The alley was colder than Scarlet had anticipated, the chill biting through her thin jacket and settling into her bones.
The oppressive silence was broken only by the distant drip of water from a rusted pipe, each drop echoing like a countdown in the night.
The hooded girl's presence was a stark contrast to the stillness, her energy coiled and ready, like a predator waiting to strike.
"So, what can I do for you, young lady?" the girl asked, her voice low and dangerous. There was a mocking edge to her tone that made Scarlet's heart race even faster.
Despite her initial bravado, now that she was face-to-face with the kind of person who could actually carry out her dark wish, fear threatened to overtake her resolve.
