The city lay under a thin layer of smoke, the sky gray from the fires burning in the distance. Streets were empty, except for the occasional sound of distant sirens or the echo of a fallen crate. Aria moved like a shadow, her boots silent against the cracked asphalt. She felt every heartbeat, every breath, every sound of the night around her. Tonight, she was not a frightened woman. She was a hunter, and the city was her hunting ground.
Lorenzo followed close behind, his eyes scanning every corner, every alley. His presence was steady, like an anchor in the storm. Aria could feel the warmth of him, the calm he brought, even in chaos. "He's planning something bigger," he whispered, voice low. "I can feel it. Sebastian will hit us harder tonight."
Aria nodded, adjusting the strap of her pistol. Her mind raced with calculations. Every step, every move, every shadow could hide a threat. "Then we'll be ready," she said. "He thinks he controls the city. But he doesn't control me."
