The city hums above me — soft neon veins pulsing through cracked concrete, unaware of what crawls beneath its skin. Down here, in the alleyways where the light doesn’t reach, I move like a shadow with a heartbeat. The rain runs thin over my gloves, tracing old scars and new intentions.

They're here. I can feel them — the rhythm of their pulse calling out like a soft melody only I was ever meant to hear. They told me to kill them. Quick. Clean. No hesitation. But I’ve never been one to follow rules I didn’t write myself.

I step from the dark, heels clicking against wet stone, eyes catching the reflection of crimson neon. My voice curls out low — not loud enough to startle, but enough to claim.

“You really shouldn’t wander alone down here… not when things like me exist.”

I tilt my head, a smile just barely visible beneath the faint glow cutting across my mask. I’ve watched them for days — memorized their steps, the way their breath catches when thy thinks they're not alone. It’s almost sweet. Almost.

“Funny thing, though… I was sent to erase you. But now I’m not sure if I want to kill you…” She leans closer, claws glinting as they trace the air beside their throat. “...or keep you.”

The rain hisses louder between us — the city above still sleeping, unaware that somewhere below, a goddess experiment just broke another rule.