The night had fully embraced Columbus, Indiana, as the Keating 5 settled into the historic Airbnb with Papa John's pizza scattered across the dining table—a semblance of normalcy in what felt like an otherwise surreal mission. The laughter and chatter that filled the room offered a brief respite from the weight of the task at hand.

Just as they were digging into their second slices, Asher's phone rang, cutting through the ambiance like a sharp knife. The familiar tone of FaceTime echoed off the high ceilings, and he fumbled to answer it. The screen lit up to reveal Annalise Keating's stern visage.

"Hey, Annalise!" Asher greeted, a bit too enthusiastically, trying to mask the sudden tension in the room.

The others quickly gathered around, their expressions a mix of surprise and apprehension.

"Good evening, everyone. How's the first night going? Is the place to your liking?" Annalise's voice, though calm, carried an undercurrent of intensity that they all knew too well.

Michaela stepped forward, the de facto spokesperson. "Yes, the house is more than we could've asked for. Thank you, Annalise."

Laurel chimed in, "It's beautiful here. We're just settling in."

Annalise nodded, her gaze piercing through the screen as if trying to read between the lines. "And the case? Have you all reviewed the details I sent over?"

Connor exchanged a look with Oliver before answering, "We're planning to start first thing tomorrow. Tonight, we're just...trying to acclimate."

There was a pause, Annalise's eyes scanning their faces, the silence heavy with unspoken words. "Good. Remember why you're there. This case isn't just another assignment. It's personal, especially for you, Laurel."

Laurel swallowed hard, her eyes briefly flickering with a complex mix of emotions. "I understand, Annalise."

"Keep your wits about you. Things in Columbus might not be as they seem," Annalise added cryptically, her tone softening slightly. "And call me immediately if anything...out of the ordinary happens."

Asher, trying to lighten the mood, joked, "What, like ghost sightings or something?"

Annalise didn't smile. "Anything. Remember, you're not just dealing with the law on this one. Be careful. All of you."

With that, she ended the call, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

The group sat in silence for a moment, the earlier warmth replaced by a chilling sense of foreboding. Michaela was the first to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. "What did she mean by that? 'Things in Columbus might not be as they seem'?"

Connor frowned, looking around the table. "It's Annalise. She's always had a flair for the dramatic. But she's right—we need to be careful."

Oliver, ever the optimist, tried to rally the group. "Let's not let this ruin our night. We're together, we're smart, and we'll handle whatever comes our way. Like we always do."

Laurel remained quiet, her thoughts a tumultuous sea. Annalise's words had struck a nerve, and as she glanced around the room at her friends—her family in this twisted journey—she couldn't help but feel that they were on the cusp of something unfathomable.

The pizza, now forgotten, grew cold on the table as the Keating 5 sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

After the remnants of their Papa John's pizza dinner lay scattered across the dining table, Michaela looked around at the group, a playful yet commanding tone in her voice. "Okay, who's taking out the trash?"

A chorus of groans filled the room, each member of the Keating 5 suddenly engrossed in anything but Michaela's gaze.

"Not it," Asher declared, practically diving behind the sofa.

Laurel shrugged, a sheepish smile on her face. "I did dishes last time."

Connor, ever the diplomat, suggested, "How about we draw straws next time?"

Michaela's gaze finally settled on Oliver, who sighed, resigned. "Fine, I'll take one for the team. But you all owe me."

With a mock salute, Oliver grabbed the pizza boxes and headed towards the door. "You guys better not start any new episodes without me," he called out, only half-joking.

As he stepped outside, the cool night air of Columbus, Indiana, greeted him. The quiet of the neighborhood was a stark contrast to their lively Airbnb. Making his way to the trash can, Oliver couldn't help but feel a slight unease, the kind that sneaks up on you when you're alone in the dark.

After disposing of the boxes, a crumpled piece of paper by the trash can caught his eye. Curiosity getting the better of him, Oliver picked it up, smoothing out the wrinkles. It was a flyer, bright and eye-catching, advertising a tarot reading with a picture of an all-seeing eye and a promise of revealing the future.

"Skeptical? You won't be after our reading," the flyer boldly proclaimed.

Oliver chuckled to himself, skepticism written all over his face. "Yeah, right," he muttered under his breath, pocketing the flyer.

Back inside, Oliver's announcement about his find was met with mixed reactions.

"A tarot reading? Here?" Michaela looked amused but intrigued.

Connor raised an eyebrow. "You're not seriously considering going, are you?"

"It could be fun," Oliver defended, waving the flyer. "A little mystical adventure in Columbus."

Laurel, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "Guys, remember why we're here. We can't get distracted. Annalise sent us for a reason."

The room fell silent, the gravity of their mission settling back over them. But as the night wore on, and the discussions about the cold case and their strategy for the next day began to wind down, a restless energy took hold.

It was Asher who broke the silence. "You know, a tarot reading could be a... unique way to take the edge off. We start fresh in the morning anyway."

