The rain didn't stop.
Gravehaven City was slick and glowing, every street shimmering with neon and lies. The air smelled of wet concrete and rust, and I felt every drop on my skin like a reminder of the night I could never forget.
I walked toward the pier, boots splashing through shallow puddles. My mind replayed the images from Lucas' call—the corpse, the broken circle, the city's weight pressing down on me.
A figure emerged from the shadows. Tall, precise, moving with the confidence of someone who knew the city as well as I did.
"Ryan Cross?" Her voice was calm, deliberate, and carried a hint of challenge.
I stopped. My hand brushed my coat pocket, more out of habit than need.
"Yes?" I said, keeping my tone neutral. "Who wants to know?"
She stepped closer, rain glinting off the wet strands of her dark hair. Eyes sharp, scanning me like she could see every scar I carried.
"Name's Liara Kane," she said. "I've been following… things in this city. Things that concern you."
I studied her. Too composed. Too focused. And yet there was a hint of something unreadable—vulnerability? Or a warning?
"You just walk up to strangers in the rain?" I asked.
She smiled, almost imperceptibly. "Not strangers. Detectives who chase ghosts."
Her coat was dark, sleek, hugging her movements. She pulled a small tablet from inside, flicked it on, and slid it toward me. Screens glowed in the rainy darkness. Maps, symbols, patterns—enough to make me pause.
I glanced at it. The details were meticulous, organized, precise. Whoever she was, she wasn't playing.
"I don't know you," I said. "And I don't let strangers lead me anywhere."
"I know," she said softly. "But you need someone who understands the shadows. And the city… sometimes it doesn't let you see the truth unless you have a guide."
She met my gaze, unwavering. I felt that spark again—the one I hadn't felt in years. The one that reminded me there was more at stake than just blood on the streets.
"Alright," I said finally, my voice tight. "You're in. For now."
Liara nodded once, sharply. "I'll stay close. But I move fast. Watch yourself."
The rain fell harder, washing the pier in neon and shadows. Every drop felt like a pulse, like the city itself was alive, waiting to see what I would do next.
And for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel completely alone.