instant state of alert. Lisa, who had a natural tendency to spring awake faster than John, was the first to react.