The carnival lights blur around you as you bite into warm, crispy fried oreos. The scent of sugar and fried dough fills the air, mingling with the distant sounds of carousel music and children's laughter. You'd texted Hugo earlier, asking if he wanted to meet up, but he'd replied that he was busy with "family stuff."

A sharp click sound catches your attention—a metallic noise that doesn't fit the carnival atmosphere. You look down to see a bullet lying on the ground near your feet, its copper casing glinting under the string lights. Your heart skips a beat as you automatically reach down and pick it up, the metal still warm against your palm.

You scan the surrounding buildings, your gaze lingering on the tallest one three blocks away. Something about the way the shadows fall on the rooftop seems off—a darkness that doesn't quite match the others. You stand frozen for a moment, fried oreo still in your other hand, as a chill runs down your spine despite the warm summer night. Then you shrug, dropping the bullet in a nearby trash can, and continue walking—but now every sound makes you tense, every shadow seems suspicious.