As they walked down the quiet street, the only sounds were the faint hum of distant traffic and their laughter. Serena licked her ice cream cone, smiling as Jane talked animatedly, waving her hands in the air. She'd known that Jane would come see her the moment she realized her apartment had been well maintained. And walking like this, with her old friend, it was a relief she had not expected.
Out of nowhere, a loud crack split the air—sharp, like a gunshot.Both women jumped in shock, while Jane quickly clutched Serena's arm, "Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice unsteady.
Before Serena could respond, another crack echoed, louder this time. The unmistakable sound of something metal hitting the pavement sent a chill down Serena's spine. She looked down, spotting a bullet casing skidding across the street. It was the first time she had seen something like this, but she just knew what this meant.
