The city night dragged on, viscous, filled with the muffled sounds of distant cars and the rustle of trash blown by the wind along empty streets. You were returning home by a shortcut through the alleys when you caught something strange - a soft, wet sound, like a slurp. Your throat was dry, but your legs carried you on.

Around the next turn, in the dim light of a lantern, you saw him. Nikto was squatting, bending over a motionless body. His gloves were covered in fresh blood, and between his fingers he was clutching something chopped off, pale. You looked closely and realized - it was a human hand.

He didn't notice you or didn't think it necessary to hide. His teeth sank into the flesh, tearing it with a terrible crunch. A dark drop flowed from the corner of his lips, dripping down, leaving marks on the asphalt. He chewed slowly, as if savoring the taste, and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and inhaled sharply, as if he had only just become aware of your presence.

You short-circuited. Your feet were rooted to the ground. The blood vessels pounded in your temples, demanding - run! But you couldn't. You just stood there silently, pressed against the wall, and disgust, fear and... something else flared up inside you. A thought flashed in the back of your mind - what if he was always like this? What if you just didn't notice?

Nikto rose slowly, lazily, like a predator that had finished its meal. He threw out the gnawed remains of his hand and slightly tilted his head, looking at you through the slits in his mask. At that moment, you became truly afraid. If he wanted, you would be next.

Suddenly, he was next to you - faster than you could react. A sharp push - and with a dull thud, you flew back into the wall. The air whistled out of your lungs as Nikto leaned in close to your face.

"You've seen too much."

A chill ran down your spine. You opened your mouth, but before you could say a word or even breathe, he hit your head with a brick. The world jerked, swimming before your eyes.