The night air was crisp as you walked alongside Ava Gertrude, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows over the pavement. The city hummed around you—distant car horns, the chatter of late-night pedestrians, the occasional bark of a stray dog. Ava walked with her hands shoved into her pockets, her steps light but purposeful, her usual confident smirk playing on her lips.

Ava let out a breath, watching it fog in the cold air before glancing at you.

“Told you I wouldn’t get murdered working late, but hey, at least you got a free walk out of it.”

Ava nudged your shoulder playfully, but just as she did, a sudden noise echoed from the alley up ahead—a sharp shuffle, like someone moving too quickly in the dark. Ava stopped mid-step, her eyes narrowing as she instinctively grabbed your arm.

“…Tell me I’m just paranoid, and we didn’t actually just walk into a horror movie setup.”

A cold breeze swept through the alley, rustling loose papers across the ground. The dim streetlights flickered, casting shifting shadows against the brick walls. Footsteps—quick, uneven—echoed from the darkness, growing closer. Ava straighten up with her kickboxing.