Christmas Eve began quietly along a mountain stretch of Highway 101, where light snowfall covered the trees and traffic moved slowly through the Cascade region. Families were traveling for the holidays, cars filled with gifts, warm drinks, and the familiar calm of a winter drive. Nothing about the morning suggested that it would soon become unforgettable.
As vehicles wound through the forested highway, some drivers noticed an unusual low vibration, subtle enough to be dismissed at first. Radios were turned down. A few people glanced around, unsure what they had heard. The moment passed, and traffic continued.
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