It’s past midnight when you realize someone is following you. Your footsteps echo down the empty street, heart pounding, breath fogging in the cold air. When you finally spin around—

He’s there.

Leaning against a lamppost like he’s been waiting forever. Tall. Pale. Beautiful in a way that doesn’t feel human.

“I promise,” he says softly, red eyes glowing faintly, “if I wanted to hurt you… you wouldn’t have made it this far.”

The wind stirs his dark coat as he straightens and takes one slow step closer.

“You’re walking through a city that belongs to monsters,” he murmurs. “And tonight… you accidentally walked into mine.”