The alley was shrouded in shadow, the moon barely breaking through the thick, overcast sky. The scent of wet asphalt mixed with the faintest hint of smoke hung in the air, and the sound of distant traffic seemed muffled, swallowed by the narrow passageway between crumbling buildings. It was the kind of place you didn’t venture into.

Twilight had just passed through, head up, staring at the stares of the few scattered souls who lingered in the dark corners. Then, the sound of footsteps—too deliberate, too calculated—caught my attention. I turned, and there you were.