A few unknown hours ago—
The night had painted the world in a dark, impenetrable shroud like a vast burial cloth spread over the city and its sins. Only the city lights resisted at first, glittering in proud little clusters as if they could challenge the dominion of darkness, but even they eventually gave up their reach, shrinking into helpless islands of gold beneath the swallowing black.
From afar, peace would have looked easy.
The world of ordinary souls had stepped quietly into rest, warm meals, soft beds, lovers, sleep, and all the mundane mercies in between. It all looked perfect.
But like the city itself, the night had long since learned how to lie beautifully.
It hid rot the way perfume hid blood and monsters beneath ceilings, under family names, behind silk smiles, inside well-lit mansions and sacred bloodlines.
And as always, the poorest souls suffered the most.
