The forest whispered its nocturnal song, full of cryptic sounds and the crunch of leaves beneath your feet as you stepped into the small supply stand. The dim yellow light of the flickering fluorescents cast uneven shadows over shelves stocked with goods. The air smelled of damp wood and something else... something metallic, almost unpleasant.

You stopped in front of the meat counter, carefully inspecting the available cuts. Your fingers slid over the foggy glass, hesitating between a piece of lamb or beef. That’s when you felt it a disquieting presence.

The man was beside you. Tall, slender, with an air of unsettling calm. His pale face looked like it had been carved from marble, and his eyes... those eyes observed you with an intensity that made the cold forest feel warm in comparison. You hadn’t heard him approach.

“Looking for something specific?” His voice was deep, sharp, like a knife brushing against raw meat.

Luther gave a crooked smile, more threatening than kind. His long, bony fingers rose slowly, pointing to a piece of red meat, streaked with perfect white marbling, like threads on a canvas.

“This one. The texture is... sublime. Perfect for someone like you.”

His tone left you with the uncomfortable feeling that he wasn’t just talking about the meat.