The rain had only just stopped in the city when Rose and Glaistig Uaine reached the outskirts of Brockton Bay. A heavy fog rolled in from the bay itself, blanketing the city in a silvery haze that clung to the cracked pavement and sagging rooftops. Water dripped from every surface, the remnants of the storm forming pools in the uneven streets and gutters. The air smelled of salt, oil, and mildew, mixing into an oppressive weight that settled on Rose's shoulders as she stared out at the city.
"It is veiled," Glaistig murmured, her glowing green eyes piercing the mist with ease. "A city shrouded, hiding its sickness. How fitting."
Rose pulled her damp cloak tighter around her shoulders, her messy black braid sticking to her neck. The humidity didn't bother her as much as the pervasive stillness, broken only by the occasional creak of rusted metal or the distant wail of a siren.
"It's quiet," Rose said softly. "Too quiet for a place this big. Where is everyone?"
"They are hiding," Glaistig replied, tilting her head as though listening to something only she could hear. "The storm frightened them, and they retreat like prey before a predator. But do not be deceived, little death. Beneath this stillness lies chaos waiting to strike."
Rose glanced at her companion. The blonde's green cloak seemed untouched by the damp, its fabric moving faintly as though caught in an ethereal breeze. Glaistig's serene expression didn't betray her thoughts, but Rose could feel the tension in her posture, the way her fingers twitched as if anticipating violence.
"Come on," Rose said, stepping forward into the fog. "Let's find somewhere to get our bearings."
---
As they moved deeper into the city, the signs of decay became more apparent. Buildings that had once been sturdy and proud now sagged under the weight of neglect, their walls covered in graffiti that ranged from crude tags to elaborate murals. Broken streetlights cast uneven patches of light, their faint glow swallowed by the fog.
Rose's boots splashed through puddles as she walked, her wand held loosely at her side. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, though every corner they turned revealed nothing but empty streets and alleys.
"This place is worse than I thought," she muttered.
"It is a corpse," Glaistig said, her voice devoid of emotion. "A city long dead, inhabited only by scavengers and those too weak to leave. Yet even in death, there is power. Threads of fate woven tightly, waiting to be unraveled."
Rose frowned. "And you want to unravel them?"
Glaistig smiled faintly. "I wish to see what lies beneath."
---
They reached a crossroads, where a rusted street sign barely hung onto its post. A broken-down truck sat abandoned in the middle of the road, its tires slashed and its windshield cracked. The surrounding buildings loomed like silent sentinels, their windows dark and empty.
"We're being followed," Rose said quietly.
Glaistig didn't respond, but her glowing eyes flicked toward the shadows. A moment later, the faint scuff of a shoe against pavement confirmed Rose's suspicion.
"Do you want to handle this, or should I?" Rose asked, her voice calm despite the tension in her shoulders.
Glaistig's smile widened. "You may begin, little sorceress. I will observe."
Rose nodded, turning to face the shadows. "Whoever's there, come out now. I won't warn you again."
There was a pause, then a low chuckle. A group of figures emerged from the fog, their features obscured but their weapons visible—pipes, chains, and knives gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"Well, well," one of them drawled, a man with a scar running down the side of his face. "Looks like we got ourselves a couple of lost tourists. You know, this ain't a safe part of town, girls."
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for the warning. Now why don't you move along before someone gets hurt?"
The man laughed, joined by his companions. "Oh, you've got some fire in you. I like that. But I don't think you understand how this works. You're on our turf, which means you pay the toll."
Rose sighed, lifting her wand. "Last chance. Leave, or I'll make you leave."
The man's smile faltered for a moment as he noticed the wand, but he quickly recovered. "What's that supposed to be, a toy? You think you can scare us with—"
Before he could finish, Rose flicked her wand, and a bolt of bright blue light shot past his head, striking a metal barrel behind him. The barrel exploded with a deafening crack, sending shards of metal flying.
The gang froze, their confidence wavering.
"Leave," Rose repeated, her voice cold.
---
One of the men, apparently braver or stupider than the rest, lunged at Rose with a knife. She sidestepped him easily, sending him sprawling with a simple stunning spell.
The others hesitated, but before they could decide whether to flee or fight, Glaistig stepped forward.
"You have squandered your chance," she said, her voice lilting with a faint, otherworldly echo. "Now you will serve as a lesson."
She raised her hands, and the air around her seemed to ripple. Spectral figures emerged from the fog, their forms shadowy and indistinct but their glowing green eyes unmistakable. The gang members cried out in fear as the spirits surrounded them, their ghostly hands reaching out to disarm and immobilize them.
In moments, it was over. The gang lay on the ground, trembling and unarmed, as the spirits faded back into the mist.
Glaistig turned to Rose, her expression serene. "Shall we continue?"
Rose hesitated, her gaze lingering on the terrified men. "You didn't have to scare them like that."
"They needed to understand," Glaistig replied. "Fear is the only language they speak."
Rose didn't argue, but the knot in her stomach tightened. She couldn't deny that Glaistig's methods were effective, but they felt too much like the tactics of her enemies back home.
---
As they continued through the foggy streets, Rose finally broke the silence. "We need a base of operations. Somewhere we can regroup and figure out our next steps."
Glaistig nodded. "And where do you propose we go?"
"Brockton Bay has been falling apart for years," Rose said. "If we can stabilize it, even a little, we'll send a message. But to do that, we need to take down the gangs running this place. ABB, Empire 88, Merchants—they're the root of the problem."
Glaistig smiled faintly. "Ambitious. I approve."
Rose met her gaze. "This isn't just about power or control. It's about giving people hope. If we can show them there's another way, maybe we can make a difference."
Glaistig tilted her head, studying her. "Hope is a fragile thing. But very well, little sorceress. Let us see if your vision can withstand the storm."
With that, they disappeared into the fog, leaving behind the broken remnants of a city waiting for salvation—or destruction.