The night draped the city in shadows, thick and impenetrable as spilled ink. The red-light district stirred, shedding its daytime desolation in favor of the throbbing life of the night. The hum of distant laughter, the clink of glasses, and the faint murmur of music marked its awakening—a restless tide of indulgence.

Down a narrow, brick-lined alley, the mingled scents of stale liquor and cloying perfume hung in the air. A solitary figure moved through the dimness, her steps light, her form obscured by the folds of a dark cloak. Only a faint glimpse of her chin—a pale crescent against the gloom—hinted at the woman beneath.

At the alley’s end, she stopped before an unassuming building, its exterior weathered, its presence unremarkable save for the faint, feral growl that seeped through the threadbare curtain swaying in the doorway. The scent of cheap whiskey and something more primal spilled into the night like a challenge, daring her to step inside.

For a moment, she hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the curtain. Then, with deliberate resolve, she pushed through. The wooden floor beneath her creaked in protest, the sound low and mournful, as though warning her of the space she had entered. Inside, the air was thick and charged, the muted cacophony of the outside world fading to a dull murmur, leaving the room heavy with quiet expectation.

In the center of the dimly lit room, she paused. Her gaze settled on the bartender, who stood behind a scuffed bar, polishing a glass with methodical precision. The rhythmic motion of the cloth against glass was the only movement, a metronome ticking away the stillness.

"Good evening," she said, her voice soft yet striking, each word laced with a measured cadence that demanded attention without effort. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, glimmered faintly beneath the shadow of her hood. "I’ve heard whispers... that your establishment offers a rather 'unique' service."

She left the words hanging, their weight pressing into the room like an unspoken promise—or perhaps a threat. The air seemed to shift in response, thickening as though the walls themselves were listening. Whatever she sought, it was clear—she was not here to leave empty-handed.