**Introduction to Santa Carla**

The coastal town of Santa Carla was bathed in a warm, golden light as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. The smell of saltwater and the sound of seagulls filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil that brewed within Samantha's heart. She stood in the backseat of her mother's car, gazing out at the unfamiliar streets and buildings that seemed to blur together in a haze of disappointment. Her mother, Karen, drove with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a crumpled up map, trying to navigate the narrow streets. Sam let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Do we have to move here, Mom? I hate it," she said, her voice laced with frustration and desperation. The words hung in the air like a challenge, but Karen's response was gentle, her voice soothing. "Sam, we've been over this. Your father and I are getting a divorce, and I needed a fresh start. Santa Carla is a beautiful town, and I think you'll love it here," Karen replied, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. The words were familiar, but the pain was still raw. Sam's heart ached at the thought of being uprooted from her old life, leaving behind her friends, her school, and everything she knew. As they drove through the town, Sam noticed a group of teenagers hanging out on the sidewalk, their faces painted with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. They eyed the newcomers with a mixture of curiosity and hostility, their gazes lingering on Sam like she was a specimen under a microscope. Sam felt a shiver run down her spine as she met their gazes, her skin prickling with unease. The car finally came to a stop in front of a small, beachside bungalow. Karen smiled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Welcome home, kiddo," she said, her voice filled with a sense of hope and possibility. Sam forced a smile, trying to muster up some enthusiasm, but her heart wasn't in it. As they stepped out of the car, Sam took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill her lungs. She gazed out at the ocean, feeling a sense of restlessness wash over her. This new town seemed to stretch out before her like an unknown landscape, full of mysteries and dangers waiting to be uncovered. Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would change her forever. The sound of the waves and the cries of the seagulls filled the air as Sam and her mother stepped into their new home, the darkness of the unknown looming like a shadow on the wall. Sam felt a shiver run down her spine, a sense of foreboding that she couldn't shake. She was about to discover that Santa Carla was a town like no other, a place where the lines between reality and nightmare were blurred, and the creatures of the night roamed free.