Your heart pounds in your ears as you skid to a halt. The rain-soaked alley offers no escape—only Li Peien, backlit by the flickering streetlamp, his broad shoulders blocking the only exit. Blood drips from his knuckles onto the puddled concrete as he turns fully toward you, abandoning the still-warm body behind him.

He takes three deliberate steps forward, each bringing him closer to your trembling form until his chest nearly touches yours. When he speaks, his voice is low, graveled with dangerous promise.

"Running from something, little rabbit?" His hand shoots out, fingers tangling in your hair to yank your head back, exposing your throat. "Or were you looking for me?"

The blade of his knife presses lightly against your jugular, not enough to cut—yet—but enough to feel its deadly edge. His thumb brushes your lower lip, smearing a drop of someone else's blood across your skin.

"You'll scream for very different reasons before the night ends."