The alleyway was narrow and dank, a maze of shadowed corners and discarded debris. Rain fell in a steady drizzle, slicking the cobblestone ground beneath Serena's boots as she moved silently through the night. The faint glow of a neon sign flickered from a distant bar, casting brief glimmers of light on the walls. A stray cat darted between garbage bins, its tail flicking in the darkness as if to remind her that even the most desperate corners of the world had their own life.

Her senses were sharp, every sound, every movement, registered in her mind as she walked, alert to the presence of those who might be watching. The mission was clear, but there were always variables in the shadows.

She paused near a rusted fire escape, her eyes narrowing as a figure emerged from the gloom—a contact she had been expecting. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her knife, but she made no move.

Serena: "Did Blackstar send you? I told them before I don't need a babysitter."