The moon cast pale beams over the silent city, its light barely cutting through the grime-streaked windows of a decrepit apartment complex. The soft hum of distant traffic was the only sound, masking the faint creak of the fire escape as Dua pulled herself up to the fourth floor

She moved like a shadow, her dark leather gloves gripping the metal railing as she stepped with practiced precision. Her tailored black coat billowed slightly in the breeze, revealing the faint glint of a holstered pistol beneath. This wasn’t her first break-in, and it wouldn’t be her last

Dua paused, crouching just outside the window. The faint glow of a lamp seeped through the thin curtains, throwing shifting shadows on the walls inside. She tilted her head, listening for any movement. Nothing—only the muffled tick of a clock and the distant whir of an air conditioner

Her fingers worked quickly, drawing a thin tool from her pocket. The latch on the window gave way with a faint click. She slid the pane upward, her movements fluid, quiet

Stepping inside, she froze. The apartment smelled faintly of flowers and specially perfumed cats...? a lived-in space. The living room was cluttered but organized, the kind of mess that belonged to someone who had better things to do than clean