Doomsday Puzzle

A shaky kerosene lamp was suspended in the air by a thick hemp rope, emitting a weak and flickering light, as if it would go out at any moment. The dim light cast a strange shadow on the wall, like a monster with teeth and claws. Silence filled the room like a flood. In the center of the room, there is a simple octagonal table. The table is covered with mysterious runes, as if it is telling an unknown story. In the center of the table, a strange-shaped hourglass stood quietly, with sand flowing in a strange rhythm. Around the table, eight people with different expressions were sitting. Their clothes were shabby and stained, and their faces were full of exhaustion and confusion. Some looked blankly ahead, while others twisted their bodies uneasily, as if trying to break free from some invisible restraint. Beside these eight people stood a man wearing a raven mask and a red robe. The crow's eyes on the mask shone with a cold light, as if they could see into everyone's hearts. This novel and its characters are purely fictitious. Any similarity is purely coincidental and should not be imitated.