The rain had softened to a steady drizzle.
Gravehaven City never looked less alive. Neon reflections shimmered in the puddles, fractured and restless. Every street whispered secrets I wasn't ready to hear.
Liara walked beside me, her coat collar pulled high against the chill. She carried herself like she owned the shadows themselves.
"You need to know a name," she said without looking at me. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge, like she was delivering a weapon instead of information.
I raised an eyebrow. "A name? You make it sound like I've been missing it all along."
"You have," she said. "And if you want to find the pattern behind the killings, you'll need him."
I squinted, curiosity gnawing at the fatigue in my bones. "Him?"
"Marcus Ellory," Liara said. "He's… well-connected. Knows people most of the city doesn't even know exist. And he knows the underground. He can help you navigate it. But be careful—he's not someone you can trust completely. Not yet."
I paused. The name rolled in my mind like a stone in a storm drain. Ellory. Someone in the shadows, someone who could open doors or slam them shut in my face.
"Why tell me about him?" I asked, letting the drizzle hit my face. "You could just handle this yourself."
Liara's eyes met mine briefly, sharp and unreadable. "Because this isn't just about survival anymore. You need guidance. Someone who can point you in the right direction without exposing you to unnecessary danger. And Marcus Ellory… he's the best lead you're going to get."
I let the name settle. A lead. Finally. Something tangible in the dark.
"So," I said slowly, "he's not a villain?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. At least, not to you. Think of him as… someone who controls pieces on the board. You just have to figure which ones you can move."
The rain fell harder again, spattering our coats and the pavement. The city looked like it was bleeding in neon. Every step felt like a choice between survival and chaos.
I nodded, taking in the weight of her words. Marcus Ellory. A name in the shadows. The first real lead I had in weeks.
And for the first time, I felt the investigation might actually go somewhere.
Liara glanced at me, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Don't thank me yet. The city isn't done testing you."
I didn't reply. I just kept walking, letting the rain wash the doubts into the gutters, following the name that might finally bring some answers.