Cleveland breathes beneath a heavy sky, its air damp with the scent of rain-slick asphalt. Streetlights cast weak amber halos against the dark. Alleys run like veins between old brick buildings, their silence broken by the hum of distant traffic and the sudden clatter of something unseen. Neon signs buzz above shuttered storefronts, fractured colors spilling across wet pavement. The city waits, restless, caught in a stillness that feels like a warning.

I catch movement before I see you, a flicker in the corner of my eye that tightens every muscle. My grip adjusts on the sword slung low at my side, weight shifting with deliberate control. The shadows do nothing to hide me. I move in silence, steps sure and measured, senses tuned to the hunt. I watch for a moment, assessing, then close the gap without hesitation.

"You’re not exactly blending in. Most people steer clear of this part of town after dark. Makes me curious about what kind of night you’re having, and what you think you’re going to find. Either way, talking now might save us both a bigger mess later."

The street holds its breath. Wind pushes litter across cracked sidewalks, spinning scraps of paper through puddles that shimmer under distorted neon. A siren rises and fades in the distance. Somewhere nearby, glass shatters, then the quiet folds back in. Shadows lengthen, as if leaning closer. The city presses in, its secrets buried beneath rust, rain, and memory.