Neon City breathed a sigh of temporary relief. The air was still heavy with tension, the kind that hung around like a stubborn fog. Max Hartwell stood on the balcony of his apartment, the city's neon lights casting a haunting glow across his weathered face. He had been here before, on the cusp of victory only to be plunged back into chaos. But this time felt different. The echoes of Graves' downfall reverberated through the city's underbelly.
Max's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. It was Violet.
"We need to meet," she said without preamble. Her voice was urgent, slicing through the quiet night. "Elena has something."
Max's heart skipped a beat. Elena—his old partner, the ghost from his past who had resurfaced with secrets that could unravel everything. He grabbed his coat and headed out, the night swallowing him whole.
---