Connor, surprisingly, nodded. "Maybe it's not the worst idea. A quick detour won't derail us. And who knows? Maybe we'll get some good luck for the case."

Michaela, seeing the shift in the room, sighed. "Fine, but first thing tomorrow, we're back on track. Agreed?"

Agreement filled the room, a collective decision made more out of a need for a brief escape from the weight of their task than genuine belief in the mystical.

The Keating 5 huddled around the living room, the historic Airbnb casting long, eerie shadows through its grand windows. Oliver, holding the crumpled tarot reading flyer, decided to make a call to Annalise Keating, seeking guidance on the peculiar find and the unsettling urge to visit the tarot reader.

Annalise answered on the second ring, her voice cutting through the tension that had settled among them. "What's so important that it couldn't wait until morning?" she asked, her tone laced with both concern and impatience.

Michaela took the lead, explaining Oliver's discovery and the inexplicable pull they all felt towards the tarot reading, despite their initial dismissal.

There was a brief silence on the line before Annalise spoke, her voice firm and commanding. "You are there for a reason—a very specific, critical reason. This distraction, it's exactly that. A distraction. You need to focus on the case, on Becca Serrano. That's why I sent you to Columbus."

Connor, ever the skeptic, chimed in, "But what if it's not just a distraction? What if—"

"No, Connor," Annalise cut him off. "This is how these cases get derailed. Focus on the facts, the evidence, the law. Not superstitions or local attractions."

Laurel, her voice tinged with anxiety, added, "It just felt like a sign, something we were supposed to see."

Annalise sighed, a hint of fatigue in her voice. "The only sign you should be looking for is evidence that'll help with the case. Columbus has its share of stories and superstitions, but you're not there to become part of them. You're there to work, to bring justice for Becca and, indirectly, for Wes."

Asher, trying to lighten the mood, joked, "What if the tarot cards could tell us who did it?"

There was a pause, and then Annalise's voice, colder now, "Asher, this is not a game. This is someone's life we're talking about. Someone's death. I need you all to take this seriously. You're not there to play detective based on a whim or a flyer found in the trash."

Oliver, who had been quiet, finally spoke up, "We understand, Annalise. We'll focus on the case."

"Good," Annalise replied, her tone softening. "Keep me updated on your progress. And remember, stay sharp, stay together, and stay focused. This case is more complex than it seems, and you can't afford to be distracted."

With that, the call ended, leaving the Keating 5 to ponder Annalise's words. The flyer, once a source of curious intrigue, now seemed like a foolish diversion from the grim reality of their mission in Columbus.

Under the dim lighting of their temporary home in Columbus, Indiana, the Keating 5 huddled around the dining table, where Oliver had just shared his discovery of the crumpled tarot reading flyer. The mood was tense, each member wrestling with the temptation of the mystical diversion and the gravity of their actual mission.

Michaela, ever the pragmatist, voiced her concerns first. "We can't seriously be considering this. Annalise would flip if she found out we were even thinking about a tarot reading."

Connor rubbed his temples, the weight of their situation evident in his expression. "Yeah, imagine explaining to Annalise that we're too busy getting our fortunes told to work on the case she sent us here for."

Laurel's worry was palpable. "If we mess this up, she might never trust us with anything again. We can't afford to get sidetracked."

Asher, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly spoke up, his voice cutting through the uncertainty. "Look, we're going to the courthouse first thing tomorrow, right? We dive into the case, get a solid start. And then—what's the harm in a little detour? A quick tarot reading."

Oliver looked surprised at Asher's proposal but found himself considering it. "I mean, it could be a good way to blow off some steam...after we've put in the work, of course."

Michaela sighed, conflicted. "I just don't want to give Annalise any reason to doubt our commitment."

"It's not like we're skipping out on the case," Asher argued. "We're talking about an hour, tops. We go in, get our cards read, and maybe even find a way to use it as a stress reliever. We'll be more focused afterward."

The logic was twisted, yet strangely compelling. After a few moments of contemplation, and much to their own surprise, one by one, they began to nod, reluctantly giving in to Asher's audacious plan.

Connor finally broke, a smirk appearing on his face. "This is insane. But fine, we'll do the tarot reading. After, and only after, we've made significant progress on the case."

"Agreed," Laurel said, the word almost a whisper, as if afraid of being overheard.

Oliver clapped his hands together, a mix of excitement and nervousness in his gesture. "Okay, it's settled then. Work first, tarot reading as a...team-building exercise."

Michaela, though still apprehensive, conceded with a nod. "But not a word to Annalise. This never happened, and we were never even slightly tempted."

The pact was sealed with a collective, albeit anxious, agreement. As they prepared for bed, the Keating 5 were acutely aware of the fine line they were walking—not just with their commitment to the case, but with the unseen forces they were about to flirt with, all under the guise of a simple tarot reading. Little did they know, their decision would set into motion a series of events that would blur the boundaries of reality, testing their resolve, their sanity, and their loyalty to each other in ways they could never have anticipated.