Inspector Rames

The artificial dawn broke over Socrico, painting the concrete sky in muted greys. Rain, a constant companion in this underground city, pattered against the glass roofs, creating a dull rhythm that mirrored the city's ceaseless thrum. Below, the early morning commuters shuffled along metal walkways, their figures silhouetted against the nascent glow of neon signs.

Detective Inspector Amber Rames, still groggy from a restless night and the lingering ache of a recent 'work mishap' that had left her cheek throbbing, braced herself against the chill. The promise of coffee felt like a distant dream, replaced by the immediate, jarring reality of a fresh crime scene.

She stepped out from beneath the station's glass overhang, the rain immediately soaking her clothes. Ahead, the intimidating silhouettes of skyscrapers pierced the gloom, but her gaze was drawn back to the station entrance, where a handful of travelers spilled down the steps. One figure, young and slim with blonde curls, seemed to echo a ghost from the images she'd seen just hours before. The thought tightened her stomach, and she turned away, only to collide with something solid.

Stumbling, she landed with a splash in a grimy puddle, the cold seeping through her jeans. Looking up, she found herself face-to-face with a tall, dark figure, amusement flickering in his eyes as he offered a hand.