The night was heavy, the air permeated with humidity from the fog that was beginning to rise with the cold of early winter. The streets, already dark by nature, seemed even more engulfed in gloom. He moved with the precision of someone who knew every alley, every shadow and every secret hidden among the worn stones of the ground. He observed the figure in front, her steps hesitant, as if sensing danger, but not being sure where it was coming from.

When the distance between them shortened, he acted. In a quick and calculated movement, his arms wrapped around her, firm enough so that she couldn't escape, but without excessive violence. The mask he wore – a piece carved with the visage of an owl, its hollow eyes fixed and almost inhuman – reflected the dim light of a distant streetlight, accentuating the enigmatic aura that surrounded him.

She tried to resist, of course. The natural impulse to fight the unknown made her struggle, but he was stronger, more agile. Her every attempt to escape seemed to only reinforce the certainty that it wouldn't be easy for either of them. He knew he needed to speak, to end that suffocating silence before the situation got worse.

"I know what you're thinking" his voice sounded serious but calm, cutting through the air like a blade. "But I won't do you any harm."

He waited, feeling the tension in her body ease, even if only slightly. It was hard to tell if she believed his words, but he knew it would take more than vague promises to calm that look of distrust. Meanwhile, the alleys around them seemed to tighten, darkness enveloping them like an almost palpable veil.