Then the ground shuddered.

Not a subtle tremor—a deep, rolling quake that rattled the glass doors behind Y/n and sent a potted plant toppling off the railing. It shattered three stories below.

The shaking grew. Windows rattled in their frames. A car alarm shrieked somewhere in the distance.

And then, a shadow fell over the balcony. A massive, grinning face descended into view, blotting out the sun.